A box with at least one base is disclosed which is resistant to opening and of which portions become broken off to prevent the base being reclosed after being opened for the first time. The base includes a panel projecting from the box and a tab projecting from and separated from the panel by a folding line in which there is provided a cut through which hook-shaped teeth extend and hook thereonto, these latter projecting from two opposing lateral flaps positioned below said panel in the box when closed. In this base panel there are provided knurlings which extend from each end of said cut as far as the adjacent lateral edge of the panel, to hence define portions which break away from the base of the box.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a box of the type having at least one base with high resistance to opening, and more particularly to a box with one or more closure bases or lids comprising cuts into which there extend hook-shaped teeth projecting from flaps below each base or lid, said teeth interfering with the base to substantially increase its resistance to opening.
2. Discussion of the Background
More particularly, the invention relates to a box of the aforesaid type, the base or lid of which becomes irredeemably broken, to prevent it from being reclosed after the base has been opened for the first time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,789, the corresponding EP-B-0318750 and DE-A-3826231 describe boxes provided with at least one base or lid with high resistance to opening: this lid comprises a panel projecting from the box and having a projecting tab which can be folded and inserted into the interior of the box to the side of one or more flaps projecting from respective main lateral panels of the box and positioned below, i.e. on the inside, of the lid considered.
In and along the folding line which separates the lid panel from the tab there is provided a thin elongate window into which there become inserted (when the box is closed) two hooks or dovetail shaped teeth projecting one from each of the said flaps and superposed one above the other in the box when closed.
When the lid is pulled to open it, it drags and raises the said two teeth (which extend into said elongate window of the lid tab) away from their rest position: as the teeth are rigid with the flaps which are connected to the adjacent lateral panels of the box along folding lines inclined (generally perpendicular) to the folding line about which the lid can rotate, it follows that the raising of the two teeth (by the effect of the pull exerted on them by the lid to be opened) causes the teeth to move along two different circular arcs and to withdraw from each other within the window in which they are inserted, to hence strongly hook onto the tab in which this window is provided.
The result is that the resistance to opening of the box lid is strongly increased by the retention action exerted on it by the teeth projecting from the box flaps.
This does not prevent it being possible, using suitable care, to unhook the lid from the hook-shaped teeth of the flaps and open the box lid (or lids), to then reclose it such that its previous opening goes unnoticed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,374, EP-B-0709293 and EP-A-1340684 describe boxes comprising a lid consisting of a closure panel from which there extends a foldable tab insertable into the box interior, in said tab there being provided two separate apertures which extend along the folding line separating the tab from the closure panel, below which two separate non-superposable flaps projecting from two lateral main walls of the box become positioned. From each flap there projects only one hook-shaped tooth which is inserted into one of the two said apertures to hook to it and hence hinder the opening of the box lid: these arrangements however suffer from the drawback that the box base can be opened by delicately deforming the closure panel firstly on one side and then on the other, to firstly uncouple one hook-shaped tooth and then the other hook-shaped tooth from their respective apertures.
In EP-B-0709293 a knurling is provided extending along the panel and along the entire width of the respective tab on the box base so that when this base is opened for the first time, the hook-shaped tooth (provided on that side of the base comprising said knurling) causes this knurling to break with consequent simultaneous detachment of a portion both of the tab and of the panel, hence making it easily visible that a part of the base is lacking, i.e. that it has already been opened for the first time. In this respect it is important to note that the traction force causing the knurling to break is applied by the hook-shaped tooth at an intermediate point of the entire said knurling, signifying that when the box is opened for the first time by pulling its base, this base outwardly raises the underlying flap, the hook-shaped tooth of which has to simultaneously break both that portion of knurling extending along the panel and that portion of knurling extending along the tab projecting from it. This operation, which is effected and completed while the hook-shaped tooth is raised and displaced from the box base pulled with two fingers by the person opening the box, is certainly not easy and can happen without the hook-shaped tooth deforming and uncoupling from the respective base aperture in which it is housed in the box.
In EP-A-1340684, along the entire folding line separating the tab from the respective panel in each base of the box, a knurling is provided which is broken (to hence totally detach the tab from the panel) when this base is opened for the first time, the breakage again being caused by the hook-shaped teeth projecting from the flaps below the base panel, with the same drawbacks as the aforesaid.

Box with a base resistant to opening and having portions thereof breakable to prevent the box from being reclosed after initial opening thereof


An antenna structure for operating multi-band system is disclosed. The antenna structure at least comprises a first radiation metal wire and a second radiation metal wire. These radiation metal wires send signal through the same feed point and provide a ground surface. The radiation metal wires are embedded into the circuit board having a hole. The design avoids the complexity of the antenna structure, reduces cost, and improves production capabilities. The length of the first radiation metal wire is bigger than the second radiation metal wire for using in a low frequency operating band and the second radiation metal wire is used in a high frequency operating band. These radiation metal wires can be fixed into the hole of the circuit board. The entwining of the radiation metal wires can bend according to a space provided by a case. Therefore, the antenna structure can be protected by the case without damages from outside forces.

The role of antennas in wireless communication devices is to transmit and to receive data of wireless system. General speaking, the antenna design in mobile phones and Personal Digital Assistances (PDA) can be a traditional planner antenna or a monopole antenna and further can be a helical antenna, However, the planner antenna uses a base having dielectric constants for supporting that does not only increase cost but also increases complexity. The radiation bandwidth of the planner antenna is not better than the monopole antenna. The monopole antenna takes a characteristic with Omni-Directional Radiation Pattern. Referring to FIG. 1, a distribution diagram of an example of omni-directional radiation pattern of a prior art monopole antenna is illustrated. The helical antenna is an uncovered structure that suffers damages easily.
Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of an example of a prior art helical antenna is illustrated. The helical antenna comprises a helical antenna 21, a feed point 22, and a feed wire 23. The helical antenna is used to transmit and to receive signal in a single band. The feed wire 23 provides a feed point 22 for coupling the helical antenna 21. Due to the characteristics of mentioned above, there must be a case for containing the monopole antenna.
Because of the frequency sections are opened gradually, wireless communication devices start to do receiving integration in different frequency sections. The integration development of the antenna is used to receive wireless signal of different frequency sections and is an application of the wideband antenna. Therefore, the monopole antennas of two different frequency sections are integrated into a wideband antenna that appears in the wireless communication field. Furthermore, there is also a module design for antenna carrier support.
Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of an example of an antenna carrier support of a prior art wideband antenna is illustrated. The wideband of the antenna carrier support comprises an antenna base 31, a feed point 32 a low frequency radiation metal wire 33, and a high frequency radiation metal wire 34. The antenna base 31 is used to support the wideband antenna that comprises the low frequency radiation metal wire 33 and the high frequency radiation metal wire 34. The antenna base 31 also provides a feed point 32 to couple to the wideband antenna and still has capacity to accept other components. However, the characteristics of mentioned above increase complexity of wireless communication devices and raises costs. There must be some ways to resolve the problem.

Antenna structure for operating multi-band system


A multi-stage pedal valve structure relates to a flow regulator on the valve opening located between the two compartments inside the body of the one-way pedal valve. The device includes a valve jacket, a piston rod, a graduating disc and a spring, while the valve jacket possesses a concave channel guide and a one-way tilting wedge. The graduating disc is a cylindrical unit on the opposite of the valve jacket. The piston rod comes in the form of a trapezoid, of which the outer section increases from top to bottom, and the middle section of the piston rod features circular channels, of which the end and the lower section come in increasing pitches and the perimeter of the lower section comes with slant blocks in reduced numbers and in even numbers in proportion to the channels on the valve jacket. The device keeps water from flowing.

Not applicable.
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A kind of multi-stage pedal valve structure having a pedal on a piping for the control of flow that is duly set in stages, being the creation of a valve assembly and a pedal, consisting the valve assembly of a body, a cover, a piston rod, a spring, a positioning valve jacket, a graduating disc and base; where the positioning valve jacket, the graduating disc and the piston rod form the height controller for the graduating piston rod, which regulates water flow together with the peripheral concave channel guide along the piston rod.
The commonly known One-way Pedal Valve structure comes with a pair of parallel water inlet/outlet in association with interlocked compartments extending outside the left and right compartments, having the top and lower cover with the left and right compartments formed by the closing top and bottom covers, and the two compartments are linked with a valve opening provided with a valve jacket featuring a piston rod sustained by a piece of spring on its bottom. The valve jacket indicated above is fastened by the top cover into the valve hole and the middle section of the piston rod is inserted in the valve jacket. The top of the valve jacket protrudes the top cover and is pushed by the pedal that controls the lower part of the piston rod to open or close the bottom opening as a way to regulate the water flow. In another word, when the pedal is pressed, the valve opens to release water and, when the pedal is released, the valve closed automatically and stops the water flow.
The multi-stage pedal valve structure, hereinafter referred to as This Invention, relates to the flow regulator on the valve opening located between the two compartments inside the body of the one-way pedal valve. The device is equipped with a valve jacket, a piston rod, a graduating disc and a spring, while the valve jacket possesses a concave channel guide and a one-way tilting wedge. The graduating disc is a cylindrical unit on the opposite of the valve jacket from which it is spaced and, having the graduating disc groves in even numbers and between the two compartments, there is a one-way tilting wedge, although the grooves on the graduating disc correspond to the tilt wedge on the valve jacket. The piston rod comes in the form of a trapezoid, of which the outer section increases from top to bottom, and the middle section of the piston rod features circular channels, of which the end and the lower section come in increasing pitches and the perimeter of the lower section comes with slant blocks in reduced numbers and in even numbers in proportion to the channels on the valve jacket, and the slant block on the lower section moves back and forth between the valve jacket and the graduating disc with the slant block. With the slant block moving from the cell in front of the concave channel on the valve jacket to the next concave cell to form different numbers of releases of the channel in the middle section of the piston rod because of different elevations of the adjacent concave channels, the device keeps water from flowing.


A catheter bag having an apron made of opaque material. The apron can be part of the catheter bag at one end and can be detachably secured to the bag at an opposing end using means for attaching.

Urinary catheter devices are widely used in the health care industry. Whereas these devices are both convenient and necessary in many medical settings, they leave much to be desired in terms of privacy and dignity to the patient employing the catheters. Typical urinary catheters includes a flexible catheter drainage tube that is connected to a urinary discharge or drainage bag, which collects the urine as it is passed by the patient. These bags are made of clear or transparent materials on one side so that the contents of the bags can be readily observed. It is this visibility that can cause those using catheter bags discomfort and embarrassment.
Thus far, various devices have been used to address the issue of patient privacy. For example, privacy garments exist that can enhance patient dignity. Additionally, the catheter bags can be placed into purses or outer bags. These devices, however, are not ideal for those caring for the patient. Extracting and replacing catheter bags from these contraptions can be both time consuming and complicated.
Accordingly, there exists a need for catheter bag device that can provide patient privacy without placing undue burden on those caring for the patient.


An expander and a fluid circulation system comprising same are disclosed. The expander comprises a housing, an expansion mechanism, an exhaust pipe, an oil sump and a lubricant discharge channel. The expansion mechanism is provided in the housing to expand a high-pressure fluid into a low-pressure fluid. The exhaust pipe discharges the low-pressure fluid out of the expander and comprises an end portion assembled in a first opening of the housing and provided with an exhaust port; the low-pressure fluid enters the exhaust pipe via the exhaust port. The oil sump stores a lubricant in the housing. The lubricant discharge channel discharges the lubricant in the oil sump into the exhaust pipe and/or an external system pipeline and comprises an inlet end having an inlet located at a predetermined oil level of the oil sump and an outlet end having an outlet.

The contents of this section only provide background information related to the present disclosure, which may not necessarily constitute the prior art.
An expander is a device that outputs mechanical or electrical work to outside by expanding a high-pressure fluid into a low-pressure fluid. A common expander is a scroll expander. The expansion mechanism of the scroll expander includes an orbiting scroll component and a non-orbiting scroll component. The orbiting scroll component and the non-orbiting scroll component are engaged to each other to form a series of expansion chambers which gradually increase in volume between blades thereof, thereby causing the high-pressure fluid to become the low-pressure fluid. In the process of fluid expansion, a driving torque is generated, for example, to drive a shaft to rotate so as to output mechanical or electrical work.
Generally, the expander also includes an oil sump in which lubricant is stored, and the lubricant is provided to each relevant movable component (such as a main bearing) to lubricate it. In addition, in a system including the expander, the lubricant may enters the expansion mechanism of the expander with a high-pressure working fluid, and is discharged out of the expander with an expanded low-pressure working fluid, thereby circulating in the system. The lubricant circulating in the system may lubricate the expansion mechanism. Particularly, for a low-pressure side expander, since the lubricant in the oil sump is difficult to be supplied to the expansion mechanism due to the low-pressure environment, the expansion mechanism is mainly lubricated by the lubricant circulating in the system.
However, the lubricant in the system may separate from a working fluid when flowing through various components in the expander and flow into the oil sump in the expander. In this way, the amount of lubricant in the oil sump may be excessive, and accordingly, the amount of lubricant circulating in the system may be too little. This may lead to deterioration of lubrication condition of various relevant movable components in the expander, particularly the expansion mechanism, thereby affecting the normal operation of the expander and reducing the expansion efficiency.
Therefore, it is desired to provide an expander that is capable of improving lubricant distribution and maintaining good lubrication.

Expander and fluid circulation system comprising same

Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.


A selected quantity of lubricating oil in the reservoir of an oil system exposed to low ambient temperatures is maintained at a temperature above 170 degrees F. but below the oil breakdown temperature of 300 degrees F. by a non-thermostatically controlled flexible planar electric heating element adhesively secured to the exterior surface of the reservoir. The heating element has a uniform power density of at least about 15 watts per square inch and a constant power output of about 20 to 40 watts per quart of oil in the reservoir. The thermal balance formed between the continuous heat generation by the heating element and the continual heat dissipation from the oil system maintains the oil temperature between the desired limits.

The concept of engine oil heaters is old in the art. In general a heating element is either placed outside of the engine oil pan or into the oil located in the oil reservoir in the engine pan. Because of the problem of thermal breakdown of engine oil the engine oil heaters differ from engine block heaters which heat the engine coolant. Since the coolant does not breakdown under normal heating temperatures, high temperature heating elements can be placed directly in the coolant while heating of engine oil with high temperature heating elements results in breakdown or carbonization of the engine oil.
The prior art oil reservoir heaters that are placed directly in the oil reservoir have two drawbacks. The first is that engine oil heaters, particularly those that operate off the vehicles battery, are of insufficient power to heat the oil to proper temperature to minimize engine wear. In general battery powered heaters have very limited heating life since the battery becomes more inefficient as the temperature of the outside air decreases. On the other hand those prior art heaters that operate off external source may produce such high localized temperatures that the oil around the heating element begins to carbonize or breakdown. In general the temperature at which the oil breaks down varies with the type of oil but in most cases oil breaks down if the temperature is in excess of 300 degrees F. Consequently, such high energy direct contact oil heaters as dipstick heaters are shunned by those who are familiar with the problems that can occur in an engine when the oil breaks down and loses its lubricating qualities. In general if the prior art engine oil heaters don't generate enough heat to produce oil breakdown the heaters usually don't have sufficient heat generation capacity to heat the oil to the proper temperature range to minimize wear on the engine since the engine oil system dissipates heat to the surrounding atmosphere through the engine and the engine oil system.
Another concept of engine oil heaters places an external heater outside the oil pan and then uses a switch or a thermostat to monitor the temperature of the oil or the temperature of the heater. It was believed that such a system would be ideal since the switch or thermostat shuts off the heater when the oil temperature becomes to high thereby preventing the oil from breakdown. Unfortunately, when such thermostatically controlled prior art engine heaters are secured to the exterior of the engine oil pan of heavier surface equipment they have been found to produce insufficient heat or erratic and inconsistent temperature control thereby rendering them ineffective in maintaining the oil temperature of an engine within a prescribed temperature range. It has been found that one of the difficulties, particularly with thermostatically controlled heaters that are secured to the exterior of the engine oil pan of heavier surface equipment, is that either the temperature of the engine oil can not be maintained in a specified range or the heater gradually produces less heat output making it ineffective for maintaining the oil within prescribed limits.
Heating the engine oil to a minimum temperature of about 170 degrees F remains a very desirable goal since hot oil not only makes the engine easier to start in cold climates but also reduces the frictional wear on engine parts thereby prolonging the life of the engine. In most engine applications one wants to maintain the within a temperature range of 170 degrees F to 200 Degrees F to minimize engine wear. It should be understood that if one is increasing the oil temperature only for the purpose of providing starting assistance a lesser oil temperatures could be used since in even the coldest conditions instances heating engine oil up to 60 F is sufficient to start the engine if the battery has not lost its efficiency. However, in extremely cold climates such as encountered in northern climates where the temperature may reach -40 to -50 degrees F. the heating of the oil to a higher temperature also compensates for the loss of efficiency in the battery thus enabling the user to start an engine under the most extreme environmental conditions.
The present invention provides an improved engine oil heater that in the preferred embodiment heats and maintains the oil to a temperature of 180 degrees F. to 200 degrees F. while eliminating the problem of oil breakdown and inconsistent temperature control of the engine oil through a thermal balance heater that has been found to be relatively insensitive to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere.

Non-thermostatically controlled high power oil pan-heater

Toddco Research and Development Company, Inc.


A client PC generates and spools data for print according to a user's printing operation, and generates identification information for identifying itself from its own IP address to present it to the user. When the identification information is input in a multifunction peripheral, the multifunction peripheral converts the identification information into an IP address, and makes a request for transmission of print data to a client PC indicated by the IP address. In response to the request, the client PC generates print data using the spooled data and transmits the print data to the multifunction peripheral. The multifunction peripheral receives and prints the print data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pull printing system that does not utilize a print server or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been discussed a printing system of what is referred to as "pull printing" in which a user makes a print request by operating a printing apparatus, on print data temporarily stored in a server, so that the print data acquired from the server can be output by the printing apparatus (see Japanese Patent No. 4033857). Accordingly, the user can output print data from a desired printing apparatus, rather than output to a specific printing apparatus, during printing from an application.
A serverless pull printing system is also discussed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-318245). In the serverless pull printing system, instead of temporarily storing print data on a server, the print data is temporarily stored on a client personal computer (PC) which instructs printing. Thus, the print data can be output from a desired printing apparatus by making a print request to the client PC.
In the serverless pull printing system, it is necessary to identify the client PC from the printing apparatus to connect the printing apparatus and the client PC to each other, but it is difficult because generally a plurality of the client PCs exist on a network.
In a system discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-318245, network connection is established from a client PC to all existing printing apparatuses at the time of printing from an application. Then, when a user performed authentication by the printing apparatus, the client PC cancels connection with printing apparatuses except for the authenticated printing apparatus. However, it is necessary in this method to establish connection with all printing apparatuses, there is an issue that a load will be placed on the network or the printing apparatuses. Further, because broadcast is used for the connection request, there is another issue that connection across a subnet cannot be established.

Printing system, information processing apparatus, printing method, and program for a serverless pull printing system


Provided are a light emitting device and a light unit. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure layer comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer under the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer under the active layer; a first conductive layer having a first portion disposed under the second conductive type semiconductor layer and a second portion electrically connected to the first conductive type semiconductor layer; a second conductive layer under the second conductive type semiconductor layer and electrically connected to the second conductive type semiconductor layer; an insulation layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; and a tunnel barrier between the first portion of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Embodiments relates to a light emitting device, a method of fabricating the light emitting device, and a light unit.
Group III-V nitride semiconductors are spotlighted as core materials of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diodes (LDs) due to their physical and chemical characteristics.
Such a light emitting device converts electrical signals into light such as infrared rays or visible rays using characteristics of compound semiconductors. In recent, as light efficiency of the light emitting device is increased, the light emitting device is being used in various fields such as display devices and lighting devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Reactor systems that include a reaction receptacle that includes a plurality of reservoirs disposed in the surface of a substrate. The reactor system also typically includes a temperature control element having at least a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to it. The heat exchanger is, in turn, disposed within the at least one of the reservoirs whereby the heat exchanger transfers heat to or from a fluid disposed within the reservoir, which heat is conducted to or from the temperature control element.

The biological and chemical sciences, much like the electronics industry, have sought to gain advantages of cost, speed and convenience through miniaturization. The field of microfluidics has gained substantial attention as a potential solution to the problems of miniaturization in these areas, where fluid handling capabilities are often the main barrier to substantial miniaturization.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,304,487, 5,498,392, 5,635,358, 5,637,469 and 5,726,026, all describe devices that include mesoscale flow systems for carrying out a large number of different types of chemical, and biochemical reactions and analyses.
Published international patent application No. WO 96/04547 to Ramsey describes microfluidic devices that incorporate electrokinetic means for moving fluids or other materials through interconnected microscale channel networks. Such systems utilize electric fields applied along the length of the various channels, typically via electrodes placed at the termini of the channels, to controllably move materials through the channels by one or both of electroosmosis and electrophoresis. By modulating the electric fields in intersecting channels, one can effectively control the flow of material at intersections. This creates a combination pumping/valving system that requires no moving parts to function. The solid state nature of this material transport system allows for simplicity of fabricating microfluidic devices, as well as simplified and more accurate control of fluid flow.
Published international patent application No. 98/00231 describes the use of microfluidic systems in performing high throughput screening of large libraries of test compounds, e.g., pharmaceutical candidates, diagnostic samples, and the like. By performing these analyses microfluidically, one gains substantial advantages of throughput, reagent consumption, and automatability.
Another advantage of microfluidic systems is to provide the ability to integrate large numbers of different operations in a single "lab-on-chip" device, for performing both upstream and downstream processing of reactants for analysis and/or synthesis. For example, International Patent Application No. PCT/US98/17910, filed Aug. 27, 1998, describes devices and systems that elegantly control and monitor temperature within microfluidic systems by applying electric currents to fluids to generate heat therein, as well as measure solution conductivity as a measure of fluid temperature.
Despite the substantial advantages made in the field of microfluidics, improvements are always desirable which allow more simplistic integration of analytical and synthetic operations. The present invention meets these and a variety of other needs.

Integrated devices and systems for performing temperature controlled reactions and analyses


Methods and systems for measuring the orientation of a wafer at or near an X-ray scatterometry measurement location are described herein. In one aspect, an X-ray scatterometry based metrology system includes a wafer orientation measurement system that measures wafer orientation based on a single measurement without intervening stage moves. In some embodiments, an orientation measurement spot is coincident with an X-ray measurement spot. In some embodiments, an X-ray scatterometry measurement and a wafer orientation measurement are performed simultaneously. In another aspect, signals detected by a wafer orientation measurement system are filtered temporally, spatially, or both, to improve tracking. In another aspect, a wafer orientation measurement system is calibrated to identify the orientation of the wafer with respect to an incident X-ray beam. In another aspect, a wafer under measurement is positioned based on the measured orientation in a closed loop or open loop manner.

Semiconductor devices such as logic and memory devices are typically fabricated by a sequence of processing steps applied to a specimen. The various features and multiple structural levels of the semiconductor devices are formed by these processing steps. For example, lithography among others is one semiconductor fabrication process that involves generating a pattern on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated on a single semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Metrology processes are used at various steps during a semiconductor manufacturing process to detect defects on wafers to promote higher yield. A number of metrology based techniques including scatterometry and reflectometry implementations and associated analysis algorithms are commonly used to characterize critical dimensions, film thicknesses, composition and other parameters of nanoscale structures.
Traditionally, scatterometry critical dimension measurements are performed on targets consisting of thin films and/or repeated periodic structures. During device fabrication, these films and periodic structures typically represent the actual device geometry and material structure or an intermediate design. As devices (e.g., logic and memory devices) move toward smaller nanometer-scale dimensions, characterization becomes more difficult. Devices incorporating complex three-dimensional geometry and materials with diverse physical properties contribute to characterization difficulty. For example, modern memory structures are often high-aspect ratio, three-dimensional structures that make it difficult for optical radiation to penetrate to the bottom layers. Optical metrology tools utilizing infrared to visible light can penetrate many layers of translucent materials, but longer wavelengths that provide good depth of penetration do not provide sufficient sensitivity to small anomalies. In addition, the increasing number of parameters required to characterize complex structures (e.g., FinFETs), leads to increasing parameter correlation. As a result, the parameters characterizing the target often cannot be reliably decoupled with available measurements.
In one example, longer wavelengths (e.g. near infrared) have been employed in an attempt to overcome penetration issues for 3D FLASH devices that utilize polysilicon as one of the alternating materials in the stack. However, the mirror like structure of 3D FLASH intrinsically causes decreasing light intensity as the illumination propagates deeper into the film stack. This causes sensitivity loss and correlation issues at depth. In this scenario, SCD is only able to successfully extract a reduced set of metrology dimensions with high sensitivity and low correlation.
In another example, opaque, high-k materials are increasingly employed in modern semiconductor structures. Optical radiation is often unable to penetrate layers constructed of these materials. As a result, measurements with thin-film scatterometry tools such as ellipsometers or reflectometers are becoming increasingly challenging.
In response to these challenges, more complex optical metrology tools have been developed. For example, tools with multiple angles of illumination, shorter illumination wavelengths, broader ranges of illumination wavelengths, and more complete information acquisition from reflected signals (e.g., measuring multiple Mueller matrix elements in addition to the more conventional reflectivity or ellipsometric signals) have been developed. However, these approaches have not reliably overcome fundamental challenges associated with measurement of many advanced targets (e.g., complex 3D structures, structures smaller than 10 nm, structures employing opaque materials) and measurement applications (e.g., line edge roughness and line width roughness measurements).
Atomic force microscopes (AFM) and scanning-tunneling microscopes (STM) are able to achieve atomic resolution, but they can only probe the surface of the specimen. In addition, AFM and STM microscopes require long scanning times. Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) achieve intermediate resolution levels, but are unable to penetrate structures to sufficient depth. Thus, high-aspect ratio holes are not characterized well. In addition, the required charging of the specimen has an adverse effect on imaging performance.
To overcome penetration depth issues, traditional imaging techniques such as TEM, SEM etc., are employed with destructive sample preparation techniques such as focused ion beam (FIB) machining, ion milling, blanket or selective etching, etc. For example, transmission electron microscopes (TEM) achieve high resolution levels and are able to probe arbitrary depths, but TEM requires destructive sectioning of the specimen. Several iterations of material removal and measurement generally provide the information required to measure the critical metrology parameters throughout a three dimensional structure. But, these techniques require sample destruction and lengthy process times. The complexity and time to complete these types of measurements introduces large inaccuracies due to drift of etching and metrology steps. In addition, these techniques require numerous iterations which introduce registration errors.
Small-Angle X-Ray Scatterometry (SAXS) systems have shown promise to address challenging measurement applications. Various aspects of the application of SAXS technology to the measurement of critical dimensions (CD-SAXS) and overlay (OVL-SAXS) are described in 1) U.S. Pat. No. 7,929,667 to Zhuang and Fielden, entitled "High-brightness X-ray metrology," 2) U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0019097 by Bakeman, Shchegrov, Zhao, and Tan, entitled "Model Building And Analysis Engine For Combined X-Ray And Optical Metrology," 3) U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0117610 by Veldman, Bakeman, Shchegrov, and Mieher, entitled "Methods and Apparatus For Measuring Semiconductor Device Overlay Using X-Ray Metrology," 4) U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0202193 by Hench, Shchegrov, and Bakeman, entitled "Measurement System Optimization For X-Ray Based Metrology," 5) U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0167862 by Dziura, Gellineau, and Shchegrov, entitled "X-ray Metrology For High Aspect Ratio Structures," and 6) U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018/0106735 by Gellineau, Dziura, Hench, Veldman, and Zalubovsky, entitled "Full Beam Metrology for X-Ray Scatterometry Systems." The aforementioned patent documents are assigned to KLA-Tencor Corporation, Milpitas, Calif. (USA).
SAXS has also been applied to the characterization of materials and other non-semiconductor related applications. Exemplary systems have been commercialized by several companies, including Xenocs SAS (www.xenocs.com), Bruker Corporation (www.bruker.com), and Rigaku Corporation (www.rigaku.com/en).
Research on CD-SAXS metrology of semiconductor structures is also described in scientific literature. Most research groups have employed high-brightness X-ray synchrotron sources which are not suitable for use in a semiconductor fabrication facility due to their immense size, cost, etc. One example of such a system is described in the article entitled "Intercomparison between optical and x-ray scatterometry measurements of FinFET structures" by Lemaillet, Germer, Kline et al., Proc. SPIE, v. 8681, p. 86810Q (2013). More recently, a group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has initiated research employing compact and bright X-ray sources similar those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,929,667. This research is described in an article entitled "X-ray scattering critical dimensional metrology using a compact x-ray source for next generation semiconductor devices," J. Micro/Nanolith. MEMS MOEMS 16(1), 014001 (January-March 2017).
In general, the interaction of the X-ray beam with the target must be calibrated and aligned with the metrology system to ensure effective measurements. Exemplary characterizations include precisely locating the peak intensity of the X-ray beam on the target, measuring the X-Ray beam intensity distribution, identifying the boundaries of the X-ray beam such that only a certain percentage of beam flux lies outside of the boundaries, precisely estimating wafer tilt, etc. Exemplary alignments include alignment of the X-ray beam with an optical vision system, alignment of the X-ray beam with specific mechanical features of the tool (e.g., axes of wafer rotation, etc.), angular alignment of wafer with respect to the incident X-ray beam, etc.
Wafer tilt at the point of measurement significantly affects X-ray scatterometry measurements. Unacceptable X-ray scatterometry measurement errors occur without precise knowledge of the orientation of the wafer with respect to the incident X-ray beam at the location of incidence of the X-ray illumination beam on the wafer.
Unfortunately, semiconductor wafers under measurement are usually not flat. A semiconductor wafer often includes different materials disposed at different thicknesses across its surface. This lack of homogeneity results in different mechanical stiffness across the wafer surface and a non-uniform curvature across the wafer surface. As a result, an unconstrained wafer having a three hundred millimeter diameter often has a bow or complex shape. In some examples, the surface of a wafer varies from an ideal plane by more than one millimeter, and the orientation of the surface of a wafer may vary by +/− two degrees depending on location on the wafer surface.
Wafer tilt may be partially reduced by using a wafer chuck employing vacuum or electrostatic actuators to force the backside surface of the wafer into contact with a mechanically flat wafer chuck. Although, this constraint significantly reduces wafer tilt across the entire surface of the wafer (i.e., global wafer flatness), it does little to address flatness of the wafer over relatively small areas where the X-ray illumination beam in incident on the wafer (i.e., local wafer flatness).
Furthermore, the use of a wafer chuck that supports the wafer across the backside surface of the wafer is only suitable for a reflective X-ray scatterometry system. A transmission SAXS system requires the use of an edge-grip wafer chuck to allow scattered X-rays to propagate without distortion to the detector. With limited ability to constrain the wafer, a transmission SAXS system must measure the wafer in a relatively unconstrained state.
Typically, wafer tilt is estimated using a distance sensor. The distance sensor measures the distance between the wafer surface and reference frame. The wafer is moved into at least three different locations relative to the distance sensor and the distance is measured at each of these locations. Interpolation is employed to estimate a best fit plane that estimates the orientation of the wafer surface based on the measured distance measurements at the different locations on the wafer.
This approach has several disadvantages. First, sampling the distance at multiple, different locations is time consuming. Each measurement requires a stage movement that reduces tool throughput. Furthermore, the sequence of stage movements required to estimate wafer tilt precludes simultaneous X-ray measurement of the wafer at a particular location. Second, the accuracy and precision of the estimation provided by the best fit plane is compromised by a number of practical factors. A semiconductor wafer under measurement usually includes different structures disposed on the wafer surface. These structures may be higher or lower than an ideal plane (e.g., average wafer surface plane). The variation in height of the wafer due to the presence of structures having different heights introduces errors into the estimation of the orientation of the best fit plane. To reduce the impact of this error source, more locations on the wafer surface may be measured and the distances from all of these points may be used to estimate the orientation of the best fit plane. By measuring enough points, the impact of height variation from different structures is effectively minimized by averaging. However, performing distance measurements at a larger number of locations dramatically and unacceptably reduces tool throughput. Finally, the actual shape of a semiconductor wafer near an X-ray measurement point is often a complex shape that is not accurately estimated by a best fit plane. As a result, the estimation of wafer tilt at a particular location using a best fit plane may result in an inaccurate angle measurement that results in X-ray scatterometry measurements with unacceptable errors.
Future metrology applications present challenges due to increasingly small resolution requirements, multi-parameter correlation, increasingly complex geometric structures including high aspect ratio structures, and increasing use of opaque materials. Existing methods of estimating wafer orientation at a point of X-ray scatterometry measurement are time consuming and limited in accuracy. Thus, methods and systems for improved measurement of wafer tilt in X-Ray scatterometry systems are desired to meet the requirements of advanced manufacturing nodes.

Measurement and control of wafer tilt for x-ray based metrology


An SRS transmission method is provided, including: determining a quantity of ports corresponding to each of a plurality of SRS resources on a first time domain resource, where the plurality of SRS resources belong to a first SRS resource set; determining, based on the quantity of ports and transmit power corresponding, in a first time unit, to the first SRS resource set, transmit power of each port corresponding to each of the plurality of SRS resources, where a sum of transmit power of all ports corresponding to the plurality of SRS resources is less than or equal to transmit power corresponding to the first SRS resource set, and the first time unit includes the first time domain resource; and simultaneously transmitting, on the first time domain resource based on the transmit power of each port, SRSs carried in the plurality of SRS resources.

A sounding reference signal (SRS) is a type of reference signal that can be used for channel estimation. A network device may calculate a signal-to-noise ratio of a channel based on the SRS, and allocate a transmission resource to a terminal device based on the signal-to-noise ratio.
In a long term evolution (LTE) system, an SRS occupies a last single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbol of a subframe, where the SC-FDMA symbol is an SRS resource, and one SRS resource supports at least one port. A plurality of ports may multiplex one SRS resource in a frequency division manner and a code division manner.
In a fifth generation (5G) mobile communications system, SRS resource configuration is more flexible. One or more SRS resource sets may be configured for one time unit, each SRS resource set includes at least one SRS resource, and each SRS resource may be multiplexed by at least one port. When all or some SRS signals corresponding to a plurality of SRS resources or a plurality of SRS resource sets are simultaneously transmitted in one time unit, how to allocate SRS transmit power corresponding to the plurality of SRS resources or the plurality of SRS resource sets is a problem that needs to be urgently resolved currently.

Sounding reference signal transmission method, and apparatus


A fabric comprising one or more photocatalysts to produce singlet oxygen from ambient oxygen. In certain embodiments, the fabric further comprises a compound to reversibly react with singlet oxygen to form an endoperoxide.

Many industrial, commercial, and residential facilities use air fresheners to mitigate unpleasant odors in indoor spaces. Such air fresheners may be in the form of candles, aerosol sprays, potpourri, gels, and mechanical or heat released products. However, while such products may neutralize or otherwise cover odors, they are also associated with negative health affects. Many common air fresheners contain chemicals that can aggravate asthma and contain hazardous or toxic chemicals such as phthalates, acetone, chloromethane, acetaldehyde, and 1,4-dioxane. Thus, the health consequences of exposure to air fresheners is a growing concern.

Fabrics comprising a photocatalyst to produce singlet oxygen from ambient oxygen


The present invention comprises a vacuum end effector having workpiece supports that work in conjunction with distorted workpiece surfaces. In one embodiment, each workpiece support has the ability to gimbal and conform the workpiece surface in contact with an outer edge of the support. Each workpiece support preferably provides a knife-like contact edge to minimize the contact area between the support and the workpiece while still providing an effective vacuum area to hold the wafer securely on the support. In another embodiment, each workpiece support is replaceable without having to remove the end effector from the robot assembly

Conventional robotic vacuum chuck end effectors transfer significant particulate contamination to the backside of the wafer at areas where the chuck contacts the backside of the wafer. Vacuum grips often cause backside contamination and/or damage to a wafer due to: (1) scratching the backside of the wafer—particularly from hard ceramic or anodized aluminum contacts; (2) particles from the grip pad that are worn off and left on bottom of wafer; and (3) particles that fall onto the grip pad and are pressed onto bottom of wafer. Vacuum chuck end effectors also have difficulty achieving a low leak rate vacuum seal if the wafer placed on the end effector is warped or imperfectly aligned with the end effector surfaces.
Edge support or edge grip end effectors minimize the amount of particulate contamination transferred to the backside of the wafer. Edge grip end effectors, however, present difficulties in accurate wafer pick up and transfer and edge damage and/or contamination.
Gripping the perimeter edge of the wafer requires that structural features protrude from the upper surface of the end effector to a sufficient height such that the protrusions extend above the top surface of the wafer being gripped. This method also requires features to actuate the protrusions, extending and contracting them as required, which increases complexity and failure modes. Further, either the protrusion must be left as a remnant of a thicker piece of raw material than would otherwise be necessary, or the protrusions have to be attached to the end effector. The first method involves more raw material and machining. Also, these protrusions are not replaceable. The second method involves multiple parts and potentially complex permanent assembly methods, such as those discussed above. Edge gripping structures, however, can be expected to be relatively thick, and therefore difficult to maneuver through vertical stacking cassettes where the wafers are stored because the separation between wafers is on the order of only about 5-10 mm.
There are increasing uses for ultra-thin wafers—low profile chip designs, direct mount on boards, etc. These wafers are often less than 250 microns thick and are subjected to distortion and waviness. This presents challenges for handling thin substrates—which are conventionally not suitable for edge-grip technology end effectors.
One constraint with thin wafers includes ensuring that the vacuum source does not apply too much vacuum to the bottom surface of the wafer. A full 10-15 psi vacuum source, for example, will likely cause the wafer to warp. It is important, however, that the circular edge conform to the bottom surface of the wafer.
Accordingly, there is a need for a low profile vacuum end effector that includes workpiece supports that work in conjunction with distorted wafer surfaces. It is also desirable for the end effector to accommodate a wide variety of support materials and reliably retain the pads in place, while permitting damaged or worn supports to be readily replaced.


A triple stack mold which is operated by a standard mold press and which presents three molding interfaces. Molten plastic is supplied to all molding cavities in equal amounts through a distribution system that includes manifolds in the mold components which receive the plastic and distribute it through passages leading to the mold cavities. The main passages leading to the manifolds are equipped with special nozzles constructed to compensate for differential thermal expansion of the mold parts.

Stack molds have been in use for a number of years to produce injection molded parts of various types, including plastic containers for the packaging industry. In this type of molding operation, a molding press is operated hydraulically and/or mechanically to open and close the mold and hold it closed while molten plastic is injected into the mold cavities. Standard industry practice is to make use of two molding interfaces which are brought together when the press is operated to close the mold and separated when the mold is opened to allow ejection of the molded parts from the machine. This type of molding operation is prevalent in the industry and has resulted in standardization of the available molding presses at a size large enough to accommodate the molding components necessary to carry out two level molding in the press.
Two level stack molding achieves double the production rate of single level molding. The die sets which include the core and cavity plates that come together to form the mold cavities can normally be interchanged to accommodate a change over to a different part.
Canadian Patent No. 2,022,060 to Travaglini et al. discloses a four level stack mold representing an attempt to enhance the production rate. In this arrangement, four mold interfaces are employed in order to produce twice as many parts as a two level mold. However, this increased production is achieved at the expense of trade offs that largely negate the benefits in many applications. In particular, using a four level mold system in a standard press has the disadvantage that the mold blocks occupy so much room that their separation when the mold is opened is minimal. Consequently, parts such as tall plastic containers or anything else having significant height cannot be molded in this type of operation. Instead, only shallow parts such as container lids are practical to mold on a four level system because the mold components cannot be separated far enough to allow deeper or taller parts to be ejected from the mold. The ability to mold only shallow parts is a severe limitation which drastically reduces the practical utility of a four level stack mold system.
In a multiple level mold, problems are also encountered in delivering the molten plastic in a balanced manner to each of the mold cavities. Thermal expansion problems are increased when longer flow paths for the plastic are required. While balancing the plastic flow is not particularly difficult in a four level mold because it is symmetrical, this aspect of the molding operation nevertheless becomes more complex and potentially troublesome with an increased number of molding components.


A layered tubing for use in a motor vehicle composed of an outer layer having an inner and an outer face, the outer layer made of an extrudable thermoplastic; an intermediate layer connected with the inner face of the outer layer, the intermediate layer composed of an extrudable melt-processible thermoplastic capable of sufficiently permanent laminar adhesion or connection with the outer layer; and an inner layer connected with the intermediate layer, the inner layer composed of an extrudable, melt processible thermoplastic capable of sufficiently permanent laminar adhesion of connection with the intermediate bonding layer, the thermoplastic containing as a major constituent a fluoroplastic such as polyvinylidine fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, and the like.

Single layer fuel lines and vapor return lines of synthetic materials such as polyamides have been proposed and employed in the past. Fuel lines employing such materials generally have lengths of at least several meters. It is important that the line, once installed, not materially change during the length of operation, either by shrinkage or elongation or as a result of the stresses to which the line may be subject during use. It is also becoming increasingly important that the lines employed be essentially impervious to hydrocarbon emissions due to permeation through the tubing. It is anticipated that future Federal regulations will fix the limit for permissible hydrocarbon emissions due to permeation through such lines. A permeation level equal to or below 0.5 g/m.sup.2 per 24 hour period is required for the lines to meet the new Federal Regulations. Finally, it is also imperative that the fuel line employed be impervious to interaction with corrosive materials present in the fuel such as oxidative agents and surfactants as well as additives such as ethanol and methanol.
Various types of tubing have been proposed to address these concerns. In general, the most successful of these have been co-extruded multi-layer tubing which employ a relatively thick outer layer composed of a material resistant to the exterior environment. The innermost layer is thinner and is composed of a material which is chosen for its ability to block diffusion of material such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols and other materials present in fuel blends, to the outer layer. The materials of choice for the inner layer are polyamides such as Nylon 6, Nylon 6.6, Nylon 11, and Nylon 12.
Alcohol and aromatics in the fluid conveyed through the tube diffuse at different rates through the tubing wall from the aliphatic components. The resulting change in the composition of the liquid in the tubing can change the solubility thresholds of the material so as, for example, to be able to crystalize monomers and oligomers of materials such as Nylon 11 and Nylon 12 into the liquid. The presence of copper ions, which can be picked up from the fuel pump, accelerates this crystallization. The crystallized precipitate can block filters and fuel injectors and collect to limit travel of the fuel-pump or carburetor float as well as build up on critical control surfaces of the fuel pump.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,329 to Brunnhofer, a five-layer fuel line is proposed which is composed of a thick outer layer formed of Nylon 11 or Nylon 12, a thick intermediate layer of Nylon 6, and a thin intermediate bonding layer between and bonded to the intermediate and outer layers formed of a polyethylene or a polypropylene. On the interior of the tube is an inner layer of Nylon 6 with a thin intermediate solvent-blocking layer formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer transposed between. The use of Nylon 6 in the inner fluid contacting surface is designed to eliminate at least a portion of the monomer and oligomer dissolution which occurs with Nylon 11 or Nylon 12.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,833 to Brunnhofer, a three-layer fuel line is proposed in which a tube is formed having a co-extruded outer wall of Nylon 11 or Nylon 12, an intermediate alcohol barrier wall formed from an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and an inner water-blocking wall formed from a polyamide such as Nylon 11 or Nylon 12. In DE 40 06 870, a fuel line is proposed in which an intermediate solvent barrier layer is formed of unmodified Nylon 6.6 either separately or in combination with blends of polyamide elastomers. The internal layer is also composed of polyamides; preferably modified or unmodified Nylon 6 while the outer layer is composed of either Nylon 6 or Nylon 12.
Another tubing designed to be resistant to alcoholic media is disclosed in UK Application Number 2 204 376 A in which a tube is produced which has an thick outer layer composed of polyamides such as Nylon 6 or 6.6 and/or Nylon 11 or 12 which are co-extruded with an alcohol-resistant polyolefin, a co-polymer of propylene and maleic acid.
Heretofore it has been extremely difficult to obtain satisfactory lamination characteristics between dissimilar polymer layers. Thus all of the multi-layer tubing proposed previously has employed polyamide-based materials in most or all of the multiple layers. While many more effective solvent-resistant chemicals exist, their use in this area is limited due to limited elongation properties, strength and compatibility with Nylon 11 and 12. Additionally, the previous disclosures fail to address or appreciate the phenomenon of electrostatic discharge.
Electrostatic discharge can be defined as the release of electric charge built up or derived from the passage of charged particles through a medium or conduit composed of essentially non-conductive materials. The electrostatic charge is repeatedly replenished with the passage of additional volumes of fuel through the conduit. Discharge repeatedly occurs in the same localized area gradually eroding the area and leading to eventual rupture leading to the danger of fire and explosion of the flammable contents of the tubing.
Thus it would be desirable to provide a tubing material which could be employed in motor vehicles which would be durable and prevent or reduce permeation of organic materials therethrough. It would also be desirable to provide a tubing material which would be essentially nonreactive with components of the liquid being conveyed therein. Finally, it would be desirable to provide a tubing material which would be capable of preventing the build-up of electrostatic charge therein or would be capable of safely dissipating any electrostatic charge induced therein.


In accordance with the invention, a tunable, reconfigurable optical add-drop filter comprises a pair of optical waveguides optically coupled by a microring or microdisk resonator wherein the coupling distance between the resonator and at least one of the waveguides is micromechanically controllable. With this arrangement, the degree of coupling can be tuned after fabrication to provide high level extinction of dropped wavelengths and the filter can be dynamically reconfigured. Advantageously, laser radiation is provided to tune the resonant wavelength.

This invention relates to optical add-drop filters and, in particular, to micromechanically active, reconfigurable add-drop filters.
Optical communication systems are beginning to achieve their great potential for the rapid transmission of vast amounts of information. In essence, an optical communication system comprises a source of light, a modulator for impressing information on the light to produce optical signals, an optical fiber transmission line for carrying the optical signals and a receiver for detecting the signals and demodulating the information they carry. Increasingly the optical signals are wavelength division multiplexed signals (WDM signals) comprising a plurality of distinct wavelength signal channels.
Add/drop devices are important components of WDM optical communication systems. Such devices are typically disposed at various intermediate points along the transmission fiber (called nodes) to permit adding or dropping of signal channels at the nodes. Thus, for illustration, an add/drop device would permit a transmission line from New York to Los Angeles to drop off at Chicago signal channels intended for Chicago and to add at Chicago signal channels for New York and Los Angeles. As the number of nodes increases, the number of add/drop devices increases, and their cost and effect on the system become appreciable.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional optical add-drop filter 10 known as a microring add-drop filter. The filter 10 comprises, in essence, a pair of optical waveguides 11 and 12 optically coupled by a microscale resonator 13 comprising a waveguide ring closely adjacent each of the wave guides 11, 12. The ring 13 is optically resonant for optical wavelengths xcexi such that nxcexi=C, where C is the circumference of the ring and n is an integer.
In operation, if a set of wavelengths xcex1, xcex2, . . . xcexN is incident on input port I of waveguide 11, any of the wavelengths resonant with the microring resonator will couple across the resonator 13 to waveguide 12 and exit the filter 10 at drop port R. Nonresonant wavelengths will pass the ring structure unperturbed and exit the filter 10 at the through port T. In addition, resonant wavelengths can be added at the add port A and will exit at port T.
The diameter D of the ring is chosen sufficiently small to obtain a desired free spectral range. To obtain a free spectral range of the order of tens of nanometers, D must be less than about 10 micrometers. With such small diameters, the index contrast between the ring and its cladding (the lateral index contrast) must be high to avoid bending losses. Typically, the rings are fabricated with air cladding in the lateral direction.
In view of the high lateral index contrast, the coupling distances d1 and d2 between the ring 13 and waveguides 11, 12, respectfully, must be smallxe2x80x94typically less than 300 nanometers in order to obtain the necessary coupling. In alternative embodiments, the microring resonator 13 can be replaced by a microdisk resonating in whispering gallery modes. Further details concerning the structure and operation of conventional microring and microdisk add-drop filters are set forth in B. E. Little, et al, xe2x80x9cMicroring Resonator Channel Dropping Filtersxe2x80x9d, 15 Journal of Lightwave Technology 998 (1997); B. E. Little, et al., xe2x80x9cUltracompact Sixe2x80x94SiO2 Microring Resonator Optical Channel Dropping Filters, 10 IEEE Photonics Technology Letters 549 (1998); and D. Radfizadeh, et al., xe2x80x9cWave-Guide-Coupled AlGaAs/GaAs Microcavity Ring and Disk Resonators . . . xe2x80x9d, 22 Optics Letters 1244 (1997), each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
While theoretically promising, microring and microdisk add-drop filters are difficult to fabricate with necessary precision. For example, a good quality add-drop filter must essentially eliminate a dropped wavelength so that it does not reach the port T. (The filter must achieve a high extinction ratio for the dropped wavelength.) This elimination requires precise control of the coupling distances d1, d2. But due to their small sizes (less than 300 nm), these distances are difficult to fabricate with the necessary precision. Published results to date have shown only slightly better than 10 dB extinction for the best individual devices.
Another challenge in fabrication is to make microrings or microdisks with precise resonant frequencies. An add-drop filter for telecommunications would need rings or disks with diameters specified and fabricated to better than 1 part in 1500 in order to overlap a dense WDM grid (100 GHz spacing). Moreover, sidewall roughness of the ring adds a further degree of uncertainty to the precise value of the diameter.
Finally it should be noted that the conventional microring and microdisk add-drop filters are fixed in configuration. Once fabricated, the filter will always add and drop the same respective wavelengths. However, in contemplated systems it would be highly advantageous if add-drop filters could be dynamically reconfigured to select and change which wavelength channels are added and dropped.
In accordance with the invention, a tunable, reconfigurable optical add-drop filter comprises a pair of optical waveguides optically coupled by a microring or microdisk resonator wherein the coupling distance between the resonator and at least one of the waveguides is micromechanically controllable. With this arrangement, the degree of coupling can be tuned after fabrication to provide high level extinction of dropped wavelengths and the filter can be dynamically reconfigured. Advantageously, laser radiation is provided to tune the resonant wavelength.

Micromechanically active reconfigurable add-drop filters


An instrument system includes a speedometer as an indicating instrument. The speedometer includes a disk-like dial, a movement element, and an indicating needle. The dial includes an indication element indicative of vehicle's speed. The movement element has an output shaft connected to a measurement device measuring the vehicle's speed and configured to rotate based on measurements obtained by the measurement device. The needle is attached to the output shaft by a mounting structure. The needle includes a skirt attached to the output shaft of the movement element, and a pointer extending radially from the skirt, so as to be rotated by the output shaft and indicate a value of interest of the indication element of the dial. The skirt includes a hole into which the output shaft is press-fit. The hole has an elliptical cross section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an instrument system mounted, for example, in a movable body such as a vehicle and a vessel, and in particular to a mounting structure of an indicating needle for the instrument system including an instrument unit and a measurement device, in which the indicating needle is attached to an output shaft of the instrument unit, the output shaft being operable to rotate in response to measurements obtained by the measuring device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A movable body such as a vehicle and a vessel incorporates an instrument system adapted to present information to a driver, the information obtained by measurement devices.
As the instrument system of this kind, for example, an analog-type instrument system is used that makes the indicating needle rotate on the basis of measurements obtained by the various measurement devices, and makes the indicating needle point to indications elements of a dial representing various conditions of the movable body, and thereby allows the measurements to be presented to the driver of the movable body.
The above analog-type instrument system may include (a) a box-shaped instrument case, (b) an instrument unit accommodated in the instrument case, (c) a dial provided on a front side of the instrument unit (i.e., on a side facing the driver), and accommodated in the instrument case, (d) indication elements provided on the dial indicative of the various conditions of the movable body, (e) an indicating needle arranged on the front side of the dial, (f) a light source arranged on a back side of the dial (i.e., on a distal side when viewed from the driver) and adapted to emit light illuminating the dial and the indicating needle, (g) a facing plate provided on the front side of the dial and adapted to cover the regions of the dial that is not involved in information indication, and (h) a transparent cover provided on the front side of the facing plate and configured to cover an opening of the instrument case.
The instrument unit includes an output shaft that rotates in response to measurements obtained by the measurement devices that measure the various conditions of the movable body. The indicating needle includes a mounting portion attached to the output shaft of the instrument unit, serving as a centre of rotation of the output shaft, and a pointer portion extending radially outward of the mounting portion. The indicating needle is configured to be rotated by the output shaft of the instrument unit and point to the indication elements of the dial by its pointer portion.
Also, the along-type instrument system includes a fixation structure for attaching the indicating needle to the output shaft of the instrument unit to secure the indicating needle to the output shaft.
As the fixation structure, various conventional fixation structures are advocated (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H06-034399, hereafter referred to as the patent literature PTL 1).
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an exploded perspective view of the fixation structure adapted to secure the indicating needle to the output shaft of the conventional instrument unit disclosed in the patent literature PTL 1.
The fixation structure 40 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a rotation-preventing feature 49 and a detachment-preventing feature 50 provided on an output shaft 42 of an instrument unit 41 and on a mounting portion 46 of an indicating needle 45 mounted to the output shaft 42.
The rotation-preventing feature 49 includes a plurality of flat portions 43 provided at an end of the output shaft of the instrument unit 41, and an insert hole 47 provided in a mounting portion 46 of the indicating needle 45 and is defined such that the output shaft 42 can be inserted thereinto.
The flat portions 43 define an outer circumference surface of the end of the output shaft 42, the end thus taking a quadrangular-prism-like shape. The insert hole 47 has a quadrangular planar shape defined such that the quadrangular-prism-like end of the output shaft 42 can be inserted into the insert hole 47.
The detachment-preventing feature 50 includes a protrusion 44 that protrudes at a base end of the output shaft 42 of the instrument unit 41; and an engagement hole 48 provided in the mounting portion 46 of the indicating needle 45 and is configured to be brought into engagement with the protrusion 44.
The protrusion 44 protrudes from the outer circumference surface of the output shaft 42 of the instrument unit 41.
The engagement hole 48 extends from an outer surface of the mounting portion 46 and communicates with the inner surface 47a of the insert hole 47.
In the fixation structure 40 with the above configuration, when the output shaft 42 of the instrument unit 41 is inserted into the insert hole 47 provided in the mounting portion 46 of the indicating needle 45, the flat portions 43 of the end of the output shaft 42 abut on the inner surface 47a of the insert hole 47 of the indicating needle 45. Also, the protrusion 44 at the base end of the output shaft 42 is brought into engagement with the engagement hole 48 of the mounting portion 46 of the indicating needle 45.
In the above-described manner, by virtue of the flat portions 43 of the output shaft 42 constituting the rotation-preventing feature 49, wherein the flat portions 43 abuts on the inner surface 47a of the insert hole 47 of the indicating needle 45, the fixation structure 40 prevents the output shaft 42 from rotating in and relative to the insert hole 47. Also, by virtue of the protrusion 44 of the output shaft 42 constituting the detachment-preventing feature 50, which is brought into engagement with the engagement hole 48 of the indicating needle 45, the fixation structure 40 prevents the output shaft 42 from being taken inadvertently out of the insert hole 47. In this manner, the indicating needle 45 is effectively secured to the output shaft 42 of the instrument unit 41.

Mounting structure of an indicating needle for an instrument system


A right angle conveyor has a first trough and a second trough to move product by reciprocating motion with the second trough at an angle to the first trough. Rocker arms and corresponding reactor springs joined to a chassis form the first and second troughs. The first trough has a motor upon the chassis, eccentric cam, and a linkage to induce reciprocating motion into the conveyor. To induce reciprocation, the first trough has a first bracket connected to a yoke upon a trunnion joined to the chassis, a yoke connected to a slave drive spring bracket, a slave spring connected to the slave drive spring bracket and to a second bracket, the slave spring connected to a second bracket beneath the second trough. The yoke has three pinned connections to permit rotation. Thus, reciprocal movement of the first trough transmits through the first bracket to the first pin, rotates the yoke upon the trunnion, moves the second pin, transmits movement to the slave drive spring bracket and the slave spring and then to the second bracket, thus moving product upon the second trough perpendicular to the first trough. In an alternate embodiment, the yoke has ball and socket connections and a trunnion upon a pivoting base so the second trough moves at any angle to the first trough.

The yoke between conveyors at an angle relates to a two way vibratory conveyor in general and more specifically to diverting particulate matter from the initial flow direction. Initially, a yoke can be used for inline conveyors moving particulate matter or product. The yoke connects two conveyors and transmits motion from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, moving product upon the conveyors. A unique aspect of the present yoke between conveyors is diverting particulate matter from zero through ninety degrees from the initial direction of flow, and beyond.
Vibratory conveying equipment typically has a bed or trough along which particulate matter or product, such as pellets and gravel, passes. A trough mounts above a base upon a plurality of rocker arms and reactor springs. A drive with an eccentric cam induces vibratory motion in the trough. The troughs have large widths and lengths to handle volumes of product. Vibration of the troughs and movement of product through the trough cause large forces. Rocker arms stabilize the troughs and prevent lateral motion so that a trough has substantially limited movement: parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trough.
Manufacturing floor layouts and bulk material handling plans from time to time call for a diversion of product flow at a substantial angle, such as at a corner of a building or other obstacle. The prior art uses two separate troughs arranged at the desired angle with appurtenant motors and linkages. Motors on two troughs require synchronization to maintain product flow. Conveyor owners and operators have higher operating and maintenance costs and seek a single motor solution for conveyors at an angle.


Disclosed is an uninterruptible power supply including a switch connected between an external power source and a load, a power supply module connected to the external power source and the switch for receiving and converting an input power and supplying converted power to the load, a battery module connected to the power supply module for storing electric power or supplying electric power to the power supply module, a control module connected to the external power source and the battery module and powered by the external power source or the battery module for generating a control signal according to a specific operating status of the power supply module to manipulate the switch so as to supply power to the load through the power supply module or a bypass route, and a display panel connected to and powered through the control module for receiving and displaying system status information from the control module.

During the operation phase of an electronic system, a clean and continual power supply is a sine qua non for maintaining a normal performance. However, the contemporary public electric power supply system is likely to be degenerated by the breakdown and short circuit occurred to the power lines. Therefore, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) has been widely introduced in the client side applications to fix the problems of the abnormalities encountered by the input power side.
FIG. 1 illustrates an elevation view of a conventional standalone uninterruptible power supply according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional standalone uninterruptible power supply 10 is made up of a display panel 11, a housing 12, a power supply module 13, and a battery module 14, wherein the display panel 11 is mounted on the housing 12 for displaying the system status information of the uninterruptible power supply 10. The housing 12 is configured to receive the power supply module 13 and the battery module 14. The power supply module 13 is the core of the uninterruptible power supply 10, and is made up of a plurality of power conversion elements, including rectifiers, chargers, controllers, inverters, converters, switch devices, and so on. Besides, the power supply module 13 and the battery module 14 are fixedly mounted inside the housing 12.
FIG. 2 illustrates a circuit block diagram of the uninterruptible power supply 10 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the solid arrowheaded lines interconnecting circuit blocks represent power lines and the dashed arrowheaded lines interconnecting circuit blocks represent signal lines. As depicted in FIG. 2, the uninterruptible power supply 10 is connected to an external power source 21 and a load 22, and is made up of a display panel 11, a housing 12, a power supply module 13, a battery module 14, and a switch device 15. The display panel 11 is mounted on the housing 12 for displaying the system status information of the uninterruptible power supply 10. The power supply module 13 includes a microcontroller 131 connected to the display panel 11 for providing the system status information of the uninterruptible power supply 10 for display on the display panel 11. The battery module 14 is connected to the power supply module 13 for storing electric power. The switch device 15 is connected between the external power source 21 and the load 22. When the power supply module 13 or the battery module 14 is to be extracted for maintenance, the switch device 15 can be turned on manually so that the external power source 21 can supply electric power to the load 22 through a bypass route (not shown).
Under normal conditions, the uninterruptible power supply 10 enables the power supply module 13 to perform rectification, filtration, and conversion to the input AC power received from the external power source 21 and supply the converted electric power to the load 22. Meanwhile, the power supply module 13 is configured to charge the battery module 14 and supply electric power to the display panel 11. The microcontroller 131 of the power supply module 13 can provide the system status information of the uninterruptible power supply 10 to the display panel 11 for display. During the operation phase of the power supply module 13, the power supply module 13 can store electric power in the battery module 14. When the external power source 21 is malfunctioned or becomes abnormal, the internal switch device of the power supply module 13 (not shown) performs a switching operation to enable the battery module 14 to supply electric power. Under this condition, the power supply module 13 can convert the electric power outputted from battery module 14 and output the converted electric power to the load 22. Meanwhile, the electric power required for powering the display panel 11 is supplied from the power supply module 13, and thereby the display panel 11 can continue displaying the system status information of the uninterruptible power supply 10.
The conventional standalone uninterruptible power supply 10 requires a manual switching operation to shunt the switch device 15 to a bypass route. Hence, when the power supply module 13 is malfunctioned or needs to be repaired, the uninterruptible power supply 10 can not automatically manipulate the switch device 15 to allow the external power source 21 to supply electric power to the load 22 through a bypass route. As a result, the application field of the conventional standalone uninterruptible power supply will be restricted. Besides, the display panel 11 is powered by the power supply module 13 and driven by the microcontroller 131 for displaying the system status information of the uninterruptible power supply 10. When the power supply module 13 is malfunctioned or extracted from the uninterruptible power supply 10 for repair, the power supply module 13 can not power the display panel 11. Under this condition, the display elements of the display panel, for example, LED devices or LCD devices, can not operate for information display, and thus the user is not possible to obtain the operation data and important system information of the uninterruptible power supply, including input voltage, output voltage, battery status, and working temperature.
There is a need to develop an uninterruptible power supply that can continuously display its system status information when its internal power supply module is inoperable or extracted from the housing of the uninterruptible power supply.


The invention relates to compositions which contain a chlorofluorinated ether and at least one solvent, and their use in thermal absorption apparatus for the generation of heat or cold.. In the compositions according to the invention, the chlorofluorinated ether is 1-difluoromethoxy-1,1,2-trifluoro-2-chloroethane (enflurane: CF.sub.2 H-O-CF.sub.2 CHFCl) and the solvent is selected among aromatic esters and .omega.,.omega.'-dialkylated polyoxyethylene glycols.. The present invention can be particularly applied in the heating and refrigeration areas using absorption systems such as, for example, heat pumps.

The principle of the absorption cycle of such machines is the following: the working fluid, which is initially in the gaseous phase, undergoes condensation, expansion, and vaporization steps, then an absorption step in a solvent fluid. The resulting solution is pressurized again. An increase in the temperature regenerates the working fluid in the gaseous phase in a boiler. The solvent is then sent to the absorption step.
The working fluid-solvent fluid pairs which are most frequently used are the NH.sub.3 -H.sub.2 O and H.sub.2 O-LiBr pairs. However, these pairs exhibit major drawbacks which prevent their use in certain areas, particularly in individualized or collective heating operations. In fact, the NH.sub.3 -H.sub.2 O pair, which is interesting from a thermodynamic point of view, has restricted use because NH3 is toxic. The H.sub.2 O-LiBr pair cannot be used at the low temperatures required in the evaporator when used in a heat pump to heat individual dwellings or group dwellings because of the crystallization of the water.
In an absorption cycle, it is important that the working fluid-solvent fluid pair exhibits good thermodynamic properties, that a satisfactory solubility of the working fluid in the solvent exists, and that it is not toxic and does not crystallize.
In addition, it is preferred that the solvent have a normal boiling point which is preferably higher than 100.degree. C. to facilitate separation in the boiler.
For this purpose, the use of chlorofluorinated hydrocarbons as working fluids with heavy compounds as solvents has already been proposed (Revue Generale de Thermique -Nos. 236-237 (August-September, 1981).
The use of these working fluid-solvent fluid pairs in an absorption cycle is certainly interesting, particularly because the working fluid has a very high solubility in the solvent. However, such pairs decompose at high temperatures when they are in contact with a metal compound, while each component of the pair is thermally stable under the same conditions. However, it is crucial for a heating installation with an absorption cycle to have a working fluid-solvent system which is stable for a period equivalent to 10 years of operation. This is also of crucial important for air conditioning and refrigeration installations.
Consequently, the proposal has been made to inhibit the decomposition reaction by introducing, in these working fluid-solvent fluid pairs, suitable and effective stabilizing additives as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,133.
It has also been suggested to use mixtures of chlorofluorinated hydrocarbons and chlorofluorinated compounds, without the addition of a stabilizer, as fluid pairs for absorption heat pumps, as described in French Patent Application No. 2,575,174 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,391.
It is also possible to use fluorinated compounds which do not belong to the group of chlorofluorinated hydrocarbons having 1 or 2 carbon atoms. An example is European Pat. No. 143,509, which proposes the use, as a working fluid, of fluorinated acyclic (linear or branched) or cyclic hydrocarbons and ethers containing from 3 to 5 carbon atoms, with a general formula which exclusively contains carbon, hydrogen, fluorine, and oxygen, for the ether used.
When fluorinated ethers are used as working fluids, the solvent is tetraglyme or, more generally, any compound with proton-acceptor properties.
The use of fluorinated ethers as working fluids is particularly interesting because these compounds are not toxic and are therefore already used in anesthesia. In addition, these compounds are very soluble in most of the solvents, especially when they contain chlorine atoms. On the other hand, however, the presence of this element results in a lowering of the stability of the working fluid-solvent pair in the presence of metals at temperatures usually reached in the boiler of absorption apparatus.
In fact, it is well known that a chlorofluorinated hydrocarbon of the C.sub.n H.sub.2n+2--y F.sub..times. Cl.sub.y type, when heated in the presence of iron, aluminum, or copper, and a hydrogen donor compound, undergoes a transformation which can sometimes be quantitative, with substitution of the chlorine atoms by hydrogen atoms from the solvent. Thus, it has been shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,133 that 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, under these conditions, leads to trifluoroethane according to the following reaction scheme: ##STR1##
In chlorofluorinated hydrocarbons which contain at least 2 carbon atoms, olefin is formed: EQU CF.sub.3 -CH.sub.2 .multidot.+FeCl.fwdarw.CF.sub.2 .dbd.CH.sub.2 +FeClF
In chlorofluorinated ethers, this instability is amplified by the presence of the ether function. Thus, 1methoxy-1,1, 2-trifluoro-2-chloroethane (CH.sub.3 -O-CF.sub.2 -CHFCl) is completely decomposed after 100 hours at 180.degree. C. regardless of the solvent used. The same holds for 1-difluoromethoxy-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (isoflurane: CF.sub.2 H-O-CHCl-CF.sub.3 with the principal decomposition products resulting from the transfer of the chlorine atom onto fragments of the solvent molecules being: CH.sub.3 Cl, C.sub.4 H.sub.9 Cl, etc.
The preceding references are hereby incorporated by reference.

Compositions based on chlorofluorinated ether and solvent and their application in absorption apparatus


A self-stabilizing pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet that utilizes a semi-ridge retaining strap, a ratcheting retaining buckle, and an elastic guide cord on the lower penetrating end of a wedge-shaped bladder. A rigid baseplate is supported by a waist belt having a width identical with the waist belt so that the baseplate provides a stable base for positioning the bladder over a selected area of the patient's abdomen. The air bladder is affixed to the underside of the baseplate, which is initially kept in a deflated condition collapsed against the baseplate, and includes an elastic cord, such as a shock cord, configured to bias the tip of the wedge or “V” shaped bladder in the middle of the baseplate. An air source connected to the air bladder causes inflation and penetration of the lower edge of the bladder into the patient's abdomen thereby causing aorta occlusion.

Various tourniquet devices that use a wide variety of clamping and/or pneumatic means to apply pressure to various limbs on the body have been attempted. However, prior attempts at cessation of hemorrhage from the major blood vessels of the body at or below the inguinal area have not been no completely successful, especially if attempted on gross battle-field wounds such as leg amputations due to anti-personnel mines or high velocity bullet percussion wounds to the lower extremities. Quite often, such wounds do not provide a satisfactory compressible site to stop arterial hemorrhages and require occlusion of the abdominal descending aorta to cut-off the blood supply to the wound in order to protect the patient's life.
However, compressing the abdominal descending aorta is a difficult exercise. One of the major obstacles to providing an effective portable abdominal aortic tourniquet is in providing a focused compression force over the targeted area on the abdomen to achieve aorta occlusion. Typically, most tourniquets apply a constricting force around the circumference of a limb or over a broad area to reduce total blood flow through the limb. Such a broad application of force is ineffective to reduce or occlude blood flow through the descending aorta proximal to the bifurcation in the abdomen due to the deep location of the aorta in the body. A strong focused pressure is required to reach the descending aorta and reduce blood flow. Prior inventions fail to show or disclose a technique for focusing a compression force in the abdomen to operate as an abdominal aortic tourniquet.
For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0191881 A1 (Amisar et al.) shows a tourniquet that includes a pressure source and a selector lever attached to a cam to facilitate manual selection of a designated pressure. This tourniquet is designed to apply pressure around a limb. There is no teaching in the patent that this device would be effectively usable as an abdominal aortic tourniquet. Further, the air bladder is not a directed air bladder that would focus the compression force, but is rounded to wrap around the limb and spread the pressure force over a broad area. Such a broad application of constricting force is unusable if intended to reduce or occlude circulation through the descending aorta for a non-compressible arterial hemorrhage in the abdominal region.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,459 (Lee) shows an inflatable balloon for use in a tourniquet, and discloses a manual pump for inflating the balloon. U.S. Pat. No. 6,884,254 (Brooks) shows a tourniquet system that includes a lever assisted clamp means for tightening the strap around a limb. This patent is representative of a large section of the prior art that uses mechanical means, as opposed to pneumatic means, to provide a constricting force around a limb, but which fail to provide the directed compression force required to restrict blood flow through the descending aorta.
More recent devices have gotten closer to providing reliable occlusion, but require a relatively high degree of experience and skill to apply the device to a patient to achieve satisfactory occlusion to the descending aorta. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,149,280 (Croushorn) uses a standard quick connect buckle to connect a strap encircling the intended patient and a windlass to tighten the tourniquet prior to inflating an occluding bladder. While effective, the arrangement nevertheless requires relatively precise placement of the bladder over the intended compression area and re-adjustment of the device during inflation to obtain the intended occlusion results. Moreover, the narrow end of the directed air bladder must be guided during inflation to ensure the successful application of pressure to the targeted abdominal area. In a field environment where many types of emergency response personal with varying types of experience and skill are present, successful administration of the device may require successive attempts to achieve aortic occlusion, or if not properly adjusted may only obtain partial aortic occlusion.
The apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,782,182 and 9,351,737 issued to Carmichael also utilizes a combination of a bladder and windlass design to attempt to focus the tip of the bladder into the abdomen to occlude the descending aorta (similarly to Croushorn). However, Carmichael includes a monolithically arranged bladder shape requiring a pocket into which a sealed bladder is inserted, and which provides a protective cover over the sealed bladder once assembled. The design also includes a pair of "wings" depending laterally from the pocket portion to purportedly strengthen and support the bladder against a retaining belt. In one embodiment, Carmichael utilizes a pair of retaining belts affixed to these wings. The Carmichael monolithic bladder arrangement potentially simplifies manufacturing of the bladder by allowing the entire sealed bladder, cover, and wing portions to be made from a single piece of material and welded using a radio frequency welding source. Nevertheless, the Carmichael design, as with Croushorn, does not self-stabilize the tourniquet against a patient to ensure a perfected penetration of the abdomen to cause reliable aortic occlusion.
Therefore, what is needed is a self-stabilizing, portable abdominal aortic tourniquet that can be rapidly applied under field conditions without extensive training or skill by emergency response personnel.

Self-stabilizing portable pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet with ratcheting tensioner