A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package includes forming a laser reactive polymer layer on a substrate; mounting a semiconductor device on the substrate; irradiating at least a portion of the laser reactive polymer layer below the semiconductor device with a laser having a wavelength capable of penetrating through the semiconductor device on the substrate to modify the laser reactive polymer layer to have a hydrophilic functional group; and forming a first encapsulation material layer between the semiconductor device and the substrate.

The inventive concept relates to methods of manufacturing a semiconductor package and a package-on-package, and more particularly, to methods of manufacturing a highly reliable semiconductor package and a package-on-package.
When mounting a semiconductor chip on a substrate to manufacture a semiconductor package, the gap between the semiconductor chip and the substrate is decreasing. Due to the narrowed gap between the semiconductor chip and the substrate, hydrophilization treatment through plasma treatment becomes more difficult in a space between the semiconductor chip and the substrate, and it becomes more difficult to form an underfill material layer in the space.

Methods of manufacturing semiconductor package and package-on-package


A hydraulic control system of continuously variable transmission includes: a first sheave pressure regulating valve (17) that regulates a line pressure (Pl), which is used for hydraulic control as a source pressure, to obtain a first sheave pressure (Pin); a fail-safe valve (19) that selects and outputs any one of the first sheave pressure (Pin) or a fail-safe hydraulic pressure (second sheave pressure Pout) that is applied to a drive pulley (21) at the time of a failure due to an excessive first sheave pressure (Pin) to the drive pulley (21); and an orifice (25) that is provided in an oil passage (24) between the fail-safe valve (19) and the drive pulley (21). Then, a hydraulic pressure in the oil passage (24) on the drive pulley (21) side of the orifice (25) is supplied to the first sheave pressure regulating valve (17) as a feedback pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a hydraulic control system that is applied to a belt-type continuously variable transmission that changes the belt turning radii of a drive pulley and a driven pulley, around which a belt is wound, on the basis of sheave pressures applied respectively to the pulleys to shift gears, wherein the hydraulic control system performs hydraulic control to regulate the sheave pressures.
2. Description of the Related Art
A belt-type continuously variable transmission is in practical use as a transmission for a vehicle, or the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the belt-type continuously variable transmission includes a drive pulley 100 and a driven pulley 101, of which the respective groove widths are variable, and a metal belt 102 wound around these pulleys. Then, the groove width of each of the drive pulley 100 and the driven pulley 101 is varied to change the turning radius of the belt 102 on those pulleys, thus steplessly shifting gears.
The groove widths of the drive pulley 100 and driven pulley 101 of the belt-type continuously variable transmission are varied by regulating hydraulic pressures (a first sheave pressure Pin and a second sheave pressure Pout) applied respectively to the pulleys. Therefore, the belt-type continuously variable transmission is equipped with a hydraulic control system that performs hydraulic control to regulate the sheave pressures.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the hydraulic control system of the belt-type continuously variable transmission, hydraulic oil supplied from a pump is regulated in pressure at a first regulator valve 111 and a second regulator valve 112 to thereby obtain a line pressure Pl, which is used for hydraulic control as a source pressure. In addition, the line pressure Pl is reduced in pressure at a modulator valve 113 to obtain a constant modulator pressure Pm.
The modulator pressure Pm output from the modulator valve 113 is supplied to a first solenoid valve 114 and a second solenoid valve 115. The first solenoid valve 114 and the second solenoid valve 115 respectively regulate the modulator pressures Pm by controlling an electric current supplied to respective internal linear solenoids to thereby obtain and output a desired first solenoid pressure Pslp and a desired second solenoid pressure Psls.
The first solenoid pressure Pslp output from the first solenoid valve 114 is transmitted to a first sheave pressure regulating valve 116. Then, the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 regulates the line pressure Pl on the basis of the first solenoid pressure Pslp to obtain a first sheave pressure Pin applied to the drive pulley 100. On the other hand, the second solenoid pressure Psls output from the second solenoid valve 115 is transmitted to a second sheave pressure regulating valve 117. Then, the second sheave pressure regulating valve 117 regulates the line pressure Pl on the basis of the second solenoid pressure Psls to obtain a second sheave pressure Pout applied to the driven pulley 101. Thus, in the hydraulic control system, the first sheave pressure Pin and the second sheave pressure Pout, which are applied respectively to the drive pulley 100 and the driven pulley 101, are regulated by controlling electric currents supplied respectively to the linear solenoids of the first solenoid valve 114 and second solenoid valve 115 to thereby variably set the groove widths of the drive pulley 100 and driven pulley 101. By so doing, the gear shift control of the transmission is performed.
In the hydraulic control system of a continuously variable transmission, in order to improve the control accuracy of the first sheave pressure Pin and the second sheave pressure Pout, an output pressure may possibly be regulated at the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 or at the second sheave pressure regulating valve 117 in a feedback manner.
The output pressure from the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 is regulated in a feedback manner as follows. Here, it is assumed that a gain of the output pressure (first sheave pressure Pin) against the command pressure (first solenoid pressure Pslp) at the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 is "α1". In the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 at this time, a force corresponding to a differential pressure (Pin−α1×Pslp) between the first sheave pressure Pin (output pressure) and the product (α1×Pslp) of the first solenoid pressure Pslp (command pressure) and the gain al acts on the valve element. Then, the first sheave pressure Pin is regulated in a feedback manner so that the valve element moves to reduce the differential pressure and thereby the first sheave pressure Pin (output pressure) becomes a value corresponding to the first solenoid pressure Pslp (command pressure). Thus, it is possible for the output pressure to quickly follow the command pressure in the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 and, as a result, it is possible to improve the control accuracy of the first sheave pressure Pin, that is, it is possible for an actual gear ratio to quickly follow a target gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission.
Incidentally, the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 and/or the second sheave pressure regulating valve 117 may possibly produce fail so that the output sheave pressure becomes relatively high, for example, due to entrapment of foreign matter, or the like. When the above failure that the sheave pressure becomes excessive, that is, a failure due to an excessive sheave pressure, occurs, the line pressure Pl that is regulated by that sheave pressure also increases with the increase in sheave pressure. Then, the sheave pressure further increases with the increase in line pressure, and then the line pressure further increases with the increase in the sheave pressure. In this way, a vicious cycle occurs, and the sheave pressure continuously increases. This may deteriorate the durability of the belt 102. In addition, the excessive increase in line pressure Pl deteriorates the durability of the oil pump.
As described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-163869 (JP-A-2005-163869), a hydraulic control system of a continuously variable transmission is described, which is equipped with a fail-safe valve to prevent the above described excessive increase in hydraulic pressures applied respectively to the pulleys at the time of a failure due to an excessive sheave pressure. As shown in FIG. 5, in this hydraulic control system, a fail-safe valve 120 is provided between the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 and the drive pulley 100. The fail-safe valve 120 normally outputs the first sheave pressure Pin output from the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 to the drive pulley 100, while the fail-safe valve 120 outputs the second sheave pressure Pout output from the second sheave pressure regulating valve 117 to the drive pulley 100 at the time of a failure due to an excessive first sheave pressure Pin.
Incidentally, to increase the gear shift speed of the continuously variable transmission, it is necessary to improve the response of the first sheave pressure regulating valve 116 and the response of the second sheave pressure regulating valve 117. When the output pressures (the first sheave pressure Pin and the second sheave pressure Pout) are regulated in a feedback mariner, the control accuracy of each output pressure is improved; however, the speed of response of each output pressure to the command pressure (the first solenoid pressure Pslp and the second solenoid pressure Psls) may slightly decrease. For this reason, there has been a limit to improve the speed of response while ensuring the control accuracy of each sheave pressure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hydraulic control system of continuously variable transmission


A packaging structure for a cooking device is so configured that a packaging material (101) with trays (91, 92) packaged therewith is disposed in a heating chamber (2) with such an inclination that a one-side portion of the packaging material (101) becomes higher than the other-side portion of the packaging material (101). Also, the one-side portion of the packaging material (101) is placed on a one-side-portion side tray holder (16A). Further, a cushioning material (201) is inserted between an upper portion (2e) of the heating chamber (2) and the one-side portion of the packaging material (101), so that the one-side portion of the packaging material (101) is pressed against the one-side-portion side tray holder (16A) while the other-side portion of the packaging material (101) is pressed against the other-side-portion side inner side surface (2c) of the chamber.

Among conventional packaging structures for cooking devices is one disclosed in JP 4818204 A (PTL1). In this packaging structure, a tray is set on a base member, a grid is set on the tray, and further a cushioning material is set on the grid. Then, the tray, the grid and the cushioning material are put into a heating chamber along with the base member. In this case, the grid and the base member are in contact with the tray.
The grid, when put into the heating chamber, is elastically deformed so that the cushioning material is prevented from catching on an opening of the heating chamber.
By the setting that the base member, the tray, the grid and the cushioning material are put into the heating chamber as described above, the tray is pressed against the base member by elasticity of the grid in the heating chamber, with the intention of restricting motions of the tray during the transportation.


A method is presented for analyzing a multiphase fluid flowing through a tubular. A sample fluid flow of multiphase fluid (a mixture of some combination of gas, liquid and solid) is separated from a primary tubular, such as with a probe which traverses the tubular. At least one property of the multiphase fluid is determined using at least one multivariate optical element (MOE) calculating device. Measured properties include the presence, proportional amount, mass or volumetric flow rate, and other data related to a constituent of the fluid, such as CO2, H2S, water, inorganic and organic gases and liquids, or group of constituents of the fluid, such as SARA, C1-C4 hydrocarbons, etc. The multiphase fluid is preferably mixed prior to analysis. Additional data can be gathered and used to calculate derivative information, such as mass and volumetric flow rates of constituents in the tubular, etc.

This invention relates to optical analysis systems and methods for analyzing multiphase fluids, for example, reservoir hydrocarbons flowing in a tubular, pipe, or well.
In the petroleum industry, as in many other industries, ability to monitor flow of certain fluids in conduits, tubulars, process pipes and the like, especially in real time, offers considerable value. Oil and gas well operators often need to measure water, oil, gas flow rates, or a combination of these, during production, transportation and processing, and at various locations, such as downhole, at the wellhead, in transport pipelines, etc. Often the fluid is a mixture of multiple phases (oil, gas, water, even solids) and typically consists of many constituents (C1 and higher hydrocarbons, water, asphaltenes, etc.). This information aids in improving well production, making decisions regarding processes to apply to a well, preventing flow problems, and generally determining the well's performance.
While some techniques enable measuring flow rates within two phase mixtures, difficulty arises in determining individual volumetric and mass fractions and flow rates in three phase mixtures. Separators can be used to separate out one or more phases from the flow stream, but they introduce additional equipment and costs and typically require significant space. Other costly and time consuming procedures entail manual sampling of the mixture to obtain information regarding the individual volumetric or mass fractions. On the other hand, flow metering devices can be complex and can restrict flow creating significant pressure loss, such as when venturi based measurements are required, and do not determine the presence or amounts of particular constituents of the fluid.
In many instances, multiphase flow meters utilize a method to measure a flow rate of the entire flow stream and another process to measure volume fractions of oil, water and gas. This measured information, when applied to flow models, enables estimation of each of the individual phase flow rates. However, flow models make assumptions regarding flow characteristics, and do not account for uniqueness of particular fluid flow. In other words, application of flow models with measured total flow and volume fractions does not permit direct measurement of phase velocities and flow rates and does not determine the presence or amount of flow constituents.
Optical spectroscopy is an analytical technique that derives information about the system being evaluated by the interaction of that system with light in the UV to IR range. The interaction changes the properties of the light, specifically the frequency (color), intensity, polarization, or direction (scattering or refraction). Optical spectroscopy is used to analyze samples in an oil field. Optical spectroscopy techniques are costly, slow and cumbersome to implement and frequently require an elevated level of expertise at the well site.
Determining hydrocarbon fluid quality while drilling can impact real-time decisions such as which zones to test among numerous zones in a complex field, and the number and type of samples to take. When fluid samples are acquired, they must be evaluated for contamination, because high levels of contamination can render them useless for future analysis). Petroleum quality information can also affect decisions regarding drilling, logging, production, work-overs, etc. These services require substantial cost and down time. Natural systems, including geological and petroleum systems, rarely are conducive to a classic spectral analysis without extensive sample preparation. Additionally, classical spectroscopy has limited use in determining physical properties and can be costly and cumbersome to implement.
A relatively new technology employs multivariate optical elements (MOE) to analyze fluid flow, such as in petroleum production and pipelines. An MOE is an optical computer that offers advantageous of ruggedness, low cost and accuracy, while also being unobtrusive, and thus is well suited for application to analysis in a petroleum producing field and for petroleum pipeline monitoring in a hostile environment, such as production at elevated underground temperatures and pressures or in remote and hostile settings. MOE computer devices have been used to analyze static fluid samples, with the associated delays of collection, transport and testing. Further, MOE computer devices have been disclosed as useful in analyzing static and moving fluid flows. However, a need exists for improved methods and apparatus to analyze multiphase fluid flow through a tubular to determine constituents and properties of the fluid.

Method and apparatus for analyzing multiphase fluid flow using a multivariate optical element calculation device


A custom mouthguard may be formed from a multiple layer assembly including an ethylene vinyl acetate/thermoplastic polyurethane layer, an ethylene vinyl acetate layer and an intervening impact shield and elastomeric framework. The elastomeric framework may include one or more posterior occlusal pads. The custom mouthguard may be molded to a positive mold of an individual's upper teeth and gums.

Conventional custom mouthguards are manufactured using a dental impression or replica of an individual's teeth, in particular the individual's upper teeth. The individual is provided with a tray filled with a modeling compound, which forms a negative impression when bitten. The negative impression may then be used to form a positive mold of the individual's teeth. Custom mouthguards have been created from the negative impression by vacuum forming or heat laminating generally thin polymer layers around the positive mold,


A hinge for pivoting a flap, and in particular, to a hinge for pivoting a flap on a motor vehicle. The hinge aids the closing of the flap and includes two linkages or legs which are arranged rotatably around at least one axis of rotation and are connected with one another. A transmission is arranged for transmitting a torque formed during a closing movement of the hinge to a flywheel mass for the accumulation and subsequent aiding and continuation of the closing movement.

This application claims the priority of foreign application number 100 27 570.2, filed in Germany on Jun. 2, 2000, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a hinge for pivoting a flap, and, in particular to a hinge for pivoting a flap on a motor vehicle having two linkages or legs which are rotatably connected with one another about at least one axis of rotation.
Within the scope of the present invention, the term xe2x80x9cflapxe2x80x9d includes all types of flaps, doors, lids or other covers which are conventionally connected with the body of a motor vehicle by way of an articulated joint.
According to the prior art, conventional flaps must be set in motion such that during a closing movement they fall into a lock at a minimum speed. The kinetic energy connected with this minimum speed must be sufficiently high in order to press together in a large-surface manner, for example, the sealing of a vehicle body opening to be covered, so that the lock is reliably caused to engage. Only then will the flap close off the vehicle body opening in a secure and sufficiently tight manner.
Additional energy is required for overcoming the friction in the system which must be applied manually by the user. If the flap is closed by way of a handle situated on an interior side, this handle has to be released at a relatively early point in time in order to prevent a pinching of the hand. Since the angle of the flap opening is still relatively large, the flap must already be set into a relatively high-speed motion at this point in time, for example, 1.5 m/s at a rear edge of the flap, in the case of a rear flap. This is often relatively difficult and always carries the risk of contusions.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hinge of the above-mentioned type having a new mechanical design which aids the closing of a flap. In addition, it should be possible to upgrade known hinges in a simple manner by means of the arrangement according to the invention.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a hinge having a transmission arranged for transmitting a torque occurring during a closing movement of the hinge to a flywheel mass for an intermediate accumulation and subsequent aiding and continuation of the closing movement.
The closing of a flap in a hinge according to the invention is aided by an accumulation of energy during the initial closing movement and a subsequent delivery of this energy after the flap has been let go. Accordingly, a hinge according to the invention comprises, in addition to the actual hinged joint, a transmission which is mechanically coupled with the hinge and includes a flywheel mass. During the movement of the flap at the start of the closing movement, the flywheel mass is caused to carry out a rotary motion. After the flap is released, the energy accumulated in the flywheel mass causes a complete closing at a speed which, in comparison to arrangements according to the prior art, is clearly lower. The resistance of the above-mentioned energy-absorbing structural elements, such as the seal, the air resistance, the bearing friction and the balance of weight, is overcome by the available energy which is intermediately stored in the rotary motion of the flywheel mass.
In principle, a unit comprising a flywheel mass and a transmission, in the following is also called a flywheel transmission and is constructed such that it can also be used on a hinge as a separate and subsequently mounted structural element. Thus, a hinge can be retrofitted to form a flywheel transmission according to the invention. However, a hinge is preferably equipped directly with a flywheel transmission and, in the following, is therefore called a hinge according to the invention.
The transmission with a flywheel mass is situated in an area which is in each case suitable for introducing a torque. Advantageously, according to the available space in an embodiment with very limited space, the flywheel transmission and the hinge are coupled with one another by way of a cardan shaft. However, a compact construction is preferable, in which the flywheel transmission is arranged directly in or on the hinge with a direct mechanical coupling, preferably in the area of an axis of rotation of the hinge.
Also in the case of a small mass or flywheel mass, sufficient energy can be stored in the form of a rotary movement because of a corresponding rotational speed, in order to change the hinge also against the above-described resistances into its closed position or closing position. As a result, an additional mass is added to the weight of the rear flap which does not weigh much itself. For this purpose, the transmission is constructed as a step-up gearing.
The hinge of the flap or door may be a single-joint hinge, a four-joint hinge, a multiple-joint hinge or a gearwheel-type hinge. However, any other joint concept or hinge concept can be used in which rotary motions occur internally which are suitable for controlling a flywheel transmission according to the invention.
In an embodiment of a hinge according to the invention, the flywheel transmission is mounted on the flap side. Thus, for example, when arranged on a trunk lid, it does not present an obstacle during the installation as well as during the loading of a trunk equipped in this manner. In this case, the flywheel transmission introduces its torque into the vehicle-body-fixed part of the hinge or into an element of a multiple-joint hinge or directly by way of a force transmission into the vehicle body.
However, advantageously, the flywheel transmission can also be mounted on the vehicle body or the vehicle-body-fixed part of the hinge so that the pivoted flap is relieved by the additional component. The construction must then be aimed at the fact that a torque or a force must be introduced or transmitted from the site of the flywheel transmission on the vehicle body by way of a lever into the flap or an element of the hinge or of a multiple-joint hinge.
In another embodiment, the flywheel transmission is fastened on an element of a multiple-joint hinge or other hinge. In this case, the flywheel transmission introduces its torque directly or introduces a force by way of a lever into another element of the hinge. A direct introduction of force from the flywheel transmission into the vehicle body or into the flap is also conceivable, a distance from the point of the introduction of force to the pivot serving as the lever arm.
According to a preferred embodiment, when the flap is operated in an unusual to unauthorized manner, an excessive force can act upon the flywheel transmission. This may result in damage or require an unnecessarily solid construction. The danger of excessive pinching forces when closing the flap can also have a negative effect. In a further preferred embodiment, the driving torque is therefore limited by the interposition of an overload clutch if torques occur which are unnecessarily high for the normal operation. As a result, while using simple mechanical elements, a force limitation is implemented in the smallest additional space. Simultaneously, as a result of this measure for combating danger, the entire construction can have a weaker dimensioning.
For improving the comfort during the opening, a counterweight is provided on the flap in the case of known flaps. This counterweight aids the movement of the flap at least during the start of the movement so that not the entire force must be applied manually. As a device for balancing the weight, a spring element in the form of a pneumatic spring may, for example, be provided. However, during the closing, the pneumatic spring simultaneously has to be prestressed for the closing movement. For this purpose, additional energy must therefore be applied during the closing movement. By means of a conventional mechanical design, the target conflict resulting from the above-mentioned requirements between a good closing comfort and simultaneously a good opening comfort can be solved only insufficiently. Particularly, a manual operation of a flap is made still more difficult. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening in the case of a hinge according to the invention is not significantly impaired. For this purpose, a deactivation of the flywheel drive of the hinge takes place during the opening in order not to impair the comfort of the operation in this phase. By means of a free-wheel device which, during the closing of the flap, is preferably bridged by a centrifugal clutch, the flywheel transmission is uncoupled only during the flap opening movement. As soon as the transmission is caused to rotate during the closing, the free-wheel device is bridged also in its operating direction, thus in the direction of the free wheeling. Now, during the braking of the flywheel, the additional accumulating device can introduce its torque into the flap under the effect of the centrifugal clutch by way of the transmission.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a movable abutment is provided on the transmission route of the flywheel transmission. Starting from a certain position of the flap, the abutment is switched to be rotatable by way of an unlocking device, such as a locking block. Furthermore, as an alternative, electrical, mechanical or hydraulic devices can be provided for this purpose.
In addition, in the case of elastic hinge or flap constructions, large elastic deformations of individual or several components may occur as a result of the required torque of the flywheel transmission of a hinge according to the invention. The implementation of the above-mentioned characteristics is an effective remedy, so that a further strengthening of the construction will not be necessary.
According to another preferred embodiment, by way of this abutment, which rotates starting from a certain position, the rotating motion is converted to a translational motion. By means of a guidance of force, this translational motion drives a pull-shut device, for example, by way of a rod or a Bowden cable. This pull-shut device is integrated in the vicinity of the flap or the door, or directly in the lock. The pull-shut device has the purpose of more directly introducing the required torque for compressing the flap sealing or door sealing for overcoming the friction of the structural elements and of the lock engaging forces, for example, in the proximity of or directly in the lock. This force can be introduced more effectively compared to the prior art.
In a further preferred embodiment, the pull-shut device is constructed as a lever with an abutment, for example, a sloping ramp and/or a connecting link on the flap in the area of the lock, or is constructed as a mechanism which has the same effect. The pull-shut device is preferably driven by an abutment of a joint according to the invention, which abutment is rotatably released in this position. In a preferred embodiment, the rotating movement of the abutment is converted into a translational movement by way of a coupled compression member, by way of which translational movement, a free end of the compression member in the area of the lock on the flap moves over a sloped flank for generating a very high closing force.
By way of the above-mentioned locking block, this pull-shut device is preferably released only when the flap is almost closed. In this condition, a flap, such as a trunk lid, is already closed so far that a pinching is no longer possible. In particular, a gap at the trunk is already closed in such a condition. Because of the pull-shut device which operates subsequently, the speed of the flap can be reduced in comparison to a normally required closing speed such that the flap reliably continues to move only under the effect of all the above-mentioned counterforces. On the other hand, in the event of a pinching risk, it should be possible to securely brake the flap without the occurrence of injuries caused by pinching. Thus, at this point of the moving sequence, the closing speed can be lowered to below 1 m/s, in which case, without the pull-shut device, speeds of approximately 1.5 m/s would be required.
After the pull-shut operation, the pull-shut device can be moved back into its starting position. Using the above-described combination of the free-wheel clutch and the centrifugal clutch, after the conclusion of the closing operation with the decaying of the effect of the driving torque of the flywheel transmission, a weak spring will be sufficient for resetting the pull-shut device and thereby also moving the movable abutment of the flywheel transmission into a starting position for a new opening operation. Thus, a flywheel transmission or hinge according to the invention is virtually immediately available after the secure closing without any significant waiting period for a new opening. This characteristic is very significant in the daily practice because users very frequently, for example, close a trunk and then open it up again immediately in order to check the just loaded content.
Advantageously, a joint or hinge according to the invention can be used in all rear flaps and swivel doors, etc. which have no fully automatic flap closing device. In addition to rear flaps on automobile, all doors, particularly swivelling doors to be opened in the upward direction, can therefore be closed and opened more easily by hand. A use of a joint according to the invention is also conceivable in the case of forward flaps and/or cabs of trucks. A distribution of forces changed by inclination or sloping is automatically compensated by the above-described characteristics of a hinge according to the invention.
The invention is particularly significant for flaps which open automatically after the triggering of a closing device, for example, by way of remote unlocking from a distance of over 5 m. Here, the opening operation is caused after the operation of the lock, for example, by a pneumatic spring, in which case this operation is not at all hindered or impaired by a joint according to the invention. After the loading, the closing movement is advantageously aided as described above.

Hinge for pivoting a flap and a method of using and making same

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


For controlling motion of a movable part, a device comprises a first chamber and a second chamber in fluid communication with each other via a variable orifice that is responsive to pressure within the first chamber. Movement of the movable part is thereby at least partially controlled by flow of a fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber via the variable orifice. An increase in pressure in the first chamber may cause an increase in orifice area, whereas a decrease in pressure may cause a decrease in the orifice area. Pressure-dependent elements that change geometries and/or the pressure-based opening/closing of one or more bypass channels may be used for this purpose. Where bypass channels are used, a valve may be opened/closed based on an operating parameter of a system in which the movable part is a component. Such a system may comprise an internal combustion engine.

As known in the mechanical arts, there are myriad situations in which it is desirable to control the motion of a movable part. By way of non-limiting example, such control is desirable in the context of internal combustion engines. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical scenario, specifically a valve seating control device 100 used to control motion of at least one engine valve 110 (only a single valve shown for ease of illustration), any of which may comprise an exhaust valve, an intake valve or an auxiliary valve. The device 100 may include one or more valve train elements 120 operatively connected to a motion generating source 130, a valve seating device 140 and the at least one engine valve 110. The motion generating source 130 may optionally comprise a lost motion system. As known in the art, the valve train elements 120 may transmit a valve actuation motion to the engine valve 110, for example, to produce various engine valve events, such as, but not limited to, main intake, main exhaust, compression release braking, bleeder braking, exhaust gas recirculation, early exhaust valve opening and/or closing, early intake opening and/or closing, centered lift, etc.
The motion generating source 130 may comprise any known combination of elements for imparting a linear actuation motion, particularly in the context of internal combustion engines. For example, the motion generating source 130 may comprise a camshaft having one or more rotating cams. Alternatively, the motion generating source 130 may receive motion from another engine component and transfer the motion as an input to the lost motion system, for example, or directly to the valve train elements 120. As known in the art, a lost motion system may comprise any structure that connects a source of motion to the valve train elements 120 and that is capable of selectively losing part or all of the motion imparted to it.
The engine valve 110 may be disposed within a sleeve or housing 111, which in turn is provided in a cylinder head 112. The engine valve 110 may be adapted to slide up and down relative to the sleeve 111 and may be biased into a closed position by a valve spring 113. The valve spring 113 may be compressed between the cylinder head 112 and a valve spring retainer 114 that may be attached to a valve stem, thereby biasing the engine valve 110 into an engine valve seat 116. When the engine valve 110 is in contact with the engine valve seat 116, the engine valve 110 is effectively in a closed position.
The valve train elements 120 may receive a force from the motion generating source 130 (e.g., via a lost motion system or directly from the source of motion) and may transfer this force to the engine valve 110. The valve train elements 120 may also transmit the force of the valve spring 113 that biases the engine valve 110 into a closed position back to the lost motion system, if present, and/or the valve seating device 140, although this is not a requirement as the force of the valve spring 113 may be more directly transmitted, e.g., via a valve stem or the like. As shown, the valve seating device 140 may be operatively connected to the valve train elements 120. When the valve seating device 140 is activated, it may provide a resistance to the bias of the engine valve spring 113 through the valve train elements 120. Alternatively, the valve seating device 140 may be deployed within a lost motion system, with the force of the valve spring 113 transmitted back accordingly.
For example, when a lost motion system acts to lose the motion of the motion generating source 130, the engine valve 110 normally may close in "free-fall," a state in which the engine valve 110 may contact the engine valve seat 116 at an undesirably high rate of speed. That is, the high seating velocity of the valve may lead to excessive noise, vibration and harshness, particularly at lower engine speeds, as well as valve damage. In order to slow the velocity at which the engine valve 110 closes when, in this case, the lost motion system is losing motion, the valve seating device 140 may be used. That is, the valve seating device 140 may provide control over the engine valve 110 as it comes into contact with the engine valve seat 116. As known in the art, the valve seating device 140 may slow the speed at which the engine valve 110 contacts the engine valve seat 116 by opposing the motion of the engine valve 110 through the valve train elements 120, or components of the lost motion system if the valve seating device 140 is deployed therein. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other scenarios in which it is desirable to use the valve seating device 140 in the absence of operation of the lost motion system 130 are known.
An example of a valve seating device 140 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 in which an engine valve 210 (or component of a valve train or lost motion system) interacts with a first chamber 220. Prior to a valve seating event (such as during the valve opening period), a volume of fluid (such as engine oil) is forced in a first chamber 220. As shown, the first chamber 220 communicates with a second chamber 240 via an orifice 230. As used herein, reference to an "orifice" encompasses a single orifice or a plurality of orifices operating in conjunction. Although not illustrated in FIG. 2, the second chamber 240 typically vents to a low pressure drain or the like. During the valve seating event, pressure is generated in the first chamber 220 due to interaction of the valve 210 with the fluid in the first chamber 220, typically via an intervening slave piston or the like. The size and shape of the orifice 230 results in different valve seating velocity of the valve 210 as the flow coefficient and the flow area of the orifice define the flow rate of the fluid out of the first chamber 220 through the orifice 230 and into the second chamber 240. In known embodiments, the size and shape of the orifice 230 is adjustable, thereby permitting greater control of the fluid flow between chambers 220, 240 and, consequently, the seating velocity of the engine valve 210. Specifically, a feature of prior art valve seating devices 140 is that they are dependent upon position of the engine valve when adjusting the velocity of the engine valve. That is, control of the size and shape of the orifice 230 is dependent upon the position of the valve 210 resulting in constant seating velocities regardless of other engine-related parameters. In some situations, however, such uniform operation regardless of context could be problematic because the constant seating velocity of an engine valve can interfere with overall engine operation.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide control over movable parts that is responsive to a broader array of conditions.


A tamper indicating closure assembly for a removable closure cap includes a removable overcap which completely surrounds the closure cap, the overcap having a transparent window, and a rupturable membrane intermediate the closure cap and the overcap being exposed through the window. One portion of the membrane is secured to the closure cap and another portion thereof is secured to the overcap so that relative movement between the overcap and the closure cap causes an unsecured portion of the membrane to tear.

This invention relates to an assembly for a closure cap or lid of a container which provides an indication to the user that the closure cap has been tampered with or previously removed.
Various approaches have been taken in the past to provide evidence of tampering with the contents of containers and vials of especially pharmaceuticals and various comestibles.
A foil seal or the like is oftentimes bonded or welded along the rim of the container neck requiring a rupturing of the seal to facilitate access. A closure cap is then snap-fitted or threaded onto the container neck which, upon removal, requires the user to rupture the seal to gain access to the contents. If the seal is already ruptured after cap removal, the user immediately detects tampering.
This approach is useful, although not entirely foolproof, as the user should be aware of tampering before purchase and at the time the bottle is removed from the shelf.
Several tamper evident caps have been devised for use with a sealed liner. For example, the liner is exposed through a transparent window in the closure cap, and is adhesively secured to the underside of the cap so that, upon cap removal, the seal is ruptured giving evidence through the window of tampering before first use. Otherwise, a tine depending from the cap extends through the liner, or bears against the liner, so that upon cap removal the liner is ruptured giving evidence of tampering.
Another approach is to provide discs secured to the underside of the cap and to the rim of the bottle with microencapsulated dyes between the discs so that, upon cap removal, the micro-capsules are ruptured giving evidence of tampering.
Still another approach provides for an overcap on the closure cap, the closure cap having warning indicia visable through windows in the overcap upon overcap rotation in one direction.
Although each of these prior art approaches provides tamper-evidence, they are incapable of being mass produced effectively and economically, and some are rather awkward to operate, while others are not reliable in providing the necessary telltale tampering for which they are designed. And, most tamper evident closures require the closure cap itself to be rotated or moved before tampering is detected.


A roof structure includes a lightweight insulating concrete layer, a waterproof membrane overlying the concrete layer, and a plurality of adhesive pellets that are at least partially embedded in the concrete layer. At least some of the adhesive pellets are in contact with an adhesive layer of the waterproof membrane so that the waterproof membrane and the concrete layer are both adhesively bonded together.

This invention relates to roofing structures, and more particularly to a system and method for enhancing the bond of roofing membranes to lightweight insulating concrete.
Roofing structures often include a roofing deck followed by one or more layers of lightweight insulating concrete and a roofing membrane. Roofing membranes typically comprise multiple plies of bituminous felt material that are sealed together and to the concrete layer with flood pourings of hot roofing asphalt. It has been found, however, that full adhesion of the roofing membrane to the concrete layer is prevented by imperfections on the surface of the concrete layer, such as surface dusting, soft spots, and/or low spots. Consequently, isolated air pockets may form between the concrete layer and the roofing membrane, thereby decreasing the strength of the interfacial bond formed between the two layers. In addition, moisture that may be trapped in the pockets can cause the formation of bubbles and subsequent leaks in the roofing membrane, especially on hot days where expansion of the water vapor occurs. Moreover, the water-to-cement ratio for lightweight insulating concrete is typically several times that of conventional structural cement in order to render the material sufficiently fluid for placement on the roof platform. The bituminous plies are often installed before the concrete is completely cured and dried, due to the uneconomical delay in the curing and drying process. Consequently, air and moisture can easily become trapped within pockets beneath the membrane layer. In addition, external sources of moisture, such as humidity or rain, may also cause the build-up of moisture beneath the waterproofing layer.
In an effort to overcome these problems, the prior art has proposed various solutions that provide adequate ventilation between the concrete and membrane layers. However, the predictability of the adhesion strength between the layers and/or the cost of such solutions are often compromised. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,111 to Mansell discloses a membrane roofing system wherein a thin, perforated non-bituminous sheet of underlay material is installed over a substrate. An adhesive is applied over the underlay material and onto the substrate at areas exposed by the perforations. A membrane layer is then placed over the underlay material so that vapor trapped between the membrane and substrate can disperse through the areas of non-adhesion between the membrane and substrate. However, this system suffers from unpredictable adhesion strength due to the aforementioned surface defects of the concrete layer.
Thus, the interfacial bonds between the concrete and membrane layers of the foregoing solutions may not be as strong as desired, subjecting the roofing system to premature failure due to a phenomenon known as xe2x80x9cwind uplift.xe2x80x9d According to this phenomenon, the lateral movement of air (wind) over the top surface of the roofing system causes a reduction in air pressure above the roof, similar to air pressure reduction which occurs over an airplane wing in flight. The reduced air pressure above the roofing system imparts forces orthogonal to the plane of the roofing system, resulting in xe2x80x9cupliftxe2x80x9d of the roof assembly. These forces tend to pull apart the various layers of the composite roofing systems described above, thereby inducing failure of the roofing system.
Wind, downward load, seismic activity and other phenomena may also impart lateral forces along the face of the top layer of the roofing system, and these lateral forces are often transmitted to the lower insulating layers. Such lateral forces, also designated as horizontal shear forces, may contribute to wind uplift failure, particularly when acting in conjunction with transverse forces associated with wind uplift. They may also decrease the downward load capacity of the roofing system. Because of their susceptibility to this type of failure, such composite roofing systems may fail to meet increasingly stringent building codes, insurance requirements, and other regulatory requirements, particularly in geographic regions where strong winds are common.
In view of the above problems associated with adhesively secured roof membrane systems, the preferred method for the past 30 years has been to mechanically fasten the first ply of the membrane directly to the lightweight insulating concrete. Although this method allows vapor to flow freely between the membrane and concrete layers and ensures a predictable bond between the layers, the cost of mechanical fasteners as well as the requisite skilled labor and installation time are disadvantages which heretofore have been difficult to overcome.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system and method for attaching a waterproof membrane layer to a lightweight insulating concrete layer that permits vapor flow and ensures a predictable bond between the layers without the use of mechanical fasteners.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a roof structure comprises a lightweight insulating concrete layer and a waterproof membrane layer overlying the concrete layer. The waterproof membrane layer has a first ply of waterproof material and a first adhesive layer on the first ply. The roof structure also comprises a plurality of adhesive pellets at least partially embedded in the concrete layer. At least some of the adhesive pellets are in contact with the first adhesive layer of the first ply to thereby adhesively bond and mechanically connect the waterproof membrane layer to the lightweight insulating concrete layer.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a roof structure comprises a lightweight insulating concrete layer with a mixture of Portland cement and at least one aggregate material taken from the group consisting of vermiculite, perlite or pregenerated cellular foam. A waterproof membrane layer overlies the concrete layer. The waterproof membrane layer comprises a first ply of waterproof material with a first heat responsive adhesive layer and a second ply of waterproof material with a second heat responsive adhesive layer bonded to the first ply to thereby secure the first and second plies together. The first adhesive layer has a plurality of spaced adhesive elements on an underside of the first ply, with spaces between the adhesive elements forming vent pathways for vapor movement and vapor pressure relief between the first ply and the concrete layer. A plurality of heat responsive adhesive pellets are at least partially embedded in the concrete layer. The adhesive pellets are melted together with the spaced adhesive elements of the first adhesive layer to thereby adhesively bond and mechanically connect the waterproof membrane layer to the lightweight insulating concrete layer.
In accordance with an even further aspect of the invention, a method of constructing a roof structure comprises forming a lightweight insulating concrete layer; distributing a plurality of adhesive pellets over the concrete layer while the concrete layer is in the plastic state so that the adhesive pellets are at least partially embedded in the concrete layer; at least partially curing the concrete layer so that the adhesive pellets are mechanically secured to the concrete layer; providing a waterproof membrane layer having a first ply of waterproof material and a first adhesive layer on a lower surface of the first ply; and engaging at least some of the adhesive pellets with the first adhesive layer to thereby adhesively bond and mechanically connect the first ply to the concrete layer.

System and method for enhancing the bond of roofing membrane to lightweight insulating concrete


An automatic call distributor (ACD) system, which includes an object-oriented system for defining one or more call treatments is provided. The system includes a first graphical user interface including a plurality of data record fields, which define data applicable to handling an incoming call. Also included is a second graphical user interface, which is configured to accept one or more tests based on the data included in the data record fields applicable to the handling of an incoming call. The first and second graphical user interfaces include a plurality of icons and data entry fields, which are manipulated by a system user to create and modify a call treatment. Once created, call treatments are displayed in a graphical format on a third graphical user interface, which allows one or more portions of a displayed call treatment to be altered by selecting the graphical representation of the relevant portion using a computer mouse or other point and click device.

The present invention relates generally to automatic call distributor systems and more specifically to an object oriented system and method of creating and modifying call routing parameters.
An automatic call distributor (ACD) is a system configured to automatically handle incoming telephone calls. An ACD is designed to efficiently route calls, such as toll-free xe2x80x9c800xe2x80x9d calls, to call center agents in telemarketing and service inquiry centers. ACD""s provide specialized, real-time call management and report generation capabilities. An ACD typically comprises a switching network providing incoming calls with plurality of agents. At certain times, the number of calls received by any given ACD may be excessive. At these times, callers are placed in a line (queue) for answering.
Whenever an incoming call is not immediately answered by a live agent, this call must be handled or routed by the ACD. Call routing strategies and parameters are generally known in the industry as xe2x80x9ccall treatmentsxe2x80x9d. In other words, call treatments are rule sets, which are applied to incoming calls in order to ensure that such incoming calls are efficiently routed to appropriate call center agents or are otherwise handled. There are many ACD systems in existence, which utilize simple and complex call treatment systems and methods. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,260 to Shaio teaches a system for automatically handling incoming telephone calls, which receives an incoming call and, using a call discrimination sub-system and based on the telephony information, assigns control of the call to one of a plurality of possible application programs. At least one application program includes queries for obtaining further information about the call and returns control of the call to the call discrimination sub-system to reassign the call based on the telephony information and further information. The system selects an application program by comparing telephony information about the call with telephony digit patterns that correspond to different types of telephony information and that have been input by a user to be associated with an application program.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,513 to Rose discloses an ACD system, which is configured to receive calls and distribute the calls to the first available qualified agent associated with the ACD. Rose teaches that improved call service can be obtained by selectively assigning telephone calls to different sets of call center agents having different skills.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,269 to Steinlicht discloses an additional ACD-type system. Steinlicht teaches that it is often more desirable to direct an incoming call to an immediately available agent who has less than perfect knowledge of the subject matter of the incoming call rather than forcing a caller to wait for the best qualified agent. Thus, Steinlicht offers a computer software-implemented algorithm for placing an incoming call in a plurality of queues and then offering the call to primary and secondary desirability agents in each of the queues in a prescribed order if anyone of these groups of agents has an agent standing by and able to accept a call.
While all these systems effectively route incoming calls in desirable fashions, they all involve sophisticated, pre-programmed decision structures applicable to potential incoming calls. Thus, they must be programmed by persons skilled in the art of computer programming. Also, once the call routing parameters are established, they are not easily altered.
Accordingly, there is a need for an automatic call distributor-type system, that is easily programmable by call center supervisors who are not necessarily skilled in the art of computer programming. There is also a need for an ACD-type system that allows call routing parameters to be easily altered or modified as conditions dictate.
The disclosed invention satisfies these needs by providing an automatic call distributor (ACD) system, which includes an object-oriented system for defining one or more call treatments. The system includes a first graphical user interface, which includes at least one data record field, which defines at least one parameter applicable to handling an incoming call. Also provided is a second graphical user interface, which is configured to accept at least one test based on the contents of the data record fields applicable to the handling of an incoming call. The first and second graphical user interfaces include a plurality of icons and data entry fields, which are manipulated by a system user to create and modify a call treatment.
Once created, call treatments are displayed on a third graphical user interface in a graphical format. One or more portions of a call treatment may be altered by selecting the graphical representation of the relevant portion using a computer mouse or other point and click device.
Thus, the disclosed invention provides a system and method of creating and modifying call treatments which can be operated by an ACD system supervisor having little or no computer programming skills.

Object oriented system and method for directing incoming telephone calls


The present invention provides a method of implementing a fault-tolerant mutual exclusion lock. The present invention records in a lock structure the IDs of all processes whose failure can lead to the permanent unavailability of the lock. When a process finds the lock unavailable and suspects a permanent failure, it queries the programming environment about the status of all or some of the processes that could have caused the lock's unavailability. If the programming environment determines that these processes have failed, the live process tries to usurp the lock. If it succeeds, it executes some recovery mechanism and frees the lock or proceeds to operate on the objects protected by the lock. The method guarantees recovery from process failures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mutual exclusion locks for synchronizing access to shared data, and, more particularly, to fault tolerant mutual exclusion locks for synchronizing access to shared data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In shared memory computing systems, processes in multi-process programs communicate by reading and writing shared data objects located in a shared memory. FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a shared memory computing system 100, known to one skilled in the art. As illustrated, the shared memory computing system 100 may execute one or more processes 100. One or more processes 100 can access one or more shared address spaces 110, which is also located in the shared memory computing system 100. Each of the one or more shared address spaces 110 contains one or more shared data objects 115. One or more shared data objects 115 can be protected by one or more mutual exclusion locks 120.
Updating a shared data object often involves multiple steps. A process may be interrupted in the middle of such sequences of steps, and, if the sequence is not protected by some mechanism, updates to the shared data object by multiple processes may occur concurrently and result in corrupting the shared data object. For example, a shared counter initially holds the value 10. Two processes read that value and then simultaneously write to the shared counter the value 11. The result is that the shared counter is corrupted because the correct value should be 12.
Conventionally, mutual exclusion locks are used to guarantee exclusive access to a shared data object by one process at a time. Several such locking methods are known and are widely used. Some are more suitable for small and low-contention systems, such as the Test-and-Set lock and the Test-and-Test-and Set Lock. Others are more suitable for high-contention systems, such as queue-based locks. One or more shared data objects may be protected by one or more mutual exclusion locks. To update a shared data object, for example, a shared counter protected by a lock, a process must first acquire the lock associated with the shared data object, execute a sequence of operations on the shared data object, and then release the lock. The sequence of operations in the case of the shared counter is reading the shared counter's value and then writing a new value that is one more than the previously read value (i.e., incrementing the shared counter by one). A mutual exclusion lock guarantees that the shared data object cannot be held by more than one process at the same time. A process is said to "hold a lock" if the process has acquired the lock but has not released it yet.
However, while holding a mutual exclusion lock, a process may fail for a variety of reasons, such as accidental or intentional termination by a human, lack of system resources, heuristic deadlock recovery mechanisms, etc. In such cases, without mechanisms for detecting and recovering from such a situation, the associated shared data object may remain locked indefinitely. Often human detection of the situation is needed and sometimes the only solution is restarting the system or the program.
Conventional locks in prior art do not detect and recover from process failures. FIG. 2A illustrates a possible implementation 200 of the operation of the Test-and-Test-and-Set lock, used on the vast majority of current shared memory systems. A process that needs to acquire the lock bit executes the lock acquire routine 210. The lock acquire routine 210 reads (at 215) the value of the lock bit in a private register. If the lock bit is busy (at 220) it continues to read (at 215) the value of the lock bit until the lock bit is not busy. Conventionally, the lock bit is busy if its value is one. If the lock bit is not busy (at 220), the process executes (at 225) a Test-and-Set operation on the lock bit. The Test-and-Set (TAS) operation is supported in hardware in one way or another on almost all current processors.
Referring now to FIG. 2B, the TAS operation 230 atomically (i.e., without interleaving access by other processes) reads (at 235) the value of a shared variable (in this case a lock bit). If the lock bit is clear (at 240), the TAS operation sets (at 245) the lock bit and returns (at 245) a value of one, indicating the lock bit is clear. If the lock bit is not clear (at 240), the TAS operation returns (at 250) a value of zero, indicating the lock bit is not clear.
Referring again to FIG. 2A, if the TAS operation 230 is not successful (i.e., the TAS operation 230 returns a value of one) (at 255), the lock acquire routine 210 restarts at step 215. If the TAS operation 230 is successful (i.e., the TAS operation 230 returns a value of zero) (at 255), the lock acquire routine 210 proceeds to operate (at 270) on the shared data object protected by the lock bit.
Referring now to FIG. 2C, a process that needs to release the lock bit executes the lock release routine 275. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock release routine 275 clears (at 280) the lock bit. Once the lock bit is cleared (at 280), the lock bit can be acquired by the same or another process.
It is obvious from the above description that a conventional lock such as the Test-and-Test-and-Set lock cannot recover if a process fails while holding it. Without external intervention, other processes may wait forever in the lock acquire routine 210 for a lock that will never be released. Current locks do not detect and recover from process failure that lead to a deadlock situation, where processes wait for an event that will never happen. As such, a fault tolerant mutual exclusion lock is needed to solve this problem.

Fault tolerant mutual exclusion locks for shared memory systems

International Business Machines Corporation


A power supply controller is connected between a power source and a power-supply path, and includes a switch circuit, a power-supply path protection circuit, and a sleep mode setting circuit. The switch circuit is configured to permit and inhibit power supply from the power source to the load. The protection circuit controls switching operation of the switch circuit according to a power-supply command signal commanding start or stop of the power supply to the load, calculates a temperature of the power-supply path regardless of whether power is supplied to the load, do not calculate the temperature of the power-supply path in a sleep mode, and inhibits power supply to the switch circuit according to the calculated temperature reaching an upper limit. The sleep mode setting circuit sets the power supply controller to the sleep mode according to the power-supply path satisfying a temperature condition.

A power supply controller having the following configuration is known. In a power-supply path that connects a load to a power source, a high-power semiconductor switch such as a power MOSFET is provide to control an amount of current to the load by turning on and off the semiconductor switch. With this configuration, the power-supply path to the load is protected against an overcurrent. When an excessive current flows in such a power supply controller, a potential at a control terminal of the semiconductor switch is adjusted by a control circuit. Namely, the semiconductor switch is turned off and the current is shut off (see Patent Document 1).
If the power supply controller is used as a power supply controller for a vehicle, it is set to a power saving mode (sleep mode) when no instruction for driving the load is issued so that a battery can be kept from running out. In the sleep mode, functions of the power supply controller are usually halted except for a sleep-mode cancellation function.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication.

Controlling and protecting power-supply paths from thermal overloads


An image processing apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The an image processing apparatus includes: a depth map estimating unit which estimates a depth map of a stereoscopic image; a region setup unit which sets up a region in the stereoscopic image; and a 3D effect adjusting unit which determines a difference in a depth level between the setup region and a surrounding region other than the setup region based on the estimated depth map, and adjusts a 3D effect of the stereoscopic image based on the determined difference in the depth level.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to an image processing apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus capable of adjusting a 3D effect of a stereoscopic image and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, technology for displaying a stereoscopic image for making a viewer feel a 3D effect based on binocular parallax caused by distantness between the viewer's eyes has attracted attention.
Related art technology for displaying the stereoscopic image is concentrated on adjusting only a depth level of the stereoscopic image in order to enhance the 3D effect.
However, to provide a viewer with the enhanced 3D effect, not only the depth level but also the quality of the stereoscopic image has to be improved.

Image processing apparatus and control method thereof


A new and distinct Cordyline cultivar named ‘Pink Joy’ is disclosed, characterized by very stable, strongly variegated foliage of pink/green/cream and excellent performance in drought and high heat.

The new variety originated as a naturally occurring mutation from the parent variety Cordyling brasiliensis 'Glauca,' an unpatented variety. The color variation was discovered at a commercial nursery in Ningi, Queensland, Australia by the inventors, Walter John Drane and Doreen Joy Drane in 1998.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'Pink Joy' was first performed in Ninji, Queensland Australia by vegetative cuttings. Multiple generations showed the distinctive pink margin to be stable and true to type, not returning to the solid green foliage of the parent variety. Subsequently 'Pink Joy' has been reproduced by micro-propagation and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type through multiple generations.


This invention provides multistep process embodiments for the production of novel esters which exhibit nonlinear optical response.. A process embodiment is illustrated by the reaction of a Schiff base with a substituted acetic acid to form a stilbene alcohol intermediate: ##STR1## The stilbene alcohol intermediate is decarboxylated, and then is esterified in the presence of a pyridine type catalyst to provide an ester with a conjugated structure.

Polymers with a comb structure of pendant side chains are a new class of organic materials which exhibit interesting optical properties.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,694,066; 4,755,574; and 4,762,912 liquid crystalline polymers are described which have pendant side chains which exhibit nonlinear optical susceptibility, in addition to mesogenic properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,208 discloses nonlinear optically responsive organic compounds and side chain polymers in which the molecular dipoles have an electron donor moiety linked through a conjugated .pi. bonding system to an electron acceptor sulfonyl moiety.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,808,332 and 4,810,338 disclose polymers with pendant side chains in which a stilbene-type structure or a diphenylbutadiene-type structure is in conjugation with an electron-donating group and an electron-withdrawing group. These extended conjugated dipolar electronic systems exhibit an exceptionally high level of second order nonlinear optical susceptibility .beta..
Thin films of organic or polymeric materials with large second order nonlinearities in combination with silicon-based electronic circuitry have potential as systems for laser modulation and deflection, information control in optical circuitry, and the like.
Of specific interest with respect to the present invention are publications such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,678,082 and 4,540,743 which describe the esterification of alcohols in the presence of an aminopyridine catalyst.
Because of the important applications of nonlinear optically responsive organic compounds and polymerizable monomers, there is increasing research effort to develop new and improved methods for synthesizing the conjugated dipolar electronic structures which provide the desirable optical properties.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel method for the synthesis of organic compounds and polymerizable monomers which exhibit a high level of nonlinear optical response.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved multistep process for the production of acrylate monomers having a chemical structure characterized by an electron-donating group which is linked through a conjugated electronic system to an electron-withdrawing group.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent from the accompanying description and examples.

Process for the production of esters exhibiting nonlinear optical response


A conducting material comprising: a conducting core region comprising copper and from 0.001 atomic percent to 0.6 atomic percent of one or more metals selected from iridium, osmium and rhenium; and an interfacial region. The interfacial region comprises at least 80 atomic percent or greater of the one or more metals. The invention is also directed to a method of making a conducting material comprising: providing an underlayer; contacting the underlayer with a seed layer, the seed layer comprising copper and one or more metals selected from iridium, osmium and rhenium; depositing a conducting layer comprising copper on the seed layer, and annealing the conducting layer at a temperature sufficient to cause grain growth in the conducting layer, yet minimize the migration of the one or more alloy metals from the seed layer to the conducting layer. The method further comprises polishing the conducting layer to provide a polished copper surface material, and annealing the polished copper surface material at a temperature to cause migration of the one or more metals from the seed layer to the polished surface to provide an interfacial region in contact with a copper conductor core region. The interfacial region and the copper conductor core region comprise the one or more metals.

Aluminum-copper and related alloys were once the preferred alloys for forming interconnect structures in electronic devices such as integrated circuit chips. However, the present demands of the microelectronic industry for increased density and high performance (speed and efficiency) requires that the interconnect structures consist of pure or nearly pure copper. Performance is improved because the resistivity of copper and certain copper alloys is much lower than the resistivity of aluminum-copper. Also, narrow interconnect structures (lines) can be used, thus providing higher wiring densities.
A single damascene process for fabricating an interconnect structure is shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D. As shown in FIG. 1A, an insulator layer 10 is deposited on a substrate and patterned to form a structure of a line or stud. An underlayer 12 is deposited along the sidewalls of the line or via as well as on the top surface of the insulator layer 10. A seed layer 14 is then deposited over underlayer 12 as shown in FIG. 1B. The function of seed layer 14 is to provide a base onto which a main conductor layer 16 can be deposited as shown in FIG. 1C. To complete the wiring step in the single damascene process, the excess copper is planarized by a method such as chemical mechanical polishing to remove the excess top surface conducting material 16, top surface seed layer 24 and top surface underlayer 22 to provide an exposed surface of a copper line or via 26. Lastly, a capping layer 18 is deposited as shown in FIG. 1D. The procedure can be repeated for the next wiring level and/or studs to build a multi-level interconnect structure. In a dual-damascene process, both a stud and a line level are fabricated in the same process step.
The seed layer in an interconnect structure can serve several functions. If the copper conducting layer is formed by a chemical vapor deposition process, a seed layer is often used to initiate the chemical deposition of the copper. In an electroplating process, a seed layer is desirable to provide electrical continuity to the electrodes which supply the plating current. In a high temperature reflow sputtering process, a seed layer is desirable for providing a surface with good wetting and nucleation growth characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,012 describes a seed layer for depositing a conducting layer of a copper alloy. The composition and structure of a seed layer does not have to be the same as the composition and structure of the conducting layer. For instance, the seed layer typically has a higher electrical resistivity than the copper conductor. However, as long as the cross-sectional area occupied by the seed layer is a small fraction of the entire conductor cross-sectional area, the overall line resistance is determined by the resistivity of the copper conductor.
The described seed layers are also said to minimize the electromigration of copper into the dielectric. The electromigration phenomenon occurs when the superposition of an electric field onto random thermal diffusion in a metallic solid causes a net drift of ions in the direction of the electron flow. Any diffusion of copper ions into the silicon substrate can cause device failure.
The seed layers described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,012 include Cu(Sn), Cu(In), Cu(Zr), Cu(Ti) and Cu(C, N, O, Cl, S). Secondary metals can be added to these alloys to improve the adhesion properties to the copper. These secondary metals include Cu(Al), Cu(Mg), and alloys of Cu with other reactive metals such as Be, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, and rare earth series elements of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, and Hf, V, Mb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Si and Ge. In addition, other secondary metals can be used to improve the surface properties of the seed layer including B, O, N, P, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Zn and Cd. A specific metal chosen was silver, which has low solubility in Cu and forms no Cu compounds. Silver also has low resistivity that is comparable to the main copper conductor. Other metals and alloys of some metals which have low solubility in Cu and form no copper compounds include Mo, W and Co.
Following the plating of the copper conducting layer and a mechanical polishing step, a capping layer is formed on the polished copper surface. The function of the capping layer is to minimize the electromigration of copper into adjacent materials. Many types of materials to cap copper have been proposed including both electroless and electrolytically plated metals as well as physical vapor deposited metal and organic-based capping materials. Selective electroless deposition of some metal alloys, in particular of CoWP, has been shown to significantly improve electromigration lifetime, see Hu et al., "Reduced Electromigration of Cu Wires by Surface Coating." Applied Physics Letters, 81(10), 2002, p. 1782. U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,810 describes the use of electroless deposited CoWP films as barrier layers including as a capping material for copper interconnect structures. However, electroless processes typically require some type of seed layer to initiate the nucleation of the capping material.
Rather than trying to improve upon existing seed layers or develop new seed layers for capping materials, particularly electroless CoWP capping materials, Applicants sought a different approach to forming a capping material on copper conductors.


An image forming device includes a casing formed with an opening, a pivot member pivotably disposed in the casing so as to be selectively opened and closed, a cover disposed outward of the pivot member, a lock mechanism that maintains a closed state of the pivot member, a link mechanism and a first roller and a second roller that together convey a recording medium, the first roller being supported by the pivot member, wherein the first roller moves away from the second roller when the pivot member is in the opened state.

There has been proposed a technology to prevent damage to a cover pivotably provided to a device by preventing the cover from opening beyond a predetermined angle. For example, when the cover opens beyond the predetermined angle, a torsion spring applies, on the cover, resilient force in a closing direction of the cover.

Image forming device including outer cover and jam cover linked to the outer cover


A method is described for thin film processing using a selected CMP slurry with a silicon dioxide stop layer. The slurry includes an abrasive, preferably alumina, a corrosion inhibitor, preferably benzotriazole (BTA), and an oxidizer preferably hydrogen peroxide. The method is particularly useful for fabricating thin film heads where alumina is used as the dielectric. The method can be used to planarize metal structures surrounded by alumina in magnetic heads. The alumina refill is deposited to the final target height which is slightly below the height of the metal. A thin silicon dioxide stop layer is deposited over the alumina. The CMP is executed using the selected slurry to planarize the wafer down to the stop layer. Preferably only a negligible amount of the stop layer remains and the height of the metal structure is essentially the same as the deposited height of the refilled alumina.

The read and write head portions of the slider for use in a typical prior art magnetic disk recording system are built-up in layers using thin film processing techniques. In the typical process of fabricating thin film magnetic transducers, a large number of transducers are formed simultaneously on a wafer. After the basic structures are formed the wafer is cut into rows or individual transducers. The magnetic sensor can be any one of various types including tunnel-junction (TMR) and spin valves (GMR). The magnetic transducer 20 is composed of elements that perform the task of writing magnetic transitions (the write head 21) and reading the magnetic transitions (the read head 22) as illustrated in FIG. 1A. The components of the read head 22 are the first shield (S1), the sensor element 25 and the second shield (S2). Separation layer 26 separates S2 from P1 and contributes to the spacing between the read head 22 and the write head 21. The yoke in magnetic transducer 20 includes three pole pieces P1 34, P2 32 and P3 43. P1 has a pedestal pole piece P1P 34P. The P2 32 confronts the P1P 34P across the write gap layer 42 to form the write gap at the ABS. Typically write heads only have one coil layer 37, but two or more coil layers 37, 39 are possible. The P3 43 arches over the resist mound 47. FIG. 1B is an illustration of an enlarged cross section of a prior art magnetic transducer as viewed from the air-bearing surface showing the P2 tip 32T and P1P tip 34T which confront each other across the gap layer 42.
At various stages during the fabrication process chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) is used to planarize the wafer, achieve desired thicknesses of features. For example, CMP is used to planarize the surfaces of S1, P1, P1P, and P2. Features are typically formed on the wafer by plating through photolithography masks and followed by deposition of refill material over the wafer. CMP is used to planarize the wafer after the refill deposition. The active components in magnetic heads are typically metals such as copper, NiFe, CoFe and CoNiFe. The refill material is typically alumina. The slurry used for CMP conventionally includes an abrasive such as silica or alumina, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors and etchants. Conventionally in preparation for planarization the material for a head component such as shield and pole pieces are deposited significantly thicker than the final target value. Similarly the refill material is also deposited significantly above the final. When the CMP is executed the excess material is removed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,878 to Dill, et al. a slurry is described for chemically mechanically polishing copper, alumina and nickel iron to a common plane. The slurry includes colloidal silica, potassium and/or sodium persulfate and ammonium persulfate (APS). The concentrations are tailored to chemically-mechanically polish alumina and nickel iron at the same rate or to chemically-mechanically polish the copper at the same rate as the other materials to the same plane.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 20020012195 to Lahiri, et al., a P2 pole tip/yoke interface structure in a magnetic head is formed by a process which includes two CMP polishing steps performed on the surface of the write head wafer subsequent to the plating of the P2 pole tip. A refill layer of a dielectric material, such as alumina, is deposited on the wafer surface over the P2 pole tips. The alumina layer projects up wherever the P2 pole tips are formed on the wafer. A first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) step is next conducted upon the wafer. The first CMP step utilizes a relatively hard polishing pad and a chemical polishing slurry that removes alumina and NiFe at approximately equal rates. The slurry may have a neutral pH with a passivating agent such as benzothiazole (BTA), to a higher pH of approximately 10 where a passivating agent normally is not required. A chemical oxidant may be included in the slurry, and a preferred oxidant is ammonium persulfate. The relatively hard pad preferentially removes the projecting portions and the slurry attacks and removes the alumina and the NiFe that constitutes the P2 pole tip. The first CMP step is conducted until the top surface of each P2 pole tips formed on the wafer is exposed within the polished surface of the alumina layer, as is depicted in The second CMP step of the present invention involves the utilization of a relatively soft polishing pad along with an acidic polishing slurry. An oxidant, such as ammonium persulfate is preferably included in the acidic polishing slurry. The acidic polishing slurry coupled with the soft polishing pad of the second CMP step create an environment in which the P2 pole tip is preferentially attacked as compared to the alumina. As a result, the second CMP step acts to remove the upper surface of the pole tip to form a recessed P2 pole tip surface.
Various nitrides have been proposed as CMP stop layers. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0065023 by Siang Ping Kwok suggests using a three layer film, such as nitride/oxide/nitride for a CMP stop layer on the IC chips. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 20010049183 by Henson, et al., SiC is used as a CMP stop layer.
What is needed is an improved slurry and stop layer for use in fabricating the structures in magnetic heads.

Method for fabricating thin film magnetic heads using CMP with polishing stop layer

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


2-Chloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethane of formula (II):

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2-chloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethane (II) (monochlorinated orthoacetic ester) by reacting 1,1,1-trialkoxyethane (I) (orthoacetic ester) with chlorine, preferably in the presence of alcohols and catalytic amounts of a base:
2. Description of the Background
2-Chloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethane compounds (chlorinated orthoacetic esters) are important raw materials and building blocks for active ingredients in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Overall, they are suitable in a versatile manner for constructing heterocyclic compounds. For instance, the reaction of chlorinated orthoacetic esters with semicarbazide hydrochloride to give substituted triazolones is described in Tetrahedron Letters, 41(44), 8661-8664; 2000 and in the patent application WO01/96315. Moreover, chlorinated orthoacetic esters are described in the Journal of Organic Chemistry, 66 (18) 6116-6123; 2001 and in Tetrahedron Letters 41 (39), 7447-7452; 2000, as building blocks for substituted cyclic ketals and lactones.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,089, 2-chloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethane serves as a building block with an amine as a reactant for preparing substituted amido esters.
Synth. Commun. 19 (16), 2921-2924 describes both the use of 2-chloro-1,1,1-triethoxyethane as a versatile building block for preparing benzothiazoles and benzoxazoles and also the preparation by reaction of triethyl orthoacetate with N-chlorosuccinimide.
As taught in the prior art, 2-chloro-1,1,1-orthoesters are prepared by reacting orthoesters with chlorosuccinimide, in many cases in large amounts of chlorinated hydrocarbons. For instance, European patent application EP 0 222 576 describes the synthesis of 2-chloro-1,1,1-triethoxyethane starting from 1,1,1-triethoxyethane with N-chlorosuccinimide in the presence of carbon tetrachloride as solvent. Further prior art examples can be found in EP 0 222 576 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,280 (7.31.1987), which disclose the synthesis of 2-chloro-1,1,1-(C1-C4)-alkoxyethane by reacting 1,1,1-(C1-C4)-alkoxyethane with N-chlorosuccinimide in the presence of chlorinated hydrocarbons as the solvent. The last-cited patent suggests a further synthetic route of reacting the same reactant with chlorine in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of pyridine as base, using chlorinated hydrocarbon as a cosolvent. Common to all these processes is that the space-time yield of product is uneconomical from the aspect of technical and industrial application, and the processes can only be carried out at very high cost and inconvenience. In addition, halohydrocarbons are frequently used as solvents. However, such halohydrocarbon solvents are used with reluctance in the chemical industry from the point of view of environmental protection. A further economic drawback of the conventional processes using N-chlorosuccinimide is the very high price of this raw material. Furthermore, the use of N-chlorosuccinimide results, after completion of the synthesis, in succinimide as waste material which, as a solid, has to be removed at great cost and inconvenience from the reaction mixture by a solids work-up (filtering, decanting or centrifuging). This also makes industrial application very disadvantageous. In addition to the drawbacks already mentioned, it is common to all the prior art processes that a relatively high proportion of 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethane occurs which can only be removed from monochloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethane in a subsequent work-up of the reaction mixture at very high costs of distillation. Moreover, for monochloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethanes that are used in the pharmaceutical sector, it is desirable that very pure products be obtained that contain very low amounts of dichlorinated by-products.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of preparing 2-chloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethane that minimizes production costs and results in a product of high purity.
Briefly, this object and other objects of the present invention as hereinafter will become more readily apparent can be attained by a process of preparing 2-chloro-1,1,1-trialkoxyethane in high purity by reacting 1,1,1-trialkoxyethane with gaseous or liquid chlorine in the presence of an alcohol and preferably of a catalytic amount of base.
In formulas (I) and (II) above, which respectively represent reactant and product, R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different and each is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 8, preferably from 1 to 6, more preferably from 1 to 4, carbon atoms. However, two or three of the radicals they may also be joined together to form a cyclic alkylene group. Suitable alkyl groups include methyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl and sec-butyl groups. The cyclic alkylene group preferably contains 2 to 3 carbon atoms. The alcohol may be linear or branched or may be an aromatic group.
The total number of carbon atoms in the alcohol solvent ranges from 1 to 10. Suitable examples of alcohols include methanol, ethanol, the isomeric propanols, the isomeric butanols and benzyl alcohol.
The reaction of the invention is performed at a temperature from xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. to +100xc2x0 C., and preferably at atmospheric pressure. However, slightly increased pressures of up to about 10 bar, preferably 5 bar (absolute) may also be employed. Relatively small amounts of solvent are used, and preference is given to low-boiling low molecular weight alcohols which can be removed easily by distillation. The amount of alcohol solvent in the reaction generally ranges from 0.1 to 20%, preferably from 5 to 20%, based on the 1,1,1-trialkoxyethane used. The reaction may also be conducted without the presence of an alcohol, which has the advantage that a step of distillation in the work-up to obtain a pure reaction product is not required thus simplifying the process. When an alcohol solvent is employed in the reaction, a relatively large proportion of by-product materials is to be expected. In particular, with respect to the degradation of the orthoacetates, ethyl acetate is obtained as a by-product.
In the chlorination reaction, gaseous or liquid chlorine is metered into the reactor or into the orthoacetate or the initially charged orthoacetate/alcohol mixture. Because the chlorination is strongly exothermic (xcex94H approx. xe2x88x92100 kJ/mol), chlorine is preferably introduced into the reaction medium in batches or slowly at a low metering rate, so that the internal temperature does not rise to such an extent that selectivity is adversely affected. It has been found that a tolerably narrow by-product spectrum occurs within a temperature range ranging from xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. to a maximum of 100xc2x0 C.
The use of catalytic amounts of a base when initiating the chlorination reaction surprisingly proves to be advantageous. Suitable bases include small amounts of alkali metal hydroxide or alkali metal alkoxide, in particular sodium alkoxide or potassium alkoxide, for example sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, sodium isopropoxide, potassium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium tert-butoxide or potassium sec-butoxide. The bases may be used as pure substances, for example, as a solid in powder or granule form, or else in the form of an alcoholic solution. According to the invention, the amount of pure base when used should range from 0.1 to 10%, preferably from 0.2 to 1% (based on trialkoxyethane used).
From economic considerations, the content of alcohol which may be used to dissolve the base should preferably not be greater than 20%, based on the orthoester used.
The process of the invention may be conducted batchwise or continuously. In the case of a continuous process operation, only as much of the reaction mixture is withdrawn as is added in reactants, so that the fill level in the reactor remains constant. At the start of the reaction, it is advisable to bring the conversion to a very high level. The required reaction or residence times, depending on the heat of reaction which can be removed, are in the range of 2-10 hours. The times are substantially determined by the available cooling performance and the reactor design. However, all process variants mentioned provide a better conversion within shorter reaction times at very high selectivity compared to conventional prior art processes. Depending on the orthoester or the proportion of alcohol used, the dichlorinated proportion of the orthoester is usually well below two percent, so that distillative purification of the product leads to a highly pure monochloroorthoacetate with economically tolerable distillation losses.
In contrast to conventional processes, no solids are obtained, except when using small amounts of alkali metal alkoxide, are obtained in the form of chlorides. However, such small amounts of solid of approx. 0.1 to 1% can be easily removed mechanically, for example, using simple filter candles, before the reaction mixture is worked-up by distillation, which avoids solid deposits in the distillation plant.
Having generally described this invention, a further understanding can be obtained by reference to certain specific examples which are provided herein for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified.

Abstract: wherein R1 to R3, which may be the same or different, are alkyl, or any two of the alkyl groups taken together form a cyclic group, is prepared by reacting 1,1,1-trialkoxyethane with gaseous or liquid chlorine in the presence of alcohol solvent in an amount ranging from 0.1% to 20 wt %, based on the amount of 1,1,1-trialkoxyethane reactant.


A method and system for controlled fractionation of particles. A sample having a plurality of particles of different size distributions. A uniform array for the preparing of optical traps having a selected array lattice constant. The plurality of particles for inputting the plurality of particles to the uniform array of optical traps at a driving direction angle Θ and the plurality of particles separating along different directions Θv based on variable particle attributes.

The motion of a driven Brownian object in a periodic force field has been studied extensively for half a century, not only because of its intrinsic interest, but also because of its close relationship to such disparate physical phenomena as charge transport in Josephson junctions and the kinetics of chemical reactions. Most studies have focused on biased diffusion in one-dimensional systems, the tilted washboard problem providing the archetype for the field. Even this much-studied model continues to yield surprises, with giant enhancement of thermal fluctuations recently having been discovered for particles that are marginally trapped by the washboard.
Higher-dimensional systems have a substantially richer phenomenology because the driven particle enjoys the additional freedom of selecting its course through the force landscape. The force field itself can have a richer variety of characteristics including multidimensional symmetries and solenoidal components that give rise to interesting non-equilibrium effects. Because the particle can move around obstacles, the force landscape can even consist of impenetrable barriers. How a Brownian particle finds its way through such structured terrains remains incompletely understood.

Sorting colloidal particles into multiple channels with optical forces: prismatic optical fractionation