A coating apparatus and a method are disclosed for coating tablets in a rotating drilled container at the outlet of which a rotating annular element operates that is coaxial with the container, in which in an initial transition phase the annular element rotates in a direction that is opposite the rotation direction of the container to retain the tablets inside the container, forming a bed of tablets until a desired level is reached, and in a stationary phase the annular element rotates in a direction that is the same as the rotation of the container to permit the exit of the tablets, until the quantity of tablets entering the container is the same that the quantity exiting.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for coating bulk material, in particular for coating material in the form of granules, pellets, tablets, pills, capsules, particles etc, with at least one layer of coating material.
Specifically, but not exclusively, the invention can be applied to coat pharmaceutical products (for example tablets) or food products, in particular to produce tablets coated with film.
It is known to form the coating of pharmaceutical tablets inside a drilled pan, with a circular or polygonal section, rotated on its longitudinal axis in order to move the mass of the tablets, inside which at least one gun is arranged that sprays the coating material.
It is also known to generate a flow of gas (treated air) that is forced from the exterior to the interior of the pan, passing through the holes and the mass of the tablets, to perform drying, heating and cooling according to process needs.
Plants are known that work in batch mode, with a product loading step, in which the pan is filled with the desired quantity of tablets, a product coating step, and a discharge step until the pan is completely emptied.
Plants are also known that work in continuous mode, in which the product moves without interruption from a loading zone, where the product enters the pan, to a discharge zone.
In continuous mode, a stationary phase exists, in which the mass of the processed product is more or less constant (some enters the pan, some is processed, some exits) and two transition phases, a start or filling step, in which there is a transition from pan empty status to stationary production status and another switching off or emptying status, in which the opposite occurs.
Patent publication US 2008/0193632 A1 shows a coating apparatus in which a rotating drum has an inlet and an outlet for the tablets and a rotating adjustable weir partially obstructs the outlet so as to maintain a bed of tablets in the drum at a set depth.
Patent publication US 2006/124053 A1 shows a coating apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.
One of the problems of the prior art is to ensure correct movement of the product, in particular in the transition steps, for example to ensure sufficient stay of the product in the start or filling step and/or a rapid outflow of the product in the step of switching off or emptying.
Another problem is treating the product being processed with extreme delicacy, to avoid damage to the product or to the coating thereof, whilst maintaining high productivity in the coating process.

Apparatus for coating bulk material and including a material discharge regulator


Automated management of shared I/O resources involves use of a policy engine for implementing I/O scheduling group I/O policies. The I/O policies are used for determining whether corresponding I/O requests should be issued to a shared storage system immediately or should be delayed via corresponding policy-based queues. In the context of database systems, a database administrator can specify policies regarding how I/O resources should be used and the database system itself enforces the policies, rather than requiring the database administrator enforce the I/O usage of the database and of the individual users.

There are many computing scenarios in which computer software applications issue I/O requests on behalf of multiple clients, such as operating systems, web applications, database servers, etc. For example, in the context of a database system, database servers use various types of system resources on behalf of applications that the servers are servicing. Such system resources include, for example, CPU, memory, network, and I/O resources. While processor speeds have increased as much as tenfold in recent years, the speed of a disk drive has barely doubled in the last decade or so. Now, the overall performance of a database system, for example, is typically more bound by I/O than any other resource type, and the overall throughput of the system is determined by the speed of the slowest component in the system. Hence, when the I/O subsystem is not managed correctly, the overall throughput of the system suffers.
Common problems for Information Technology administrators include (a) a particular application itself issues too many I/Os (input/output or read/write requests), placing undue stress on the storage system, and/or (b) a specific workload, application, or session within the system issues too many I/Os, negatively interfering with the performance of other users. Administrators may handle problem (a) in multiple ways, most typically by dedicating storage exclusively to an application to avoid any interference from other applications. Alternatively, administrators may utilize a storage system whose performance capabilities provide sufficient capacity for all applications sharing the storage. Administrators face a more difficult challenge with handling problem (b), whereby the administrators may separate heavily-conflicting workloads onto separate systems. A common example in the database context is configuring separate OLTP (online transaction processing) and reporting databases, however, this solution requires that the data in these separate databases be synchronized. Administrators may also require I/O intensive jobs to be run at off-peak hours, or may only allow a certain number of I/O intensive users to be concurrently logged onto the system. Furthermore, many tools, such as data backup applications, slow down the workload issued to the storage system. In all of the foregoing approaches, the administrator has to "manually" enforce the I/O usage of the application and of the individual users.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Management of shared storage I/O resources


An integrated circuit device having an image change detection circuit which receives image data acquired by imaging means in time series, detects a change in an image, and generates a change detection signal. The image change detection circuit includes: an integration circuit which divides an image into one or more areas, integrates pixel values of pixels of image data of a first image and a second image received in time series, in units of the areas, and stores the integrated values in an integration register; and a change detection signal generation circuit which compares the integrated values of corresponding areas of the first image and the second image stored in the integration registers to detect the presence or absence of change, and generates a change detection signal when the change detection signal generation circuit determines that a change has occurred.

The present invention relates to an integrated circuit device and a microcomputer.
In a security camera system used in a security system, an image of a monitoring target location is obtained by using a security camera. A change between frames is detected by image processing, and an image is saved when a change has occurred at a certain level.
When it is desired to acquire an image only when a change has occurred in continuous images obtained by using a stationary camera or the like, it is necessary to detect occurrence of change using a CPU, a PC, an analog thermosensor, or the like.
When detecting occurrence of change using the CPU or PC, since the processing is performed after storing data in a frame buffer, the load imposed on the CPU and memory is increased. Moreover, power consumption is increased.
When using the analog thermosensor or the like, cost is increased due to incorporation of expensive parts.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-196934 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-69526 disclose related-art security camera technologies.

Integrated circuit device and microcomputer


An electrolytic reactor and related methods are provided for supplementing the air-intake of an internal combustion engine with hydrogen. In one embodiment, the reactor has a core defined by a plurality of whole metal plates separated by peripheral gaskets; an inlet for providing an electrolyte to the core; a gas and effluent outlet, and a pump to force an electrolyte through the core.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is in the field of electrolytic reactors for supplementing the air-intake of an internal combustion engine.
2. Background of the Invention
Conventional electrolytic reactors have been used for supplementing the air-intake of internal combustion engines. Typically, the conventional electrolytic reactor comprises an electrolyte solution disposed between alternating anodic and cathodic metal plates. Passing an electric current flux through the electrolyte via the anodic and cathodic plates creates hydrogen gas. Conceptually, hydrogen produced by the conventional electrolytic reactor is mixed into the air-intake whereby the fuel-air mixture is more potent and burns more efficiently.
Although conceptually operable, there are many problems and inconveniences associated with the conventional electrolytic reactor for supplementing internal combustion engines. Typically, the conventional reactor operates at high amperage electric current thereby causing frequent overheating of the cell and excessive water consumption. Frequently, the anodic and cathodic plates are provided with apertures for the installation of structural supports or for collecting the hydrogen. However, placing holes in the metal plates reduces the amount of relative space available for producing hydrogen, creates additional resistance, overheating, and thereby reduces the efficiency of hydrogen production.
Additionally, the maintenance schedule of a conventional electrolytic reactor for supplementing an internal combustion engine has not typically been aligned with the maintenance schedule of the internal combustion engine and its component parts. In other words, supplementing an internal combustion engine with a conventional electrolytic reactor requires a separate maintenance schedule. For example, an oil change for the internal combustion engine may occur every other month whereas the electrolyte (typically water) refill or schedule might typically be weekly.

Electrolytic reactor and related methods for supplementing the air intake of an internal combustion engine


An agitator ball mill including an in particular horizontal grinding container, which has a first end area having a grinding material inlet and a second end area having a grinding material outlet, and a method for operating an agitator ball mill. The agitator ball mill includes a shaft, which can be rotated in the grinding container or in the grinding chamber, respectively, by means of a drive unit and which is formed as agitator shaft at least in sections and which is equipped with agitator elements, as well as a separating device. The separating device includes a classifier rotor, which is arranged on the agitator shaft axially spaced apart from the grinding material outlet and has a rotatable rotor cage, as well as a screen unit, which is arranged within the rotor cage and which is fastened to the classifier rotor.

The present invention relates to an in particular horizontal agitator ball mill for grinding dry product. An agitator ball mill is a machine for the coarse, fine and finest communication or homogenization of grinding material. An agitator ball mill consists of a non-rotatable grinding container comprising an agitator shaft, arranged therein mostly axially parallel and in the center, of a bearing and of a drive unit. The grinding container is mostly formed cylindrically and is usually between 70% and 90% filled with grinding bodies. An agitator, which consists of a rotatably supported agitator shaft comprising agitator elements arranged thereon and which ensures an intensive movement of the grinding bodies, is provided within the grinding container. Known agitator ball mills are loaded through a central opening in one of the end walls. Alternatively, the product inlet can also take place directly radially or tangentially via the grinding cylinder. The grinding material is conveyed continuously in and through the grinding chamber. The solids are thereby comminuted or dispersed, respectively, by means of impact and shear forces between the grinding bodies. The discharge of the finished product is a function of the design and takes place, for example, at the mill end. In the case of relatively fine and free-flowing, mostly spherical product particles, the axial product transport in the grinding cylinder can take place solely by means of gravitational forces. The product, however, is usually conveyed through the grinding cylinder by means of a fluid, which is preferably formed as transport air flow, wherein the grinding bodies are to remain in the grinding chamber of the agitator ball mill in response to guiding the product and the fluid out of the agitator ball mill. This is attained in particular by means of a systematic separation of the grinding bodies within the agitator ball mill, for example by using a suitable separating device.
An agitator ball mill comprising a cantilever-mounted rotor is disclosed by DE 10 2013 021 757 A1. The rotor has an axis of rotation and is cantilever-mounted to a bearing, from which a free, subsequently non-mounted rotor end is defined along the axis of rotation A. A plurality of agitator elements, which are spaced apart from one another and by means of which the grinding bodies located in the grinding chamber of the agitator ball mill are set in rotation, is arranged on the agitator shaft. A gap is formed between the rotor end face and the opposite rotor side or the housing as stator, respectively. As soon as the grinding material is completely ground, it can reach into the grinding material outlet via the gap and can thus leave the grinding chamber. It is disadvantageous, however, that the cantilever-mounted end is arranged at the grinding material outlet and the bearing-side end is arranged at the grinding material inlet. There is also the risk that, in addition to grinding material, the grinding bodies as such might also leave the grinding chamber through the gap.
An agitator ball mill comprising a separating device is known from DE 10 2015 112 760 B4, which is arranged upstream of the grinding material outlet. The separating device comprises a screen unit, which is arranged in a stationary manner and through which at least particles of at least a portion of the product/grinding body mixture up to a certain diameter can pass. The separating device further comprises a classifier rotor, which has a support plate, which is rigidly mounted on the agitator shaft of the agitator ball mill, comprising coupled attachments. The attachments form a rotor cage, which rotates about the screen unit, which is arranged upstream of the grinding material outlet in a stationary manner. The rotor cage comprising the attachments contributes to protecting the screen unit against the grinding bodies located in the grinding chamber, as well as to effecting a certain flow behavior of the product/fluid mixture in the area of the screen unit. A comparatively similar agitator ball mill is disclosed by DE 10 2012 013 279 A1.
It is problematic in the case of the separating device known from the prior art that the grinding bodies are pushed in the direction of the inner wall of the grinding container by means of rotation of the agitator shaft, so that said grinding bodies concentrate axially along the inner wall of the grinding container. With the overlapped internal flow direction of the product-fluid mixture and the drag forces on the grinding bodies associated therewith, this leads, by nature, to an increased concentration of the grinding bodies in the area around the support plate of the classifier rotor and thus to a clogging of the product discharge as well as to an increased wear.

Agitator ball mill and method for operating an agitator ball mill


This invention relates to a process for the preparation of an ethylene oxide catalyst having improved selectivity stability which catalyst comprises depositing silver, a promoting amount of alkali metal, a promoting amount of rhenium and, optionally, a promoting amount of rhenium co-promoter selected from sulfur, molybdenum, tungsten, chromium and mixtures thereof, on a porous refractory support, at least partially drying the support, and thereafter depositing a promoting amount of nickel on the support.

Catalysts for the production of ethylene oxide from ethylene and molecular oxygen are generally supported silver catalysts. Such catalysts are typically promoted with alkali metals. The use of small amounts of the alkali metals potassium, rubidium and cesium were noted as useful promoters in supported silver catalysts in U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,136, issued Jun. 8, 1976, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,115, issued Mar. 1, 1977. The use of other co-promoters, such as rhenium, or rhenium along with sulfur, molybdenum, tungsten and chromium is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,105, issued Aug. 23, 1988, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,738, issued Feb. 28, 1989. U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,343, issued Mar. 13, 1990, discloses a supported silver catalyst containing a mixture of a cesium salt and one or more alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,981 issued Oct. 29, 1974, U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,285 issued Jun. 8, 1976 and British Patent No. 1,325,715, published Aug. 8, 1973, disclose the use of silver-rhenium ethylene oxide catalysts. In these patents a high surface area silver derivative such as silver oxide is impregnated with a rhenium solution and subsequently reduced to provide metallic rhenium alloyed with the silver. The '285 patent discloses the use of KOH to precipitate Ag.sub.2 O from AgNO.sub.3. There is no disclosure in the patents of the use of suitable inert supports such as porous refractory supports. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,548,921, issued Oct. 22, 1985, discloses the use of rhenium in silver-supported ethylene oxide catalysts. In this reference, the rhenium is first placed on the support in the form of finely divided metal particles and the silver is subsequently deposited on the outer surface of the particles. U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,279, issued Apr. 25, 1967, discloses the use of rhenium compounds, particularly ammonium and alkali metal perrhenates for the oxidation of olefins to olefin oxides. In this reference, however, the rhenium compounds are used, unsupported, along with a reaction modifier (cyanides, pyridines or quinolines) in a liquid phase reaction. U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,829, issued Aug. 3, 1976, discloses a method for distributing catalytically active metallic components on supports using an impregnating solution of catalyst precursor compound and an organic thioacid or a mercaptocarboxylic acid. Catalytically active metals include metals of Groups IVA, IB, VIB, VIIB and VIII, including rhenium and which may be in either the oxidized or reduced state. U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,372, issued Jul. 10, 1984, discloses the use of rhenium metal in combination with a surface metallated (using Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Sb, Pb, Ta, Nb, Ge and/or Si) alumina or silica. U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,049, issued Jan. 25, 1977, teaches the preparation of a silver/transition metal catalyst useful in oxidation reactions. In this instance, the silver serves as both a catalyst and a support for the transition metal co-catalyst. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,482, issued Aug. 20, 1985, catalytically active metals such as Ag and Re are co-sputtered along with a co-sputtered support material on a particular support. U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,967, issued Mar. 24, 1981, discloses a catalyst combination of reduced silver, a carbonate of a rare earth metal and yttrium, a salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal and a catalyst carrier. None of these references disclose post-doping a promoting amount of nickel on a silver-based, alkali metal/rhenium-doped supported catalyst.

Process for preparing ethylene oxide catalysts


A radiation detector comprising a plurality of detector elements (1, 2, 3) each having an active region (14, 24, 34) provided for radiation reception and for signal generation, the detector elements being monolithically integrated into a semiconductor body (5) of the radiation detector, a signal that is to be generated in a first detector element being able to be tapped off separately from a signal that is to be generated in a second detector element, and at least one of the active regions being designed for radiation reception in the visible spectral range.

A radiation detector comprising a plurality of Si photodiodes chips arranged next to one another is often used for radiation detection in different wavelength ranges. By means of external filters assigned to the individual Si photodiode chips, the spectral sensitivity distribution of the respective Si photodiode chip is adapted to the desired wavelength range. On account of the plurality of photodiode chips, such radiation detectors generally have a high space requirement. Such a radiation detector comprising a plurality of Si photodiode elements which are arranged spaced apart next to one another and whose respective sensitivity is adapted to different wavelength ranges by means of dielectric filters is known from the provisional data sheet regarding the component "MTCSiCT" from the company Laser Components. However, the component is comparatively cost-intensive on account of the complicated dielectric filtering.
A radiation detector of the generic type based on the III-V semiconductor material system AlxGa1-xAs comprising three detector elements arranged one above the other for three separate wavelength ranges, from 7 μm to 8 μm, from 10.5 μm to 11.5 μm and from 14 μm to 15 μm, in the far infrared, is disclosed in "Electronics Review, Volume 16, No. 3, pp. 18-19".

Radiation detector with an epitaxially grown semiconductor body


The invention relates to medicine, in particular to spinal surgery and is used for curing spinal diseases and injuries in specialized departments of vertebrology and neurosurgery. The inventive device includes not more than nine fixing units. Each unit bears two fixing elements fastened to it which are embodied in the form of a threaded stem, the working ends of which are implanted in roots of vertebra arches angularly at 35-45xc2x0 to the sagittal plane of the vertebra. The fixing units are connected to each other in groups of three with the aid of threaded ties, thereby forming support units. Two of the units are side units and one is intermediate unit. The intermediate unit is connected to the side support units so that it can move with the aid of the connecting hinge junctions. Dosed displacement is performed by moving distraction nuts. Displacement of noninvolved vertebrae is carried out until a normal correction of the spinal column occurs and ostial and ostial-fibrotic blocks are built up in the area of discotomy of vertebrae.

The invention refers to the field of medicine, specifically to that of orthopaedics and, and exactly to spinal surgery, and is used for treatment of diseases and injuries of the spine in specialized departments of vertebrology and neurosurgery.
An implanted device for spinal fixation is known, comprising a screw for spongy bone bearing an improved saddle-shaped configuration fixed in a place with a nut and comprising a simple and effective locking mechanism having some pins, each of them contacts with an upper half-saddle and a nut to prevent rotation of the latter with respect to the rest of the configuration. The implanted system also comprises rods, rigidly caught by the saddle-shaped configuration and a sublaminar wire, where the rod/wire interface is protected with a wire tread (U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,220. IPC5 A 61 F 5/04, A 61 F 5/00).
A rod screw is known as well as a device for correction and fixation with that kind of a screw, in which the rod screw has a threaded part and a spherical segment or a head, on the latter a packing is set with a connecting element to set a rod, and the connecting element and the packing are connected with each other in such a way, that the distance between its end and the connecting element can be changed (International Application N WO 91/06254. IPC5 A 61 B 17/60).
A device for spinal treatment is known, comprising junctions of vertebral fixation with curved needles, connected by straight screws with each other, and two units, which are connected with central plates, on which straight needles are fastened with the help of plates held down and screws (Author Certificate/A.c./1537237, A 2, USSR. IPC5 A 61 B 17/60). In the known device the central plates are made as a semicircle, supplied with holes and cut-outs. Moreover, vertebral fixation is performed using curved needles inserted into the spinous process and straight needles inserted into vertebral body.
A technique of modeling closed insertion of fixators into the vertebral body is known, comprising its stabilization by insertion of wire-markers in the spinous process in the middle sagittal plane, after that, displacing from it at first in the cranial and then in the lateral direction the fixators are inserted into safe zones from backward forward at an angle to the sagittal plane, and their direction is marked on a template, which is then used during insertion of the fixators (U.S. Pat. No. 2,093,901, C1, RF).
A technique for insertion of a threaded rod in vertebral body is known as well as a device for this implementation (U.S. Pat. No. 2,051,633, C1, RF). The essence of the invention is in pre-insertion of a guiding axial wire, a guide with a central longitudinal hole, a protective tube, with the help of which protection of soft tissues is made, direction and depth of the threaded rod implantation are controlled, for this a device for osteosynthesis is used provided with a rotation mechanism as a case, including a ratchet with a lock, a quadrangular jack with a ball fixator on one end and a handle with circular recesses, set on the opposite end perpendicular to the case.
A compression-distraction device is known, including rings and arches, wire fixators, tie screws, spherical hinges, fixing elements, in which each pair of the tie screws is connected by the spherical hinge, and the rings and arches are set at a regulated distance from the plane of the hinge arrangement (A.c.374076, USSR).
A device for fixation and correction of the spine is known, comprising threaded rods and a base, provided with lever ties (U.S. Pat. No. 2,019,148, C1, RF). There are longitudinal threaded bars in the known device, each of them is made being consisted of three parts, connected with each other by hinges and provided with rod holders as a cylinder with a fixing element and a slot, thereby the parts provide multi-planar transport of the threaded rods.
A device for treatment of spinal curvatures is known, in which two support junctions are connected with each other by a reposition junction, using threaded rods of distractors (A. c. 1781872, A 1, USSR). The reposition junction has two cross-pieces, connected with each other by hinges and with the help of rods respectively with plates. A shackle with a stud is set on one of the threaded rods; a flexible traction, fixed to the spine in the apex of the curvature, is attached in the transverse hole.
A device for treatment of scoliosis is known, comprising staples with holes and a slot, attached to them support elements and fixation elements, in which one of the staple ends is deviated along the plane to its convex side, a fixing plate with L-reversed section is arranged on the staple with the possibility of its transport along the slot and fixation; a slider is on one of its wall, it is sunk into the staple slot and becomes an axle, in the top of which, in its turn, a threaded pole is made, and a slot, parallel with the staple plane, is made in the other wall of the fixing plate, a tractor is set by hinges on the axle of the fixing plate, its threaded end is attached to the deviated end of the staple through a face support, bone rods and clips are in the slots of the fixing plates with the possibility of transport and fixation, the latter consist of two arched plates with tenons, connected by a tie bolt at their base, and the staples are connected with each other with the possibility of their interlocation change and fixation by use of hinge bars (U.S. Pat. No. 2,086,202, C 1, RF).
A device and a technique for spinal extrafocal osteosynthesis are known, the device comprises threaded rods, support elements, screw tractions and fixing elements, the support elements in the device are made as arched plates with curvature radius 140xc2x110 mm and longitudinal slots, in which the threaded rods are fastened perpendicular to the plane of the support plate, the threaded rods are to be inserted in vertebral bodies, free movements are made within 30xc2x0-range with respect to the support plate at the expense of compensatory washers, the support elements have free movements within 60xc2x0-range and are connected with each other by posts with the compensatory washers and the longitudinal screw tractions in two parallel planes. In the technique of spine extrafocal osteosynthesis by transpedicular insertion of the threaded rods in bodies of some adjacent intact vertebrae with attachment to the external support transpedicular fixation is supplemented by fixation of spinous process, in an involved vertebra the rods are inserted directly in the body, omitting the arch, and two adjacent vertebrae are fixed by a single support plate, for example, the involved vertebra and the one below, thereby creating repositional moment of forces at the level of the most involved spinal motor segment (Application N 96113284/14, A, RF, Publ. 10.27.1998.).
ESSF device is known, which has transverse beams, made integral and provided with apertures to set ball hinges with lock screws (Weber B. G., Magenl F. The external fixator. AO/ASIFxe2x80x94Thread Rod System Spinexe2x80x94Fixator. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1985.xe2x80x94P. 298-300). The transverse beams are connected with each other by threaded rods and the ball hinges. All the threaded rods have antirotational thread. In the device Schanz screws are used, which are connected by the transverse beams, using screw clamps. Slots, made in the transverse beams, give the possibility to change transverse distance of the Schanz screws.
However, the design of the device mentioned above doesn""t allow to correct spinal deformities and exactly scoliosis of Grade III-IV, because setting the ball hinges in the transverse beam apertures limits its use versatility due to absence of the possibility of setting ball hinges, oriented to the deformity apex.
A device is known for infusion of medication solutions into bone and soft tissues, comprising a case with a tubular needle, a union for solution feeding in and a mandrin with a cone plug and a handle, set with the possibility of rotation around the axis, a longitudinal groove and as a perpendicular to it narrowing capillary gap are made on its mandrin cone plug, the mandrin with the needle form a throttling valve, the flow section of which is the same as the cross-section of the longitudinal groove (A. c. 858839, USSR. IPC3 A 61 M 1/00).
A device is known for intraosseous injections, comprising a handle with a longitudinal canal and a slot, a separable needle, set on the handle, a mandrin with a slider, set with the possibility of transport in the handle and needle canals, and a fixator of the mandrin position, in which a handle is provided with two stops at its ends, the fixator is set on the stop of the handle working end and the shape of the handle working end conforms with the shape of the mandrin working end (A. c. 914063, USSR. IPC4 A 61 M 1/00).
However, the design of the device mentioned above is intended for independent use and it is not provided for its use in combination with the vertebral fixation element.
A clamp is known, comprising two handles, connected by hinges, with rings and a rack-and-pinion lock and working jaws, where the working jaws are made with cheek-pieces and slotted bottom, moreover, the closed slots form a round hole (A. c. 850064, USSR. IPC3 A 61 B 17/18).
However, design of the working jaws doesn""t allow to use the known clamp for insertion of the fastening end of the vertebral fixation element through soft tissues to vertebral body.
A device for scoliosis treatment is known, comprising supports, set in parallel and interconnected, on which elements of vertebral fixation are fastened, in which each support is made as a plate, provided with connecting shanks, the latter are fastened in posts, set with the possibility of transport in slots of schwellers, moreover, each preceding support is connected with each following one with the possibility of transport (Certificate 1797 for utility model, RF. IPC6 A 61 B 17/60).
A correcting device for the spine is known, comprising a unit of vertebral fixation, which is made from a support as two bars, connected with each other by a central support element and at the ends, having lateral support elements. In the longitudinal slots of the bars clamps with vertebral fixators are set (U.S. Pat. No. 2,128,021, C1 RF. IPC6 A 61 B 17/66, 17/70).
However, the design of the known devices hasn""t sufficient stiffness due to the fixation junction, having a large number of built-up elements.
It is an object of the present invention to design a device for external transpedicular fixation of the spine for correction of its deformities and injuries, an instrument for insertion of the vertebral fixation element, and a technique of their use for treating deformities and injuries of the spine.
The object is achieved due the fact that in the device for external transpedicular fixation of the spine, comprising not less than 6 fixation junctions connected with each other through ties into support units connected through threaded rods capable to produce mutual transport and indirect effect on intact vertebrae, into each of said vertebrae the working ends of two vertebral fixation elements are inserted while the fastening ends of said fixation elements are secured with clamps in each said fixation junction provided with holes, there are not more than 9 fixation junctions fastened by ties in threes as three support units, two of them are outer and one is intermediate, each of them is connected with the other with the possibility of spatial transport with the help of not more than 6 distraction rods, the ends of each out of three distraction rods are indirectly connected with one of the fixation junctions of the outer support units and correspondingly with the fixation junctions of the intermediate support unit, moreover, each of the fixation junctions is made as a figure plate having a transverse axis of symmetry and provided with symmetric through longitudinal slots located between a central bulge and ends made as a prism while the central bulge and the prism-shaped ends are provided with connecting holes and fastening elements, moreover, to each of the fixation junctions not more than two elements of vertebral fixation are attached by clamps, said elements are made as half pins, each of them has a working end made cone-shaped and provided with screw-shaped thread limited by a stopper and a fastening end on which a flattening is made supplied with a through hole, the axis of the latter is perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the half pin.
Preferably, each of the fixation junctions is made as a figure plate shaped as an isosceles trapezium and, respectively, a transverse axis of symmetry of the plate provided with symmetric through connecting holes, the axis of each of the latter is perpendicular to the transverse axis of symmetry and the connecting holes are made in the middle and at the ends of each plate, moreover, each of them is provided with two pairs of through mounting slots made at angle 35-40xc2x0 on both sides from the transverse axis of symmetry of the plate and in said slots, in one out of the pair, one element of vertebral fixation is fastened made as a half pin; the outer support units are connected with the intermediate one by connecting hinge junctions, each of them is assembled from interconnected posts and each of the said posts is provided with distraction rods.
Such an implementation of the fixation junctions of the mentioned device allows to increase fixation rigidity of intact vertebrae using the elements of their fixation, fastening ends of which are oriented at angle 35-40xc2x0 with respect to the spinal longitudinal axis, and to regulate an adjustment of the fixing site of the fastening ends of the elements of vertebral fixation in view of applied distraction forces.
Simultaneously, the object to achieve infusion of medication solutions in the bodies of vertebrae is solved during their fixation in the process of treatment due to the fact that each half pin is provided with a longitudinal slot made all over the half pin length, and in the slot an injection needle is fixed in which a cannula provided with a plug is set from the direction of the fastening end of the half pin.
To provide complete correction of spinal deformity both in trauma and Grade 3-4 scoliosis cases it is preferable to embody each of the connecting hinge junctions as a ball head and a hollow sphere, both having cylindrical bulges with holes, while the ball head is set on the truncated and opposite to the cylindrical bulge side in a hollow sphere the inner surface of which is covered with antifriction coating; distraction rods are set in the holes of the cylindrical bulges; the truncated part is equal to ⅓ of the hollow sphere and the angle of the truncated part in projection is 90xc2x0; moreover, the ball head is provided with recesses and the hollow sphere with a hole, the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of the hole of the cylindrical bulge in which a lock is set.
Moreover, each of the connecting hinge junctions can be made as a distraction rod provided with a ball head on one of the ends, the head is set in a sleeve connected with a ball pivot made on one of the ends of the second distraction rod.
In a variant of the invention implementation the device can be provided with a microschweller, on one plane of which a longitudinal slot is made and at least two mounting holes on each side from it, the microschweller is connected with the outer support units through two posts and threaded rods, and it is connected with the intermediate support unit through a lug with a threaded shank with the possibility of transport in the sagittal plane.
The embodiment of the device with such kind of traction provides an additional effect during correction of a lateral spinal deformity and increases the design rigidity.
To prevent slipping of the vertebral fixation element during its fastening on the fixation junction each of its fixation clamps is preferably made as an angular post embodied as a cylinder with threaded surface and connected at an angle with a prismatic head having a cylindrical deepening into its inner surface from the side of the cylinder, the axis of the deepening is perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder on which conical and spherical washers can be set.
According to the invention a technique of usage of the device for external transpedicular fixation for correction of spinal deformities and injuries has been developed, including percutaneous insertion of the vertebral fixation elements into vertebral bodies and fastening of the elements in the fixation junctions for subsequent application of distraction forces in the damaged area of the spine in which a laminectomy and discotomy of cranially and caudally located spinal discs at the deformity apex are performed, autografts are inserted into the cavity of each disc, the intact vertebrae above and below are fixed using the elements of vertebral fixation, which are inserted into the centre of each arch at the angle 30-45xc2x0 to the sagittal plane which passes through the axis of each vertebra, after that the spine is gradually corrected to biomecanically normal position by graduated transport of the support units using connecting elements, and, respectively, of the intact vertebrae located above and below the area of surgical intervention.

Device for external transpedicular spinal fixation, technique of its use


In a semiconductor memory device the power level of which is strengthened by using data input/output pads in a no connection state, and a method of strengthening the power of the semiconductor memory device at a stabilized power level, the semiconductor memory device comprises: a plurality of data input/output drivers; and a plurality of data input/output pads, each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of data input/output drivers. A first subset of the data input/output pads are connected to respective data input/output pins of a package, and several or all of a remaining subset of the data input/output pads that are not connected to data input/output pins of the package are connected to power pins of the package.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device with strengthened power and a method of strengthening the power of a semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices are commonly arranged according to several data bit configurations, referred to as "organizations". For instance, semiconductor memory devices can be arranged according to X4, X8, and X16 data bit organizations. In the X4 data bit organization, the data bandwidth, i.e., the number of bits of data, which is to be simultaneously input to and output from the semiconductor memory device, is 4 bits. In the X8 data bit organization, the data bandwidth is 8 bits, and in the X16 data bit organization, the data bandwidth is 16 bits.
Accordingly, the number of data input/output (I/O) pads, and the bonding arrangements among the data I/O pads and pins of a semiconductor memory package vary according to the type of organization. Semiconductor memory devices can include various organizations within a chip, but the package is designed according to an organization in which data bandwidth can be maximized.
FIG. 1 is a view of a bonding configuration for an X4 organization of a conventional semiconductor memory device. Referring to FIG. 1, data I/O pads PAD_LDQ0 through PAD_LDQ3 used in the X4 organization are bonded to corresponding data I/O pins LDQ0 through LDQ3 of a package. The other data I/O pads PAD_LDQ4 through PAD_LDQ7 and PAD_UDQ0 through PAD_UDQ7, which are not used in the X4 organization but are used in the X8 and X16 organizations, are not connected to their corresponding data I/O pins. That is, the data I/O pads PAD_LDQ4 through PAD_LDQ7 and PAD_UDQ0 through PAD_UDQ7 are in a no connection (NC) state.
FIG. 2 is a view of a bonding configuration for the X8 organization of a conventional semiconductor memory device. Referring to FIG. 2, in the X8 organization, data I/O pads PAD_LDQ0 through PAD_LDQ7 are bonded to corresponding data I/O pins LDQ0 through LDQ7 of a package. The other data I/O pads PAD_UDQ0 through PAD_UDQ7 are not connected to data I/O pins, that is, they are in the NC state.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data I/O driver 300 connected to data I/O pads of a conventional semiconductor memory device, which are in the NC state. The data I/O driver 300 includes an output buffer 31 whose output terminal is connected to a corresponding pad PAD_UDQ; an input buffer 32 whose input terminal is connected to the pad PAD_UDQ; and an NMOS transistor 33 for the purpose of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, which is connected between the pad PAD_UDQ and a ground voltage line VSS.
However, since some of data I/O pads of a conventional semiconductor memory device are in the NC state, the use efficiency of the data I/O pads is low. In general, the greater the bandwidth of a memory device, i.e., the bit value of data to be simultaneously input to and output from the semiconductor memory device, the more that power noise, such as ground bounce, can have an effect on system operation. Also, in general, the lower a power supply voltage, the greater the level of power noise.

Semiconductor memory device with strengthened power and method of strengthening power of the same


The systems and methods discussed herein provide for intelligent identification of applications or tasks to be utilized or performed by a user based on a variety of variables that provide relevant context. In some implementations, applications may be pre-launched or instantiated prior to a user requesting to execute the application, reducing user experience latency and avoiding incorrect application launch. User behavior patterns, location, time of day, user events, etc. may be utilized to identify and recommend or pre-launch relevant applications that should or can be used at any given instance. In some implementations, deep linking may be used to pre-launch or suggest specific tasks to be performed within an application.

Computing devices, including mobile devices such as smartphones or smart watches, have made it convenient for users to access dozens or even hundreds of applications to perform work or personal tasks. However, the sheer number of possible applications and tasks available frequently "overloads" users, making it difficult or inefficient to identify which application is appropriate for use at a given time, or which task should be performed first. "Smart" assistants are able to perform simple tasks based on explicit instructions from a user, such as launching a specific application when requested or identifying an upcoming calendar appointment, but these devices lack intelligence for suggesting or recommending complex tasks to the user. This results in a poor user experience, and reduces user productivity. Additionally, computing processing resources may be wasted by users launching an incorrect application to perform a task and having to exit the application and launch a new application, and memory usage may be increased if users maintain hundreds of applications on a mobile device with limited memory, even though only a small subset of these applications may be utilized in a given time period.

Systems and methods for intelligent application instantiation


A medical device system for concurrent power and data transfer comprises an elongated conductive member. At least a portion of the elongated conductive member is configured for insertion within an intraluminal space. One or more sensors that are in electrical connection with the elongated conductive member. The medical device system uniquely allocates each of the plurality of unique contiguous segments within a signal space to one of (i) one or more power channels or (ii) one or more signal channels. The medical device system then sends the electrical signals, via the elongated conductive member, to one or more sensors that are in electrical connection with the elongated conductive member. The medical device harvests energy from the electrical signals. The medical device system isolates transmitted data signals within at least one of the one or more signal channels the data signals generated by the one or more sensors.

The present invention relates generally to medical devices, including intraluminal devices such as guidewires and catheters that include various sensors for simultaneous and/or continuous measuring of one or more physiological parameters.
Guidewire devices are often used to lead or guide catheters or other interventional devices to a targeted anatomical location within a patient's body. Typically, guidewires are passed into and through a patient's vasculature in order to reach the target location, which may be at or near the patient's heart or brain, for example. Radiographic imaging is typically utilized to assist in navigating a guidewire to the targeted location. Guidewires are available with various outer diameter sizes. Widely utilized sizes include 0.010, 0.014, 0.016, 0.018, 0.024, and 0.035 inches in diameter, for example, though they may also be smaller or larger in diameter.
In many instances, a guidewire is placed within the body during the interventional procedure where it can be used to guide multiple catheters or other interventional devices to the targeted anatomical location. Once in place, a catheter can be used to aspirate clots or other occlusions, or to deliver drugs, stents, embolic devices, radiopaque dyes, or other devices or substances for treating the patient.
These types of interventional devices can include sensors located at the distal portion in order to provide added functionality to the device. For example, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is an imaging technique that utilizes a catheter with an ultrasound imaging sensor attached to the distal portion. Ultrasound is utilized to image within targeted vasculature (typically the coronary arteries).
The use of such sensors introduces several challenges. In particular, the interventional devices involved have very limited space to work in, given the stringent dimensional constraints involved. Moreover, integrating the sensors with the interventional device in a way that maintains effective functionality can be challenging.
Another issue common to the field is proper localization and positioning of the distal portion of the device at the target location. If the device tip is improperly positioned during insertion, or if the tip migrates away from the desired position after insertion, various risks can arise. For catheter implementations, for example, improper positioning can lead to fluid infusions that can cause pain or injury to the patient, increased thrombosis rates, delays in therapy, device breakage or malfunction, delays due to device replacement, and additional costs associated with the device replacement and the additional time required by the attending physician and the medical center.
Further, conventional approaches to internal imaging and catheter localization require the injection of dye and/or the use of X-rays. Each of these can be harmful to the subject. In addition, such imaging radiation can be harmful to the physicians and staff exposed to the radiation.
The use of such interventional devices is also challenging due to the need to manage several long lengths of wires and other components, including guidewires, power cables, data wires, and the like. Care must be taken with respect to what is allowed in the sterile field and when it can be removed. Additional staff is often required simply to manage such wires and cables.
As such, there is an ongoing need for improved interventional devices that effectively integrate sensors, effectively manage power and data communication with the sensors, effectively communicate data off of the device for additional processing and enable more effective positioning of the medical device in the desired target position within the vasculature or other targeted anatomy.

Signal conducting device for concurrent power and data transfer to and from un-wired sensors attached to a medical device


An optical wavelength converting apparatus for converting the divergent lights by a compact apparatus into a parallel lights comprises a light source, a means for collecting the lights from the light source to introduce them into the optical waveguide of the wavelength converting element, a rotation symmetrical lens disposed on the end portion opposite to the end portion on the side irradiated with the collected lights, thereby to make it possible to convert the divergent lights like Cherenkov radiation lights into parallel lights by a compact apparatus.

The present invention generally relates to a light wavelength converting apparatus for converting divergent rays into parallel rays.
Conventionally, it is known to generate a second higher harmonic for converting the wavelength of laser light in half through the application of the nonlinear optical effect as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Tokkaisho No. 61-72222, etc.
An apparatus for converting the wavelength of laser light in half will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 9 through FIG. 11.
Referring to FIG. 9, a light wavelength converting element 3 is composed of a nonlinear optical crystalline substrate 1 and an optical waveguide 2 disposed on the nonlinear optical crystalline substrate 1, with reference numerals 4, 5, 6, 7 designating a light incidence portion of the optical wavelength converting element 3, a semiconductor laser, a collimator lens, and a focusing lens.
When the rays 8 converged by the collimator lens 6 and the focusing lens 7 are introduced into the light incidence portion 4, the second higher harmonic (hereinafter referred to as SH rays) is produced by the nonlinear optical effect provided by the optical waveguide 2. It is to be noted that the primary rays 18 pass through the optical waveguide 2.
The SH rays 9 are known as Cherenkov radiation light which is transmitted in the form of semi-circular divergent rays 10 as shown in FIG. 11. The SH rays 9 are transmitted at an angle A in the y direction relation to the waveguide 2 and at an angle B in the x direction.
However, because the SH rays 9 which are divergent as described hereinabove are hard to use, luminous flux means for transmitting the divergent rays 10 as parallel rays is required.
A conventional optical wavelength converting apparatus will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 12.
The SH rays 9 radiating from an SHG element (not shown) are collimated in the x-direction by the cylindrical convex lens 12. Then, they are diverged by the cylindrical concave lens 13 and become rays of light 16 divergent in the y-direction. Then, the expanse thereof in the y-direction is collimated by the cylindrical convex lens 14 into parallel rays 17. However, the above-described structure requires three cylindrical lenses, thus resulting in a large apparatus. Furthermore, the above-described structure is effective when used with a spot light source. Completely parallel rays could not be provided when used with a linear light source which has a waveguide passage length that transmits Cherenkov radiation light.

Optical wavelength convertical apparatus


By applying a laser beam that is absorbed into a quartz crystal to an upper right end of a crystal chip, the height of the crystal chip is altered step by step to form a first step, a second step, a third step, and a fourth step, respectively. As such, control of the shape of a quartz crystal resonator is easy even if the quartz crystal resonator is miniaturized, the shape and the performance of a processed quartz crystal resonator are satisfactory, quartz crystal resonators of various shapes can be formed, a quartz crystal resonator can be formed at low cost with a small number of man-hours, a load in driving a quartz crystal resonator is small, and versatile equipment and tools can be used.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a quartz crystal resonator for manufacturing an AT cut quartz crystal resonator having a convex sectional shape by processing a crystal chip, an apparatus for the method, and a quartz crystal resonator manufactured by this manufacturing method or this manufacturing apparatus.
2. Related Art
In a conventional method for manufacturing a piezoelectric resonator, blasting is applied to either or both of an AT cut quartz crystal wafer by spraying fine abrasives from a nozzle with a small bore onto desired narrow ranges at both sides along visible outlines of a piezoelectric element piece, thereby manufacturing a piezoelectric element piece having a convex sectional shape (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-37463 (page 1, [0019] to [0024], FIGS. 1 to 4)). Hereinafter this technique is referred to as a first conventional example.
A conventional manufacturing device of a piezoelectric element plate is a device for manufacturing a piezoelectric element plate having at least one surface with a convex-shaped portion, the manufacturing device comprising: a base for holding a large element plate having a plurality of element plate chips that have still not been separated; and a plurality of polishing members descending and ascending and rotating on or above the top surface of the large element plate held on the base; wherein the plurality of polishing members, which are cylindrical, are provided to correspond one-to-one to element plate chips, each polishing member having a concave polishing surface at its bottom. Each polishing member touches the top surface of each element plate chip and polishes a surface of the element plate chip while rotating and descending, thereby processing the top surfaces of element plate chips to be convex-shaped (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H11-298278 (page 1, claim 1, [0005] to [0007], FIGS. 1 and 2)). Hereinafter this technique is referred to as a second conventional example.
A conventional method for manufacturing a quartz crystal resonator forms thick and large electrodes on the two main surfaces of a AT cut crystal element plate, which is a flat plate, and then sharpens these electrodes by laser trimming, and therefore creates a stair-like and angled structure in which an area becomes concentrically or spirally narrower as heading the top, thereby forming the whole shape of the quartz crystal resonator to be convex (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-308645 (page 1, claim 4, [0005] and [0008], FIG. 4)). Hereinafter this technique is referred to as a third conventional example.
A conventional method for manufacturing a piezoelectric vibration element comprises a cutting process of cutting down a piezoelectric crystal at an arbitrary angle, a piezoelectric device element formation process of processing the cut piezoelectric crystal into a piezoelectric device element of an arbitrary size, convex lens shape processing process of processing at least after the cutting process the entire or part of one main surface to be in a convex lens shape, a protective film formation process of forming a protective film on at least a main surface of a convex lens shape, and etching process of processing the element, except the protective film formation portion where the protective film is formed (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-60481 (page 1, claim 9, [0026] to [0029], FIG. 7)). Hereinafter this technique is referred to as a fourth conventional example.
In a conventional method for manufacturing a quartz crystal resonator, a laser beam is applied to the polished crystal wafer, thereby processing this crystal wafer such that its thickness is thin and uniform. Oscillation frequency is measured for each minute portion of the entire surface of the processed crystal wafer using a large number of measuring microelectrodes located in a grid pattern on a glass substrate. Based on the measured results, a laser beam is applied to the portions of the crystal wafer that are thicker than a predetermined thickness to modify the thickness of the portions. Then, after forming a large number of electrodes in a predetermined size on the entire surface of the crystal wafer at predetermined intervals, quartz crystal resonators, which are chips with electrodes, are manufactured by dicing each electrode portion of the crystal wafer (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-286657 (claim 1, [0005] and [0010] to [0013], FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5)). Hereinafter this technique is referred to as a fifth conventional example.
In a conventional method for processing a piezoelectric element, a ring-shaped, quadrangular, or other shaped groove or step is formed on the top surface of a first auxiliary tool, and a second auxiliary tool, which is cylindrical or other shaped and is slightly higher than the groove or step, is fitted to the groove or step. A disk shaped or other shaped piezoelectric element to be polished, which has a height equal to or slightly lower or higher than that of the portion of the second auxiliary tool that is protruding from the top surface of the first auxiliary tool, is installed. An extremely thin workpiece is polished using two wrapping plates, the upper wrapping plate on the top surface of the piezoelectric element to be polished and the lower wrapping plate under the first auxiliary tool (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-317782 (claim 1, [0005] and [0009] to [0013], FIGS. 1 and 2)). Hereinafter this technique is referred to as a sixth conventional example.
As a conventional method for processing a quartz crystal resonator, there is an example of mixing a crystal chip with abrasives, putting the mixture into a container, which is referred to as a barrel, rotating the container, and bringing the crystal chip inside the container into contact with abrasives and the wall surface of the container by the rotational movement, thereby convex processing the crystal chip. Hereafter this technique is referred to as a seventh conventional example.
The above described first conventional example has problems that controlling its shape becomes difficult as an AT cut quartz crystal resonator is miniaturized and roughness of a surface of an AT cut quartz crystal wafer and a degenerated layer occur due to the use of blasting, which sprays fine abrasives to break an AT cut quartz crystal wafer. The above described second conventional example also has, in addition to the same problems as mentioned for the first conventional example, a problem that the example can be applied just to the disk shaped AT cut quartz crystal resonators and therefore the versatility is low. In the above described third conventional example, there are problems that the formation of an electrode having a stair-like and angled structure takes a large number of man-hours, causing a rise in cost, and the whole electrode becomes thick, increasing the load in driving an AT cut quartz crystal resonator.
The above described fourth conventional example has a problem that a sufficient performance cannot be obtained because a convex shape can be formed just on one side of the crystal chip. In the above described fifth and sixth conventional examples, there is a problem that special equipment and tools are required for processing an AT cut quartz crystal wafer, thereby causing a rise in cost of an AT cut quartz crystal resonator. The above described seventh conventional example has problems of an extremely long processing time (it may be counted by the hundreds), inferior controllability of shape, and the difficulty in processing a small quartz crystal piece.
The present invention aims to solve the above described problems and is intended to obtain a method for manufacturing a quartz crystal resonator, an apparatus for the method, and a quartz crystal resonator manufactured by the method or the apparatus, whereby control of the shape of a quartz crystal resonator is easy even if the quartz crystal resonator is miniaturized, the shape and the performance of a processed quartz crystal resonator are satisfactory, quartz crystal resonators of various shapes can be formed, a quartz crystal resonator can be formed at low cost with a small number of man-hours, a load in driving a quartz crystal resonator is small, and versatile equipment and tools can be used.

Manufacturing method of quartz crystal resonator, apparatus therefor, and quartz crystal resonator manufactured thereby


The present invention concerns pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating proliferative diseases, e.g. cancer using intracellular and extracellular extracts. These cell extracts can direct epigenetic reprogramming of the cancer cells and thereby reverse their neoplastic phenotype.

The epigenome directs the genome to execute gene expression programs required for normal life. It comprises two different components: the chromatin structure, and a pattern of DNA methylation1. A gene can be found in different epigenetic states resulting from differences in histone modification and DNA methylation. Epigenetic modifications play an important role during normal development by regulating gene expression through stable activation or silencing of differentiation-associated genes. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes do not alter the primary DNA sequence and are therefore reversible.
Collas et al2 describe strategies for reprogramming somatic cells to pluripotency. More specifically, Collas describes how an extract of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ESC) can elicit pluripotency and differentiation plasticity in an otherwise more developmentally restricted cell type.
This procedure involves reversible permeabilization of a somatic cell, transient incubation of the permeabilized somatic cells with intracellular extracts of ESCs, and resealing of the somatic cells.
The reprogrammed ESC-like pluripotent cells may then be differentiated into a particular cell type, and then be used for treating a patient in need of that particular cell type.
Hendrix et al3 show methods for altering the behavior of metastatic melanoma by employing embryonic stem cell-preconditioned 3 dimensional matrices.
WO/2008/014426 discloses methods of isolating compounds from the microenvironment of ESCs and using these compounds to treat and/or prevent the growth and/or dissemination of aggressive tumor cells in a patient. More specifically, the invention relates to the administration to the patient of inhibitors of Nodal activity, including, but not limited to, those that are exclusively produced by human ESCs.
Such compounds may be isolated from a substrate or a matrix, such as MATRIGEL, that was conditioned by human ESCs. WO/2008/014426 also provides methods for contacting tumor cells with a matrix, such as MATRIGEL, that comprises human ESCs or a matrix that has been preconditioned by human ESCs.
Ingber D. E.4 raises the possibility of developing a tissue engineering approach to cancer therapy in which biologically-inspired materials that mimic the embryonic microenvironment are used to induce cancers to revert into normal tissues. It is further suggested that since physical factors may contribute to cancer formation, then biomaterials and scaffolds used for medical devices and tissue engineering applications could provide yet another modality for cancer therapy.
WO09/098698 discloses scaffolds prepared from cell extracts for use in conditions necessitating tissue/organ regeneration, repair or replacement.
Although many drugs are in use for cancer treatment, there is a desire for additional and more effective compositions and methods for cancer treatment and prevention. The present invention addresses this need.

Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of cancer


Systems and methods facilitate the monitoring of tire pressure, the detection/determination of wheel speed, or a combination thereof. A system is provided comprising a hub cap, a target coupled to the hub cap, and at least two displacement sensors configured to measure a displacement between each displacement sensor and the target. The target has a variable thickness, and the target comprises a hollow vessel in fluid communication with a tire.

The detection of wheel speed is important in a variety of vehicles, from aircraft to automobiles. Such devices provide wheel speed feedback to other system components for enhanced vehicle control. For example, in aircraft, wheel speed information may be used in components that control braking. Wheel speed information may also be beneficial for the operation of certain anti-skid systems as well.
Conventional aircraft wheel speed sensors often use a gear assembly disposed in an axle. The gear assembly is coupled with a blade that is in mechanical communication with an aircraft wheel or hubcap. For example, the blade may be coupled to a hubcap with a spring clip and/or a screw. The motion of the blade drives the gear assembly. The gear assembly comprises an inside gear and an outside gear coupled with magnetic components such that the gear assembly functions as an electrical generator. Electrical components are typically coupled to the gear assembly to monitor output voltages. These components may then determine wheel speed based upon this information. Thus, the blade and clip are subject to mechanical wear and need to be monitored for required maintenance, mechanical failures, and potential misalignments. Such devices may also be prone to misalignment and/or other unintended spatial displacements that may affect performance. Further, such a component cannot detect a speed of 0 because there is no motion to drive the gear assembly. Moreover, such conventional devices typically lose accuracy at low speeds (e.g., below 8 knots). In addition, as conventional means typically rely on measuring "pulse" after a predetermined rotational distance, very low speeds are not able to be detected. Accordingly, there is a need for more accurate measurement of wheel speed at low speeds and very low speeds.
In addition to wheel speed, the monitoring of tire pressure is also important in a variety of vehicles. Proper tire pressure enhances efficiency and safety of a vehicle, and improper tire pressure may require repairs.
Conventional tire pressure monitors often use a wireless enabled pressure reading device in fluid communication with a tire. The tire pressure monitor reads tire pressure by way of its fluid communication channel with the tire. The monitor then transmits pressure information wirelessly (e.g., via RF signal) to another component for monitoring. However, it may be difficult to power such a system, and the RF signal may be disturbed by other RF signals produced in an aircraft.
These and other conventional systems for tire pressure monitoring and/or wheel speed detecting tend to be unnecessarily complex, costly, and prone to mechanical failures or wear.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems for tire pressure monitoring and/or wheel speed detecting that address at least one of these issues. For example, there is a need for non-contact or reduced contact systems and methods for tire pressure monitoring and/or wheel speed detecting.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for comprehensive tire pressure monitoring and wheel speed detection


In a memory device, a substrate has a plurality of source/drain regions in the substrate. Between the source/drain regions are trenches filled with oxide. Individual bit lines in the form of conductive regions are provided in the substrate, each bit line being under and running along the oxide in a trench. Each bit line connects to source/drain regions by means of connecting conductive regions extending from that bit line to source/drain regions.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to memory devices, and more particularly, to the configuration of a flash memory array.
2. Background Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical NOR memory array structure 20 in layout form. The layout structure 20 includes elongated, substantially parallel source/drain regions 22, each made up of alternating sources S and drains D, a channel region CR connecting each adjacent source S and drain D as shown. Each bit line B0, B1, B2, B3 is associated with a respective source/drain region 22 running therealong and contacting individual drains D of its associated source/drain region 22 by means of contacts 30. The word lines of the structure are shown at W0, W1, W2, W3, and are orthogonal with a bit lines B0, B1, B2, B3. The sources S of the source/drain regions 22 are connected together in a direction parallel to the word lines W0, W1, W2, W3 as shown in FIG. 1, being formed by a self-aligned-source (SAS) process as for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,513, Nonvolatile Memory Cell Formed Using Self Aligned Source Implant, issued to Wang et al. on Aug. 12, 1997, herein incorporated by reference. Cells C1, C2, C3 . . . are formed at the intersections of word lines W0, W1, W2, W3 and bit lines B0, B1, B2, B3.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1. As shown therein, a substrate 32 has a plurality of elongated, parallel trenches 34 formed therein, each trench 34 being filled with oxide 36. A dielectric layer 38 is disposed thereover, and metal bit lines 40 are formed above the dielectric layer 38 and connected to respective drains D by vias 42. Provided over this structure is another dielectric layer 44, on which additional elements of the array are provided.
It will be noted that the fabrication of the bit lines of the array of FIGS. 1 and 2 requires formation of individual vias 42 in thee dielectric layer 38 to contact the drains D as described above, followed by formation of individual bit lines in trenches in the dielectric layer 38 to contact the vias 42 so that contact is made between the bit lines B0, B1, B2, B3 and drains D. While this is a well-known approach, it will be understood that increased efficiency and simplicity of design and fabrication are desirable.
Therefore, what is needed is a memory array wherein improved design and fabrication are achieved.
The present invention is a memory device having a substrate, and a plurality of source/drain regions in the substrate, each comprising a plurality of alternating sources and drains. The substrate defines a plurality of trenches filled with oxide, each positioned between an adjacent pair of source/drain regions, so that each oxide region has respective source/drain regions on one and the other sides thereof. Further included are a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, each bit line comprising a conductive region in the substrate, with oxide in a trench overlying each bit line. Further included are a plurality of connecting conductive regions in the substrate and associated with each bit line, each bit line being connected to (i) the sources of the source of the source/region on one side of the oxide overlying that bit line by some of the connecting conductive regions associated with that bit line, and (ii) the drains of a source/drain region on the other side of the oxide overlying that bit line by others of the connecting conductive regions associated with that bit line. The connecting conductive regions associated with each bit line extend therefrom to the source/drain regions on one and the other side of the oxide overlying that line in an alternating manner along the bit line length.


A vehicle orientation indicator comprises a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to sense a gravitational force component imposed on a vehicle. The controller is configured to determine an orientation of the vehicle with respect to a fixed plane based on the sensed gravitational force component and control an indicator device to provide a representation of the orientation of the vehicle. The controller is further configured to control the indicator device to update the representation of the orientation of the vehicle based on a change in the sensed gravitational force component as sensed by the sensor while a movement condition of the vehicle meets a prescribed condition, and to control the indicator device to refrain from updating the representation of the orientation of the vehicle while the movement condition fails to meet the prescribed condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle orientation indicator. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle orientation indicator that eliminates spurious data pertaining to the pitch and roll of the vehicle to provide a more stable and accurate indication of the orientation of the vehicle.
2. Background Information
In order to enhance a driver's experience, a vehicle can be equipped with various types of instruments that indicate various conditions of the vehicle. For instance, a vehicle may include a pitch and roll sensor that provides an indication of the vehicle's pitch and roll with respect to a level horizontal plane to enable a driver to better assess the orientation of a vehicle. These features can be particularly useful during off-road driving conditions during which a vehicle may experience large changes in pitch and roll. However, rapid changes in movement of the vehicle can adversely affect the reliability of data obtained by the sensors based on which the pitch and roll are determined, and thus adversely affect the reliability of the pitch and roll indication.


A color image forming apparatus wherein a color image is formed by rotating plural times an image retainer and repeating a latent image formation and a development. The start timing of an image forming cycle is controlled by using one of reference signals corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined positions on the image retainer and the start timing of another image forming cycle is controlled by using another of the reference signal.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus suitably applicable to a simplified electrophotographic color image reproducing machine which reproduces a desired color image through a plurality of cycles of an exposure process.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
A color image forming apparatus applied to an electrophotographic image reproducing machine reproduces and copies the color image of a document through a sequential steps of separating the color image into a plurality of separate color images, individually writing color image signals respectively representing the separate color images in an image retainer, and developing and transferring each separate color image, or transferring and fixing all the separate color images after developing all the separate color images.
Such a color image forming apparatus, therefore, the image retainer must be rotated one turn for each of a plurality of separate color image signals to reproduce a color image and the succeeding latent images and the previously developed latent images must be registered. If the write starting position of the succeeding latent image is dislocated from that of the preceding developed latent image, the separate color images are not superposed exactly to deteriorate the print quality. Accordingly, the registration of the separate color images is very important.
Exact registration can be secured by synchronizing the operation of the optical scanning system with the rotation of the image retainer or the transfer drum by using a drum index element as a registration element. In such a case, the optical scanning system is started with reference to drum index signals provided by the drum index element and the subsequent image processing cycles are executed in timed relation with the start of the optical scanning system.
Such a prior art is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 61-189066 and 61-51178.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-189066 discloses a color image reproducing apparatus which reproduces a color image by superposing a plurality of color toner images on an image retainer and by transferring the superposed color toner images to a transfer paper in a single image transfer cycle. In this color image reproducing apparatus, a drum index element is associated with the image retainer to operate the optical scanning system in synchronism with the rotation of the image retainer.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-51178 discloses a color image reproducing apparatus which reproduces a color image by forming color toner image individually on the image retainer, by transferring the color toner images individually to a transfer drum to superpose the color toner images on the transfer drum and by transferring the superposed color toner images to a transfer paper. In this color image reproducing apparatus, a drum index element is associated with the transfer drum to operate the optical scanning system in synchronism with the rotation of the transfer drum.
In either known color image reproducing apparatus, a single drum index element is provided and the drum index element provides a drum index signal once every rotation of the associated drum.
FIG. 33 shows the relation between copy start timing and drum index signals in controlling image write operation on the basis of drum index signals, particularly, in copying a color image. Prerotation process, exposure processes respectively for a first color, a second color and a third color, and postrotation process each is executed for every drum index signal.
As obvious from FIG. 33, the postrotation process is ended immediately before, namely, by a fixed time T before, the drum index signal is provided. When the copy start button is operated, the same image copying cycle is repeated.
Accordingly, the color image write operation is started always at a fixed position on the drum. When the color image write operation is started always at a fixed position on the drum, the photosensitive material coating the drum at the fixed position is deteriorated remarkably reducing the life of the same.
Furthermore, when only a single drum index element is provided, the prerotation of the drum is started upon the detection of a first drum index signal, and the start of copying operation for the first color must inevitably wait until the detection of the next drum index signal which is effected after the drum has rotated one full turn, even when 2/3 to 1/2 turn of the drum is sufficient for the prerotation process.
Similarly, the postrotation process requires a little less than a time corresponding to two turns of the drum despite a time corresponding to one and a half turns of the drum is sufficient for the postrotation process, as far as the copying operation is controlled on the basis of the drum index signals which are provided once every one turn of the drum.
Such a necessity of an excessive time for the prerotation process and the postrotation process impedes the reduction of the copying cycle time.
In producing a plurality of copies in such a mode of copying operation, the number of copies produced in a unit time is fixed regardless of the size of copying sheets. That is, as obvious form FIGS. 34A to 34D, the optical scanning time varies with the size of copying sheets, whereas a time required for producing a copy of size B4 is the same as that for producing a copy of size B5, because only one drum index signal is provided every one turn of the drum as shown in FIG. 34 and hence the position of an electrostatic latent image cannot be changed according to the size of the copying sheet. Obviously, it is advantageous to reduce the copying cycle time for producing copies of size B5 as compared with the copying cycle time for producing copies of size B4 so that the number of copies produced in a unit time is increased.

Color image forming apparatus for superposing a plurality of images


A data migration system supports a low-latency and reduced overhead data storage protocol for data storage sharing in a non-collision fashion which does not require inter-communication and permanent arbitration between data storage controllers to decide on the data placement/routing. The multiple data fragments of data sets are prevented from routing to the same storage devices by a multi-step selection protocol which selects (in a first phase of the selection routine) a healthy highest ranked drive enclosure, and further selects (in a second phase of the selection routine) a healthy highest-ranked data storage controller residing in the selected drive enclosure, for routing data fragments to different storage pools assigned to the selected data storage devices for exclusive “writing” and data modification. The selection protocol also contemplates various failure scenarios in a data placement collision free manner.

Storage information in a high performance computing environment presents certain challenges and requires data storage architecture and data migration procedures permitting a high level of efficiency and fault tolerance for the data migrating between the high performance computers and long-term (or permanent) data storage.
Data storage architectures handling high performance computations have been developed, including those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0108723, filed as Ser. No. 14/056,265, directed to "Reducing Metadata in a Write-Anywhere Storage Sub-System"; U.S. Patent Application Publication #2014/0108473, filed as Ser. No. 14/050,156, directed to "Maintaining Order and Fault-Tolerance in a Distributed Hash Table System"; U.S. Patent Application Publication #2014/0108863, filed a Ser. No. 14/035,913, describing "Handling Failed Transaction Peers in a Distributed Hash Table"; U.S. Patent Application Publication #2014/0108707, filed as Ser. No. 14/028,292, related to "Data Storage Architecture and System for High Performance Computing"; and patent application Ser. No. 14/045,170, directed to "Method and System for Data Transfer between Compute Clusters and File System", and others.
All these architectures use distributed data storage and a specific addressing system capable of pointing a request (when a file access is requested) to a particular location (or locations) within a group of distributed memories.
Multiple storage controllers are typically included in data storage architectures to control operation of the data storage devices. The storage controllers usually are logically inter-connected to share the information on data items residency.
In order to prevent data loss as to data corruption in the event of a storage device failure, the data storage systems require intercommunication between the storage controllers configured with redundant partners and continuous arbitration for "write" I/O operations to prevent the storage controllers from placing multiple shards (fragments) of the same RAID stripe on the same storage device. The intercommunication between storage controllers disadvantageously adds latency and overhead to any operation which would modify the data in the storage devices.
In a data storage system including N storage controllers, due to the permanent arbitration on the data placement between the storage controller nodes, the number of messages passed for a single request/acknowledge operation may be as large as 2N. The intercommunication between the storage controllers thus undesirably prevents from scaling up beyond two storage controllers.
It would be highly desirable to reduce (or eliminate) the intercommunication and continuous arbitration for "write" I/O operations between the storage controllers, while assuring a high level of data integrity prevention from data corruption and data loss, as well as providing the I/O operations (requiring modifications to data) to have low latency and to require reduced overhead.

Low latency and reduced overhead data storage system and method for sharing multiple storage devices by high performance computing architectures


An O-ring for a feed roller includes an O-ring body having first and second ends, which are discontinued from each other, wherein coupling surfaces in the first and second ends are capable of being coupled to each other while opposing each other in a complementary fashion; and a fastening unit fastening the first and second ends to each other such that the coupling surfaces in the first and second ends form and maintain a coupled state in which coupling surfaces oppose each other in a complementary fashion. The O-ring body has first and second storage recesses formed in corresponding opposite positions, the first and second storage recesses being engraved on outer circumferential surfaces thereof, and the fastening unit is received in and fitted to the first and second storage recesses.

A substrate is applied to a variety of products, for example, a flat display device such as a Liquid Crystal Device (LCD) or a Plasma Display Device (PDP).
The substrate, which is used in a variety of devices such as the above, is a final product resulting from a variety of semiconductor processes, and is carried by feed rollers so that it can be subjected to respective semiconductor processes.
An example of the feed rollers are feed rollers that carry the substrate, which include upper and lower rows of feed rollers, and which are configured such that they can rotate while facing each other. The shaft of the upper feed roller and the shaft of the lower feed roller are connected to each other such that they can be simultaneously driven and rotated, so that the substrate can be carried therebetween.
Each of the upper and lower feed rollers is provided with an O-ring made of a rubber material and a resin material. The O-ring prevents slipping by providing a frictional force when the substrate is carried so that the substrate can be properly carried without being damaged.
The O-ring has the form of a closed loop, and each feed roller is provided with a plurality of such O-rings, which are coupled to the feed roller at regular intervals. Since the O-rings, which are disposed like above, serve to repeatedly carry substrates for a long time, they become worn because of their contact with the substrates and come to have irregular sizes. In addition, since contact and abrasion decrease the frictional force, it becomes difficult to properly carry the substrates.
Therefore, an O-ring must be replaced with a new one after it has been used for a predetermined time or becomes damaged.
However, since the above-described O-ring of the related art is in the form of a closed loop, cumbersome operations are required in order to assemble a new O-ring to the feed roller. Specifically, various devices and components connected to one shaft of the feed roller need to be disassembled therefrom, and the new O-ring is assembled to the separated feed roller by fitting it through one end of the feed roller. Consequently, the replacement of an existing O-ring with a new one takes a long time, and the operation is inefficient because of cumbersomeness. In addition, during the replacement operation, the conveyor system must be stopped and the production of substrates is stopped. This, consequently, becomes a cause of a decrease in productivity.
In addition, there are inconveniences in that the disassembled components and devices must be re-fastened to be reassembled, and the coupling position and fastened state of the upper and lower feed rollers are checked and set again, after the O-ring has been replaced.
Furthermore, the O-ring used in the feed roller may have a circular or non-circular (e.g., quadrangular) cross-section, and an O-ring fastening recess (e.g., an annular recess) is formed such that it corresponds to the cross-section of the O-ring used in the feed roller. Therefore, there is a problem in that, in the event of replacing an existing O-ring with a new one, only an O-ring having a shape corresponding to the O-ring fastening recess formed in the feed roller can be used. For example, an O-ring having a circular cross-section only has a small area that is in contact with the substrate. In contrast, a large area of an O-ring having a non-circular cross-section (e.g. a quadrangular cross-section) makes contact with the substrate, thereby conveying the substrate more stably. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the feed roller must be replaced with a new one when replacing an existing O-ring having a circular cross-section with an O-ring having a non-circular cross-section.