The present invention is a beverage distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing drinks such as soda, juice and punch, to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which enables users to dispense such drinks from their refrigerator. The computerized system monitors its own supply levels and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers drink supplies and CO2 gas supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates in general to a system and method for distributing and dispensing beverages, and in particular to a beverage distribution and dispensing system which enables users to dispense a plurality of beverages from a refrigerator, which tracks beverage consumption and the use of the drink supply and CO2 supply, which automatically orders drink supply and CO2 supply as necessary, which facilitates the delivery of drink supply and CO2 supply to the users, which enables the users to determine beverage consumption and to change the dispensed beverages, and which reduces the need to store conventional beverage containers in the refrigerators of the users.
Many households in the United States and throughout the world consume large volumes of beverages such as soft drinks, soda, juices, lemonade, teas, isotonics, fruit drinks and other drinks on a daily basis. For instance, in 1998, retail sales of soft drinks in the United States were approximately fifty-four billion dollars, retail sales of fruit beverages in the United States were approximately seventeen and a half billion dollars and retail sales of isotonics in the United States were approximately two and a quarter billion dollars.
To maintain an adequate supply of such beverages, consumers must continuously supply their homes with various bottled and canned beverages, or must make beverages such as ice tea, lemonade and fruit punches by hand. These tasks can be relatively burdensome for families which experience a large consumption of beverages, in part because the beverage containers are somewhat heavy, the beverage containers occupy substantial space in their refrigerators, and the time to make the beverages can be substantial on a annual basis. Additionally, the cost in dollars and time of purchasing such beverages on an annual basis can be significant as indicated above.
Commercial drink dispensing machines and systems for monitoring such drink dispensing machines are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,237,536, 4,766,548, 4,800,492, 4,827,426, 5,190,083, 5,608,643 and U.S. Re. Pat. No. 32,179 disclose commercial drink dispensing apparatuses and monitoring systems for commercial drink dispensing apparatuses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,536 discloses a central console that can be located at a hotel front desk for controlled dispensing of beverages from remotely located reservoirs located in remote locations such as hotel rooms. Upon the request of a hotel guest, a reservoir at a remote location dispenses beverage. The central console monitors each time a beverage is dispensed at each remote location to determine the total amount of beverages dispensed so that the guests can be charged for each drink when checking out of the hotel. The central console also monitors operation of the remote dispensing units to determine information such as when the reservoirs are empty.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,548 discloses a microprocessor controlled system for monitoring and reporting on data related to operation of soft drink vending machines to a remotely located central computer over non-dedicated telephone lines. The system can be used to monitor the operation of commercial drink dispensing systems to determine information such as run or on times (e.g., the run time of a carbonator or the on time of a dispensing valve) and dispensing information (e.g., the type and quantity of product dispensed). The monitored information can be periodically reported to one or more different facilities, such as a customer account, a bottler servicing the account or a regional office.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,492 discloses a microprocessor based data logger for a post-mix beverage dispensing system that determines the number and size of particular drinks sold over pre-selected time intervals based upon the opening and closing of each valve assembly associated with dispensing equipment. The data logger is a metal box externally attached to the dispensing equipment to collect data for days or weeks. The stored data subsequently is loaded onto a portable computer for further processing and interpretation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,426 discloses a soft drink or beverage dispenser that monitors xe2x80x9cSmart Valvexe2x80x9d output to determine information such as the amount of water and syrup dispensed for a period of time. More specifically, information monitored by the system includes total drinks by size, mixture ratios, total syrup and water volumes, yield per gallon of syrup, syrup viscosity, portion sizes, syrup identification numbers and syrup temperature. Acquired data is transmitted to either a computer on site or over telephone lines to a central location.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,083 discloses a system for dispensing and monitoring output and consumption of fluids including carbonated beverages in outer space. The system includes a computerized monitor that identifies users, tabulates fluid withdrawal and calculates recent consumption over a predefined period of time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,643 discloses a system for managing and remotely monitoring multiple dispensing units via a communications network such as, for example, a cellular radio network, a wide area RF network or a satellite network. The system includes a dispensing unit such as soft drink vending machines with a number of bins, with each bin holding a quantity of a specific product that a consumer can select. Each dispensing bin includes a reference level sensor that determines when the quantity of product falls below a reference level that is higher than an out of stock level. The dispensing unit transmits status information via the communication network when the product level falls below the reference level, to indicate that a particular bin needs to be restocked.
U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,179 discloses a post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing system for use in refrigerated cabinets.
Certain types of non-commercial drink dispensing systems are also well known. For instance, countertop beverage dispensing systems which dispense a limited number of drinks, such as those commercially available from Bev Star, Inc. are well known.
Many conventional refrigerators are equipped with icemakers and water dispensers for dispensing ice and water. It is also known that refrigerators can be used to dispense other drinks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,967 discloses a refrigerator with a drink dispenser assembly and a mechanism for selecting the dispensed drink. This system reduces the need for consumers to store drink containers in their refrigerators because this system uses a concentrated drink supply or syrup. However, a consumer using this type of system must keep track of the drink supply or syrup levels and the CO2 gas levels, must regularly purchase the drink supply or syrup and CO2 gas supply and must maintain and repair such dispensing systems. Such systems are also not readily adapted for dispensing a plurality of non-carbonated drinks, enabling the user to readily switch drinks or for facilitating delivery of drink supply and CO2 supply directly to the consumers based on the consumer""s usage and the consumer""s requests. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved in-home or residential carbonated and non-carbonated beverage distribution and dispensing system.
The present invention provides a beverage distribution and dispensing system which solves the above problems by enabling users to obtain a plurality of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages from a conventional refrigerator, and which tracks, automatically orders and delivers supplies necessary for making the beverages to the homes of the users of the present system. The beverage distribution and dispensing system of the present invention is referred to herein for brevity alternatively as the xe2x80x9csystem,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cdistribution system,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cdispensing systemxe2x80x9d or the xe2x80x9cbeverage dispensing system.xe2x80x9d However, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited by such abbreviated terms or the use of any other abbreviated terms used herein to describe the present invention or components, steps or processes thereof. It should also be appreciated that several of the figures of this application include one or more of the following trademarks, which are not part of the system of the present invention: (a) BEVERAGE WORKS; (b) BEVERAGE WORKS and Design; (c) PEPSI; (d) PEPSI and Design; (e) DR. PEPPER; (f) DR. PEPPER and Design; (g) HERSHEY""S; (h) HERSHEY""S and Design; (i) IBC ROOT BEER; (j) IBC ROOT BEER and Design; (k) AandW; (I) AandW and Design; (m) MUG; (n) MUG and Design; (o) HIRES; (p) HIRES and Design; (q) 7UP; and (r) 7UP and Design.
Generally, the system of the present invention includes a plurality of beverage dispensing apparatuses housed in a plurality of residential refrigerators or refrigeration devices, at least one ordering processing system which communicates with the beverage dispensing apparatuses through a suitable communication channel and a plurality of supplier systems which communicate with the order processing system through a suitable communication channel. For purposes of this application, the present invention will be described in relation to one beverage dispensing apparatus, one ordering processing system and one supplier system. It should be appreciated that the system preferably includes a plurality of dispensing apparatuses in the refrigerators in the homes of a plurality of users and a plurality of supplier systems which are preferably, but not necessarily, located in the geographic vicinity of the users to facilitate rapid and less expensive delivery of the ordered drink supply containers and CO2 supply containers to users of system. Delivery by local suppliers, distributors or bottlers will also conform to current business agreements between certain distributors or bottlers and syrup suppliers.
The beverage dispensing apparatus in the refrigerator is adapted to dispense at least one, and preferably a plurality of beverages pre-selected by the user. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a beverage dispensing computer or processor, a user interface panel or terminal connected to the dispensing processor, a dispenser or beverage mixing mechanism connected to the beverage dispensing processor, a drink, concentrate or syrup supply mechanism or apparatus connected to the dispenser, a CO2 supply mechanism or apparatus connected to the beverage dispenser, and a water supply mechanism or apparatus connected to the dispenser. The drink supply mechanism includes a housing for storing a plurality of drink supply containers and at least one pump or other suitable mechanism for drawing the drink supply from the drink supply containers. The CO2 supply mechanism includes a housing for storing at least one and potentially a plurality of CO2 supply containers or canisters and a suitable mechanism for releasing the CO2 from the CO2 supply containers. Preferably, one readily accessible housing is adapted to hold the drink supply containers and CO2 supply containers. This enables the user to easily change the drink supply containers and CO2 supply containers. The drink supply containers and CO2 supply containers are also preferably suitably sized to fit within the housing and are suitably sized for shipment via conventional delivery services.
The beverage dispensing apparatus forms the beverages from the water supply, drink supply, and if the drink is carbonated, the CO2 gas supply. The dispensing computer preferably tracks (by timing) the volume of drink supply dispensed by the dispenser from each drink supply container. The dispensing computer may additionally track (by timing) the volume of CO2 gas dispensed from each CO2 supply container. When supply levels decrease below a predetermined level (i.e., preferably within three days of depletion based on normal or average usage), the dispensing computer automatically sends an order for new drink supply and a new CO2 supply to the order processing system. When the new drink and CO2 supplies are delivered to the consumer""s home, the consumer replaces the used drink supply containers with the new drink supply containers and replaces the used CO2 supply containers with the new CO2 supply containers, preferably when the dispensing computer and interface inform the user that the drink supply or CO2 supply is empty.
The dispensing computer and the user interface panel or terminal coact to enable the user to register as a user with the order processing system, order additional drink and CO2 supplies as desired, and to change the drinks dispensed by the dispensing apparatus. For instance if the user is hosting an event such as a party or the user wants to try a new beverage, the user enters such orders through the user interface panel. Furthermore, if the dispensing apparatus breaks down or has any mechanical or technical problems, the system automatically orders repair services, which causes a repair service to contact the consumer, determine an acceptable repair date and to repair the dispensing apparatus on the repair date.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing computer directly communicates with the order processing system through communication channels such as existing telephone lines, cable lines, wireless communications or the internet. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing computer communicates with a home area or home gateway network in the home of the user which facilitates communication between home appliances, audio and visual equipment, and computing devices. Such home gateway networks enable users to monitor and control all of the electronic equipment in their homes. The home gateway network in turn communicates over a suitable communication channel with the order processing system.
After a refrigerator having the dispensing apparatus of the present invention is installed in a user""s home and the dispensing computer establishes communication with the order processing system indirectly through the home gateway network or directly through another suitable communication channel, the user uses the user interface panel to select a plurality of drinks. The system automatically orders appropriate drink supplies and CO2 supplies (if the refrigerator is purchased without such drink or CO2 supplies). Preferably within three days, the supply system delivers the ordered drink supplies and CO2 supplies to the user and user installs the supply containers in the beverage dispensing apparatus to begin to dispense drinks. The dispensing computer monitors the level of drink supply (and possibly CO2 supply) and orders more drink supply and CO2 supply when the drink supply and CO2 supply, respectively, reach certain predetermined levels.
The order processing system receives and processes orders from a plurality of dispensing computers and transmits the orders to the appropriate supplier systems which are designated to serve the users. The order processing system generally includes a server or processor for receiving and processing the orders from the dispensing computers and for sending the orders to the supply systems, a data storage device for storing historic order and consumption information as well as beverage and other information, access terminals and input/output devices.
The supplier system receives orders from the order processing system for particular users (preferably in a predetermined geographic region) and facilitates the delivery of drink supply and CO2 supply to such users of the system of the present invention. The supplier system generally includes a server or processor for receiving the selected orders from the order processing system and for facilitating order fulfillment, access terminals and input/output devices. The supplier system also provides a deliverer for delivering the drink supply containers and CO2 supply containers to the user and provides for repair services for the dispensing apparatuses. Any suitable deliverer may deliver the drink supply container and CO2 supply container to the user; however, preferably the drink supply and CO2 supply are delivered by a common carrier such as the postal service, United Parcel Service, Federal Express, etc. It should be appreciated that while the drink supply containers and the CO2 supply containers or canisters could be of any suitable size, in the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the drink supply containers and the CO2 supply containers are suitably sized for such commercial shipment and to fit in the appropriate housing in the refrigerator.
The system of the present invention enables a user or consumer to sample a plurality of various soft drinks and other drinks which the user would not necessarily have the ability to sample or obtain. For a variety of reasons, many beverage products are unavailable to consumers in many parts of the United States and in many parts of the world. The system provides an interface through which the user can select any beverage which is supplied by the implementor of the system. The present invention makes a plurality of drinks available to the user including drinks not generally available in the user""s geographic area. The present invention thus provides a direct beverage distribution system to the user of the system as well as a beverage sampling system which enables users of the system to sample products on a regular basis including products or beverages the user would not normally be exposed to.
It should also be appreciated that the present invention prevents waste of beverages and beverage containers. The dispensing apparatus enables the user to dispense the exact amount of beverage which the user desires and enables the user to easily obtain more beverage if desired. This is especially useful for children in the user""s home which tend to drink smaller portions. The present invention thereby eliminates much of the waste of unfinished beverage containers, especially carbonated beverages that tend to lose their carbonation or go xe2x80x9cflatxe2x80x9d after the container is opened.
Accordingly, the beverage distribution and dispensing system of the present invention: (a) employs a conventional refrigerator to enable a user to dispense a plurality of beverages selected by the user; (b) tracks the drink supply and CO2 supply usage; (c) automatically orders drink supply and CO2 supply as necessary; (d) enables the users to monitor beverage consumption; (e) enables the user to select the beverages from a large number of available beverages and to sample a wide variety of beverages; (f) enables the user to change the beverages dispensed; (g) facilitates direct delivery of drink supply containers and CO2 supply containers to the user; (h) orders repairs as necessary; (i) notifies users of new drinks available through the drink dispensing system; (j) reduces the need to store conventional beverage containers in refrigerators; (k) reduces beverage waste; (l) reduces waste of containers and container materials by providing the same amount of beverages in smaller and fewer containers; and (m) reduces the need for homeowners, consumers, customers and other users of the system (referred to herein as xe2x80x9cusersxe2x80x9d) to purchase for their homes bottles, cans and containers of numerous different types of beverages including carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a beverage distribution and dispensing system.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a beverage distribution and dispensing system which dispenses a plurality of carbonated and non-carbonated drinks from a conventional refrigerator.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage distribution and dispensing system which automatically reorders drink supply and CO2 supply.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage distribution and dispensing system which enables users to determine drink consumption, order additional drink and CO2 supplies and to change drink selections.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes.

Beverage distribution and dispensing system and method


A nitride-based semiconductor LED comprises an anode; a first p-type clad layer having a second n-type clad layer coming in contact with the anode, the first p-type clad layer being formed under the anode such that a portion of the first p-type clad layer comes in contact with the anode; an active layer formed under the first p-type clad layer; a first n-type clad layer having a second p-type clad layer which does not come in contact with the active layer, the first n-type clad layer being formed on the entire lower surface of the active layer; and a cathode formed under the first n-type clad layer and the second p-type clad layer so as to come in contact with a portion of the first n-type clad layer and the second p-type clad layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nitride-based semiconductor light emitting diode (LED) which has high resistance to electrostatic discharge (ESD).
2. Description of the Related Art
Because group III-V nitride semiconductors such as GaN have excellent physical and chemical properties, they are considered as essential materials of light emitting devices, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diode (LDs). The LEDs or LDs formed of the group III-V nitride semiconductors are widely used in the light emitting devices for obtaining blue or green light. The light emitting devices are applied to light sources of various products, such as electronic display boards and lighting devices.
However, the LEDs using nitride semiconductors have such a defect that they have much lower resistance to ESD than other compound semiconductors such as GaP and GaAlAs. For example, when a constant voltage of about several hundred volts (more than 100 V) is applied in a forward direction, the nitride semiconductor LED can be destroyed. Further, when a constant voltage of about dozen volts (more than 30 V) is applied in a backward direction, the nitride semiconductor LED can be destroyed. Such a constant voltage can be generated by static electricity which easily occurs in a person's body or a product when a nitride semiconductor light emitting devices such as an LED or LD is handled or used.
Accordingly, in order to suppress the damage of nitride semiconductor LEDs caused by ESD, various researches are being carried out. For example, a voltage regulator diode, in which an electric current can flow in a backward direction, is provided in order to make up for the weakness of nitride semiconductor LEDs with respect to ESD. As for the voltage regulator diode, a Zener Diode is provided, which is connected in parallel to an LED so as to effectively deal with static electricity.
Now, a conventional nitride-based semiconductor LED will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional nitride-based semiconductor LED, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the nitride-based semiconductor LED shown in FIG. 1.
As show in FIGS. 1 and 2, the nitride-based semiconductor LED includes an LED 30 and an ESD protecting element 40 which are mounted in parallel on the same surface of a lead frame 50 composed of a pair of anode lead 51 and cathode lead 52. The LED 30 and the ESD protecting element 40 are connected through a wire 60 formed of gold (Au), thereby forming a parallel structure. The ESD protecting element 40 is composed of a Zener diode.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 represents a package formed of transparent or opaque synthetic resin, and reference numeral 20 represents a molding material for protecting the LED.
The Zener diode serving as the ESD protecting element 40 is a so-called voltage regulator diode. The Zener diode is one of semiconductor p-n junction diodes and is manufactured so as to exhibit operational characteristics in a breakdown region of p-n junction. Further, the Zener diode obtains a constant voltage by using a Zener effect and operates in p-n junction of silicon at a current of 10 mA. Further, the Zener diode can obtain a constant voltage of 3 to 12 V, depending on a type thereof.
In the conventional nitride-based semiconductor LED, such a Zener diode is connected in parallel to the LED through a wire or the like. Therefore, although a backward current is applied due to static electricity, the Zener diode can prevent the LED from being damaged.
However, when the Zener diode and the LED is mounted in parallel on the lead frame, light emitted from the LED can be absorbed or diffused by the Zener diode, thereby reducing the luminance of the LED.
To solve such a problem, a technique in which an LED and a Schottky diode are formed on the same substrate has been proposed, as shown in FIG. 3B of U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,597. FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of a conventional nitride semiconductor LED shown in FIG. 3B of U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,597.
In the conventional nitride semiconductor LED shown in FIG. 3, an LED and a Schottky diode are formed on the same substrate so as to be connected in parallel to each other. Accordingly, light emitted from the LED is not lost, and the LED can be protected from ESD, thereby enhancing the luminance of the LED.
In such a technique, however, there is a problem that the manufacturing process thereof is complicated. That is, the LED region and the Schottky diode region should be separated from each other. Further, electrode materials forming Schottky contact and electrode materials forming ohmic contact should be separately deposited on a conductive buffer layer, in order to form Schottky junction.

Nitride-based semiconductor light emitting diode


A method of fabricating a crystal thin plate of a substance capable of forming a crystal, wherein a molten layer of the substance formed on a support is cooled in the atmosphere of an inert gas or in vacuum at a rate of 10-300xc2x0 C. per second under a micro-gravity environment to solidify and crystallize the molten layer. The cooling is performed by contacting a portion of the support with a cooling medium.

This invention relates to a method of fabricating a crystal thin plate under a micro-gravity environment.
Crystals of metal oxides, semiconductors, etc. have been hitherto grown from a liquid phase. Examples of such crystal forming methods include a crystal pulling method for forming a silicon semiconductor single crystal of or a metal oxide single crystal, a melt growth method for forming a semiconductor such as GaAs using a crucible and a floating-zone method for forming a silicon single crystal or a compound semiconductor without using a crucible.
One problem of the above conventional methods is that it is difficult to obtain a high quality crystal having no defects. Another problem is that a relatively long time is required for the production of crystals.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing a high quality crystal thin plate within a short period of time.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of fabricating a crystal thin plate of a substance capable of forming a crystal, which includes the steps of:
forming a molten layer of the above substance on a support; and
cooling the molten layer in the atmosphere of an inert gas or in vacuum at a rate of 10-300xc2x0 C. per second under a micro-gravity environment to solidify and crystallize the molten layer. The cooling is performed by contacting the support with a cooling medium.

Method of fabricating crystal thin plate under micro-gravity environment

Director-General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology


An industrial robot having an expansion axis, a turning axis and a vertical axis, wherein the one end of flexible supporting plate supporting an internal wiring and piping system of the robot is fixed to the expansion axis which is capable of making free linear motion for a base plate arranged to the vertical axis. The flexible supporting plate is bent in the form of letter U in parallel to the turning plane of the expansion axis. Therefore, the expansion axis can be located at the sufficient lower position for the base plate, and the strength and accuracy of the drive mechanism can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal wiring and piping system of a robot for industrial use providing the linear motion mechanism and turning motion mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In relation to the internal wiring and piping system of the robot for industrial use having a vertical axis, turning axis and expansion axis, the prior art has employed the system explained hereunder.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are illustrations for explaining the structure of the prior art.
In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 1 designates an R axis base plate; an R axis housing 2 is fixed to the R axis base plate 1; rollers 3 are rotatably provided at the positions forming the angle of 120 degrees at the both sides of front and rear sides of R axis housing 2. Two sets of three rollers 3 are respectively provided at the front and rear sections of housing 2. The reference numeral 4 designates extensible R axis pipe provided as the expansion axis supported by six rollers 3; rack 5 is fixed to the R axis pipe 4; rotation stopper block 6 which has two pieces of rotatable rollers, not illustrated, is supporting the right and left sides of rack 5, at the lower section thereof and is fixed to the R axis housing 2; R axis motor plate 7 is fixed to the R axis housing 2; R axis motor 8 is fixed to the R axis motor plate 7; small gear 9 is fixed to the output axis of R axis motor 8; large gear 10 is engaging with small gear 9, rotation of this large gear moves the R axis pipe 4 in its axial direction through rotation of the pinion provided in the R axis housing 2 and engaged with the rack 5; moving end clamp angle 17 is fixed to the R axis pipe 4; belt-shaped thin plate 12 is fixed to the moving end clamp angle 17 and bending lower side of base plate 1 for the R axis pipe 4; cutout part 13 is provided for binding the wirings and pipings along the thin plate 12 with a string type member at several points; and fixing end clamp angle 18 is provided for fixing the fixing end of thin plate 12.
The R axis operates as follows. When the R axis motor 8 revolves, the small gear 9 fixed to the output axis of motor rotates, causing the large gear 10 engaging therewith and pinion gear to rotate. Moreover the rack 5 engaging therewith and the R axis pipe 4 make the extending operation. Thereby, the moving end of the thin plate 12 fixed to the R axis pipe 4 through the moving end clamp angle 17 is also caused to make the extending operation. In this case, since the belt shaped thin plate 12 is bent in the vertical directions, it can be seen from the upper side, that the thin plate 12 lies on the center line of R axis pipe 4 in such entire range from the moving end to the fixing end. Meanwhile, the curvature of thin plate 12 supporting wirings and pipings must be set sufficiently large considering the life expectancy of such wirings and pipings, but the distance in the vertical direction between the moving end and fixing end becomes longer in the vertical direction as much as such consideration. Therefore, the R axis pipe 4, of which the moving end is fixed through the moving end clamp angle 17, is located higher for the base plate 1, of which the fixing end is fixed through the fixing end clamp angle 18, degrading the accuracy.
FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of the turning axis of the prior art. In this figure, 51 designates the T axis frame; T axis motor plate 52 is fixed to the T axis frame 51; T axis motor 53 is fixed to the T axis motor plate 52; small pulley 54 is fixed to the output axis of the T axis motor 53; large pulley 55, having a rotatable worm gear not illustrated within the T axis frame 51, is engaged with small pulley 54 through a belt; T axis bracket 56 is fixed to a rotatable wheel gear, not illustrated, engaging with the worm gear and provided within the T axis frame 51; T axis dog 57 which is fixed to the T axis bracket 56, transmits rotation of the T axis to base plate 1 and guides the vertical motion of base plate 1; upper cutout section 58 is provided for keeping free the R axis pipe 4 making the linear motion and the belt shaped thin plate 12 bending in the vertical direction; and two pieces of rotatable rollers 59 which are fixed to the R axis base plate 1, transmit a driving force of the turning axis to the expansion axis from the T axis dog 57. The T axis may be operated as follows. First, when the T axis motor 53 revolves, the small pulley 54 fixed to the output axis of this motor rotates, causing the large pulley 55 and worm gear engaging therewith through the belt to rotate, followed by the turning operation of the wheel gear, T axis bracket 56 and T axis dog 57 being engaged with such pulley and worm gear. Thereby, the entire part of the R axis including the R axis base plate 1 is also caused to make a turning operation through two pieces of roller 59 fixed to the R axis base plate 1. On the other hand, the R axis as a whole is caused also to make a vertical motion with the vertical axis (hereinafter referred to as the Z axis) 60 which is in the vertical motion by a driving mechanism not illustrated. Accordingly, the R axis base plate 1 makes the vertical motion. However, since the T axis as a whole including the T axis dog does not make the vertical motion, a driving force of the turning axis transmitted from the T axis dog 57 is sent to the expansion axis by the two pieces of rotatable rollers 59 fixed to the R axis base plate 1. In addition, the T axis bracket 56 is closest to the R axis base plate 1 at the position where the Z axis becomes lowest. In this timing, the T axis dog 57 enters the R axis at the relatively deepest position and the cutout section 58 is provided at the upper part in order to avoid collision with the R axis pipe 4. In the method of the prior art, the belt shaped thin plate 12 is bent in the vertical direction and the fixing end is in such a height of the R axis base plate 1 just under the R axis pipe 4. Therefore, the vertical size of upper cutout section 58 becomes long. Therefore, when the base plate 1 is located at the upper end of T axis dog 57, the strength of two pole sections of the T axis dog becomes weak in the turning direction.
As described, the apparatus of the prior art has the following pair of problems resulting from the positional relationship of the moving end and fixing end of the thin plate 12. First, the strength of the drive mechanism is insufficient. Namely, in the shape of mechanism part for transmitting a driving force of the turning axis to the expansion axis, the cutout part provided for making free the pipe which makes linear motion and the belt shaped thin plate bending in the form of a letter U in the vertical direction becomes long also in the vertical direction and thereby when the driving force of the turning axis is to be transmitted to the expansion axis with the upper end, namely the vertical axis is located at the upper end, the strength becomes insufficient. It becomes more apparent when the speed of the turning axis becomes higher, the stroke of the vertical axis becomes longer or the weight to be carried becomes heavier. Second, the height of the robot becomes high. Namely, since the curvature of thin plate supporting wirings and pipings must be large considering the life expectancy of such wiring and pipings, the vertical distance between the moving end and fixing end becomes much longer. Therefore, the fixed pipe of the moving end becomes higher than the base plate fixed at the fixing end through the angle, resulting in degradation of accuracy. It becomes more apparent when the size of the robot becomes smaller. Moveover, the strength of the drive mechanism becomes more insufficient as much as considering life expectancy.


Embodiments herein provide a method implemented in a cloud radio access network (C-RAN). The method includes transmitting channel state information (CSI) reference signals to plurality of user equipments (UEs). The method includes receiving a measured downlink (DL) CSI from each UE among the plurality of UEs. The DL CSI corresponds to a plurality of antenna ports associated with a set of remote radio heads (RRHs) in cluster. Further, the method includes estimating an uplink (UL) CSI for each UE antenna port. The UL CSI is estimated using a pre-defined pilot structure received from each UE. The DL CSI or UL CSI is defined with respect to BS and UE antenna port pair. Furthermore, the method includes deriving a calibration coefficient for each antenna port based on measured DL CSI and estimated UL CSI. The calibrated DL CSI is used to precoder the data using a linear or non-linear precoder.

In next generation of cloud communication technology, wireless network architecture includes a large group of antenna ports (ATPs) which are connected to a central processor (or a remote base station (RBS)) that performs baseband processing for the entire wireless network. The wireless network architecture includes a number of remote radio heads (RRHs) which may be either collocated or distributed. Each RRH includes multiple antenna ports that are used to transmit signals using spatially separated antennas. The architecture may include a set of massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) base stations connected to a core network or a cloud radio with distributed RRHs. In case of massive MIMO, the cloud becomes highly localized cloud that performs baseband processing for all the antenna ports. In case of cloud radio access network (RAN) joint processing can be performed for a group of RRHs resulting in a cluster. Clusters of clouds encompass a cloud network.
Availability of baseband signals corresponding to all user equipment (UEs) in the cloud network provides multiple advantages including simplified user scheduling, automatic load balancing or the like. As the density of the RRHs increase, transmit power of base station (BS) can be reduced to low values without compromising the network performance In conventional networks, such high density deployment may lead to frequent handovers.
In conventional systems, the BS employs spatial multiplexing (SM) techniques using multiple antennas in downlink (DL). Similarly, the cloud radio can be designed to handle multi-stream transmission from each transmission port (TP). In the cloud radio, the network may assign the base station identification (BS ID) number to a group of antenna ports while individual antenna ports may be provided with a unique antenna port number. In conventional Heterogeneous networks (HetNets), the cloud radio with a plurality of macro cells and pico cells illustrates a HetNet cloud radio. The third generation partnership project (3GPP) introduced HetNets in Release-10 of the long term-evolution (LTE) standard. The HetNets allow deployment of small cells (Pico cells and Femto cells). All the cells can fully utilize entire available bandwidth in universal frequency reuse-one mode. The introduction of Pico cells within the coverage area of a Macro cell leads to mutual interference between the Macro and Pico cells.
Due to practical considerations, a finite set of BSs/ATPs/RRHs are connected to one cloud and other sets of BSs/ATPs/RRHs are connected to other clouds forming clusters of cloud radios. In such scenarios, cooperation is applied to BSs/ATPs/RRHs within a cluster. Because of limited cooperation, interference arises at the UE due to other cluster interference in the downlink.
To mitigate intra-cluster interference, channel state information (CSI) of BSs/ATPs/RRHs which belong to the same cluster is needed. However, since the cloud may use centralized precoding to eliminate intra-cluster interference, there may not be a need to obtain CSI of BSs/ATPs/RRHs that belong to neighboring clusters. The inter-cluster scheduling can be used to mitigate inter-cluster interference when the UE feedback the IDs of BS that are present in the neighboring clusters but can cause dominant interference to the UE.
In the cloud radio systems employing different carrier frequencies for downlink and uplink called a frequency division duplex (1-DD) cloud radio, the CSI of downlink channels are fed back by the UEs to the BS with regular periodicity resulting in high overhead. However, in cloud radio systems employing time division duplexing (TDD) the available frequency resources are used between downlink and uplink in TDD mode. In such cases, the CSI of downlink channel can be obtained from the CSI measurements obtained from the uplink. However, since the RF filters used in the downlink and uplink transmission paths can be different, the measured downlink CSI differs from that of uplink CSI. There is a need to apply a frequency dependent correction factor to the uplink measured CSI to obtain downlink CSI.
The above information is presented as background information only to help the reader to understand the present invention. Applicants have made no determination and make no assertion as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present application.

Method and apparatus for a cluster specific cloud radio transmission and reception

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, HYDERABAD


A process unit includes a photosensitive member that carries an image; a developing device that has a developer carrying member carrying a developer to be supplied to the photosensitive member; a rotating shaft that supports the developing device rotatably for approaching and separating from the photosensitive member; a photosensitive member gear provided to the photosensitive member; and a developing gear provided to the developer carrying member. The photosensitive member gear and the developing gear engage together and driving force can be transmitted, and the rotating shaft is placed on a driving force vector between the gears or on an extended line thereof, the driving force vector being generated from engagement between the photosensitive member gear and the developing gear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process unit and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic type, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction peripheral having the respective functions thereof, or the like, a developing device is provided for visualizing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member. Generally speaking, the developing device has a developing roller as a developer carrying member for carrying a toner that is a developer, a supply roller that supplies the toner to the developing roller, a control blade controlling the thickness of the toner on the developing roller into a uniform thickness, and so forth.
Basic operations of the developing device are as follows. First, the toner contained inside the developing device is electrified by friction caused as a result of the supply roller and the developing roller being rubbed together at a nip therebetween, and the toner adheres to the surface of the developing roller by the image force of the electric charge generated by the electrification. Next, when the toner carried by the developing roller reaches a control nip at which the developing roller and the control blade come into contact together, the thickness of the toner is controlled by the control blade to be a uniform thickness, and electric charge is given to the toner. Then, at a developing area between the photosensitive member and the developing roller, the toner on the developing roller is transferred, by a developing electric field, to a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, and the latent image is thus visualized into a toner image. Thus, a desired image is obtained as a result of transfer of the toner being carried out satisfactorily from the supply roller to the developing roller, and from the developing roller to the photosensitive member. Further, for the purpose of stably obtaining a satisfactory image, it is necessary to stabilize the relative position of the developing roller with respect to the photosensitive member.
For example, in an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 5-66662 (Patent Reference No. 1), a developing device that is rotatably supported has force applied thereto toward a photosensitive member, thus a developing roller is made to come into contact with the photosensitive member via a spacer, and the space between the photosensitive member and the developing roller is made to be constant.
Further, in the image forming apparatus of Patent Reference No. 1, a first gear provided to the developing roller and a second gear provided to the photosensitive member are made to engage together for the purpose of transferring driving force of a motor provided in an apparatus body to the photosensitive member and the developing roller.
However, in the case where the driving force is transferred between the developing device that is rotatably supported and the photosensitive member that is fixed in its position, the developing device may be moved in such a direction that it is rotated because of driving force generated between the gears, and thus, the relative position between the photosensitive member and the developing device may be changed.

Process unit including a rotatable shaft along a driving force vector and image forming apparatus including the same


The invention is related to methods of producing rod-derived cone viability factor (RdCVF). This invention also relates to the treatment of an ocular disease in a mammal using RdCVF. Also provided are expression vectors for high secreted expression of RdCVF of using nucleotide sequences encoding heterologous signal proteins and optionally markers for furin cleavage.

Retinitis pigmentosa is an untreatable, inherited retinal disease that leads to blindness. The disease initiates with the loss of night vision due to rod photoreceptor degeneration, followed by irreversible progressive loss of cone photoreceptors. Although loss of rods has substantial functional consequences such as night blindness and some constriction of visual fields, rod death by itself does not cause severe vision loss. Rather, it is the delayed wave of non-autonomous cone photoreceptor degeneration that results in blindness.
It has previously been shown that factors secreted from rods are essential for cone viability. One such trophic factor, RdCVF, has been identified (see U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0204350, Channel et al., BMC Molecular Biology 2007, 8:74; Leveillard et al., 2004, Nature Genetics, 36: 755-759; and Leveillard et al. at http://www.hal.inserm.fr/docs/00/31/23/78/DOC/Manuscript_on_April_15.doc). The feasibility of delivering RdCVF to the retina of a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa (rd1) using recombinant AAV vectors has been evaluated. In vivo results suggests that efficient delivery of vector derived RdCVF protein to target photoreceptor cells requires novel secreted versions of the protein by the addition of specific signal peptides. Therapeutic applications of RdCVF have been explored, e.g., see WO 03/066810A2, EP 2027889A1, WO 2005/113586A2, Purification of secreted RdCVF and subsequent biochemical analysis confirms that RdCVF(LF) has anti-oxidative properties.
Recombinant expression of RdCVF at a large scale has been challenging. Effective expression of RdCVF from a gene therapy vector has also been challenging. Without being limited as to theory, it is theorized that post-translational events are largely responsible for the less than optimal levels of protein expression in either recombinant protein expression systems or in expression from a gene therapy vector. Following translation, proteins are routed specifically to secretory or endocytic pathways in the endoplasmic reticulum and traverse the Golgi network. Secreted proteins comprise a signal peptide, which is recognized during translation by the signal recognition pathway. Subsequently, the signal peptide is cleaved by a membrane—bound signal peptidase and the mature secreted protein enters a secretory vesicle. Thus secreted proteins are destined for the secretory pathway by recognition of their N-terminal signal peptides. The presently disclosed invention seeks to improve RdCVF expression profiles, including improving RdCVF secretion from cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods to produce rod-derived cone viability factor (RdCVF)


The invention relates to a packaging and dispensing device for applying a cosmetic and/or care product, in particular to the hair and/or the scalp, the device comprising a receptacle including a bellows having first and second regions that are moved towards each other when the bellows is compressed. On being compressed, the bellows enables a quantity of substance to be dispensed. The device also has an adjustment member for modifying the compression stroke of the bellows, and thus the quantity of substance that is dispensed. The device is arranged in such a manner that the bellows is compressed by thrust exerted by the user substantially on the axis of the bellows.

The present invention relates to devices for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic and/or a care product, and it relates more particularly to devices for applying a substance to the hair and/or to the scalp.
French patent application No. FR-A-2 684 569 discloses a packaging and dispenser device comprising a receptacle including a bellows and pushers movable relative to the receptacle, enabling the bellows to be compressed to cause a quantity of substance to be dispensed.
The user makes use of the thumb and the index finger to compress the bellows, by pressing against the pushers in a direction that extends transversely relative to the axis of the bellows.
The structure of that device is relatively complex because of the use of pushers.
In addition, when the device includes a dispenser endpiece with a break-off portion, the Applicant company has found that applying substance to the base of the hair, so that the endpiece comes into contact with the scalp, can be uncomfortable because the endpiece can have sharp edges once the break-off portion has been removed, and these can scratch the scalp or snag the hair.
It is also relatively difficult with such a device for the user to control accurately the distance between the endpiece and the scalp, or to follow a predetermined path, e.g. a parting formed in the hair.
An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging and dispenser device intended specifically for applying a cosmetic and/or care product, in particular to the hair and/or to the scalp, which device is of structure that is relatively simple and inexpensive, is easy to use, and makes it possible to vary the quantity of substance that is dispensed.
The packaging and dispenser device of the invention comprises a receptacle including a bellows enabling a quantity of substance to be dispensed by being compressed axially, the bellows comprising first and second regions that move towards each other while the bellows is being compressed, the device including an adjustment member for modifying the compression stroke of the bellows and thus the quantity of substance that is dispensed, the device being arranged in such a manner that compression of the bellows is the result of thrust exerted by the user substantially along the axis of the bellows.
Preferably, the adjustment member moves together with the first region during compression of the bellows, and includes a stop surface suitable for bearing against an abutment-forming surface that is stationary relative to the second region of the bellows, at least while the bellows is being compressed, thereby determining the maximum compression stroke of the bellows, the adjustment member being fixed on the device in such a manner that the axial position of said stop surface can be modified prior to compressing the bellows, depending on the quantity of substance that is to be dispensed.
By means of the invention, the user can easily and reproducibly select the quantity of substance that is to be dispensed, while still having a device that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
The bellows preferably communicates with a flask body via a waisted portion.
Such a waisted portion makes the device easy to hold and, where the dispenser endpiece makes this possible, it enables the bellows to be compressed by exerting thrust with the thumb on one end of the bellows and with the middle and index fingers on the other end of the bellows, the middle and index fingers being engaged in the waist around the waisted portion.
Thus, the device preferably includes first and second bearing surfaces situated at respective ends of the bellows so as to enable the user to exert pressure along the axis of the receptacle to move said bearing surfaces towards each other and compress the bellows, the first bearing surface being situated on a dispenser endpiece or in the vicinity thereof so that the user can dispense the substance while holding the device in one hand and can simultaneously bring said hand into contact with the surface onto which the substance is to be applied.
Specifically, this configuration makes it easy for the user to use the hand to control the distance between the dispenser endpiece and the surface to be treated and to control the pressure with which the endpiece is applied against said surface.
The user can thus move the endpiece accurately along the surface to be treated without the endpiece coming into contact therewith, merely with the help of the hand, and preferably of the thumb.
The user can also dispense the substance into the other hand prior to applying it to the surface that is to be treated.
In addition, when using a break-off endpiece, the user can avoid contact between the endpiece and the surface to be treated.
The bellows is preferably made integrally with the flask body.
Also preferably, the axis of the bellows can coincided with the axis of the flask body.
The volume of the flask body can be at least ten times greater than the volume of the bellows when the bellows is in the non-compressed state.
The device can include means for fixing the adjustment member on the device to enable the maximum compression stroke of the bellows to be adjusted continuously.
These means can comprise a thread made on the neck of the receptacle or on a piece fitted thereto.
When a thread is used, the device preferably includes a band and the adjustment member includes at least one portion in relief suitable for going elastically past said band while the adjustment member is being screwed onto the receptacle, the band being shaped in such a manner as to prevent the adjustment member being fully unscrewed.
The device can also include a succession of portions in relief situated at different levels relative to the first region of the bellows, and the adjustment member can comprise at least one positioning element for co-operating with said portions in relief in order to prevent the adjustment member from moving axially when in a predetermined axial position relative to the first region of the bellows.
Such portions in relief can be constituted by a succession of ribs leaving grooves between them in which the positioning element can engage.
In a particular embodiment, each of the grooves extends over a limited angular sector about the axis of the receptacle, and the positioning element of the adjustment member extends over an angular sector selected in such a manner as to enable the positioning element to be disengaged from the grooves formed between said ribs by being turned about the axis of the receptacle so as to make it possible to modify the axial position of the adjustment member, and thus the quantity of substance that is dispensed when the bellows is compressed.
The portions in relief in question can be formed on a piece which is fitted to the receptacle.
In a variant, the portions in relief can be made while the receptacle is being molded.
In an embodiment of the invention, the abutment-forming surface is defined by a portion of the device.
In particular, the abutment-forming surface can be defined by a transverse wall of the receptacle.
The abutment-forming surface can be situated inside the receptacle.
Under such circumstances, in a particular embodiment, the adjustment member includes an extension extending inside the bellows, and suitable for bearing against said abutment-forming surface when the bellows is compressed.
Preferably, said extension is constituted by the bottom portion of an inner sealing skirt bearing in leakproof manner against a neck of the receptacle.
In particular, the abutment-forming surface can be defined by a transverse wall to which the bellows is connected.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, said abutment-forming surface is defined by a portion of the outside surface of the receptacle.
In another particular embodiment of the invention, the abutment-forming surface is defined by a fold of the bellows.
Under such circumstances, the bellows is advantageously elliptical in cross-section and the adjustment member comprises at least one portion in relief defining said stop surface that is suitable for coming into abutment against a fold of the bellows in a predetermined angular position of the adjustment member relative to the receptacle, and that is suitable for moving freely between the folds of the bellows in another predetermined angular position of the adjustment member relative to the receptacle.
In a particular embodiment, the adjustment member comprises a wall situated outside the receptacle, defining said stop surface.
Preferably, said wall is constituted by a tubular skirt of inside diameter greater than the diameter of the bellows when the bellows is in the compressed state, said skirt being suitable for coming to bear against a transverse wall of the receptacle to which the bellows is connected.
In a particular embodiment, the adjustment member is suitable for coupling on a portion of the receptacle in such a manner as to hold the bellows in the compressed state during storage, thereby facilitating packaging.
Preferably, the adjustment member has catches suitable for snap-fastening on said portion of the receptacle, thereby simplifying manufacture.
In a particular embodiment, the adjustment member is suitable for snap-fastening on a portion of the receptacle having a radially outer edge that is not circular, thereby enabling the adjustment member to disengage from said portion of the receptacle by turning the adjustment member relative to the receptacle.
The device preferably includes a dispenser endpiece carried by the adjustment member.
In which case, the adjustment member advantageously includes a passage enabling the substance contained in the receptacle to reach the dispenser endpiece.
The dispenser endpiece can be hinged to the adjustment member.
Under such circumstances, the adjustment member preferably comprises a peripheral wall serving to mask an outlet orifice for delivering the substance from the endpiece, whenever the endpiece is in a first position relative to the adjustment member, with the endpiece being capable of tilting so as to take up a second position in which the outlet orifice is no longer masked by the peripheral wall of the adjustment member, when the user presses on the endpiece.
In a variant embodiment, the dispenser endpiece is secured to a deformable wall enabling the dispenser endpiece to move axially relative to the adjustment member.
Preferably, the deformable wall is in the form of a stepped tube.
Also preferably, the endpiece drives a plug during its movement relative to the adjustment member, which plug is arranged to isolate the inside of the receptacle from the outside, when the device is not in use.
The invention also provides a packaging and dispenser device comprising both a receptacle including a bellows enabling a quantity of substance to be dispensed by being compressed axially, and an adjustment member for modifying the compression stroke of the bellows and thus the quantity of substance dispensed, the device further comprising a dispenser endpiece and first and second bearing surfaces situated at respective ends of the bellows so as to enable the user to exert pressure along the axis of the receptacle so as to move said bearing surfaces towards each other and compress the bellows, the dispenser endpiece having an outlet orifice situated close to the first bearing surface, on the side of the device.
The invention also provides a packaging and dispenser device comprising both a receptacle including a bellows enabling a quantity of substance to be dispensed by being compressed axially, and an adjustment member for continuously modifying the compression stroke of the bellows and thus the quantity of substance dispensed, the device being arranged in such a manner that the bellows is compressed by the user exerting axial thrust on the bellows.
The invention also provides a packaging and dispenser device comprising both a receptacle including a bellows enabling a quantity of substance to be dispensed by being compressed axially, and an adjustment member for modifying the compression stroke of the bellows and thus the quantity of substance dispensed, the device being arranged in such a manner that the bellows is compressed by axial thrust exerted by the user on the bellows, and the bellows communicates with a flask body via a waisted portion.
The invention also provides a packaging and dispenser device comprising both a receptacle including a bellows enabling a quantity of substance to be dispensed by being compressed axially, and an adjustment member for modifying the compression stroke of the bellows and thus the quantity of substance dispensed, the device being arranged in such a manner that the bellows is compressed by the user exerting thrust substantially along the axis of the bellows, and the device does not have a valve.
The invention also provides a packaging and dispenser device comprising both a receptacle including a bellows enabling a quantity of substance to be dispensed by being compressed axially, and an adjustment member for modifying the compression stroke of the bellows and thus the quantity of substance dispensed, the device being arranged in such a manner that the bellows is compressed by the user exerting thrust by means of the thumb.

Packaging and dispenser device enabling variable quantities to be dispensed


There is provided a semiconductor device with which stress can be prevented from locally concentrating on an external connecting terminal on a post and thus damages of the external connecting terminal can be prevented. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, a sealing resin layer stacked on a surface of the semiconductor chip, and the post which penetrates the sealing resin layer in a stacking direction of the semiconductor chip and the sealing resin layer, protrudes from the sealing resin layer, and has a periphery of the protruding portion opposedly in contact with a surface of the sealing resin layer in the stacking direction.

With the recent improvement and multiplication in function of a semiconductor device, the WL-CSP (Wafer Level-Chip Scale Package) technique has been increasingly practicalized. According to the WL-CSP technique, the packaging step is completed in a wafer state, and the size of each chip cut out from the wafer by dicing is the package size.
A semiconductor device to which the WL-CSP technique is applied includes a semiconductor chip 92 whose surface is entirely covered with a passivation film 91, a polyimide layer 93 stacked on the passivation film 91, rewiring 94 formed on the polyimide layer 93, a sealing resin layer 95 stacked on the polyimide layer 93 and the rewiring 94 and a solder ball 96 arranged on the sealing resin layer 95, as shown in FIG. 13. The passivation film 91 is provided with a pad opening 98 for exposing a part of the internal wiring as an electrode pad 97. The rewiring 94 is connected to the electrode pad 97 through a through-hole 99 penetratingly formed in the polyimide layer 93. Further, the rewiring 94 is connected with the solder ball 96 through a post 100 penetrating the sealing resin layer 95. In this semiconductor device, the solder ball 96 is connected to a pad provided on a mounting board, thereby attaining mounting on the mounting board (electrical and mechanical connection to the mounting board).
In the process of manufacturing such a semiconductor device, a wafer provided with a plurality of semiconductor chips is prepared. In this wafer state, the polyimide layer 93 and the rewiring 94 are first formed on the passivation film 91 covering the surface of the wafer. Then, the post 100 is formed on a predetermined position of the rewiring 94 by a method such as plating. Thereafter epoxy resin employed as the material for the sealing resin layer 95 is supplied to the surface of the wafer for embedding the post 100 therein. After the epoxy resin is cured, the surface of the epoxy resin is ground with a grinder, and the surface (tip end surface) of the post 100 is exposed from the epoxy resin.
However, a metallic material such as copper forming the post 100 has ductility, whereby the tip end of the post 100 extends and spreads (sags) on the surface of the epoxy resin (sealing resin layer 95) due to the grinder at the time of grinding the epoxy resin, as shown by a phantom line in FIG. 13. Such sagging of the metallic material may cause a problem such as a short circuit between a plurality of posts 100, for example.
After the epoxy resin is ground with the grinder, therefore, an ammonia-based etching solution is supplied to the surface of the wafer, and etching is performed for removing the metallic material extending and spreading on the surface of the epoxy resin. After this etching, the solder ball 96 is formed on the post 100. Then, the wafer is cut (diced) along dicing lines set between the adjacent semiconductor chips in the wafer. Thus, the semiconductor device having the structure shown in FIG. 13 is obtained.
After the etching, the position of the tip end surface of the post 100 is lower by one step than the position of the surface of the sealing resin layer 95, as shown in FIG. 13. Therefore, a corner 90 formed by the surface of the sealing resin layer 95 and another surface (inner surface of a through-hole receiving the post 100) of the sealing resin layer 95 in contact with the side surface of the post 100 comes into contact with the proximal end of the solder ball 96 formed on the post 100. If this corner 90 is in contact with the solder ball 96, stress may concentrate on the contact portion between the corner 90 and the solder ball 96 when the semiconductor chip 92 or the mounting board undergoes thermal expansion/shrinkage or the like, thereby causing a damage such as cracking in the solder ball 96.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing another structure of a semiconductor device to which the WL-CSP technique is applied.
This semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip 101. The entire surface of the semiconductor chip 101 is covered with a passivation film 102. This passivation film 102 is provided with pad openings 104 for exposing pads 103.
A polyimide layer 105 is stacked on the passivation film 102. Rewirings 106 are formed on the polyimide layer 105. These rewirings 106 are connected to the pads 103 through through-holes 107 penetratingly formed in the polyimide layer 105.
On the other hand, a first wiring layer 109, a first interlayer film 110, a second wiring layer 111 and a second interlayer film 112 are stacked under the passivation film 102 successively from the side closer to a semiconductor substrate 108 serving as the base of the semiconductor chip 101. The first wiring layer 109 and the second wiring layer 111 are electrically connected with each other through via holes 113 formed in the first interlayer film 110. The second wiring layer 111 and the pads 103 are electrically connected with each other through via holes 114 formed in the second interlayer film 112.
A sealing resin layer 115 made of epoxy resin is stacked on the polyimide layer 105 and the rewirings 106. The rewirings 106 are connected to solder balls 117 arranged on the surface of the sealing resin layer 115 through posts 116 penetrating the sealing resin layer 115.
In this semiconductor device of such a multilevel interconnection structure, the side surfaces of the semiconductor chip 101, the passivation film 102, the first interlayer film 110, the second interlayer film 112 and the sealing resin layer 115 are flush with one another and exposed. When stress is applied to the side surface of the semiconductor device, therefore, cracking (separation of the passivation film 102, the first interlayer film 110 and the second interlayer film 112) between each of the passivation film 102, the first interlayer film 110 and the second interlayer film 112 and the underlayer thereof takes place on the side surface. If such cracking progresses up to an element forming region of the semiconductor chip 101, a malfunction of a functional element formed on the element forming region may be caused.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-210760    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-298120


A white light source is described and has a UV-/blue-emitting semiconductor LED and an embedding compound provided with phosphor particles. The LED is provided with a plurality of light-emitting zones that are applied within a layer structure on a common substrate. An emission maxima of the light-emitting zones are energetically detuned relative to one another by different choice of the composition or of the layer thickness of the semiconductor material.

The present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) white light source. In particular, the present invention relates to an LED white light source having a semiconductor LED based on GaN or InGaN, which is at least partly surrounded by an encapsulation made of a transparent material which contains a converter substance for at least partial wavelength conversion of the light emitted by the LED. The LED has a plurality of light-emitting zones by which a relatively broadband light emission spectrum is generated energetically above the emission spectrum of the converter substance.
A component of this type is disclosed for example in Published, German Patent Application DE 38 04 293 A1, which describes a configuration having an electroluminescent or laser diode in which the emission spectrum irradiated by the diode is shifted toward longer wavelengths by a plastic element treated with a phosphorescent, light-converting organic dye. The light radiated by the configuration consequently has a different color from the light emitted by the light-emitting diode. Depending on the nature of the dye added to the plastic, light-emitting diode configurations that emit light in different colors can be produced using one and the same type of light-emitting diode.
In many potential areas of application for light-emitting diodes, such as, for example, in display elements in motor vehicle dashboards, lighting in aircraft and automobiles, and in full-color LED displays, there is increasingly a demand for light-emitting diode configurations with which polychromatic light in particular white light, can be produced. International Patent Disclosure WO 98/12757 describes a wavelength-converting potting compound for an electroluminescent component having a body which emits ultraviolet, blue or green light, based on a transparent epoxy resin treated with a luminescent material, in particular with an inorganic luminescent material pigment powder with luminescent material pigments from the group of phosphors. As a preferred embodiment, a description is given of a white light source in which a radiation-emitting semiconductor LED based on GaN, GaInN, GaAlN or GaInAlN is described with an emission maximum of between 420 nm and 460 nm and a luminescent material which is chosen such that a blue radiation emitted by the semiconductor body is converted into complimentary wavelength ranges, in particular blue and yellow, or to form additive color triads, e.g. blue, green and red. In this case, the yellow or the green and red light is generated by the luminescent materials. The hue (color locus in the CIE chromaticity diagram) of the white light generated in this way can be varied in this case by suitable choice of the luminescent material or materials with regard to mixture and concentration.
Likewise, International Patent Disclosure WO 98/54929 discloses a visible-light-emitting semiconductor component having a UV/blue LED which is disposed in a depression of a carrier body, whose surface has a light-reflection layer and is filled with a transparent material which surrounds the LED at its light exit sides. In order to improve the coupling-out of light, the transparent material has a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the light-active region of the LED.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,905 and Japanese Patent JP 0100022525 in each case describe an LED chip with stacked quantum wells that have such different emission wavelengths that the chip emits white light.
The previous known white light sources of the type described have the disadvantage, however, that the spectral light emission curve of the white light sources is still not optimal, so that the physiological-optical impression of a white light source is in many cases not provided to a sufficient extent. This is due not to the luminescent materials used, for instance, but rather to the fact that, during the wavelength conversion, the energy gap between absorbed photon and emitted photon cannot be arbitrarily reduced. For this reason, a spectral hole is produced in the emission curve.
This problem could be solved by disposing an additional LED component with an emission maximum in the blue wavelength range. However, the solution is unsatisfactory since it is associated with a considerable additional outlay on material and manufacturing time, since not only must a further semiconductor component be fabricated but it must be specifically contact-connected and wired in the white light source to be manufactured.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an LED white light source with broadband excitation which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, in which the light spectrum emitted by it is improved in the sense of an improved optical-physiological white light impression. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to specify an improved white light source in which the emitted light spectrum has an intensity profile that is as uniform as possible.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a white light source. The white light source contains a semiconductor light emitting diode having a light exit side and a main radiating direction, and the semiconductor LED emits a light. An encapsulation at least partly surrounds the semiconductor LED and is made of a transparent material containing a converter substance for at least partial wavelength conversion of the light emitted by the semiconductor LED. The semiconductor LED has at least two light-emitting zones embodied such that an maxima of their emission spectra are energetically detuned relative to one another and lie above an emission spectrum of the converter substance. The light-emitting zones are disposed one behind another in the main radiating direction of the semiconductor LED such that an energy of an emission maximum increases in a direction of the light exit side of the semiconductor LED.
Accordingly, the present invention describes a white light source having the semiconductor LED and the encapsulation, which at least partly surrounds the LED and is made of a transparent material containing the converter substance for at least partial wavelength conversion of the light emitted by the LED. In which case the LED has at least two light-emitting zones which are formed in such a way that the maxima of their emission spectra are energetically detuned relative to one another and lie above the emission spectrum of the converter substance, and which are furthermore disposed one behind the other in a main radiating direction of the LED in such a way that the photon energy of the emission maximum increases in the direction of the light exit side of the LED.
This order of the light-emitting zones prevents the longer-wave photons from being absorbed again in the zones with short-wave emission. Consequently, the spectral hole that is present in the case of white light sources according to the prior art is filled by virtue of the invention. This can be brought about by a single additional light-emitting zone or else by a larger number of additional light-emitting zones that energetically adjoin the first emission maximum of the converter substance above the maximum. The light-emitting zones are disposed on a common substrate and between two outer electrical contact layers, so that they can be connected to a common voltage source.
In a first embodiment, the LED has exactly one pn junction and the light-emitting zones are formed by a corresponding number of single or multiple quantum well layers of different thickness and/or of different material composition. In this embodiment, the energetic displacement between the emission maxima results from the displacement of the bottom most conduction band and the top most valance band in the case of variation of the thickness and/or of the material composition in the quantum well layers. In the simplest conceivable exemplary embodiment, two light-emitting zones are formed by two single quantum well layers made of InGaN of different thickness and/or different Indium concentration in each case being embedded and disposed one behind the other between two layers with a larger band gap.
In a second embodiment, the light-emitting zones of the LED are formed by a corresponding number of pn junctions. In this case, the pn junctions may be formed from a bulk material of different material composition, i.e. for example different proportion of indium in the material combination InGaN. However, for their part the pn junctions may also in each case contain a single or multiple quantum well layer and the quantum well layers of the different pn junctions may in this case have different thicknesses and/or material compositions. Respectively adjacent pn junctions can be electrically connected to one another in a particularly simple manner by a metallic compact layer, such as a solder layer. However, the adjacent pn junctions can also be monolithically integrated by the junctions being isolated from one another by extremely low-resistance np tunnel junctions which contain an n+-doped layer and a directly adjoining p+-doped layer. The n+-doped layer adjoins the n-type region of one pn junction and the p+-doped layer adjoins the p-type region of the other pn junction, and the n+-type and p+-type doping concentration, respectively, being chosen in such a way as to produce a relatively low electrical resistance of the tunnel junction during operation. This type of connection of two pn junctions is known per se in the prior art (e.g. van der Ziel, et al., xe2x80x9cAppl. Phys. Lett.xe2x80x9d 41, p. 500, 1982) and will not, therefore, be discussed any further at this point.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an LED white light source with broadband excitation, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH and Co. oHG


The gene for outer membrane protein P1 of Haemophilus influenzae b is expressed in E. coli. Methods for expression and demonstration of the immunogenicity of recombinant P1 and portions thereof are disclosed, along with an improved method for the purification of P1. The nucleotide sequence of the P1 gene and the derived amino acid sequence of the P1 protein of Haemophilus influenzae type b are disclosed and the methods used to determine the same. Also disclosed are the methods used to clone and express the P1 gene as well as the purification protocol for the P1 gene products (recombinant P1 and P1 fusion proteins). Fourteen peptides are synthesized corresponding to specific sequences of the mature P1 protein. The use of the P1 protein as n immunogens for immunization against the disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b and the use of the protein as a carrier for conjugation with an oligosaccharide derived from Haemophilus to generate a potentially efficacious vaccine against the disease, are described. Also disclosed is the use of P1 peptide-conjugates as immunizing agents to elicit anti-Haemophilus influenzae type b antibodies.

The disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b is a major cause of bacterial meningitis in children under the age of five years. Protective antibodies to the disease are induced by the capsular polysaccharide of the organism and a vaccine has been developed that utilizes the purified polyribosyl ribitol phosphate (PRP) as the antigen. This vaccine gave 90% protection in adults and in children over 24 months of age, but was ineffective in children under 24 months. Like other polysaccharide vaccines, the PRP does not induce the proliferation of T-helper cells, and re-immunization fails to elicit either booster response or increase in memory cells. A new conjugate vaccine has been developed that uses the PRP linked to diphtheria toxoid (see European Patent No. 0,098,581), which elicits T-cell dependent, booster responses and the production of PRP-specific IgG antibodies. To achieve broader protection in the 2 to 6 month age group and certain high risk groups, the incorporation of certain non-capsular antigens may be required. It has been shown that a monoclonal antibody directed against the outer membrane protein P1 of Haemophilus influenzae b has protective activity in the infant rat model of bacteremia. It has also been demonstrated that rabbit antisera directed against purified P1 also has protective activity in the rat model. The inventors have cloned, sequenced, and expressed in E. coli, the structural gene from P1 from three isolates.
Methods for inducing immunity against disease are constantly improving and there is presently a move towards the use of smaller and better defined materials as antigens. This is being undertaken to minimize or eliminate potential side-effects due to certain native immunogens, while preserving their immunogenicity and ability to confer protection against the disease.

Outer membrane protein P1 and peptides of Haemophilus influenzae type B


A resist pipe and a resist coating device are provided. Support portions are provided at an inner wall of a resist supply portion towards a cross-sectional center of the resist supply portion from three locations. The support portions are provided at equal intervals at the inner wall, and the leading ends thereof extend to positions at which a circular rod-shaped liquid level sensor portion is nipped by a peripheral surface of the liquid level sensor portion. In this manner, the support portions support the liquid level sensor portion from three directions, and gaps are formed between the liquid level sensor portion and the inner wall of the resist supply portion. The liquid level sensor portion inside the resist supply portion is supported by the support portions such that a sensing portion is substantially in the same plane as an inlet aperture of the resist supply portion.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a resist pipe and a resist coating device, and more specifically relates to a resist pipe of a resist coating device that is employed in a lithography process in fabrication of an integrated circuit, and relates to that resist coating device.
2. Related Art
Heretofore, in a process of fabrication of a semiconductor device, that is, an integrated circuit such as an IC, an LSI, a ULSI or the like, generally, a photolithography technology has been used to implement formation of a predetermined pattern on a substrate to be processed, which is, for example, a semiconductor substrate (such as a silicon wafer) (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2000-84468).
In this photolithography technology, a resist film is coated to a main surface of the semiconductor substrate. A resist coating device is used for the coating of the resist film. Commonly, a spin-coating method is used in the coating of the resist film by the resist coating device. That is, the semiconductor substrate is loaded on a spin chuck, the resist coating device is used to drip resist liquid to a central portion of the semiconductor substrate, after which the spin chuck is rotated at high speed. The resist liquid is spread from the central portion to a peripheral portion of the semiconductor substrate by centrifugal force caused by the rapid rotation of the semiconductor substrate, and the resist film is coated uniformly to the overall surface of the semiconductor substrate.
As shown in FIG. 7, a resist supply portion 120, which supplies the resist liquid to the resist coating device, is provided with, for example, a liquid level sensor portion 130 as described in JP-A No. 8-219853. When a remaining amount of a resist liquid 116 in a gallon bottle 114 falls, it is detected by the liquid level sensor portion 130, and an inhalation of air by the resist supply portion 120 due to the falling of a liquid level 116A is prevented. The liquid level sensor portion 130 and the resist supply portion 120 are inserted into the gallon bottle 114 or the like respectively separately.
As shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, when the falling of the liquid level of the resist liquid 116 is not detected by the liquid level sensor portion 130 and that air is inhaled by the resist supply portion 120, it is possible that a proper resist dripping amount may not be provided due to the mixing in of air in the resist coating process, and coating failures occur. Structures for eliminating air bubbles that have been mixed into the resist have been proposed (see, for example, JP-A No. 2005-136186), but are not capable of preventing mixing of air into the liquid.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D, when the liquid level sensor portion 130 mistakenly detects the liquid level 116A even when an amount remains (misdetection), there is no effect on the product. However, problems remain such as a reduction in efficiency and an increase in man-hours due to operations being interrupted, the impossibility of detecting when the liquid amount will actually fall, and so forth.
The above-described problems are caused by positions of the leading end of the resist supply portion and the liquid level sensor portion being separated. Therefore, to solve these problems, it is necessary to close up the two.


A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of accurately superimposing or aligning sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus during buffering even when the space intervals between the sheets are reduced. A sheet processing apparatus sequentially receives sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus and carries out post-processing on the sheets. During execution of the post-processing on the sheets, a plurality of sheets are discharged successively from the image forming apparatus and superimposed one upon another around a buffer roller. The conveying speed of the sheets is controlled such that a conveying time period over which a sheet preceding a final one of the sheets to be superimposed one upon another around the buffer roller is conveyed over a predetermined path section is shorter than a conveying time period over which the final one is conveyed over the predetermined path section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that sequentially receives sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus and carries out post-processing on the sheets, and a control method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known an image forming system including an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer, in which the image forming apparatus has connected thereto a sheet processing apparatus, such as a finisher, which is capable of performing various types of post processing needed by a user, such as bundle discharge processing and stapling processing, on sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus.
The sheet processing apparatus incorporated in the image forming system includes an intermediate tray where sheets with images formed thereon discharged one by one from the image forming apparatus are sequentially received and superimposed into a sheet bundle, and then post-processing, such as stapling processing, is performed on the sheet bundle, and a loading tray that receives each sheet bundle subjected to the post-processing, discharged from the intermediate tray.
The sheet processing apparatus carries out an aligning operation for aligning sheets whenever a sheet is discharged onto the intermediate tray. Further, when sheets for one bundle are discharged onto the intermediate tray, the sheet processing apparatus carries out not only the aligning operation but also other types of processing including stapling processing on the discharged sheet bundle, followed by carrying out a bundle discharge operation for discharging the sheet bundle onto the loading tray. Only after the discharge of the sheet bundle from the intermediate tray, the discharge of succeeding sheets onto the intermediate tray can be carried out. Therefore, sheets have to be discharged from the image forming apparatus at intervals of space corresponding to a time period needed for completing the post-processing of sheets on the intermediate tray.
To enable such discharge and post-processing of sheets, a first method has been known (e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,850) in which the timing of forming an image on each sheet is adjusted to a time period needed for the post-processing of a sheet bundle to thereby adjust time intervals at which sheets are discharged from the image forming apparatus into the sheet processing apparatus, on a sheet-by-sheet basis. According to the first method, however, time intervals at which images are formed on sheets are increased, which results in reduced productivity of the image formation.
Further, a second method (buffering method) has been known in which the sheet processing apparatus keeps each sheet received from the image forming apparatus on standby in a conveying path leading to the intermediate tray, and sequentially superimposes succeeding sheets on the standby sheets (preceding sheets), one upon another, then discharging the stacked sheets which are on standby onto the intermediate tray at a time after the immediately preceding sheet bundle has been discharged from the intermediate tray onto the loading tray. The second method enables the image forming apparatus to form images on sheets and discharge the sheets having images formed thereon into the sheet processing apparatus at predetermined time intervals, regardless of a time period needed for post-processing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent reduction of productivity of the image formation.
However, when sheets to be kept on standby are superimposed one upon another by the above conventional buffering method, a preceding one has to be conveyed to a predetermined position and caused to wait at the position for arrival of the succeeding one. If the succeeding one arrives before the preceding one is brought into the standby position, ends of the sheets cannot be accurately aligned with each other when they are superimposed on upon the other. As a result, when a plurality of sheets, which are thus superimposed, are discharged onto the intermediate tray, sheet alignment in a conveyance direction (i.e. longitudinal alignment) becomes insufficient. Particularly when the sheet conveying speed is increased for enhancement of productivity of the image formation, not only the time intervals at which images are formed on sheets but also the space intervals between sheets being conveyed are shortened, which makes it difficult to accurately superimpose or align the sheets when they are placed on standby, i.e. during buffering (temporary storage at an intermediate location) thereof.

Sheet processing apparatus and control method therefor


Display mode management systems and methods. The system comprises a plurality of supported display modes, and a processing module. The processing module receives an expected display mode, and determines whether the expected display mode is among the supported display modes. If not, a specific display mode is selected from the supported display modes. The resolution of the specific display mode is smaller than and closest to that of the expected display mode among the supported display modes. The specific display mode is set as the display mode of a device.

The present disclosure relates generally to display management, and, more particularly to display mode management systems and methods that select appropriate display modes.
Display devices, such as monitors supporting display data channel (DDC) provide several display modes. When a device such as a computer system needs to change the display mode of the device, the computer system can retrieve display modes supported by the device from extended display identification data (EDID) via an operating system or a driver.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a conventional display mode management method. When a user wants to change the display mode of a display device, in step S110, an expected display mode is received. In step S120, the computer system determines whether the expected display mode exceeds the maximum resolution of the display device. If so (Yes in step S120), in step S130, a panning mode is executed according to the expected display mode and a display mode corresponding to the maximum resolution of the display device. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a panning mode. In this example, the maximum resolution of the display device is 1280*1024, the expected display mode is 1600*1200, and region A is the area covered by the maximum resolution 1280*1024 of the display device. In the panning mode, the display mode of the display device is set to the maximum resolution thereof, and the area outside the maximum resolution, such as region B in FIG. 2, forms a virtual screen. A user can move a pointing device to view the virtual screen.
The panning mode is a well known technique, and description thereof is omitted here. If not (No in step S120), in step S140, the expected display mode is set as the display mode of the display device.
It is understood that the conventional display mode management method does not determine whether the expected display mode is supported by the display device. If the expected display mode does not exceed the maximum resolution of the display device, and is not supported by the display device, data displayed on the display device may be skewed, or even not appear.