An optical interconnect device may include a multi-fiber connector at a first end of the optical interconnect device. The optical interconnect device may include an edge coupled connector at a second end of the optical interconnect device. The optical interconnect device may include a plurality of optical fibers disposed inside the multi-fiber connector and the edge coupled connector to optically couple the multi-fiber connector to the edge coupled connector, wherein the multi-fiber connector and the edge coupled connector rigidly interconnect to structurally support the optical interconnect device.

An optical communications system may include a transceiver to transmit an optical signal, to receive an optical signal, and/or the like. For example, each node of the optical communications system may include at least one transceiver to enable each node to communicate with the other nodes of the optical communications system. A transceiver may include multiple component optical devices. For example, a single transceiver may include a photonic chip, a fiber array unit, and/or the like. In some cases, a set of lenses may be disposed inside the transceiver to couple the multiple component optical devices. In this case, a first component optical device may direct a beam or beams from an output of the first component optical device toward the set of lenses, and the set of lenses may redirect the beam or beams from the set of lenses to an input of a second component optical device. Care must be taken to provide sufficient space to accommodate the alignment process and care must be taken to properly align the two component optical devices and the set of lenses enabling the desired beam coupling.
As another example, a flexible cable, such as a ribbon cable, may be used to optically couple two component optical devices in a transceiver. For example, the first component optical device may be coupled to a first end of the ribbon cable, and the second component optical device may be coupled to a second end of the ribbon cable. In this case, the first optical device may provide multiple beams via multiple optical fibers of the ribbon cable, and the ribbon cable may direct the multiple beams to the second optical device using the multiple optical fibers. Care must be taken to provide sufficient space between the two component optical devices to accommodate the ribbon cable and any associated connectors thereof and care must be taken to properly align the two component optical devices and the ribbon cable (or associated connectors thereof) to enable a desired beam coupling.
As the cost of photonic components for optical devices decreases, the cost of optical connectors and the costs for coupling optical connectors (e.g., with relatively good tolerances or good alignment) to photonic components within an optical device is becoming a larger part of the cost of an optical module, such as a transceiver that includes multiple component optical devices. As the size of optical modules decreases and the performance requirements increase, the available physical space within optical modules for optical connectors decreases. Accordingly, there is a need for a low cost optical connector which reduces the physical spaced used by the optical connector, reduces the alignment costs and difficulties and maintains good tolerances or good alignment with the connected photonic components.

Optical interconnect device including a multi-fiber connector and an edge coupled connector


A system and method for advertising and providing sales incentives to customers of stores. This method includes placing advertisements or sales incentives, which can include coupons or rebates, on a useful device such as a carrying strap containment device and receiving payment for doing so. The carrying strap containment devices are packaged and distributed to stores either directly or through a store""s distribution system. Each store distributes the carrying strap containment devices to its customers by attaching the devices to the straps of shopping bags and giving the bags to the customers during the checkout process. The stores are paid for distributing the devices based on the number of devices distributed. The effectiveness of this system can be determined by comparing the number of devices distributed with the number of sales incentives redeemed.

This invention relates to promotional activities, advertising, and purchasing incentives, and more particularly to systems and methods for placing advertisements and coupons on useful structures for distribution to retail customers, including handles for plastic bags.
For years, manufacturers, advertisers, and marketing consultants have invested countless hours in developing various methods for influencing the purchasing decisions made by retail customers. Each advertising initiative is focused on influencing customer decisions, either through apparent or subtle means. Advertisers have advertised products using direct mailings, newspapers, fliers, magazines, radio, television, and banners, just to name a few.
One obstacle to any advertising campaign is that advertising can be expensive. For instance, the gross cost of advertising via radio can be about $23 per thousand impressions, calculated using a combined metro and rural advertising rate. One impression is a single person looking at one advertisement one time. If the same person looks at the advertisement multiple times, for instance, once while driving to work and once while returning home from work, each time the person looks at the advertisement is an impression. The gross cost of advertising via television can be about $30 per thousand impressions, calculated using a combined rate of early morning, daytime, early news, late news, and prime time. The gross cost of advertising using a newspaper is about $52 per thousand impressions, calculated using a blended Sunday and daily rate. The gross cost of advertising using direct mail is about $182 per thousand impressions. As a result, a need exists for a method of advertising products to consumers that is cheaper than any of these conventional advertising methods but equally, if not more, effective.
While advertisers have used these conventional methods to advertise their goods, services and other items for years, each method has realized mixed results at best. One cause of the often poor results is that each of these methods passively engage consumers. For instance, advertisers using conventional advertising methods such as radio, television, magazines, newspapers, flyers, and the like simply place advertisements on medium having some likelihood of being seen or heard by the targeted consumers. While all advertisers desire that each one of their advertisements be placed in front of consumers, conventional advertising mechanisms have not resulted in such an outcome. For instance, not all advertisements placed in a newspaper are seen by consumers because most consumers do not look at every page of a newspaper. Instead, consumers often only glance at the front page of a couple of sections of the newspaper. As a result, advertisements included on inside pages of such newspapers did not result in an impression. Similar problems exist when advertising using radio stations. For example, consumers listening to radio station broadcasts have the option of not listening to advertisements by changing the radio station when advertisements are being broadcast. Thus, conventional methods of passive advertising do not result in an impression being made from each advertisement and often result in very poor percentages of impressions made per advertisement. Thus, a need exists for a method of advertising that increases the number of impressions made per advertisement.
Advertising has not been the only method by which manufacturers and others have attempted to influence the purchasing habits of consumers. Specifically, manufacturers have also attempted to increase sales by offering sales incentives, such as coupons. Coupons can include offers for mail-in rebates, redemptions, and savings at the point of sale. Coupons have historically been distributed to consumers through direct mailings, newspapers, magazines, affixed on grocery bags, printed on the back side of cash register receipts, and dispensed from dispensers located on shelving within an aisle of a store. Coupons have rarely been presented to consumers in a ready to use format. Rather, coupons are usually given to consumers in a form that requires consumers to remove them from larger items, such as newspapers or fliers. In addition, coupons distributed in this manner typically are made of thin paper that is unable to hold its shape and susceptible to being torn, wrinkled or crushed when placed in a woman""s handbag or a gentleman""s pocket. Such phenomena often causes consumers to disfavor using coupons. As a result, coupons presented to consumers in this fashion suffer from low redemption rates.
It is widely known within the retail industry that consumers purchase products based, in part, on convenience. This is equally true of coupon redemption. It is also true that most coupons are presented in a superfluous manner or at an inopportune time to consumers without inherent value or usefulness. Hence, only about one percent of all coupons issued are redeemed. If using a coupon is unduly burdensome, the consumer will be less likely to redeem the coupon. If the principal reason the consumer was going to purchase the product was because of the incentive offered on the coupon, the store and manufacturer are in danger of losing the sale. Therefore, a need exists for a device for supplying a purchasing incentive that is convenient to redeem and requires less effort than methods currently used.
This invention is a system and method for advertising and providing sales incentives for goods and services in a manner that stimulates sales while generating a profit for the entity employing this method. The invention includes placing marketing materials such as advertisements or sales incentives, or both, on a useful device such as a carrying strap containment device that is useful to a shopper at a store. Specifically, the device is capable of containing straps attached to shopping bags, such as those straps commonly found on a plastic shopping bag used at grocery stores.
The device is advantageous and welcomed by customers for numerous reasons. For instance, the device is welcomed by customers because it is provided to them free of charge. In addition, the device distributes the load from the carrying straps across a larger portion of a customer""s hand than carrying straps used without the device, making it significantly more comfortable to carry the filled shopping bag. Additionally, the carrying strap containment device is welcomed by customers because it is a useful device that does not need to be cut out or otherwise modified before the customer can redeem it. The device also keeps the handles of bags separated for easy gripping when multiple bags are collected together, such as in the trunk of a customer""s car. Further, the device prevents handles of a bag from separating, thus, keeping the goods within the bag. Finally, the carrying strap containment device is welcomed by stores and other entities because it is capable of traveling through the existing coupon redemption systems in place today within the United States.
The device preferably includes at least one surface capable of receiving an advertisement or sales incentive, or both. The advertisement or sales incentive can be located either on an inside or an outside surface of the device, or both. Advertisements can be directed to various items, including products, services, organizations, philanthropies, special events, sporting events, fund raising drives, sweepstakes, internet addresses for web sites and the like. Sales incentives can include coupons, rebates, xe2x80x9cbuy one, get one freexe2x80x9d offers, and other purchasing incentives. In one embodiment, the carrying strap containment device can include an advertisement on the outside surface of each wall and on a base of the device and can include at least one coupon and redemption rules on the inside surface of the walls. Additionally, the walls can include a bar code that can be scanned at a cash register to redeem the coupon.
This method of generating revenue by placing advertisements or sales incentives on carrying strap containment devices can begin by giving solicitations to manufacturers of goods or service providers for advertisements or sales incentives, or both. Advertisements and sales incentives are then placed on the carrying strap containment devices in a manner agreed to by the advertiser and the entity, such as by printing or by using adhesives. In return, the manufacturer or service provider pays a fee for placing the advertisement or sales incentive on a specified number of carrying strap containment devices. The carrying strap containment devices are then packaged in easy to use dispensers. They can be shipped directly to the stores, or they first can be shipped to a distribution facility where the devices are stored and later shipped to individual stores when needed. The stores do not pay a fee for receiving or dispensing the devices.
The carrying strap containment devices are distributed to customers at the stores free of charge. Specifically, devices are distributed to customers by attaching them to shopping bags in the process of handing the bags to the customers during the checkout process. Each store counts and records the number of devices that are distributed. In turn, each store is paid for distributing the devices an amount based upon the number of devices distributed.
If the carrying strap containment device contains a sales incentive, a customer can redeem it in a variety of manners. For instance, if the sales incentive is a coupon, the customer can return the coupon to a participating store for redemption. The customer does not need to remove the coupon from the device, as is typically required of other coupons, nor is the customer required to alter the shape of the coupon prior to redemption. Instead, the coupon can be redeemed while it is on the carrying strap containment device. Further, if the carrying strap containment device includes a rebate, the customer can redeem it by following the instructions on the carrying strap containment device, which typically requests that the customer mail the rebate to a clearinghouse to receive the rebate. As with a coupon, the rebate does not need to be removed from the carrying strap containment device before it can be redeemed. Instead, the entire carrying strap containment device can be mailed to an address designated on the device.
After a store has redeemed a coupon, the coupon is processed using the existing coupon processing systems currently in place within the United States. Further, these systems do not need to be modified to process coupons located on the carrying strap containment devices. Instead, these systems can process the coupons located on the carrying strap containment devices and do not require that the coupons be removed from the devices for processing. These systems include clearinghouses that handle the transfer of money between stores and manufacturers and others who offer sales incentives.
The effectiveness of this method can be measured by comparing the number of sales incentives redeemed with the number of devices distributed. This comparison can be completed by each store or by the entity distributing the devices to each store.
An advantage of this invention is that it provides in-store advertising and sales incentives on a device that is useful and welcomed by customers. Further, this invention actively engages customers by presenting them with useful devices that include either. advertisements or sales incentives, or both because each advertisement or coupon is placed in the hand of a consumer in such a manner that the consumer can view the advertisement. Thus, this invention results in increased impressions made per advertisement when compared with impressions made using conventional mediums.
Another advantage of this invention is that it solves"" the problem of not being able to generate a positive revenue stream from placing advertisements and sales incentives on a carrying strap containment device. The invention enables an entity to generate revenue by placing advertisements and sales incentives on useful devices.
Yet another advantage of this invention is that it actively engages a customer with in-store advertising after a customer has purchased goods. The device is almost certain to be taken into the home of the customer because the device is attached to the carrying straps of the shopping bag. Indeed, the device is typically literally placed in a customer""s hand. Should a device not make it into a customer""s home because a customer removes the device from a bag before entering the home, the advertisement would have accomplished its goal of making an impression on a customer because the customer would have viewed the advertisement, at least peripherally, while removing the device.
Still another advantage of this invention is the combination of an advertisement vehicle and a sales promotion vehicle with a useful device to significantly increase the likelihood of selling a product. In effect, the useful device serves as a mechanism to covert impressions made by the device into sales in a direct, convenient, and economically efficient manner, which is exactly the outcome that conventional advertising mechanisms have been unable to accomplish.
Another advantage of this invention is that a sales incentive is given to a customer in a form that is immediately redeemable without requiring the customer to first locate and then remove the incentive from another publication, such as a newspaper or flier. Further, the sales incentives can be processed through the existing coupon clearinghouse systems that are used today in the United States without modification.
Yet another advantage of this invention is that the device presents sales incentives to a customer in a convenient form and material, and at a time convenient for the customer to view the sales incentive and to store it in a convenient place, such as his or her car, so that he or she may easily remember to redeem it upon his or her return to the store. Also, sales incentives are provided to the customers using useful devices made of sturdy materials that enable the devices to hold their shape and not tear, wrinkle or be crushed when placed in a woman""s handbag, a gentleman""s pocket or during the redemption process.
Still another advantage of this invention is that the method provides an incentive for each store to distribute the carrying strap containment devices to its customers and does not simply rely on a store""s motivation to distribute the devices. Specifically, each store is paid to distribute the devices based on the number of devices distributed by the store to its customers.
Another advantage of this invention is that stores employing this method realize a significant cost savings associated with supplying bags because this invention encourages customers to use plastic bags rather than more expensive paper bags.
Yet another advantage of this invention is that the method uses carrying strap containment devices that require little, if any, training for store personnel to be able to install the devices on shopping bags. Instead, the process by which these devices are installed is evident to most store personnel without need for explanation. This is extremely advantageous because most stores are unwilling to train their store personnel that bag merchandise who have an annual turnover rate of almost 100 percent.
Still another advantage of this invention is that installing these devices on carrying straps coupled with bags does not require that additional store personnel be hired because the process of installing the devices requires little time and little, if any, training.
Another advantage of this invention is that the device supports the straps of a typical plastic bag so that when installed, the handles of the bag stand upright without other assistance and prevent the contents of the bag from spilling out of the bag. The device acts as a structural cross beam that pulls two straps together and bridges the gap between each side of the bag. As a result, the strap remains upright, and the device remains in a position that is visible to the customer each time the customer grabs for the straps of the bag. Thus, the device, and thereby the advertisements and sales incentives, are highly visible by the customer when installed on a grocery bag.
Another advantage of this invention is that the device enables a retailer to place more items within a plastic bag than possible without use of the device. Thus, a retailer uses fewer plastic bags when employing this method. As a result, the retailer is inclined to distribute the devices to its customers in order to realize the cost savings associated with using fewer plastic bags.
Yet another advantage of this invention is the realization of significant cost savings to advertisers because the carrying strap containment devices are at least ten times cheaper than other methods of advertising and sales promotions currently used.
Still another advantage of this invention is that advertisements and sales incentives included on carrying strap containment devices may be changed without incurring additional charges to the advertisers two or three times during a typical four week advertising cycle, thereby constantly refreshing the advertisements and sales incentives on the devices and enhancing the value of the devices to the customer. In contrast, other forms of in-store and out-of-store advertising are incapable of changing as quickly because such changes would be prohibitively expensive.
Another advantage of the invention is the ability to enhance customer goodwill, brand loyalty, and product differentiation.
Yet another advantage of this invention is that this method provides advertisers of good and services with an economical method of placing their advertisements in front of a massive number of consumers that previously were unavailable to the advertisers, except by using very expensive advertising methods that are much less effective.

Method of advertising and distributing sales incentives on a useful device


The present invention relates to a composition comprising a) a stable aqueous dispersion of inorganic pigment particles hydrophobically modified with covalently bonded polysiloxane or silyl groups; and b) a polymeric anionic dispersant; wherein the hydrophobically modified inorganic pigment particles have an average particle size in the range of from 200 nm to 10 μm, and the solids content of the hydrophobically modified inorganic pigment particles is from 10 to 80 weight percent, based on the weight of inorganic pigment particles and water. The composition of the present invention provides a way to improve water resistance in coatings formulations.

Performance of water-borne paint formulations is influenced in part by the surface chemistry of the inorganic pigment used to opacify the paint. Pigments such as the widely used TiO2 tend to be hydrophilic in their native state and therefore not particularly effective as a barrier to penetration of water and water-soluble colorants at the pigment-binder interface. For this reason, it would be advantageous to modify the surface of inorganic pigment particles to provide coatings with improved resistance to stains and corrosion.
The dispersion stability of pigment particles in the paint formulation affects the hiding efficiency of the consequent film. Pigment aggregates provide less hiding than isolated primary particles; therefore, it would be further advantageous to modify the surface of pigment particles to minimize pigment aggregation in films, thereby reducing the amount of pigment needed in the formulation.
It is known in the art to modify the surface of pigment particles with hydrophobic groups. In theory, hydrophobically modified pigment particles would be expected to improve barrier properties and more strongly associate with binder particles in a latex, thereby improving hiding. Nevertheless, in practice, formulators experience great difficulty in dispersing hydrophobically modified pigment particles in water because of their poor wettability. Accordingly, it would be an advance in the art of pigmented water-borne coatings formulations to discover a hydrophobically modified pigment that are readily dispersible in water.

Aqueous dispersion of hydrophobically modified pigment particles

The Regents of the University of California


A developing method for forming a resist film having a high uniformity of CD distribution. After exposure of a resist film on a substrate surface to form a resist pattern, the method includes sequential steps of: (A) supplying a developer to the rotating substrate; (B) reacting the resist film with the developer; and (C) removing the developer from the surface of the resist film to terminate the reaction of the resist film with the developer. In step (A), a liquid-contact nozzle, having an ejection orifice for the developer and a lower surface extending laterally from the ejection orifice and disposed opposite the resist film, is used. In step (C), the boundary between a reaction-terminated area of the surface of the resist film, and an in-progress reaction area of the surface of the resist film, is moved from the center toward the periphery of the resist film.

Forming a three-dimensional pattern on a substrate (e.g. a semiconductor wafer) by using a photolithography technique is widely practiced these days in performing fine processing of the substrate. For example, a process for forming a resist pattern on a semiconductor wafer comprises forming a resist film on a surface of the semiconductor wafer, exposing the resist film along a predetermined pattern, and developing the resist film after exposure by reacting it with a developer.
A variety of developing techniques have heretofore been developed. For example, patent document 1 discloses a developing method which involves forming a puddle of a developer on a stationary substrate. A long nozzle having an ejection orifice(s) is used for the formation of the puddle: the developer is applied onto the entire surface of the resist film on the substrate by ejecting the developer from the ejection orifice(s) while moving the nozzle from one end to the opposite end of the substrate. For convenience sake, such a developing method is herein referred to as a "stationary developing method".
Patent document 2 discloses a developing method in which a developer is supplied onto a rotating substrate. The developer is ejected toward the substrate from an ejection orifice of a nozzle while moving the nozzle in the radial direction of the substrate. A liquid film of the developer is formed on a resist film by the action of centrifugal force due to the rotation of the substrate and by the movement of the developer supply position. For convenience sake, such a developing method, in which a developer is supplied onto a rotating substrate, is herein referred to as a "rotary developing method". Patent document 3 discloses an exemplary developing method which is classified as a rotary developing method. In particular, the method of patent document 3 uses a nozzle having a lower-end surface and disposed such that the lower-end surfaces faces an area of a wafer, the area including the axis of rotation of the wafer. A liquid is supplied from the nozzle onto the rotating wafer while the gap between the wafer and the lower-end surface of the nozzle is kept filled with the liquid. The liquid spreads outwardly on the wafer due to centrifugal force.

Developing method, developing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium


The present invention relates to the delivery of anti-migraine compounds through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride that are used in inhalation therapy. In a composition aspect of the present invention, the aerosol comprises particles comprising at least 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride. In a method aspect of the present invention, one of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride is delivered to a mammal through an inhalation route. The method comprises: a) heating a composition, wherein the composition comprises at least 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride, to form a vapor; and, b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming a condensation aerosol comprising particles, which is inhaled by the mammal. In a kit aspect of the present invention, a kit for delivering lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride through an inhalation route to a mammal is provided which comprises: a) a composition comprising at least 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride; and, b) a device that forms a lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride containing aerosol from the composition, for inhalation by the mammal.

The present invention relates to the delivery of anti-migraine compounds through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride that are used in inhalation therapy.
There are a number of compositions currently marketed for the treatment of migraine headaches. The compositions contain at least one active ingredient that provides for observed therapeutic effects. Among the active ingredients given in such anti-migraine compositions are lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, and lisuride.
It is desirable to provide a new route of administration for lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, and lisuride that rapidly produces peak plasma concentrations of the compounds. The provision of such a route is an object of the present invention.
The present invention relates to the delivery of anti-migraine compounds through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride that are used in inhalation therapy.
In a composition aspect of the present invention, the aerosol comprises particles comprising at least 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride. Preferably, the particles comprise at least 10 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride. More preferably, the particles comprise at least 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent, 95 percent, 97 percent, 99 percent, 99.5 percent or 99.97 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride.
Typically, the aerosol has a mass of at least 10 xcexcg. Preferably, the aerosol has a mass of at least 100 xcexcg. More preferably, the aerosol has a mass of at least 200 xcexcg.
Typically, the particles comprise less than 10 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride degradation products. Preferably, the particles comprise less than 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride degradation products. More preferably, the particles comprise less than 2.5, 1, 0.5, 0.1 or 0.03 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride.
Typically, the particles comprise less than 90 percent by weight of water. Preferably, the particles comprise less than 80 percent by weight of water. More preferably, the particles comprise less than 70 percent, 60 percent, 50 percent, 40 percent, 30 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent, or 5 percent by weight of water.
Typically, at least 50 percent by weight of the aerosol is amorphous in form, wherein crystalline forms make up less than 50 percent by weight of the total aerosol weight, regardless of the nature of individual particles. Preferably, at least 75 percent by weight of the aerosol is amorphous in form. More preferably, at least 90 percent by weight of the aerosol is amorphous in form.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises lidocaine, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 5 mg/L and 100 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 10 mg/L and 60 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises verapamil, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 0.5 mg/L and 50 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 1 mg/L and 20 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 2 mg/L and 10 mg/L.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises diltiazem, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 2 mg/L and 50 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 5 mg/L and 45 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 10 mg/L and 40 mg/L.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises isometheptene, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 5 mg/L and 200 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 10 mg/L and 120 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 20 mg/L and 100 mg/L.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises lisuride, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 0.01 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 0.05 mg/L and 0.7 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 0.1 mg/L and 0.5 mg/L.
Typically, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol particle density greater than 106 particles/mL. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol particle density greater than 107 particles/mL or 108 particles/mL.
Typically, the aerosol particles have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of less than 5 microns. Preferably, the particles have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of less than 3 microns. More preferably, the particles have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of less than 2 or 1 micron(s).
Typically, the geometric standard deviation around the mass median aerodynamic diameter of the aerosol particles is less than 3.0. Preferably, the geometric standard deviation is less than 2.5. More preferably, the geometric standard deviation is less than 2.2.
Typically, the aerosol is formed by heating a composition containing lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride to form a vapor and subsequently allowing the vapor to condense into an aerosol.
In a method aspect of the present invention, one of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride is delivered to a mammal through an inhalation route. The method comprises: a) heating a composition, wherein the composition comprises at least 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride, to form a vapor; and, b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming a condensation aerosol comprising particles, which is inhaled by the mammal. Preferably, the composition that is heated comprises at least 10 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride. More preferably, the composition comprises at least 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent, 95 percent, 97 percent, 99 percent, 99.5 percent, 99.9 percent or 99.97 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride.
Typically, the particles comprise at least 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride. Preferably, the particles comprise at least 10 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride. More preferably, the particles comprise at least 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent, 95 percent, 97 percent, 99 percent, 99.5 percent, 99.9 percent or 99.97 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride.
Typically, the condensation aerosol has a mass of at least 10 xcexcg. Preferably, the aerosol has a mass of at least 100 xcexcg. More preferably, the aerosol has a mass of at least 200 xcexcg.
Typically, the particles comprise less than 10 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride degradation products. Preferably, the particles comprise less than 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride degradation products. More preferably, the particles comprise 2.5, 1, 0.5, 0.1 or 0.03 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride degradation products.
Typically, the particles comprise less than 90 percent by weight of water. Preferably, the particles comprise less than 80 percent by weight of water. More preferably, the particles comprise less than 70 percent, 60 percent, 50 percent, 40 percent, 30 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent, or 5 percent by weight of water.
Typically, at least 50 percent by weight of the aerosol is amorphous in form, wherein crystalline forms make up less than 50 percent by weight of the total aerosol weight, regardless of the nature of individual particles. Preferably, at least 75 percent by weight of the aerosol is amorphous in form. More preferably, at least 90 percent by weight of the aerosol is amorphous in form.
Typically, the particles of the delivered condensation aerosol have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of less than 5 microns. Preferably, the particles have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of less than 3 microns. More preferably, the particles have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of less than 2 or 1 micron(s).
Typically, the geometric standard deviation around the mass median aerodynamic diameter of the aerosol particles is less than 3.0. Preferably, the geometric standard deviation is less than 2.5. More preferably, the geometric standard deviation is less than 2.2.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises lidocaine, the delivered aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 5 mg/L and 100 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 10 mg/L and 60 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises verapamil, the delivered aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 0.5 mg/L and 50 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 1.0 mg/L and 20 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 2 mg/L and 10 mg/L.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises diltiazem, the delivered aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 2 mg/L and 50 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 5 mg/L and 45 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 10 mg/L and 40 mg/L.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises isometheptene, the delivered aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 5 mg/L and 200 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 10 mg/L and 120 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 20 mg/L and 100 mg/L.
Typically, where the aerosol comprises lisuride, the delivered aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 0.01 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 0.05 mg/L and 0.7 mg/L. More preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol drug mass density of between 0.1 mg/L and 0.5 mg/L.
Typically, the delivered aerosol has an inhalable aerosol particle density greater than 106 particles/mL. Preferably, the aerosol has an inhalable aerosol particle density greater than 107 particles/ML or 108 particles/mL.
Typically, the rate of inhalable aerosol particle formation of the delivered condensation aerosol is greater than 108 particles per second. Preferably, the aerosol is formed at a rate greater than 109 inhalable particles per second. More preferably, the aerosol is formed at a rate greater than 1010 inhalable particles per second.
Typically, the delivered condensation aerosol is formed at a rate greater than 0.5 mg/second. Preferably, the aerosol is formed at a rate greater than 0.75 mg/second. More preferably, the aerosol is formed at a rate greater than 1 mg/second, 1.5 mg/second or 2 mg/second.
Typically, where the condensation aerosol comprises lidocaine, between 5 mg and 100 mg of lidocaine are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. Preferably, between 10 mg and 60 mg of lidocaine are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. More preferably, between 20 mg and 40 mg of lidocaine are delivered in a single inspiration.
Typically, where the condensation aerosol comprises verapamil, between 0.5 mg and 50 mg of verapamil are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. Preferably, between 1.0 mg and 20 mg of verapamil are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. More preferably, between 2.0 mg and 10 mg of verapamil are delivered in a single inspiration.
Typically, where the condensation aerosol comprises diltiazem, between 2.0 mg and 50 mg of diltiazem are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. Preferably, between 5 mg and 45 mg of diltiazem are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. More preferably, between 10 mg and 40 mg of diltiazem are delivered in a single inspiration.
Typically, where the condensation aerosol comprises isometheptene, between 5 mg and 200 mg of isometheptene are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. Preferably, between 10 mg and 120 mg of isometheptene are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. More preferably, between 20 mg and 100 mg of isometheptene are delivered in a single inspiration.
Typically, where the condensation aerosol comprises lisuride, between 0.1 mg and 1.0 mg of lisuride are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. Preferably, between 0.05 mg and 0.7 mg of lisuride are delivered to the mammal in a single inspiration. More preferably, between 0.1 mg and 0.5 mg of lisuride are delivered in a single inspiration.
Typically, the delivered condensation aerosol results in a peak plasma concentration of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride in the mammal in less than 1 h. Preferably, the peak plasma concentration is reached in less than 0.5 h. More preferably, the peak plasma concentration is reached in less than 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.02, 0.01, or 0.005 h (arterial measurement).
In a kit aspect of the present invention, a kit for delivering lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride through an inhalation route to a mammal is provided which comprises: a) a composition comprising at least 5 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride; and, b) a device that forms a lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride aerosol from the composition, for inhalation by the mammal. Preferably, the composition comprises at least 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent, 95 percent, 97 percent, 99 percent, 99.5 percent, 99.9 percent or 99.97 percent by weight of lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride.
Typically, the device contained in the kit comprises: a) an element for heating the lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, isometheptene, or lisuride composition to form a vapor; b) an element allowing the vapor to cool to form an aerosol; and, c) an element permitting the mammal to inhale the aerosol.

Delivery of anti-migraine compounds through an inhalation route


A behavioral modification system including an apparatus and a method of use thereof. The behavioral modification system further includes a locket and a plurality of milestone elements that are operable to be releasably secured to the locket. The locket further includes a central processing unit and an electromagnet disposed therein. A timing chip is circumferentially mounted to the plurality of milestone elements and is operably coupled with the central processing unit. A reward element is further included wherein the reward element is operable to provide access to the interior volume of the locket. The milestone elements and the reward elements are formed in the shape of keys and function to provide physical representations of achieved goals directed toward a behavior change.

Human behavior is a range of traits, characteristics and reactions that are exhibited by humans wherein the behaviors are influenced by factors such as but not limited to culture, emotions, values and attitudes. Depending upon the social parameters behavior typically falls either within or outside of socially acceptable parameters. Human behavior is experienced in different stages throughout a lifetime and different behavioral traits are exhibited at different stages throughout an individuals development.
Once an individual has reached adulthood behavioral traits are typically engrained. Some of the traits or patterns can lead to negative consequences such as but not limited substance abuse or weight gain. Negative behavioral traits influence the behavioral symptoms such as the aforementioned and can lead to many types of problems within the individual's life that ultimately affects their relationships, self-esteem and many other parameters of their lives. Individuals will routinely attempt to correct a behavioral trait that is resulting in an undesirable symptom such as but not limited to weight gain. Conventional methods of behavioral modification include counseling and/or group therapy wherein the individual will work with a professional to diagnose the root cause of the behavior and attempt to assist the individual in directing a change in that behavior so as to produce a desired outcome.
One issue with conventional counseling or group therapy is the lack of a reward element or visual reminder of an achieved goal or objective. During conventional counseling or group therapy providing motivation of the individual and acknowledgement of their accomplished tasks or objectives provide a greater probability of success. A basic desire for humans is to receive a reward or some sort of gratification for achieving an objective or milestone during their process of altering a behavior to achieve a desired result. While counseling and/or group therapy has proven to be effective offering a reward element that provided visual signals of milestone accomplishments and further providing an achievement reward objective would significantly improve desired behavioral modification and drive results.

Behavior modification apparatus and method of use


A reliable, repeatable, well-characterized, safe technique for testing the mounting integrity of heat sinks adhered to semiconductor packages is disclosed. Generally, a semiconductor package is secured in a tensiometer, the heat sink is clamped and secured to the spindle of the tensiometer, and a stud-pull type test is conducted.

In order to handle and connect a semiconductor die (integrated circuit device) to external systems, it is generally necessary to package the die. This usually involves mounting the die to some sort of substrate, leadframe or carrier, connecting bond pads on the die to some sort of conductive lines or traces and forming a package body around the die. The conductive lines or traces exit the package body, and usually terminate in external leads or pins.
For example, ceramic packages have a package body with a central opening (cavity) in one face for receiving the die, and lead fingers embedded in the body and extending into the opening. The die is connected (usually wire bonded) to the exposed (in the opening) portions of the lead fingers. The lead fingers are connected (internally in the package) to pins exiting a planar surface of the package. These pins are typically arranged in a rectangular (e.g., square) array ("pin grid array"). In some instances, the die-receiving cavity is "up", on one face of the package body, and the pins are on the other, opposite face of the package body. In other instances, the die-receiving cavity is "down", on the same face of the package as the pins (in which case there are no pins in the area of the cavity). (The pins are deemed to be on the "bottom" of the ceramic body.)
Heat is inevitably generated during operation of a semiconductor device, and may become destructive of the device if left unabated. Therefore, it is generally well known to provide some sort of heat sink for such devices. Generally, heat sinks take one of two forms. They may be integral with the device package or they may be external to the device package. In either case, heat sinks generally include a thermal mass in intimate heat conductive relationship to the semiconductor device, and may involve air convection or forced air cooling of the thermal mass.
External heat sinks are mounted in some manner, such as with an adhesive (e.g., silver epoxy), to the semiconductor package which may be provided with thermal slugs and the like to ensure that heat is transferred from the semiconductor die (device) to the heat sink. Evidently, if the heat sink were to become un-adhered, and fall off of the package, during subsequent operation of the device, the device would be likely to become overheated and fail. This is entirely unacceptable.
Hence, it is known to test the integrity of the heat sink mount, to ensure that the heat sink remains securely mounted to the semiconductor package throughout the useful lifetime of the semiconductor device.
FIG. 1A shows a typical, cavity-down, ceramic, pin grid array semiconductor package 100, with an external heat sink adhered thereto. A semiconductor die (not visible) is contained within a ceramic package body 102. Pins 104 extend from the bottom 102b of the body. A cavity (not visible) is provided on the bottom of the body for receiving the die. The top surface 102a of the package body is essentially a flat planar surface. Thermal plugs 106 may be provided extending into the package body from the top surface to a die attach pad (not visible) within the package body to which the die is mounted, to ensure a good thermal path from the die to the top (exterior) surface of the package body. More particularly, there is a "heat sink receiving" area 108 (shown as dashed lines) defined on the top surface of the package, and the thermal plugs (if any) would be located within this area. The heat sink receiving area is flush with the top surface of the package, and is intended to receive a heat sink.
An external heat sink 110 is provided (shown spaced apart from the package body, and in cross-section). The heat sink is typically a generally cylindrical structure, having a number of disc-like radially-extending fins 112 spaced along its axis, and a flat bottom surface 110b. Notably, there is a gap (space) 114 between adjacent fins 112. An adhesive (not shown) is provided between the flat bottom surface 110b of the heat sink and the heat sink receiving area of the package body. The heat sink is assembled to the area 108 of the package with the adhesive. The type and amount of adhesive, curing techniques, and the like, are critical process parameters affecting the ultimate structural integrity of the heat sink mount.
FIG. 1B shows another type of semiconductor package 100', such as a plastic package, wherein the top surface 120a of the package body 120 is provided with a thermally-conductive slug 126 extending above the top surface 120a and defining the heat sink receiving area (compare 108). A heat sink, such as the heat sink 110 would be adhered to the top surface 126a of the slug 126.
FIG. 2A illustrates a prior art technique 200 for testing the mounting integrity of a heat sink, such as the heat sink 110 of FIG. 1A. (The technique is equally applicable to the packages of FIGS. 1A and 1B.) A "generic" package body 202 has a heat sink 210 mounted by a thin layer of adhesive 216 to the top surface of the package body. (Pins, and the like, are omitted from the view for illustrative clarity.) The heat sink 210 is placed in a recessed fixture (not shown), and a shear force indicated by an arrow 220 is applied to the package body along an axis 222. This may be done manually by an operator, with a torque wrench adapted to grasp the package body and apply a shearing force between the heat sink and the package body. This method has proven to be manually difficult to perform, to yield inconsistent and un-precise results, and can present a danger to the operator. (When the adhesive bond between the heat sink and the package body fails, there is a sudden "release" of components in close proximity to the operator.) Moreover, this method is only suitable for use with relatively large heat sinks.
FIG. 2B illustrates another technique 200' for testing the mounting integrity of a heat sink on a semiconductor package. In this case, the package body is held by hand, and the tip 232 of a torque wrench 230, is inserted by the operator between the heat sink and the package. The operator manually applies a force, indicated by the arrow 220', sufficient to separate the heat sink from the body (or vice-versa). This suffers from many of the disadvantages of the torque wrench method 200. Also this method is only useful for one type of heat sink.
What is needed is a reliable, safe, quantifiable technique for characterizing the mounting integrity of the adhesive bond between a heat sink and a semiconductor package body.

Fixture for testing mounting integrity of heat sinks on semiconductor packages, and method of testing


A virtual storage management method that can increase the overall processing speed while preventing a processor from being overloaded. A request for acquisition of a memory area in a primary storage device is received from a process executed by a processor. It is determined whether or not the process that has made the acquisition request is a utility process executable in cooperation with another process. Control is provided so as to restrict swap-out of the utility process when it is determined that the process that has made the received acquisition request is a utility process executable in cooperation with another process, and a process cooperating with the utility process executed by the processor is a preferred process of which swap-out is restricted, and a processor utilization of the preferred process is greater than a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a virtual storage management method that virtually store processes using a primary storage device and a secondary storage device in the information processing apparatus, as well as a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known a virtual storage management method that uses a virtual storage system and controls swap of memory areas in multifunction peripherals such as an image processing apparatus having a variety of functions such as copying, printing, and faxing, and information processing apparatuses such as a computer system.
In the method using the virtual storage system, a memory area not less than the memory capacity of real memory in a primary storage device can be managed using a secondary storage device. In the case where a memory area not less than the memory capacity of real memory is used, swap processing is carried out in which contents of the memory area are temporarily saved (swapped out) in a storage area of, for example, an HDD (hard disk drive) as the secondary storage device.
At a time of execution of a process, when the memory area from which the process has been swapped out is to be used again, the process is transferred again from a storage area of the secondary storage device to a memory area of the real memory. Thus, for a process using the memory area from which the process has been swapped out, the start of an operation delays due to transfer overhead.
There has been known a technique to preferentially subject a memory area for a process that has already been swapped out partially to swap-out so that throughput of an apparatus as a whole can be enhanced (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-227188).
Incidentally, the function of excluding a specific memory area from swap-out is adopted in general-purpose operating systems such as Linux (registered trademark). Even in a system having a small amount of memory, by inhibiting swap-out of a memory area used by a process required to be preferentially executed, guaranteed operation of an emergent process and preferred execution of an important function can be realized.
In information processing apparatuses such as a digital multifunction peripheral, the number of programs (processes) installed has been increasing because the variety of functions has been increasing year after year. Such a device configuration as to reserve a large amount of memory area that does not require swap even when all the processes are concurrently executed is not realistic from the viewpoint of costs. Thus, it is necessary to swap out the contents in memory areas used by any process.
By inhibiting swap-out of processes executed frequently so that they can be preferentially executed, the throughput of the system as a whole can be enhanced.
Here, "memory priorities" that are degrees to which processes are not subjected to swap-out (degrees to which processes are preferentially remained in real memory) are given depending on types of processes. Specifically, attributes are sorted into normal processes and preferred processes that are more preferentially executed as compared with normal processes and not subjected to swap-out. A process that may be executed in cooperation with another process is referred to as a utility process. Among utility processes, the memory priorities of those which are executable in cooperation with either normal processes or preferred processes cannot be determined across the board.
Specifically, if memory priorities of utility processes are excessively lowered across the board, portions of their related preferred processes which cooperate with the utility processes are swapped out in many cases. For this reason, swap processing occurs frequently, which slows execution of the preferred processes.
On the other hand, if priorities of utility processes are excessively raised across the board, portions of their related normal processes which cooperate with the utility processes are remained in real memory in many cases. For this reason, the priorities of normal processes needlessly rise.
There is a limit on the number of processes that can be executable by a CPU (processor) per unit time, and hence when an attempt is made to preferentially execute a multitude of processes, the number of processes desired to be preferentially executed exceeds the limited number of executable processes. Namely, the CPU is overloaded, and so-called exhaustion of CPU resources occurs. When exhaustion of CPU resources occurs, waiting times for processing and so on are prolonged, which slows processing in the system as a whole, and will eventually slow execution of processes that should be truly preferred.
As described above, merely by determining priorities of utility processes across the board, the overall processing speed of the system may decrease depending on the situation.

Information processing apparatus and virtual storage management method, and storage medium for restriction on process swapping based on process attributes and processor utilization


A thyristor device comprising an SI (Static induction) thyristor or beam base thyristor and an SIT (static induction transistor) or SIT-mode bipolar transistor connected to the gate of the thyristor in order to make it possible to turn-on and-off a direct current and voltage at a high speed with a light. In the thyristor part, the SIT gate structure or SIT-mode beam base structure exists in the first gate or base region or second gate or base region so that, at the time of the triggering operation, a very high switching efficiency will be obtained.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a light quenchable thyristor device which can be utilized in a device for converting a direct current or voltage of a large electric power to an alternating current or voltage.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
It is already well known that a thyristor device can be driven by light and is extensively practiced in the name of an LASCR or a Light Activated Thyristor. It is generally said that, in a large electric power converting device which uses a thyristor, the perfect separation of the large electric power part and control circuit from each other is realized by making the thyristor operatable from a light trigger. FIG. 1 shows the structure of the light triggering part of a thyristor having a conventional pnpn structure. The n.sup.+ region 1 represents a cathode, p region 2 represents a first base, n region 3 represents a second base) the p.sup.+ region 4 represents an anode, 6 represents an anode electrode and 9 represents a cathode electrode. The n.sup.30 region 7 represents cathode region of an auxiliary thyristor and is formed to be shallow in a part in order to increase the number of pairs of electrons and positive holes generated by the light triggering pulse passing through the light fiber cable 8 so that the light permeability may be improved. The electrode 5 is an electrode for short-circuiting the n.sup.+ cathode 7 and first base layer 2 with each other. The electrode 9 also short-circuits the n.sup.30 cathode 1 and first base layer 2 with each other in a part not shown in the drawing. Both of the n.sup.+ region 7 receiving the irradiation of the light triggering pulse and n.sup.+ region 1 are cathode regions of the thyristor shown in FIG. 1. It is shown in this thyristor that the cathodes 7 and 1 are short-circuited with the first base 2. By thus short-circuiting the n.sup.+ cathode regions 7 and 1 with the first base layer 2, the surface potentials of the n.sup.+ cathode regions 7 and 1 and of the p base region 2 are kept the same. The light triggering operation shall be explained in the following.
By the base resistance voltage drop until the carriers generated by the light flow through the base layer 2 and reach the base electrode 5 or 9, a potential distribution is produced within the base layer 2. The part through which the electrons of the cathodes 7 are most likely to flow is the base layer part just below the n.sup.+ cathode region 7. The electrons slightly flowing out of the n.sup.+ cathode region 7 flow out also to the anode 4 side together with the recombination within the base 2 and run through the n region 3 to be accumulated near the np(.sup.+) junction between it (3) and the anode p(.sup.+) region 4. Thereby, positive holes are injected into the n region 3 from the anode p(.sup.+) region 4 and the electrons flow mostly through the first base layer 2 and reach the base electrode 5 or 9. Thereby, the base resistance voltage drop within the base layer 2 is further produced and further more electrons flow out of the n.sup.+ cathode region 7 receiving the light irradiation and further the n.sup.+ cathode region 1 not receiving the light irradiation until the thyristor is turned-on. A constant resistance is inserted between the n.sup.+ region 7 and base layer 2 so as to compensate any misoperation produced at the time of triggering the light in the thyristor but, in the operation of the conventional type light triggering thyristor, utilizing the base resistance drop within the first base layer 2 is a fundamental operation. However, in turning-off, the voltage of the anode and cathode is reversed by using an electrically commuting circuit or a structure of turning-off the gate wherein parts for electrically turning-off the gate are integrated on the same chip is generally utilized.
On the other hand, the light triggering operation of a static induction thyristor (SIThy) different in the operation principle from the above described thyristor by the base resistance control and turning-on and -off by controlling the potential barrier within the channel by the static induction effect has been already suggested by the present inventor and is disclosed in Japanese patent applications Nos. 95585/1976 (laid-open No. 20885/1978) and 150300/1982 (laid-open No. 40576/1984). A method wherein a gate circuit including a photosensitive element is inserted between the first gate and cathode of the conventional static induction thyristor and the static induction thyristor is turned-off by the light irradiation to this photosensitive element has been also already suggested and is disclosed in Japanese patent application No. 36079/1979 and laid open No. 128870/1980. As compared with the thyristor of the conventional type pnpn structure shown in FIG. 1, the static induction thyristor has features that, as the potential barrier control within the channel is utilized, the frequency is not limited by the base resistance, the speed can be easily made high and the area can be made large and, as the carriers run at a high speed through the high resistance channel region, even the forward voltage drop is so small as to be less than 1.6 V at the current density of 10.sup.3 A/cm.sup.2 and further has an operation of sucking out at a high speed the carriers within the channel to the gate electrode by the drifting electric field existing between the gate and channel at the time of turning-off and therefore high speed turning-off is possible.
The already practiced or suggested matters regarding the light triggering or light quenching operation shall be summarized as follows. In the conventional type pnpn structure thyristor or gate turn-off thyristor, the light triggering operation is carried out as explained in FIG. 1 but the light quenching operation by the gate is not carried out. Generally, turning-off is electrically made by commutative circuit inserted between the anode and cathode. Regarding the static induction thyristor, only with respect to a single gate structure, the light triggering is disclosed in the above described Japanese patent application Nos. 95585/1976 and 150300/1982 and the light quenching is disclosed in the above described Japanese patent application No. 36079/1979.
However, in the embodiment disclosed in the Japanese patent application No. 36079/1979, the light pulse driving the single-gate type SI thyristor is not irradiated directly on the thyristor but is irradiated on the photosensitive element in the external circuit connected to the gate and the quenching light pulse drives the external circuit. That is to say, the impedance of the photosensitive element of the external circuit is varied with the light pulse and thereby the current source voltage applied to the gate of the SI thyristor is varied to be strong or weak to thereby trigger or quench the light in the SI thyristor. On the other hand, there is also a method wherein, in the conventional type pnpn structure thyristor, a pin photodiode as a kind of commutative circuit is connected between the anode and cathode and the light triggering operation is carried out by irradiating the triggering light directly on the thyristor as in FIG. 1 and the light quenching operation is carried out by irradiating the quenching light on the pin photodiode connected between the anode and cathode. This method is published by P. Roggwiler et al in the International Electron Devices Meeting, 1980 on p. 646. However, in this method, the area of the light quenching photodiode must be made so large as to make the anode current flow, the speed is comparatively slow and the efficiency is also low.
In the conventional type pnpn structure thyristor or the gate turn-off thyristor, the reason why the light quenching operation by the optical gate turn-off process is not made is thought to be because the time constant of turning-off becomes long due to the base resistance within the first base layer but is due to the great defect that, as the carriers accumulated in the junction part of the second base layer 3 and anode region 4 are vanished by their flow out into the anode region 4 or their recombination with the positive holes injected from the anode region 4, the time constant of turning-off becomes long. This is the same also in the light quenching operation of the static induction thyristor of a single gate structure. Further, the presence of a base resistance within the first base layer in the thyristor of the conventional type pnpn structure substantially reduces the sensitivity to the light. In the case of the light triggering and quenching operation by connecting the external circuit which includes the light sensitive element between the first base 2 and cathodes 7 and 1 and controlling the impedance of the external circuit with the light, the internal impedance of the thyristor represented by the base resistance becomes a factor of remarkably reducing the efficiency of the light triggering and quenching operation. Therefore, it is thought that, for the reason that the gate resistance is very small, the static induction thyristor is better in the light triggering and quenching sensitivity. It has not been industrially practiced to turn-on or -off the direct current with only the light. In order to perfectly separate the high power and control circuits from each other with the light, the direct current must be turned-off with the light. In the conventional type pnpn structure thyristor or the gate turn-off thyristor, the current is electrically turned-off using the commutative circuits and, in the single gate type static induction thyristor, too, the time constant of turning-off is determined by the time constant of vanishing the carriers accumulated between the second base and anode the same as in the light quenching operation. The time constant of turning-off of the light triggered thyristor of the conventional pnpn structure is comparatively so long as to be several hundred .mu. sec.


Transmission method and arrangement for distributing tractive force in a vehicle between a first transmission branch (28a) and a second transmission branch (30). The transmission branches are connected to one another by way of a fork (28b) and one transmission branch (28a) is directly connectable to at least one wheel contact surface. The second transmission branch (30) is connected to the fork (28b) by way of a control unit (19), which is provided with control means (27) for varying the transmission ratio in this branch (30). The invention furthermore relates to a vehicle having at least two driving wheels (16, 16b, 17, 17b, 18, 18b) and the transmission arrangement specified above.

A fundamental problem in all vehicles with drive to multiple wheel contact surfaces is how the driving force is distributed. It is desirable to control the speed of the wheels so that the wheel slip in the longitudinal direction is the same at all wheel contact surfaces, since excessive wheel slip at individual wheel contact surfaces is thereby prevented. The wheel slip is the scaled difference between the speed of the wheel at the wheel contact surface and speed of the ground at the same point. Low tractive force at contact surfaces with low friction is automatically compensated for by increased tractive force at contact surfaces with high friction.
Given similar ground conditions, the coefficients of friction utilized will be approximately the same regardless of the prevailing vertical load at each wheel contact surface. This means that the tractive force is automatically distributed in proportion to the vertical load, which gives optimum efficiency in transmitting force to the ground.
One easy way of producing the desired equality in longitudinal slip is to mechanically connect the driving of all wheel contact surfaces in the driveline. Problems arise, however, when cornering. In this context the ground will move at different speeds at the various wheel contact surfaces. The ground under the outer wheels moves at a higher speed than the corresponding inner wheels since the outer wheels have a greater distance to cover in the same time as the inner wheels.
For the same reason, the ground under the front wheels generally moves at a higher speed than under the rear wheels. In certain articulated vehicles, such as loaders, the drive to the front and rear axle is mechanically linked. The aim is to eliminate the problem of different speeds under the two axles by placing the steering joint midway between the front and rear axle, which when driving with a constant radius of curvature gives the same ground speed under both axles. The rotational speeds are the same due to the mechanically linked drive. With superelevation of the stationary vehicle, however, which is a common working situation for loaders, the two axles will be drawn closer to one another which means that the ground under each axle moves in opposite directions. This results in slipping at the wheel contact surfaces and loads in the driveline that will reduce its service life. There is obviously also the outstanding inner/outer wheel problem.
In the majority of vehicles, such as four-wheel drive cars, trucks with 4.times.4 and 6.times.6 drive and articulated transport vehicles, the vehicle concepts are such that it is impossible to alleviate the front/rear axle problem through suitable location of the steering joint.
The problem of also distributing the tractive force when cornering is conventionally solved by dividing the torque in a specific ratio by means of a differential. The rotational speed is then controlled by the speed of the ground at the various contact surfaces and by the wheel slip. The fact that wheel slip is not controllable, however, is something of a disadvantage. If the product of the vertical load and the ground friction does not correspond to the torque ratio in the differential, the wheel slip may increase uncontrollably, the wheels slip and the total tractive force transmitted is limited by the slipping wheel contact surface.
The difficulty of the uncontrolled wheel slip is usually alleviated by various measures for braking the wheel slip, for example by using so-called differential locks. A dog clutch which mechanically locks the differential is the oldest and still perhaps the most common solution. The disadvantage is that the speed differential when cornering manifests itself as wheel slip at the actual wheel contact surfaces. This produces great torque loads, which shortens driveline service lives, increases losses and results in heavy tire wear.
Another solution aimed at limiting the slip in the case of differentials is to use the service brake to increase torque at the slipping wheel contact surface and thereby control the slip. The difference in rotational speed in braking corresponds to the vehicle speed, which can result in certain losses.
If the brake torque is instead applied inside the rotating differential, the difference in rotational speed will correspond to the difference in the curve radius and thereby give rise to smaller losses than in the solution using the service brake. In straight-line driving no losses are sustained since the difference in rotational speed is zero. Various solutions are adopted for solving the problem of controlling the brake torque via the differential. One common solution is based on the fact that the brake torque increases in proportion to the transmitted drive torque, through discs or friction in the gear system. Such solutions will result in braking when cornering, even in the current absence of slipping at a wheel contact surface. This results in losses and wear.
It is usual, especially on passenger cars with 4WD, for the main drive to occur on one axle, the second axle contributing to the drive in the event of a rotational speed difference between the axles. So-called viscous couplings are an example of this type of solution, the torque on the second axle increasing when the difference in rotational speed increases. In another similar solution, the difference in rotational speed builds up a cumulative hydraulic pressure, which actuates a multiple disc clutch, which transmits drive torque to the second axle. If the drive axle slips, a difference in rotational speed is created, which transmits torque to the second axle. This is all very well if the vehicle is running in a straight line. When cornering, a difference in rotational speed occurs between front and rear axles because the front axle travels a greater distance than does the rear axle in the same time period. The coupling between front and rear axle cannot differentiate whether the difference in speed is the result of slipping wheels or of cornering. A load is therefore produced, by way of the driveline coupling, between the front and rear axle. This manifests itself as slipping in opposite directions at the wheel contact surfaces of the two axles, which gives rise to forces, braking forces on the front axle and driving forces on the rear axle. Drive torque forces add to this, which can lead to the rear axle slipping away when cornering, the driver being unable to anticipate such behavior. This is obviously a safety risk.
This is accentuated by the tires used on passenger cars nowadays, which are designed to provide high "cornering stiffness;" that is to say, high lateral force absorption at a small angle of drift. This also results in high longitudinal force absorption in the event of slight wheel slip, which means that high longitudinal force is attained even in the event of moderate wheel slip. However, the capacity to withstand lateral force falls rapidly with increased longitudinal force so that the conditions for uncontrolled skidding are soon reached.

Transmission arrangement, use of said transmission arrangement and a vehicle provided with said transmission arrangement


A superabsorbent polymer which has excellent initial absorbency and keeps water from flowing out under load even after the passage of a long period of time is provided, in which centrifuge retention capacity (CRC), absorbency under load (AUL), gel bed permeability (GBP), and absorption rate under load of the superabsorbent polymer are optimized within a predetermined range at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to improve physical properties of a final diaper product and to produce a diaper to which an ultra-thin technology is applied.

A superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is a type of synthetic polymeric material capable of absorbing moisture from 500 to 1000 times its own weight. Various manufacturers have denominated it as different names, such as SAM (Super Absorbency Material), AGM (Absorbent Gel Material), etc. Since such superabsorbent polymers started to be practically applied in sanitary products, now they have been widely used not only for hygiene products such as disposable diapers for children, etc., but also for water retaining soil products for gardening, water stop materials for civil engineering and construction, sheets for raising seedling, fresh-keeping agents for food distribution fields, materials for poultices, or the like.
As a preparation process for such superabsorbent polymers, a process performed by reverse phase suspension polymerization or a process performed by solution polymerization has been known. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. S56-161408, S57-158209, and S57-198714 disclose the reverse phase suspension polymerization.
The process performed by the solution polymerization further includes a thermal polymerization method in which a polymerization gel is polymerized while being broken and cooled in a kneader equipped with a plurality of shafts, and a photo-polymerization method in which an aqueous solution with a high concentration is irradiated with UV rays onto a belt to be polymerized and dried at the same time.
The water-containing gel polymers thus obtained through the polymerization reaction are generally marketed in a powdery form after drying and pulverization processes.
In the products made of superabsorbent polymers, permeability is an index of determining fluidity of a liquid to be absorbed. Permeability may differ depending on the properties such as particle size distribution of crosslinked polymers, particle shape, and the connectedness of open pores between particles, and surface modification of the swollen gel. Fluidity of the liquid passing through swollen particles differs depending on permeability of the superabsorbent polymer composition. A liquid cannot flow readily through a superabsorbent polymer composition with low permeability.
As one of the methods of increasing permeability of the superabsorbent polymer, there is a method of performing a surface crosslinking reaction after polymerization, in which silica or clay is added together with a surface crosslinking agent. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,140,076 and 4,734,478 disclose the addition of silica during surface crosslinking of dry superabsorbent polymer powders.
However, while permeability is improved by the addition of silica or clay, there are problems that water retention capacity or absorbency under load is reduced in proportion thereto, and separation from the superabsorbent polymer easily occurs by external physical impact during transport. Further, there has been no development of a superabsorbent polymer which shows a high absorption rate under load while maintaining liquid permeability, water retention capacity, and absorbency under load at a predetermined level or higher, thereby exhibiting a high absorption rate in practice when being applied to diapers, etc.


An outlet valve for a high pressure pump which is designed to alleviate "sticking" of the moveable valve element. An annular recess is formed at a transitional flow area where high pressure fluid flows forwardly and then radially outwardly between contact surfaces of the valve element and a valve seat member. It is believed this alleviates a problem of separated flow at the transition area which would effectively decrease the flow area and cause a localized pressure reduction which would delay proper opening of the valve element. Also, other configurations are shown for tripping the boundary layer to avoid separation, and other configurations to alleviate the same.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve, and more particularly to a valve adapted for use in a high pressure pump, such as a poppet valve to receive flow from a high pressure piston.
b. Background Art
High pressure pumps are utilized in a variety of applications. In such pumps a fluid is brought to pressures as high as 10,000 psi or even as high as 100,000 psi or greater. This pressurized fluid, (generally water) can then be discharged through a nozzle as a high velocity stream of water to accomplish functions such as cutting, abrading, etc. A common arrangement of such a high pressure pump is to have a plunger or piston which reciprocates in a cylinder on an intake stroke where the plunger retracts to draw water into the cylinder chamber, and a discharge stroke where the plunger acts against the water to discharge it at a very high pressure.
An outlet valve is positioned at the end of the cylinder to receive the flow of high pressure fluid. On the pressure stroke, the outlet valve opens to receive the flow of high pressure fluid, while on the return stroke of the plunger, the outlet valve closes to prevent the pressurized fluid from returning into the cylinder with water flowing into the cylinder through an inlet valve.
A typical valve used in this application is a poppet valve, where the valve element has a transversely extending contact surface which fits against a matching contact surface of the valve member to close the passageway leading from the high pressure chamber. A spring or other means is used to urge the valve element toward its closed position. On the pressure stroke of the plunger, the pressure in the cylinder chamber moves the valve element to its open position to permit the pressurized fluid to flow around the valve element to an accumulator or manifold to be utilized in some operation, such as forming a high velocity jet.
One of the problems associated with such poppet valves is that there is sometimes a delay in the proper opening of the valve, which is commonly described as "sticking" of the valve. Desirably, when the force resulting from pressure of the fluid within the cylinder chamber reaches a level just at or above the combined force of the pressure downstream of the poppet valve and of the biasing spring, the poppet valve should open so that there is a flow of fluid from the chamber to a down stream location without any substantial discontinuity in fluid pressure. However, if there is a delay in the proper opening of the valve, there can be a pressure spike where the pressure in the cylinder continues to rise to an undesirably high level. Even without such pressure surges, the fluid is pressurized to a very high level, thus imparting substantial loads on the components of the pump assembly. Thus, pressure surges above the desired level place rather severe stresses on the components of the pumping assembly.
Some of the prior art approaches for alleviating the problem of delay in opening of such poppet valves are based on the belief that the delay is caused by sealing over too large an area. To explain this further, if the area of the poppet element that is exposed to high pressure on the downstream side is greater than the area of the poppet element that is exposed directly to fluid pressure on the upstream side, it is assumed that the forces acting on the valve element will not balance until the pressure times the effective pressure area on the downstream side (plus the force of the biasing spring) is equal to the pressure times the effective pressure area on the upstream side. Thus, one prior art approach is to minimize this effect by roughening the contact surfaces to discourage full contact of the valve element with the short term solution since the contact forces tend to make the contact surfaces more smooth. Another prior art approach is to minimize the contact area between the valve element and the valve seat. However, this can undesirably increase the local load bearing forces (both static and impact) with a consequent increase in wear.

Poppet valve for a high pressure fluid pump


A plug for retaining a filter screen in a fluid port of a servovalve, the plug comprises an annular body. The annular body comprises opposed first and second axial annular end surfaces. A radially inner surface extends between the first and second axial annular end surfaces and a radially outer surface extends between the first and second axial annular end surfaces. At least one recess is formed in the radially inner surface for receiving a tool for removing the plug from the port. A plurality of slots is formed in the first axial annular end surface and extends into the at least one recess for providing access for the tool to the at least one recess.

Servovalves are used in a wide variety of aircraft control systems, for example in fuel and air management systems for operating engine fuel metering valves, active clearance control valves, bleed valves and so on. The operating medium of the servovalve will potentially be contaminated. Accordingly, servovalves are provided with filters. Such filters may include filter screens which are assembled in ports of the servovalve, for example in supply, control or return ports of the valve. These screens act to retain any particles which are large enough potentially to cause potential failure of the valve. For example in a flapper type servovalve, comprising two nozzles and a movable flapper element arranged between them, the total flapper operating total distance may be as small as about 0.2 mm. In such valves, the filter screen will typically act to filter out particles having a nominal size larger than 0.07 mm. Such filter screens can easily become blocked. This necessitates cleaning or removal and replacement of the filter screens. However, this may be difficult as the filter screen is typically retained by a press fitted plug. Removal of this plug is difficult and may cause damage to the servovalve body, requiring the servovalve itself then to require repair.


A computer workstation including a processor, one or more input/output units, such as disk devices or network interfaces, a program memory and a video memory which contains video information displayed on a video monitor. An arbitration circuit selects among the processor and input/output units for transfers to and from the program memory and video memory. A master control circuit controls timing of transfers to and from the program and video memories, and periodically enables video update transfers of video information from the video memory to video control circuits, which control the video monitor. While a video update is in progress, the master control circuit holds off other transfer request of the processor and input/output units with the memory. The program memory stores interrupt vectors. In response to interrupt requests from units which require interrupt service, the master control circuit interrupts the processor. When the processor acknowledges the interrupt, the master control circuit enables the transfer from the memory to the processor of the interrupt vector associated with the highest priority interrupt.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of digital data processing systems, or computer systems, and more specifically to computer workstations.
2. Background
Until recently, computer systems were large, expensive machines, generally too expensive to devote an entire computer system to one person. However, with the development of large and very large scale integrated circuit technology, which in turn provided the microprocessor, providing a computer system to one person has become cost effective. Personal computers and the more advanced computer workstations permit one person to have sole access to his or her computer for many kinds of activities, including word processing, accounting and financial planning, and computer aided design and engineering. In many cases, the personal computers and workstations are connected over a network to a larger minicomputer or mainframe which provides large scale data storage and data base management capabilities and manages such auxiliary equipment as printers and telecommunication interfaces. These arrangements permit sharing of information among users working on the personal computers and workstations. In addition, the larger computer may perform complex or lengthy arithmetic calculations, such as recalculating spreadsheets and processing of engineering simulations.
A computer workstation generally includes a processor, a memory, auxiliary storage such as disk storage, a keyboard for user data entry and a video display for displaying output to the user. In addition, if the workstation is to be used in a network, a network interface will also be included. The processor includes a microprocessor chip and may also include one or more auxiliary processor chips for processing special classes of instructions, most notably floating point instructions. The memory includes a read only portion (ROM) which generally includes the boot portion of the operating system, read/write random access memory (RAM) which is used for program instruction and data storage, including the remainder of the operating system, and a video RAM which stores data depicting the image to be displayed on the video monitor.
When the workstation is initially turned on, the processor initially operates in response to bootstrap instructions from the boot ROM, and enables the remainder of the operating system and other programs and program data to be loaded into the RAM from the disk storage devices. During subsequent program execution, the processor may write data to be displayed into the video RAM. The network interface is also connected to the RAM to enable data from the network to be loaded therein or data to be retrieved therefrom for transmission over the network. Circuits for controlling the video display read the data out of the video RAM and in response to the data generate video signals which are coupled to the video display. Based on the video signals, the video display generates an image for the user.
The processor, disk storage devices, network interface and video control circuits are all connected to write data to or retrieve data from one or more portions of the memory. (User input through the keyboard is typically handled as an interrupt serviced by the processor rather than as a direct transfer to memory.) All portions of the memory, that is, the boot ROM, the RAM and the video RAM typically occupy a single address space, that is, the addresses of the locations in the boot ROM, RAM and video RAM do not overlap. In addition, the disk storage devices and network interface typically include control and status registers which also occupy a portion of the same address space. Thus, if the processor, for example, wishes to perform a transfer with any storage location in the boot ROM, RAM, video RAM or any of the control and status registers in the disk devices or network interface, the address transmitted by the processor during the transfer completely identifies the location.
The video image displayed by the video display unit is in "real time", that is, the generation of the image cannot be delayed without disrupting the image as seen by the viewer. Accordingly, the video control circuitry must be able to retrieve data from the video RAM in a timely manner. However, access to the memory can be impeded by memory requests from the processor, disk devices or network interface. Typically, a workstation includes an arbitration mechanism which arbitrates memory requests among the various devices, that is, the processor, video control circuitry, network interface and disk storage devices, which may be requesting access to memory. However, this requires a complex mechanism to ensure that the video control circuitry has access to the memory, and specifically the video RAM in a timely manner to ensure that the image on the video display is not disrupted.

Computer workstation including video update arrangement


An isolation conductor is provided between a first conductor and a plurality of second conductors to which potential connections can be made from the first conductor. An isolation antifuse is connected between the first conductor and the isolation conductor. Individual antifuses are connected between the isolation bus and each of the plurality of second conductors. A pull-down or pullup transistor is connected between the isolation conductor and a selected circuit node to allow programming of the isolation antifuse and an isolation transistor may be connected between the first conductor and the isolation conductor to allow testing of the isolation conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to user-programmable circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to antifuse-based user-programmable circuit architectures and to a multi-level antifuse interconnection architecture.
2. The Prior Art
In numerous user-configurable architectures employing antifuses, a plurality of antifuses may be provided to potentially connect a given signal line or node to other signal lines or circuit nodes. While providing numerous antifuses on a single conductor enhances the connectability of that conductor and, hence, the versatility of the user-programmable architecture in which the antifuses are employed, a tradeoff is presented between versatility and performance problems and degradation. First, all antifuses common to a signal line which remain unprogrammed in a final configured circuit act as individual capacitors which each contribute capacitance to the total capacitance of the signal line. In addition, antifuses which employ an antifuse material such as amorphous silicon are characterized by some degree of leakage in their unprogrammed state. Depending on the voltage potentials to which the other ends of these antifuses are connected, a random leakage current will be present at nodes, such as conductors, to which more than one unprogrammed antifuse is connected. Finally, experience has shown that unprogrammed antifuses may be subjected to voltage stresses during programming of other antifuses, creating reliability issues for the circuits in which they reside.
A typical example of such antifuse distribution is an interconnect structure including a first conductor running in a first direction which intersects a plurality of second conductors running in a second direction. In order to maximize connectability in a user-programmable interconnect architecture, antifuses are provided at each intersection between the first conductor and one of the second conductors. Programming of all of these antifuses is rare in a given circuit implemented by this architecture. It is plain that the capacitance of the first conductor is significantly affected by the presence of the unprogrammed antifuses which are connected to it, as is the current leakage through that conductor contributed to by each unprogrammed antifuse. Finally, the voltages which must be placed across selected antifuses disposed between the first conductor and selected ones of the second conductors to program them may have an undesired stressing effect on adjoining antifuses which are supposed to remain unprogrammed.