Provided is a field effect transistor having an organic semiconductor layer, in which the organic semiconductor layer contains at least a tetrabenzo copper porphyrin crystal and has peaks at two or more of Bragg angles (2θ) in CuKα X-ray diffraction of 8.4°±0.2°, 10.2°±0.2°, 11.8°±0.2°, and 16.9°±0.2°, and the tetrabenzo copper porphyrin crystal comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (1): (Wherein R2's each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or an alkyl group, oxyalkyl group, thioalkyl group, or alkylester group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and R3's each represent a hydrogen atom or an aryl group.)

The nonlinear optical characteristics, conductivity, and semiconductivity of an organic semiconductor compound have attracted attention in the field of optoelectronics, so that the development of various devices has been vigorously conducted.
In recent years, a field effect transistor (FET) element using an organic semiconductor compound for its semiconductor layer has been attracting attention. In view of this circumstance, an organic semiconductor compound is now considered to be suitable for the preparation of a flexible element using plastics as its substrate because the organic semiconductor compound exhibits flexible film property as compared to an inorganic material such as silicon.
Representative examples of such an organic semiconductor compound include phthalocyanine-based compounds and polyacenes. Characteristics such as nonlinear optical characteristics, conductivity, and semiconductivity necessary for preparing devices using those compounds as organic materials are known to largely depend on the crystallinity and orientation of the materials as well as their purities. However, it has been difficult to make many compounds such as the phthalocyanine-based compound and the polyacenes mentioned earlier, in which π conjugated systems are extended, highly pure partly because the compounds are insoluble in solvents and susceptible to oxidation in the atmosphere. Moreover, a large-scale apparatus has been necessary for film formation partly because vacuum evaporation should be performed in order to obtain a crystallized film having high orientation.
For instance, pentacene, a representative example of an organic semiconductor compound, can be formed into a film on a substrate by means of vacuum evacuation alone because pentacene has high crystallinity and is insoluble in a solvent.
Meanwhile, a FET is prepared more simply by forming a thin film using a solution of an organic semiconductor that is soluble in an organic solvent by means of a coating method such as a spin coating method. Examples of such a FET include one using a π-conjugated polymer for its semiconductor layer (see "Japanese Journal of Applied Physics", Japan Society of Applied Physics, vol. 30, pp. 596-598, 1991). It is known that, in the case of a π-conjugated polymer, an arrangement state of molecular chains largely affect electric conductive characteristics. Similarly, it has been reported that a field effect mobility of a π-conjugated polymer field effect transistor is largely dependent on the arrangement state of the molecular chains in the semiconductor layer (see "Nature", Nature Publishing Group, vol. 401, pp. 685-687, 1999).
However, the arrangement of the molecular chains of a π-conjugated polymer is performed during a period from solution coating to solution drying. Therefore, there is a possibility that the arrangement state of the molecular chains varies to a large extent owing to an environmental change or depending on coating method. In view of this, there has been reported a FET using a film obtained by: forming a thin film of a soluble precursor of pentacene through coating; and subjecting the thin film to heat treatment to transform the precursor into pentacene (see "Advanced Materials", WILLEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, vol. 11, pp. 480-483, 1999). In this case, the transformation into pentacene necessitates high-temperature treatment, and an eliminated component having a large mass must be removed under reduced pressure.
As described above, a conventional FET element using an organic semiconductor compound has required a complicated step such as vacuum film formation, or involved a problem in that the element is easily affected by the environment.

Field effect transistor and method of manufacturing the same


Methods and structures for forming vias are provided. The method includes forming a structure that includes an odd line hardmask and an even line hardmask. The odd line hardmask and the even line hardmask include different hardmask materials that have different etch selectivity with respect to each other. The method includes patterning vias separately into the odd line hardmask and the even line hardmask based on the different etch selectivity of the different hardmask materials. The method also includes forming via plugs at the vias. The method includes cutting even line cuts and odd line cuts into the structure. The even line cuts and the odd line cuts are self-aligned with the vias. The vias are formed at line ends of the structure.

The present invention generally relates to via placement, and more particularly to selective patterning of vias with hardmasks.
Electrical interconnection between conductive patterns in various layers of multilayer boards can be accomplished through vias. The formation of the vias differs depending on the technology of a printed circuit board. Via holes can extend through the complete multilayer board, in which case the vias and the electrical interconnections joint intersect copper patterns in each of the layers, or can extend only part way through the structure. In the latter case, these are blind vias that only interconnect copper in the board layers that have actually been penetrated.

Selective patterning of vias with hardmasks

International Business Machines Corporation


A firearm attachment may include a threaded adapter, and the threaded adapter may include a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion. The second threaded portion may include an inner threaded portion and an outer threaded portion. The firearm attachment may include a housing that may be configured to couple to the outer threaded portion. The firearm adapter may include a reverse baffle compensator that may be configured to couple to the inner threaded portion. The reverse baffle component may include a first baffle portion and a second baffle portion, and a channel may be disposed between a first narrow end of the first baffle portion and a second narrow end of the second baffle portion. The reverse baffle portion may include one or more holes on a sloped portion of the first baffle portion and one or more holes on a sloped portion of the second baffle portion.

The present disclosure is generally directed to a firearm compensator and, in particular, to a reverse baffle compensator.
Firearms, such as pistols or rifles, expel large amounts of pressurized gas in the process of firing projectiles. As a projectile exits the muzzle, a "muzzle blast" is created from the explosive shockwave of the pressurized gas exiting the muzzle. The muzzle blast often results in both a very loud sound and a high energy compression wave. The sound, sometimes called a "muzzle report," can exceed 140 decibels and may cause significant hearing loss to the user of the firearm, or those nearby. The compression wave may create unwanted motion in the firearm, including muzzle rise, linear movement, recoil, etc. Various products and firearm designs are directed at counteracting the effects muzzle blast.
The subject matter claimed in the present disclosure is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described in the present disclosure may be practiced.


Disclosed is an electronic flashlight apparatus attachable to camera and having a flashlight illuminating direction variable under electrical control. The flashlight apparatus includes a flashlight projection unit including a flashlight source and a reflecting optical system adapted for reflecting a portion of a flashlight from the source, a direction converting unit supporting the projection unit and adapted for changing the projection position of the projection unit between a normal position of projecting the flashlight from the source towards an object and a special projection position of projecting the flashlight in a direction different from the projection direction by the normal position, a driving unit for driving the direction converting unit, a control unit for electrically controlling the driving unit, and a housing of the flashlight apparatus accommodating at least the projection unit and the direction converting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic flashlight apparatus and, more particularly, to an electronic flashlight apparatus having a variable flashlight illuminating direction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Up to the present, an electronic flashlight apparatus having a variable elevation angle of a light emission unit and a variable illuminating direction has been known from, for example, the JP Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 55(1980)-42835.
When electronic flashlight apparatus having a variable illuminating direction is mounted on and used with a camera, a light emission unit may be set to an upwardly directing position (bounce lighting position) and the illuminating light emitted during shooting towards the ceiling or wall to illuminate an object indirectly by the reflected light is by way of a so-called bounce lighting. If the distance to an object is as short as, for example, 1 meter, the light emission unit may be slightly tilted towards the imaging lens to prevent uneven illumination produced due to insufficient illumination at both lower corners of the object which is brought about as a result of deviations between the optical axis of the imaging lens and that of the light emission unit. This position is referred to hereinafter as the near-distance shooting position.
However, the above-mentioned conventional electronic flashlight apparatus is comprised of a housing of the flashlight apparatus mounted on a camera body, and a separate light emission unit mounted on the housing for rotation in the elevating direction, so that the apparatus as a whole is increased in size, while water drops tend to intrude into the interior of the housing of the flashlight apparatus by way of interstices of the rotational section. In addition, the apparatus is poor in operability because the rotating operation for the light emission unit is performed manually.


A method and apparatus for use in servicing a search request where the search request comprises a plurality of parts (such as characters) and establishing a list of tokens where the tokens correspond to elements of objects and have a numerical value. For each part of the search request a subset of the list is determined, said subset identifying a set of objects which may satisfy the search query. The subsets may be identified iteratively. Token encoding is used to encode tokens based on a content of said elements and, in this case, the same token encoding is used to encode the parts of the search request. The token encoding may comprise differential encoding. In certain embodiments, resource requirements necessary to complete the search request are determined based on the identified subsets.

Certain searches involve collating a repository of information and extracting a subset of the repository by running a query against the data. In many computing systems, database systems comprising an information store and a database server to access the store and service client requests exist. The client requests are satisfied by identifying certain objects held in the information store.

Apparatus and method for searching information


A segment roller (1) has a roller body (2), which is mounted rotatably about an axis (3). To this end, the roller body (2) has on the outside grooves (9), in which tongues (8) of profiles (7) engage. These profiles (7) grip the material web (5) directly or indirectly. In order to increase the working life and improve the mechanical properties of the profiles (7), the profiles (7) are of shear-resistant configuration and have elastic lips (20). These elastic lips (20) are deformed upon the engagement of the tongue (8) in the groove (9).

From DE 1 460 639 A, a segment roller of the generic type is known. This consists of a roller body which is mounted rotatably about an axis. Formed on the outer side of this roller body are grooves, into which H-shaped profiles are inserted. These profiles are of elastic configuration and with their outer side clasp a material web. By displacement of the profiles, the material web can be stretched in width. This segment roller forms the basis of the present invention.


A memory stores data for transfer over a bus by a computer program that operates according to a bus frame protocol. The memory includes a data structure stored in the memory. The data structure includes a matrix having blocks arranged in N rows and M columns, where N and M are integers that are greater than one. A block of the matrix includes data used with the bus frame protocol and corresponds to a destination port and a time slot for the data.

This invention relates to a bus frame protocol for transmitting data to one or more devices over a time-division multiplexed (TDM) bus.
A TDM bus receives multiplexed data from several devices and passes the data to different ports on a receiving device. On the receiving device, multiple pins are required to accommodate data for each of the ports. For example, in conventional TDM buses, there are four sets of pins for transmitting data to a device and four sets of pins for receiving data from a device. Thus, as the number of ports increases on a device, the number of pins on a conventional TDM bus can increase dramatically.


A method for preserving and processing cell-free nucleic acids located within a blood sample is disclosed, wherein a blood sample containing cell-free nucleic acids is treated to reduce both blood cell lysis and nuclease activity within the blood sample. The treatment of the sample aids in increasing the amount of cell-free nucleic acids that can be identified and tested while maintaining the structure and integrity of the nucleic acids.

It has been recognized that mRNA obtained from plasma of a blood sample can be useful as an indicator of protein expression. Thus, the presence of extra-cellular or cell-free mRNA in blood plasma has triggered a variety of investigations aimed at determining the source and possible diagnostic capabilities of these nucleic acids. Given that the blood of most healthy individuals ordinarily does not contain substantial amounts of cell-free RNA, elevated amounts of cell-free nucleic acids are usually indicative of a health issue (or pregnancy, as fetal cell-free nucleic acids have been identified in maternal blood). Specifically, elevated presence of cell-free mRNA has been found to indicate the existence of various cancers thereby providing support for the belief that these nucleic acids may originate from tumor cells. Consequently, the identification of cell-free RNA within a blood sample could provide insight into the presence and severity of cancer or some other condition (e.g., diabetes, inflammation, arthritis, infection, or the like), and may thus be an early indicator of such condition. The identification of cell-free RNA within a blood sample may also provide guidance for how best to treat a patient depending upon the relative amounts of cell-free nucleic acids identified within the patient's blood sample. Thus it may be useful not only for diagnosis, but also for patient treatment (e.g., by evaluating a change in the RNA condition of a patient as treatment progresses).
RNA is typically subject to ribonuclease (RNase) activity that reduces the amount of recoverable RNA from a blood sample. However, it has been discovered that despite the presence of ample RNase activity in blood plasma, cell-free mRNA is unexpectedly very stable in vivo and avoids any substantial nuclease mediated degradation. However, after a blood sample is acquired from a patient, cell lysis begins and the nucleic acids from within the blood cells are mixed with the cell-free nucleic acids, making it difficult if not impossible to isolate and distinguish the cell-free mRNA. Further, there is concern about the stability of the cell-free nucleic acids and their ability to avoid nuclease-initiated degradation in vitro. Consequently, the disease indication capability of the cell-free nucleic acids may be diminished as their presence is no longer accurately ascertainable. Ideally, prevention of cell lysis and cell-free nucleic acid degradation within the blood sample would allow for the cell-free nucleic acids to be accurately measured and the presence of any disease risk to be detected.
Efforts to further understand the unexpected stability of the cell-free nucleic acids in vivo have led to the belief that these nucleic acids are able to avoid nuclease activity through protection from proteins or by being packaged into apoptotic bodies. In other words, as cells undergo cell death or apoptosis, apoptotic bodies are produced and the cell-free nucleic acids become encased within a membrane of the apoptotic body, thereby reducing the susceptibility of the nucleic acids to nucleases. However, there is concern that after blood draw the nucleic acids somehow become disassociated from the apoptotic bodies and become vulnerable to nucleases. There is a resulting need to process the blood samples containing the cell-free nucleic acids so that the nucleic acids continue to be unaffected by nucleases throughout processing to produce accurate counts of cell-free nucleic acids for diagnosis purposes.
Metabolic inhibitors have been employed previously to inhibit metabolism in cells. For example, glyceraldehyde, sodium fluoride, and ATA, have been used to inhibit glucose metabolism in blood cells. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,614,391; and 7,390,663 incorporated by reference herein. The use of formaldehyde-donor preservatives for cell or tissue, or RNA preservation has been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,196,182; 5,260,048; 5,459,073; 5,811,099; 5,849,517; and 6,337,189, incorporated by reference herein.
A number of patent documents address processes for the stabilization and/or identification of nucleic acids located within blood plasma and their diagnostic applications. See, generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,614,391; 5,985,572; 6,617,170; 6,630,301; 6,759,217; 6,821,789; 6,916,634; 6,939,671; 6,939,675; 7,208,275; 7,288,380, 7,569,350 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2008/0057502; 2008/0096217; and 2008/0261292 all incorporated by reference herein. Notwithstanding the above, there remains a need for cell-free RNA isolation and preservation methods that preserve cell-free RNA substantially as it exists at the time of a blood draw in an effort to maximize the amount of recovered cell-free nucleic acid from blood plasma and produce reliable isolation and diagnostic results.
The present invention addresses the need for an efficient and consistent method of preserving and testing of a blood sample for elevated levels of cell-free RNA in plasma of the blood sample, which unexpectedly and surprisingly results in short term inhibition of metabolism (i.e., RNA synthesis); long term fixing of blood cells of the blood sample to prevent leaking of cellular RNA into the plasma; fixing the cellular RNA that is within the blood cells to freeze (e.g., immobilize) the protein expression pattern of the blood cells; and stabilizing and protecting the RNA that is in the plasma from nucleases and proteases.

Preservation of cell-free RNA in blood samples


An air purifier having dimensions that enable the air purifier to be more discrete is disclosed. The air purifier also includes components that enable the air purifier to mimic a particular environment in which the air purifier may be placed. In addition, the air purifier includes electrical plugs such that the air purifier is able to be plugged into a traditional wall outlet and the components enable the air purifier to mimic the appearance and function of the wall outlet. Furthermore, the air purifier includes one or more modules to sanitize incoming air, facilitate air flow through the air purifier, and/or dispense scented vapors.

In recent years there has been an increased emphasis on improving the quality of the air or "air health" of living spaces. This has in turn increased the popularity of consumer air purification systems for use in an individual's home. It is often convenient to use an available receptacle (e.g., a conventional household electrical outlet) as a source of electrical power for systems configured to perform some type of environment-altering task. Due to the location and accessibility of conventional wall outlets, and the size and shape of known devices, it is common for such devices to be relatively conspicuous when plugged into a wall outlet.
In some instances, it is desirable to enhance the extent to which vapor-dispensing devices and/or air purifiers integrate or blend in with their environment. The level of discreetness is generally related to a device's overall geometry and the manner in which the device contacts the wall and/or receptacle to which it is connected. In addition, there are instances where it is advantageous to provide an environment-altering apparatus with enhanced functional discreetness. Thus, there is a need for vapor-dispensing devices and air purifiers which do not eliminate, reduce, or otherwise alter a user's access to the functional features of the receptacle.

Methods and apparatus for a low-profile air purifier


A collapsible chair includes a frame composed of four pairs of cross legs located on four sides of the chair, namely, front, back and side cross legs. The cross legs are connected at their upper and lower ends with connector blocks and feet, respectively and collapsible in a scissors-like manner. A pair of vertical back legs are located at opposite sides of the back cross legs. A pair of arm rests have front ends pivotably connected to the side cross legs and rear ends pivotably and slidably supported by an arm rest support assembly. In one embodiment, the arm rest support assembly includes a pair of vertical support rods connected to the vertical back legs, and a pair of sleeves pivotably connected to the support rods and adapted to slidably receive the arm rests.

The present invention generally relates to a folding article of the type in which its framework may be collapsed to provide a compact article for storage purposes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a collapsible chair and wheelchair.
It is well known that a collapsible chair is made of four pairs of cross legs located on four sides of the chair and pivotably connected intermediate their length, as disclosed, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 3,136,272. In this patent, a pair of vertical back legs are located on the back side of the chair to support a flexible back rest. The vertical back legs and the cross legs are operatively associated with each other to support a flexible seat. A pair of arm rests are located on opposite sides of the collapsible chair. The arm rests are made of a flexible material so that the arm rests can readily be folded when the chair is collapsed in a scissors-like manner. Although the arm rests are preferably made of a rigid material, such rigid arm rests are difficult to manage when the chair is collapsed in two dimensions simultaneously.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible chair and wheelchair which allow a pair of rigid arm rests to be moved from a horizontal operable position to a vertical storage position when the chair and wheelchair are collapsed in a scissors-like manner and also, returned to its horizontal operable position when the wheelchair is opened for use.
According to the present invention, there is provided a collapsible chair comprising a frame including a pair of front cross legs pivotally connected together intermediate their length, a pair of back cross legs pivotally connected together intermediate their length, two pairs of side cross legs pivotally connected together intermediate their length, a pair of vertical back legs located at opposite sides of the back cross legs, and means for interconnecting the front cross legs, the back cross legs, the side cross legs and the vertical back legs so as to move the collapsible chair between an expanded operable position and a collapsed position. The cross legs and the vertical back legs are collapsed in a scissors-like manner when the chair is folded up. A flexible seat is connected to the frame, and a back rest is connected between the vertical back legs. The seat and the back rest may be integrally formed from a single sheet. A pair of rigid arm rests are located on opposite sides of the collapsible chair. The arm rests may include a corresponding pair of elongated members having front and rear ends, and a corresponding pair of downwardly extending extensions having upper ends connected to the front ends of the elongated members and lower ends connected to the frame.
As a feature, means are provided to move the arm rests between a substantially horizontal operative position when the collapsible chair is held in its expanded operable position and a substantially vertical stored position when the collapsible chair is held in its collapsed position. The arm rests may be of a one-piece structure. In one embodiment, a pair of support rods are connected to and extend substantially parallel to the vertical back legs. A corresponding pair of sleeves are pivotably connected to the support rods and adapted to slidably receive the arm rests or the elongated members of the arm rests. This arrangement allows combined pivotably and slidable movement of the arm rests when the chair is moved between its expanded and collapsed positions and thus, enables the rigid arm rests to be smoothly moved between its horizontal operable and vertical stored positions. Alternatively, a pair of guide rods may be connected and extend substantially parallel to the vertical back legs, and a corresponding pair of slide blocks may be slidably mounted on the guide rods. The rear ends of the arm rests may be pivotably connected to the slide blocks. Still alternatively, a pair of support rods may be connected to and extend substantially parallel to the vertical back legs, and a corresponding pair of brackets may be pivotably connected to the support rods. A pair of rollers may be rotatably carried by the brackets and rollingly received within the arm rests or the elongated members of the arm rests.
Locking means may be provided to lock the arm rests against pivotal and sliding movement when the collapsible chair is held in its expanded operable and collapsed positions. In one embodiment, a pair of hooks are pivotably connected to the rear ends of the arm rests. A pair of upper locking pins are attached to the support rods, and a pair of lower locking pins are attached to the vertical back legs. The hooks are lockingly engageable with the upper locking pins to prevent inadvertent folding of the chair when the chair is held in its expanded operable position. Also, the hooks are lockingly engageable with the lower locking pins to prevent inadvertent unfolding of the chair when the chair is held in its collapsed position.
The collapsible chair may include four casters to provide a collapsible wheelchair. A front pair of casters and a rear pair of casters may be rotatably supported by the frame. The rear casters may include a pair of wheels, and a corresponding pair of pivotal levers operatively associated with the wheels to selectively stop the wheels. Preferably, the wheels have a corresponding pair of axles displaced rearwardly of the vertical back legs, and the levers may be positioned rearwardly of the axles. This arrangement facilitates operation of the levers.
Each of the front casters may include a pair of spaced wheels, and each of the rear casters may include a single wheel. This single wheel may be positioned between the two wheels of each of the front casters when the collapsible chair is folded to its collapsed position. This results in savings in space in which the wheelchair is stored.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A nano-scale device and method of manufacturing and use. The nano-scale device may be used in-vivo and may comprise a fluid path with an inlet microchannel, an outlet microchannel, and a nanochannel. The fluid path comprises a bio-robust material. In certain embodiments, the bio-robust material may be coated over a material that is not bio-robust.

Considerable advances have been made in the field of therapeutic agent (e.g. drug) delivery technology over the last three decades, resulting in many breakthroughs in clinical medicine. The creation of therapeutic agent delivery devices that are capable of delivering therapeutic agents in controlled ways is still a challenge. One of the major requirements for an implantable drug delivery device is controlled release of therapeutic agents, ranging from small drug molecules to larger biological molecules. It is particularly desirable to achieve a continuous passive drug release profile consistent with zero order kinetics whereby the concentration of drug in the bloodstream remains constant throughout an extended delivery period.
These devices have the potential to improve therapeutic efficacy, diminish potentially life-threatening side effects, improve patient compliance, minimize the intervention of healthcare personnel, reduce the duration of hospital stays, and decrease the diversion of regulated drugs to abusive uses.
A nano-scale device may be used in drug delivery products for the effective administration of drugs. In particular embodiments, the nano-scale device may be a nanochannel delivery device (NDD). In addition, nanochannel delivery devices can be used in other applications where controlled release of a substance over time is needed. Further, an NDD may be used as a filter within a fluidic pathway. In many embodiments a nano-scale device may have dimensional, structural, surface, or other properties required for proper function that must remain stable against micrometer or nanometer range modification for extended durations, e.g., months or even years.
In certain embodiments, a nano-scale device (including, e.g. an NDD) may be part of an apparatus that is implanted into a human or animal body, for example, to provide a therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, the nano-scale device may be used to provide a controlled release of the therapeutic agent from the implanted apparatus. Both the therapeutic agent and the body, however, contain fluids and chemical compounds that may attack over time certain materials used in the construction of an nano-scale device, which can affect the structural stability of the nano-scale device and/or the ability of the nano-scale device to control the release of the therapeutic agent. The materials in the nano-scale device "fluid path" (e.g., the path that a therapeutic molecule travels passing through the nano-scale device) and any and all other surfaces of the nano-scale device that might be exposed to bodily fluids, therapeutic agents, or other potentially deleterious environmental factors, should therefore be resistant to any and all degradation in form and function from those fluids, agents, and factors.

Nano-scale coatings and related methods suitable for in-vivo use


A patio heater table (10) for encompassing a patio heater (14) consists of a duplicate pair of table sides (20) having a table upper portion with legs (46) that are connected by a permanent brace ring segment (52). The table upper portion is formed with a semi-circular structure (22) made of a peripheral ring (24) and a bisecting chord (28) having a midpoint radial concave portion (30) for avoiding contact with the heater standard, or post, (12). The two table sides mate together and are attached with each side positioned over and around the patio heater. The table includes removable brace ring segments (54) that are attached to the leg permanent brace ring segments providing access to the patio heater for fuel replacement. The table is made of steel or aluminum material and is preferably of welded construction.

Previously, many types of outdoor tables have been used to provide an effective means to place dining items and foodstuffs and other useful articles in a convenient location near or around a patio heater or patio umbrella for outdoor use.
The prior art listed below did not disclose patents that possess any of the novelty of the instant invention; however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
InventorIssue DateU.S. Pat. No.5,322,023HammondJun. 21, 19946,017,188BentonJan. 25, 20006,192,878WatersFeb. 27, 2001D456,498JengApr. 30, 2002D462,427JengSep. 3, 2002Patent ApplicationPublicationUS2005/0109247Nelson et al.May 26, 2005
Hammond in U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,023 teaches a service tray for use on a table with an umbrella pole in the center. The tray defines a slot and closure member for mounting to the tray around the pole with the closure member covering the slot. The connection of the closure member to the tray is readily released allowing the slot of the tray to be open permitting insertion around or removal from around the pole. The tray includes a number of compartments for receiving food, with rollers positioned on the underside to facilitate rotation of the tray on its supporting surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,188 issued to Benton is for a combination patio table and pole fan. The invention utilizes a fan mounted on a pole that passes through the center of the patio table. The pole also supports an umbrella that can be used for shade when the table is located outside. The central pole for the device comes in three pieces to vacillate shipping and assembly.
Waters in U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,878 discloses a heating apparatus that includes a perforated wall burner assembly housing containing a burner for igniting fuel from a fuel source. One improvement to the heating apparatus is the provision of a table that has a central opening for receipt of the pole or standard with the table top positioned above the heater base. Foldable legs of the table are pivoted out from under the table top to provide the table with stability when in use. The size of the legs may be coordinated with that of the base so that the table top is closely adjacent or in engagement with the top of the base. Alternatively the legs may be omitted from the table with the entire weight of the table top resting upon the base.
Jeng in U.S. design patent D456,498 presents the ornamental design of a combined gas heater and table with four legs mounted under the table for support. The table top is illustrated with perforations having a diamond shape.
U.S. design patent D462,427 also issued to Jeng is for the ornamental design of a combined gas heater and table with the table top resting directly on the heater base for support. The table top is illustrated having a solid top with the upper portion of the base protruding slightly above the top in the center.
Patent Application Publication No. US2005/0109247 of Nelson et al. discloses a rotatable tray mounted to a vertical pole having a truncated conical shape support sleeve attached thereto. The tray has a beveled bore in a truncate conical shaped inclining upwardly and outwardly to interface with the sleeve. An O-ring fits over the support sleeve and the pole fits into a hole in the center of the table top and is supported by a base.


A method and apparatus for providing fault detection in an Advanced Process Control (APC) framework. A first interface receives operational state data of a processing tool related to the manufacture of a processing piece. The state data is sent from the first interface to a fault detection unit. A fault detection unit determines if a fault condition exists with the processing tool based upon the state data. A predetermined action is performed on the processing tool in response to the presence of a fault condition. In accordance with one embodiment, the predetermined action is to shutdown the processing tool so as to prevent further production of faulty wafers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to semiconductor fabrication technology, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for fault detection and control of a processing tool using an Advanced Process Control (APC) framework.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a constant drive in the semiconductor industry to increase the quality, reliability, and throughput of integrated circuit devices such as microprocessors, memory devices and the like. This drive is fueled by consumer demands for higher quality computers and electronic devices that operate more reliably.
These demands by the consumer have resulted in some improvements in the manufacture of semiconductor devices as well as in the manufacture of integrated circuit devices incorporating such semiconductor devices. Reducing defects in the manufacture of these devices lowers the cost of the devices themselves. Accordingly, the cost of the final product incorporating these devices is also reduced, thus providing inherent monetary benefits to both the consumer and manufacturer.
Although there has been an improvement in detecting faults associated with semiconductor manufacturing processes, one problem currently encountered by the semiconductor manufacturing industry is the delay in reporting these faults such that corrective measures can be implemented in a more expedient manner. As a result of this delay, several faulty devices are produced, which undesirably increases costs for the manufacturer and consumer.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for fault detection in a manufacturing process. The method includes receiving at a first interface operational state data of a processing tool related to the manufacture of a processing piece. The state data is sent from the first interface to a fault detection unit. It is determined if a fault condition exists with the processing tool based upon the state data, and a predetermined action is performed on the processing tool in response to the presence of a fault condition.
In another aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for fault detection in a manufacturing process. The system includes a processing tool adapted to manufacture a processing piece and a first interface, coupled to the processing tool, which is adapted to receive operational state data of the processing tool related to the manufacture of the processing piece. The system further includes a fault detection unit adapted to determine if a fault condition exists with the processing tool based on the operational state data, and a framework adapted to perform a predetermined action on the processing tool in response to the presence of a fault condition.

Method and apparatus for fault detection of a processing tool and control thereof using an advanced process control (APC) framework


A non-powered roller conveyor for conveying parts along a conveyor path includes a downwardly sloped conveyor support frame with a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted along the frame. The rollers comprise a length of prefabricated roller top conveyor chain mounted along a top surface of the conveyor frame. The conveyor chain includes a plurality of links connected together by pivotal connectors that permit sideways articulation of the links with respect to each other. Transverse rows of rollers are rotatably mounted on the links to permit products to roll along the conveyor. The rollers are easily replaceable when necessary. The conveyor follows a downwardly extending spiral path comprising a series of inclined straight sections interconnected by inclined bend sections. Both the straight and bend sections are inclined so that parts roll along the conveyor path under the influence of gravity.

The present invention relates to a gravity feed roller conveyor and more particularly to a roller conveyor that accumulates or holds pallets or in a buffer zone immediately adjacent an end position where the products are used.
In conventional assembly operations, parts to be assembled are placed on pallets and then pallets are placed on conveyors leading to assembly stations where the parts are used. The length of conveyor upstream from the assembly location is deemed to be a "buffer" zone, wherein a supply of parts is maintained for use at the assembly point. In some operations, these buffer zones comprise a downwardly inclined conveyor that leads from an upper loading area downwardly in spiral fashion through a series of inclined straight sections, connected together by arcuate sections that extend through horizontal angles or bends of 30°, 45°, 90°, or 180°, until the parts reach the bottom of the conveyor, wherein the assembly station is located. Most such conveyors are driven conveyors, wherein a conveyor belt or conveyor chain for each conveyor section is driven by a motor and gears in an endless loop path, and adjacent sections of driven chain are positioned end to end with respect to each other. Where conveyors are driven around arcuate bends, it is conventional to use an articulating conveyor chain, wherein a plurality of longitudinally spaced links having arcuate adjoining edges are pivotally connected together so as to permit the chain to follow an arcuate horizontal path.
When the chain is used to provide a buffer zone in an accumulating conveyor (where the products stop but the chain keeps moving), the stopped products create drag on the moving chain. Low friction links reduce friction stress, but heavy products make friction a problem. To minimize this problem, a different type of drive chain, called "roller top chain" can be used. Roller top chain includes rollers mounted on the tops of the links, so that when the products are stopped, the conveyor can continue to move underneath the products, with the conveyor rollers rolling underneath the products as the links continue to move in an oval path under the products.
A serious problem with driven accumulating or buffer conveyors of this nature is that the weight of the products on the links causes a great deal of wear on the various moving mechanisms of the system, as well as on the drive components of the system. Replacement parts are expensive, and maintenance and repair of such systems involves a substantial amount of down time for the assembly line.
In driven systems of the type described above, it is conventional to position the straight sections of track at an inclined angle but to position the arcuate portions of the conveyor at the ends of the straight sections in a horizontal plane, with a rotatable horizontal bend wheel being on the inside of the bend. The horizontal orientation of the bend sections causes the products to stack up in the bend sections. This increases the load and wear on the system substantially.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved accumulating conveyor system that can easily be used in existing conveyor systems without the maintenance problems and down time associated with conventional driven conveyor systems.


An approach is provided for selecting a network server. An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause, at least in part, the apparatus to load from one or more network servers configuration information of one or more network servers used by a service provider network. The apparatus is also caused to select a network server in the service provider network based at least in part on at least one of network server latency and the network server load. The apparatus is further caused to set the network server as default network server used for at least one of current and future session on one or more user equipment.

Various communication systems having a plurality of network servers may provide connectivity access to a service for one or more users. The connection may be performed, for instance, using a single device or any number of devices (e.g., mobile phones, personal digital assistants, computers, internet tablets, etc.). The network servers may be located in different terrestrial locations around the globe or be extraterrestrial.

Method and apparatus for selecting network services


A ureteral stent is designed to be placed within a patient""s ureter to facilitate drainage from the patient""s kidneys to the bladder. An elongated portion of the stent includes a length sufficient to extend substantially within the ureter from the kidney to the bladder, and the elongated portion defines a lumen extending therethrough. A retention portion extends from one end of the elongated portion and retains the position of the ureteral stent when placed substantially with the kidney. The retention portion includes an interior space that is in communication with the lumen within the elongated portion and has at least one opening for urine drainage. A flared portion extending from the other end of the elongated portion is positioned with the patient""s bladder. The flared portion curves outward and includes an elastic member that maintain the shape of the flared portion when positioned within the bladder.

This invention relates to stents and methods of maintaining patency of a body lumen such as the ureter using stents.
A ureter is a tubular passageway in a body that conveys urine from a kidney to a bladder. Urine is transported through the ureter under the influence of hydrostatic pressure assisted by contractions of muscles located within the walls (lining) of the ureter. A urological condition that some patients experience is ureteral blockage or obstruction. Some common causes of ureter blockage are the formation of tumors or abnormalities within the ureteral lining or the formation and passage of kidney stones.
Ureteral stents are medical devices designed to extend through the ureter and are frequently used to bypass the ureter to facilitate drainage from a kidney to the bladder when a ureter becomes blocked or obstructed. Generally, these stents are made from small diameter tubing of a biocompatible plastic. Ureteral stents may have multiple side holes to enhance drainage and typically include retention hooks, pigtail curls, coils, or malecots extending from both the kidney (distal) and bladder (proximal) ends of the tubing to prevent the migration of the ureteral stent after placement within the ureter.
The present invention generally relates to draining fluids from the kidney to the bladder of a patient with a stent. Devices and methods according to the invention are typically used in the treatment of patients suffering from an obstructed ureter to address and relieve urinary retention while minimizing patient discomfort. It is an object of the invention to maintain the ureter open and able to pass fluids from the kidney to the bladder. It is another object of the invention to minimize patient discomfort.
In one aspect, the invention relates to a ureteral stent. The ureteral stent includes an elongated portion, a retention portion extending from one end of the elongated portion, and a flared portion extending from the other end of the elongated portion. The elongated portion has a length sufficient to extend substantially within the ureter from the kidney to the bladder and defines a lumen extending within. The retention portion extends from a distal end of the elongated portion and is configured for placement and retention within the kidney. The retention portion includes an interior space in communication with the lumen of the elongated portion and at least one opening in communication with the interior space for urine drainage from the kidney to the ureteral stent. The flared portion extends from a proximal end of the elongated portion and is configured for placement substantially within the bladder. The flared portion curves outward while extending from the elongated portion and includes an elastic member for maintaining the shape of the flared portion in an expanded shape when located within the bladder. The flared portion is collapsible to allow entry of the flared portion into the bladder through the urethra.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention can include the following features. For example, the elastic member of the flared portion may be made from a shape-memory material or a superelastic material, such as for example, a nickel-titanium alloy, or an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the elastic member is a ring or loop of material that is embedded within or attached to the flared portion. The shape of the ring or loop may be round, oval, or even elliptical, or it may even be patterned to have a sinusoidal or saw-tooth shape. In other embodiments, the elastic member may include a plurality of collapsible spokes. These collapsible spokes have a first and a second end. The first end of the spokes is attached to a wall of the flared portion and the second end is attached to a hub. In an expanded state, the spokes extend radially from the hub. In a collapsed state, the spokes extend longitudinally from the hub.
In some embodiments, the flared portion may further include a valve that allows fluid to pass from the elongated portion through the valve, out of the flared portion, and into the bladder, but not from the bladder back into the elongated portion. The flared portion itself is made from a thin flexible material and may be corrugated. The retention portion, which is located within the kidney when the ureteral stent is placed within the patient, may be made from a shape-memory or a superelastic material and may have a coil or other retention structure shape. In other embodiments, the entire ureteral stent including the elongated portion, the retention portion, and the flared portion is sized to fit within a cystoscope.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method of inserting within a urinary tract a ureteral stent such as the stent described above. The method includes inserting the stent into the urinary tract of a patient and positioning the ureteral stent within the ureter of the patient such that the retention portion is within the kidney and the flared portion is within the bladder. The method may also include collapsing the flared portion of the ureteral stent prior to insertion and allowing the flared portion to expand within the bladder. The method may further include providing a cystoscope sized to receive the ureteral stent and using the cystoscope to insert and position the ureteral stent within the urinary tract of the patient.
The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims.


A method for fabricating a crown capacitor is able to form a deep UV photoresist layer having a cylindrical structure by using only one mask. A conductive layer, the main structure of a bottom electrode, is formed on the sidewall of the deep UV photoresist layer by performing a silylation process. A fairly small and high cylindrical structure is formed by the invention, so that the crown capacitor can be used in DRAM having a storage capacity higher than 64 MB. Also, there is no problem of registration because only one mask is used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a capacitor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a crown capacitor used in DRAM.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional DRAM having a storage capacity less than 1 MB, it is a customary practice to use a two-dimensional capacitor called a planar-type capacitor as the data storage capacitor. One drawback in the planar-type capacitor, however, is that it requires quite a large chip area to implement. Therefore, the planar-type capacitor is not suitable for high-integration DRAM. In DRAM having a storage capacity higher than 4 MB, a three-dimensional capacitor such as a stacked-type capacitor is used as the data storage capacitor. A crown capacitor is a kind of stacked-type capacitor.
FIGS. 1A through 1C are schematic, cross-sectional diagrams used to depict the steps in conventional method for fabricating a crown capacitor
Referring to FIG. 1A, a substrate 20 having a MOS structure is provided, wherein the MOS structure includes a drain region 24. An inter-layer dielectric layer 26 is formed on the substrate 20. A contact hole 28 is formed in the inter-dielectric layer 26 to expose the drain region 24. A conductive layer 30 is formed on the inter-layer dielectric layer 26 and fills the contact hole 28. The thickness of the conductive layer 30 on the inter-layer dielectric layer 26 is about 6000 .ANG..
Referring to FIG. 1B, an opening 32 is formed in the conductive layer 30 and corresponds to the contact hole 28. The step of forming the opening 32 includes performing an anisotropic etching process to remove a portion of the conductive layer 30 by controlling the duration of etching. The depth of etching is about 4000 to 5000 .ANG..
Referring to FIG. 1C, an anisotropic etching process is performed to remove a portion of the conductive layer 30 by using the inter-layer dielectric layer 26 as a stop layer. Therefore, a bottom electrode 34 is made from the remaining conductive layer 30. A dielectric layer 36 is formed on the bottom electrode 34 and an upper electrode 38 is formed on the dielectric layer 36.
In conventional process for fabricating DRAM whose channel length is below 0.35 .mu.m, two masks are used to form the bottom electrode of the crown capacitor. As the integration of DRAM is increased, the critical dimension of the crown capacitor is reduced. It is hard to meet the demands of the critical dimension of the crown capacitor by using conventional process, because the tolerance of the registration between the two masks is reduced.

Method to crown capacitor for high density DRAM


A freeze dryer processes bulk powder products. The freeze dryer freezes the product by mixing an atomized spray of product with sterile liquid nitrogen. The resultant powder is freeze dried in a vessel, and the vessel contents is agitated to maintain product contact with heated vessel wall and to prevent agglomeration.

Freeze drying is a process that removes a solvent or suspension medium, typically water, from a product. While the present disclosure uses water as the exemplary solvent, other solvents, such as alcohol, may also be removed in freeze drying processes and may be removed with the presently disclosed methods and apparatus.
In a freeze drying process for removing water, the water in the product is frozen to form ice and, under vacuum, the ice is sublimed and the vapor flows towards a condenser. The water vapor is condensed on the condenser as ice and is later removed from the condenser. Freeze drying is particularly useful in the pharmaceutical industry, as the integrity of the product is preserved during the freeze drying process and product stability can be guaranteed over relatively long periods of time. The freeze dried product is ordinarily, but not necessarily, a biological substance.
Pharmaceutical freeze drying is often an aseptic process that requires sterile conditions within the freeze drying chamber. It is critical to assure that all components of the freeze drying system coming into contact with the product are sterile.
Most bulk freeze drying in aseptic conditions is done in a freeze dryer designed for vials, wherein bulk product is placed in trays designed for holding vials. In one example of a prior art freeze drying system 100 shown in FIG. 1, a batch of product 112 is placed in freeze dryer trays 121 within a freeze drying chamber 110. Freeze dryer shelves 123 are used to support the trays 121 and to transfer heat to and from the trays and the product as required by the process. A heat transfer fluid flowing through conduits within the shelves 123 is used to remove or add heat.
Under vacuum, the frozen product 112 is heated slightly to cause sublimation of the ice within the product. Water vapor resulting from the sublimation of the ice flows through a passageway 115 into a condensing chamber 120 containing condensing coils or other surfaces 122 maintained below the condensation temperature of the water vapor. A coolant is passed through the coils 122 to remove heat, causing the water vapor to condense as ice on the coils.
Both the freeze drying chamber 110 and the condensing chamber 120 are maintained under vacuum during the process by a vacuum pump 150 connected to the exhaust of the condensing chamber 120. Non-condensable gases contained in the chambers 110, 120 are removed by the vacuum pump 150 and exhausted at a higher pressure outlet 152.
Tray dryers are designed for aseptic vial drying and are not optimized to handle bulk product. The product must be manually loaded into the trays, freeze dried, and then manually removed from the trays. Handling the trays is difficult, and creates the risk of a liquid spill. Heat transfer resistances between the product and the trays, and between the trays and the shelves, sometimes causes irregular heat transfer. Dried product must be removed from trays after processing, resulting in product handling loss.
Because the process is performed on a large mass of product, agglomeration into a "cake" often occurs, and milling is required to achieve a suitable powder and uniform particle size. Cycle times may be longer than necessary due to resistance of the large mass of product to heating and the poor heat transfer characteristics between the trays, the product and the shelves.
Spray freeze drying has been suggested, wherein a liquid substance is sprayed into a low temperature, low pressure environment, and water in the resulting frozen particles is sublimated by exposing the falling particles to radiant heat (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,868). That process is limited to materials from which water may be removed rapidly, while the particles are airborne, and requires radiant heaters in a low temperature environment, reducing efficiency.
Spray freezing of a product by atomizing the product together with liquid nitrogen (LN2) or a cold gas has been suggested in conjunction with atmospheric freeze drying using a desiccating gas such as nitrogen. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,363,726. Frozen particles are collected in a drying vessel having a bottom with a porous metal filter plate. The desiccating gas is passed through the product, creating a partial pressure of water vapor from the product over the dry desiccating gas, causing sublimation and/or evaporation of the water contained in the product. Such a process is not easily adapted for aseptic processing, because both the cold gas for freezing and the desiccating gas must be sterile. The process may potentially consume large amounts of nitrogen. Atmospheric drying is typically slower than vacuum drying of equivalent powder.
Stirred freeze dryers perform both the freezing step and the vacuum sublimation step under stirred conditions. Heat is introduced through the vessel jacket during the sublimation stage. A stirred freeze dryer has been marketed, for example, by Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems of Summit, N.J.
There is a need for an improved technique for processing bulk quantities of aseptic materials that are not contained in vials. The technique should maintain an aseptic environment for the process, and minimize handling of the product in trays, with the potential of spills. The process should avoid secondary operations such as milling to produce uniform particle sizes. The process should avoid the heat transfer problems associated with drying bulk product on trays. The process should be as continuous as possible, avoiding product transfer between equipment wherever possible.

Bulk freeze drying using spray freezing and agitated drying


A method is disclosed. The method may involve obtaining information indicative of a number of printing passes of a print head to print a swath on a printable medium. The method may comprise determining that the print head is to perform a particular printing pass which is one of: a printing pass during which an amount of print agent to be deposited from nozzles of the print head differs, by an amount that exceeds a defined threshold, from an amount of print agent to be deposited from the nozzles during a printing pass immediately preceding said particular printing pass; and a printing pass to print a swath which is the first of a plurality of adjacent swaths in which each swath has an area coverage exceeding a defined threshold. The method may comprise preparing, based on said obtained information, a schedule for a nozzle spitting procedure to commence before the print head performs the particular printing pass.

A printing apparatus may include a print head having a plurality of nozzles, via which print agent may be delivered onto a printable substrate, such as a sheet of paper. Various tasks, such as maintenance tasks, may be performed to the nozzles of the print head in order to maintain their efficacy.
One such maintenance task might include spitting print agent from the nozzles. In some examples, spitting may be performed prior to a print job being commenced and/or at intervals during the print job. Spitting may serve to clean the nozzles and/or may help to prevent print agent from drying within the nozzles, and causing the nozzles to become blocked.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A precision fluid dispensing system containing at least one two-piece pump and a precision closed loop controller drive system to address the small volume precision dispensing requirements of bioscience applications. A multiple diameter pump can be combined with a pump having multiple inlet and outlet ports to allow for precision multiple outlet dispenses in a single pump that finds use with microtiter plate pipetting and other precision dispensing. Inlet ports can be located on the smaller diameter of the cylinder with outlet ports on the larger diameter of the cylinder. A micro-controller with closed loop feedback provides exact linear positioning and motion of the pump piston as well as optional control of a nozzle to provide exact micro-dispensing of fluids.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of precision fluid dispensing for Bioscience applications and more particularly to a two-piece pump with a multiple diameter cylinder and piston and multiple inlet and outlet ports that can be controlled by a micro-controlled precision drive system capable of closed loop control.
2. Description of the Problem Solved
Syringe pumps that use glass syringes and pistons with seals are routinely used for fluid dispensing in the Biosciences. Independent valves are usually used to control fluid inlet and outlet functions. Currently, a syringe pump made by Cavro, Kloehn and Hamilton provides various syringe sizes for dispensing in the range of 1 microliter to 50 milliliter. Valve functions provide for multiple inlet and outlet ports. Although the syringe barrel plugs directly into the valve body, using seals, the valve can be essentially separate from the syringe. The syringe area and the piston linear displacement define the dispensed syringe fluid volume. In most cases, a stepper motor that is coupled to a lead screw to translate the rotary to linear motion controls the syringe piston displacement. The stepper motors in high end units often have shaft encoders so as to provide for drive overload detection for motor step loss.
The Cavro XL 3000, for example, with 8-port distribution valve, provides for a linear resolution of either 3000 or 24000 steps or increments in its 60 mm available piston travel. An optical encoded stepper motor also controls the valve stack port positioning. The valve stack can be directly or indirectly coupled to a second stepper motor shaft, and the syringe output end can be inserted into the bottom of the valve stack utilizing a seal.
The Hamilton Microlab 500 fluid diluters and dispensers are also precision fluid measuring instruments based on syringe technology. The Hamilton systems often use two syringe pumps to accomplish diluter functions. Sample dilutions are made by first filling one of the syringes with a programmed amount of diluent from a reservoir followed by aspirating a programmed amount of sample into the end of the dispensing tube using the second syringe. The last step to accomplish the dilution is to dispense the sample and diluent into a vial. Dispensing functions using a two syringe pump Hamilton unit are accomplished by filling one syringe with reagent 1 and the other with reagent 2. The two syringe pumps output the desired ratio into a common tube for vial filling. The syringe pumps are not known to provide reliability for long run cycles due to failure of the piston and cylinder seal and the seals that make up the valve stack. Also, cleaning of the system often requires the operator to completely disassemble the syringe cylinder and piston along with the rotary valve stack. This disables the entire dispensing system. In many applications, individuals completely flush out the dispenser with cleaning solutions rather than dismantle the system.
A simple two-piece pump is known in the art and is usually provided in either stainless steel or ceramic materials. This type of pump consists of a piston and cylinder in which the piston can also provide the valving functions. SPC France, NeoCeram and others manufacture two-piece pumps for the pharmaceutical industry, and recently two diameter pumps providing smaller volume dispensing capability have also appeared on the market.
NeoCeram and others have also built pumps that have multiple ports. The pump does not require moving seals between the piston and cylinder as close tolerances and a fluid provide the sealing function. The piston with a valve slot can be rotated between predetermined positions to select either inlet or outlet ports. When the correct inlet or outlet port has been selected, the linear motion provides for fluid aspiration or dispensing. In special cases, to recover pump fluid at the end of dispensing or for using cleaning fluids, inlet and outlet ports can be aligned. In nearly all cases the two-piece pumps have been designed and developed for high-speed fluid filling manufacturing lines. The drive hardware is expensive requiring precision ground ball screws along with motor encoders. The motor encoders can only detect the motion of the motor and not that of other elements in the drive train to the pump piston.
Syringe type positive displacement pumps are capable of dispensing very small fluid quantities but when the volumes drop below 3 microliters, getting the drop off the tube or nozzle requires contact or very near contact to the dispensing surface. Cartesian Technologies and others have provided active nozzles to simplify small volume delivery for the micro-array market. Cartesian Technologies uses a solenoid valve that is fluid coupled and synchronized to a syringe pump. Other systems use aerosol jet or piezoelectric devices coupled to syringe pumps to assist in small volume dispensing.
What is badly needed is a cost effective, small volume, easily cleanable, precision dispensing system for the Biosciences. A two-piece pump should utilize a piston and cylinder with at least two diameters, multiple inlet and outlet ports, and a precision pump drive system with cost effective electronics to meet these requirements. The pump drive needs to provide accurate dispensing with the position controlled by a linear measurement means. A controller can also provide capability for synchronization with active nozzles along with A/D capability to provide for external sensors to be read, such as a pressure transducer.
The present invention relates to a two-piece pump and a precision closed loop controller drive system to address the small volume precision dispensing requirements of the Bioscience market. The two-piece pump can contain a cylinder and piston with two different diameters to create a sealless pump with integrated valving. The pump cylinder and piston should have more than two diameters or the diameters can be tapered or curved. In a multiple diameter pump the amount of fluid dispensed is related to the difference of the diameter areas times the linear displacement of the piston.
The present invention, combines a multiple diameter pump with a pump having multiple inlet and outlet ports and with a precision control system. The configuration allows for precision multiple outlet dispenses in a single pump that can be used, for example, with microtiter plate pipetting. A positive displacement pump option for microtiter plate dispensing is the use of a pump with multiple inlet and outlet ports. The preferred position of inlet ports on the multi-diameter cylinder is on the smaller diameter part of the cylinder, while the preferred position of outlet ports is on the larger diameter of the cylinder. However, it should be noted that the ports could be located anywhere on the cylinder and still be within the scope of the present invention. The smaller diameter part of the cylinder is usually located at the lower portion of the cylinder relative to the larger diameter portion. The piston can have a groove on the smaller diameter part connected to a groove on the larger diameter part. The number of inlet and outlet ports is limited by the piston/cylinder diameter and the spacing between adjacent ports. If 5 mm were used as a minimum spacing between ports, and the pump has (10) 1 mm ports, where 8 ports are outlet and 2 ports are inlets, the necessary pump diameter would be just over 19 mm in diameter. For 19 mm diameter pump to dispense in the microliter range, the difference in the diameters should be small and the linear drive capable of very small displacements.
One of the preferred pump configurations of the present invention uses a two-diameter, multiple port pump with 2 inlet ports and 8 outlet ports. The pump is also capable of mixing because it can aspirate fluid into the pump from port 1, and then from port 2, followed by rotating the piston to accomplish annular mixing. The piston groove assists in the mixing, but the pump can have other features to assist in mixing as long as none of these features trap air during operation.
For recovery of dispensing fluid, the pump system could use 9 (or any odd number) of outlet ports where the 9th port is aligned with one of the inlet ports. This outlet port could be connected to the fluid supply or other container for recovery. In this configuration, the aligned inlet port could be connected to an air supply which could force remaining fluid out of the aligned outlet port. In another configuration, the aligned inlet and outlet port could be connected to a cleaning or flush solution. The piston could be cleaned by fluid pressure at the inlet port, and the piston could be rotated to clean to clean the fluid boundary layer between the piston and the cylinder. An alternate manufacturing method could be to have the same number of inlet and outlet ports and to plug unused ports in custom configurations.
The precision pump drive can contain at least one stepper motor or DC motor to control the linear motion of the pump piston, and usually another stepper motor or DC motor to control the rotation of the piston. This allows one of the pump""s inlet or outlet ports to be aligned with the piston groove. The linear motion of the piston is generally created by the first stepper motor turning a ball screw. The ball screw nut, if held from rotating will move in a linearly fashion creating the necessary linear motion for the piston. A linear displacement sensor can monitor the position of the piston very accurately, and the entire system can be driven by a closed loop by a micro-controller. The preferred linear sensor for this application is a Renishaw 0.5 micron optical scale or similar scale including magnetic linear scales or linear voltage differential transformers (LVDT). The preferred stepper motors are 5 phase Oriental Nanostepper for the linear motion and 5 phase half step motors for the rotary motion. The Nanostepper motor, as supplied, has (16) discrete resolution ranges from 500 steps per revolution to 125000. These ranges are operator selectable. The use of a nanostepper allows the drive to have an adequate number of steps between the 0.5-micron Renishaw lines. For a THK 4 mm pitch ball screw it would require over 15 steps for the advance of the 0.5 pitch. The resolution can be selectable between inlet and outlet functions. It should be noted that other suitable stepper or DC motors can be used.
As an example, the pump can aspirate fluid into an inlet port at 10,000 steps per revolution and then dispense through an outlet port at 125,000 steps per revolution. Because of the stopped motion stability, simplicity to control and maintain accuracy, the preferred system contains stepping motors. It is also within the scope of the present invention for the linear drive to be a linear motor such as the stepper or DC BALDOR Electric Co. motor or the Nanomotion motor from Nanomotion, Inc.
The pump system can be run orientated in various positions including horizontal and vertical as long as the position allows for air free dispensing. A micro-controller or digital signal processor is preferred to control the rotary and linear positioning. By entering information into the controller as to the desired amount of fluid to dispense, very precise dispensing can be accomplished because the entire resolution of the system is derived from the linear encoder. The movement of the piston can be controlled by several motion velocity profiles including the use of a Gaussian profile for smoothness of motion. To effectively dispense very small volumes, the controller can optionally interface with active nozzles. This interface, when used, can provide for synchronization of the piston functions with that of the active nozzle. The addition of optional analog to digital conversion (A/D) capability lets the system interface with external sources, such as a pressure transducer or other source.


A material for an organic electroluminescence device including at least one of compounds shown by the following formula (Ia), (Ib), (IIa), (IIb), (III), (IVa) or (IVb):

An organic electroluminescence device (hereinafter the term "electroluminescence" is often abbreviated as "EL") is a self-emission device utilizing the principle that a fluorescent material emits light by the recombination energy of holes injected from an anode and electrons injected from a cathode when an electric field is impressed.
Since C. W. Tang et al. of Eastman Kodak Co. reported a low-voltage driven organic EL device in the form of a stacked type device, studies on organic EL devices wherein organic materials are used as the constituent materials have actively been conducted.
The organic EL device reported by Tang et al. has a stacked structure in which tris(8-hydroxyquinolinol)aluminum is used as an emitting layer and a triphenyldiamine derivative is used as a hole-transporting layer. The advantages of the stack structure are to increase injection efficiency of holes to the emitting layer, to increase generation efficiency of excitons generated by recombination by blocking electrons injected from the cathode, to confine the generated excitons in the emitting layer, and so on.
As the stacked structure of the organic EL device, a two-layered type of a hole-transporting (injecting) layer and an electron-transporting emitting layer, and a three-layered type of a hole-transporting (injecting) layer, an emitting layer and an electron-transporting (injecting) layer are widely known. In such stack structure devices, their device structures and fabrication methods have been contrived to increase recombination efficiency of injected holes and electrons.
As a hole-transporting material used in an organic EL device, an aromatic diamine derivative or an aromatic fused ring diamine derivative has heretofore been known.
However, in order to obtain a sufficient luminance by an organic EL device using these aromatic diamine derivatives as the hole-transporting material, a higher voltage is required to be applied. As a result, problems occur such as a shortened device life or an increased consumption power.
In order to solve these problems, doping a hole-injecting layer of an organic EL device with an electron-accepting compound such as Lewis acid or using an electron-accepting compound singly as an injecting layer has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 7, or the like). However, an electron-accepting compound used in Patent Documents 1 to 4 has defects that they are unstable to be handled in the production process of an organic EL device or they cause the life of an organic EL device to be shortened due to insufficiency in stability such as heat resistance when an organic EL device is driven.
In addition, tetrafluoro-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQF4) which is an electron-accepting compound exemplified in Patent Documents 3, 5 to 7 or the like has a small molecular weight and substituted by fluorine. Due to a high sublimation property, it may diffuse within an apparatus when fabricating an organic EL device by vacuum vapor deposition, thereby to contaminate the apparatus or the device.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2003-031365
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2001-297883
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2000-196140
Patent Document 4: JP-A-H11-251067
Patent Document 5: JP-A-H04-297076
Patent Document 6: JP-T-2004-514257
Patent Document 7: US2005/0255334A1
The invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the object thereof is to provide an electron-accepting material which is preferable as a constituting material of an organic EL device.

Material for organic electroluminescent element, and organic electroluminescent element


An object is to provide a flooring material which, when applied, is satisfactory in applicability and conformability to the substrate and which combines all of various properties required of flooring materials, such as nonfouling properties, marring resistance, and flexibility. The flooring material comprises synthetic resin A, which comprises a polyethylene resin and/or an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer resin, synthetic resin B, which comprises a flexible ethylene-based resin, and synthetic resin C, which comprises a thermoplastic elastomer, and has: a face layer formed from a synthetic resin composition obtained by compounding ingredients comprising 30-60 parts by weight of synthetic resin A, 10-50 parts by weight of synthetic resin B, 10-40 parts by weight of synthetic resin C, the sum of the resins A, B, and C being 100 parts by weight, 1-15 parts by weight of a viscosity improver, and 150-500 parts by weight of a filler; and a groundwork layer formed from a synthetic resin composition obtained by compounding ingredients comprising 0-30 parts by weight of synthetic resin A, 30-60 parts by weight of synthetic resin B, 41-60 parts by weight of synthetic resin C, the sum of the resins A, B, and C being 100 parts by weight, 1-15 parts by weight of a viscosity improver, and 150-500 parts by weight of a filler.

Flooring materials made of a vinyl chloride resin have hitherto been frequently used as indoor flooring materials.
Although these flooring materials made of a vinyl chloride resin have many advantages including ease of bonding and satisfactory workability, they have a drawback that in case of a fire or upon incineration after disposal, the flooring materials emit smoke containing hydrogen chloride gas, which is harmful, and are causative of dioxin generation. Because of this, problems concerning environmental protection have recently been pointed out.
Furthermore, flooring materials made of a vinyl chloride resin have had a problem that since they contain a plasticizer and a stabilizer in large amounts, they are odorous.
Under these circumstances, the present applicant previously directed attention to polypropylene resins which do not contain halogen and proposed a flooring material comprising a synthetic resin composition obtained by incorporating an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer resin, calcium carbonate, etc. into a polypropylene resin (see JP-A-7-125145).
Compared to conventional flooring materials made of a polyolefin resin, that flooring material has an advantage of improved bondability. However, the flooring material does not combine all of various properties required of flooring materials, such as nonfouling properties, scratch resistance, and flexibility. In addition, the flooring material proposed has had a problem that it is inferior in workability and conformability to the substrate when installed.
The present applicant further proposed a flooring, material comprising a synthetic resin composition obtained by incorporating a synthetic resin, e.g., an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer resin, and an inorganic filler into a polyolefin resin (see JP-A-11-48416).
This flooring material, in a way, has properties concerning flexibility which are required of flooring materials. However, when a highly flexible polymer such as, e.g., an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer resin has been incorporated in a large amount so as to improve the flexibility of the flooring material, this flooring material has problems concerning nonfouling properties, scratch resistance, etc. In addition, the problem that the flooring material, when applied, has poor applicability and poor conformability to the substrate remains unsolved.
Incidentally, the workability of a flooring material and the conformability thereof to the substrate during installation are thought to be influenced not only by flexibility but by the degree of resilience.
The incorporation of a large amount of a highly flexible resin such as, e.g., an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer resin for improving the flexibility of a flooring material has resulted in impaired workability and impaired conformability due to the resilience possessed by the resin, although this flooring material can have improved flexibility. This technique failed to give a flooring material having the desired properties.


A surfboard having laterally opposed pairs of axial or lengthwise grooves with the pair forming opposed rails of greater stiffness and reduced mass. At least one of the grooves of each pair is at a board edge extremity and the other groove is nearby, preferably near or on the lower side of the surfboard. The grooves may be laid up with epoxy or fiberglass.

Surfboard rails extend along opposed lateral edges of a surfboard from the nose to the tail of the board. The rails serve to guide water around the board when the board encounters a wave. Such guiding serves to control the board by providing edgewise board bite or slicing into a water wall allowing a board carrying a rider to have horizontal support from a partly vertical wall of water. In the past, it was thought that harder rails allow better board edge support from a wave. Hard rails were thought to have less resistance in cutting through the water, just like a sharp knife slices meat. Yet, rails have to be a compromise between slicing ability and buoyancy with hard rails having less buoyancy compared to soft rails.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,809,284 to D. Hantz discloses a lightweight surfboard with a set of channels or grooves shaped into a top portion of the body of the surfboard. The channels or grooves comprise a pair of adjacent, axially extending elongated concave grooves that run along the length of the board, meeting at end points. The purpose of the grooves is to prevent the board from breaking due to bending of the surfboard while being ridden on the wave. FIG. 5 herein shows a single edgewise groove that is concave in cross section that is known in the prior art and used for surfboard control.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,952 rails are described as presenting a low drag edge at an angle in contact with the surface of a wave much like the edges of a conventional snow ski. Rails are further described as essential for effective control of the surfboard in the water. The comparison of surfboard rails to hard edges of snow skis is consistent with the construction of prior art surfboards with rail hardness and thickness being principal variable factors.
An object of the invention was to devise an improved rail configuration that both improves floatation and improves surfboard control.


The present disclosure relates to an ion implantation amount adjustment device that includes: an adjuster configured to turn on or off an ion outlet of the ion implantation apparatus; and an actuator configured to control movement of the adjuster to adjust an opening degree of the ion outlet.

Ion implantation is an important process that effects performance of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device. An amount of doping ion implantation determines a threshold voltage and contact resistance of a thin film transistor in the organic light emitting diode display (OLED TFT). An ion outlet of an ion implantation apparatus in the related art cannot adjust ion implantation amount.

Ion implantation amount adjustment device and method, ion implantation apparatus and determination method

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A protective hip pad includes a shield, a shock absorbing assembly and a cushioned connector. The shield is substantially elliptical and has an outer shield surface having an inner surface and a central through hole. The shock absorbing assembly abuts the inner surface of the shield and has a curved plate, a mounting hole and a sealed air cushion. The mounting hole is formed through the curved plate and corresponds to and aligns with the central through hole in the shield. The sealed air cushion is hollow and is formed around the mounting hole in the curved plate. The cushioned connector is mounted in the central through hole in the shield and the mounting hole in the curved palate and has an outer end protruding from the outer-shield surface of the shield.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a protective pad, and more particularly to a protective hip pad that protects a person's hipbone area.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because a person's hipbones protrude bilaterally, a person's hipbones are particularly susceptible to being bumped. A first generation hipbone protective hip pad was developed for people who need hipbone protection, such as pregnant women. The first generation protective hip pad has a curved polyethylene (PE) plate and a bag. The bag holds the PE plate. However, the PE plate is too hard to provide enough protection.
Hence, a second-generation protective hip pad has been developed and has a curved PE plate and a foam member. The foam member is mounted inside the PE plate and presses against the person's body. However, the foam member compresses against the person's body and will not absorb shock well.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a hipbone protective hip pad to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


A grommet including an elastic grommet body and a clamp, the grommet body having a cylindrical portion for closely receiving an outer periphery of a wire bundle, a flange provided at one end of the cylindrical portion, an annular groove formed on an inner face of an outer peripheral portion of the flange and a seal lip projecting from a distal end of the annular groove such that a seal lip clamping portion of the clamp is fitted into the annular groove, the grommet body comprising: an outer peripheral wall which extends axially from an outer peripheral edge of the flange; and a wall portion which is bent radially inwardly from a distal end of the the outer peripheral wall such that the annular groove is defined by the flange, the outer peripheral wall and the wall portion; the seal lip projecting from a distal end of the wall portion; the flange having a large thickness, while the outer peripheral wall has a thickness smaller than that of the flange; wherein when the seal lip has been turned up over the flange, the flange acts as a stopper for maintaining a state in which the seal lip has been turned up over the flange.

The present invention generally relates to a grommet for not only protecting a wire bundle inserted through a hole of a body of a motor vehicle but imparting waterproofness to the wire bundle, which is made of an elastic material and more particularly, to a grommet including a grommet body made of an elastic material and a rigid clamp fitted into an annular groove formed in the grommet body, in which shape of the grommet body is improved such that the clamp can be easily fitted into the annular groove.
Conventionally, grommets of this kind are generally made of an elastic material such as rubber in view of protection and waterproofness of the wire bundle. However, the grommets formed only by rubber have such a drawback in that it is difficult to mount the grommets on a vehicle body. In order to eliminate this drawback, a grommet was proposed in which a rigid clamp made of synthetic resin is fitted into a grommet body made of rubber such that the grommet is mounted on the vehicle body by using the clamp.
For example, FIG. 1 shows a known grommet including a grommet body 2 made of rubber and a clamp 3 made of synthetic resin. In the grommet body 2, a cylindrical portion 2a receiving closely an outer periphery of a wire bundle 1, a radially outwardly extending flange 2b disposed at one end of the grommet body 2, an annular groove 2c formed on an inner face of an outer peripheral portion of the flange 2b and a seal lip 2d projecting from a distal end of the annular groove 2c are formed integrally. On the other hand, in the clamp 3, a cylindrical portion 3a having an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the wire bundle 1, a disklike seal lip clamping portion 3b extending radially outwardly from one end of an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 3a, a mounting portion 3c extending radially outwardly from the other end of the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 3a and a contact portion 3d disposed on the mounting portion 3c are formed by integral molding. The seal lip clamping portion 3b of the clamp 3 is fitted into the annular groove 2c of the grommet body 2 such that the clamp 3 is mounted on the grommet body 2. The seal lip 2d of the grommet body 2 is pressed against an outer side face of a wall 4 of a vehicle body, while the mounting portion 3c of the clamp 3 is fitted into a hole 4a of the wall 4 so as to bring the contact portion 3d of the clamp 3 into contact with an inner side face of the wall 4 such that the clamp 3, i.e., the known grommet is mounted on the wall 4.
As shown in FIG. 2, if the seal lip 2d can be returned in the direction of the arrow X2 in a state in which the entire seal lip 2d is turned up in the direction of the arrow X1 such that the seal lip clamping portion 3b of the clamp 3 is pressed against an inner side face 2b' of the flange 2b, the seal lip clamping portion 3b of the clamp 3 can be easily fitted into the annular groove 2c of the grommet body 2.
However, in the known grommet, a tension of the rubber forming the grommet body 2 is large. Therefore, even if the entire seal lip 2d is turned up in the direction of the arrow X1, the seal lip 2 readily returns to the original state. Accordingly, the seal lip clamping portion 3b is fitted into the the annular groove 2c while the seal lip 2d is being partially turned up in the direction of the arrow X1. Consequently, working efficiency of operation of mounting the clamp 3 on the grommet body 2 is poor and thus, a long time period is required for performing the operation.
The present inventors have found that the above mentioned problem of the known grommet, wherein the seal lip 2d returns to the original state by its tension even if the seal lip 2d is turned up, is incurred by the construction of the grommet body 2 in which the flange 2b is formed by a thin wall, an outer peripheral wall 2e of the flange 2b is formed by a thick wall and an outer peripheral face 2f of a bent portion connecting the flange 2b and the outer peripheral wall 2e has a large radius of curvature.


A technique for controlling an oilwell fire is provided which utilizes boxes (10, 40, 60) formed of autoclave cellular concrete. This material is sufficiently heat resistant to survive the temperatures of a burning oilwell and provide the possibility of extinguishing the fire and creating a mechanism to put the oilwell back into production with relative ease.

The most recent events in Kuwait have created an enormous demand for improved techniques and devices to control oilwell fires. In a typical oilwell fire, such as those in Kuwait, a break will occur in the piping above or near the surface which permits uncontrolled release of oil and gas. Any ignition source can start the escaping oil and gas burning.
A burning oilwell fire is difficult to extinguish for a number of reasons. First, the intense heat generated by the burning hydrocarbons make it very difficult to work around the well and special materials resistant to those temperatures are required. Even if the fire is put out, the well must be capped to stop the uncontrolled release of oil and gas waiting for yet another ignition source to reignite.
The traditional technique of capping the oilwell once the fire is extinguished is to remove what is remaining of the original control valve of the well. A new control valve must then be installed and properly mounted to the remaining well structure. The new valve is commonly a Christmas tree, which is an assembly of valves and pipe sections which is used to control the well and direct production to a desired location in normal operation. In such situations, parts of the Christmas tree are commonly of brass to minimize the chance of a spark, which could simply reignite the fire. Moreover, the consequences of a reignition are particularly severe when it is realized that the personnel working around the well are in grave danger.
A need exists for improved devices and methods of controlling an oilwell fire which minimizes the risk to operators and efficiently and quickly returns the well to production.

Apparatus and method for controlling oilwell fire


A method for controlling an automated step-by-step variable transmission which has a plurality of gear stages which set up a different transmission ratio in each case. The method comprises the steps: a) detecting whether a gear stage is to be engaged, b) detecting an input actual variable which is substantially proportional to an input rotational speed of the step-by-step variable transmission, and an output actual variable which is substantially proportional to an output rotational speed of the transmission, c) checking as to whether a difference between a ratio of the input and the output actual variables and the transmission ratio which would be set up by the gear stage is smaller for a predefined timespan than a predefined tolerance range, and d) determining a fault state if the difference does not lie within the tolerance range for the predefined timespan.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling an automated step-by-step variable transmission, in particular for motor vehicles, with the step-by-step variable transmission having a plurality of gear stages which set up a different transmission ratio in each case.
The present invention also relates to an automated step-by-step variable transmission, in particular for motor vehicles, having a plurality of gear stages which set up a different transmission ratio in each case, with it being possible for the gear stages to be engaged and disengaged by means of associated actuators, and having a control device for activating the actuators.
Automated step-by-step variable transmissions of said type encompass in particular so-called automated shift transmissions and also so-called twin-clutch transmissions as well as other multiple-clutch transmissions.
With all types of step-by-step variable transmission, it is to be avoided that two gear stages are engaged at the same time in one transmission (or in the case of multiple-clutch transmissions, in one partial transmission). This is because this would lead to locking of the drivetrain and therefore to locking of the drive axle.
In conventional manual-shift step-by-step variable transmissions, a mechanical gear lock or gear locking mechanism is provided for this purpose.
Mechanical gear locks of said type lead to increased costs and an increased weight of the step-by-step variable transmission. Furthermore, when using gear locks of said type, it is often difficult to obtain short shift times. This is because a mechanical gear lock is generally constructed such that a gear stage can only be engaged once all the gear stages have firstly been completely disengaged.

Step-by-step variable transmission and method for controlling the same

GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG