A polarization conversion element includes a phase reversal element and a polarization plane rotation element including a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer has a plurality of regions disposed along circumferential direction with the intersection point of the polarization plane rotation element and the optical axis as the center with alignment directions different from each other. When electric voltage in accordance with the wavelength of linear polarization incident on the polarization plane rotation element is applied, each region rotates the polarization plane of the polarization component transmitted by each region, and thereby converts linear polarization to radial polarization. The phase reversal element reverses, among the first and the second annular portions alternately disposed along the radial direction with the optical axis as the center, the phase of light incident on the first annular portion relative to the phase of light incident on the second annular portion.

Conventionally, an apparatus such as a laser microscope, an optical pickup apparatus, a laser processing machine, has been known which irradiates light beam to an object to thereby detect information on the shape, etc., of the object, or to produce some change in the object. In such an apparatus, it is desirable, in order to achieve high resolution, to obtain a beam spot radiated from a light source and focused on the object with size that is as small as possible. In general, the minimum diameter of the beam spot is defined by diffraction limit, and this minimum diameter is proportional to wavelength of light. Therefore, the shorter the wavelength of light radiated from the light source, the smaller is the diameter of beam spot.
However, a light source that emits light of short wavelength, i.e., a laser emitting violet light or ultra violet light is generally more expensive than a light source that emits light of longer wavelength, for example green light or red light. Also, in general, in the wavelength range from violet to ultra violet, light transmittance of optical material decreases as wavelength becomes shorter. Therefore, an optical material that exhibits high light transmittance for violet or ultra violet light is very limited.
Thus, radial polarization is now attracting much attention. Radial polarization is a polarized light beam in which polarization plane of linearly polarized light is distributed radially with the optical axis as a center. It is reported that, by focusing a light beam of radial polarization with a condenser to a focus, the focused light beam in the focus plane has Z-polarization (i.e., the direction of electric field is same as the direction of propagation of light), so that a light beam can be focused in smaller spot diameter than the spot diameter defined by diffraction limit of X- or Y-polarization). It is also reported that as the range of small beam diameter along the optical axis becomes longer, the larger a depth of focus can be achieved. (See, for example, Chin-Cherng Sun, Chin-Ku Liu, "Ultrasmall focusing spot with a long depth of focus based on polarization and phase modulation", OPTICS LETTERS, Optical Society of America, 2003, vol. 28, No. 2, p. 99-101; and HAIFENG WANG, et. al., "Creation of a needle of longitudinally polarized light in vacuum using binary optics", Nature photonics, 2008, vol. 2, p. 501-505).


The invention is related to numerous improvements for fiber optic measuring systems, and principally those utilizing a deformable diaphragm for sensing pressure. One aspect of the invention is providing temperature compensation for diaphragm characteristics. Temperature measurement can be achieved by using a light signal having a wavelength distribution which overlaps the cut-off characteristics of a filter positioned at the fiber sensing end. Shifting in the cut-off characteristic in response to temperature modulates the intensity of the reflected back temperature compensation signal. In another approach, temperature is measured through its differential effect on light signals having different launching conditions. With either approach, the temperature measurement is used to calibrate the output of the pressure sensitive diaphragm.

This invention relates to improvements in fiber optic sensor systems, and in particular, to the provision of temperature measurement and compensation mechanisms, calibration systems, and additional improvements both in operating methodologies and design features.
Optical fiber sensing systems have found applications in various environments. For example, the measurement of intravascular blood pressure of human patients has been accomplished using equipment manufactured by the present assignee, FiberOptic Sensor Technologies, Inc. (FST) in which a diaphragm at the fiber sensing tip deforms in response to pressure differentials, and thus modulates through a reflection, a light signal sent through the fiber. Changes in the distance between the deformed diaphragm and the optical fiber end, and the diaphragm shape, modulate the amplitude of light that is reflected back into the optical fiber. Accordingly, the intensity of the returned light signal is related to pressure acting on the sensing tip.
Applicants have made numerous advancements in the technology of fiber optic sensing systems which are principally oriented toward pressure measurement. The present assignee, FST also owns U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,711,246; 4,787,396 and 4,924,870, all related to various improvements in fiber optic sensors, and which are hereby incorporated by reference. While the systems in accordance with these prior patents provide excellent performance for the intended applications, applicants are seeking to enhance the application environments which fiber optic pressure sensors may be used in.
One particularly demanding application for a pressure sensor is that of sensing within an internal combustion engine combustion chamber. There are presently numerous sensor approaches toward conducting such pressure measurement to provide real time measurement of combustion chamber pressure, which information can be used for controlling engine operating parameters such as spark timing, air/fuel ratio, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), etc. to optimize engine performance. However, such an application is an extremely demanding one for a sensor. Extreme temperatures and temperature ranges would be encountered during use, with high accuracy and low cost required for such a product. Moreover, the combustion chamber environment exposes the sensor to intense electromagnetic fields, mechanical shock, and a corrosive atmosphere.
In assignees previously issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,870, a technique for compensating a fiber optic measuring system was described. That system is particularly adapted for compensating the pressure reading output of the device with respect to differences in outputs of the light sources used to inject light pulses into the fiber, fiber-to-fiber variations, and the bending effect (i.e. loss of signal resulting from curvature of the fiber). The previously described calibration scheme operates by using a reflective coating at the sensing tip end of the fiber which is reflective to a calibration light signal which is returned along the fiber, whereas the pressure measuring light signal is transmitted through the coating and is modulated by the pressure responsive diaphragm. That calibration scheme is capable of calibrating the pressure responsive light signals for all of the principal variables affecting response along the length of the optical fiber. That system is not, however, capable of compensating for parameters aside from pressure which affect the pressure measuring light signal beyond the filament end. Accordingly, although that "dual wavelength" scheme operates extremely well in environments where temperature ranges are low, and where single uses are contemplated, it has limitations in environments where extreme temperature variations and time dependent changes can be anticipated.
Temperature is the primary source of inaccuracies of high temperature fiber optic pressure sensors operated on the principal of a flexing diaphragm. Temperature fluctuations and extremes affect each of the four primary areas of these sensors including, the: sensing diaphragm; sensing tip; fiber optic link; and the associated opto-electronics and electronics. In particular, high temperature extremes, such as encountered in automotive engine combustion chambers at the sensing diaphragm, and somewhat lower temperature fluctuations at the sensing tip, are the two dominating sources of errors. Large temperature extremes change mechanical properties of the diaphragm, mostly Young's modulus, resulting in temperature dependent deflection. Temperature induced expansion of the elements of the sensing tip change the relative position of the fiber end and the diaphragm, and causes transmission changes through the fiber.
One feature of this invention is a technique for temperature compensation in diaphragm - based fiber optic pressure sensors. The technique is designed to eliminate, or significantly reduce, undesired temperature effects on the deflecting diaphragm, sensor tip, optical link, and electronic interface. An underlying principal of the compensation technique described in this specification is the simultaneous measurement of diaphragm deflection and sensing tip temperature, and real time software correction for the temperature effect.
In accordance with this invention, several methods for temperature measurement are described for enabling temperature compensation. In a first approach, a temperature sensing light signal is chosen to have a wavelength at near the cut-off wavelength (i.e. boundary between high reflectivity and high transmissivity) of a filter coating on the optical fiber end at the sensing tip. Since the cut-off wavelength of a multilayer dielectic film filter changes in accordance with temperature, the intensity of a reflected back signal for a temperature compensating light signal can be used as a measure of temperature. The wavelength can also overlap a region of a sharp peak in transmissivity which is often found in such filter coatings. Since the wavelength of such a peak will shift in response to temperature it also provides a convenient opportunity for temperature measurement.
In another technique for temperature compensation according to this invention, two light signals are injected into the optical fiber having different launching conditions. It has been found that certain transmission modes are affected by temperature in a differential manner for applicants' sensor systems. For example, a launching condition in which the injected light intensity is concentrated mostly along the outer surface of the fiber is attenuated in response to higher temperatures more so than a mode which is concentrated at the center of the fiber, which is only weakly coupled to the fiber outer surface.
Another facet of this invention is a technique for reducing the distortion effect of temperature variation and other factors beyond the optical filament end which does not require actually measuring temperature. This technique is used with dual wavelength systems as described in assignees U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,870 and involves allowing a calibration light signal to be partially transmitted and partially reflected by the filament end filter coating. This approach can be shown to reduce the span of errors which are not directly compensated for through the dual wavelength system.
In addition to the temperature effects mentioned previously, applications in which the same sensor is expected to provide measurements over a period of time gives rise to concern over time dependent changes in the sensing tip. For example, the reflectivity of the deformable diaphragm caused by oxidation or other effects can dramatically alter the intensity of the returned light signal, and hence, affect measurement. In accordance with this invention, a calibration scheme based on zero-setting the system when it is exposed to a known pressure is provided which is specifically oriented to an automotive application.
This specification further describes a temperature shielding feature for fiber optic pressure sensor tips exposed to high temperatures, such as those found in internal combustion engines. By reducing the range of temperatures to which the sensor tip is exposed, some of the temperature dependent effects can be reduced.
In applications where multiple pressure sensors are used, this invention further contemplates techniques for multiplexing a number of identical sensors performing simultaneous pressure measurement.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Embodiments are directed to a helmet. The helmet preferably includes a shell, a suspension, and a connector. The suspension preferably includes a crown strap. The connector preferably couples to the shell and the crown strap. The connector preferably has a shock absorber operatively disposed between the shell and the crown strap to absorb at least a portion of a force of impact delivered to the shell.

Typical helmets, such as hard hats, have a hard shell and a suspension that spaces the shell apart from the wearer's head to spread the force of impact delivered to the shell over the wearer's head. The suspension often includes a headband that surrounds the circumference of the wearer's head (when viewed from above) and crown straps that extend from the headband over the top of the wearer's head to the other side of the headband or to a crown pad positioned at the top of the wearer's head. Connectors connect the hard shell to the headband. When an impact is delivered to the shell (for example, a tool falling from above), the downward force of the impact is transferred to the suspension, which distributes the force over the wearer's head. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved helmet that absorbs more of the force of impact delivered to the shell.


A free radical solution process for making PVP polymers having a molecular weight corresponding to a K-value of about 30-150, a narrow molecular weight distribution represented by a polydispersity of about 3 to 6, and a residual VP monomer level of less than 0.1%, which comprises:. (a) precharging a reaction mixture of vinylpyrrolidone monomer and water in a solids contents w/w VP/H.sub.2 O of about 5-50%, and a dual free radical initiator system which comprises both low and high decomposition temperature free radical initiators whose 10-hour half-life temperature decomposition constants differ from each other by more than 5.degree. C., the low and high temperature initiators being present, respectively, in an amount of about 0.05-0.5%, and about 0.1-0.5%, by weight of the VP monomer, PA1 (b) polymerizing said monomer in said reaction mixture at a temperature near or above the 10-hour decomposition temperature of said low temperature initiator, and PA1 (c) after substantially all of the VP monomer has been converted to PVP polymer, continuing the polymerization at the same temperature as in (b), or at a higher temperature near or above the decomposition temperature of the high 10-hour temperature initiator, to complete the polymerization and to reduce the residual VP monomer level to less than 0.1%.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to free radical solution polymerization, and, more particularly, to polymerization of vinylpyrrolidone (VP) to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer using a predetermined initiator system to control the molecular weight (MW), the molecular weight distribution (MWD), and the residual VP monomer level of the PVP product.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Free radical solution polymerization is used widely in industry to prepare homopolymers and copolymers. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,433,112; 4,554,311; 4,058,655; 4,053,696; 4,330,451; 3,862,915; and 4,886,861. In such process, the monomer, for example, vinylpyrrolidone, the solvent and the free radical initiator, are mixed and reacted at a selected temperature for a given period of time. Control of both the reaction temperature and viscosity of the reactants during the process has been considered essential in order to obtain a polymer of predetermined composition, MW, and viscosity, and having a narrow MWD.
It is also desired to carry out a free radical solution polymerization process so that the residual monomer content is quite low, preferably less than 0.1%. Polymers having a low residual monomer content can be made by adding the initiator in stages, or continuously, during polymerization, or by providing a booster amount of the initiator in the final stage of the process. However, these techniques require rather complicated manufacturing procedures. Furthermore, the viscosity of the reaction mixture increases as polymerization proceeds; accordingly, it was difficult to intimately mix such successive portions of the initiator to the viscous mass which resulted in a localized high concentration of free radicals and a considerable variation in the MW, MWD and viscosity of the final product.
For these reasons, a single initiator is preferred in free radical solution polymerizations. Unfortunately, the resultant initiator concentration after 99% of the monomer has been converted to polymer is too low to effectively reduce the residual monomer level from 1% to less than 0.1%, and in a timely manner.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a process for free radical solution polymerization of monomers to provide polymers of predetermined MW, a narrow MWD, a high viscosity, and a low residual monomer content.
A particular object herein is to provide a process for free radical solution polymerization of vinylpyrrolidone to polyvinylpyrrolidone having a K-value of about 30-150, an MWD of 3-6, and a residual monomer content of less than 0.1%.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be made apparent from the following more particular description.

Free radical solution polymerization of vinylpyrrolidone


A method for processing and communicating breast tissue image data includes obtaining image data of a patient's breast tissue, processing the image data to form a first subset thereof, transmitting the first subset of the image data to a user computer, receiving a user request from the user computer based on the one or more lower resolution images, processing the image data to form a second subset thereof, and transmitting the second subset of the image data to the user computer. The second subset of the obtained image data is responsive to the user request. The first and second subsets of obtained image data are sufficient to generate one or more respective lower and higher resolution images of respective portions of the patient's breast tissue.

Mammography has long been used to screen for breast cancer and other abnormalities. Traditionally, mammograms have been formed on x-ray film. More recently, flat panel digital imagers have been introduced that acquire a mammogram in digital form, and thereby facilitate analysis and storage of the acquired image data, and to also provide other benefits. Further, substantial attention and technological development have been dedicated to obtaining three-dimensional images of the breast using methods such as breast tomosynthesis. In contrast to the 2D images generated by legacy mammography systems, breast tomosynthesis systems construct a 3D image volume from a series of 2D projection images, each projection image obtained at a different angular displacement of an x-ray source relative to the image detector as the x-ray source is scanned over the detector. The constructed 3D image volume is typically presented as a plurality of slices of image data, the slices being mathematically reconstructed on planes typically parallel to the imaging detector. The reconstructed tomosynthesis slices reduce or eliminate the problems caused by tissue overlap and structure noise present in single slice, two-dimensional mammography imaging, by permitting a user (e.g., a radiologist or other medical professional) to scroll through the image slices to view only the structures in that slice.
Tomosynthesis systems have recently been developed for breast cancer screening and diagnosis. In particular, Hologic, Inc. (www.hologic.com), has developed a fused, multimode mammography/tomosynthesis system that acquires one or both types of mammogram and tomosynthesis images, either while the breast remains immobilized or in different compressions of the breast. Other companies have proposed the introduction of systems which are dedicated to tomosynthesis imaging; i.e., which do not include the ability to also acquire a mammogram in the same compression.
Examples of systems and methods that leverage existing medical expertise in order to facilitate, optionally, the transition to tomosynthesis technology are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,924, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,924 describes a method of generating a synthesized 2D image, which may be displayed along with tomosynthesis projection or reconstructed images, in order to assist in screening and diagnosis.
While tomosynthesis systems provide more data to users to facilitate detection and characterization of features of interest ("FOI"), the increased amount of data can sometimes strain data communication channels and data storage facilities. Further, generating multiple 2D and 3D images for tomosynthesis increases demands on computational resources. Accordingly, there exists a need for tomosynthesis systems and methods that minimize the amount of generated, stored, and communicated data.

System and method for reducing data transmission volume in tomosynthesis


An intelligent light emitting diode lamp tube compatible to a T5/T8 electronic ballast comprises a tube body, a circuit board provided with at least one LED lamp string to be disposed in the tube body, an integrated circuit disposed on the circuit board, a selection circuit comprising a first conduction loop and a second conduction loop configured with an inductor, and a switch member connected to the integrated circuit. When the intelligent light emitting diode lamp tube is connected to a self-oscillating electronic ballast or an IC-controlled electronic ballast, the internal arithmetic of the integrated circuit can be utilized to conduct the selection circuit and the switch member to change resonance frequency of electrical circuit, so that effects of low power consumption, high adaptiveness and energy conservation can be attained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit design of a light emitting diode lamp tube, and in particular refers to a light emitting diode lamp tube compatible to a T5/T8 electronic ballast and capable of completely activating the intelligent LED lamp tube and reducing light-up time, attaining effects of low power consumption, high adaptiveness and energy conservation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, T5 or T8 fluorescent lamps are extensively applied to illumination occasions for energy conservation and high power factor. However, with the rapid development of light emitting diode (LED) lamp tube products, T5 or T8 filament heating discharge lamp tubes are gradually replaced. In view of this, a LED lamp tube compatible to a T5/T8 electronic ballast is therefore developed by operators. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a conventional LED lamp tube compatible to a T5/T8 electronic ballast. In FIG. 1, a lamp holder 1 is disposed with an electronic ballast and a LED lamp tube 3 compatible to the electronic ballast 2, in which the LED lamp tube 3 is activated by the electronic ballast 2.
Generally, the electronic ballast 2 can have two classifications, a self-oscillating electronic ballast and an IC-controlled electronic ballast. When the LED lamp tube 3 is connectively conducted to the IC-controlled electronic ballast, an integrated circuit (IC) adopted by the IC-controlled electronic ballast can be utilized to control a control circuit, capable of providing effects of high power factor, low harmonic distortion, high efficiency. FIG. 2 is an equivalent-circuit diagram of a conventional self-oscillating electronic ballast. In FIG. 2, it can be appreciated that resonance of an inductor/capacitor circuit and properties of inductor transformer applied by the self-oscillating electronic ballast is utilized for circuitry control. When the LED lamp tube 3 is connectively conducted to the self-oscillating electronic ballast, a startup frequency and a working frequency of the self-oscillating electronic ballast are discordant due to large diversities of voltage, electrical current and fluorescent lamp tube, and problems of an output current larger than an lamp tube rating current in the electronic ballast, increased power consumption and energy consumption, rapidly-increased temperature rise are therefore derived, resulting in affecting an lamp string of the LED lamp tube 3 and other electrical component and damage of the LED lamp tube 3 and internal system. It can be appreciated that, variation problems of the electronic ballast 2 cannot be determined during the startup period or usage period in the conventional LED lamp tube compatible to the T5/T8 electronic ballast. Accordingly, the inventor provides a light emitting diode lamp tube compatible to a T5/T8 electronic ballast to improve defects of the conventional LED lamp tube compatible to the T5/T8 electronic ballast.

Intelligent light emitting diode lamp tube compatible to T5/T8 electronic ballast


A process for isomerizing xylenes while retaining ethylbenzene in a C8-aromatics stream in liquid phase uses a gallium-substituted pentasil zeolite in the absence of hydrogen.

The xylene isomers are important intermediates which find wide and varied application in chemical syntheses. Para-xylene is a feedstock for terephthalic acid which is used in the manufacture of synthetic textile fibers and resins. Meta-xylene is used in the manufacture of plasticizers, azo dyes, wood preservers, etc. Ortho-xylene is feedstock for phthalic anhydride production.
The proportions of xylene isomers obtained from catalytic reforming or other sources generally do not match demand proportions as chemical intermediates, and further comprise ethylbenzene which is difficult to separate or to convert. Para-xylene in particular is a major chemical intermediate with rapidly growing demand, but amounts to only 20-25% of a typical C8-aromatics stream. Adjustment of isomer ratio to demand can be effected by combining xylene-isomer recovery, such as adsorption for para-xylene recovery, with isomerization to yield an additional quantity of the desired isomer. Isomerization converts a non-equilibrium mixture of the xylene isomers which is lean in the desired xylene isomer to a mixture approaching equilibrium concentrations.
Various catalysts and processes have been developed to effect xylene isomerization, and these usually are differentiated by the manner of processing ethylbenzene associated with the xylene isomers. Ethylbenzene is not easily isomerized to xylenes, but it normally is converted in the isomerization unit because separation from the xylenes by superfractionation or adsorption is very expensive. A widely used approach is to dealkylate ethylbenzene to form principally benzene while isomerizing xylenes to a near-equilibrium mixture. An alternative approach is to react the ethylbenzene to form a xylene mixture via conversion to and reconversion from naphthenes in the presence of a solid acid catalyst with a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation function.
Catalysts containing molecular sieves have become prominent in these approaches to xylene isomerization in the past few decades. U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,400 teaches liquid-phase isomerization and disproportionation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons using a crystalline aluminosilicate catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,872 teaches xylene isomerization and ethylbenzene conversion with a catalyst containing ZSM-5, -12, or -21 zeolite. U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,891 discloses a catalyst for the isomerization of a mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene comprising a platinum-group metal, gallium-substituted pentasil zeolite and zirconia-alumina matrix. U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,258 discloses a process for isomerization of a major amount of xylenes and minor amount of ethylbenzene over gallium-containing, crystalline silicate molecular sieves as an improvement over aluminosilicate zeolites ZSM-5, ZSM-12, and ZSM-21. U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,866 discloses a liquid-phase process using two catalysts comprising beta zeolite and low Si/Al2 MTW for the isomerization of xylenes and ethylbenzene.
In contrast to the known art for isomerizing xylenes with effective conversion of ethylbenzene, the present invention features high retention of ethylbenzene while isomerizing xylenes. This approach enables effective further processing of the isomerized product with selective conversion of ethylbenzene to paraxylene. Alternatively, the product from the present process could be separated to recover ethylbenzene as well as para-xylene and/or other xylene isomers. In yet other embodiments, ethylaromatics can be preserved when isomerizing alkylaromatic feed mixtures containing higher alkylaromatics such as ethyltoluene.

Selective aromatics isomerization process


A cycling shoe can include a hook that, when used together with another device, such as with a rubber band, can position the shoe on a bicycle in a desired position. The shoes can be clipped into pedals on the bicycle, and the hook and rubber band can be used to position the shoes and crank arms of the bicycle in the position desired by the user. The hook can be on the arch side of the shoe. The hook can be separate from the tightening system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of cycling footwear, and more particularly to a cycling shoe utilized in a multi-sport event, such as a triathlon cycling shoe.
2. Description of the Related Art
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall course completion time, including timed transitions between the individual swim, bike, and run components. Other multi-sport events include dualthlons, which include one or more running and cycling stages, and off-road triathlons with a swim stage, mountain-biking stage, and a trail-running stage. The order of the various stages may depend on the particular event.
Many multi-sport events, such as those discussed above, include a transition between two different sports. For example, the transition can involve discarding gear necessary to perform one sport and obtaining gear necessary for the next sport. In some instances, multi-sport events may include little to no transition. The time taken during the transitions between the different sports generally counts against the overall time and can be a significant factor in the overall results. Many systems and methods are used to decrease these transition times.


A combined braking system in which communicative connection a master cylinder and a brake caliper is cut off by an electromagnetic on-off valve, and hydraulic pressure, corresponding to driving conditions and a braking operation, is generated by an electrically-operated actuator of a hydraulic pressure modulator. Hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic pressure modulator operates on the brake caliper, whereas a psuedo-reaction force which has been generated by a reaction force modulator operates on the master cylinder. The reaction force modulator is configured to include: a fluid chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid which has flowed therein from the master cylinder; a piston to constitute a wall of the fluid chamber; and a metal-made coil spring and a deformed plastic resin spring, both of which apply a force to the piston. The braking system provides a braking operation having a smooth feeling which is similar to that given by a direct-operation-type brake system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brake system for a motorcycle. It particularly relates to a brake system for a motorcycle which causes hydraulic pressure generated by an electrically-operated actuator to function on wheel braking mechanism depending on driving conditions and a braking operation of the motorcycle. The brake system can simultaneously cause a pseudo-reaction force to function on a brake operation apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
A brake system employing what is called a by-wire method (hereinafter referred to as a "by-wire method") is known in the art. According to this type of brake system, an amount of operation of a brake operation lever, such as a hand lever or foot pedal, is detected electrically. Based on the detected value, the wheel braking mechanism, such as a wheel caliper, is operated by hydraulic pressure which has been generated by a hydraulic pressure modulator. An example of this type of brake system is described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Official Gazette No. Hei. 5-39008. The brake system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Official Gazette No. Hei. 5-39008 has the following schematic configuration.
Specifically, with regard to this type of brake system, a hydraulic pressure modulator which generates hydraulic pressure by use of an electric pump (electrically-operated actuator), a reservoir, a control valve and the like are merged and connected with a main brake line connecting wheel cylinders (wheel braking mechanism) of the respective wheels and a master cylinder which moves in response to a brake pedal (brake operation lever). In addition, a normally-open-type electromagnetic on-off valve is provided in a position in the main brake line. The position of the electromagnetic on-off valve is located toward the master cylinder from a portion in which the main brake line and the hydraulic pressure modulator are connected with each other. The electromagnetic on-off valve is a fail safe device. The electromagnetic on-off valve is energized, and blocks the path between the electromagnetic valve and the master cylinder, while a regular braking operation is performed. In addition, hydraulic pressure is generated by the hydraulic pressure modulator. The hydraulic pressure is generated corresponding to a detection value which has been found by electrically detecting an amount of operation of the brake pedal, and to other driving conditions of the vehicle.
Furthermore, this type of brake system is provided with a reaction force modulator. The reaction force modulator causes a pseudo reaction force against the hydraulic pressure to function on the master cylinder corresponding to an amount of operation of the brake pedal, while the electromagnetic on-off valve shuts off the main brake line. Thereby, this type of brake system is designed provide a braking operation which transmits a smooth feel to the toes of a driver in accompaniment to operation of the brake pedal. The reaction force modulator includes a fluid chamber which receives hydraulic fluid which flows into from the master cylinder. The fluid chamber is separated and formed by a piston and a cylinder. The piston is energized by a single coil spring in a direction which causes the piston to reduce the volume of the fluid chamber. In the reaction force modulator, reaction force against hydraulic pressure corresponding to displacement of the coil spring always functions on the master cylinder.
With regard to this conventional type of brake system, however, the reaction force against hydraulic pressure to be generated by the reaction force modulator is provided by the single coil spring. For this reason, it is difficult for this type of brake system to give the driver a braking operation in which the feel is not ragged, and to give the driver a braking operation in which the feel is similar to that generated by a brake system which directly operates a wheel braking unit by use of pressure generated by a master cylinder (hereinafter referred to as a "direct-operation-type brake system"). In other words, with regard to the direct-operation-type brake system, a moderate rise of reaction force continues during a predetermined length of stroke in an initial phase of braking operation, and a relatively steep rise of reaction force is caused along with some degree of damping resistance after the stoke exceeds the predetermined length. However, it is virtually impossible for characteristics of this kind to be reflected on a braking operation feel by reaction force caused by a reaction force modulator having only a single coil spring.
In addition, it is conceivable that use of an electric servo mechanism or the like in the reaction force modulator would reproduce operational reaction force which is similar to that generated by the direct-operation-type brake system. However, forming a reaction force modulator which includes such devices leads to a larger size and heavier weight of the brake system. This is not suitable especially for a motorcycle which is required to be smaller in size and light in weight.
Furthermore, in the aforementioned conventional brake system, an electromagnetic on-off valve (channel switching valve) is installed in the fluid path which connects the master cylinder and the reaction force modulator so that the electromagnetic on-off valve is interposed between the master cylinder and the reaction force modulator. The conventional brake system is designed to cause the electromagnetic on-off valve to control flow of hydraulic fluid into the reaction force modulator. In this system, however, the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder into the reaction force modulator, and return of the hydraulic fluid from the reaction force modulator into the master cylinder, are always carried out through the same single path. For this reason, the electromagnetic on-off valve sometimes closes the path before the hydraulic fluid has been completely returned from the reaction force modulator into the master cylinder, depending on operating conditions of the electromagnetic on-off valve. In this case, a feeling of changed braking operation is apprehended the next time the brake system is operated.
With this taken into consideration, it is an object of the present invention to provide a brake system for a motorcycle which provides a feeling of braking operation which is similar to that given by the direct-operation-type brake system, to be obtained even though the brake system is designed to operate the wheel braking mechanism by use of the by-wire method.


A switch-free multi-cutting mode shearing tool includes a shearer including a first handle and a second handle pivotally connected together, a cutter blade pivoted to the first handle, a link pivoted to the second handle, and a pushing element mounted at the second handle. The cutter blade has a cutting edge protruding over a front end of the first handle, an actuation portion projecting between the first and second handles, an elongated slot located in the actuation portion and a plurality of engagement grooves inside the elongated slot. The link has a pin located at a movable end thereof and inserted into and movable along the elongated slot and selectively engageable into one of the engagement grooves, such that when the first and second handles are closed toward each other, the pushing element is forced to touch and push the actuation portion of the cutter blade.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shearing tool technology, and more particularly to a switch-free multi-cutting mode shearing tool, which allows the user to shear branches through one of multiple cutting modes.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Many short pruning shears (gardening shears) for use in gardening to prone branches of trees and shrubs are known and seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,520,905, 3,851,389 and 4,094,064. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,064, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the pruning shears comprise a labor-saving structure 20 located at a rear end of a cutter blade 10 thereof. This labor-saving structure 20 comprises an elongated slot 201 located near the rear end of the cutter blade 10, a series of engagement grooves 202 located at a top side inside the elongated slot 201, and a lever 203 having one end pivotally connected to the elongated slot 201. The lever 203 has a pin 204 located at the pivotally connected end and selectively movably engageable in one of the engagement grooves 202 in the elongated slot 201. The other end of the lever 203 is pivoted to one handle 30. When pruning a branch of a tree, the lever 203 can be moved with the handle 30 to engage the pin 204 into the last engagement groove 202 in the elongated slot 201. Thus, the user can apply a force through the pin 204 to the engaged engagement groove 202, forcing the cutter blade 10 to cut into the branch with less effort. If the grip force applied by the user is insufficient, the user can release the handle 30 slightly, enabling the pin 204 to be shifted to another engagement groove 202 (see FIG. 2), and then press the handle 30 to move the lever 203 again, forcing the pin 204 against the newly engaged engagement groove 202 to further force the cutter blade 10 into the branch. Thus, the user must repeatedly press and release the labor-saving structure-equipped pruning shears so as to cut off the branch. This design of pruning shears simply provides one single operating mode.
When using pruning shears to shear a thin branch of a tree, the pruning shears should be able to cut off the thin branch through one cut. However, due to the design of the aforesaid labor-saving structure 20, the user is urged to employ a segmented force operating mode. Some other improved designs are then developed as seen in U.S.20120047750, U.S.20130031786 and EP2637493. According to these designs, a movable element is provided for enabling the pruning shears to provide two operating modes. This movable element is adapted for stopping against the cutter blade or the lever at a selected location. When the user manually switch the movable element to stop at the rear end of the cutter blade, the pruning shears enter a single-stage cutting mode, and the user can cut off the branch with the pruning shears through one single cut. If the movable element is moved away from the cutter blade, the cutter blade is returned to the multi-stage cutting mode as shown in the aforesaid FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
However, when using the pruning shears that provide two cutting modes, the user must select the desired cutting mode prior to pruning the branches, however, the user cannot easily determine which cutting mode to be selected, for example, when pruning a branch having a diameter about 1 mm, the user may be unable to decide which cutting mode is better. Further, different branches of different trees have different hardness (for example, a 2 mm diameter dry branch and a 2 mm diameter plant stem have different hardness), in this case, the user will be unable to decide which cutting mode should be employed. More particularly, if the user cannot cut off the branch using the single-stage cutting mode, the user cannot directly shift the pruning shears from the single-stage cutting mode to the multi-stage cutting mode. At this time, the user must remove the pruning shears from the branch, and then shift the pruning shears from the single-stage cutting mode to the multi-stage cutting mode, and then attach the pruning shears to the branch again to cut off the branch. Although these dual cutting mode pruning shears allow the user to selectively use the single-stage cutting mode or multi-stage cutting mode, it is still not satisfactory in function.

Switch-free multi-cutting mode shearing tool


A method for a high-sensitivity quantitative analysis of bile acid in a bile acid-containing sample utilizes a reagent comprising:. (1) a steroid dehydrogenase which is capable of effecting a reversible reaction producing oxobile acid using bile acid, as a substrate, and a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate compound (hereinafter referred to as an NADP compound) or a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide compound (hereinafter referred to as an NAD compound) as coenzyme; PA0 (2) a compound A.sub.1 selected from the group consisting of NADP compounds and NAD compounds, in an amount surplus relative to the amount of bile acid; PA0 (3). (i) compound B.sub.1 selected from the group consisting of a reduced NAD compound and a reduced NADP compound, compound B.sub.1 being a reduced NAD compound, when A.sub.1 is an NADP compound, and a reduced NADP compound, when A.sub.1 is an NAD compound, or PA1 (ii) a compound B.sub.2 which is an oxidized product of B.sub.1, or PA1 (iii) a mixture of B.sub.1 and B.sub.2, where the amount of B.sub.1 plus B.sub.2 is less than 1/100 of the molar amount of A.sub.1, and PA1 (iv) a second dehydrogenase which does not react with bile acid and compound A.sub.1, but does effect a reaction converting compound B.sub.2 into compound B.sub.1, and the substrate of the second dehydrogenase.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of high-sensitive analysis of bile acid, especially bile acid in living body samples.
2. Description of the Background Art
Analysis of bile acid in samples taken from living bodies, such as serum and the like, is important for clinical diagnosis of liver functions as well as for elucidating the cause of such diseases as jaundice, cholelithiasis, and the like.
Conventionally, various methods have been reported for the analysis of bile acid containing cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, and the like. One of the methods recently used for clinical diagnosis involves the use of 3.alpha.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and, as a coenzyme, either a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide compound (hereinafter referred to as NAD) or a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate compound (hereinafter referred to as NADP). Reduced NAD (hereinafter referred to as NADH) or reduced NADP (hereinafter referred to as NADPH) produced in an amount in proportion to the amount of bile acid is then quantitatively measured (Japanese Patent Publication No. 13197/1984). The method, however, is liable to be influenced by bilirubin, and thus requires separation of bile acid in advance. This, in turn, requires a large amount of samples for the analysis. Another drawback of this method is in its low sensitivity. The use of high-sensitivity coloring agents has been proposed in order to overcome this drawback [Proceedings of the 33th of Annual Meeting of Japan Society of Clinical Pathology, 123 (1986); ibid., the 34th Annual Meeting, 124 (1987)]. This method, however, does not bring about a complete solution to the problem.
Another method comprises converting 3-oxosteroid produced into 3-oxo-.DELTA.4-steroid by the action of 3-oxo-.DELTA.4-steroid dehydrogenase for producing formazan twice as much as an amount in conventional method for colorimetric determination. A kit for carrying out this method is commercially available. This method, however, brings about no more effects than making the sensitivity twice as much as that obtained from conventional method.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 36758/1988 discloses a method for the analysis of bile acid by means of an enzymatic cycling reaction of NADH or NADPH which is produced in an amount proportionate to the amount of bile acid. In order to increase the amount of NADH or NADPH by an enzymatic cycling reaction for obtaining a better sensitivity in the analysis, this method requires a step of eliminating surplus NAD or NADP by decomposition with heating in an alkali. Since this involves a complicated procedure, the method is disadvantageous when applied to clinical investigation purposes which require analysis of a large number of samples.
In view of this situation, the present inventors have undertaken extensive studies about the mechanism of the reversible reaction in which oxobile acid is produced using bile acid as a substrate. As a result, the inventors discovered that steroid dehydrogenases derived from normal microorganisms reacted with NADs as conenzymes but hardly reacted with NADPs, and further that a commercially available 3.alpha.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase [produced by Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd. "Enzyme Catalog" No. T-27, page 53)] derived from Pseudomonas sp. B-0831 (FERM BP-2376) belonging to the genus Pseudomonas reacted with both NAD and NADP compounds as coenzymes.
Furthermore, the present inventors have found that when a reversible cycling reaction was carried out in a reaction system in which oxobile acid is produced from bile acid using the above steroid dehydrogenase, and an NAD compound or an NADP compound, respectively, as a coenzyme, in the presence of an NADPH compound or an NADH compound, respectively, the amount of NADH or NADPH produced linearly increased over time and its rate of increase was proportionate to the amount of bile acid.
These findings have led to the completion of the present invention.

Method of high-sensitive analysis of bile acid and reagent composition for the analysis


Pryrazine compounds are obtained by reacting ammonium ions, an aldehyde, and a 1-hydroxy-2-ketone by heating and refluxing an aqueous medium containing the same wherein at least the ketone is introduced dropwise to obtain a reaction medium containing pyrazine compounds, and after which, the pyrazine compounds are isolated from the reaction medium.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of pyrazines, more particularly trialkyl pyrazines which are useful in food applications.
Alkyl pyrazines are important flavour components which are formed during the cooking of many kinds of foods. Generally, they impart roasted or burnt aromas to cooked foods. There is an expectation of an increase in the usage of alkyl pyrazines in the food industry, especially in the booming market of microwaveable foods.
The formation of alkyl pyrazines in foods has been extensively studied using carbohydrate-ammonia model systems. But these types of reactions always give a complex mixture of products with low total yields.
Chiu, et al., J. Agric. Food. Chem. 38, 58-61 (1990) describe an investigation of the effect of long chain aldehydes on the formation of long-chain alkyl-substituted pyrazines in model systems of acetol (hydroxy acetone-a 1-hydroxy-2-ketone) and ammonium acetate (known precursors of pyrazines in food systems) with and without the addition of pentanal or hexanal (well known degradation products of lipids). However, it has been found that the yields of the trialkyl pyrazines are only of the order of about 0.5%.


A data communication apparatus has the capability of properly requesting another data communication apparatus to transmit a notification message as to the result of relay broadcasting and has the capability of properly receiving the notification message thereby preventing an unacceptable request from being sent and a useless notification message from being returned. When a request for relay broadcasting is issued via a sub-address signal, a selection is made as to whether or not to request transmission of a notification message as to the result of relay broadcasting. Depending on the selection made above, a request is issued for transmission of a notification message as to the result of relay broadcasting as well as a request for relay broadcasting. When the data communication apparatus receives a message representing whether or not a relaying apparatus to which the request for relay broadcasting has been issued has the capability of transmitting a notification message as to the result of relay broadcasting, the data communication apparatus requests, in accordance with the notification message received from the relaying apparatus, the relaying apparatus to return a notification message as to the result of relay broadcasting. When the selection is made so as to request transmission of a notification message as to the result of relay broadcasting, if the relaying apparatus does not have the capability of transmitting a notification message as to the result of relay broadcasting, a message is displayed to notify a user that a notification message as to the result of relay broadcasting will not be received.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data communication apparatus, and more particularly to a data communication apparatus such as a facsimile device capable of transmitting a sub-address signal according to the ITU-T recommendation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional facsimile devices capable of transmitting a sub-address signal, it is possible to issue a sub-address signal to request a receiving facsimile device to perform relay broadcasting. However, there is no standard or recommendation as to relay broadcasting result notification returned from a facsimile device that performs relay broadcasting in response to a request to a facsimile device that issued the request.
A problem arising from the absence of the standard is that when a facsimile device that has requested relay broadcasting wants to receive notification of the result of relay broadcasting, a facsimile device that has performed relay broadcasting in response to the request sometimes sends no notification of the result of the relay broadcasting. In some cases, when a facsimile device that has requested relay broadcasting does not need notification of the result of relay broadcasting, a facsimile device that has performed relay broadcasting in response to the request sometimes sends notification the result of relay broadcasting.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data communication apparatus capable of requesting and receiving notification of the result of relay broadcasting to or from another data communication apparatus in an adequate manner that prevents an unacceptable request from being sent and a useless notification message from being returned.


The invention provides a projection system and a light-homogenizing device adjustment element for adjusting the position of a light-homogenizing device. The light-homogenizing device adjustment element has an actuator, and the actuator leans against one side of the light-homogenizing device and has a plurality of curved surfaces with different radii of curvature. When the actuator rotates, different curved surfaces push the light-homogenizing device to cause the light-homogenizing device to move in at least one direction from an initial position.

a. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display system and an optical device adjustment element, particularly to a projection system and a light-homogenizing device adjustment element.
b. Description of the Related Art
US patent publication no. 20090262315 discloses a position adjustment mechanism using adjusting screws and an elastic member to adjust the position of an integration rod. China patent publication no. 101354463 discloses a position adjustment mechanism using push members and an elastic member to adjust the position of an integration rod. China patent publication no. 101477242 discloses an illumination system having a light source, a light-homogenizing device, a zoom lens group, and a zoom driving device. The light-homogenizing device is actuated by a drive mechanism.
However, according to the above designs, the use of adjusting screws making the position adjustment for an integration rod is liable to interfere with other components inside the housing of an optical engine to reduce operational convenience. Therefore, practically, the entire optical engine is disassembled and additional tooling or other adjusting tool is needed to achieve the position adjustment. This is very inconvenient for the operation on position adjustment or damage repair. Besides, the adjusting tool is liable to interfere with other components inside the optical engine to complicate the adjusting process or even fail to achieve the position adjustment. Moreover, the additional jig or adjusting tool increases the number of components and fabrication costs.

Projection system and light-homogenizing device adjustment element


A method for process monitoring includes receiving a sample having a first layer that is at least partially conductive and a second layer formed over the first layer, following production of contact openings in the second layer by an etch process, the contact openings including a plurality of test openings having different, respective transverse dimensions. A beam of charged particles is directed to irradiate the test openings. In response to the beam, at least one of a specimen current flowing through the first layer and a total yield of electrons emitted from a surface of the sample is measured, thus producing an etch indicator signal. The etch indicator signal is analyzed as a function of the transverse dimensions of the test openings so as to assess a characteristic of the etch process.

Contact hole production is a commnon step in semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing. The contact holes are typically used to make electrical connections to a semiconductor or metal layer through an overlying non-conducting (dielectric) layer, such as an oxide layer, or partially-conductive layer. In order to produce contact holes, a layer of photoresist is deposited on the wafer surface. The photoresist is exposed to ultraviolet or other radiation, hardened and developed in order to form a "mask" over the wafer, with openings at the locations of the contact holes. Then the wafer is transferred to an etch station to form the contact holes through the non-conducting layer down to the semiconductor layer. The photoresist mask is then removed, and the contact holes are filled with metal. A similar process is used in producing trenches or vias in the wafer surface.
In order to ensure consistent device performance, the depth, width and bottom surface cleanliness of contact openings must be carefully controlled. (In the context of the present patent application and in the claims, the term "contact openings" refers to all structures of the type described above, including both contact holes, vias and trenches. Certain techniques for inspecting contact openings and monitoring their production, however, are described by way of example with specific reference to contact holes.) Deviations in the dimensions of contact openings can lead to variations in the contact resistance. These variations can have a serious impact on device performance and can lead to loss of process yield. The manufacturing process must therefore be carefully monitored and controlled, in order to detect deviations in formation of contact openings as soon as they occur and to take corrective action to avoid the loss of costly wafers in process.
It is known in the art to use a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to inspect contact holes and other contact openings. The principles of the SEM and its use in microanalysis of semiconductor device structures are described, for example, by Yacobi et al., in Chapter 2 of Microanalysis of Solids (Plenum Press, New York, 1994), which is incorporated herein by reference. Because contact holes are typically much deeper than they are wide, a special high aspect ratio (HAR) imaging mode is used, as described by Yacobi et al. Open contact holes, which reach down through the dielectric layer to the semiconductor below, appear bright in the image, while closed holes, which do not fully expose the semiconductor layer, are dim.
HAR techniques using a SEM are time-consuming and costly to implement, and they become impractical at very high aspect ratios (roughly >10), which are used in some integrated circuits, such as DRAM. They are also not capable of distinguishing between different types of, blockage that can cause contact holes to be closed (for example, under-etching of the holes, as opposed to deposition of residues in the bottoms of the holes). Furthermore, HAR imaging techniques can generally be used only after the photoresist mask has been cleaned from the wafer surface. Consequently, there is no possibility of continuing the etching process if it is discovered upon inspection that the contact holes have been underetched.
An alternative method for contact hole inspection is described by Yamada et al., in "An In-Line Process Monitoring Method Using Electron Beam Induced Substrate Current," in Microelectronics-Reliability 41:3 (March 2001), pages 455-459, which is incorporated herein by reference. The substrate current in an electron beam system, also known as the specimen current, absorbed current or compensation current, is defined as the absorbed current that flows or would flow from the primary electron beam to ground (earth) via the specimen (i.e., via the wafer). In other words, the specimen current is equal to the difference between the primary beam current (i.e., the current of electrons in the electron beam that irradiates the specimen in the system) and the total yield of electrons emitted from the surface of the specimen due to secondary and backscattered electrons (adjusted for any local charging effects or time constants). The specimen current can be either positive or negative, depending on whether the energy of the primary electron beam is in the positive- or negative-charging domain of the specimen. (The phenomena of positive and negative charging by e-beam irradiation are described in the above-mentioned reference by Yacobi et al.) Yamada et al. directed an electron beam at single contact holes and groups of holes in a SiO2 surface layer overlying a silicon substrate, and measured the resultant specimen current. They found that the specimen current was a good indicator of hole-bottom oxide thickness, as well as of the hole diameter.
Yamada et al. describe further aspects of contact hole measurement in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0070738 A1, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. Semiconductor devices are inspected by measuring the specimen current in an area of a sample having no contact holes as a background value, and comparing this value to the current measured in the area of a hole. A current waveform is automatically evaluated in order to determine whether the measurement is indicative of a defect of the device or of manufacturing equipment used in producing the device.


The present invention relates to hydrophobic modified preS-derived peptides of hepatitis B virus (HBV) which are derived from a HBV preS consensus sequence and are N-terminal preferably acylated and optional C-terminal modified. These hydrophobic modified preS-derived peptides of HBV are very effective HBV entry inhibitors as well as HDV entry inhibitors and are, thus, suitable for the inhibition of HBV and/or HDV infection, prevention of primary HBV and/or HDV infection as well as treatment of (chronic) hepatitis B and/or D. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical and vaccine compositions comprising these hydrophobic modified preS-derived peptides of HBV.

Today, about 2 billion people carry serological markers of HBV. About 400 million of them are chronically infected with HBV. According to the center of disease control (CDC) 15-25% of chronically HBV infected people are prone to develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within a decade if they do not receive appropriate treatment (1). HBV-related HCC has a poor prognosis and HBV has therefore been classified by the world health organization (WHO) as the most important naturally occurring human carcinogen. Despite the existence of a prophylactic vaccine, the number of infections will rise in the upcoming decades due to the increasing world population and the limitation of prophylaxis in the poor countries.
In industrial countries HBV is primarily transmitted via the parenteral route. 90-95% of the acutely infected, immuno competent individuals clear the virus, thereby gaining life long immune protection. About 5-10% of them develop chronic Hepatitis B (300,000-500,000 persons in Germany). In contrast, in high endemic areas, particularly Central Africa and Eastern Asia, the main mode of transmission is vertically from mother to child. Unfortunately, infection of not fully immunocompetent children results in a 90-98% chronic course of the disease. Hepatitis B-related HCC is therefore the most common malignancy in many of these countries.
Currently approved therapeutic regiments for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections either address replication steps of the viral genome after an already established infection (Lamivudine, Adefovir, Entecavir) or act as modulators of the immune system (interferon alpha). Unfortunately, only 10-25% of the patients preserve a sustained virological response upon such therapies, reflecting—inter alia—the fast selection of nucleo(s)tide resistant mutants. Despite the availability of a preventative vaccine, it is therefore of utmost importance to develop novel therapeutics that target so far unaffected replication steps e.g. virus entry.
Specific inhibition of virus entry is an attractive therapeutic concept to control and eventually eliminate acute and chronic infections. For HIV, interference with virus entry has been successfully accomplished by a gp41 protein-derived peptide consisting of 36 amino acids (Fuzeon®) which prevents fusion of the viral and the cellular membrane (2).
Despite of the availability of a prophylactic vaccine and reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors, the number of HBV-infected people and the number of HBV-related deaths worldwide (presently about 500,000 per year) is increasing. About two thirds of primary liver cancers are attributable to persistent HBV infection (3).
Current treatment pursues two strategies: (i) interferon (IFN alpha) treatment modulates immune responses against HBV and displays a direct antiviral effect, which leads to long-term clinical benefit in about 30% of treated patients without eradication of the virus; (ii) administration of viral reverse transcriptase inhibitors suppresses viral replication and is accompanied by significant biochemical and histological improvements after one year of treatment. However, long-term treatment is associated with the emergence of resistant virus strains (4).
HBV is the prototype of a family of small, enveloped DNA viruses of mammals and birds (5). The HBV envelope encloses three proteins termed L-(large), M-(middle) and S-(small) (see FIG. 1A). They share the C-terminal S-domain with four transmembrane regions. The M- and L-protein carry additional N-terminal extensions of 55 (preS2) and, genotype-dependent, 107 or 118 aa (preS1) (see FIG. 1B). In virions the stoichiometric ratio of L, M and S is about 1:1:4, while the more abundantly secreted non-infectious subviral particles (SVPs) contain almost exclusively S- and only traces of L-protein (6). During synthesis, the preS1-domain of L is myristoylated and translocated through the ER. This modification is essential for HBV infectivity (7, 8).
Studies of the early events of HBV infection have been limited, since neither cell culture systems nor small animal models were available until recently (9). The development of the HBV susceptible cell line HepaRG facilitated systematic investigations of HBV entry and resulted in the discovery of envelope protein-derived entry inhibitors (10).
Furthermore, to date there exists no effective therapy for HDV infection, a satellite virusoid utilizing HBV envelope proteins for the entry into hepatocytes (15, 17, 20). There is a need in the art to provide effective therapies against HDV infection.
Thus, the present invention aims to improve the methods and means for the inhibition, prevention and/or treatment of HBV infection and other HBV-related diseases as present in the prior art and it is, thus, an objective of the present invention to provide improved methods and means which allow for a targeted and effective inhibition, prevention and/or treatment of HBV infection and HBV-related diseases.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide methods and means for the inhibition, prevention and/or treatment of HDV infection and HDV-reiated diseases.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hydrophobic modified pres-derived peptides of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and their use as HBV and HDV entry inhibitors


An identifying coding apparatus employing modulated reflectance technology involving a base station emitting a RF signal, with a tag, located remotely from the base station, and containing at least one antenna and predetermined other passive circuit components, receiving the RF signal and reflecting back to the base station a modulated signal indicative of characteristics related to the tag.

Modulated reflectance is a technology that has multiple uses for low power RF telemetry and communication applications of many types. A full description of basic modulated reflectance operation is contained in U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,372, issued Aug. 13, 2002, to Neagley et al. One application of this technology is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/187,025, filed Jun. 28, 2002, by Briles et al., entitled "Remote Down-Hole Telemetry."
The basic principles of modulated reflectance, as described in the issued patent above, are:                1. The "base unit" sends a carrier RF signal to a "remote unit", also known as the reflector unit.        2. The "remote unit" modulates the RF signal and reflects a portion of the modulated signal back to the "base unit."        3. The "base unit" receives the modulated signal from the "remote unit," completing two-way communication.
The advantages of the modulated reflectance technology are many, but one of the most important is the fact that the "remote unit" requires either no or minimal power to reflect the signal back to the "base unit." Therefore, in many cases, the "remote unit" does not require batteries or other sources of electrical power. This is an important advantage for portable or remotely located modulated reflection devices.
These features of modulated reflectance make it of use in many applications. Among these are oil well logging, local-area computer networks, and cell phone related applications. However, the present invention applies the technology in diverse situations in which remote monitoring of persons or equipment without a power source on the remote unit is important.
All of the embodiments disclosed herein are directed toward identification and location methods for persons and property. Although for different applications, each embodiment shares the primary concept of this invention.

Identification coding schemes for modulated reflectance systems

The Regents of the University of California


In a fuel-cell two-wheeled vehicle, a cooling liquid pouring pipe extending from a pipe line of a cooling system to a cooling liquid supply port member is provided in a winding path so as to pass both side portions, a front portion, and a left rear portion of an axis of a head pipe. The cooling liquid supply port member is located on a central axis of width of the vehicle in the vicinity behind the head pipe. A hydrogen sensor for sensing hydrogen gas in the cooling liquid pouring pipe is mounted on an inside surface of a cap for closing an opening. The cap is removably provided.

In recent years fuel-cell vehicles have been developed in which a motor is supplied with electric power generated by a fuel cell system to drive wheels. In the fuel cell system, the chemical reaction of hydrogen gas and oxygen as reaction gas generates electric power in a fuel cell stack (hereafter simply referred to as "fuel cell"). Here, the oxygen is taken in via a compressor from air and the hydrogen gas is supplied from a high-pressure fuel cylinder.
The fuel-cell vehicle has a hydrogen sensor for sensing hydrogen gas and a mounting structure in which the hydrogen sensor is mounted via a bracket between roof members (see, for example, JP-A No. 291849/2003). According to such a mounting structure, the hydrogen sensor is arranged at a high position to be able to improve the accuracy of sensing hydrogen leakage, which is preferable.
The structure disclosed in JP-A No. 291849/2003 is applied to a four-wheeled vehicle having a roof and it is difficult to apply the structure to a two-wheeled vehicle having no roof. Moreover, a two-wheeled vehicle is smaller in size than a four-wheeled vehicle and hence it is desired to utilize a mounting space effectively.
Further, a common fuel-cell vehicle is provided with a liquid-cooled cooling system for cooling the fuel cell and it is desired to more surely sense that hydrogen gas is mixed in the pipe of the cooling system.
The present invention has been made in consideration of such a problem. One object of the present invention is to provide a fuel-cell two-wheeled vehicle having a sensor mounted in an effective arrangement space and capable of sensing hydrogen gas more surely. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuel-cell two-wheeled vehicle that more surely senses hydrogen gas mixed in the pipe of a cooling system.

Two-wheeled fuel-cell vehicle with hydrogen sensor


A wire straightening tool contains: a press portion, an urging portion, and a rotation portion. The press portion includes a fixing orifice, the urging portion is an urging element mounted on a bottom of the press portion away from the receiving orifice and configured to urge the press portion to return back to an original position after pressing the press portion. The rotation portion is accommodated in the receiving orifice of the press portion, and the rotation portion includes a rotatable knob and a wire removal element. The rotatable knob has a coupling orifice passing through the rotatable knob, and the wire removal element is received in the coupling orifice. The wire removal element has multiple through orifices defined thereon.

A wire (such as a telephone wire or a network wire) is applied to send signals, wherein the wire is twisted and is covered by an insulation layer. However, when connecting the wire to a socket or other electric components (such as a controller, a motor, a sensor, and a switch), a part of the insulation layer on the wire has to be straightened so as to connect with a socket or other electric components electrically.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to straighten the insulation layer from the wire. Moreover, the wire is broken when straightening the insulation layer therefrom.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.


Techniques to cross-reference information for application programs are described. An apparatus may comprise a first application program to create notes for an operator, a second application program to display a target document, and a context reference module to generate a context reference for the target document indicating a source for the target document, display the context reference, and associate the context reference with a note. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

User information may be created and maintained using many different application programs and systems. In some cases, information from one application program may be made available to another application program, essentially becoming shared information. For example, a word processing application program may be used to generate a word processing document containing embedded spreadsheet information maintained by a separate spreadsheet application. As modifications are made to the spreadsheet information, the modifications are automatically replicated to the embedded spreadsheet information in a dynamic manner. Since shared information is managed by multiple application programs, however, accessing shared information from one or more application programs could be inefficient or cumbersome from a user perspective. Consequently, there may be a need for improved techniques for managing and accessing shared information between multiple application programs in an efficient and effective manner to solve these and other problems.

Techniques to associate information between application programs


The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for using a single electrode structure for both resection and ablation. Generally, the electrode structures of the present invention comprise fixed wire shapes which avoid the complexity and binding that often result when known rolling ablation elements are powered to the high electrosurgical potentials required for removal of tissues. Electrosurgical energy requirements are minimized by concentrating potential at narrow cutting surfaces, and physician effort is avoided by minimizing the total profile of the device along a selected cutting axis. In the exemplary embodiment, a serpentine wire has multiple electrosurgical elements which are aligned with a low cutting profile, and which provide a large lateral surface area for simultaneous ablation of uterine and other tissues.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electrosurgical devices, and in one particular aspect, provides a serpentine electrode which is adapted for removing tissue, and for sliding over a tissue surface for ablation and/or coagulation.
Electrocautery has been in use for many years as a surgical technique. For example, it is known to use electrosurgical cutting elements in transcervical fibroid removal to sever and remove uterine tissues. Such severing of tissues requires electrical potentials at high voltage settings, typically being an alternating current of between about 100 KHz and 2.2 GHz, and between about 500 and 16,000 volts. This energy is transmitted from a small cutting surface of a surgical instrument to the tissues at the surgical site. Uterine cavity distension can facilitate this electrosurgical procedure, typically with a nonconductive fluid such as sorbitol-mannitol or the like under sufficient pressure to separate the walls of the uterus and render the surgical site suitable for optical fiber observation. The cutting surface usually consists of a wire or other solid shape, and the transmission of current to the tissue is often monopolar, with the circuit completed by a conductive pad applied to the patient's skin.
More recently, bipolar electrocautery systems and devices have been proposed for use in conductive solutions such as saline. These bipolar devices often incorporate a return path through a relatively large conductive surface near the cutting wire, so that the energy is concentrated only at the cutting surface adjacent the target tissues.
In both monopolar and bipolar systems, heat generated from the resistance of tissues to the concentrated flow of electrical current is high enough to vaporize cells near the cutting surface. Thus, a cut is made with very little physical resistance from the small cutting surface. Small diameter electrosurgical cutting wires minimize total physician effort, particularly when severing relatively large amounts of tissues. Heat from the cutting element can also cauterize smaller blood vessels, so that visibility remains reasonably good.
Electrosurgical resistance heating may also be used at much lower power densities to coagulate bleeding tissues, and to kill selected areas of tissue through ablation. Ablation/coagulation electrodes are generally much larger in surface area and cross-section than electrosurgical cutting wires. These large, specialized electrodes treat broad surfaces without penetrating the tissue. Electrosurgical ablation probes are used within the uterus to kill the endometrial lining, often using a conductive roller ball or barrel to heat a wide swath of tissue with each stroke. Once again, distention with a conductive or nonconductive medium can help expose the uterine lining.
While these differing electrosurgical methods have been largely successful, they suffer from significant disadvantages. In particular, it is often desirable to use a cutting device for resection of fibroids, and during the same procedure, to cauterize any bleeding blood vessels or to ablate alternative portions of the uterus. Generally, this requires removal of the resection wire from the distended uterus and insertion of a roller ball or roller barrel electrode. This electrode removal and replacement significantly increases the time required for each procedure, and can complicate the fluid pressurization method and system to maintain distention throughout both procedures.
It has previously been proposed to use a single electrode structure for both cutting and ablation. Unfortunately, the drag from known large ablation electrodes adds substantially to physician effort during removal of tissues. In addition, high power settings associated with vaporization and severing of tissues results in a build-up of hardened electrosurgical debris and tissue on the rolling ablation elements. This tissue and debris build-up can prevent rolling and interfere with visibility. While two different electrode structures can be included in a single probe, this adds to probe cost, complexity, and size, and may result in a less maneuverable device.
In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide improved electrodes, electrosurgical systems, and electrosurgical methods. It would be particularly advantageous to provide enhanced structures and techniques to facilitate resection, ablation, and coagulation with a single electrode. Preferably, these improvements would minimize physician effort and avoid tissue adherence effects, but would not significantly increase complexity or cost over known electrosurgical systems.
2. Description of the Background Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,964 describes a bipolar instrument having a stationary electrode and a movable electrode. U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,280 describes a pivoting multiple loop bipolar cutting device, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,610 describes a grooved slider electrode for a resectoscope, in which the electrode may have a number of different configurations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,201 describes an endometrial ablation apparatus and method. U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,743 is directed toward a coiled radio frequency electrode treatment apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,423 describes an ablation catheter, while U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,649 describes an alternative method and apparatus for radio frequency ablation. European Patent Application No. 0,316,995 is also relevant.


A battery system may include a plurality of unit batteries each having a panel shape and stacked in series. The system may also include a plurality of heat conduction plates each having a panel shape and inserted between the unit batteries such that a first part of each respective heat conduction plate is inserted between opposing faces of corresponding unit batteries, with upper and lower faces of each respective heat conduction plate being in contact with the opposing faces of the corresponding unit batteries, and a second part of each respective heat conduction plate is exposed to an outside of the stacked unit batteries. The system may further include at least one heat pipe thermally coupling the plurality of heat conduction plates by successively penetrating the exposed second parts of the heat conduction plates, with an end of the heat pipe being thermally coupled to a heat radiator after penetrating a last heat conduction plate.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a high voltage battery for vehicles with improved cooling efficiency and, more specifically, to a battery system and a temperature controlling unit that reduces the number or size of battery packages, and remedy situation of a unit battery not providing required power to an electric vehicle due to high temperature or situation of the battery being exposed to temperature which may significantly impair the durability of the battery.
Description of Related Art
A battery is made of a module which is formed by stacking a plurality of thin plate cells, and a plurality of modules is connected together in series to form a battery package. In the battery pack, heat is produced during charging and discharging by a chemical reaction, and the charging and discharging capacity of the battery varies with the temperature of the cells. Thus, it is required to maintain the cell temperature within an appropriate range such that the inner temperature of the battery is maintained at predetermined temperatures, for example, 25 to 40 degrees, during operation.
Therefore, a system for removing heat generated from a high-voltage battery is indispensible for an electric-powered vehicle using such a battery. The cooling system of the electric-powered vehicle is classified into water-cooling and air-cooling systems, in which the air-cooling system is preferred in most cases, as the water-cooling system has drawbacks of a complicated structure and high cost in spite of good cooling efficiency.
In the air-cooling system, cooling efficiency varies with the structure of a cooling path, and the uniform distribution of cooling air is particularly important when the number of modules is increased for realizing an increase in the capacity of battery.
The most important factor when cooling the battery of an electric-powered vehicle will be the highest temperature of the battery and a temperature difference between unit battery cells. The highest temperature of the battery may be efficiently controlled by adjusting the amount of cooling air, and the temperature of inlet air. Although the temperature difference between battery cells may be reduced by improving the structure of the duct system to some extent, the temperature difference inevitably occurs between battery cells.
Although in an ideal case a reduction in the temperature difference between battery cells may be achieved by providing the same amount of cooling air to each cooling path between each unit cell, this solution cannot be realized in a real system. Thus, in actual systems, merely attempting to provide a uniform amount of cooling air to each cooling path is all that is possible, but such an approach has limitations.
Disregarding insignificant structural differences, most conventional cooling systems arrange battery cells linearly, and provide cooling air from a sirocco fan by using a duct system. Characteristics of the sirocco fan and duct system accordingly restrict the uniform distribution of cooling air. As a result, the uniform cooling of each battery cell is not achieved, thereby causing a temperature deviation between battery cells, e.g. 5° C., so a desired battery capability through the optimization of cell temperature cannot be secured.
An environmentally friendly vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery should have a system for cooling the battery, and control the cooling system to prevent the battery from reaching an overheated state.
Conventional cooling of the high-voltage battery is achieved by drawing the interior air of the vehicle into the battery, and blowing this air into the space between each cell of the battery. As the above described system compulsorily blows air between cells, each flow path has a different flow resistance which deteriorates uniform cooling and makes flow noise. Additionally, the accumulation of foreign substances over time, such as dust, may cause serious problems.
If the cooling of the high-voltage battery is not sufficient, the battery may be overheated leading to deterioration of the battery, and in severe cases, may cause a safety problem such as a battery explosion. When the battery is charged or discharged, evaporation gas is generated in the electrolyte of the battery by electro-chemical reaction, and this gas may enter into the passenger compartment of the vehicle to cause a problem of air pollution in the compartment. Though, until now, there have been no restrictions regulating the interior air of the vehicle, an appropriate countermeasure is needed in anticipation of predicted legislation that will require regulating the interior air of electric vehicles.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Battery system and temperature controlling unit thereof


Disclosed is an apparatus capable of suppressing a fire of a battery pack when a fire occurs at the battery pack. The fire suppression apparatus includes a fire detection sensor for detecting the probability of fire occurrence at a battery pack, a fire-extinguishing chemical tank containing a fire-extinguishing chemical in an inner space therein, and a control unit for allowing the fire-extinguishing chemical of the fire-extinguishing chemical tank into the battery pack when fire occurrence is detected by the fire detection sensor.

Recently, the demand for portable electronic products such as notebooks, video cameras, cellular phones or the like is rapidly increasing, and energy storage batteries, robots, satellites or the like are developed in earnest. Accordingly, a high-performance secondary battery allowing repeated charging/discharging is actively studied.
Secondary batteries commercially used at the present include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries or the like, among which the lithium secondary batteries are in the limelight due to their very low self-discharge ratio, high energy density and free charging/discharging since a memory effect does not substantially occur in comparison to nickel-based secondary batteries.
Recently, due to exhaustion of carbon energy and increased interest in the environment, hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles are becoming the focus of public attention all over the world, including US, Europe, Japan and Korea. For such vehicles, the most important component is a vehicle battery which gives a driving force to a vehicle motor. Since the hybrid electric vehicle or the electric vehicle obtains a driving force by means of charging/discharging of the battery, they ensure better mileage in comparison to a vehicle using only an engine and discharges little to no pollution, which is one of the growing reasons why people choose to use such vehicles.
Meanwhile, one of the most important social issues in relation to batteries is safety. The use of batteries is not only increasing in small-sized devices such as notebooks and cellular phones but also in middle-sized or large-sized devices such as vehicles and power storage systems. Also, since the explosion or fire of a battery may damage a device to which the battery is mounted and can lead to additional conflagration, the safety of the battery is of major concern.
In particular, middle-sized or large-sized batteries used for hybrid electric vehicles or electric vehicles demand even stricter safety requirements. Such middle-sized or large-sized batteries generate high voltage, which in itself cause a lot of heat. Moreover, in cases of a battery for a vehicle, if a battery pack is excessively operated at high temperature during the hot summer time or great impact is applied to the battery due to an accident such as vehicle collision, causing an internal short circuit or a protection function to malfunction, a fire may occur at the battery for a vehicle.
If a fire occurs at the battery for a vehicle as described above, the fire is not limited to damaging just the battery but can spread to the vehicle, which may obviously cause property damage, but also lead to risking the safety of the person in the vehicle. Moreover, on the road, a vehicle fire may spread to other vehicles and cause traffic congestion, which may result in even more serious damage.

Fire suppression apparatus for a battery pack


An electromechanical keeper is disclosed that includes a base plate adapted for being mounted to a flat surface, a catch member pivotally supported by the base plate, and a solenoid having a solenoid shaft. The catch member is adapted to engage the pawl of a latch when the catch member is the closed position and the catch member is not engageable by the latch pawl when the catch member is in the open position. The solenoid shaft engages a cavity or bore in the catch member to retain the catch member in the closed position. The solenoid shaft disengages from the cavity or bore in the catch member to allow the catch member to rotate to the open position when the solenoid is energized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electromechanical keeper for use with a slam-action latch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Slam-action latches are used to releasably secure panels, covers, doors, electronic modules, and the like to other structures such as compartments, containers, door frames, other panels, frames, racks, etc. Slam-action latch as used herein refers to any type of latch having a pawl biased toward the closed or extended position. When, for example, a door to which the slam-action latch is mounted is slammed shut, the pawl is automatically moved to the retracted or open position by contact with a keeper or doorframe to allow the door to move to the fully closed position. Once the door is in the fully closed position the pawl returns to the closed or extended position to engage a keeper or door frame and thereby secure the door in the fully closed position. Hence the term slam-action latch.
Although keepers for use with slam-action latches are known in the art, none offers the advantages of the present invention. The advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the attached description and drawings.


A utility lamp system for use in outdoor and indoor locations in a convenient manner. The device includes a main housing with an electrical receptacle within, a clamp structure movably attached to the main housing, a bulb housing extending from the main housing, and a cover pivotally attached to a lower end of the bulb housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to utility lamps and more specifically it relates to a utility lamp system for use in outdoor and indoor locations in a convenient manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Examples of patented devices which may be related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,703 to Tsao; U.S. Pat. No. 360,952 to Lee; U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,431 to Greedy; U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,562 to Glassford; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,535 to Rominger et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 367,540 to Lee; U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,207 to Petkovic; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,526 to Shaffer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,496 to Hart et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,970 to Hollenbach et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,341 to Liao; U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,948 to Currie; U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,752 to Rogers et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,874 to Spiteri.
While these lamp devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for use in outdoor and indoor locations in a convenient manner. Conventional lamp devices are not suitable for usage within both outdoor and indoor locations for extended periods of time.
In these respects, the utility lamp system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional methods of use and structures of the prior art, and in so doing provides a lamp device primarily developed for the purpose of use in outdoor and indoor locations in a convenient manner.


A horizontal germanium silicon heterostructure photodetector comprising a horizontal germanium p-i-n diode disposed over a horizontal parasitic silicon p-i-n diode uses silicon contacts for electrically coupling to the germanium p-i-n through the p-type doped and n-type doped regions in the silicon p-i-n without requiring direct physical contact to germanium material. The current invention may be optically coupled to on-chip and/or off-chip optical waveguide through end-fire or evanescent coupling. In some cases, the doping of the germanium p-type doped and/or n-type doped region may be accomplished based on out-diffusion of dopants in the doped silicon material of the underlying parasitic silicon p-i-n during high temperature steps in the fabrication process such as, the germanium deposition step(s), cyclic annealing, contact annealing and/or dopant activation.

Recent innovations in silicon optoelectronic materials have led to the development of silicon optoelectronic devices. Where possible, it would be useful to leverage the large scale investments made in standard silicon CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) design and processing in the development, design and manufacture of silicon optoelectronic devices. In some cases, existing CMOS processes and tools may be leveraged to manufacture silicon optoelectronic devices. However, some challenges remain. For example, in some cases, the unique combination of Ge and Si can be exploited to improve the sensitivity of optical receivers operating in the near infra-red (NIR) regime due to the absorption properties of germanium in conjunction with the carrier multiplication properties of silicon; however, incorporating germanium into the standard silicon CMOS processes can be problematic. For example, the standard CMOS technology for establishing a contact to silicon material isn't as effective for reliably establishing a good quality contact to germanium. Furthermore, standard design platforms such as computer aided design (CAD) systems require a new set of design rules for integrating germanium into designs such as standard and/or custom CMOS designs. Technology gaps related to germanium integration into CMOS processes may hamper the design, development and manufacturability of a variety of new devices.

Germanium silicon heterostructure photodetectors