A measurement triggering method based on state(s) of UE, a UE and a network side device are provided. The method performed by the UE includes: determining a first measurement parameter; determining whether a measurement triggering condition is met; and performing measurement on at least one of a neighboring cell of the UE or a serving cell of the UE based on the first measurement parameter, in a case that the measurement triggering condition is met. The determining the first measurement parameter includes: determining the first measurement parameter corresponding to a state parameter of the UE based on a correspondence between state parameters and first measurement parameters; or determining the first measurement parameter based on state change information of the UE or based on an event determined by the UE.

For each of a stationary user equipment (abbreviated as UE), a UE at a low mobility, and a UE at a high mobility, the UE in an idle mode triggers a cell measurement in accordance with a uniform condition. No differentiated configurations are provided for a mobility state of the UE, an environment where the UE is located, or a coverage, which is adverse to power saving of some UEs in a stationary state or at a very low mobility, in a case that there is a small change in a channel environment.

Measurement triggering method based on state of UE, UE and network side device


An insertable intracavity probe for use in magnetic resonance imaging of an area of interest in a relatively inaccessible region of the body is disclosed. The probe has an internal pickup coil carried at the distal end of a shaft for rectal insertion of the coil and an inflatable anti-migration cuff to hold the probe in position and prevent outward migration thereof during a procedure. The anti-migration cuff is carried on an outer sleeve which is slidably and rotatably mounted on the shaft. The coil is carried on a resilient tip structure at the distal end of the shaft which is flexible in the plane normal to the plane of the coil. Deflection of the coil assembly is controlled by a pair of control lines attached to the distal end of the tip structure. The lines may be selectively tensioned to deflect the coil in the direction of tension by a thumb wheel control at the handle of the probe.

This invention relates to a receiving device in the form of an intracavity probe for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy systems to enhance the imaging performance and spectroscopy sensitivity of such instruments when evaluating anatomical regions small in size relative to the body, and deep within the body, but proximate a location where an insertable pickup probe may be used. More particularly, the present invention relates to an intracavity pickup probe which is externally directable within the body cavity to allow for optimum placement of the probe relative to the intended target.
In the field of MRI systems, also commonly known as NMR imaging systems, external pickup probes are typically used for receiving radio frequency signals from the anatomical region of interest. See, for example, copending, commonly assigned application Ser. No. 07/771,419, filed Oct. 7, 1991, titled "Probe for MRI Imaging and Spectroscopy Particularly in the Cervical Region" for a discussion of such probes. For optimum performance when imaging certain select parts of the body, the pickup probe should be insertable for intracavity use and include a radio frequency receiving coil to be positioned as close to the region of interest as possible. It is important, therefore, that a suitable MRI probe be provided which may be selectively and accurately positioned within the body cavity proximate the deep body target whose image is sought to be received by the pickup. The internal placement of the pickup, once inserted within the body cavity, must be capable of adjustment and control at the proximal end of the probe, outside the body.
In order to manipulate the MRI probe within the body cavity, it is desirable to have a probe tip which is rotatable and deflectable, in order that the pickup coil may be rotated to the proper orientation within the body cavity, and positioned accurately and firmly against the target region. It is also desirable to be able to direct the probe toward the anatomical area of interest through a body cavity which may curve. It is desirable as well to be able to control the rotation and deflection of the probe tip, and therefore, its orientation, remotely, that is, outside the patient's body.

Endorectal probe with planar moveable MRI coil


Systems and methods for a polarization matched resonator fiber optic gyroscope are provided. In one embodiment an RFOG comprises: a light source; a fiber optic ring resonator; a photodetector that outputs an electrical signal that varies as a function of optical intensity; and an input light polarization servo. A light beam from the servo is launched into the resonator ring in a first direction of circulation. The input polarization servo comprises a birefringence modulator that modulates a phase shift between two components of an input polarization state of the light beam at ωm, the modulator is controlled to drive towards zero a 1st harmonic of ωm as measured in the electrical signal. The servo further comprises a tunable ½ waveplate that adjusts an amplitude of the two components of the input polarization state relative to each other. The tunable ½ waveplate is controlled to maximize a peak optical intensity as measured in the electrical signal.

In commercial navigation application, there is a continuing need for developing low cost, small sized navigation grade gyroscopes. The resonator fiber optic gyro (RFOG) is one gyroscope technology that can satisfy those needs. In the RFOG, a ring resonator is formed using a fiber optic coil and couplers to couple light into and out of the ring resonator in clockwise (cw) and counterclockwise (ccw) directions. At least two input light waves are frequency-tuned to the resonances of the ring resonator in the cw and ccw directions respectively. After measuring the resonance frequencies in the two directions by tuning each input beam to them, the input beam frequencies are compared, and the difference is proportional to the rotation rate of the resonator coil. In an RFOG bias instability is manifested as an indicated rotation rate output even when the gyroscope is not rotating.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods to address RFOG bias instability.


Apparatus to space a windshield wiper blade and an associated windshield wiper arm from an associated vehicular windshield is set forth wherein a generally wedge or cam shaped surface deflects the windshield wiper arm and associated blade in a spaced relationship relative to the windshield to minimize excessive contact and premature wear of the windshield wiper structure during use. A mounting block is arranged for securement to the vehicular body or the windshield surface with a cam block including a cam surface adjustably and securably mounted to the mounting block.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to windshield wiper structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved vehicular windshield wiper apparatus wherein the same is arranged relative to vehicular body to space a windshield wiper assembly relative to the windshield to prevent capture of various debris between the windshield wiper blade and windshield during periods of non-use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Windshield wipers are effective in clearing a windshield of excessive moisture but due to their continuous contact with the windshield surface are subject to deformation. Further, various debris is captured such as twigs and the like whereon actuation of the windshield wiper assembly induces scratching and marring of an associated windshield wiper surface. The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing a cam surface to deflect and space a windshield lever assembly relative to windshield during periods of non-use. Examples of the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,183 to WILFER setting forth windshield wiper blade assembly that accommodates the various contours of a windshield of an associated vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,643 to ARMAN sets forth a windshield wiper for use with automobiles of a predetermined configuration to enhance noiseless operation of the organization in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,783 to ARMAN sets forth a windshield wiper support organization to enhance articulated relationship between a windshield wiper blade and associated support arm.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,535 to ARMAN sets forth a modified support from which wiper blades and permit noiseless operation of the wipers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,114 to SMITH sets forth a linkage arrangement for operating windshield wipers relative to an associated windshield.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved vehicular windshield wiper apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction in enhancing and prolonging the life of a windshield wiper blade and an associated vehicular windshield and in this respect, the instant invention substantially fulfills this need.


A pusher assembly for use in a contact block assembly is disclosed. The pusher assembly comprises a pusher (105); a window (214) extending through the pusher; a first movable contact (106) positioned within the window; and a second movable contact (107) positioned adjacent to said first movable contact within the window. A method of assembling a pusher assembly having a movable contact is also disclosed. The method comprises steps of inserting a first movable contact within a pusher; inserting a second movable contact with the pusher; and retaining the first movable contact and the second movable contact within the pusher by a spring.

The present invention relates to a movable contact, and more particularly to a movable contact used in a pusher assembly of a contact block and to a method of assembling a pusher assembly having a movable contact.
Conventional contact blocks, which can be configured both in a 1-pole arrangement or a 2-pole arrangement, include a number of contact elements. When used in a 1-pole arrangement, a movable contact only requires contact surfaces or pads formed on one side of the movable contact. However, when used in a 2-pole arrangement, the movable contact must have contact surfaces formed on both sides of the movable contact. Such movable contacts require an expensive manufacturing process to create a contact surface on both sides of the movable contact.
For example, some conventional movable contacts are produced using a xe2x80x9ctape-weldingxe2x80x9d process in which four continuous strips of silver are welded to both sides of both ends of a strip of copper alloy from which the movable contacts are punched. Other conventional movable contacts are produced by forcing a silver wire through punched holes in the contact blade and then coining the silver wire both top and bottom to form contact surfaces on both sides of the blade. Because 2-pole contact blocks are less common than 1-pole contact blocks, double-sided movable contacts found in conventional 2-pole contacts are produced in lower volume, and are therefore even more costly.
Further, contact block assemblies are often assembled by hand, and often have a number of springs which make the assembly difficult. In particular, when assembling components of a conventional contact block assembly, it may be necessary for an assembler to compress a spring in order to insert another component of the assembly. In such situations, it is often common that the spring becomes dislodged, and in many cases may becomes lost. More importantly, the difficulty in assembling the contact block may cause additional fatigue on a worker and an increase in assembly errors.
Such problems are particularly true of pusher assemblies, which often have smaller springs that are more difficult to manipulate with the human hand. In particular, inserting a small spring into a pusher by compressing the spring can be difficult. Further, when a pusher assembly is assembled in a contact block, it is beneficial if the components of the pusher assembly are secured within the pusher assembly. That is, the pusher assembly could be picked up and placed in the contact block housing without any fear that components of the pusher assembly would become dislodged. Accordingly, there is a need for a movable contact which can be used as a pair of movable contacts for a 2-pole contact block assembly.
The present invention relates to a movable contact having a pair of contact elements extending from each end of a body portion. Each contact element comprises a pair of contact fingers, wherein each contact finger has an inclined portion leading to a contact surface which is substantially parallel to the body portion.
According to another aspect of the invention, a pusher assembly for use in a contact block assembly comprises a housing portion, a window formed in the housing portion, and a movable contact positioned within the window. The movable contact comprises a body portion and a pair of contact portions coupled to the ends of the body portion. Each contact portion has a pair of contact fingers having an inclined portion and a contact element.
According to another aspect of the invention, two movable contact having contact fingers with an inclined portion and a contact element could be placed back to back.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a pusher assembly for use in a contact block assembly comprises a pusher, a window extending through the pusher, a first movable contact positioned within the window, and a second movable contact positioned adjacent to the first movable contact within the window.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of assembling a pusher assembly having a movable contact comprises the steps of inserting the first movable contact within a pusher; inserting a second movable contact within the pusher; and retaining the first movable contact and the second movable contact within the pusher by a spring.
It is an object of the invention to provide a movable contact which can be used in either a 1-pole or a 2-pole contact block assembly.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a movable contact which can be coupled with a second movable contact to form a pair of movable contacts for use in a 2-pole contact block assembly.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a pusher assembly for receiving a pair of movable contacts for use in a 2-pole arrangement in a contact block assembly.
Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a method for assembling a contact block assembly having a pair of movable contacts.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Movable contact and a method of assembling a pusher assembly having a movable contact


A sealing device suppresses deterioration of sealing properties due to plastic deformation (settling) of an outer circumferential lip, including a packing (10) having an outer circumferential lip (12) provided on a sealed fluid side and an inner circumferential lip (13) on an inner circumferential side, and a metal spring member (20) mounted in a mounting groove (11) and having an outer circumferential pressing portion (21) that extends radially outward and toward the sealed fluid side from a groove bottom of the mounting groove (11) and presses the outer circumferential lip (12) radially outward, and an inner circumferential pressing portion (22) that extends radially inward and toward the sealed fluid side from the groove bottom of the mounting groove (11) and presses the inner circumferential lip (13) radially inward. Among the outer circumferential lip (12) and the inner circumferential lip (13), a protrusion (13a) for preventing the spring member (20) from coming off is provided only on the inner circumferential lip (13).

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is used as a material for packings for sealing an annular gap between a shaft and a housing that move relative to each other. PTFE can be used under high temperatures and high pressures, and has excellent characteristics such as high chemical resistance and excellent sliding properties. On the other hand, PTFE has a shortcoming that it is prone to plastic deformation (settling) particularly when used in high temperature environments. If settling occurs in a sealing lip of the packing, it leads to deterioration of sealing properties.
A technique for maintaining the sealing lip in tight contact with an outer circumferential surface of a shaft or an inner circumferential surface of a shaft hole of a housing is known (see Patent Literatures 1 and 2), wherein a metal spring member is mounted in an annular mounting groove formed in the packing.
However, PTFE has a higher linear expansion coefficient than that of metal materials commonly used as the housing material. In high temperature environments, therefore, the sealing lip on an outer circumferential side of the packing (outer circumferential lip) tends to deform so as to expand radially outward, so that it is firmly pressed against the inner circumferential surface of the shaft hole of the housing. As a result, a large settling occurs in the outer circumferential lip, hence, as a countermeasure for settling, it is not sufficient to simply mount a spring member.
Conventionally, in order to prevent the metal spring member from coming off, an annular protrusion that protrudes radially inward is provided at the distal end of the outer circumferential lip. The outer circumferential lip thus has a relatively high rigidity.


To reduce the wavelength dependence of the phase difference given to the lightwaves traveling through the optical waveguide arms of a coherent mixer, the optical waveguide device includes a first optical branching device branching a first input light and outputting to a first and a second optical waveguides, a second optical branching device branching a second input light and outputting to a third and a fourth optical waveguides, a first optical coupler that mixes lightwaves travelling through the first and the third optical waveguides, and then branches and outputs a first and a second output lights, a second optical coupler that mixes the lightwaves which travel through the second and the fourth optical waveguides, and then branches and outputs a third and a fourth output lights. Here optical path lengths are mutually equal between the first and the second optical waveguides, and between the third and the fourth optical waveguides.

In recent years, in super high-speed communication beyond 100 Gbit/second, a communication technology by polarized wave orthogonal multiplexing multiple value digital signal modulation method (DP-QPSK: Dual Polarization Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) excelling in wavelength utilization efficiency, reception characteristics and dispersion compensation ability is noted. For a receiver in DP-QPSK system, the function of polarized wave separation of an optical signal into a TE (Transverse Electric) optical signal and a TM (Transverse Magnetic) optical signal, and the function of 90 degree optical hybrid for extracting the phase information out of these optical signals which have been performed with the polarized wave separation are necessary. This phase information is the four value phase information on an I-Q plane, composed of Ip and In which have π phase difference each other, and also Qp and Qn which have π/2 phase delay to Ip and In respectively.
A planar optical wave circuit using optical waveguide technology is considered superior for a device which realizes the receiver function of such DP-QPSK system, and its development is advanced in recent years. The optical waveguide technology is the technology which sets up an optical waveguide with the various shapes on a substrate by the same fine processing technology as a semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing process, and is suitable for integration and mass production.
For example, as an optical waveguide device integrating the polarized wave separation function mentioned above and the 90 degree optical hybrid function into a planar optical circuit, an optical wave circuit structure shown in FIG. 8 is disclosed in non-patent literature 1. FIG. 9 indicates the composition of a planar optical circuit of the TE optical signal side out of the part which performs the 90 degree optical hybrid function, as a schematic diagram.
The optical wave circuit shown in FIG. 9 composes an interferometer which is generally called a coherent mixer. In FIG. 9, the inputted TE optical signal and local oscillator light are branched by optical branching devices 10 and 11, respectively. A Y branch structure type optical branch device which is the most basic optical branching device is usually employed as the optical branching devices 10 and 11. The reason is that Y branch structure type optical branching devices basically have no wavelength dependence on the optical branching ratio and are relatively tolerant of the disturbance on manufacturing because of employing the simple symmetrical structure in which the inputted light is split from one waveguide into two branches and outputted. The optical waveguide arms 12-15 compose an interferometer, and the arms 12-14 are the same in the optical path length while the optical path length of the arm 15 is longer than other arms by equivalent of ¼ of the wavelength of optical wave propagating in the optical waveguide, so that the 90 degree phase difference is given. That is, the relation between the optical path length difference dL of two arms and the phase difference d φ of the lights traveling through those arms is expressed by the formula (1), wherein the wavelength is λ and the effective refractive index of the optical waveguide is n.dφ=2π·n·dL/λ  (1)
According to the formula (1), the optical path length difference dL corresponding to the 90 degree (π/2 radian) phase difference is represented by the formula (2).dL=λ/4n  (2)
Accordingly, by setting up the optical path length difference to the optical waveguide arms as mentioned above, the four-value-phase-information on the I-Q plane is outputted from the optical couplers 16 and 17, and the above-mentioned 90 degree optical hybrid function is realized.

Optical waveguide device and a manufacturing method for an optical waveguide device


A magnetic disk is provided wherein a non-magnetic substrate, a magnetic layer, a protection layer, and a lubrication layer are sequentially stacked. The surface of the lubrication layer has irregular structure patterns along a circumferential direction of the magnetic disk that have circumferential lengths that each correspond to a central angle. The irregular structure patterns may be formed by an adsorption between the lubrication layer and the surface of the protection layer. When a natural frequency of a magnetic head slider used to record to the magnetic disk is f and the magnetic disk rotation speed is R0, the central angle is set so as not to coincide with an angle θ0 expressed by θ0=360 ×(R0/60)/(f×1000).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording device, and in particular, relates to a magnetic recording device used as a computer external storage device, or the like.
2. Related Art
In a magnetic disk device such as a hard disk, a recording and reproduction of information is carried out in a data region on a magnetic disk in a condition in which a magnetic head flies above the magnetic disk. In recent years, in order to further improve recording density, there has also been proposed a magnetic head wherein it is possible to reduce the flying height of the magnetic head by incorporating a heat element such as a heater in the magnetic head, and causing the flying surface of the magnetic head to thermally expand to the magnetic disk side (JP-A-2006-190454). By employing this kind of technology, the reduction of the flying height of a magnetic head slider (the distance between the bottom surface of the magnetic head slider and the magnetic disk surface) in order to increase recording density in a magnetic disk device has advanced rapidly to a current level of 1 to 2 nm.
However, due to this kind of reduction of the magnetic head slider flying height, intermittent contact between the magnetic head slider and the magnetic disk while the magnetic recording device is being started up is unavoidable. Furthermore, a contact magnetic recording method that promotes the reduction of the magnetic head slider flying height, and assumes a continuous contact between the magnetic head slider and magnetic disk, has also been proposed, and from now on, an optimum design of a magnetic recording disk surface that assumes an intermittent or continuous contact is also required.
Under this kind of condition, the magnetic head flying position or contact position is liable to be affected by external factors, such as coarseness or undulation of the magnetic disk surface. In particular, the magnetic head slider has a natural frequency caused by a suspension that holds the magnetic head slider, and a natural frequency caused by an air film between the magnetic disk supporting the flying of the magnetic head and the magnetic head slider (hereafter called the "magnetic head air film"), and when a phenomenon of exciting of the natural frequencies occurs due to the external factors, the magnetic head slider resonates, and there is a danger that a stable write/read operation will no longer be possible (JP-A-2005-116112).
Also, a lubrication layer is formed on a current magnetic disk surface by applying a lubricant, such as Z-tetraol, with a polar end group that has a strong adsorption to a protection layer of the magnetic disk. However, in order to further promote the adsorption characteristic, it has become common to carry out a process such as an ultraviolet beam irradiation on the magnetic disk surface, thus hydrophilizing the surface of the protection layer. As a result of this, the lubricant in the lubrication layer has a stronger adsorption to the protection layer, and there is a tendency for the lubrication layer surface distribution to be controlled by surface form factors, such as coarseness and undulation of the magnetic disk surface. Consequently, even though the lubrication layer exists, the problem of magnetic head slider resonance still persists.
However, to date, the only way of suppressing the oscillation of the natural frequencies of the flying head slider with magnetic disk side conditions has been by planarizing forms such as coarseness and undulation of the disk surface as far as possible.

Magnetic disk device, magnetic disk, and magnetic disk manufacturing method


An electrode for use in a welding process may comprise a finite length electrode core. The electrode core may be encapsulated at least partially within a coating comprising a flux material. One end of the electrode core may be tapered from a first diameter D to a second smaller diameter D1. The tapered end may further be covered with a coating that enhances the arc starting capabilities of the electrode.

In any welding process, the welder must consider the type of material being joined together. In many applications, much of the material comprising the electrode combines with the weldment components affecting its properties. It can be important to select an electrode that corresponds to the base material properties. Accordingly, electrodes are categorized by their properties, primarily tensile strength. Other electrode classifications relate to the types and amounts of metal alloys incorporated into the electrode, as well as the welding position in which the electrode is capable of making a satisfactory weld.
Electrodes also introduce impurities or other undesirable substances into the weld joint. Some electrodes are constructed to contain moisture, which may come in the form of a cellulose coating. Moisture bolsters the arc force and increases weld penetration. However, hydrogen from the moisture is also introduced into the weld joint. For high tensile strength materials, the hydrogen acts like a small fissure leading to cracks in the weld. Pressurized containers are especially vulnerable to these effects. Pipelines are just one example of where it is critical to minimize the amounts of hydrogen added to the weld joint.
New welders, using a stick electrode, are taught to strike an arc by "scratching" the surface of the weld metal. This motion initiates the arc while avoiding "sticking" where the electrode fuses to the weldment. The scratching technique elongates the arc until the welder can move the electrode in closer to the work piece. This draws in air, which adds porosity to the weld joint.


The present patent application relates to a method of crimping a tubular stent having a stent lumen onto an inflatable balloon of a stent delivery catheter.

In recent decades, vascular stenting has become an important therapy for treating occlusive vascular disease, including coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease. A stent, also known as a vascular scaffold, is a tubular structure that is used, sometimes in conjunction with an angioplasty balloon catheter, to open up a stenosis or narrowing in a blood vessel and to hold the blood vessel open to allow improved blood flow. Stents are also used to treat strictures or narrowings in body passages other than blood vessels. Vascular stents are typically grouped into two general categories: balloon expendable stents and self-expanding stents. The bioresorbable vascular stent used in the present invention can be considered to be a hybrid of these two types. The bioresorbable vascular stent is heat treated to have a shape memory that makes the stent expand toward its deployed diameter. This behavior is temperature dependent. Above the glass transition temperature Tg of the stent material, the stent expands quickly, but at body temperature, the stent expands more slowly. An inflatable balloon is therefore used to accelerate the deployment of the stent, but even after deployment, the stent will continue to expand slightly, which assists in apposing the stent struts to the vessel wall. The stent could therefore be considered to be a balloon-assisted self-expanding stent or a self-apposing balloon expandable stent. For the crimping process however, the bioresorbable vascular stent can be treated much like a balloon expandable stent.
Typically, a balloon expandale stent is mounted on a stent delivery catheter by crimping (i.e. squeezing) the stent onto an inflatable balloon located near the distal end of the catheter.
Specialized crimping devices and automated machines have been devised for crimping stents onto balloon catheters. See, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 8,141,226; PCT International Application WO 2004/019768 and U.S. Patent Application 2002/0138966. Where allowed, these and all patents and patent applications referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference. The stent crimping devices described in these patents can be modified for use with the crimping method of the present invention by adding controlled heating and cooling the crimp head.
Most balloon expandable stents used today are metal stents. However, there is an emerging field of bioabsobable or bioresorbable polymeric vascular stents. The terms bioabsorbable and bioresorbable are used interchangeably in the medical device industry to describe a material that, after implantation in the body, breaks down over time and is absorbed or resorbed by the surrounding tissues. Typical materials for bioabsorbable or bioresorbable stents include polylactic acid (PLA) and polyglycolic acid (PGA) polyglactin (PLAGA copolymer). Additional stent materials suitable for the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,731,740 and PCT International Application WO 2005/096992. In general, a polymer with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of a least 45° C. is preferred.
Polymeric vascular stents present particular challenges in stent crimping. U.S. Pat. No. 7,743,481 describes an apparatus and method that are particularly adapted for crimping polymeric vascular stents. This stent crimping apparatus can be modified for use with the crimping method of the present invention by adding controlled heating and cooling.
Various methods have been devised for crimping balloon expandable stents that involve a step of inflating the balloon on the catheter during the crimping process. Examples of these methods are described in the following and patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,965 (cf. FIG. 3); U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,181; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,123,793 (cf. FIG. 4).
Generally, the methods described in these patent references are not suitable for application to bioabsorbable or bioresorbable polymeric vascular stents. One fundamental difference between metallic stents and polymeric stents is that tubular metallic stents are typically fabricated at a diameter that is just slightly larger than their undeployed or crimped diameter. During the crimping step, the diameter of the stent only needs to be reduced by a small amount. Thus, when the balloon is inflated during the crimping process, it cannot assume its fully expanded diameter because it is constrained by the stent and the crimping apparatus. If the balloon were to be fully inflated it would impart irreversible plastic deformation to the stent struts, which would be highly deleterious to the stent. On the other hand, tubular polymeric stents are fabricated at a diameter that is close to their deployed of fully expanded diameter. During the crimping process, the diameter of the stent must be reduced from the deployed or fully expanded diameter to the undeployed or crimped diameter. Elevating the temperature of the polymeric stent at or above Tg during crimping avoids the problem of irreversible plastic deformation that occurs with metallic stents. Because it takes into account these differences, the crimping method of the present invention is particularly advantageous for crimping a bioabsorbable or bioresorbable polymeric vascular stent onto an inflatable balloon of the stent delivery catheter.

Crimping method for bioresorbable stents


A power consumption reduction method controls a rechargeable battery to enter a sleep mode after the electronic system is shutdown with the output current of the rechargeable battery falling under a first current value or the rechargeable battery is in a non-communication status for over a first delay time. When in the sleep mode, a control unit further controls the rechargeable battery to enter a power saving mode when the output voltage of the rechargeable battery falls under a predefined voltage or the RSOC of the rechargeable battery is lower than a percentage of FCC, and the output current of the rechargeable battery falls under a second current value or the rechargeable battery is in the non-communication status for over a second delay time. The method shuts down all power-consuming circuits and components under long-time idling of the battery, capable of preventing overly discharging and malfunction of the rechargeable battery.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a power control method for a battery, and more particularly, to a power control method for a battery capable of reducing power consumption when the battery is stored.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Considering the convenience of using an electronic system and the capacity requirement of the power supply, most electronic systems adapt rechargeable battery as the source of its power supply, in which the batteries using lithium polymer as core substance are regarded as the most mature products with high capacity density specification. Generally, when a rechargeable battery leaves factory, it should go through some preliminary tests through insertion on an electronic system such as a notebook computer for checking its functionality before the electronic system is shutdown. However, even as the rechargeable battery is installed on a shutdown electronic system, there will still be tiny amount of power consumption, due to the existence of circuits between the rechargeable battery and the electronic system. All the power consumption is caused by the unopened circuits.
A rechargeable battery usually has charge capacity of 40% of its full charge capacity (FCC) when leaving factory. As mentioned, after the rechargeable battery leaves the factory, it needs to go through some tests before set to shutdown to wait for transportation, stocked for a certain period of time, and finally shipped to a user who purchased it. During these stages, the capacity of the rechargeable battery is kept consumed. Overly discharging phenomenon may cause unrecoverable damage to the battery once the battery takes too long in transportation and stock.
While some power saving techniques are implemented in the rechargeable battery according to the prior art, these techniques simply use some sleep modes defined by the rechargeable battery, i.e., when the rechargeable battery has power consumption lower than a specific value like 20 mA for over a specific time like 30 seconds, it is set in the sleep mode, and the rechargeable battery does not provide power for the electronic system. The rechargeable battery in such sleep mode, however, still has closed circuit between the battery and the electronic system, which means tiny amount of power consumption still occurs.

Power consumption reduction method for a stored battery


One embodiment of the invention provides a method of processing cell culture data. The data comprises results from a large number of samples, the results being obtained by performing multiple stages of cell culture in succession on each sample. Each stage represents a cell culture treatment having a particular set of conditions, such that each sample follows a protocol specified by the identity and order of the treatments applied to the cell culture. The method includes specifying a subset of the samples that yielded a desired cell culture outcome. The method further includes performing a computer-implemented analysis of the results from the samples in the subset to produce an ordering or grouping for the results. The ordering or grouping helps to identify one or more protocols that are effective for obtaining the desired cell culture outcome. The analysis for producing the ordering or grouping utilizes information on similarities between different protocols.

Over recent years, cell culture has become a core technology in the life sciences. The underlying science of cell culture is complicated, so that the effect of different treatments and growing conditions remains poorly understood. Many cell culture treatments are developed on a trial and error basis, perhaps by analogy with existing treatments. However, this approach is time-consuming, unreliable, and clearly inefficient.
Cell culture protocols which involve multiple discrete stages are particularly difficult to devise and optimise. Changing the treatment in one stage may affect the performance of a subsequent stage, so that devising optimal combinations of treatments is particularly challenging and requires large numbers of experiments. Such experiments can be performed by conventional cell culture, although methods with higher throughput such as automated cell culture are also known. These experiments may involve methods of miniaturising cell culture, such as the use of microfluidic platforms (e.g. "Differentiation-on-a-chip: A microfluidic platform for long-term cell culture studies", Anna Tourovskaia, Xavier Figueroa-Masot and Albert Folch; Lab Chip, 2005, 5, 14-19), or cell arrays. There is a need in the art for methods to analyse data produced by high throughput cell culture techniques.
EP-A 1551954 and WO2007/023297, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe a technique in which cells are cultured in a large number of different units. Each unit may be formed from a bead with cells growing on the surface or in pores. The cell units (beads) are split into different groups and each group is subjected to a particular treatment. After this first stage (round), the cell units may be optionally pooled together again, and then split once again into new groups. The new groupings are then subjected to a second round of treatments. Further rounds of pooling, splitting, and treatment may follow. The cell units are optionally tagged during the culture treatments so that at the end of the experiment it is possible to deduce the sequence of treatments applied to a given cell unit. Cell units that have reached a desired endpoint, say the development of a particular cell type as judged by a screening assay, can be identified and the sequence of treatments to which they were exposed identified.
The number of cell units in these experiments may be very large—thousands or more. Likewise, the number of possible protocol combinations of treatments (protocols) to which different cell units have been exposed may also be large. For example, if there are 10 possible treatments at each of three stages, then this gives 1000 (103) potential protocols. If the experiment involves 50,000 cell units, then on average 50 beads will be exposed to each protocol.
Results from such large scale screening experiments require validation since these typically include false-positives, where a desired result is achieved but the outcome is spurious, and also false-negatives where a cell unit that follows a potentially productive protocol does not give a positive outcome. The number of false-negatives provides some measure of the efficiency of a given protocol, which might often be rather low (10% or less).
In general, the existing approach to analysing results from these large-scale cell culture experiments is to look for protocols that produced positive results in an endpoint screen. The successful protocols are then the subject of further experiments. This follow-up work may involve testing a larger number of cell units per protocol to give better statistics for the results, or a different experimental strategy, such as performing conventional or monolayer cell culture (rather than using small beads).
This follow-up work is relatively expensive and time-consuming to perform, especially if there are many protocols that appear to require further investigation. It would be helpful for the data analysis to be able to guide the selection of subsets of protocols for further investigation, and even to be able to predict the efficiency of these protocols a priori. For example, since experiments are often performed in parallel, e.g. multiple cell units are exposed to each protocol, a protocol may be particularly suitable for follow-up work if N or more replicates are positive in an endpoint screen (where N may be chosen as 1, 2, 3 . . . etc, depending on the particular circumstances).
One important goal of such experiments is to be able to control or direct the differentiation of cells towards a particular phenotype. For example, starting with stem cells, it may be desired to produce in culture a specific type of cell, for example red blood cells, heart muscle cells, or brain cells. The resulting specialised cells are then available for a wide variety of potential uses, including the modelling and investigation of biological systems, toxicity screening for drugs, screening for regenerative drug development and transplanting the cells into humans to replace dead or diseased cells, for example in the case of a stroke or spinal cord injury. Cell culture experiments can also be useful in a wide range of other applications.

Apparatus and method for processing cell culture data


The disclosed embodiments concern methods, apparatus, systems and computer program products for determining and displaying pedigrees based on IBD data. Some implementations use a probabilistic relationship model to obtain various likelihoods of various potential relationships based on pairwise IBD data and pairwise age data. Some implementations build large pedigrees by combining smaller pedigrees. Some implementations display pedigree graphs with various features that are informative and easy to understand.

A pedigree refers to the genetic relationships among a group of genetically related individuals. Pedigrees can be used to produce family trees for consumers or genealogists. They can also be used to determine the heritability and genetic models for traits and dis-orders. Pedigree structure can be used to enable or improve genetic-analysis tools such as linkage, family-based association, pedigree-aware imputation, and pedigree-aware phasing.
However, there are many technical challenges in determining pedigrees using genetic data. Manually reconstructing an unknown pedigree with pairwise relationship comparisons requires arduous, error-prone labor. For example, Pemberton et al. manually reconstructed cryptic HapMap3 pedigrees, but the authors encountered inconsistencies they could not resolve by hand. Pemberton, et al. (2010). Inference of unexpected genetic relatedness among individuals in HapMap Phase III. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 87, 457-464. These problems become even more impractical or impossible to solve when the pedigrees are large and numerous.
Computer tools using identity-by-descent (IBD) genetic data to construct pedigrees have been developed to address some of these problems. However, the accuracy, qualities, and efficiencies of available computer tools have many limitations. In various implementations, methods and systems disclosed herein for determining, constructing and visualizing pedigrees provide various advantages and improvements over conventional approaches.

Methods and systems for determining and displaying pedigrees


A multi-FA personal subscriber station and a method of ordering protocol data units thereof is provided. The present invention allows for simultaneously accessing two frequency channels to transmit and receive data and appropriately ordering protocol data units transmitted through each frequency channel, thereby minimizing errors in TCP/IP packet transmission. According to the present invention, two frequency channels are simultaneously accessed to transmit and receive data and protocol data units transmitted through each of the frequency channels are ordered, thereby minimizing errors in TCP/IP packet transmission.

Personal subscriber stations that each simultaneously access a plurality of frequency channels in mobile WiMax, particularly, WiBro (wireless broadband Internet) for data transmission and reception (hereinafter referred to as "multi-FA personal subscriber terminals") have been developed.
In the related art, a technique of allocating a plurality of frequency channels to a specific terminal in a cell and a technique of performing hand-off from a bad frequency channel to a good frequency channel according to a wave propagation environment of a base station are disclosed.
According to the related art, in order to control errors in data, a HARQ (hybrid ARQ) function, which is a method of controlling errors by combining retransmission and error correction, is defined in a physical layer. A packet data service system that generates many packets, e.g., wireless Internet packets, in a short time, that is, that generates packet bursts, can improve a packet processing rate through error control using a HARQ method.
Further, in the related art, TCP (transmission control protocol) is generally used as one of core protocols for transmitting packet data.
As is known, the TCP protocol errorlessly transmits user data from end to end. In order for error correction, the receiving side transmits an ACK (acknowledge) for the received TCP segment. Further, if the transmitting side does not receive the ACK, it performs retransmission and congestion control.
In this case, the TCP transmits the ACK in a cumulative ACK manner. In the cumulative ACK manner, an ACK number represents a bite number of data in a data stream that is received and perceived by the receiving side. In other words, the ACK number represents the next octet number that the transmitting side should transmit.
The cumulative ACK manner should not perform retransmission even though an ACK packet is lost. Therefore, even though one ACK packet is lost during data transmission, all data having been received can be perceived through an ACK for the next data packet.
However, when a data packet is partially lost and then the next packet is received, or when a data packet is not received according to the sequence number of data packets, the receiving side cannot perceive the data packet. Therefore, the transmitting side is required to perform retransmission.
Therefore, in a portable Internet technique, if the HARQ is operated, or if one terminal simultaneously accesses two or more frequency channels for transmitting or receiving data packets, TCP packets are not transmitted according to the sequence number, resulting in decreased transmission efficiency.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Multi-FA personal subscriber terminal and method of ordering protocol data unit thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Methods and compositions containing a phorbol ester or a derivative of a phorbol ester are provided for the treatment of chronic and acute conditions. Such conditions may be caused by disease, be symptoms or sequalae of disease. Chronic and acute conditions may be due to viral infections such as HIV and AIDS, neoplastic diseases stroke, kidney disease, urinary incontinence, autoimmune disorders, Parkinson's disease, prostate hypertrophy, aging, or the treatment of such diseases. Additional compositions and methods are provided which employ a phorbol ester or derivative compound in combination with at least one additional agent to yield more effective treatment tools against acute and chronic conditions in mammalian subjects.

Plants have historically served many medicinal purposes. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 billion people, 80% of the world population, presently use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. (WHO Fact sheet Fact sheet No 134 December 2008) However, it can be difficult to isolate the specific compound that has the medicinal effect and to reproduce it on a commercial scale. Additionally, while active compounds may be isolated from a plant, the other parts of a plant such as the minerals, vitamins, volatile oils, glycosides, alkaloids, bioflavanoids, and other substances may also be involved in the functioning of the active ingredient, or the medicinal effect for which the plant is known making the use, purification and commercialization of plant based pharmaceutical agents a challenge.
Phorbol is a natural, plant-derived organic compound of the tigliane family of diterpenes. It was first isolated in 1934 as a hydrolysis product of croton oil derived from the seeds of Croton tiglium, a leafy shrub of the Euphorbiaceae family that is native to Southeastern Asia. Various esters of phorbol have important biological properties including the reported ability to mimic diacylglycerols and activate protein kinase C (PKC), modulating downstream cell signaling pathways including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Phorbol esters are additionally thought to bind to chimaerins, the Ras activator RasGRP, and the vesicle-priming protein Munc-13 (Brose N, Rosenmund C., J Cell Sci; 115:4399-411 (2002)). Some phorbol esters also induce nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). The most notable physiological property of phorbol esters is their reported capacity to act as tumor promoters. (Blumberg, 1988; Goel, G et al., Int, Journal of Toxicology 26, 279-288 (2007)).
12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), also called phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), is a phorbol ester used in models of carcinogenesis as an inducer for differentiation and/or apoptosis in multiple cell lines and primary cells. TPA has also been reported to cause an increase in circulating white blood cells and neutrophils in patients whose bone marrow function has been depressed by chemotherapy (Han Z. T. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 95, 5363-5365 (1998)) and inhibit the HIV-cytopathic effects on MT-4 cells. (Mekkawy S. et al., Phytochemistry 53, 47-464 (2000)). However, due to a variety of factors, including caustic reactions when contacted with the skin and concerns for its potential toxicity, TPA has not been shown to be an effective tool for treating, managing, or preventing HIV or AIDS or as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. Indeed, as phorbol esters play a key role in activation of protein kinase C (PKC), which triggers various cellular responses resulting in inflammatory responses and tumor development (Goel et al., Int, Journal of Toxicology 26, 279-288 (2007)), phorbol esters would generally be excluded from possible treatment candidates for cancer or inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or conditions that involve inflammatory reactions such as stroke, autoimmune disorders or prostate hypertrophy.
As modern medicine has developed, survival rates from both chronic and acute disease has increased, generating new challenges in managing both chronic conditions and the sequelae of acute disease and treatment side effects. There is a continuing need for the identification of pharmaceutical agents, including plant based pharmaceutical agents, which can be used to treat disease, prevent damage from acute episodes, manage the symptoms of disease conditions, and manage the side effects of disease treatments. While molecular targeting has produced a number of successful pharmaceutical agents, frequently multiple pathways of signaling are involved, and blocking one pathway can easily be compensated for elsewhere. There is clearly a need for new and more effective treatments and side effect management for individuals suffering from a variety of conditions, particularly chronic or potentially recurring conditions such as cancer, immune disorders, autoimmune disorders, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, uterine fibroids, prostate hypertrophy, urinary incontinence, Parkinson's disease and kidney disease.

Compositions and methods of use of phorbolesters


Embodiments herein present a method for a feed forward silicide control scheme based on spacer height controlling pre-clean time. The method forms field effect transistor gates over a substrate and then forms spacers on the gates. Next, the method measures the spacers using an atomic force microscope to determine a measured spacer height. The method then conducts a pre-cleaning etch, wherein a duration of the pre-cleaning is adjusted according to the measured spacer height. If the measured spacer height is below a predetermined amount, the duration of the pre-cleaning is reduced; and, if the measured spacer height is above a predetermined amount, the duration of the pre-cleaning is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments herein present a method for a feed forward silicide control scheme based on spacer height controlling pre-clean time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conductive materials, such as silicide, are often formed on the surfaces of semiconductors in order to reduce electrical resistance. A conventional semiconductor, such as a complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) device, typically comprises field effect transistors (FETs). Moreover, each FET has a gate stack, which may be offset by one or more spacers. As more fully described below, spacers are conventionally used to protect the sidewalls of a gate stack during the processes required to form silicide on a top surface of the gate stack and within the source/drain region of a transistor.
Prior to the formation of silicide, the CMOS device undergoes a conventional pre-clean process to prepare the top surface of the gate stack and the source/drain region for silicide formation. Unfortunately, the spacers are typically not resistant enough to withstand the pre-clean process, and portions of the spacer may become inadvertently removed. As a result, portions of the gate stack sidewall become exposed. The exposed portions of the gate stack sidewall are then susceptible to silicide formation.
Silicide formed on the sidewalls of the gate stack can lead to electrical shorts between the silicide on the top of the gate stack and the silicide within the source/drain region at the base of the gate stack. As semiconductor devices are continually being scaled down, and the distance between the top of the gate stack and the source/drain region is being reduced, the likelihood of electrical shorts due to the silicide formed on the sidewalls of the gate stack increases.
Furthermore, the pre-clean process can shift the gate stack, damage the screen oxide, and lead to PC to silicon leakage, all of which degrades yield. Thus, a solution is required to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages while increasing performance and yield of the semiconductor with no added cost.

Feed forward silicide control scheme based on spacer height controlling preclean time

International Business Machines Corporation


A controller for a magnetic disk device acquires a reproduction signal of servo burst data while moving a magnetic head along data tracks that intersect servo tracks at a plurality of points. The controller acquires correction values for correcting repeatable runout on a per servo sector basis based on the reproduction signal. The correction values include a first correction value, which is a correction value for a servo sector at a position where the data track and the servo track are substantially parallel to each other and a second correction value, which is a correction value fora servo sector at a position where the data track and the servo track are not substantially parallel to each other. The controller adjusts the first correction value based on the second correction value, and writes the correction values including the adjusted first correction value onto a magnetic disk.

In the related art, in a magnetic disk device that performs reading and writing to a magnetic disk via a magnetic head, servo burst data defining a plurality of servo tracks is written. The spacing of the servo tracks, i.e., a servo track pitch may be uneven within the magnetic disk. The local deviation of the servo track pitch may cause deterioration in the accuracy in correcting for the amount of positional deviation in the radial direction of the servo tracks, i.e., repeatable runout (RRO).

Magnetic disk device and manufacturing method thereof

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION


A security vulnerability analysis mechanism is provided that ingests content from a plurality of content source computing devices to identify instances of security vulnerability content in the ingested content. The mechanism performs a security trend analysis on the instances of security vulnerability content to identify a relative ranking of security vulnerabilities. The mechanism identifies computing resources of a specified computing infrastructure and a criticality of the computing resources to an operation of the computing infrastructure. The mechanism generates a prioritized listing of security vulnerabilities associated with the computing infrastructure based on the relative ranking of security vulnerabilities and the criticality of the computing resources in the computing infrastructure. The mechanism outputs a notification to a user via a user computing device, indicating the prioritized listing of security vulnerabilities.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for performing cognitive security exposure analysis and resolution based on security trends.
Computer security is a critically important area for most modern enterprises as they must secure the computing resources of their enterprises from attacks which may occur from both external and internal sources. In security their computing resources, it is important to be able to determine what vulnerabilities the computing resources have to such attacks. A vulnerability is a weakness which can be exploited by a threat actor, such as an attacker, to perform unauthorized actions within a computer system. To exploit a vulnerability, an attacker must have at least one applicable tool or technique that can connect to a system weakness. Such vulnerabilities may also be referred to as an "attack surface."
A security risk is often incorrectly classified as a vulnerability. The security "risk" is the potential of a significant impact resulting from the exploit of a security "vulnerability." There are vulnerabilities without risk: for example, when the affected asset has no value. A vulnerability with one or more known instances of working and fully implemented attacks is classified as an exploitable vulnerability, i.e. a vulnerability for which an exploit exists. The window of vulnerability is the time from when the security hole was introduced or manifested in the computing resource, e.g., software, to when access was removed, a security fix was available/deployed, or the attacker was disabled. This window can be large in some instances, allowing attackers to gain access to computing resources for an unacceptable amount of time before discovery and before the exploit can be remedied by a security fix.

Cognitive security exposure analysis and resolution based on security trends


In a starter protective device, a sensor detects the operating conditions of the engine, a decision unit having a detecting section for detecting starting conditions and a controlling section for changing, according to the starting conditions provided by the detecting section, reference values for determining whether or not the engine has been started provides a start completion decision output when it is determined from the reference values that the engine is in operation, and in response to the start completion decision output the starter is deenergized, whereby the starter is lengthened in service life.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to protective devices for starters (hereinafter referred to as "starter protective devices", when applicable), and more particularly to a starter protective device which automatically stops the starter after the start of the engine.
2. Prior Art
A conventional starter protective device of this type is as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 designates an engine; 2, a starter for starting the engine 1; 3, a battery; 4, a key switch on a vehicle; 5, a decision unit made up of electronic circuits; 6, a sensor for detecting the number of revolutions (speed) of the engine to detect the operating condition of the engine; 7, an electro-magnetic switch which is connected between the starter operating contact 4a of the key switch and a current supplying line 8 connected to the starter 2; and 9, a transistor for controlling the on-off operation of the exciting coil 7a of the electro-magnetic switch in response to the output of the decision unit 5.
When, in the device thus organized, the key switch 4 is positioned to the contact 4b, the decision unit 5 is energized, so that the transistor 9 is rendered conductive (on). Under this condition, the key switch 4 is positioned to the starter operating contact 4a, so that current flows from the battery 3 to the exciting coil 7a. As a result, the movable contact 7b of the electromagnetic switch 7 is brought into contact with the stationary contacts 7c and 7d, whereby the starter 2 is energized, and the engine 1 is started.
When it is detected by the sensor 6 that the number of revolutions of the engine reaches a predetermined value Ne (FIG. 4), the decision unit 5 operates to render the transistor 9 non-conductive (off), so that the stationary contacts of the electro-magnetic switch 7 are opened; that is, the operation of the starter is suspended.
As was described above, in order to prevent the long time operation of the starter, or its over-run attributing to the engine, with the conventional starter protective device, the operation of the starter is stopped when the decision unit 5 determines that the number of revolution of the engine 1 has exceeded the predetermined value Ne which is the start decision reference. However, the engine may suffer from the following difficulty when operated at cold districts: As shown in FIG. 4, even if the number of revolutions of the engine exceeds the value Ne momentarily, it is decreased as indicated by the dotted line C, so that the engine is stopped. Therefore, in the conventional starter protective device, the time interval (or time lag) T.sub.L which elapses from the time instant A that the number of revolutions exceed the value Ne until the time instant B occurs is employed as another start decision reference, and it is determined whether or not the number of revolutions of the engine exceeds the value Ne over the time interval T.sub.L or at the time instants A and B.
However, the conventional starter protective device is still insufficient in performance; that is, it is impossible for it to determine it positively at all times whether or not the engine has been started. Therefore, with the device, the starter may be stopped before the engine is started. This is because starting an engine depends greatly on the ambient temperature or the conditions of the engine. Thus, it is not suitable that the number of revolutions Ne and the time lag T.sub.L which are constant are employed as the start decision references. This difficulty may be overcome by increasing the number of revolutions Ne and the lag time T.sub.L ; however, it is not practical to merely do so, because if those data are increased, then in the case when the engine is smoothly started, the starter is energized for a long period of time, or its over-run is caused, with the result that the service life of the starter is decreased as much; that is, the protective device does not work


A lateral insulating gate type field effect transistor can be manufactured with ease reliably by using a semiconductor substrate having excellent crystal property. A projected portion (2) is formed on a first major surface side of a semiconductor substrate (1). A first gate portion (3) having a width (length) smaller than that of the projected portion (2) is formed on the projected portion (2). An insulating layer (4) is formed on the whole surface of the semiconductor substrate (1) so as to bury the first gate portion (3). The semiconductor substrate (1) is removed horizontally from its second major surface side, i.e., from the opposite side of the side of the projected portion (2) to a position (a) at which the insulating layer (4) is formed so as to bury the projected portion (2) is exposed. A second gate portion (5) is formed on such exposed surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of manufacturing a lateral insulating gate type field effect transistor and, more particularly, is directed to a method of manufacturing a lateral insulating gate type field effect transistor for use in manufacturing a so-called XMOS transistor whose channel region is sandwiched by a pair of gate portions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a conventional so-called XMOS transistor. As shown in FIG. 1, first and second gate electrodes 33G.sub.1, 33G.sub.2 are respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of a semiconductor layer 31 of a low impurity concentration type, i.e., p.sup.- type or n.sup.- type or intrinsic i-type which serves as a channel forming portion through gate portions, i.e., gate insulating films 32 in an opposing fashion. Source or drain regions 34 made by the ion implantation of n-type or p-type impurity are respectively formed on the semiconductor layer 31 across the portion where these gate portions are formed.
The XMOS transistor thus arranged has excellent characteristics that are not obtained by an ordinary MOS transistor, such as no punch-through, an excellent switching characteristic and characteristics being controllable without introducing an impurity into the channel region.
When in the XMOS transistor the first and second gate portions, i.e., the two gate electrodes 33G.sub.1 and 33G.sub.2 are independently applied with control voltages to independently control the first and second gate portions, freedom in controlling the first and second gate portions is increased and much more excellent transistor characteristics can be obtained.
Lateral solid phase epitaxy growth techniques nave heretofore been proposed as a method of manufacturing the XMOS transistor in which the upper and lower gate portions are controlled independently. According to these lateral solid phase epitaxy growth techniques, a crystalline property of the epitaxial growth layer is not perfect so that a device having an excellent carrier mobility cannot be obtained.

Method of manufacturing a lateral field effect transistor


Provided are a carbon-based noble metal-transition metal composite catalyst enabling high selective conversion of a carboxylic acid functional group into an alcohol functional group by pre-treating a carbon carrier including a predetermined ratio or more of mesopores, and a production method therefor.

Diol is widely used as a base industrial material such as polyesters, polyurethanes, vanishes, and adhesives pharmaceuticals. In addition, the demand for eco-friendly and biodegradable diols has increased significantly in recent years. These diol compounds can be converted from dicarboxylic acid or its derivatives through a hydroprocessing catalyst. Most existing catalyst processes that enable this conversion are catalyst processes based on a Cu—Cr or Zr—Cr based catalyst, ruthenium oxide, ruthenium-carbon composites, and the like. However, such catalyst processes require operating conditions of high pressure (200 bar to 300 bar). Therefore, it is essential to develop catalysts that can be operated under relatively low pressure conditions.
Among a plurality of diol compounds, when cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) is used to replace ethylene glycol and other polyols in producing polyester resins, the CHDM has attracted great attention because of its high thermal stability, insulation, transparency, and chemical resistance. Dimethylterephthalate (DMT) is produced by esterification of terephthalic acid (TPA) with methanol and then CHDM is industrially produced through two additional hydrogenation processes. However, in recent years, efforts have been made to produce CHDM through a single-step hydrogenation reaction in cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (CHDA) so as to reduce production costs and simplify processes.
Therefore, in the present invention, a method for synthesizing a catalyst that efficiently produces cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), which is a target diol, by using cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (CHDA) as a representative material of dicarboxylic acid will be described.
Mitsubishi Chemical (MCC) has patented a RuPtSn/C catalyst as a CHDA-to-CHDM catalyst (U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,703), but this patent has a disadvantage that the catalyst is expensive due to Pt. Asahi Kasei suggested a Ru—Sn—Re/C catalyst as a CHDA-to-CHDM catalyst (U.S. Pat. No. 6,495,730). However, despite the use of expensive Re, the yield of CHDM was only 75%. Lotte Chemical suggested Y-zeolite as a carrier for RuPtSn (WO 2015-156582), but this also incurs a high catalyst cost. In order to improve a RuSn/Al2O3 catalyst that is an existing prior patent (CN 1911504), Sinopec applied for a patent that used a carrier of a catalyst by coating a carbon layer over Al2O3(CN 104549251). However, a multi-step synthesis process is required so as to synthesize an Al2O3 carrier coated with a carbon layer suggested in the above patent. In addition, due to characteristics of a CHDA reaction, a reaction solution is in a high temperature acidic condition. Thus, there is a high possibility that an Al leaching problem of Al2O3 in which hydrothermal stability is lower than carbon will occur. Zhang Xiaoou applied for a patent that the performance and lifespan of catalyst could be secured when ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) having a pore volume of 1.5 ml/g to 2.5 ml/g, a specific surface area of 1,000 m2/g to 2,000 m2/g, and a pore size of 3 nm to 10 nm was used as a RuSn catalyst carrier (CN 101982236A). However, in the case of the OMC that satisfies the physicochemical properties suggested above, a synthesis method includes a multi-step process. This increases production costs and is unfavorable for use in actual commercial facilities. In addition, in the case of the OMC, pores are formed in a reverse phase of a material used as a template. Thus, when pore connectivity of the template used is low, the mechanical strength of a carbon framework forming an OMC structure is likely to be lower than that of a conventional carbon material. In the prior patent (CN 101982236A), an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution or an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution was used at room temperature as a pre-treatment of a carbon carrier. In this case, the amount of oxygen functional groups introduced on the surface of the carbon carrier is small. Thus, it is disadvantageous in effectively immobilizing a Ru—Sn active metal.

Carbon-based noble metal-transition metal catalyst enabling high selective conversion and production method therefor


A method for controlling a bus in a digital interface is disclosed. In the present method, after a self identifying process when a bus reset occurs, a determination is made whether a node which needs to transmit isochronous data is a new node which needs to newly transmit isochronous data or a previously connected node which had been transmitting isochronous data before the bus reset. Thereafter, priority is given to previously connected nodes in allocating channels and bandwidth to previously connected node(s).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital interface, and more particularly to a method for controlling a serial bus in a digital interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the latter 1980""s, a rapid development of technology in digital audio/video device has increased the need for a high speed digital interface in home consumer electronic devices. As a result, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 serial bus has been gaining much interest. Physical connections among devices on the IEEE 1394 serial bus is by a cable which allows bidirectional data transmission. Also, each device has one or more cable connection ports for hot plugging to the IEEE serial bus, thereby enabling addition of a new node to or removal of a node from the bus.
Referring to FIG. 1, assume that an IEEE 1394 serial bus topology includes a digital TV 1 connected to a personal computer (PC) 2, a DVCR 3, a digital camcorder 4, and a DVCR 5; a CDROM 6 and a HDD 7 connected to the PC 2 and a HDD 8 connected to HDD 7; a DVD RAM 9 connected to the DVCR 3; and a PC 10 connected to the digital camcorder 4, and a printer 11 and DVD RAM 12 connected to the PC 10. A. bus reset is generated when a digital camera 13 is newly added to the IEEE 1394 serial bus. Due to a bus reset, a channel (CH) and bandwidth (BW) must be re-assigned to the previously connected devices such as the DVCR 5, DVD RAM 9, CDROM 6 and HDD 8 within a given time period of for example 1000 ms.
The bus configuration is automatically executed during the initialization of the bus and each of the devices, having several cable ports, acts as a repeater to form one local bus. Each port of each device on the bus also has logic for terminators, transceivers, arbitration, packet formatting, and data transfer control. Moreover, the IEEE 1394 serial bus transmits data for control and command using asynchronous packet data structure, and transmits real time data using isochronous packet data structure.
As a result, the IEEE 1394 serial bus has an Isochronous resource manager which provides three registers including a bandwidth available register (BAR), a channel available register (CAR), and a bus manager ID register (BMR) . The BAR is a register of 32 bits and indicates the size of the BW used in the isochronous communication. FIG. 2a shows an example of a BAR. A node which needs to start an isochronous communication subtracts a bandwidth from a value of this register for use in the transmission and adds the bandwidth back after the transmission has been completed.
The CAR, as shown in FIG. 2b, is a register of 64 bits and indicates the assigned state of CH used in the isochronous communication. Generally, a bit value of xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d indicates that a CH is being used while a bit value of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d indicates that the CH is free, i.e. not being used. A node which needs to start an isochronous communication first confirms that the bit value corresponding to a CH for use in the transmission is xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and converts the bit to a value of xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d before starting the transmission.
The BMR is a register of 32 bits and is used in deciding the bus manager, in which an initial value of 3Fh indicates that a bus manager does not exist. Thus, a node that wants to become the bus manager executes the bus manager""s functions by first confirming that the register value is 3Fh and then by establishing its own node ID, within the given time period after a bus reset.
Furthermore, to convert the values of these registers, a compare swap lock transaction is used. Therefore, isochronous packet data is transmitted after establishing a CH and BW through the BAR and CAR.
Accordingly, if a bus reset is generated on the IEEE 1394 serial bus due to an addition or removal of a node while isochronous data is being transmitted to other nodes already connected, the nodes which have been transmitting isochronous data before the bus reset must receive reassignment of a CH and BW within the given time period following the self identifying process in order to continue the isochronous data transmission after the bus reset. Thereafter, a CH and BW, if available, is assigned to node(s) which needs to newly transmit isochronous data. However, in the bus control method in the related art, when a bus reset occurs due to an addition of a node, a CH and BW may not get reassigned to one or more nodes which have been transmitting isochronous data prior to the bus reset within the given time period. In such case, a CH may not be available and/or BW may not be sufficient because of other node(s) which needs to newly transmit isochronous data.
Therefore, although nodes that have been transmitting isochronous data prior to a bus reset have priority over nodes which needs to transmit isochronous data after a bus reset, a node which has been transmitting isochronous data prior to a bus reset may have to wait until a CH and BW becomes available to continue transmission of isochronous data,, if a CH and BW does not get reassigned during the given time period.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve at least the problems and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for a more efficient control of a serial bus in a digital interface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a bus in a digital interface which allows nodes on a serial bus to continue transmission of isochronous data that was being transmitting prior to a bus reset caused by new additions of one or more nodes.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method for controlling a serial bus in a digital interface comprises determining whether a node requesting a CH and BW after a given period of time following a self identifying process due to a bus reset is one of either a new node or a previous node which had been transmitting isochronous data before said bus reset; determining whether at least one previous node has not been re-assigned a CH and BW before said given period of time, based upon a CSR, if said node is a new node; assigning a CH and BW to said node, and recording a Node ID and the assigned BW in positions of a RRR corresponding to the assigned CH of said node prior to starting an isochronous data communication, if at least one previous node has not been re-assigned a CH and BW before said given period of time; assigning a CH and BW to said node and starting an isochronous data communication, if there is no previous node which has not been re-assigned a CH and BW after said given period of time; re-assigning a CH and BW to said node after said given period of time by releasing a CH and BW assigned to a new node based upon the RRR, and starting an isochronous data communication, if said node is a previous node and if either one or both a CH and BW are not available; and re-assigning a CH and BW to said node after said given period of time and starting an isochronous data communication if said node is a previous node and if a CH and BW are both available.

Method for controlling bus in digital interface


A cement delivery needle for use in performing vertebroplasty is provided. In one embodiment, there is provided a cement delivery needle with a sheath and an insert. The sheath has an inlet to receive a bone cement and a tapered outlet for expressing the cement into a vertebral body. The insert is receivably removable within the sheath. The insert also has a tip that is alignable with the outlet, when the insert is inserted into the sheath, to present a continuous edge. When the edge is inserted into a resistant material, an application of force to the needle creates an opening in the material to allow the needle to pass therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
In one of its aspects, the present invention relates to a surgical needle, more particularly to a needle for expressing bone cement into a vertebral body. In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a method for passing a needle into a vertebral body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Percutaneous vertebroplasty involves the injection of a bone cement or suitable biomaterial into a vertebral body via percutaneous route under X-ray guidance. The cement is injected as a semi-liquid substance through a needle that has been passed into the vertebral body, generally along a transpedicular or posterolateral approach. The three main indications are benign osteoporotic fractures, malignant metastatic disease and benign tumours of the bone.
Percutaneous vertebroplasty is intended to provide structural reinforcement of a vertebral body through injection, by a minimally invasive percutaneous approach, of bone cement into the vertebral body. See, for example, Cotton A., et al xe2x80x9cPercutaneous vertebroplasty: State of the Art.xe2x80x9d Radiograhics March-April; 1998, 18(2):311-20; discussion at 320-3. Percutaneous vertebroplasty can result in increased structural integrity, decreased micromotion at the fracture site, and possibly a destruction of pain fibres due to the heat of the bone cement as it polymerizes and sets. Complete pain relief can be achieved in up to eighty percent of patients. As known to those of skill in the art, the cement should have properties that, when injected, can increase vertebral body stiffness and compressive strength. It is generally preferred that the cement is liquid enough to flow into fracture planes and to fuse them. There is some debate about the appropriate thermal properties, but it is believed by some that the heating effect can be beneficial and cause death to local nerve endings involved in pain stimulation. It is generally accepted that most pain relief is achieved due to increased structural integrity.
Generally, when performing vertebroplasty, a needle of an appropriate gauge (such as eleven gauge or thirteen gauge in a smaller vertebral body) is passed down the pedicle until it enters the vertebral body and reaches the junction of the anterior and middle thirds. Great skill is usually required to insert the needle at a suitable angle and pass the needle through the periosteum, down the pedicle and into the vertebral body. Also, insertion of the needle generally requires a large applied force. Specifically, a large force can be required when entering the cortex and in the transition from the pedicle to the vertebral body.
A suitable cement is prepared, injected through the needle and into the vertebral body, under lateral X-ray projection fluoroscopy imaging. The injection is stopped as the cement starts to extend into some unwanted location such as the disc space or towards the posterior quarter of the vertebral body, where the risk of epidural venous filling and hence spinal cord compression is greatest. The injection is also discontinued if adequate vertebral filling is achieved.
In many needles of the prior art, there is a step or change in the angle of the taper at the needle tip. This change in the taper can cause an increase in the required applied force when inserting the needle. The additional applied force can result in a rib fracture. Thus, needles of the prior art can be difficult to insert into the patient. Presently, it is common for a hammer to be used to overcome the force required to insert the needle into the vertebral body.
During insertion of the needle, operator control is reduced due to the greater required applied force. Further, needles are difficult to accurately insert because of the large required applied force.
Prior art needles used in vertebroplasty have certain limitations. Needles such as the MDTECH, bone marrow biopsy/aspiration needle, ref DBMNJ1104T, from Medical Device Technologies, Inc, 3600 S.W. 47th Avenue, Gainsville, Fla. 32608, have been used for the delivery of bone cement. These needles are designed for obtaining biopsy samples and not for injection of cement. The end of the needles are tapered which can reduce the volume of bone cement injected. On average, about 4 to 5 cm3 of cement can be injected per side. Further, the tip of the needles have a step or a change in the angle of taper, as discussed above, thus making them difficult to insert as resistance is encountered both at the tip and at the step. A large force is required first for the tip to pierce the periosteum and the cortex, and second, a greater force is required for the step of the needle to pass through the periosteum and cortex. Again, additional force is required for the needle tip to pass through the transition from the pedicle to the vertebral body and an even greater force is required for the step of the needle to pass through this transition.
There are many other biopsy needles that can be used for the injection of cement, however these needles suffer from certain limitations. Many needles are used for retrieving soft-tissue biopsy samples and are not suitable for piercing hard tissue such as bone. Also, many needles do not have an end suitable for attachment of a syringe. Further, these needles may not have a handle suitable for applying sufficient force to pierce the cortex or to pass the transition from the pedicle to the vertebral body. Also, many biopsy needles have an end with an internal taper that can reduce the volume of cement that can be injected.
Other needles for use in vertebroplasty are disclosed in International publications numbers WO 99/18865 and WO 99/18866. These instruments include a self-tapping, threaded stylet end for tapping into hard tissue. A cannula fits over the stylet and the threaded end is used to draw the cannula into the desired position. A syringe can be attached to the cannula for injection of the cement. The stylet of this needle is rotatably screwed into the desired position. When the stylet is in the desired position, the cannula is rotatably screwed into position. Alternatively, the stylet can be pushed into the desired position or can be positioned by a ratchet assembly and action.
During insertion of these needles, more control can be gained by the slow rotation of the stylet into place, followed by the cannula being moved into place. Therefore, greater time is required to insert this needle than those needles of the prior art. Also, the needle construction is somewhat complex. The screw portion of the stylet can break off in hard bone or can slide on hard bone.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for cement delivery needle which can withstand the rigours of insertion in a patient dur percutaneous vertebroplasty. It would be desirable if such a needle could be readily constructed and readily put into use by those of skill in the art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel cement delivery needle which obviates or mitigates at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method for passing a needle into a vertebral body.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cement delivery needle, for use in performing vertebroplasty, having a sheath and an insert. The sheath has an inlet to receive a bone cement and a tapered outlet for expressing the cement into a vertebral body. The insert is receivably removable within the sheath. The insert also has a tip that is alignable with the outlet, when the insert is inserted into the sheath, to present a continuous edge.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for performing vertebroplasty on a vertebral body. A cement delivery needle is inserted into a patient, the cement delivery needle having a sheath with an inlet to receive a bone cement and a tapered outlet for expressing the cement into the vertebral body. An insert is receivably removable within the sheath. The insert has a tip that is alignable with the outlet when the insert is received by the sheath to present a continuous edge. When the edge is inserted into a resistant material, an application of force to the needle creates an opening in the material to allow the needle to pass therethrough. The needle is passed down a pedicle and into the vertebral body. The insert is slideably removed from the sheath while maintaining the sheath in the vertebral body. A suitable injector is connected to the sheath. The bone cement is injected through the sheath and into the vertebral body.
In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for passing a needle into a vertebral body. The needle has a sheath with an inlet and a tapered outlet. The needle also has an insert that is receivably removable within the sheath. The insert has a tip that can be inserted into the sheath and aligned with the outlet to present a continuous edge. The method comprises the steps of piercing the skin lying above the periosteum of a vertebrae along a transpedicular approach. Next, a first force is applied along the needle to cause the edge to pierce the periosteum and cortex and create an opening large enough for the needle to pass therethrough. The needle is then passed through a pedicle. A second force is applied to the needle to cause the edge to pierce a junction of the pedicle and the vertebral body to create an opening of sufficient size to allow the needle to pass therethrough. The needle is then passed into the vertebral body.


A drug delivery device comprises a medication container containing medication for delivery and a detachable unit having an electronic circuit with a microprocessor. The electronic circuit is open and non-operational when the detachable component is assembled on the drug delivery device; and the electronic circuit is closed and operational when the detachable component is detached from the drug delivery device. The detachment of the detachable unit is an essential step to operate the drug delivery device. The detachable unit can be an activation protection cap or a needle shield remover for an autoinjector device. Alternatively, the detachable unit can be a needle shield remover for a pre-filled syringe.

The present invention generally pertains to medical devices, and more particularly to drug delivery devices for delivering a drug into a body of a patient and outputting an electronic signal in response to such delivery.
Currently, biologic drugs account for more than half of all therapeutic drug candidates in pharmaceutical development pipelines. These biologic drugs need to be delivered through the parenteral route. As the parenteral therapeutic drugs become more and more popular, portable drug delivery devices, including pre-filled syringe and autoinjector device, for self-administration are expected to be widely used together with the parenteral therapeutic drugs (also referred as combination products). One type of such device is an autoinjector device. This type of device, when triggered by a user, automatically inserts into the user a needle of a pre-filled syringe that was disposed within the device housing, and then automatically injects a dose of medication through that inserted needle.
To ensure optimal patient treatment with biologic drug, it is essential for patients to comply with the medication regiments prescribed by their health care provider (HCP). Patient compliance can include any measure of a patient's conformance to a particular therapeutic drug delivery regimen or other indication as mandated by a health care provider or pharmaceutical manufacturer. More particularly, patient compliance measures can include the device status and medicament status, frequency of device usage, time of day, location where the device was activated, route of administration, functionality of the device once used. Understanding patient compliance with drug delivery devices can enhance the ability of a health care provider to effectively manage a patient's medication regimen, which can lead to improved patient outcomes. Patient compliance data can also be used to inform the device manufacturer about potential issues with the device. For example, data demonstrating poor compliance with a particular device may trigger a manufacturer to investigate the cause of poor compliance and/or change the design or functionality of the device to improve patient care and outcome. Similarly, knowing that patients complied with prescriptions is necessary to determine the efficacy of new medications in clinical trials. In clinical trials, healthcare providers rely on the patients to report medication compliance and on their truthfulness outside of the clinical setting. This reliance on patient truthfulness in taking the prescribed medication regiment can be a significant risk in clinical trials, where the investigative new drug's efficacy, benefits and other results depend heavily on the patients' compliance with the prescribed medication regiment.
Some prior arts utilize physical and electronics journals to keep track of patient medication regiment. In addition, other prior art consist of electronic reminders to remind patients to take their medication. Both of these systems are depended on patient truthfulness and compliance, and are only marginally effective. A healthcare provider will not be able to tell if, for example, a patient simply fill in their journals right before going in to see their doctor to show compliance, when the patient had not been compliant. With the electronic reminders the patient may simply silence the alarms without actually using the medication.
Additionally, some known drug delivery systems that combine a drug delivery device and an electronic system to assist the user in setting the proper dosage and/or maintaining a compliance log. Such known drug delivery systems and the accompanying electronic systems can be large and therefore not conveniently carried by the user. Such known drug delivery systems and the accompanying electronic systems can also be complicated to use and/or expensive to manufacture. Some other mechanical based drug delivery devices include add-on electronic adaptor to communicate the injection events. However, those add-on adaptors often alternate the exterior shape and size of the original mechanical based drug delivery device. Moreover, those add-on adaptors requires extra step(s) for user to activate (wake-up) the adaptors before use. Consequently, the user experience with the original device may be compromised.
In summary, there exists a need for an innovative device to capture the injection event and other confirmation information and to transmit such information, for example, wirelessly, to ensure patient compliance, in an easy and passive way.