A system for semiconductor wafer manufacturing, comprises a chamber process path for processing the wafer, and a device operable to remove particles from the wafer by electrostatic and electromagnetic methodologies wherein the device is installed in the chamber process path.

During the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, unwanted particles are often deposited on wafers from known or unknown sources. Such deposition may occur on various layers of a wafer, such as the substrate, photoresist layer, photo mask layer, and/or other layers of the wafer. As the dimensions of wafers continue to decrease, the presence of even a few particles may adversely affect the quality of the semiconductor device and result in the reduction of yield. For example, due to the presence of one or more particles on the surface of a wafer, an etching process may result in an undesired uneven surface.
Accordingly, manufacturers strive to remove undesirable particles from wafers. However, previously available art is focused on passively detecting defects caused by the presence of particles. Frequently, manufacturers simply impose such responsibilities upon the operators, who are already burdened with the ordinary operational tasks. Since the probability of particle deposition on the wafers is random, it is challenging to identify the root cause of the deposition and means for eliminating them. As a result, semiconductor devices have to been discarded due to defects caused by the presence of particles that should have been removed.

System and method for removing particles in semiconductor manufacturing

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A system and method for determining vehicle wheel misalignment. The method includes accumulating the hand-wheel position using a hand-wheel sensor over a predetermined sampling period, and then comparing the accumulated hand-wheel position to previously accumulated hand-wheel positions to provide an indication of wheel misalignment. Because a vehicle will typically be driven so that the right turns will substantially equal the left turns over a sufficiently large sampling period, the accumulated hand-wheel position should average out to be about zero, unless there is a wheel misalignment which would cause the vehicle operator to continuously turn the hand-wheel in one direction when driving straight. Therefore, if the accumulated hand-wheel position exhibits a consistent algebraic deviation and shows a progressive increase over multiple sampling periods, the confidence of wheel misalignment will increase.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a system and method for determining vehicle wheel misalignment and, more particularly, to a system and method for determining vehicle wheel misalignment that includes algebraically accumulating the hand-wheel position over a sampling period to determine if the averaged hand-wheel position is significantly turned.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
When a vehicle is manufactured, the orientation of the front wheels of the vehicle is calibrated to provide optimum steering performance and handling of the vehicle. However, various factors, such as wear and tear of the suspension components, age of the vehicle, impacts with, for example, pot holes and parking lot stops, etc., may cause the front wheels of the vehicle to become misaligned, which could affect steering performance and vehicle stability. An indicator typically used to determine wheel misalignment under straight-ahead driving conditions is whether the hand-wheel is centered. If a vehicle's front wheels are misaligned, the vehicle operator can overcome the misalignment by turning the hand-wheel enough so that the vehicle tracks in a straight ahead direction. Because vehicle misalignment has a potential impact on vehicle performance and stability, it is desirable that the vehicle operator be informed of the wheel misalignment so that the vehicle can be serviced and the alignment corrected.
For some wheel misalignment occurrences, such as a severe impact with a pothole, the wheel misalignment may be sufficiently dramatic so that the vehicle operator will immediately notice that the wheel misalignment has occurred and can have the vehicle serviced. However, most wheel misalignments are relatively minor, where it would not be noticed by the vehicle operator, but still could have significant affects on wheel wear and vehicle stability.
It is known in the art to determine vehicle wheel misalignment, and provide an indication to the vehicle operator of the misalignment. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,574,539 and 6,650,980, both titled Steering-Wheel Torque-Based Detection of Misalignment of a Vehicle Steering System, disclose such a system that makes use of torque measurements when a vehicle is driven straight to determine whether or not the wheels are misaligned. However, the wheel misalignment detection systems disclosed in these patents use fairly complicated processes. Simpler systems for providing wheel misalignment detection can be provided.

Algorithm for early detection of wheel misalignment using on-vehicle instrumentation


The invention comprises a preparation of X-S-Cys-X, moiety, BRAUNMYCIN Î>>, where X maybe naturally linked peptide or glycan residues essential for iron-reductase activity, as well as methods of obtaining preparation from an iron-nitriloacetic acid iron binding jaw, BRAUNMYCIN8567, a component of a batch affinity column; and any interpretation derived from this outcome, like, but not limited to, detection of resistance, to iron-containing antibiotics, in DNA synthesizing cells.

Iron (II) is an important molecule to pathogens. Iron (II) can be acquired from Iron (III), the more readily available form, by reductase activity. According to Brown et al, 2002, Rev Microbes and Infection 4(11): 1149-1156, Iron (II) can be utilized by most pathogens for the purpose growth and virulence. Previously, genetic studies by Kadner, et al, J. Bacteriol. 143:256-264. (1980), show that drug resistance, in Eschericia coli, to iron containing antibiotics, can result from gene mutations in its iron uptake genes.
The invention relates to a preparation comprising X-S-Cys-X peptide moiety, hereon referred to as BRAUNMYCINÎ>>, (where Î>> is equal to X-S-Cys-X.) for iron-reductase activity; and methods of obtaining purified iron-binding, iron-reductase, moiety, using a iron-nitriloacetic acid jaw, Fe3+ or 2+-NTA, IBPJAW, hereon, referred to as BRAUNMYCIN8567, as an accessory, in batch affinity chromatography; and the interpretation of this activity, like its use in detecting resistance to iron-containing antibiotics in Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, producing cells. X, as used above, maybe either or both of glycan sugars, or peptide sequences >0.12 kDa in length.
The present invention was developed from studies utilizing genetic information on pneumococcal genetic sequences relating to iron acquisition genes previously made public through the NCBI gene Bank database, under gene accession number AF338658.1; GI 18478640 at http://www.tigr.org (2002), by Olisa, N. R., et al, reported earlier In Abstracts of The 100th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology B-22, p.45 (2000) by the same author. The present invention, has been developed to function as an accessory in batch affinity chromatography.
The present invention was evaluated using a Streptococcus pneumoniae wild type Rx1 strain, a spontaneous albomycin resistant strain alb−, isolated from Rx1, and a genetically induced albomycin resistant strain, created as a result of the reverse genetics of a major pneumococal iron acquisition gene, pia−in Rx1. The choice of S. pneumoniae as a model, stems from the fact that the organism in question displays a scrupulous need for iron (II). According to studies performed by Tai et al, 1993, Infect. Immun. 61:5401-1087, S. pneumoniae lack siderophore. Based on this information, theoretically, they should have well-developed cell wall iron-reductase for use in iron acquisition.
The present invention was used to purify unique X-S-Cys-X peptides from cell wall iron-reductase in Rx1. The inability of the present invention to purify same sequences in mutant strains, formed the scientific basis for detecting albomycin resistance in alb−, and pia− mutants. Albomycin, is an iron-containing antibiotic, and natural siderophore produced by Streptomyces spp. In example, we use albomycin, as a marker, for iron-reductase activity, since killing by the antibiotic occurs when iron present in its molecules are reduced or taken up.
The uniqueness of the present invention was determined after extensive databases searches in the achieves of the US patent and trademark office, using the key words iron-reductase, and iron-nitriloacetic acid. When iron-reductase was used in search, results yielded a single insignificant match. It appears that Zenno et al, 1995, was awarded a U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,631 for a gene encoding an enzyme, flavin, with reducing activity and nitroreductase activity. This gene, the enzyme, as well as their techniques are unrelated to ours. The pure form of the functional X-S-Cys-X moiety from iron-reductase, targeted by our preparation, may or may not contain glycan sugars. Furthermore, our technique is not genetic, it is a batch affinity protocol, and computational proteomics that uses, a unique JAW to capture glycan sugar containing peptides of the S-Cys, mass spectrometry sequencing, and database searches. Finally, in reference to the database search, there were no matches using the key word iron-nitriloacetic acid.

Purified Cys moiety for iron reductase, and method for obtaining and using same


Oligonucleotide analogues are provided that incorporate 5-aza-cytosine in the oligonucleotide sequence, e.g., in the form of 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (decitabine) or 5-aza-cytidine. In particular, oligonucleotide analogues rich in decitabine-deoxyguanosine islets (DpG and GpD) are provided to target the CpG islets in the human genome, especially in the promoter regions of genes susceptible to aberrant hypermethylation. Such analogues can be used for modulation of DNA methylation, such as effective inhibition of methylation of cytosine at the C-5 position. Methods for synthesizing these oligonucleotide analogues and for modulating nucleic acid methylation are provided. Also provided are phosphoramidite building blocks for synthesizing the oligonucleotide analogues, methods for synthesizing, formulating and administering these compounds or compositions to treat conditions, such as cancer and hematological disorders.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to design, synthesis and application of oligonucleotide analogues which are useful as therapeutics, diagnostics as well as research reagents. Oligonucleotide analogues are provided that incorporate an analogue of cytosine, 5-aza-cytosine, in the oligonucleotide sequence, e.g., in the form of 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine or 5-aza-cytidine. Such analogues can be used for modulation of DNA methylation, especially for effective inhibition of methylation of cytosine at the C-5 position by more specifically targeting the CpG islets of the human genome. Methods for synthesizing these oligonucleotide analogues and for modulating C-5 cytosine methylation are provided. In particular, phosphoramidite building blocks and oligonucleotides containing decitabine (5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine; D), DpG-rich (Decitabine-phosphodiester linkage-Guanosine) islets and derivatives, are provided. Also provided are methods for preparing, formulating and administering these compounds or compositions as therapeutics to a host in need thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Decitabine is currently being developed as a new pharmaceutical for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), non-small cell lung (NSCL) cancer, sickle-cell anemia, and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Two isomeric forms of decitabine can be distinguished. The β-anomer is the active form, which is shown in FIG. 1. Decitabine possesses multiple pharmacological characteristics. At the molecular level, it is incorporated into DNA during the S phase of cell cycle. At the cellular level, decitabine can induce cell differentiation and exert hematological toxicity. Despite having a short half-life in vivo, decitabine has an excellent tissue distribution.
One of the functions of decitabine is its ability to specifically and potently inhibit DNA methylation. DNA methylation is an epigenetic effect common to many systems. This modification involves the covalent modification of cytosine at the C-5 position (1a″). Methylation patterns are stably maintained at CpG dinucleotides by a family of DNA methyltransferases that recognize hemimethylated DNA after DNA replication. Inside the cell, decitabine is first converted into its active form, the phosphorylated 5-aza-deoxycytidine, by deoxycytidine kinase, which is primarily synthesized during the S phase of the cell cycle. The affinity of decitabine for the catalytical site of deoxycytidine kinase is similar to the natural substrate, deoxycytidine (Momparler et al. 1985 Mol. Pharmacol. 30:287-299). After conversion to its triphosphate form by deoxycytidine kinase, decitabine is incorporated into replicating DNA at a rate similar to that of the natural substrate, dCTP (Bouchard and Momparler 1983 Mol. Pharmacol. 24:109-114).
CpG-rich sequences of housekeeping genes are generally protected from methylation in normal cells. In cancerous cells, aberrant hypermethylation in promoter region CpG-islands of tumor suppressor genes is one of the most common events associated with progression of the tumorigenic phenotype. Each class of differentiated cells has its own distinct methylation pattern. Incorporation of decitabine into the DNA strand has a hypomethylation effect. After chromosomal duplication, in order to conserve this pattern of methylation, the 5-methylcytosine on the parental strand serves to direct methylation on the complementary daughter DNA strand. Substituting the carbon at the C-5 position of the cytosine for nitrogen interferes with this normal process of DNA methylation. The replacement of cytosine with decitabine at a specific site of methylation produces an irreversible inactivation of DNA methyltransferases. Decitabine behaves faithfully as a cytosine residue until DNA methyltransferase enzymes attempt to transfer a methyl group to the hemimethylated DNA strands of the daughter cells. At this step the DNA methyltransferase enzyme is covalently trapped by decitabine in the DNA and cannot further silence (methylate) additional cytosine residues (Juttermann et al. 1994 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11797-11801). This unique mechanism of action of decitabine allows genes silenced (that were once methylated) from previous rounds of cell division to be re-expressed. The active trap is present in the hemimethylated DNA up to 48 hours after decitabine treatment. After further DNA synthesis and cell cycle division, progeny strands from the hemimethylated DNA result in DNA strands that are completely unmethylated at these sites (Jones P. 2001 Nature 409: 141, 143-4). By specifically inhibiting DNA methyltransferases, the enzyme required for methylation, aberrant methylation of the tumor suppressor genes could be reversed.
Despite its proven antileukemic effects in CML, MDS, and AML, the potential application of decitabine has been hampered by delayed and prolonged myelosuppression. Lower doses of decitabine, given over a longer period of time, have minimized myelosuppression to manageable levels without compromising its ability to suppress cancer via its hypomethylation effect. At higher doses, the associated toxicity was prohibitive. However, treatment of hematologic and solid tumors at maximally tolerated doses of decitabine has been ineffective. The cause of myelosuppression is not clear. It is plausible that since decitabine is randomly and extensively incorporated into the DNA of S phase cells, including bone marrow cells that are involved in normal hematopoiesis, the severe DNA damage due to the instability of decitabine leads to necrosis. Since incorporation of decitabine is not restricted to only the CpG-rich sequences, the DNA can break, due to the instability of decitabine, and require repair at numerous sites outside of the CpG islands.
Decitabine and azacitidine are unstable in aqueous media and undergo hydrolytic degradation. In acidic medium, decitabine is hydrolyzed at room temperature to 5-azacytosine and 2-deoxyribose. In neutral medium at room temperature, the opening of the triazine ring takes place at the 6-position to form the transient intermediate formyl derivative, which further degrades to the amidino-urea derivative and formic acid (Piskala, A.; Synackova, M.; Tomankova, H.; Fiedler, P.; Zizkowsky, V. Nucleic Acids Res. 1978, 4, s109-s-113.). This hydrolysis at the 6-position occurs in acidic and basic aqueous media at even faster rates.
In view of the chemical instability and toxicities associated with decitabine, there exists a need to develop not only more stable derivatives of decitabine but superior hypomethylating agents, where incorporation is localized to the CpG islands as much as possible or hypomethylation is achieved without significantly affecting the integrity of the DNA.

Oligonucleotide analogues incorporating 5-aza-cytosine therein


The radiation directivity of radio waves can be controlled more easily over a wider range by using the disclosed dielectric lens. A dielectric lens element having a curved surface is bonded to one of the surfaces of a laminate element in the shape of a flat plate in which a plurality of dielectric layers whose relative dielectric constants are different for adjacent layers are laminated. By controlling the distribution mode of the relative dielectric constants in the laminate element, the radiation directivity for the entire dielectric lens apparatus can be controlled; therefore, the radiation directivity can be controlled more easily over a wider range. A focal point may be positioned within or at the surface of the laminate element, and a signal processing circuit may be formed within and/or at the surface of the laminate element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric lens apparatus employing a solid dielectric. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dielectric lens apparatus for use in a high frequency band.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 3 shows a conventional typical dielectric lens 1.
A dielectric lens 1 has a curved surface 2 which is formed into, for example, a convex surface. Such a dielectric lens 1 functions to refract radio waves 3 which enter from the curved surface 2 side so they converge at a focal point 4.
However, a dielectric lens 1 such as that shown in FIG. 3 has the following problems.
First, the radiation directivity of the radio waves 3 is determined substantially by the shape of the dielectric lens 1 and the dielectric constant of the dielectric which forms the dielectric lens 1. For this reason, the dielectric lens 1 arranged as shown in FIG. 3 has only a small degree of freedom concerning radiation directivity, and so it is relatively difficult to control radiation directivity.
Also, since the focal point 4 is positioned outside the dielectric lens 1, if an obstacle is present between the dielectric lens 1 and the focal point 4, as a matter of course, the radio waves 3 will be shielded, causing the dielectric lens 1 not to function as a lens.


A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller to modify sound produced by a gaming application according to an otological profile of a user. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

It is common today for gamers to utilize more than one gaming accessory. This is especially true of gamers who play Massively Multiplayer On-line (MMO) games in a team or individual configuration. Gamers can have at their disposal accessories such as a keyboard, a general purpose gaming pad, a mouse, a gaming console controller, a headset with a built-in microphone to listen to sounds produced by a gaming application and to communicate with other players, a joystick, a computer display, or other common gaming accessories.
A gamer can frequently use a combination of these accessories in one game (e.g., headset, a keyboard, and mouse). Efficient management and utilization of these accessories can frequently impact a gamer's ability to compete.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for enhancing sound produced by a gaming application


An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an image capture unit including a plurality of pixels for imaging X-ray radiation, a first correction unit configured to correct an output value of an unsaturated pixel among the plurality of pixels, and a second correction unit configured to correct an output value of a saturated pixel among the plurality of pixels. The second correction unit corrects the saturated pixel based on an output value of the unsaturated pixel corrected by the first correction unit and located within a predetermined distance from the saturated pixel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus and an X-ray imaging method capable of correcting a variation in input/output characteristics of each pixel used in X-ray imaging.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as medical X-ray imaging apparatuses, digital X-ray imaging apparatuses employing various methods have been becoming widespread, with the advancement of the digital technology. For example, one technique in current practical use is the method of using an X-ray detector in which a phosphor and a large-area amorphous silicon (a-Si) sensor are in close contact with each other to enable a direct digital conversion of an X-ray image without, for example, an optical system. Another technique in current practical use is the method of using, for example, amorphous selenium (a-Se) to directly photoelectrically convert an X-ray into electrons which are detected by a large area amorphous silicon sensor.
In X-ray imaging apparatuses with use of the above-mentioned X-ray detectors, it is generally practiced to correct a variation in sensitivities in every photoelectric conversion element and a difference among input/output characteristics (relationships between an incident X-ray dose and an output value) in every pixel due to, for example, a variation in gains in readout circuits.
For example, if input/output characteristics of individual pixels are guaranteed to be linear, corrections thereof can be achieved by acquiring correction data by projecting an X-ray of a predetermined intensity to the whole surface of a detector without a subject, and dividing a captured image of a subject by this correction data (or subtracting the correction data from the image of the subject after a logarithmic conversion).
However, the input/output characteristic of a standard X-ray detector is known to show nonlinearity when a large incident X-ray dose is projected thereto, since the linearity cannot be maintained due to a saturation phenomenon. Therefore, in such a case, the above-described correction method based on an assumption of linearity cannot provide an appropriate correction to a nonlinear dose region. With the aim of solving this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 01-235484 discusses a method for correcting such a nonlinear characteristic.
According to this method, a nonlinear characteristic can be appropriately corrected by storing parameters in advance in which the input/output characteristic of each pixel is approximated by a predetermined model function, and using an inverse function of the model function.
However, the method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 01-235484 takes into consideration a dose region where the input/output characteristic of each pixel becomes nonlinear, but fails to address a dose region where an output is saturated, i.e., a dose region where an incident X-ray dose that enters a pixel exceeds the acceptable charging amount of that pixel so that the pixel outputs a substantially constant value (hereinafter, this value is referred to as "saturation level"). Once an output reaches the saturation level, a significant change does not occur in the output value relative to an incident X-ray dose to a pixel, so that it is difficult to detect a value of incident X-ray dose from the output value of the pixel. Therefore, the input/output characteristic thereof may not be able to be corrected appropriately.
More specifically, in a dose region where a pixel outputs a substantially constant value, the inverse function cannot produce a unique solution, whereby an appropriate correction is impossible. Further, when the input/output characteristic of each pixel is approximated by a predetermined model function, inclusion of data indicating an output value that reaches the saturation level lowers the approximation accuracy, as a result of which an appropriate correction may be impossible.
On the other hand, it is possible to limit a maximum incident X-ray dose so as to prevent an output value from reaching the saturation level. However, each pixel has a different dose region where the output is saturated, and therefore there are more than a few pixels which the output value reaches the saturation level with a smaller dose compared to other pixels. Then, a problem arises in that, if the maximum incident X-ray dose is limited within such a range that all pixels are prevented from reaching their saturation levels, this results in narrowing of a photographable dose region (dynamic range).

X-ray imaging apparatus, X-ray imaging method, and computer storage medium


A communication system, including a mobile communicator including a modem for conducting a communication with a remote party, an input unit for inputting communication data to the modem, and an output for outputting communication data from the modem, a display device including an input unit, an output unit, a connector for engaging the mobile communicator and for exchanging data with the mobile communicator, and a display for displaying party-specific information about the remote party involved in the communication, wherein the modem switches to receive its communication input via the display device input unit and directs its communication output to the display output unit when the mobile communicator is engaged with the connector, and wherein the modem switches back to receive its communication input via the mobile communicator input unit and directs its communication output to the mobile communicator output unit when the mobile communicator is disengaged from the connector.

It appears that tablet computers and pad-like computers are going to become the primary media players, e-mail applications, e-book readers, Internet browsers, gaming devices and digital picture frames of the masses of mobile consumers, to accompany them wherever they go.
Additionally, mobile consumers carry their cell phones with them.
As such, the issue arises of how to best design two mobile devices, a tablet and a phone, each of which has wireless communication capability. If a consumer's tablet is 3G connected, then he must use two SIMs, one for his tablet and one for his phone, and pay for two phone numbers. If the consumer's tablet is Wi-Fi only, and the consumer wants to connect his tablet to the Internet via a 3G connection, in the absence of a Wi-Fi connection, then such connection requires that his phone have tethering capability, and such use draws considerable battery power from the phone, thus providing only a short-term connection. Moreover, the consumer must constantly charge his two mobile devices.
Thus it would be of advantage to design a tablet+phone combination for efficient cooperative use.

Cooperative tablet computer and mobile communicator


The invention relates to the art of communications and particularly to a video signal transmission method, apparatus, system and terminal, where the method includes: separating a current raw digital video signal acquired by a video camera core into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal; converting the luminance signal and the chrominance signal into an analog video signal; transmitting the analog video signal to a master control chip board through an electrically-conductive slip ring; and converting the analog video signal back into the current raw digital video signal in the master control chip board. With the video signal transmission method, apparatus, system and terminal according to embodiments of the invention, the integrity of the transmitted video signal can be improved to thereby guarantee the quality of the video signal.

In the safety and guard industry, there are high requirements on a high-definition video image, and particularly the requirements on 720p, 1280p and other high-definition video formats have gradually evolved as a standard in the industry. At present a high-definition spherical video camera also has to accommodate the demand for a high-definition video. The high-definition spherical video camera is generally embodied in the form of products including a network spherical video camera and a Serial Digital Interface (SDI) spherical video camera, and in order to enable a video camera core inside the spherical video camera to be rotated horizontally over 360 degrees and vertically over 90 or 180 degrees arbitrarily, the video camera core and the master control board are connected by an electrically-conductive slip ring to thereby guarantee the reliability in electrical connection of the video camera core during rotation. At present the following two transmission schemes are generally adopted for 720p, 1280p and other high-definition video formats:
Firstly a video signal output by the video camera core is converted into a High Definition-Serial Digital Interface (HD-SDI) signal and transmitted to the control board through the electrically-conductive slip ring, but the clock frequency of the HD-SDI signal is approximately 1.485 GHz, so the digital signal at the high clock frequency can not be transmitted over a conventional electrically-conductive slip ring, therefore an expensive and process-complicated specialized electrically-conductive slip ring has to be customized, and the transmitted signal may be susceptible to interference.
Secondly the video signal output by the video camera core is converted into a multi-channel Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) signal transmitted to the control board through the electrically-conductive slip ring by transmitting the differential signal over a plurality of channels for the purpose of sharing the amount of data. Taking five channels as an example, the signal is transmitted at the clock frequency of 27 MHz, but the frequency of the transmitted signal is still high and susceptible to interference, and there is a high requirement on the performance of the electrically-conductive slip ring. Moreover a plurality of transmission cables added as a result of a significant increase in number of channels and of an externally applied synchronization clock may also result in a significant increase in volume of the electrically-conductive slip ring and consequentially an increase in cost thereof. As a result, the structure of the spherical video camera may be restricted by the volume of the electrically-conductive slip ring and consequentially can not be minimized.
In summary, the electrically-conductive slip ring characterized by discontinuous impedance and a large number of joints thereof may impose a considerable negative influence upon the integrity, the quality of signal and other aspects of a high-frequency digital signal or an analog signal, thus degrading the accuracy of transmitted video images and consequently resulting in blocking, dithering, a frame loss and other problems of the images. Moreover the volume of the spherical video camera may be limited.

Video signal transmission method, device, system and terminal


A stearate-matrix, pre-spotter composition in solid stick form to be applied by direct contact to stained areas of fabric, thereby transferring the composition to the stained areas of the fabric. The composition includes an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid and/or sulfonate, at least one nonionic surfactant, and an enzyme uniformly dispersed throughout a semi-hard stearate matrix. By the addition of sodium bicarbonate, the composition optimizes the pH to promote enzyme action, while simultaneously achieving a satisfactory drop point for shipping and warehousing. At pH levels from 8.2 to 9.0, acceptable hardness and transferability are still achieved, which was previously thought not to be possible without the addition of a critical amount of certain salts.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid type fabric-cleaning product that is useful as a pre-applied spotting agent used prior to laundering or dry cleaning to facilitate the removal of stains and soil from selected pre-treated areas of the fabric. More particularly, the invention is directed to a solid laundry pre-spotter composition that includes sodium stearate, propylene glycol, a polyethylene glycol, an alkyl aromatic acid, a strong base, non-ionic surfactants, sodium bicarbonate, an enzyme, and water.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Compositions have long been used as pre-spotting preparations in the laundering and cleaning field. Such preparations have been applied to particular, selected stained or excessively soiled portions of clothing and other fabrics prior to laundering. Effective pre-treatment of this type increases the likelihood of removing the soils and stains from the fabric during the cleaning process.
Some of the pre-spotting compositions have included laundry enzymes of the type that have been shown to enhance the removal of foreign material, such as oil stains, other stains, and soil from fabrics. When enzyme systems are used, they are critically sensitive to the pH of the composition into which they are introduced.
Prior art "stain sticks" or pre-spotting compositions have included those having a sodium stearate matrix. However, those skilled in the art have long tried, and yet failed, to formulate a product which is a firm solid having an acceptable drop point, yet yielding when manual pressure is applied, and also has a pH below about 9.8, a value reasonably expected to be compatible with enzyme activity. As discussed extensively in Sabol et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,762 issued Jun. 27, 1989, many of the stick-type products based on sodium stearate have failed to achieve a good working balance of physical properties, such as hardness and drop point, with desirable chemical properties, such as a pH that falls within a range that is acceptable for enzyme activity.
Sabol et al. recommends the formation of sodium stearate in situ and the addition of various salts to selectively modify particular physical and chemical parameters of the composition, including texture, consistency, hardness, melting point and pH, to optimize the rheology and the softening range of the product. In particular, Sabol et al. teaches that the addition of a certain class of salts within a critical concentration range of from 1 to 4% by weight is necessary to achieve good physical and chemical properties for this type of product.
In co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 901,785 filed on Jun. 22, 1992 by Mandy, entitled SOLID LAUNDRY PRE-SPOTTER COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF USE, a solid laundry pre-spotter with optimum physical parameters was achieved, but without the necessity of adding a critical concentration of salt to a sodium stearate matrix composition. Simultaneously, the pH level was decreased to as low as 9.0, thereby enhancing enzyme activity while maintaining acceptable physical properties, such as hardness and drop point.

Solid laundry pre-spotter composition containing sodium bicarbonate and method of use


There is disclosed herein a visual and thermal shield system that effectively obscures visual indicators and thermal signatures of wheel assemblies of a military vehicle to thereby address longstanding military concerns for vehicle and crew survivability. Our device is spaced outboard from the wheel and tire to maintain an insulating body of air between said shield and the adjacent axle, hub, wheel, and tire. Expeditiously, this invention also affords substantial eclipse of the complete tire profile. If a plurality of wheels exist on said vehicle, then multiple shields of this invention can be used to hinder vehicle identification and potential designation of its military purpose.

A significant characteristic of modern military vehicles is their appearance when viewed through an optical instrument. These vehicles have unique visual indicators and/or notational thermal signatures that can be used to readily identify their utility and warfighting capabilities. Reconnaissance on a battlefield with optical instruments is thus vital to both friendly and hostile forces for accurate differentiation between friendly forces, potential targets, and normal background scenes. Following differentiation, the respective forces are then likely to execute offensive actions or perform defensive measures to protect themselves and their equipment. Therefore, the visual appearance and thermal signature of military vehicles are tactical disadvantages which must be avoided.
With regard to thermal signature in low illumination, the axles, hubs, wheels, and tires of these vehicles provide the greatest concern for potential identification. Herein, these components are also commonly referred to as a wheel assembly or components. When a military vehicle traverses a terrain during night or low visibility events, these components are heated by friction and "glow" more than either the vehicle exterior or the adjacent background scenery. Thusly, when a vehicle is viewed through any infrared device, said components provide a ready means for detection, targeting, and destruction by hostile forces. As used herein, a representative military vehicle is a wheeled armored vehicle generally known to international military forces as a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) which is produced by GM Defense, London, Ontario, Canada. Other examples in the military fleet include wheeled tactical and combat trucks, selected from the STRYKER®; heavy transport trucks; heavy expanded-mobility tactical trucks; and high-mobility, multi-purpose, wheeled vehicles.
A commonly assigned patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,194, claims a device for reducing the thermal signature of the wheel assembly of a military vehicle by provision of a generally planar structure of sheet metal stock that is directly bolted to the wheel. This is accomplished by a plurality of multifunctional bolting elements that position said device outboard of the wheel and that also create an insulating air gap between the wheel assembly and said device. As the wheel rotates on the axle, this device dynamically rotates with the wheel since it is fixed thereto. Said device completely eclipses the hub and wheel while only partially covering about 50% of the total tire profile. A preferred embodiment therein comprises an eccentric, lobed, sheet-metal member that increases this coverage area to about 80%, as respectively shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A variation of the latter embodiment positions an insulating disc between two metal discs to further obscure the area of the wheel by flexible bristles extending from said disc.
It is an object of this invention to introduce a visual and thermal shield system which hinders the interpretation by a viewer of a military purpose and warfighting capability of a vehicle when observed through a modern optical instrument. It is another object herein to provide a resilient shield system that appears substantially the same in a distorted position as it would in a normal, relaxed position. It is a separate object to provide a shield system that is quickly installed, readily removed, and easily adapted for deployment of existing fleets of military vehicles generally employed by international military forces. It is a final object to produce this shield in current manufacturing facilities from available, commercial materials.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A cable guide for a cable support system that includes at least one support tray. The cable guide has a base with two base portions disposed in side by side relation. The base portions are adapted to cooperatively engage wires of the support tray(s). A support shaft extends from at least one of the base portions, and a roller is rotatably mounted on the support shaft and engage cables so that they may be turned along a path defined by the cable trays.

Cable support systems featuring trays are known for supporting a network of cables below raised floors or above hung ceilings and in other areas where cable networks are located. The conventional cable tray system is made up of a large number of trays positioned end to end along a desired route where cables are to placed and supported. The cable trays, in turn, are supported by a number of brackets or hangers mounted on support shafts (such as sub-floor support shafts holding up a raised floor), walls, ceilings, floors or other building structures. The trays are connected to each other by clips or clamps.
Corners or turns along the cable route or pathway defined by the cable trays make installation of cables difficult. More specifically, a cable must be carefully guided by hand around corners and turns during installation as there is a risk of snapping or damaging the cable against the sides or edges of the mesh trays that form the corner of the turn or surrounding support brackets or hangers. The cables may also become tangled if not kept aligned with the route of the trays. In addition, many of the low voltage cables installed in the cable trays have specific bend radius requirements (3× and 10× bend radius versus the cable diameter). In this case, the requirement is to avoid a 90 degree corner.
In response to this issue, cable guide devices exist for maintaining cable alignment with the trays at turns in the tray route. An example of a guide device is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,606 to Durin. The device of the Durin '606 patent includes special brackets and separate clamping plates and fasteners to attach a set of rollers to the trays. As a result, the device of the Durin '606 patent is cumbersome to attach to trays and the attachment procedure requires tools. In addition, the multiple rollers consume space and add to the complexity and cost of the device. The rollers are limited to a single size which also limits the flexibility of the device.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cable guide that is easy to install on a cable tray without the use of tools.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cable guide that is durable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cable guide that is economical to manufacture.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cable guide that offers adjustable roller size.
These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification.


A assembly support (33) of a front end of a motor vehicle is proposed, having at least one cooling module (1) which is detachably fixed to the assembly support (33) by means of at least two connecting points (9, 15; 11, 13). The assembly support (33) is characterized in that one of the connecting points (9; 11) is embodied as a pivot bearing (17; 19), and in that the other of the connecting points (13; 15) is embodied as a clip connection (21; 23).

The invention relates to an assembly support of a front end of a motor vehicle, having at least one cooling module which is detachably fixed to the assembly support by means of at least two connecting points, and a method for detachably fixing a cooling module to an assembly support of a front end of a motor vehicle.
DE 198 27 451 A1 discloses an assembly support of the type referred to here, and a method for mounting a radiator on the assembly support. The assembly support is a supporting structure of a front end of the motor vehicle to which at least the radiator can be detachably fixed. For this purpose, securing parts which are enclosed by an elastic material are provided on the radiator, said parts being plugged into grooves on the assembly support in order to attach the radiator. The grooves each have a first groove section which extends in the direction of the forward movement of the vehicle, and a second groove section which extends downward from the rear end of the first groove section, and a third groove section which extends from the lower end of the second groove section in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In order to attach the radiator, the securing parts are first introduced into the first groove section and pushed as far as the second groove section. In the process, the elastic covering is compressed to such an extent that the securing parts can be displaced downward as far as the third groove section. As a result of the opposing forces of the deformed elastic covering, the securing parts are as if they were pressed into the third groove section and secured therein. The radiator is secured to the assembly support exclusively by the securing parts which engage in the grooves, that is to say it is possible to dispense with additional attachment means or connecting means. It has been found that when the radiator is attached it is necessary to apply relatively large forces, in particular in order to compress the elastic covering of the securing parts. At the same time the radiator must be guided precisely, so that the securing parts do not tilt in the grooves.

Assembly support of a front end of a motor vehicle and method for detachably fixing a cooling module to an assembly support of a front end

Abstract: In addition, a method for detachably fixing a cooling module (1) to a assembly support (33) of a front end of a motor vehicle is proposed.


Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account.

On high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans, potentially cancerous masses appear as radio-opaque nodules. "Screening" HRCT scans are now offered commercially to target patients at high risk for lung cancer. Modern high-resolution systems are now able to identify many small, potentially cancerous lesions not previously visible in such scans. However, these lesions pose a difficult diagnostic problem; because they are small and peripherally disposed in the lung, they are difficult to reach in order to take a tissue sample. To diagnose cancer, a tissue or cellular sample at a suspect site is often acquired either by transthoracic needle aspiration or during a bronchoscopy procedure. In the bronchoscopic procedure, small forceps, a fine needle, or a cytological brush are advanced through a biopsy channel of a flexible scope and inserted into the major lobes of the affected lung to reach a suspect site that is disposed near a relatively large airway. Current bronchoscopes are only able to fit within the relative large branches of the bronchial system.
Transthoracic needle aspiration is very invasive and is typically reserved for peripheral lung nodules suspected of being cancerous. However, transthoracic needle aspiration can compromise patient health and produce infections. To minimize damage to surrounding tissue and organs, clinicians rely heavily on fluoroscopic C-arms and HRCT to guide the needle to the location of the identified suspect tissue mass. Many procedures are performed while the patient is within the CT suite to enable a biopsy needle to be inserted, steered, and continually re-imaged with a fluoroscope in incremental steps to verify its position relative to a suspected tumor. Unfortunately, transthoracic needle aspiration can compromise patient health and requires prolonged use of imaging systems that impose a substantial financial expense on the patient, and a high time cost on the hospital. Thus, bronchoscopy is a more preferred method of extracting lung tissue for biopsy purposes than is transthoracic needle aspiration.
Bronchoscopy involves the insertion of a fiber-optic bundle into the trachea and central airways in a patient's lung. Navigation of the airway relies on the clinician's ability to direct the scope head into the appropriate region. Histological biopsy samples can be obtained using forceps, a transbronchial needle aspiration, with brush cytology, or by bronchial lavage. Though still invasive, this method is much safer and is not considered to be traumatizing to the patient, in contrast to the transthoracic needle aspiration method. Despite this benefit, the large diameter of commercially available bronchoscopes restricts their entrance into small airways where nodules are commonly found, thus requiring the clinician to either steer the forceps/needle/brush blindly or use fluoroscopy to navigate to these regions throughout the lung in hopes that a representative specimen is obtained from the site actually identified as potentially cancerous.
At present, fluoroscopic C-arms are commonly used in bronchoscopy suites to assist clinicians in navigating the airways by projecting orthogonal views of the thoracic cavity in real-time. Unfortunately, drawbacks of this method are: (1) maneuvering a catheter in two separate planes is perceptually awkward; (2) images provided by a conventional bronchoscope are unclear or "fuzzy" and it is relatively difficult to see anatomical detail; (3) it is cumbersome to continually adjust the C-arm; (4) the radiation load associated with continued fluoroscopy is detrimental to the health of both the patient and the physician. Also, position coordinates of the bronchoscope cannot be measured or calculated with a fluoroscope, precluding its integration into any graphic interface and making it difficult to keep a historical record of the path followed by the bronchoscope, should such a record be needed during follow up examinations.
An ideal strategy for detection of suspect nodules in the lung would involve a minimally invasive biopsy of the potentially cancerous tissue mass, optical imaging of the epithelial layer, and real-time archiving of examination findings—without the need for expensive, radiation-based imaging systems. Ideally, it should be possible to visually guide a bronchoscope through very small airways, while maintaining a repeatable reference to the location of the bronchoscope in the airways. In addition, it would be desirable to produce data that show the paths followed and the regions of the airways that were visited during the bronchoscopy to enable a physician to easily revisit a specific nodule location at a later time, with minimal time required to retrace the branching path that must be followed to reach that location. The data recorded and stored during such a guided bronchoscopy would enable a physician to contest a charge that the physician failed to take appropriate steps to detect a malignant tissue site in the lungs, should a charge of malpractice arise.
The benefits of visually guiding a device through a lumen in a patient's body are not limited to bronchoscopes or to diagnostic studies of the lung. Clearly, it would also be desirable to guide a flexible endoscope through other body lumens, for example, through a gastric lumen so as to avoid entering the pancreatic duct in a patient when advancing an endoscopic probe beyond the pyloric valve of the stomach. A flexible endoscope might also be more efficiently advanced through the cardiovascular system of a patient if it were possible to visualize the anatomical disposition of the endoscope with reference to its location in a 3-D model of the system as determined with a position sensor. Additionally, an ultra-thin flexible endoscope and position sensor could also be used for navigating through the urethra for an image-guided biopsy of the prostate, which is not possible with conventional endoscopes. Other applications of this technology will undoubtedly be more apparent when its capabilities are fully realized by the medical profession.

Catheterscope 3D guidance and interface system


An apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a portable terminal having a multimedia function are provided. The apparatus includes a multimedia processor for performing the multimedia function when a controller is in a sleep mode wherein the controller is converted to an active mode when a specified key signal is input into the controller in the sleep mode and outputs an inactive signal to inactivate the multimedia processor. According to the present invention, the portable terminal having the controller controlling the mobile communication function and the multimedia processor controlling the multimedia function, can independently perform the mobile communication function and the multimedia function according to the specified key input. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the controller which controls the mobile communication function need not control the multimedia processor which controls the multimedia function. Hence, it is possible to reduce power consumption and software errors occurring when the controller controls the multimedia processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling the operation of a portable terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling the operation of a portable terminal having a multimedia function.
2. Description of the Related Art
As communication technologies have improved, the demand for portable terminals that include various multimedia functions in addition to the conventional mobile communication function has increased.
Therefore, portable terminals capable of providing multimedia functions, such as portable terminals having a portable multimedia player (PMP) combined therewith, have been rapidly developed.
The above-mentioned portable terminals, which provide a multimedia function, have an embedded multimedia processor for performing the multimedia function. The portable terminals also include a control processor for controlling the mobile communication function, for example a Mobile Station Modem (MSM).
In the above-mentioned portable terminals, the control processor controls the multimedia processor in performing the multimedia function.
Therefore, because the control processor controls the multimedia processor while the portable terminal performs a multimedia function, the control processor must maintain an active mode at all times in order to control the multimedia function or the communication function. Accordingly, consumption of electric power increases and the probability of software error occurrence also increases.

Apparatus and method for controlling operation of portable terminal having multimedia function


A method of forming a first and second transistors with differing work function gates by differing metals with a second metal selectively implanted or diffused into a first metal.

The present invention relates to semiconductor transistor fabrication and more particularly to complementary transistors and integrated circuits containing them.
Integrated circuit technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, with many circuit technologies being implemented using semiconductor fabrication processes. With the advancement of semiconductor circuit fabrication methods, consideration is given to various aspects, including maximizing efficiency, lowering manufacturing cost, and increasing performance. With these goals in mind, one area is the continuing trend of reducing the thickness of the transistor gate dielectrics. For example, in the past the gate dielectric (e.g., silicon dioxide or nitrided silicon dioxide) layer thickness was on the order of 10 nm, but more recently that thickness has reduced considerably with a more current goal being on the order of 2 nm. Indeed, this goal will strive for even thinner gate dielectric layers in the foreseeable future. This goal reduces device size and facilitates improved device performance.
While the desirability and trend toward thinner gate dielectrics continues, such an approach also provides a considerable drawback. Specifically, overlying the thin gate dielectric is a polycrystalline silicon (xe2x80x9cpolysiliconxe2x80x9d) gate layer, and polysilicon naturally includes a depletion region at the interface between the polysilicon gate and the gate dielectric. Typically, the depletion region manifests itself as providing the electrical equivalent of approximately a 0.3 nm thick insulator and, as such, the region in effect provides an insulating effect rather than a conducting effect as would be present in the remainder of the polysilicon gate conductor. Using the preceding numeric example, therefore, for a 10-nm thick gate dielectric, then the overlying effective 0.3-nm thick polysilicon depletion region may be thought to effectively increase the overall insulation between the gate and the underlying transistor channel from 10 nm to 10.3 nm, that is, the effect of the depletion region affects the insulating thickness by three percentxe2x80x94as such, for previous thicker gate insulators the effect of the polysilicon depletion region may be considered to have a negligible impact on the gate dielectric. In contrast, however, for a 2-nm thick gate dielectric, the polysilicon gate conductor depletion region may be thought to increase the gate insulator to 2.3 nm, thereby representing an increase on the order of 15 percent. This increased percentage significantly reduces the benefits otherwise provided by the thinner gate dielectric.
One approach in general to avoiding the depletion region phenomenon of polysilicon transistor gates is to use metal as an alternative material for the transistor gate because metal does not present a considerable depletion region, if any. Prior to the more recent use of polysilicon gates, metal gates were fairly common. However, a previously-identified drawback of such metal gates, which indeed led to the avoidance of such metals in contemporary devices, is that each metal has a corresponding so-called work function, and in the transistor art each transistor also has a corresponding preferred value for a work function of the gate electrode. However, the desired work function value differs for different transistor types. For example, based on present day threshold voltage channel doping, a p-channel MOS transistor (xe2x80x9cPMOSxe2x80x9d) is optimized when the gate electrode has a work function on the order of 5 eV; while an n-channel MOS transistor (xe2x80x9cNMOSxe2x80x9d) is optimized when the gate electrode has a work function on the order of 4 eV. The problem with previously-used metal gates arose with the development of CMOS circuits which, by definition, include both PMOS and NMOS transistors. Specifically, because a metal gate provides only a single work function, then it could not be selected to provide the two different desired work functions of the PMOS and NMOS devices. Instead, at best a metal could be selected to be between the desired work function of a PMOS and an NMOS transistor, which is sometimes referred to as the xe2x80x9cmidgapxe2x80x9d between these devices (i.e., on the order of 4.5 eV for the preceding examples). This inability to match different work functions led to the use of polysilicon gates whereby the polysilicon gates of the NMOS devices could be doped in a first manner in view of the desired work function for NMOS transistors and the polysilicon gates of the PMOS devices could be doped in a second manner in view of the desired work function for PMOS transistors.
More recent approaches have used two different metals for gates. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,258 deposits a tantalum metal gate layer (work function about 4.2 eV) and then selectively nitrides the portion over the PMOS areas to form tantalum nitride gates (work function about 5.4 eV) while the NMOS gates remain tantalum. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,103 deposits polysilicon and over the NMOS areas deposits titanium and over the PMOS areas deposits molybdenum; then an anneal simultaneously forms titanium silicide gates for NMOS and molybdenum silicide gates for PMOS. And Polishchuk et al, Dual Work Function Metal Gate CMOS Technology Using Metal Interdiffusion, 22 IEEE Elect. Dev. Lett. 444-446 (2001) describes forming two CMOS gates of two differing metals: Ti and a Ti:Ni mixture with the Ni segregrating at the gate dielectric interface by diffusion of the Ni through the Ti. This provides gate work functions of about 3.9 (Ti) for the NMOS and about 5.3 (Ni) for the PMOS.
However, the foregoing two metal or silicide gate approaches have processing drawbacks including silicide interface discontinuities.
The present invention provides a method of forming transistor gate electrodes with differing related metals for NMOS and PMOS in CMOS integrated circuits.
This has advantages including simple processing for enhanced performance of CMOS integrated circuit devices.

Method of making multiple work function gates by implanting metals with metallic alloying additives


A device (1) for collecting uncontrollably released urine including an introducing tube (2) passing a transparent collecting device. The invention proposes checking the collected urine as to impending and existing germinal infections by providing indicators (10) that are applied to a urine-exposed side of a control card (9, 9', 9'', 9''') attached inside the collecting device (3), and covering the control card (9 to 9''') on its urine-exposed side with a membrane (17) that slows down the reception of urine, on the one hand, and works against the indicators being washed out, on the other hand. The indicators (10) of the control card (9, 9', 9'', 9''') are protected from indication errors due to the slow passage of urine through the membrane (17).

The present invention relates to a device for collecting uncontrollably released urine passing through an introducing tube into a transparent collecting device.
Users of the stated device often suffer from infectious diseases that can attack the efferent urinary passages as well as the bladder and kidneys. To counteract these infections it is known to administer antiphlogistic drugs. However, these drugs lose their efficacy after being taken for some time. Orally applied drugs are also known that acidify the urine and thus slow down the increase of germs. Both drugs have undesirable side effects that make it necessary to discontinue their application. Furthermore, the wearer is supposed to change the device every day and go for a medical examination every two weeks.

Device for collecting uncontrollably released urine


A combined bearing and sensor assembly comprises a sensor unit 30 and a bearing unit 40. The sensor unit 30 includes a coupling ring 10 which has a radially inwardly directed lip 22 which engages with a groove 11 formed in the inner raceway 18 of the bearing unit 40. The coupling ring 10 also has an axially extending portion 5, the radially inwardly facing surface of which engages with a sensor unit mounting surface 8a such that the sensor unit's engagement to the mounting surface 8a is greater than its engagement to the bearing unit 40. In this way the combined bearing and sensor unit may be sold, transported and fitted as a single unit, but will separate to allow the sensor unit 30 to remain properly mounted when the bearing unit 40 is dismounted for general maintenance purposes.

The present invention relates to a combined bearing and sensor assembly, and in particular to an assembly suitable for use in anti-lock braking systems.
Anti-lock braking systems generally require the use of sensors located close to individual bearings to monitor the speed of rotation of the bearings, for example, by measuring the speed at which the outer race rotates relative to a shaft on which both the sensor and the inner race of the bearing are mounted. A typical sensor and bearing assembly of this type has a tone ring which is connected to, and rotates with, the outer race. The tone ring has a number of separate regions (for example magnetized regions) evenly spaced about the tone ring which are detectable as they pass close by the sensor. The frequency with which these regions are detected by the sensor can then be used to determine the speed of rotation of the outer race of the bearing. In practice, the rotation of the tone ring close to the sensor causes the sensor to generate an electrical signal whose frequency is proportional to the angular velocity of the tone ring and hence the outer race.
It is generally preferred to use as small a sensor as possible so as to minimize the total size of the combined bearing and sensor assembly. However, it has been discovered that if a small sensor is used, the air gap between the sensor and the tone ring must be very small and must be maintained at a specific thickness with only a very small acceptable margin before the separation becomes too large or too small; that is to say the gap between the sensor and the tone ring must be maintained to a very close tolerance. It has also been discovered, somewhat surprisingly, that even if the sensor is held in place with a coupling ring which engages, for example, a shaft onto which the bearing and sensor are to be mounted with a tight interference fit, the coupling ring, and thus the sensor, may still move axially along the shaft during normal usage of the bearing such that the air gap alters. Where a relatively small sensor is used such movement, and the consequent alteration of the air gap, may be sufficient to adversely affect the operation of the sensor.
Conventionally, sensor units for use in, for example, anti-lock braking systems, have been sold and mounted separately from the bearing assembly. The fact that the sensor unit is separate from the bearing assembly is advantageous because this allows the bearing assembly to be dismounted periodically for maintenance of the bearing assembly. It also has a number of associated disadvantages. Firstly, it requires two mounting steps rather than just the one step involved in mounting a conventional (non-anti-lock braking system) bearing assembly, and the mounting of the two separate units is not straightforward since the gap between the sensor and the tone ring must be very accurately achieved and maintained; secondly, it is inconvenient for vehicle manufacturers who must ensure that the correct sensors are used with the correct bearing units. Manufacturers would generally prefer to buy and mount a combined bearing and sensor assembly. The present invention seeks to provide a combined bearing and sensor assembly and a method of mounting a combined bearing and sensor assembly which overcomes one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art discussed above.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a combined bearing and sensor assembly for mounting on a mounting surface, said assembly comprising a bearing unit which includes sensor unit engaging means, and a sensor unit which includes a sensor coupling ring having bearing unit engaging means, the assembly being characterized by the sensor unit coupling ring further having preferential mounting surface engaging means, whereby said sensor unit engaging means engages with said bearing unit engaging means when said combined bearing and sensor assembly is not mounted on a mounting surface, and said sensor coupling ring engages with the mounting surface in preference to the bearing unit when said combined bearing and sensor assembly is mounted on a mounting surface, said sensor coupling ring engaging the mounting surface by means of said preferential mounting surface engaging means, thus allowing said bearing unit to be dismounted from and remounted onto said mounting surface without removal or substantial disturbance of the sensor unit.
Reference herein to a mounting surface will be understood as reference to any surface suitable for mounting a sensor unit and/or a bearing unit in, on or around, such as is typically found on axles, axle tubes and bearing housings for example.
Ideally, the preferential mounting surface engaging means is connected to the bearing unit engaging means so as to disengage the bearing unit engaging means for the sensor unit engaging means, or, at least, to weaken the engagement, as the combined bearing and sensor assembly is mounted on a mounting surface. In a currently preferred embodiment, the sensor coupling ring is at least in part substantially rotationally symmetrical about a central axis, and includes a generally axially extending first portion, which forms the preferential mounting surface engaging means and whose radially inner surface engages the mounting surface on, for example, an axle or axle tube on which the combined bearing and sensor assembly is to be mounted. In this currently preferred embodiment, a radially inwardly directed lip, the radially inner end of which forms the bearing unit engaging means, is formed on the free end (i.e. the end adjacent to the bearing unit) of the first portion.
The sensor unit engaging means of the bearing unit may take the form of a cooperating surface which is engageable with the bearing unit engaging means, the sensor coupling ring being so constructed and arranged that the bearing unit engaging means is urged radially inwardly into a firm contact with the cooperating surface when the combined bearing and sensor assembly is not attached to a mounting surface on, for example, an axle or axle tube. The first portion is preferably shaped such that when the sensor coupling ring is mounted onto an axle or axle tube, the radially inwardly directed lip is deflected radially outwardly by a small amount such that the engagement between the bearing unit engaging means and the sensor unit engaging means is at least reduced.
The first portion of the coupling ring may be connected to a radially outwardly extending backing portion having an axially directed flange arranged concentrically with the first portion whereby a sensor may be held in place between the flange and the radially outer surface of the first portion.
In order to increase the deflection of the bearing unit engaging means on mounting the coupling ring on a mounting surface, the coupling ring preferably has slits extending axially inwardly from the free end thereof. Furthermore, the coupling ring may include one or more dedicated cam surfaces which cooperate with the mounting surface to increase the radial deflection of the bearing unit engaging means. Typically, the mounting surface on which the combined bearing and sensor assembly is to be mounted will have a slightly tapered free end, and one of the dedicated cam surfaces may advantageously take the form of a radially directly, rounded ring-like protrusion formed adjacent the free end of the preferential mounting surface engaging means, which protrusion engages said tapered portion of the mounting surface. Ideally, the dedicated cam surfaces and the slits are both formed on the sensor coupling ring, their cumulative effects greatly enhancing the operation of the coupling ring.
Preferably, the sensor unit and the bearing unit are so configured that as they are brought together, permanent opposing abutment surfaces formed on the sensor and bearing units abut one another, thus preventing further relative movement of the units toward one another when the air gap between the tone ring and the sensor is of a predetermined size. The opposing abutment surfaces may conveniently be formed on the bearing unit engaging means and the sensor unit engaging means respectively.
Where it is intended that the sensor unit should be dismountable and remountable separately from the bearing unit, the coupling ring may further include stop means to prevent the sensor unit from being pushed too far onto the mounting surface during re-mounting, by engaging with an axially outward facing surface formed on the member, such as an axle or axle tube, onto which the sensor unit is to be remounted, when the sensor unit is in the correct position on the mounting surface. Where the bearing unit engaging means takes the form of a radially directed lip, the axially outwardly facing surface formed on one side of the lip may provide one of the opposing abutment surfaces, while the other side of the lip may provide the stop means.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of mounting a bearing assembly onto a mounting surface comprising the steps of releasably engaging a sensor unit having a sensor to a bearing unit having a tone ring so as to maintain a fixed gap between the sensor and the tone ring, the bearing unit and the sensor unit together forming a combined bearing and sensor assembly, and mounting the combined bearing and sensor assembly on the mounting surfaces, said sensor unit being provided with bearing unit engaging means and the method being characterized in that the sensor unit is further provided with preferential mounting surface engaging means, and in that said method further including the step of deflecting the bearing unit engaging means simultaneously with the step of mounting the combined bearing and sensor assembly, such that the engagement between the sensor unit and the bearing unit is weakened while the engagement between the combined bearing and sensor assembly and the mounting surface is increased, whereby the bearing unit may be dismounted from and remounted onto the mounting surface without disturbing the sensor unit.
Preferably, the mounting surface comprises at least a sensor unit mounting surface portion in, on or around which the sensor unit is mounted, and a bearing unit mounting surface portion, in on or around which the bearing unit is mounted. The bearing unit mounting surface portion could conveniently be axially longer than the sensor unit and thus act as a piloting means for ensuring correct alignment of the sensor unit with respect to the sensor unit mounting surface portion during mounting of the combined bearing and sensor assembly.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a combined bearing and sensor assembly for mounting on a mounting surface, the assembly comprising a bearing unit including a tone ring and a reference surface having a fixed axial relationship to the tone ring; and a sensor unit including an axial sensor and a sensor coupling ring; the assembly being characterized in that the sensor coupling ring includes an abutment surface, having a fixed axial relationship to the sensor, for abutment with the reference surface, preferential mounting surface engaging means for enabling the bearing unit to be dismounted from and re-mounted onto the mounting surface without removal or substantial disturbance of the sensor unit, and axial anchorage means, wherein the axial anchorage means cooperates with the mounting surface to ensure that the abutment surface of the coupling ring remains in abutment with the reference surface of the bearing unit when the sensor unit and the bearing unit have been correctly mounted even after substantial operation of the combined bearing and sensor assembly, whereby the axial gap between the sensor and the tone ring is maintained substantially constant.
According to the third aspect of the present invention it is not necessary for the bearing unit and the sensor unit to be sold and mounted as a combined unit. However, they cooperate with one another once they have been mounted by means of the abutment between the abutment surface and the reference surface and in this way they may be considered as forming a combined bearing and sensor assembly.
In the present context, the term "axial sensor" refers to a sensor which is axially separated from the tone ring such that a small axial air gap exists between the tone ring and the axial sensor. Radial sensors also exist in which the sensor is radially separated from the tone ring, however, the third aspect of the present invention is not concerned with such arrangements.
The axial anchorage means may cooperate directly with the mounting surface, or alternatively it may cooperate indirectly with the mounting surface of an intermediate member such as a carrier ring.
Preferably the axial anchorage means takes the form of a radially directed lip, or at least one radially directed protrusion, which located, when the combined bearing and sensor assembly is correctly mounted on the mounting surface, between the bearing unit and the mounting surface. Preferably the abutment surface is formed by an outer axially facing surface formed on the axial anchorage means. Where the assembly further incorporates an intermediate member such as a carrier ring, the axial anchorage means preferably locates between the intermediate member and the bearing unit.
The axial anchorage means ideally locates in an end groove formed either in the bearing unit or in the mounting surface (or, where appropriate, in the intermediate member). The end groove preferably extends radially only as far as the radial length of the axial anchorage means, where the majority of the axial stress between the bearing unit and the mounting surface is transmitted by direct abutment between a backface of the bearing unit and an opposing surface of the mounting surface (or intermediate member where appropriate) radially beyond the groove.
Preferably the axial anchorage means includes stop means having a limited amount of give and being adapted to engage the mounting surface (or intermediate member where appropriate) during mounting of the assembly as a result of the abutment between the abutment surface and the reference surface, shortly before the backface of the bearing unit abuts the opposing surface of the mounting surface (or intermediate member where appropriate), wherein the stop means has sufficient give to permit the backface of the bearing unit to continue to move into abutment with the opposing surface of the mounting surface (or intermediate member where appropriate) during mounting of the assembly without damaging the sensor unit, but insufficient give to enable the sensor unit to move axially away from the reference surface during normal usage of the bearing assembly, once the bearing assembly has been correctly mounted. In this way, the stop means acts to take up any excess axial freedom of movement of the sensor unit when the assembly is correctly mounted on the mounting surface. Such freedom of movement may, for example, result from manufacturing the axial anchorage means to have a slightly narrower axial width than the end groove in which it is to locate, so as to allow for small variations in these widths which result from the machining of these features being achievable only to within certain well known tolerances.


An organic semiconductor device Including an organic semiconductor layer in a crystallized crystal state is disclosed. The organic semiconductor layer is formed from an organic semiconductor material including a liquid crystal molecule. The semiconductor material has properties capable of exhibiting a supercooled state during a phase transition process, in which a phase having no periodic regularity is capable of being transferred into a phase having periodic regularity at a location of a center of gravity in between the liquid crystal molecules. The phase having no periodic regularity at a location of a center of gravity In between the liquid crystal molecules is a nematic liquid crystal phase and the phase having periodic regularity at a location of a center of gravity in between the liquid crystal molecules is a crystal phase.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic semiconductor structure comprising an organic semiconductor layer formed with organic semiconductor material having liquid crystallinity, a manufacturing method of the same and an organic semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a typical example of an organic semiconductor device, an organic field-effect transistor (also called organic FET) using an organic semiconductor as an active layer (hereinafter, referred to as an organic semiconductor layer) can be mentioned. In order to realize a thin film-large area device, the organic FET is required to have uniform charge transport property over a sufficient large area.
In this organic FET, the organic semiconductor layer is formed, by vacuum deposition process, from molecular crystals represented by pentacene (see Y.-Y. Lin, D. J. Gundlach, S. Nelson, and T. N. Jackson, "Stacked Pentacene Layer Organic Thin-Film Transistors with Improved Characteristics", IEEE Electron Device Lett, 18, 606 (1997)).
However, the organic semiconductor layers formed by the above-mentioned vacuum deposition process generally have characteristics that a large number of grain boundaries easily occur in polycrystalline state of aggregated fine crystals, and further, defects easily occur so that such grain boundaries and defects inhibit transportation of charge. Accordingly, when an organic semiconductor layer is to be formed by vacuum deposition process, it is actually very difficult to form an organic semiconductor layer serving as an element of an organic semiconductor device continuously with uniform performance over a sufficiently large area.

Organic semiconductor structure, manufacturing method of the same, and organic semiconductor device


Pulse width modulation is provided for controlling a resonant power converter, particularly for dimming of light emitting diode arrays without loss of efficiency. Dynamic oscillation due to the beginning of a pulse width modulated pulse burst is limited by shortening of the first and/or last pulse of a pulse bust such that the first pulse of a subsequent pulse burst close to or to connect with a full load steady-state voltage/current trajectory of the power converter. Pulse shortening made be made substantially exact to virtually eliminate dynamic oscillation but substantial reduction in dynamic oscillation is provided if inexact or even performed randomly.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been known for use in indicators and selective electronic displays for many years. Many recent advances in the technology of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has caused increased interest in using LEDs for purposes of illumination and, indeed, made LED arrays the illumination medium of choice for numerous applications such as exterior and interior area illumination and backlighting of display panels due to the efficiency, spectral content, long lifetime, eco-friendliness, mechanical durability, safety and efficiency compared to incandescent, fluorescent, mercury and sodium vapor and arc lighting and the like.
Another important quality of LEDs for many such illumination applications is the capability for full control of light output flux, sometimes referred to as dimming. However, dimming of LEDs presents some problems in the design of power supplies for LED arrays particularly in providing good uniformity of light output of all LEDs in an array and avoiding perceptible flickering consistent with high efficiency of the power supply. For example, driving LEDs individually or in long, series connected strings with individual discrete power supplies is cost prohibitive and generally would require complex cross-regulation to achieve acceptable uniformity of light flux. Also, since power supplies are designed for highest efficiency at a particular voltage and frequency, efficiency is often greatly reduced as voltage is controlled, particularly when that voltage control is achieved by frequency control in resonant power converters. Moreover, Also, since light output flux of LEDs terminates immediately upon interruption of current, duty cycle or pulse width modulation (PWM) must be performed at a switching cycle frequency above about 85 Hz whereas such a problem is not presented by incandescent bulbs which exhibit a decrease in light output flux over the period of filament cooling.
Among known designs of power converters, resonant switching power converters have become popular due to their ability to limit switching losses and electrical stresses during operation as well as providing very high efficiency. Among resonant power converters, so-called LLC resonant converters are becoming increasingly attractive because of their flexibility of application, simplicity, efficiency, the simplicity of their control the ability to deliver a range of voltages and the possibility, although difficult, of providing over-current protection.
Typically, an LLC resonant converter will comprise a pair of switching transistors operated in a complementary fashion and a resonant circuit comprising a capacitor and two inductors. An LLC resonant converter typically operates at a switching frequency near the resonant frequency, f0 of the LLC circuit for highest efficiency. As an electrical load is increased and more power must be delivered, simple sensing and feedback of the output voltage to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) can be arranged to reduce the switching frequency and increase the voltage gain to automatically compensate for the increased required power and thus provide good voltage regulation over a wide range of current. By the same token, particular conditions of voltage, current or switching frequency can be sensed and the VCO can be controlled to increase the switching frequency to reduce gain of the power converter and thus provide over-current protection in a very simple and robust manner. However, while steady-state performance of resonant power converters is well-matched to power requirements of LEDs other than loss of efficiency due if switching frequency is used to control voltage, interruption of input or output of power as is necessary for PWM or duty cycle modulation (e.g. for dimming) causes transients in the resonant circuit that may have perceptible adverse effects on light output flux.

Optimal trajectory control for LLC resonant converter for LED PWM dimming

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University


A printed circuit board has a staggered array of mounting pads on a surface thereof for supporting a terminal board. A solder material is provided on the staggered array and then a terminal board having a corresponding array of pads is placed on the printed circuit board. The solder material is heated and then cooled, whereby the terminal board is fixed to the printed circuit board without causing an electric short between pads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board and a method of mounting a terminal board thereon, and more particularly to an improvement in the positional arrangement of mounting pads on the printed circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional printed board 1 which is fabricated for obtaining an integrated circuit card, where only a part of the circuit structure is shown. The printed circuit board 1 has an insulating plate 2 on which printed wiring 4 is provided. Regions 3 for accepting integrated circuit devices and discrete electronic elements are defined on the insulating plate 2. On the connector portion 5 of the printed circuit board 1, an exposed linear array of mounting pads 6 is formed along an edge 7 of the printed circuit board 1. The mounting pads 6 are made of a metal or an alloy and are electrically connected to the printed wiring 4.
FIG. 2A illustrates the bottom surface 10B of a terminal board 10 which is to be mounted on the printed circuit board 1, while FIG. 2B illustrates the top surface 10T of the terminal board 10. A linear array of mounting pads 11 is provided on the bottom surface 10B along an edge 13 of the board 10, and the mounting pads 11 are electrically connected to corresponding terminal pads 12 formed on the top surface 10F of the board 10.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a process of mounting the terminal board 10 on the printed circuit board 1. As illustrated in detail in FIG. 4, a solder pattern layer 14 is formed on the mounting pads 6 by means of a solder printing device, and then the terminal board 10 is placed on the printed circuit board 1 (FIG. 3) so that the solder pattern layer 14 is sandwiched between the mounting pads 6 and 11, the mounting pads 11 not being shown in FIG. 3. The overlapped region of the printed circuit board 1 and the terminal board 10 is heated to melt the solder pattern layer 14. The overlapped region is then cooled, so that the terminal board 10 is fixed to the printed circuit board 1, and the mounting pads 6 and 11 are electrically connected to each other.
A module 20 thus obtained is packaged together with a battery, whereby an integrated circuit card (IC card) is obtained. Electronic communication between the IC card and and IC card reader (not shown) is attained by inserting the IC card into the IC card reader, so that the terminal pads 12 are electrically in contact with terminal electrodes provided in the IC card reader. The terminal board 10 is effective in electrically connecting the printed circuit board 1 to the terminal electrodes of the IC card reader because the terminal electrodes of the IC card reader are located at a position which is somewhat higher than the mounting pads 6 of the printed circuit board 1 when the IC card is inserted into the IC card reader.
In the above-described mounting process, the solder material of the solder pattern layer 14 spreads from the mounting pads 6 over the peripheral areas thereof, because the solder material is melted and pushed between the printed circuit board 1 and the terminal board 10. Accordingly, if the respective array pitches of the mounting pads 6 and 11 are relatively small, the solder material spreading from one pad often reaches a neighbouring pad, so that these mounting pads are electrically shorted.

Printed circuit board and terminal board with staggered conductive pads


Device for monitoring the process of driving a vehicle consisting of at least the following:                a first means of processing a signal; a second means of detecting the vehicle movement; a means for providing an HMI type of interactive display of information for the user; and a means configured for knowing the consumption characteristics of the vehicle and its technical characteristics as far as optimum theoretical behaviour;        where the means for processing are configured for calculating the optimum consumption according to the characteristics of the vehicle, establishing the driving parameters required for equating the actual consumption to the optimum consumption, displaying this information to the user in the means available for display.

Driving aid devices exist, which enable to monitor the driving in such a way that the driver himself can see how much fuel he is consuming and if the consumption is greater or lower than the expected. However, interactive systems do not exist to help the driver operate in a more ecological and economical manner; and secondly, solve the following technical problems derived from the monitoring of the driving.                (a) Figure out the degree of driving risk as compared to a set of safe driving standards for each type of road that would enable the driver to anticipate that a manoeuvre is dangerous and therefore, the possibility of engaging in serious risk if this manoeuvre is carried out; for example, passing in an unauthorized zone, excessive speed or other cases of interest.        (b) Control the expenditures derived from fuel consumption and others; in a way that such expenditures can be efficiently controlled.        (c) Control the anticipation distance with other vehicles, which is defined as the distance a vehicle must maintain with respect to other vehicles in order to take as much advantage as possible of a vehicle's inertia, as well as thanks to global positioning systems such as GPS, Galileo®, Glonass® or similar and their combination of maps, inform the user, without a connection to the vehicle, of engaging in excessive acceleration for an ecological operation of the vehicle and this way be able to minimize the fuel consumption.
European patent with publication number EP1811411 describes a method and a system for monitoring the driving style. In particular, it describes how to train the driver and analyze the driving in such a way as to improve the safety and economic efficiency when operating a vehicle. To accomplish this, a driving profile is generated in the database based on the data acquired from the vehicle (it is not a device that has the optimum conditions of the car stored in its database; instead, it requires reading the data provided from the engine control unit) and the vehicle's route. Additionally, this profile generates an external server, which is accessible to the user "afterwards", and the driver is then responsible for changing his habits without any type of interaction with the system; he is a passive receiver of this information, which is not provided in real time. Therefore, and in accordance with this document, it is advisable that the following technical problems be resolved: (i) total independence of the vehicle where to install the device; and (ii) a greater interaction with the user, emitting instant recommendations regarding driving in a safe manner.