The present disclosure relates to an intelligent user interface that predicts tasks for users to complete using a trained machine-learning model. In some implementations, when a user accesses the intelligent user interface, the available tasks and a user profile can be inputted into the trained machine-learning model to output a prediction of one or more tasks for the user to complete. Advantageously, the trained machine-learning model outputs a prediction of tasks that the user will likely need to complete, based at least in part on the user's profile and previous interactions with applications.

Cloud or locally hosted applications that perform functionality targeted to specific domains have become increasingly complex. For instance, users often have to navigate long menus within applications to find links to relevant tasks. Further, tasks have also become complex. One task may involve distinct actions that need to be performed across several applications. However, as users are faced with a growing number of tasks to complete in a workday, navigating one or more cloud or locally hosted applications to identify and complete tasks is a tedious and time-intensive process.

Systems and methods for predicting actionable tasks using contextual models


The present invention relates to a powder mixture for iron-based powder metallurgy which is obtained by mixing an iron-based powder and at least one kind of powders selected from the group consisting of a Ca—Al—Si-based composite oxide powder and a Ca—Mg—Si-based composite oxide powder, in which with a peak height of a main phase exhibiting the highest peak intensity by X-ray diffraction as 100, the composite oxide powder has a relative height of 40% or less, with respect to the main phase, of a peak height of a second phase having the second highest peak intensity.

Powder metallurgy is widely used as a method for industrial manufacturing technique of various machine parts. A procedure of manufacturing powder metallurgy part via iron-based powder is conducted in the following manner. First, a powder mixture of iron-based powder is prepared by mixing with iron-based powder, a powder for an alloy element such as a Copper (Cu) powder, a Nickel (Ni) powder, a Graphite powder, and a Lubricant. Next, admixed powder is filling into die and compress by compaction press for obtained green compact. The green compact is sintered at a temperature lower than a melting temperature of a main (major) material powder in admixed powder to have sintered compact. Then, the obtained sintered compact is subjected to machining such as drilling and turning to obtain an iron-based powder metallurgy part of a desired shape.
Ideal powder metallurgy is manufacturing a sintered compact so as to be applied as it is as a machine part without machining the sintered compact. However, the above sintering might cause ununiform shrinkage of a material powder mixture, which might result in causing a situation where a sintered compact cannot be applied as it is as a machine part. Also in recent years, as size precision demanded of a machine part is going tighter than before, complexed shape of a part, for example, of a double blade sprocket, makes it difficult to obtain a near net shape part by a conventional press-molding step.
Thus, it is becoming essential to process a sintered compact so as to have a desired shape by machining. With such a technical background, a technique has been considered for imparting excellent machinability to a sintered compact in order to smoothly perform machining the sintered compact.
As means for imparting machinability to a sintered compact, a method of adding an manganese sulfide (MnS) powder to a powder mixture is known. Machinability improvement mechanism by the adding MnS powder is considered to be achieved by impartation of sliding property, assistance of crack propagation, protection of a tool by formation of a built-up edge, and the like, and the method is therefore effective for machining at relatively low speed such as drilling. However, addition of an MnS powder does not always contribute to excellent machinability in recent high speed machining or in machining of hard sintered compact. Other problems also occur such as problems that a surface of a sintered compact is liable to have sooting during sintering and that mechanical strength of a sintered compact is liable to be reduced.
Under such conditions, there are provided various techniques for improving machinability of a sintered compact by a method different from the above addition of an MnS powder. For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes "a ferrous powdery mixture for powder metallurgy essentially consisting of iron powder and containing 0.02 to 0.3 wt. % of powder of a CaO—Al2O3—SiO2-based composite oxide with an average particle size of 50 μm or less and having anorthite phases and/or gehlenite phases."
Patent Literature 2 proposes "an iron based mixed powder suitable to obtain a sintered member excellent in machinability in which SiO2—CaO—MgO-based oxide powder is mixed with an iron-based powder for a sintered member in a proportion of 0.01 to 1.0 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the iron-based powder."
By the techniques recited in the above Patent Literatures 1 and 2, including a Ca—Al—Si-based composite oxide or a Ca—Mg—Si-based composite oxide in a member enables more excellent machinability to be exhibited without drastically reducing strength of a machine part than in an additive-free member. However, even when a particle size and a chemical component ratio of the above composite oxide are strictly adjusted, a slight difference in manufacturing conditions might largely change an amount of abrasion of a tool during machining.
When the amount of abrasion of a tool largely changes, a recent automatic machining line needs setting of the number of tools to be replaced on the assumption that the amount of abrasion of a tool is large. As a result, not only long-time automatic machining cannot be conducted but also a tool abraded so little that can be still used will be replaced uselessly, and therefore it is hardly said that excellent machinability is exhibited stably enough to meet a requirement in an automatic machining line.
The present invention was developed considering such circumstances as described above, and its object is to provide a powder mixture for iron-based powder metallurgy which enables production of a sintered compact that stably exhibits excellent machinability without having, when used as a tool, an amount of abrasion of a machining tool changing during machining, and a method useful for manufacturing such a sintered compact.

Powder mixture for iron-based powder metallurgy, and method for manufacturing sintered compact using same

KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)


The present disclosure provides image acquisition methods, apparatuses, systems and electronic devices. One image acquisition method includes: acquiring an initial face image of a user by a first image acquisition apparatus; controlling a second image acquisition apparatus to acquire an eye print image of the user according to an acquisition parameter, the acquisition parameter being determined based on the initial face image; and synthesizing the initial face image and the eye print image into a target face image of the user.

With the continuous development of pattern recognition, artificial intelligence and other technologies, biometric feature recognition technologies are attracting increasingly more attention. At present, biometric feature recognition mainly includes fingerprint recognition, face recognition, speech recognition, palmprint recognition, eye print recognition, iris recognition, facial expression recognition, and so on.
In order to improve the accuracy of biometric recognition, some technical personnel and research institutions are considering combining face recognition with eye recognition (such as eye print recognition and iris recognition). The proposed techniques seek to address the problem of inaccurate face recognition for similar faces, such as in cases of identical twins. Problems exist with such proposals. For example, ordinary RGB cameras can generally meet the acquisition requirements for face recognition. However, due to issues such as limited resolutions, limited Depth of Field (DoF), and limited Field of View (FoV), ordinary RGB cameras cannot achieve accurate acquisition of the eye region. Accordingly, there is a need for optimized image acquisition solutions to improve the accuracy of face recognition.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image acquisition method, apparatus, system, and electronic device


A lithium-air battery is provided, which includes a cathode having a gas diffusion layer containing a solid electronically conductive material coated with carbon black, the gas diffusion layer being at least partially filled with gaseous air, a separator having an electronically nonconducting filter material arranged between the anode and the cathode, the filter material being at least partially impregnated with a liquid electrolyte, and an anode containing a material selected from lithium metal, material alloyable with lithium, metal oxide, and mixtures thereof. Methods for making such battery and the use of such battery in a motor vehicle are also provided.

The present invention relates to a lithium-air battery, a method for producing the same, and the use of the battery in a motor vehicle.
Lithium-oxygen (Li—O2) or lithium-air batteries, as they are commonly called, are regarded as a technology with future potential. Theoretically, this technology provides similar specific energies and energy densities as gasoline. It appears therefore to be possible to drive electric vehicles up to a range of 550 km or more.
The fundamental principle of operation of all lithium-air batteries, despite the considerable differences in their structure, is based on the following: During the discharge, positively charged lithium ions are transferred from the negative electrode of lithium metal or alloy to the positive electrode via the electrolyte, where the lithium ions react with oxygen (O2) first to lithium superoxide (LiO2) and then to lithium peroxide (Li2O2). When the battery is charged, this process is reversed: oxygen (O2) is released at the positive electrode, metallic lithium is deposited at the negative electrode, or a lithium alloy is formed.
Takechi K. et al., ACS Energy Lett. 2017, 2, 694-69, examines the possibility of decoupling the oxygen reduction reaction on cathode and formation and storage of lithium superoxide and lithium peroxide in the bulk electrolyte and thus avoids deposition of the electrolyte during battery discharging on the cathode. Lithium-air batteries comprising uncoated carbon paper cathodes and DEME-TFSI electrolyte without adding any lithium salt were studied with respect to their discharge profile, discharge products, and cathode changes during operation. As control, DEME-TFSI/LiTFSI containing electrolyte was used.
A problem to be solved is to provide a lithium-air battery with improved characteristics. A further object is to provide a method for its production and a use thereof.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by the lithium-air battery in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure.
The following definitions apply, if applicable, to all aspects of the invention.
Battery
Battery refers to both rechargeable batteries (secondary batteries) as well as non-rechargeable batteries (primary batteries). In particular, a "battery" for the purposes of the present invention also includes a single or only "electrochemical cell." Preferably, two or more of such electrochemical cells are connected together in a "battery", either in series (i.e., successively) or in parallel.
Electrodes
The electrochemical cell according to the invention has at least two electrodes, i.e., a positive (cathode) and a negative (anode) electrode.
Both electrodes each have at least one active material. This is capable of absorbing or releasing lithium ions and at the same time absorbing or releasing electrons.
The term "positive electrode" means the electrode which, when the battery is connected to a load, for example to an electric motor, is capable of receiving electrons and lithium cations. It is the cathode in this nomenclature.
The term "negative electrode" means the electrode which, when the battery is connected to a load, for example to an electric motor, is capable of releasing electrons and lithium cations during operation. It represents the anode in this nomenclature.
The electrodes include inorganic material or inorganic compounds or substances which can be used for or in or on an electrode or as an electrode. These compounds or substances can, under the working conditions of the lithium-air battery, accept (insert) and also release lithium ions due to their chemical nature. In the present specification, such material is referred to as "active cathode material" or "active anode material" or generally as "active material." For use in an electrochemical cell or battery, this active material is preferably applied to a support or carrier, preferably to a metallic support, preferably aluminum for the cathode or copper for the anode. This support is also referred to as a "collector" or current collector or collector film.
Electrode Binders
The materials used for the positive or for the negative electrode, such as the active materials, may be held together by one or more binders which hold the particles of the material together and also helps to fix these materials on the electrode or on the current collector.
The binder (s) may be selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), polyvinylidene fluoride-hexa-fluoro-propylene co-polymer (PVdF-HFP) polyethylene oxide (PEO), polytetrafluoroethylene, polyacrylate, styrene-butadiene Rubber, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and mixtures and copolymers thereof. Styrene-butadiene rubber and optionally carboxymethylcellulose and/or the other binders such as PVdF are preferably present in an amount of 0.5-8% by weight based on the total amount of the active material used in the positive or negative electrode.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lithium-air battery containing a cathode, a separator and an anode, the separator separating the anode and the cathode from one another.
The cathode includes a gas diffusion layer, at least partially filled with gaseous air, which has or preferably consists of an electronically conductive material coated with carbon black.
The anode includes an active material selected from the group consisting of lithium metal, material alloyable with lithium, lithium metal oxide, metal oxide, and mixtures thereof.
The material alloyable with lithium may be a lithium alloy or a non-lithiated or partially lithiated precursor thereof, resulting in a lithium alloy formation. Preferred lithium-alloyable materials are lithium alloys selected from the group consisting of silicon-based, tin-based and antimony-based alloys. Such alloys are described, for example, in the review article W. J. Zhang, Journal of Power Sources 196 (2011) 13-24.
Lithium metal oxides may be selected from the group consisting of lithium titanium oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, and lithium nickel oxide, and mixtures thereof. Such compounds can be produced, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,648 B1.
Metal oxides may be selected from the group consisting of cobalt oxide, nickel oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide, transition metal zinc oxide, and mixtures thereof. Such metal oxides follow in principle as mechanism of lithium acceptance the so-called conversion reaction.
The separator is a filter which contains, or preferably consists of, an electronically non-conductive material. The filter is at least partially impregnated with an electrolyte.
The electrolyte includes, preferably consists of, N, N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (DEME-TFSI) as the hydrophobic, ionic liquid and lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) as the lithium salt. DEME-TFSI is an aliphatic quaternary ammonium-based ionic liquid, which has a flexible methoxy-ethyl group on the nitrogen atom combined with the bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide anion. The bulky, asymmetric organic cation is believed to prevent ions from packing and solidification, thus resulting in a liquid structure at room temperature (20° C.) and normal pressure (101,325 kPa). In addition, DEME-TFSI has a wide potential window and high ionic conductivity.
In the lithium-air battery according to the present invention, the three phases of gaseous air, liquid electrolyte and solid, electronically conductive material are in contact at at least one point, preferably at least one line, of the gas diffusion layer.
According to the present invention, the expression "at least partially filled gas diffusion layer with air" means that the gas diffusion layer can be partially filled with the electrolyte, in addition to air. According to the invention, the term "air" means any gas or gas mixture which is compatible with a lithium-air battery and which comprises at least oxygen. In particular, the term "air" includes pure oxygen and the air from the environment of the lithium-air battery. The expression "at least partially impregnated filter with an electrolyte" refers to a filter which can also be partially filled with air except for electrolytes.
The inventors have found that by combining the cathode comprising a gas diffusion layer, at least partially filled with gaseous air, which contains or preferably consists of an electronically conductive material coated with carbon black with the electrolyte LiTFSI/DEME-TFSI, a lithium air battery allowing a reversible discharge-charge with capacity of about 13 Ah g−1 (related to amount of carbon black deposited on the cathode) and coulombic efficiency approaching 100% can be obtained. In addition, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is reversible. Furthermore, the cycling behavior of the lithium oxygen cell using the LiTFSI/DEME-TFSI solution from 30° C. to 60° C. evidences increased energy efficiency and originally changing morphology by temperature rise.
The above technical merits could not be obtained when the carbon coating was omitted or a different electrolyte, such as LiTFSI in N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (Pyr14TFSI), were used.
Without being bound to a theory, it is believed that the coating of the gas diffusion layer with black carbon provides catalytic sites for the electrochemical Li2O2-deposition process. In addition, the electrolyte LiTFSI/DEME-TFSI stabilizes the intermediate superoxide species. In summary, the coating of the gas diffusion layer with black carbon and the electrolyte LiTFSI/DEME-TFSI synergistically enhance the kinetic of the electrochemical lithium peroxide deposition process, influencing both reaction pathway and morphology of the formed products.
In a preferred embodiment, the gas diffusion layer includes woven or nonwoven carbon fiber fabric.
In a preferred embodiment, the gas diffusion layer is coated with carbon black having a specific surface area of 30 to 120 g/m2, preferably 40 to 90 g/m2, more preferably 50 to 80 g/m2, in particular 55 to 70 g/m2, as measured according to BET-nitrogen adsorption (ASTM D3037-89). This carbon black has a high conductivity. Preferably, the conductive carbon black is produced by the TIMCAL method. The process is based on the partial oxidation of oil from carbo- and petrochemical raw materials. The method is characterized by the observance of certain aerodynamic and thermodynamic conditions, in particular low oxidation speed and dispensing with quenching additives and other additives. This produces a material almost without residues of combustion on a sieve having a mesh number 325, which has a very high cleanliness.
Preferably, the conductive carbon black has a chain-like structure similar to acetylene black. For example, as the conductive carbon black having a small specific surface area, Super P® can be used.
In a preferred embodiment, the separator contains, preferably consists of, a material selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, cellulose fibers, organic polymer, and mixtures thereof. As the organic polymer, it is particularly preferable to use a polymer or copolymer comprising a polymerization unit selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and mixtures thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the molar ratio of LiTFSI to DEME-TFSI is 1:2 to 1:20.
In a preferred embodiment, the anode contains carbon-coated particles of MxZn1_xO wherein M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and Cu, preferably Fe and Co, in particular Fe, and 0.02≤x≤0.14. In the case of carbon-coated MxZn1_xO particles, there is no need to use additional carbon for producing an electrode.
Advantageously, the carbon network of the carbon coating is able to provide sufficient electrical conductivity on the part of the electrode. Provision may be made, however, to add further carbon for producing an electrode. This allows the conductivity of the electrode to be increased further.
As active material, the carbon-coated MxZn1_xO particles have superior safety characteristics compared with lithium metal. In addition, the carbon-coated MxZn1_xO particles are notable for superior cycling stability in the electrodes produced from them, and significantly increased specific capacity and significantly reduced loss of capacity in the first cycle, relative to the use of zinc oxide. Moreover, electrodes based on the use of MxZn1_xO particles, and more particularly those based on the use of carbon-coated MxZn1_xO particles, as active material, exhibit a superior specific capacity for increasing applied current densities, which are higher by a factor of around three than those achievable when using ZnO.
In the MxZn1_xO particles, x is between 0.02 and 0.14. Higher proportions of transition metal can lead to a phase transition of the doped zinc oxide particles in the course of calcining. The ratio of transition metal M to zinc may be preferably in the range from x≥0.05 to ≤0.13:1_x, more particularly 0.1:0.9. The transition metal M is preferably iron or cobalt, in particular iron. The ratio of transition metal M to zinc, more particularly of iron to zinc, may also be in the range from x≥0.04 to ≤0.13:1_x, preferably in the range from x≥0.06 to ≤0.12:1_x. Particularly preferred particles are carbon-coated Co0.1Zn0.9O and Fe0.1Zn0.9O particles. Further particularly preferred particles are carbon-coated Co0.12Zn0.88O and Fe0.12Zn0.88O particles. It has been found, for example, that in the range 0.02≤x≤0.12, the iron fraction was advantageous for the achievable specific capacity and discharge rate. Overall, a transition metal fraction with these ranges, more particularly of 0.02≤x≤0.12 is advantageous for an electrode produced from this material.
The fraction of carbon, based on the total weight of the carbon-coated MxZn1_xO particles, is preferably in the range from 0.5 wt % to ≤70 wt %, preferably in the range from 2 wt % to ≤30 wt %, more preferably in the range from ≥5 wt % to ≤20 wt %. It has been found that in a range from ≥5 wt % to ≤20 wt % of carbon, with increasing carbon content, the density and crystallinity and also the specific surface area showed an advantageous combination, especially in the range from ≥12 wt % to ≤20 wt % of carbon. The carbon-coated particles preferably have a BET surface area in the range from ≥1 m2/g to ≤200 m2/g, more preferably in the range from ≥50 m2/g to ≤150 m2/g, very preferably in the range from ≥70 m2/g to ≤130 m2/g.
Advantageously there is no substantial increase in the average diameter of the transition metal-doped zinc oxide particles as a result of the carbonizing procedure. Hence the carbon-coated, transition metal-doped zinc oxide particles can have a number based median value d50, measured by static image analysis, of the diameter in the range from ≥15 nm to ≤250 nm, preferably in the range from ≥20 nm to ≤80 nm, more preferably in the range from ≥25 nm to ≤50 nm. In the present case, the median value d50 of the diameter corresponds to the (number based) average value. A method for producing such particles is described, for example, in WO 2014/023680 A1.
In a preferred embodiment, the battery is encapsulated so that air can penetrate the gas diffusion layer. Preferably, the encapsulation has holes on the side facing the cathode which are large and numerous enough to allow air to pass in sufficient quantity.
In a second aspect of the invention, a method for producing the lithium-air battery according to the first aspect is provided, which includes: stacking on top of one another under inert gas of: a cathode including a gas diffusion layer having a solid electronically conductive material coated with carbon black, the gas diffusion layer being at least partially filled with gaseous air; a separator including an electronically nonconducting filter material, the filter material being at least partially impregnated with a liquid electrolyte, and an anode including a material selected from the group consisting lithium metal, material alloyable with lithium, metal oxide, and mixtures thereof. The separator is arranged between the anode and the cathode. The electrolyte includes N, N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (DEME-TFSI) as the hydrophobic, ionic liquid and lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) as the lithium salt. The three phases of gaseous air, liquid electrolyte and solid, electronically conductive material are in contact at, at least, one point of the gas diffusion layer. The method includes encapsulating the lithium-air-battery in such a way that air can penetrate into the gas diffusion layer.
In a third aspect of the invention, a lithium air battery is provided for use in a motor vehicle.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A control system and method for operating a cooling fan in a coolant system of fuel cell power plant having a high temperature coolant loop and a low temperature coolant loop. The fan controller generates a fan control signal based on a first control signal from the high temperature coolant loop and a second control signal from the low temperature coolant loop. The first control signal is a function of the waste heat energy in the high temperature coolant loop, and the second control signal is a function of the temperature in the low temperature coolant loop. The fan control signal may also be generated based on a third control signal which is a function of a localized ambient temperature such as the under hood temperature of a vehicle.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell power plant and more particularly to a control system for a fan in the coolant system of the fuel cell power plant.
Fuel cell power plants have been proposed for use in vehicular applications to replace internal combustion engines, as well as in portable and stationary distributed electrical power generation applications. In such applications, the fuel cell power plant is a complex arrangement of systems which include a fuel processing system for locally generating hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel such as gasoline, a fuel cell stack for converting hydrogen and air to electrical energy and water, and a power train for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy. The various components of these systems generate heat which must be dissipated to maintain efficient, prolonged operation of the components of the fuel cell power plant.
A liquid to air coolant system is typically employed to extract heat from the fuel cell power plant and to dissipate the extracted heat into the environment. Such coolant systems employ a coolant loop which garners heat from various components in the fuel cell power plant. The coolant loop includes a heat exchanger such as a radiator to transfer heat from the heated coolant to air flowing through the heat exchanger. Often times a cooling fan is employed to facilitate the air flow through the heat exchanger. In this way the coolant system functions in a similar manner to the coolant system of a conventional vehicle having an internal combustion engine.
Control of the cooling fan in such conventional systems have been based on the temperature of the coolant at a given point in the coolant loop. Specifically, the cooling fan is disabled when the temperature of the coolant is below a threshold value and enabled when the temperature of the coolant is above the threshold value. While such controls may work adequately for certain operating states of a fuel cell power plant, it is not readily adaptable to the wide range of operating states that may be required, particularly where the fuel cell power plant has a relatively large turndown ratio to respond to transient load demands such as in a vehicular application.
Some applications may also employ multiple coolant loops for separate cooling of components having different thermal operating ranges. Such systems typically employ multiple radiators or radiator sections each having a dedicate fan assembly. Each coolant loop is operated independently of the other coolant loops resulting in additional mass and added complexity to the control of such cooling systems. Accordingly, there is a need to provide an efficient and simple coolant fan control system for fuel cell systems.
A control system and method according to the present invention controls the operation of the cooling fan in a coolant system having a first coolant loop and a second coolant loop. A fan controller generates a fan control signal based on a first input signal from the first coolant loop and a second input signal from the second coolant loop. The first input signal is a function of the waste heat energy in the first coolant loop, and the second input signal is a function of the temperature in the second coolant loop. The fan control signal may also be generated based on a third input signal which is a function of a localized ambient temperature such as the under hood temperature of a vehicle. The present invention enables operation of a single coolant fan assembly based on a plurality of independent input signals associated with various coolant subsystems in the fuel cell power plant.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Coolant fan control for fuel cell systems


Emergency lighting for an aircraft employs a photoluminescent substrate that is activated by exposure to light wherein the substrate has portions with different light emitting characteristics whereby, in the absence of activating light, a first substrate portion provides a higher light output than a second substrate portion for an initial period after which the second substrate portion provides a higher light output than the first substrate portion.

In our UK Patent No. GB 2314536-B we describe an emergency lighting system in which the path to the exit(s) is illuminated by photoluminescent material incorporated into a track extending along the aisle for passengers to follow to the exit(s). This system does not require connection to a power source and has met with considerable success due to the many benefits and advantages for both the manufacturer and operator of aircraft in which the system is fitted. In particular, the system is operable in situations where a conventional electrically powered lighting system would be inoperable. For example, in an emergency, the power source and/or wiring of an electrically powered lighting system may be damaged rendering the system inoperable at the very moment it is required.
In our UK Patent No. GB 2365113-B we describe an improvement to the emergency lighting system described in GB 2314536-B in which the photoluminescent material is located in a housing having a slot extending lengthwise of the housing and the photoluminescent material is provided by an insert that is a push-fit in the slot from one end of the housing and the slot is sealed by a closure member to prevent ingress of dirt or liquids into the slot.


The present disclosure relates to a secure device having a physical unclonable function and methods of manufacturing such a secure device. The device includes a substrate and at least one high-k/metal gate device formed on the substrate. The at least one high-k/metal gate device represents the physical unclonable function. In some cases, the at least one high-k/metal gate device may be subjected a variability enhancement. In some cases, the secure device may include a measurement circuit for measuring a property of the at least one high-k/metal gate device.

Hardware based "Root of Trust" is a fundamental building block for any secure computing system. Key elements of secure computing require authentication, sending data to an authorized source, and/or loading data onto a designated device. In general, cryptographic keys in binary code form the basis of securing data and bit streams. Typically, such cryptographic keys are stored in non-volatile memory and are present on an integrated circuit (IC) at all times. If an attacker can extract the key from a device, the entire foundation for secure computing is in jeopardy. For example, an attacker with physical access to the device can delayer a chip, and read out the stored code based on the state of the transistors. Thus, securing cryptographic keys requires anti-tamper technologies, which may be relatively expensive and may therefore not be suitable for implementation in various devices like field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), mobile devices, and sensors.

Reliable physical unclonable function for device authentication

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of forming spatially offset storage nodes for deep trench-based DRAMs on a semiconductor substrate. The method involves etching trenches in the surface of the substrate, masking adjacent trenches with a resist material, etching exposed trenches to a depth of about 1 micron. Removing the masking and etching all the trenches to form bulbulous regions in the sidewall of the trenches. The adjacent trenches having vertically spaced bulbulous regions are filled with dielectric material to form high capacitance storage nodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a method and device structure for forming storage nodes for a one transistor, one capacitor memory cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the capacity of semiconductor memory devices such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) is increased, various ways have been proposed to increase the integration density of memory cells. A one transistor, one capacitor cell structure is generally used for DRAMs. The one transistor, one capacitor cell is most suitable for high integration since the memory cell is formed by a small number of elements. Various types of capacitor structures for DRAMs are known, such as planar structures, stack structures and buried plate type trench capacitors. The desire is to obtain a large amount of memory capacitance using as small of a planar area on an integrated circuit substrate as possible.
A memory cell of a buried plate type DRAM is an example of an arrangement in which a storage capacitance is formed 3-dimensionally. In such a memory cell, a deep trench is formed in a silicon substrate in a direction perpendicular to the main semiconductor device thereof and the memory capacitor is formed on the sidewall of the trench. Therefore, the cell area can be smaller as compared to the planar capacitor type DRAM. Such deep trench based storage devices are typically etched up to 8 microns deep into the silicon. The process used for forming the deep trenches may differ between various memory sizes such as 4 megabits, 16 megabits, 256 megabits and 1 gigabit DRAM arrays. However, there are a given number of process steps that are common to each generation of DRAM cells. The commonly performed deep trench processing steps which constitute a large portion of the cost of making each of these trench-based cells are as follows: the etching of the deep trench, the formation of the initial node dielectric followed by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) of silicon nitride, the reoxidation of the node dielectric, the deposition of a first polysilicon fill using LPCVD, the chemical mechanical polish of the first polysilicon fill, the etching of a first recess in the first polysilicon fill using reactive ion etching (RIE), the deposition of a collar oxide, the etching of the collar oxide using RIE, the deposition of a second polysilicon fill using LPCVD, and a chemical mechanical polish of the second polysilicon fill. The method for forming a storage node for deep trench-based DRAM is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,535, issued Aug. 12, 1997 to Ho et al., the teachings of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
Recent innovations in trench cell formation include the formation of a buried plate to reduce the voltage dropped across the node dielectric. This allows the use of a nitride-oxide (NO) dielectric node which are typically used for 256 Mb DRAMs.
Advanced 256 Mb and 1 Gbit trench cells also use a LOCOS collar (instead of the conventional collar process described above) which facilitates trench enhancement below the LOCOS collar and a self aligned buried plate. This technique is disclosed in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,535, the teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference.
In addition, even when using memory cell layouts that are designed to be below the conventional eight times the minimum full lithographic feature (8F.sup.2) in square area, it is necessary to maximize the storage node capacitance for each subsequent lithography generation. In order to facilitate this need for increased capacitance, the present invention teaches a method to form spatially offset deep trenches which are compatible with all previous techniques for trench capacitance enhancement.

Spatially offset deep trenches for high density DRAMS

International Business Machines Corporation


A reading apparatus includes a reading unit including a presser configured to press a sheet, a carriage configured to hold a sensor unit and to move on the presser, and a housing configured to store the sensor unit and the carriage and to hold the presser in a displaceable way. The reading apparatus further includes a movement mechanism configured to move the reading unit to a first position in which the presser presses a supporting surface and to a second position in which the pressing is released. The movement mechanism sets the reading unit to the first position during reading by the sensor unit and to the second position during movement of the sheet on the supporting surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reading apparatus for performing colorimetry of a color pattern formed on a sheet, and a printing apparatus including the reading apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-281549 discusses an ink jet printer including a colorimetric apparatus. This colorimetric apparatus performs colorimetry of a printed color pattern for color calibration and, based on colorimetric data, adjusts colors of color images to be subsequently printed, thus reproducing desired colors. The printer records color patches as a color pattern for color calibration, and then the colorimetric apparatus performs colorimetry of the color patches with a colorimetric sensor moving in the sheet width direction.
With the colorimetric apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-281549, with the sheet being pressed by a presser plate, a wheeled carriage on which the colorimetric sensor is mounted runs on the presser plate, and the colorimetric sensor reads the color patches, thus performing colorimetry. When the carriage on which the colorimetric sensor is mounted separates from the presser plate, a pressing member rotatably shifts to separate from the sheet.
When performing sheet colorimetry, the colorimetric apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-281549 rotatably shifts a presser plate, which is regularly raised, to press a sheet. Subsequently, a carriage on which the colorimetric sensor is mounted moves to the presser plate and then reads the color patches while moving thereabove.
With this configuration, while the carriage exists above the presser plate, it is not possible to rotate the presser plate to retract the carriage. Specifically, to release the pressing by the presser plate to move the sheet, it is necessary to retract the carriage to the outside of the presser plate. The carriage reads the color patches only in the forward path and returns to a home position in the backward path (back feed). Before the carriage completes back feed (backward path) and retracts from above the presser plate to the outside, a following sheet cannot start being moved. This means that the time loss required for back feed disturbs the improvement in reading throughput. In particular, this issue will become distinct when sequentially reading a number of test patterns through repetitive carriage operations.
With the colorimetric apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-281549, when the wheel of the carriage runs upon the presser plate, the wheel passes the level difference for the thickness of the presser plate and the impact is transmitted to the carriage. Repetitively applying this impact to the carriage may cause degradation in the attachment accuracy of the colorimetric sensor or a failure of the colorimetric sensor. When the carriage is retracted to the outside of the presser plate, the wheel of the carriage travels on the sheet without the presser plate. Accordingly, when the sheet has a pattern or image printed thereon, the pattern or image may be damaged by the track of the wheel. Each of these factors may cause degradation in reading accuracy.

Reading apparatus and printing apparatus


Described are a method of and an apparatus for supplying fuel for a motor vehicle comprising at least one hydrogen consumer wherein the hydrogen is liberated by catalytic reaction of a hydrogen donor provided as the fuel and recyclable fuel which has reacted in that operation is produced. The method comprises taking unreacted fuel from a first storage volume, filling at least one second storage volume separate from the first storage volume with reacted fuel and at least partially additionally using the first storage volume which has become vacant by virtue of unreacted fuel being taken therefrom, for storage of the reacted fuel. A fuel container arrangement includes at least one storage container for unreacted fuel and communicating with a removal container for supplying the fuel to the reaction, and a collecting container communicating with a storage container, when vacated of unreacted fuel, by way of a flow transfer conduit for transferring reacted fuel to the storage container.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for supplying fuel for a hydrogen-operated vehicle.
In the context of supplying fuel to a vehicle driven by means of a hydrogen fuel cell the hydrogen which is required for the fuel cell can be carried and stored in the vehicle in its pure form. As an alternative thereto the fuel can be produced by a chemical or catalytic reaction while the vehicle is actually in operation. That manner of proceeding affords advantages which are relevant in safety terms. A known procedure in that respect is for example the process which is referred to as the sodium borohydride reaction. In that procedure sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in aqueous solution is provided as the fuel. The sodium borohydride is fed to a catalyst unit which liberates pure hydrogen and sodium borate (NaBO2) in aqueous solution. The technically pure hydrogen can then be fed directly to a fuel cell connected on the downstream side of the catalyst unit. In the fuel cell hydrogen is reacted together with atmospheric oxygen to form water, more specifically with electrical energy being produced for a drive motor of the vehicle. The sodium borate which is produced in the catalytic reaction of the sodium borohydride can be recycled again by means of a suitable process to form sodium borohydride. It is therefore appropriate and desirable for the sodium borate which has been produced by the reaction to form the fuel for the fuel cell to be collected in a collecting container provided for that purpose in the vehicle.
It will be noted here that in the present specification the term reacted fuel may be used for brevity to denote the fuel component which is present after the catalytic reaction of the hydrogen donor that liberates the hydrogen for example for a fuel cell, and could thus also be referred to as post-reaction fuel.
If the usual volume of a fuel tank of a motor vehicle is employed for storing the fuel then the range of the vehicle, as measured on the basis of the available supply of fuel, is comparatively short in comparison with a motor vehicle fitted with an internal combustion engine burning a hydrocarbon fuel. In addition, when using the sodium borohydride catalysis procedure it is additionally necessary to provide a suitable storage volume for the reacted fuel, that is to say, as noted above, the sodium borate which has been produced after the catalytic reaction of the sodium borohydride. That storage volume will generally be to the detriment of the overall useful or payload volume of the vehicle.
So that the volume in the vehicle which is available for fuel storage can be utilised as effectively as possible, it is desirable for the unreacted fuel, that is to say the sodium borohydride, to be afforded in as concentrated a form as possible. Sodium borate precipitates out at levels of concentration of more than 20% by weight in aqueous solution so that it is appropriate for sodium borohydride to be fed to the catalyst unit at a concentration of 20% by weight in aqueous solution. If therefore sodium borohydride is to be stored in aqueous solution at a higher level of concentration then water should be added to the solution before it passes into the catalyst unit. For that purpose, connected upstream of the catalyst unit is a mixer which is operable to provide the sodium borohydrlde solution at the desired degree of dilution for the catalyst unit. In that situation the water which is fed to the mixer is taken from the waste gas flow from the fuel cell. Water vapor contained in the waste gas is condensed out in a condenser and fed to the mixer. When adopting that form of fuel preparation, for example when using 100 l of a 30% sodium borohydride solution as the unreacted fuel, about 115 l of 20% sodium borate solution is produced as the reacted fuel. In such a situation a particularly large volume is required for collecting and storing the reacted fuel. That is to the detriment either of the range of the vehicle or the useful or payload volume of the vehicle.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of supplying fuel for a vehicle operated by a hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell, which makes it possible to achieve an adequate supply of fuel for a sufficient vehicle range while involving the smallest reasonable reduction in useful volume in the vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of supplying fuel in a vehicle driven by a hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell, which is designed to afford a reasonably sufficient range of operation for the vehicle without entailing excessive bulk.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supplying a fuel cell with fuel in a vehicle driven by a motor operated by the fuel cell, which makes it possible to put an available fuel storage volume to a better and more viable use.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention in the method aspect the foregoing and other objects are attained by a method of supplying fuel for a motor vehicle comprising at least one oxygen consumer, for example a fuel cell, in which hydrogen is converted into electrical energy, the hydrogen being liberated by catalytic reaction of a hydrogen donor provided as the fuel, resulting in the production of recyclable reacted fuel. Unreacted fuel is taken from a first storage volume and at least one second storage volume which is separate from the first storage volume is filled with reacted fuel. The first storage volume which has become vacant by virtue of unreacted fuel being removed therefrom is at least partially additionally used for storage of the reacted fuel.
As will be seen in greater detail from the description hereinafter of preferred embodiments of the invention, the present invention is based on the notion of using at least a partial volume of the storage volume originally provided for the storage of unreacted fuel, after the removal of fuel therefrom, for the storage of reacted fuel. Such an operating procedure means that the volume required overall for storage of unreacted fuel and for storage of reacted fuel can be reduced to an optimum degree.
In accordance with a preferred feature of the method of the invention, in order to make optimum use of the structural space available in the context of a vehicle operated by for example a hydrogen fuel cell, it may be advantageous to use a plurality of spatially mutually separated containers or tanks as storage volumes for storing the fuel.
In accordance with another preferred feature of the method of the invention at least three series-connected containers are employed as storage volumes, wherein the unreacted fuel is taken from a first container, which can be referred to as a removal container insofar as the unreacted fuel is removed therefrom, wherein the removal container is fed with unreacted fuel from at least one storage container, wherein at least one collecting container is filled with reacted fuel and wherein the reacted fuel is transferred from the collecting container into the storage container or containers when the unreacted fuel has been completely withdrawn from the latter.
It will be easily appreciated that the removal container is not available for filling with reacted fuel as it is necessary to ensure that the vehicle can continue in operation until it is refilled with fuel. Furthermore the volume of the collecting container cannot be filled or refilled with unreacted fuel as reacted fuel is already produced Immediately after the commencement of operation of the vehicle and that reacted fuel must be suitably collected.
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, it is desirable for the number and size of the containers which are to be provided to be optimised in regard to the amount of reacted fuel produced in relation to the amount of unreacted fuel involved. If about 115% of reacted fuel is produced for 100% of unreacted fuel the use of a total of five fuel containers has proven to be particularly advantageous in terms of carrying the method of the invention into effect.
In the apparatus aspect the foregoing and further objects of the invention are attained by a fuel container for the fuel supply for a vehicle with at least one hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell in which hydrogen is converted into electrical energy, the hydrogen being liberated by catalytic reaction of a hydrogen donor as the fuel, with the resulting production of recyclable reacted fuel. The fuel container includes at least one filling and/or emptying opening, and at least one fuel withdrawal conduit, wherein the container has first and second mutually separate volumes for reacted and unreacted fuel, the division of said volumes being such that upon filling of a said volume said volume is expandable at the expense of the respective other volume.
In accordance with a preferred feature of the apparatus aspect of the invention the fuel container may have for example first and second chambers, with the chambers being separated from each other by a flexible wall. In that case the chambers are each of a variable volume, wherein a respective chamber can be enlarged to the detriment of the volume of the respective other chamber by virtue of the flexible wall separating the chambers.
In another preferred feature the flexible wall can be clamped peripherally in liquid-tight and gas-tight relationship in the region of a peripherally extending container seam. For example the fuel container may comprise first and second casing portions which for example comprise plastic material and are welded together in the region of a peripherally extending connecting flange arrangement. The flexible wall can then also be welded in position at the seam location of the casing portions of the container.
As an alternative thereto, a further preferred feature of the invention provides that the container constitutes an outer container forming a main volume, and disposed within the container is a flexible inner container of a volume which is variable at the expense of the main volume formed by the outer container, with the flexible inner container being fluid-tightly and gas-tightly separated from the main volume. In such an arrangement for example the flexible inner container may be in the form of a bag, for example of a suitable film or foil material, which can expand into the main volume of the outer container as it is progressively vacated when fuel is increasingly drawn from the container.
The foregoing and other objects of the invention are further attained by a fuel container arrangement for the fuel supply for a motor vehicle having at least one hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell in which hydrogen is converted into electrical energy, wherein the hydrogen is liberated by a catalytic reaction of a hydrogen donor provided as the fuel, with the production of recyclable reacted fuel, the fuel container arrangement including at least one removal container from which fuel can be taken, the removal container being provided with means for conveying the fuel therefrom, at least one storage container communicating with the removal container and provided for means for conveying the fuel into the removal container, and at least one collecting container communicating with a storage container by way of a flow transfer means.
In a preferred feature of this arrangement the storage container is connected to the removal container and to the collecting container by way of a switchable multiway valve, thereby to ensure that the storage container can be used either for receiving reacted fuel or for receiving and delivering unreacted fuel.
In another preferred feature the fuel container arrangement has at least two further storage containers which respectively communicate by way of switchable valves with the removal container and the collecting container. As has been indicated hereinbefore it has been found at this time that a container arrangement comprising a total of five containers constitutes an optimum in terms of utilising the overall volume required.
Preferably the storage containers feed the removal container by way of respective suction jet pumps which are each driven by way of a return flow of fuel from the removal container.
The return flow for example can be branched from a removal conduit for drawing fuel from the removal container.
In a further preferred feature the storage containers are respectively connected to a common return conduit from the removal container and to a common feed conduit to the removal container.
A further preferred feature provides that the return conduit can be connected to the removal conduit by way of a pressure regulating valve. In that case, the volume flow of fuel which is delivered by the pump and which does not have to be fed to the catalyst unit is fed into the return conduit by way of appropriate operation of the pressure regulating valve.
It may be particularly advantageous for the size of the collecting container and the storage containers to be respectively such that the container which is disposed upstream in the direction of delivery of the fuel can receive the volume of reacted fuel which is produced upon emptying of the downstream-connected container with unreacted fuel and processing thereof.
It will be noted at this juncture that the term emptying in the sense as used hereinbefore denotes emptying for example for the disposal of the reacted fuel.
In a preferred feature the removal container and the storage container can each be connected to a common filling conduit while the collecting containers and the storage containers can each be connected to a common emptying conduit.
Alternatively, filling and emptying of the fuel container arrangement can be implemented by way of a common conduit.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter of preferred embodiments of the invention.

Method and apparatus for supplying fuel for a hydrogen-operated vehicle


A stretchable laminated sheet with hydrophilic properties, which particularly has an excellent feeling and stability in wearing and is capable of efficiently enhancing the effect and efficacy brought about by a liquid component on a skin or other object, when the stretchable laminated sheet is impregnated with the liquid component and wet and then used on the skin or other object. A stretchable laminated sheet, which is obtained by partially thermocompression-bonding and laminating a hydrophilic short fiber layer extensible in at least one direction and an microfiber layer having a elastomer long fiber of a fiber diameter of 15 μm or less at 50% or more by weight, wherein discontinuous and regular concave and convex parts caused by the partial thermocompression bonding are formed on a surface of the hydrophilic short fiber layer that is exposed on one surface of the stretchable laminated sheet, the total area of the concave parts is in a range of 3 to 40% of the area of the surface of the hydrophilic short fiber layer, and at least the elastomer long fiber of the microfiber layer is softened and consequently joined to a fiber constituting the hydrophilic short fiber layer in a sheet thickness direction of a section where the concave parts exist, whereby the hydrophilic short fiber layer and the microfiber layer are integrated with each other.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stretchable laminated sheet having a hydrophilic layer, and to a product obtained using the stretchable laminated sheet.
Description of the Related Art
Various types of fibers including cellulosic fiber have conventionally been known as hydrophilic fibers. Because of their hydrophilic properties, these fibers have been used in absorbent articles, cleaning supplies, cosmetic sheets, and the like. Especially when used on a human skin, the important required performance is the texture and the fitting feeling of a product obtained using such hydrophilic fibers. However, a conventionally used cellulosic non-woven fiber has rough and hard feeling and lacks in texture and fitting feeling.
As an example of a sheet applied onto a skin, there is proposed a face mask in which a hydrophilic fiber layer is practically interlaced by water flow with a microfiber layer obtained by dividing a splittable type conjugate fiber consisting of a non-elastomer, and the microfiber layer is taken as a contact surface contacting with a skin, reducing the stimulation to the skin and improving the wearability for the skin (see International Publication WO 2006/016601 pamphlet, for example).


A plurality of thin-film transistors constituting an array are successively switched on by gate signals. Feed-through correction capacitances are respectively connected between an output terminal of each thin-film transistor switched on by a certain gate signal and a predetermined number of gate lines for supplying subsequent gate signals. A decrease in an output voltage of each thin-film transistor caused by transmission of a fall of the gate signal to the output terminal via a gate-source capacitance is compensated for by a rise of the subsequent gate signal which is transmitted to the output terminal via the feed-through correction capacitance.

The present invention relates to a thin-film transistor array to be used as a driver or switching circuit in printers, contact-type image sensors, display devices and the like.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an example of a conventional thin-film transistor array.
In FIG. 1, Q.sub.1 to Q.sub.3 represent thin-film transistors which form a thin-film transistor array; V.sub.G1 to V.sub.G3 represent gate signals; V.sub.D1 to V.sub.D3, data signals; C.sub.L1 to C.sub.L3, load capacitances; V.sub.O1 to V.sub.O3, output signals; C.sub.GS1 to C.sub.GS3, gate-source capacitances; S, a source; D, a drain; G, a gate. Although only three transistors are shown in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that a large number of transistors are arranged in practical use.
The operation of each thin-film transistor in such a thin-film transistor array will be described with reference to an arbitrary thin-film transistor (for example, Q.sub.1).
An outline of the operation is as follows. When a thin-film transistor Q.sub.1 is turned on by a gate signal V.sub.G1, a load capacitance C.sub.L1 is charged by a data signal V.sub.D1. A resultant voltage across the load capacitance C.sub.L1 is used as an output signal V.sub.O1.
The detail of the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 2 which shows waveforms for explaining the operation of one thin-film transistor Q.sub.1 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the diagrams (a), (b) and (c) show respective waveforms of the data signal V.sub.D1, gate signal V.sub.G1, and output signal V.sub.O1.
In the following, the operation is described with the passage of time.
(1) Operation from t.sub.1 to t.sub.2
The gate signal V.sub.G1 is turned to a high value V.sub.GG by a pulse b.sub.1, so that the thin-film transistor Q.sub.1 is switched on. At the same time, the data signal V.sub.D1 is turned to a high value V.sub.DD by a pulse a. Accordingly, the load capacitance C.sub.L1 is charged by the data signal having the value V.sub.DD, and a resultant voltage across the load capacitance C.sub.L1 is outputted as an output signal V.sub.O1.
The waveform of the output signal V.sub.O1 shown in FIG. 2(c) is drawn so as to jump by .DELTA.V at the time t.sub.1 relative to the preceding value. This is because when the gate signal V.sub.G1 rises to V.sub.GG, the rapid change of the voltage is transmitted to the source S through the gate-source capacitance C.sub.GS1 intrinsically existing between the gate G and source S to thereby increase a potential at the load capacitance C.sub.L1.
This is called a feed-through phenomenon and the changed voltage .DELTA.V is called a feed-through voltage. The value .DELTA.V is expressed by the following equation: ##EQU1##
As the charging of the load capacitance C.sub.L1 progresses, the value of the output signal V.sub.O1 increases. Because the difference between the output signal value V.sub.O1 and the data signal value V.sub.GG is reduced with the increase of the output signal value V.sub.O1, a current flowing through the thin-film transistor Q.sub.1 becomes small, so that the increase rate of the output signal V.sub.O1 becomes small. It is not long before the output signal V.sub.O1 reaches an output high-level peak V.sub.H.
This process forms a waveform c.sub.1 in FIG. 2(c). The output signal V.sub.O1 is kept at the output high-level peak V.sub.H until the gate signal V.sub.G1 falls at t.sub.2.
(2) Operation from t.sub.2 to t.sub.3
When the gate signal V.sub.G1 falls at the time t.sub.2, the rapid potential change is transmitted to the source S through the gate-source capacitance C.sub.GS1 to thereby decrease the potential at the load capacitance C.sub.L1, i.e., the output signal V.sub.O1. This decrease of the potential is also referred to as the feed-through voltage .DELTA.V, as described above.
A settled value after the decrease of the potential is an output high level V.sub.OH. Because the thin-film transistor Q.sub.1 is kept off until the gate signal V.sub.G1 is turned to the high value V.sub.GG again at t.sub.3, the output signal V.sub.O1 is kept at the output high level V.sub.OH. Some operation corresponding to the output high level is carried out in an external system using the value V.sub.OH.
(3) Operation from t.sub.3 to t.sub.4
When a pulse b.sub.2 of the gate signal V.sub.G1 rises at the time t.sub.3, the output signal V.sub.O1 increases instantaneously by the feed-through voltage .DELTA.V due to the feed-through phenomenon. Because the data signal V.sub.D1 is, however, zero in a period from t.sub.3 to t.sub.4, the load capacitance C.sub.L1 is discharged to reduce the output signal V.sub.O1 to zero rapidly. This process forms a waveform C.sub.2 in FIG. 2(c).
(4) Operation at and after t.sub.4
When the pulse b.sub.2 of the gate signal V.sub.G1 falls at the time t.sub.4, the output signal V.sub.O1 decreases by the feed-through voltage .DELTA.V due to the feed-through phenomenon, so that the output signal V.sub.O1 takes a minus peak. The minus peak is referred to as an output low-level peak V.sub.L.
Accordingly, relations between potentials around the thin-film transistor Q.sub.1 immediately after the gate signal V.sub.G1 becomes zero at t.sub.4 are as follows. The potential (0) at the gate G is positive relative to the potential (-.DELTA.V) at the source S. The potential (0 as a value of the data signal V.sub.D1) at the drain D is also positive relative to the potential at the source S.
It is, however, commonly known that the source S and drain D of the thin-film transistor are symmetric in structure, and the source S and drain D can serve interchangeably.
Therefore, a current continues to flow through the thin-film transistor Q even after t.sub.4, so that the output signal V.sub.O1 increases gradually from the output low-level peak V.sub.L. Ultimately, the voltage between the source S and drain D is settled to the threshold voltage V.sub.th of the thin-film transistor Q.sub.1, that is defined as a specific voltage level between the opposite ends (source S and drain D) of the thin-film transistor Q.sub.1 with a voltage below which level no current can flow through the thin-film transistor Q.sub.1. The settled value is referred to as an output low level V.sub.OL. In short, V.sub.OL =-V.sub.th. This process forms a waveform c.sub.3 in FIG. 2(c).
An operation to be conducted when the output signal V.sub.O1 is low, is carried out in an external system using the output low level V.sub.OL.
A description of such a thin-film transistor array is found in the literature by Malcolm J. Thompson and Hsing C. Tuan, entitled "Amorphous Si Electronic Devices and Their Applications", IEDM 86 pp. 192-195 (particularly, FIG. 8).
However, the following problems are caused by the feed-through phenomenon in the aforementioned conventional thin-film transistor arrays.
The first problem is that the output high level V.sub.OH is reduced by the feed-through voltage .DELTA.V from the given data signal value V.sub.D1 to a value often insufficient for a desired operation. To assure the desired operation, a voltage higher by the feed-through voltage .DELTA.V than the output high level V.sub.OH must be prepared as the data signal V.sub.D1.
The second problem is that the output low level V.sub.OL depends on the threshold voltage V.sub.th of the thin-film transistor which changes with the passage of time during the operation of the thin-film transistor. Accordingly, the output low level V.sub.OL cannot be stable. When the output low level V.sub.OL is not stable, for example the following disadvantage arises. This is, in the case where the thin-film transistor array is used in an image processing device or the like to attain a tonal feature, the potential difference between the output high level and low level is not stabilized, causing erroneous results.


Disclosed is a technology for password-free account authentication. The technology includes utilizing a mobile device running an application (“App”) associated with a payment service (PS) system. Using the App, a user can enter an addressable handle, which is transmitted to the PS system. The PS system identifies an account state, based on the receipt of the addressable handle, for example, whether the addressable handle corresponds to a user's system account and device. A first authentication factor is based on the knowledge that the user is in possession of and has access to a device that corresponds to the user and the addressable handle. The PS system pushes a notification to the corresponding device, based on the account state, prompting entry of a security code. Receipt of a security code that corresponds to a payment card linked to the user's system account serves as a second authentication factor.

There is an ever increasing need for people to establish and maintain accounts online. Remote user access to an online system, account or website usually requires the establishment and use of both a user name and a password. A conventional log-in requires two factors of authentication, based on the user name and the password.
Users are therefore required to manage and remember or in some way securely retain a large number of passwords.
It is common wisdom that users should maintain unique passwords for each of their accounts, and change them often, such as based on time or perceived security threats. As well, it is desired that online passwords be reasonably complex, to improve protection from hacking.
Users often forget a password for one of their accounts, which requires that they take the time to reestablish a new password, often by sending a request, and/or by answering security questions, for which they have previously provided answers, and for which they often have also forgotten.
Furthermore, the sheer number of passwords, along with their complexity and shelf life, is problematic, and even knowledgeable users often fail to update their passwords in a timely manner, and often use the same password for different accounts.
Online passwords are therefore very time-consuming and inefficient, from the perspective of the user, who may be in a hurry to access a system, website, or account.

Two-factor authentication with push notification for a security code


An apparatus for lifting an adult human foot includes a frame, a foot rest, and a lifting mechanism. The frame is configured to rest on a floor with the lifting mechanism being positioned on the frame and the foot rest being secured to the lifting mechanism. In operation, the lifting mechanism functions to selectively raise and lower the foot rest with respect to the floor.

Anyone who has experienced a lower back injury knows that the injury can render difficult many of the body movements that make up daily life. The simple act of putting on socks, for example, becomes small feat when your back hurts so much that you cannot lift your leg high enough for your arms to reach your toes. The same goes for people who are overweight or physically infirm. Persons in those categories may lack the physical strength or otherwise be physically incapable of sufficiently flexing their bodies to reach their feet.
There are, of course, devices to help people lift their feet. The most common are handheld poles or extensions, but those devices require the user to have at least a reasonable degree of dexterity and physical strength to work—characteristics that may be lacking in the physically infirm. There are also devices that can automatically elevate a leg, such as the device disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,364. However, the prior art automatic lifts all appear to be directed to helping lift a user's legs, not feet. Many automatic lifts are also attached to another object such as a hospital bed or a wheelchair.

Apparatus for raising and lowering a human foot


Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome are treated by a delayed and sustained release composition of an opioid antagonist which commences release of the opioid antagonist in the mid to distal small intestine or ascending colon and provides sustained release along any remaining part of the small intestine and along the colon. Preferred opioid antagonists are naloxone and naltrexone.

The present invention relates to the use of an opioid antagonist, especially naloxone and naltrexone, for the treatment of opioid induced or idiopathic constipation or of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by delayed and sustained release.
Opioids, including codeine phosphate and morphine, are widely used as analgesics and are known to cause constipation as a troublesome and often serious complication. The effect is particularly troublesome amongst in-patients requiring prolonged opioid therapy in high doses such as terminally ill patients with a malignant disease. Treatment of the constipation is usually by use of conventional laxatives, but it is often poorly controlled.
IBS is a functional bowel disorder consisting of abdominal pain and altered bowel habit. Pain is characteristically relieved by defecation and may be associated with increase or decrease in stool frequency, alterations in stool consistency, straining or urgency, a sensation of incomplete evacuation, passage of mucus or abdominal distention. The pathophysiology is poorly understood despite the fact that about a quarter of the population in the UK may exhibit the symptoms.
There has been no convincing evidence that any current drug regime is of proven benefit in the treatment of IBS. Primary treatment involves counselling and dietary modification. Drug therapy is considered to be beneficial if directed at individual symptoms. For diarrhoea predominant cases, anti-diarrhoeal drugs are used, particularly loperamide. For constipation predominant cases, ispaghula is often used to increase dietary fibre. Where patients have pain and distension as predominant symptoms, antispasmolytics are commonly used. Mebeverine and peppermint oil are often used in such cases. Other agents that have been tried, in treating IBS, include beta-blockers, naloxone, ondansetron, calcium channel blockers, simethicone, leuprorelin, octreotide and cholecystokinin antagonists, with variable results (Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 31st Edition (1996) p 1197).
Naloxone (17-allyl-6-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-14-hydroxy-6-oxonormorphine) is known to be a specific opioid antagonist and is given intravenously for the treatment of opioid-overdosage and to reverse therapeutic effects of opioids (for example postoperatively when opioids are used during surgery). It has a short plasma half-life of about 1 h after parenteral administration. It is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and subject to considerable first-pass metabolism.
Naltrexone (17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5xcex1-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxymorphinan-6-one) is known to have opioid-blocking activity. It is given orally in the treatment of opioid dependence as an aid to maintaining abstinence following opioid withdrawal. Naltrexone is more potent than naloxone and has a longer duration of action. Naltrexone is also used as an adjunct in the management of alcohol withdrawal.
Strong opioids delay gastrointestinal transit and patients treated with them experience marked constipation. The delay is partly mediated by opioid receptors in the gut. Naloxone has been shown to produce a laxative effect in patients with advanced cancer that are being treated with an opioid analgesic, although there were a number of instances of withdrawal observed. It appeared that the dose regime of naloxone was dependent on the dose of the constipation-causing opioid administered, however it was observed that any clinical use of naloxone should not depend on the dose being estimated based on a measured plasma concentration. Indeed, the dose of the opioid was not the only consideration. Patients that have been on longer term treatment of opioids and are thus more physically dependent appear to be more sensitive to naloxone treatment and show more withdrawal symptoms (N. P. Sykes, Palliative Medicine, 1996, 10, 135).
It has been suggested (N. P. Sykes, Palliative Medicine, 1996, 10, 135) that oral naloxone might have a therapeutic role in treatment of opioid induced constipation and that a slow release formulation could offer 12 or 24 hour administration, although it has been conceded that this would increase the difficulty of reversing any withdrawal that occurred.
WO 99/22737 (Drell et al) discloses a method for treating or preventing a range of conditions, often side effects from the use of opioid analgesics, including both opioid induced and non opioid induced constipation by administering a quaternary derivative of noroxymorphine, especially methylnaltrexone. The noroxymorphine derivative may be enterically coated to delay the release of the drug. Systemic uptake is not totally avoided, but quarternary ammonium salts such as methylnaltrexone do not cross the blood-brain barrier to a significant extent thus minimising the reduction of any opioid induced analgesic effect.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,230 (Tuttle et al) relates to the intestine specific delivery of opioid antagonists including naloxone and naltrexone for treating opioid induced and idiopathic constipation and IBS. The drug is targeted to the intestine by virtue of an inactive glucoronic acid derivative which is enzymatically cleaved by glucoronidase, in the lower intestine and particularly the colon. The glucoronic acid derivative may be in the form of capsules or tablets for oral administration and may have enteric coatings such as polyacrylates or cellulose acetate phthalates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,136 (Kreek et al) relates to the treatment of a range of gastrointestinal dysmotility conditions including constipation and IBS by administering opioid antagonists such as naloxone or naltrexone. Preferably, the opioid antagonist will be in an oral sustained release form allowing sustained release along the gastrointestinal tract, in a pH independent manner. The sustained release formulation may be administered in a hard gelatin capsule.
There is a need to provide a therapeutic treatment that will relieve (opioid induced) constipation and treat IBS. The desired therapy would relieve opioid induced constipation without reversing the analgesic effect for which the opioid was intended.
The inventors have now found that an opioid antagonist specifically released, initially, in the mid to distal small intestine, especially the distal ileum, and/or ascending colon is effective in treating IBS and both opioid induced and idiopathic constipation.
Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an opioid antagonist for use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a condition selected from constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome by targeting initial release of said antagonist to the mid to distal small intestine and/or ascending colon and providing subsequent sustained release of said antagonist along any remaining part of the small intestine and along the colon.
Preferably, initial release of the antagonist is targeted to the distal ileum and/or ascending colon and subsequent sustained release occurs along the colon.
The invention has particular application to the treatment of idiopathic constipation and especially opioid induced constipation.
Preferred opioid antagonists for use in the invention are naloxone and naltrexone and pharmacologically acceptable salts, derivatives and metabolites thereof.
Other opioid antagonists include methyl naloxone, nalmefene, cypridime, beta funaltrexamine, naloxonazine, naltrindole, nor-binaltorphimine and any pharmacologically acceptable salts, derivatives and metabolites thereof.
References herein to pharmacologically acceptable derivative, include any derivative which has the same type of pharmacological activity as the relevant opioid antagonist.
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a composition comprising an opioid antagonist in an oral delayed and sustained release form which targets initial release of the opioid antagonist to the mid to distal small intestine and/or ascending colon and provides sustained release along any remaining part of the small intestine and along the colon.
Preferably, initial release of the antagonist is targeted to the distal ileum and/or ascending colon and subsequent sustained release occurs along the colon.
The presently preferred opioid antagonist is naloxone. This substance is particularly suited to administration by the oral route since it is known to be efficiently metabolised by the liver, which minimises its absorption into the blood circulatory system thus limiting the risk of systemic side effects, such as negation of systemic pain relief for which certain opioids are administered.
The delayed release is preferably provided by having the composition in an enterically coated capsule which will not dissolve in the stomach but will allow initial release of the opioid antagonist in the mid to distal small intestine and/or ascending colon and preferably will allow initial release of the opioid antagonist in the distal ileum and/or ascending colon.
The sustained release is preferably provided by a composition which releases the opioid antagonist over a period of 3 to 24 hours, more preferably 6 to 12 hours.
The composition preferably comprises an opioid antagonist dispersed in a matrix enclosed in a capsule which disintegrates upon reaching the mid to distal small intestine and/or ascending colon and preferably the distal ileum and/or ascending colon to allow subsequent sustained release of the opioid antagonist from the matrix.
The matrix may be a thermolabile matrix which begins to soften within the capsule as it moves along the gastrointestinal tract and releases the opioid antagonist over a sustained period.
The sustained release of the opioid antagonist can be achieved by use of a polyglycolised glyceride. The polyglycolised glyceride may be comprised of mono-, di- and triglycerides and of mono- and di- fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and held in an enteric coated orally administrable capsule. The polyglycolised excipient acts as a particularly good matrix to release the opioid antagonist over a prolonged period. The enteric coating carries the capsule past the stomach to the mid to distal small intestine and/or ascending colon where it dissolves and the opioid antagonist is released along the target area over a period of hours. The polyglycolised glyceride can be adapted to have a different melting point and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) depending on the type and proportion of triglyceride and fatty acid esters of PEG used. Examples of commercially available polyglycolised excipients for use in the composition are those available from Gattefosse, France under the Trade Mark Gelucire.
Such compositions are particularly effective in the treatment of opioid induced constipation without reversing the analgesic effects of the opioid, as well as idiopathic constipation.
In a particularly preferred delayed and sustained release oral composition, the opioid antagonist is suspended in a polyglycolised glyceride, preferably Gelucire(trademark), more preferably Gelucire(trademark) 50/13, that is Gelucire(trademark) with a melting point of 50xc2x0 C. and HLB value of 13, or Gelucire(trademark) 42/12 and most preferably Gelucire(trademark) 53/10 (providing about 12 h sustained release) or a matrix combination of Gelucire(trademark) 50/13 and Gelucire(trademark) 42/12 in the ratio 80:20 to 95:5 (providing 6 to 12, preferably 6 to 9 hours sustained release) especially in the ratio 82.5:17.5. The suspension is then dosed in a capsule and the capsule enteric coated.
An advantage of using a matrix, as described above, particularly the identified Gelucire(trademark) combinations, in a composition for sustained release of an opioid antagonist is that there is a unique hydrophilic-lipophilic balance which allows the formation of an emulsion as the softening matrix travels along the intestine. It is believed that the physical characteristics of the matrix vehicle cause it to be located close to the gastrointestinal wall in transit and thus in close proximity to mucosa and local receptor sites. The combination of these features leads to improved exposure to receptor sites and a prolonged transit time.
Suitable enteric coating materials for use in the present invention include cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), polyvinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, although preferable enteric coatings are those polymers based on acrylic and methacrylic acid. A suitable such material is the anionic methacrylate polymer sold under the registered Trade Mark EUDRAGIT(trademark) S by Rohm Pharma GmbH of Darmstadt, Germany. EUDRAGIT(trademark) S is a copolymer of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate in which the ratio of free carboxyl groups to ester groups is approximately 1:2 and having a mean molecular weight of 135,000. Coatings of acidic materials, such as that sold as EUDRAGIT(trademark) L (composition as EUDRAGIT(trademark) S but having a carboxyl/ester ratio of 1:1) or EUDRAGIT(trademark) S may be used in the coating of tablets or capsules. It will be apparent to the skilled person that mixtures of substances, such as EUDRAGIT(trademark) S and EUDRAGIT(trademark), may be used as coating materials. Particularly preferred enteric coatings in accordance with the invention are EUDRAGIT(trademark) S and LS (e.g. in a L:S ratio of 1:2).
The provision of the coating to the compositions of the invention may be achieved in conventional manner, e.g. by the use of spraying, fluidized bed, immersion tube and immersion blade techniques.
The coating can, and usually will, contain plasticiser and possibly other coating additives such as colouring agents, gloss producers, talc and/or magnesium stearate as well known in the coating art. In particular, anionic carboxylic acrylic polymers usually contain 10 to 25% by weight of a plasticiser especially diethyl phthalate, although the presence of such a plasticiser may not be necessary when using an aqueous suspension for coating.
Usually, the capsule into which the coated material is loaded will be a soft or, preferably, hard gelatin capsule although other capsules, such as cellulose-based capsules, which will dissolve in the small intestine can be used.
A suitable unit dose for the treatment of constipation by opioid antagonists is in the range of 0.5 to 30 mg naloxone or the equivalent thereof.

Composition for treatment of constipation and irritable bowel syndrome


The present invention relates to novel indazole compounds of the Formula (I), wherein, R1 is alkyl or cycloalkyl; (Formula II) including their stereoisomers and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. This invention also relates to methods of making such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. The compounds of this invention are useful in the treatment of various disorders that are related to 5-Hydroxy-tryptamine 4 (5-HT4) receptor agonists.

The 5-HT4 receptor is one of the seven subtypes of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors. It is a 7-transmembrane domain protein coupled to a G-protein positively linked to the activation of adenylate cyclase (Molecular Pharmacology, 1990, 37, 408-411). 5-HT4R agonists are found to have potential utility in the treatment of disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, schizpherenia, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Huntington's disease, parkinson's disease and several other psychiatric disorders (Behavioral brain research, 1996, 73, 249-252; Neuron, 2007, 55, 712-725; Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2007, 33(5), 1100-1119 and Neuroscience and Medicine, 2011, 2, 87-92). 5-HT4 receptor agonists are known to improve memory in different behavioral experiments in rodents (Neuropharmacology, 1997, 36, 697-706; Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 1998, 286, 1115-1121; Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2002, 302, 731-741; Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 2003, 367: 621-628). By injecting 5-HT4 receptor agonist to rats and implanting a recording electrode in the hippocampal CA1 region, Kemp and Manahan-Vaughan (Cerebral Cortex, 2005, 15, 1037-1043) showed that 5-HT4 receptors play a key role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and the determination of particular properties of stored synaptic information. Autoradiographic studies using the 5-HT4 receptor antagonists [125I]SB207710 and [3H]GR113808 in rat, mouse, guinea pig or post-mortem human brain showed that the 5-HT4 receptor is present at a high density in the limbic system including the hippocampus and frontal cortex (Neuropharmacology 1994, 33, 527-541; European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2003, 13, 228-234) suggesting a role of 5-HT4 receptor in memory and cognition.
The drugs currently available ameliorate late-stage symptoms such as cognitive deficits. No drugs are in the market that specifically targets the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), namely the generation of the neurotoxic amyloid β-protein (Aβ) from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the appearance of senile plaques mainly composed of amyloid β-protein (Aβ), and the development of neurofibrillary tangles in patient's brains (Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 1997, 56, 321-339). AD patients also have cognitive deficits, impaired long-term potentiation (LTP), learning and memory deficits (Neuron, 2004, 44, 181-193) and a consistent deficit in cholinergic neurotransmission. Several acetylcholine esterase inhibitors such as donepezil are available in the market for the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate AD. However, beneficial effects of this symptomatic treatment can only be maintained for up to 36 months (Pharmacological Research, 2004, 50, 441-451).
Patent publications WO9410174, WO9408994, WO2003035649, WO2004094418, WO2005049608, WO2006090224, WO2011099305, WO2011101774, US20080207690 and US20080269211 disclosed some 5-HT4 receptor compounds. While several 5-HT4 receptor agonists/partial agonists have been disclosed in the literature, no compound, either agonist or partial agonist targeting 5-HT4 receptor is launched in the market until now for the treatment of dementia related disorders. Therefore, there is need and scope to discover new 5-HT4 receptor agonists/partial agonists with novel chemical structures for treatment of disorders that are affected by the 5-HT4 receptor agonists.


A semiconductor insulation structure is disclosed for a semiconductor module, incorporating therein a semiconductor element, with which an electrically conductive structural body is held in pressured contact via an intervening insulation member. The semiconductor insulation structure includes a deformation preventing structure to avoid the insulation member from deforming when applied with load thereto. In one aspect, the deformation preventing structure includes a deformation resistant abutment surface, formed on the semiconductor module, and a readily deforming abutment surface formed on the electrically conductive structural body. In another aspect, the deformation preventing structure includes a reinforcement formed on a cooler and held in contact with the insulation member in an area placed in opposition to an outer circumferential periphery of the semiconductor module.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor insulation structures for cooling semiconductor modules incorporating semiconductor elements and, more particularly, to a semiconductor insulation structure for a semiconductor module, incorporating a semiconductor module herein, an insulation member and an electrically conductive structural body all of which are held in pressured contact with each other
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, attempt has heretofore been made to provide a semiconductor insulation structure such as a structure shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-320005, US2005/0040515A1 and US012006/1020047A1). With such a structure, radiator plates 950, 950 sandwich a semiconductor element 91, incorporated in a semiconductor module 9, and coolers 7, 7 are mounted on the radiator plates 950, 950, respectively, with the semiconductor element 9, the radiator plates 8, 8 and the coolers 7, 7 being held in pressured contact with each other for cooling the semiconductor module 9. The semiconductor module 9 further includes insulation members 8 each composed of ceramic material and interposed between the cooler 7 and the radiator plate 950, exposed to a surface of the semiconductor module 9, to ensure electrically insulating property therebetween.
However, under circumstances where the radiator plates 950, 950 are made of copper and the coolers 7, 7 are made of aluminum, if the coolers 7, 7 and the radiator plates 950, 950 are pressurized against each other with the intervening insulation members 8, 8, the coolers 7, 7 are liable to deform with greater extents than those of the radiator plates 950, 950 when applied with a given rate of load. When this takes place, bending forces act on the insulation members 8, 8 to cause the deformations thereof due to the deformations of the coolers 7, 7. This result in the occurrence of fears for the insulation members 8, 8 to undergo crack or damages. Thus, difficulties are encountered in ensuring electrically insulating property between the semiconductor module 9 and the coolers 7, 7.
With such a structure, when the radiator plate 950, having a less deformation rate in terms of a given load, is brought into abutting engagement with a surface of each cooler 7 that has a high deformation rate in terms of the given load, stress concentration occurs on an abutment portion between the radiator plate 950 and the cooler 7. When this takes place, the cooler 7 deforms in the abutment portion at an area in the vicinity of an outer circumferential periphery 951 of the radiator plate 950. That is, under the circumstances where the radiator plates 950, 950 have the less deformation rates in terms of the given load than those of the coolers 7, 7, the presence of the outer circumferential periphery 951 remaining inward of an outer circumferential periphery 751 of the cooler 7 tends to cause the cooler to deform in a manner mentioned above. Thus, deterioration occurs in electrically insulating property between the semiconductor module 9 and the cooler 7.