The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for seating a whipstock. The apparatus comprises an expandable seat, or nipple, configured to receive a whipstock. The seat is run into a cased wellbore, and is set by expanding it into frictional contact with the inner surface of the casing. Thereafter, a whipstock is seated onto the seat. The seat includes a keyway configured to receive an orientation member extending from the whipstock. In this manner, the orientation of the seat can be determined. An orientation member of the whipstock can be adjusted to properly orient the face of the whipstock in the seat, and the whipstock lowered onto the seat so that it automatically seats in the proper direction. The whipstock then serves as a diverter tool for drilling a lateral wellbore such as a horizontal well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seating apparatus for a whipstock. More particularly the present invention relates to an expandable seat used to land a whipstock prior to the milling of a window through casing. The present invention also relates to a method for seating a whipstock in a parent wellbore.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, technology has been developed which allows an operator to drill a primary vertical well, and then later drill an angled lateral hole off of that vertical well at a chosen depth. The vertical wellbore, sometimes referred to as the parent wellbore, is cased with a string of casing and then cemented. In some cases, that parent wellbore is completed and hydrocarbons are produced from a downhole formation through that parent wellbore for a period of time before the lateral wellbore is created. In other cases, a lateral wellbore is completed along with or even in lieu of the parent wellbore.
In creating a lateral wellbore, an anchor, a slip mechanism, or an anchor-packer is typically set in the parent wellbore at a depth where deflection is desired. The anchoring device acts as a seat against which tools above it may be urged, including a whipstock. The whipstock is positioned in the casing above the anchoring device. Correct orientation of the whipstock is determined using a survey tool.
The whipstock is specially configured to divert milling bits and then a drill bit in a desired direction for forming a lateral wellbore. This process is sometimes referred to alternatively as sidetrack drilling, horizontal drilling, or directional drilling.
A stinger is typically located at the bottom of the whipstock which engages the anchor device or packer. In this respect, splined connections between the stinger and the anchor facilitate correct stinger orientation. The stinger allows the concave face of the whipstock to be properly oriented so as to direct the milling operation.
In some completions, it is desirable to seat the whipstock onto a tubular nipple in the casing string rather than using a packer. This avoids the necessity of running a separate anchoring device within the casing. Currently it is known to employ one or more seats, referred to as nipples, screwed into the casing string at the depth at which a lateral wellbore is to be drilled.
A substantial disadvantage exists with the use of currently-known casing nipples for seating a whipstock. The primary disadvantage is that, in drilling the parent wellbore, it is unknown precisely where a lateral wellbore will need to be deployed. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that downhole testing oftentimes is not conducted until after the parent wellbore is cased and cemented. Moreover, in many instances the drilling of a lateral wellbore does not take place until some extended period of time after the parent wellbore is completed. Therefore, some in the industry are incurring the time and expense of installing multiple casing seats within the casing string at various depths during the drilling operation. This increases the expense and complexity of the well completion process.
An additional disadvantage to the presetting of whipstock nipples within the casing string is that the orientation of each seat becomes fixed. In this respect, the orientation of the seats cannot be changed once they become part of the cemented casing string.
There exists, therefore, a need for a whipstock seat which can be set within casing at a time after the parent wellbore has been cased and cemented.
It is, therefore, one of the many objects of the present invention to provide a novel seat for landing a whipstock, wherein the seat can be set at a location in the casing of a parent wellbore after the casing has been cemented in place.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a seat configured to receive a whipstock in such a manner that the whipstock is automatically oriented in a desired direction for directional drilling.
Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide a seat for seating a whipstock which is expandable into the casing at a desired depth.
It is still an additional object to provide a method for seating a whipstock onto an expandable seat.
Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention, below.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Orienting whipstock seat, and method for seating a whipstock


A method and apparatus for automatically monitoring and controlling various parameters of individual ultracapacitor cells in a series string of such cells. These parameters are monitored, and a replacement charge current is delivered to any cell which has lost charge due to discharge either external or internal to the cell. Also, the application of this method and apparatus to energy storage systems for an electrical power transmission grid.

The invention first relates to a method and apparatus for management of individual cells within an ultracapacitor-based system.
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for management of individual cells within an ultracapacitor-based system.
Ultracapacitors are different from batteries in the following ways:                Batteries have a relatively flat discharge curve, the discharge curve for an ultracapacitor is capacitive in nature and follows the E=0.5CV2 where E is energy (in joules), C is capacitance (in farads), and V is voltage (in volts).        Ultracapacitors do not exhibit the "coup-de-fouet" (a sudden drop in voltage at the beginning of discharge of a lead-acid battery), so that the equivalent series resistance (ESR) is easily determined by delta V/delta I. This is less true for a battery.        Ultracapacitors are particularly sensitive to overvoltage and undervoltage conditions. When ultracapacitor cells are placed in series, variations in capacity, leakage current, and internal resistance can cause some cells to be overcharged while others are undercharged. This can result in conditions that are detrimental to the operation of ultracapacitor cells. Therefore, ultracapacitors must be equalized through some external means.        Ultracapacitors cannot be equalized in the same way as lead-acid or other batteries, which are typically subjected to long periods of charging at low currents.
Doing this with an ultracapacitor would cause excessive pressure to build up within a cell (in the case of a sealed design) and electrolyte loss (in the case of a vented design). Therefore, a special circuit is required to ensure that ultracapacitors are equalized.                Some ultracapacitors can be discharged to zero without incident, whereas batteries cannot. Therefore, the charging circuit used for ultracapacitors must be capable of operating over a wide voltage range.
A high-voltage string requires thousands of ultracapacitor cells placed in series, all of which require equalization. Ideally, individual cells should be monitored for current status and health. The method and apparatus described here is a monitoring, leveling, and control circuit designed to monitor, equalize, and charge individual cells in series to maintain optimal health of the cells and the entire ultracapacitor string.
In physical construction, the ultracapacitor cells in a high-voltage string are physically packaged into "modules," each consisting of a number (typically 10 to 30) of cells, for simplicity of assembly. The construction of the monitoring, leveling, and control circuit can also be simplified by dividing its functions into module-level functions (operating at each module) and top level functions (operating over the entire high-voltage string).
At the module level, a low-cost local controller (local to the module) is used to select, monitor and charge individual cells in a particular module. At the top level, a more sophisticated master controller is used to control the local controllers, directing their functions. The local controllers communicate to a master controller through numerous voltage isolation circuits.
Because of the series connection of ultracapacitor modules, there is not a common electrical connection from which all communication signals can be referenced. The use of optical voltage isolation allows the establishment of a common reference on the master controller side of the isolator.
The communication between local controllers and master controllers is accomplished through the use of a communications protocol; in this case, I2C was used, although other protocols such as RS-232 may also be used. The communications protocol and data bus circuit must be capable of an adequate rate of data transfer, individual addressing of modules and/or cells, and communication to the local controller.
The local controller commands a charge and monitoring circuit, consisting of a non-isolated dc/dc converter with several advanced features. Among the more advanced features is the ability to change key voltage source parameters on command from local controller, without significantly interrupting operation of the circuit. For example, the switching frequency of the circuit can be adjusted for the use of advanced diagnostic techniques; this operation can be conducted from a remote location without taking the device off-line.
Another key advantage to the use of a local controller is immunity to noise. Previous inventions arrange the circuit so that the voltage level is brought back to the master controller, where it is digitized. This is acceptable for small systems, but is prohibitive in larger systems with thousands of cells. In this invention, the local controller performs all signal processing locally at the module, and sends data digitally to the master computer for post-processing.
To optimize operation and health of the ultracapacitor system, it is advantageous to charge and equalize individual cells as quickly as possible. Previous inventions, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,212, is limited to relatively low currents by the resistance of the circuit board traces. The invention described herein is capable of charging individual cells at a rate as high as 10 A, by using control algorithms such that the resistance of the current path does not limit the charge rate.
The invention described herein charges the ultracapacitor from a voltage source rather than the current source, which is more typically used. The voltage source configuration is safer than a current source, since it limits the voltage of the cell to the maximum setpoint, limiting the degree of overcharge to which it is subjected.
The invention described herein uses a novel approach to setting the current setpoint during charging. The voltage source configuration requires special circuitry to convert the voltage to a current; this is classically accomplished through the use of a resistor or transistor. These approaches cause inefficiency due to high power dissipation in the circuit. The current invention uses a interactive setpoint approach that monitors back current at the charge and monitoring circuit, sets the output voltage of the circuit to a level slightly higher than that of the cell, and measures the effect on the cell. If the resultant current is too high, output voltage can be increased; if the current is too low, output voltage can be decreased.
Similar devices described in the prior art, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,212 (incorporated herein by reference), require the use of 2N relays, where N is the total number of ultracapacitor cells. The present invention requires only N+1 relays, enabling significant cost savings and simplifying operation.

Method and apparatus for managing ultracapacitor energy storage systems for a power transmission system


In order to provide improved cooling for electrical machinery, especially A. C. generators for motor vehicles, with elimination of a rotating ventilating fan, the invention provides heat pipes disposed so that the evaporation regions of the heat pipes contact or surround the heat-producing parts of the generator, in particular the stator windings and the rectifying diodes. These regions communicate through sealed conduits with condensation regions that are located in places subject to lower temperatures that prevail near the heat producing elements. Disposed within the heat pipes are per se known capillary structures which transport condensed heat transport medium back to the evaporation region. Various embodiments are presented.

It is known to cool electrical machinery, for example A.C. generators in motor vehicles, by use of fans or other ventilators, preferably attached directly to the rotor shaft of the generator. The fans may be mounted within the housing of the generator or externally thereof and serve to generate a substantially axial air flow through the electrical machinery. Cooling a generator or other electrical machinery by means of an axially air transporting fan has several disadvantages. The power required to drive the fan increases non-linearly with increasing speed and this power drain is present even if no cooling is required; the air transported by the fan generally carries contaminants, dust and the like, which may accumulate within the generator and tend to diminish the cooling efficiency; the rotating fan generates substantial noise and may also serve as a diaphragm for transmitting noise generated by axial oscillations of the generator shaft.
The rotating cooling fan in the known apparatus must be so dimensioned that is can supply adequate cooling even when the outside air temperature is extremely high and the A.C. generator is subjected to its heaviest load. Accordingly, either the fan power, or the generator must be adequate for these maximum conditions. The interior of the generator must contain air guide channels that pass in the vicinity of those parts of the generator that produce the most heat. All of these efforts increase the cost and decrease the efficiency of which the A.C. generator is inherently capable. Encapsulated generators present even more difficult cooling problems.
It is known in many areas of technology to transport heat also for the purpose of cooling, by the use of heat pipes which are inherently capable of transporting substantial amounts of heat from one location to another. A heat pipe of known construction has a partial region extending into a cool zone; its interior contains a heat carrier, for example an evaporable transport medium or coolant which is heated in the region where heat is generated to a degree that it will evaporate. Its vapor will migrate within the heat pipe to the cooler region. In the cooler region, the coolant condenses, after which it is transported back into the evaporation region due to the capillary forces. The maximum heat transport capability of such heat pipes is determined by the strength of the capillary forces and by the pressure drops of the vapor flow and the liquid flow.
It is known to use heat pipes for cooling thyristors, for example as described in Brown Boveri Company (BBC) News, 1973, Vol. 6/7, Page 143ff.

Cooling apparatus for electrical machinery


An apparatus is disclosed for folding a helicopter rotor blade (16) for storage. The blade (16) is secured to a grip (12) by blade bolts (18, 20) which are locked in place by a latch plate (22). Each bolt (18, 20) has an annular groove (30, 31) in which is mated a corresponding aperture (42, 46) in the latch plate (22). To fold the blade (16) the latch plate (22) is translated against the tension of spring (24) to expose a blade bolt (18) to an enlarged aperture (40). This bolt (18) can then be removed to permit pivoting of the blade (16) about the remaining bolt (20). To further secure the latch plate (22), a cap (54) is provided to lock the latch plate (22) to the blade bolt (18).

Helicopter rotors have heretofore been constructed to permit folding of the blade about the rotor to decrease the space required for storing the aircraft. Many types of rotor blades are attached to the rotor hub by means of a pair of blade bolts. In one type of rotor, removal of one of the blade bolts permits the blade to pivot around the remaining bolt into a folded position. The bolt that is removed can then be used to lock the blade pitch change mechanism to avoid transmittal of the blade droop moment to the rotor control system. A second type of rotor hub and blade folding system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,631 to Covington Jr. et al.
To make the blade folding system more reliable and safer there exists a need for a latch mechanism to insure that the bolts are held securely in place during flight and to make possible easy inspection by ground crew members to insure that the bolts and lock mechanism are in the correct position for either flight or storage.


The embodiments described herein provide communication devices and methods that can facilitate communication between galvanically isolated systems. Specifically, the embodiments facilitate communication to a galvanically isolated system that is shut down without requiring that this shutdown system consume its own power while it is shutdown. To facilitate this, the communication devices and methods provide a wake-up device on the side of the shutdown system and facilitate the transfer of power across the galvanic isolation to the wake-up device when communication to the shutdown system is needed. With the wake-up device powered using power that was transferred across the galvanic isolation, the wake-up device can perform the actions needed to wake up the shutdown system, and can thus facilitate communication between the galvanically isolated systems. Thus, communication between galvanically isolated systems is facilitated without requiring that the shutdown system consume its own power during shutdown periods.

In many modern electronics applications, it is desirable to provide galvanic isolation between different systems. For example, it can be desirable to provide galvanic isolation between systems that operate at different voltages. However, in many such systems it may also be desirable to provide for communication between the systems while still maintaining galvanic isolation between the systems.
One issue in such systems is providing for communication when one of the systems shutdown. Specifically, some applications may require that a system is shutdown mode maintain the ability to respond to communications from across the galvanic isolation. This has typically required that the system continuously consume power even when shut down or in sleep mode. This power consumption during sleep mode can be particularly problematic in applications that rely upon battery power.
Thus, there remains a continuing need for systems and methods that can facilitate communication over isolation without requiring unwanted power consumption, particularly during shutdown.

Communication devices and methods with power transfer over isolation for wake-up


Pectic acid and pectinic acid may be totally or partially esterified with aliphatic, arylaliphatic, cycloaliphatic or heterocyclic alcohols. When the acid is only partially esterified, the remaining free carboxyl groups may be salified with inorganic or organic bases. The esters may be used in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, alimentary and cosmetic fields. The esters may be prepared from a quaternary ammonium salt of pectic acid or pectinic acid and an esterifying agent such as a halogenide.

PGA's are polysaccharides, commonly present in plants, relatively heterogeneous from a structural point of view and essentially definable as galacturonic glycans (poly (1.fwdarw.4)-.alpha.-D-galactopyranosiluronic acids, sometimes called pectic acids.
Apart from residues of .alpha.-D-galacturonic acid, very prevalent and present in blocks of 25-30 consecutive units, PGA's contain along their chains some residues of neutral monosaccharides--generally not exceeding about 15%--in particular .beta.-L-rhamnose.
The chains of PGA may also contain branches (for example short arabinogalactan chains) bound (1.fwdarw.4) mainly to the rhamnose residues.
One characteristic of PGA is that it forms gels which are stable in aqueous media in the presence of Ca(II) ions, even in the absence of added sugar. Of equal note are mixed thermoreversible gels prepared from acid aqueous solutions in the absence of Ca(II) ions and sucrose, containing PGA and alginates.
Thanks to the complete biocompatibility of their components, such gels are of particular interest in the fields of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
PGA's also exhibit interesting rheological characteristics in aqueous media. Some PGA-Me-x (x being about 50%) from particular vegetable sources contain acetyl groups (about 2-9% by weight) which may on the one hand attenuate these polymers' gel-forming characteristics but also give them remarkable tensioactive and in particular emulsifying properties (stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions).
PGA-Me-x, widely present in plants, may have substantially identical chains to those of PGA's, while an x % fraction of the residues of galacturonic acid in the chain is in the methyl ester form.
The value of x % depends on the natural source used to extract the biopolymers and normally comes within the range of about 10% to about 75%. Depending on the degree of methylation, expressed as x % Me, the PGA-Me-x's exhibit characteristic gel-forming properties in aqueous media not only in the absence of calcium ions but also for example in the presence of sufficient concentrations of sucrose. It is well known that various PGA-Me-x's are used in the food industry, thanks to these very properties.
Chemical modification methods for pectins are known which are based on demethoxylation to increase solubility of the polymer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,351 issued Apr. 5, 1977). In the citation of the chemical possibilities, not all the reactions intervening on the hydroxy and/or dihydroxy groups were considered, but only the carboxyl group was targeted. To date, only the synthesis of pectin partial esters of simple aliphatic alcohols, notably ethanol, has been carried out using PGA-Me-x samples, in particular citrus and sunflower pectic acids, (C. G. Kratchnov et al., Carbohydr. Res., 80, 350 (1980); which refers to Z. I. Kertesz, "The Pectic Substances", Interscience, New York (1951); R. McDonnell et al., Arch. Biochem., 28, 260 (1950); and H. Duel, Ber. Schweiz, Bot. Ges., 53, 219 (1943)). However, the method of synthesis employed (PGA-Me-x in alcoholic mineral acids) leads to severe chain degradation and fails to yield mixed esters because of a concomitant, extensive trans-esterification side-reaction.

M.U.R.S.T. (Italian Ministry for Universities and Scientific and Technological Research)


A method of producing a semiconductor device comprising a bipolar transistor and a MOSFET (e.g., a Bi-MOS device), comprising the steps of: forming an insulating layer on an epitaxial silicon layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate electrode; forming a base region; forming a PSG (an impurity containing glass) layer on the whole surface; carrying out a heat-treatment on the PSG to cause a softening and flow thereof (sloping ends of and flattening the PSG layer); opening collector, emitter, source and drain contact windows in the PSG layer and the insulating layer; forming a doped polysilicon layer over the contact windows with the formation of an emitter region; opening a base contact window; and forming metal (Al) electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a method of producing a semiconductor device comprising at least a bipolar transistor. The present invention is preferably applied to the production of a semiconductor device comprising a bipolar transistor and a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET).
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor device comprising a bipolar transistor and MOSFET has been produced on the same chip by a bipolar MOS (Bi-MOS) technology (see, e.g., Y. Okada et al: "ABC--An Advanced Bipolar-CMOS VLSI Technology," Extended Abstracts of 16th Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials, A-5-3, 1984, pp. 229-232, and A. R. Alvafez et al, "2MICRON MERGED BIPOLAR-CMOS TECHNOLOGY," IEDM, Tech Dig. pp. 761-764, 1984).
In general, interconnections including the electrodes of a bipolar transistor and the source and drain electrodes of a MOSFET are made of a metal layer of aluminum (Al) or alloy thereof, and these electrodes are formed with an insulating layer so that they are buried in electrode contact windows formed in the insulating layer. The insulating layer over a polycrystalline silicon gate which has these electrode contact windows, has a step-like portion, which can cause a break in the interconnections, resulting in a device failure or a formation of a thin portion thereof which reduces the reliability of the device. Also so-called stepcoverage defects of the metal layer (interconnections) occur. To eliminate the above disadvantages, the step-like portion of the insulating layer under the metal layer is gently sloped, i.e., the surface profile of the insulating layer is flattened, and this sloping or flattening contributes to a miniaturization of the pattern of the interconnections. Therefore, for flattening the insulating film, the insulating layer is made of an impurity-containing glass, such as phosphosilicate glass (PSG) and then the device is heated at a high temperature of, e.g., 1000.degree. C., so that the glass layer is softened and made to flow, i.e., a so-called glass flow occurs.
When the glass flow technique is used for the insulating layer under the metal layer, a semiconductor device comprising, for example, an npn bipolar transistor and an n-channel MOSFET is produced in the following manner.
An n-type epitaxial silicon layer is formed on a p-type silicon substrate, and a p-type isolation region for the bipolar transistor and a p-well (p-type region) are simultaneously formed in the n-type epitaxial layer. An n-type contact layer is formed in the epitaxial layer portion surrounded by the isolation region, and the epitaxial silicon layer is selectively and thermally oxidized to form a thick oxide (SiO.sub.2) insulating layer. The epitaxial silicon layer except for the already oxidized portion is then oxidized to form a thin oxide (SiO.sub.2) insulating layer (a gate oxide layer). A polycrystalline silicon gate electrode is formed on the gate oxide layer, and donor impurities are ion-implanted into the p-well through the thin oxide insulating layer, in self-alignment with the gate electrode and the thick oxide insulating layer, to form an n-type source region and an n-type drain region. Acceptor impurities are ion-implanted into the isolated epitaxial silicon layer through the thin oxide insulating layer in self-alignment with the edge of the thick oxide insulating layer, so that a p-type base region is formed, and the thin oxide insulating layer is then selectively etched to open a collector contact window and an emitter contact window. A polycrystalline silicon layer is deposited and is patterned to cover the windows, respectively. The formation of the polycrystalline silicon layer prevents spiking of the aluminum alloying with silicon. Donor impurities are ion-implanted into the collector contact region and the base region through the polycrystalline silicon layer in the contact windows, respectively, to form an n-type contact region and an n-type emitter region, respectively. The PSG layer is then formed on the whole surface, including the gate electrode surface, and is flattened by a heat-treatment producing a glass flow. Note, since the PSG layer covering the gate electrode has undesirable step-like portions, the production process of the Bi-MOS technology includes an indispensable step of sloping and flattening the PSG layer. The PSG layer is selectively etched to open electrode contact windows (i.e., collector, emitter, base, source, drain, and gate electrode contact windows), and Al or Al alloy is then deposited on the whole surface and is patterned to form electrodes (i.e., collector, emitter, base, source, drain and gate electrode) and interconnections, and as a result, the desired semiconductor device is produced.
In the above process, a high temperature of, e.g., 1000.degree. C., is used for the heat-treatment needed to cause the PSG flow (i.e., the flattening or smoothing of the PSG layer), but this high temperature causes an overdiffusion of donor impurities forming the emitter region. This causes an undesirable expansion of the emitter region with a corresponding variation in a current amplification factor: i.e., the current amplification factor of the bipolar transistors of the obtained semiconductor devices is uneven. Furthermore, a window opening step for the emitter of the bipolar transistor must be carried out twice, and if the alignment of the window position in the second window opening step in which the PSG layer is selectively etched is not correct, the portion of the thin oxide insulating layer adjoining the emitter region and outside the polycrystalline silicon layer on the emitter region may be etched during the PSG layer etching. In this case, when the metal layer for the emitter electrode is deposited, the metal layer causes a short circuit between the emitter and base. To prevent this defect, the dimensions of the polycrystalline silicon layer covering the emitter region must be made larger, While taking into consideration the alignment tolerance in the second window opening step. Accordingly, the distance between the emitter electrode and the base electrode must provide a sufficient margin. However, such an increase in the polycrystalline silicon layer area and the margin obstruct any intended miniaturization of the device.

Method of producing a semiconductor device by forming contacts after flowing a glass layer


A particular carbon black in a medium vinyl polybutadiene composition gives a vulcanizable rubber composition with superior blowout resistance, low heat buildup, and good resilience after vulcanizing. Such a carbon black in blends of medium vinyl polybutadiene and natural rubber provides a vulcanizable rubber composition having good dynamic wire cord adhesion (as measured by time to failure).

An area in which new solutions are constantly being sought is the problem area of how to prevent heat buildup and blowouts in vulcanized rubber compositions. How to improve the dynamic wire cord adhesion of vulcanized rubber compositions is also important, especially in the area of belted tires.
It is well known to use carbon black as an ingredient in rubber compositions in order to impart favorable characteristics to the rubbers. A broad variety of carbon blacks has been disclosed in the art. Since carbon black cannot be sufficiently characterized by its chemical composition or by its ingredients, it has become widely accepted to characterize a carbon black by the properties it exhibits. For example, a carbon black can be characterized by its surface area (which is usually a measurement of the size of the nodules making up the carbon black). Another important characteristic of a carbon black is its structure, which is a measure of the complexity of the individual carbon black aggregates or of the number of nodules which are "fused" together in one carbon black aggregate. Another important characteristic (which is defined below) is the tint residual of a carbon black.
The properties of carbon blacks are measured by using standardized ASTM tests; and those tests define those properties.
Resistance of degradation of rubber specimens is indirectly measured by ASTM D 623-67, which directly measures the time to blowout of specimens under stress. Generally, when time to blowout of a specimen is relatively high, heat buildup (as measured by .DELTA.T) in the specimen will be relatively low. However, it is not necessarily true that of two different specimens, the one having the higher time to blowout will have the lower heat buildup since resistance to degradation may be different in the two specimens.
Recently, in the prior art, it has been found that by using a carbon black with a low tint residual in a vulcanizable rubber composition, one will obtain a rubber composition which after vulcanizing has a significantly lower heat buildup (or hysteresis) than one obtains by incorporating a carbon black with a higher tint residual in the same rubber composition, the abrasion resistance of such rubber compositions incorporating these two different carbon blacks being essentially equal.
By using a carbon black having a highly negative tint residual value in a particular rubber, one produces a significantly improved rubber composition over those disclosed in the prior art.
It is an object of this invention to produce a vulcanizable rubber composition having low heat buildup properties and long times to blowout after vulcanization.
It is a further object of this invention to produce a vulcanized rubber composition with low heat buildup properties and long times to blowout.
It is a still further object of this invention to produce articles of manufacture with low heat buildup properties and long times to blowout.
Yet another object of this invention is to produce a vulcanizable rubber composition with high dynamic wire cord adhesion after vulcanization.
A further object of this invention is to produce a vulcanized rubber composition with high dynamic wire cord adhesion.
A still further object of this invention is to produce articles of manufacture with high dynamic wire cord adhesion.


A plurality of higher-level units are connected to a library unit, for example, as a lower-level unit through an SCSI. Furthermore, the plurality of higher-level units are connected by means of a communication path to mutually exchange information regarding the status of use of SCSI for the access to the lower-level library unit. A monitoring control section is provided in each of the plurality of higher-level units to instruct necessary processing in response to the status of use of SCSI. Particularly, when an abnormal occupation of SCSI caused by hang-up of any other higher-level unit is detected by the monitoring control section of a higher-level unit, the higher-level unit instructs its own SCSI controller to reset the bus to achieve bus reset of the other SCSI controller, thus releasing the occupation.

The present invention relates to a data processing system for sharing a library unit in a multi-initiator environment such as a plurality of host computers or servers, and more particularly, it relates to a data processing system composed by connecting a library unit to host computers by means of SCSI (Small Computer System Interface).
As an input/output system for a multi-computer system or a server client system, a library unit permitting storage and utilization of data in a large volume is usually employed. As an interface for such a library unit shared by a plurality of higher-level units, a block multiplexer channel interface (MBC interface) prepared for channel input/output for host computers has conventionally been utilized. Along with the recent tendency toward downsizing host computers and popularity of server client systems using workstations, an SCSI adopted as ANSI X3. 131-1986 is used as the interface for a library unit to allow expansion of the scope of higher-level units and library units composing a system.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional system using an SCSI. A library unit 110 is connected by means of an SCSI bus 120 to host computers 100-1 and 100-2 as higher-level units. In this case, SCSI controllers 130-1 and 130-2 of the host computers 100-1 and 100-2 serve as initiators, and an SCSI controller 180 of the library unit becomes a target.
FIG. 2 is a detailed view of FIG. 1: the host computers 100-1 and 100-2 are provided with SCSI controllers 130-1 and 130-2, data processing sections 140-1 and 140-2, terminal processing sections 150-1 and 150-2 and data terminal equipment 160-1 and 160-2. On the other hand, the library unit 110 is also provided with an SCSI controller 180 which is connected to the SCSI controllers 130-1 and 130-2 on the host side through an SCSI bus 120 comprising nine data lines and nine control lines, the number nine being obtained by adding parity one bit to eight bits.
However, when connecting the library unit to a plurality of host computers by means of such SCSIs, if the library is in use by one of the host computers, the other computer, even if desiring to use the library, is refused as busy by the SCSI controller of the library unit. When the host computer using the SCSI controller of the library unit as the target hangs up for some reason or other, the only response the other computer desiring to use the library receives is a busy response, and no processing can be performed until the bus is reset.
Now, an SCSI unit becoming unabled as a result of hang-up of a host computer is described in detail. First, FIG. 3A represents a state in which the host computers 100-1 and 100-2 are not processing. Then, when a request for input/output to the library unit 110 takes place in the host computer 100-2, as shown in FIG. 3B, the host computer 100-2 occupies the SCSI controller 180 of the library unit 110 serving as the target, and proceeds to perform input/output processing. In this state, it is assumed that the host computer 100-2 hangs up for some reason or other and discontinues processing as shown in FIG. 3C. The SCSI controller 180 of the target library unit 110, continues to determine that the hung-up host computer 100-2 is still processing, since a processing break signal was never received. The controller 180 therefore refuses the access request from the host computer 100-1 with a busy response busy as shown in FIG. 3D. When a busy response is the only response received for a long period of time, it is conceivable that this state is caused by hang-up as a result of an abnormality in the other host computer, and a reset signal is sent from an SCSI controller provided in the host computer 100-1 to all the other SCSI controllers to reset the bus to forcedly bring them back to their initial state.
However, if the other host computer, erroneously determines that the SCSI bus is unduly occupied under the effect of hang-up of the occupying computer, and performs a bus reset while large-sized data normally transmitted or received for a long period of time, is being transmitted or received a forced interruption of the transfer may destruct data. Particularly when a library unit is connected through a server to host computers, a large volume of data is often transferred from the server to the library unit, and in such a case, it is not rare that the library unit is occupied for more than three or four hours.

System for monitoring a library unit shared as input/output with higher level unit wherein abnormal occupation of library by a higher level unit is reset


This invention relates to compounds that are agonists of the muscarinic M1 receptor and/or M4 receptor and which are useful in the treatment of muscarinic M1/M4 receptor mediated diseases. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and the therapeutic uses of the compounds. Compounds include those according to formula 1, or a salt thereof, wherein Q, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined herein.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily which mediate the actions of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in both the central and peripheral nervous system. Five mAChR subtypes have been cloned, M1 to M5. The M1 mAChR is predominantly expressed post-synaptically in the cortex, hippocampus, striatum and thalamus; M2 mAChRs are located predominantly in the brainstem and thalamus, though also in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum where they reside on cholinergic synaptic terminals (Langmead et al., 2008 Br J Pharmacol). However, M2 mAChRs are also expressed peripherally on cardiac tissue (where they mediate the vagal innervation of the heart) and in smooth muscle and exocrine glands. M3 mAChRs are expressed at relatively low level in the CNS but are widely expressed in smooth muscle and glandular tissues such as sweat and salivary glands (Langmead et al., 2008 Br J Pharmacol).
Muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system, especially the M1 mAChR, play a critical role in mediating higher cognitive processing. Diseases associated with cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease, are accompanied by loss of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain (Whitehouse et al., 1982 Science). In schizophrenia, which also has cognitive impairment as an important component of the clinical picture, mAChR density is reduced in the pre-frontal cortex, hippocampus and caudate putamen of schizophrenic subjects (Dean et al., 2002 Mol Psychiatry). Furthermore, in animal models, blockade or damage to central cholinergic pathways results in profound cognitive deficits and non-selective mAChR antagonists have been shown to induce psychotomimetic effects in psychiatric patients. Cholinergic replacement therapy has largely been based on the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to prevent the breakdown of endogenous acetylcholine. These compounds have shown efficacy versus symptomatic cognitive decline in the clinic, but give rise to dose-limiting adverse events resulting from stimulation of peripheral M2 and M3 mAChRs including disturbed gastrointestinal motility, bradycardia, nausea and vomiting (http://www.drugs.com/pro/donepezil.html;
http://www.drugs.com/pro/rivastigmine.html).
Further discovery efforts have targeted the identification of direct M1 mAChR agonists with the aim of inducing selective improvements in cognitive function with a favourable adverse effect profile. Such efforts resulted in the identification of a range of agonists, exemplified by compounds such as xanomeline, AF267B, sabcomeline, milameline and cevimeline. Many of these compounds have been shown to be highly effective in pre-clinical models of cognition in both rodents and/or non-human primates. Milameline has shown efficacy versus scopolamine-induced deficits in working and spatial memory in rodents; sabcomeline displayed efficacy in a visual object discrimination task in marmosets and xanomeline reversed mAChR antagonist-induced deficits in cognitive performance in a passive avoidance paradigm.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder (26.6 million people worldwide in 2006) that affects the elderly, resulting in profound memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. The aetiology of the disease is complex, but is characterised by two hallmark brain pathologies: aggregates of amyloid plaques, largely composed of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), and neurofibrillary tangles, formed by hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. The accumulation of Aβ is thought to be the central feature in the progression of AD and, as such, many putative therapies for the treatment of AD are currently targeting inhibition of Aβ production. Aβ is derived from proteolytic cleavage of the membrane bound amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP is processed by two routes, nonamyloidgenic and amyloidgenic. Cleavage of APP by γ-secretase is common to both pathways, but in the former APP is cleaved by an α-secretase to yield soluble APPα. However, in the amyloidgenic route, APP is cleaved by β-secretase to yield soluble APPβ and also Aβ. In vitro studies have shown that mAChR agonists can promote the processing of APP toward the soluble, non-amyloidogenic pathway. In vivo studies showed that the mAChR agonist, AF267B, altered disease-like pathology in the 3×TgAD transgenic mouse, a model of the different components of Alzheimer's disease (Caccamo et al., 2006 Neuron). The mAChR agonist cevimeline has been shown to give a small, but significant, reduction in cerebrospinal fluid levels of Aβ in Alzheimer's patients, thus demonstrating potential disease modifying efficacy (Nitsch et al., 2000 Neurol).
Preclinical studies have suggested that mAChR agonists display an atypical antipsychotic-like profile in a range of pre-clinical paradigms. The mAChR agonist, xanomeline, reverses a number of dopamine mediated behaviours, including amphetamine induced locomotion in rats, apomorphine induced climbing in mice, dopamine agonist driven turning in unilateral 6-OH-DA lesioned rats and amphetamine induced motor unrest in monkeys (without EPS liability). It also has been shown to inhibit A10, but not A9, dopamine cell firing and conditioned avoidance and induces c-fos expression in prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, but not in striatum in rats. These data are all suggestive of an atypical antipsychotic-like profile (Mirza et al., 1999 CNS Drug Rev). Muscarinic receptors have also been implicated in the neurobiology of addiction. The reinforcing effects of cocaine and other addictive substances are mediated by the mesolimbic dopamine system where behavioral and neurochemical studies have shown that the cholinergic muscarinic receptor subtypes play important roles in regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission. For example M(4) (−/−) mice demonstrated significantly enhanced reward driven behaviour as result of exposure to cocaine (Schmidt et al Psychopharmacology (2011) August; 216(3):367-78). Furthermore xanomeline has been demonstrated to block the effects of cocaine in these models.
Muscarinic receptors are also involved in the control of movement and potentially represent novel treatments for movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, ADHD, Huntingdon's disease, tourette's syndrome and other syndromes associated with dopaminergic dysfunction as an underlying pathogenetic factor driving disease.
Xanomeline, sabcomeline, milameline and cevimeline have all progressed into various stages of clinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and/or schizophrenia. Phase II clinical studies with xanomeline demonstrated its efficacy versus various cognitive symptom domains, including behavioural disturbances and hallucinations associated with Alzheimer's disease (Bodick et al., 1997 Arch Neurol). This compound was also assessed in a small Phase II study of schizophrenics and gave a significant reduction in positive and negative symptoms when compared to placebo control (Shekhar et al., 2008 Am J Psych). However, in all clinical studies xanomeline and other related mAChR agonists have displayed an unacceptable safety margin with respect to cholinergic adverse events, including nausea, gastrointestinal pain, diahorrhea, diaphoresis (excessive sweating), hypersalivation (excessive salivation), syncope and bradycardia.
Muscarinic receptors are involved in central and peripheral pain. Pain can be divided into three different types: acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic. Acute pain serves an important protective function in keeping the organism safe from stimuli that may produce tissue damage; however management of post-surgical pain is required. Inflammatory pain may occur for many reasons including tissue damage, autoimmune response, and pathogen invasion and is triggered by the action of inflammatory mediators such as neuropeptides and prostaglandins which result in neuronal inflammation and pain. Neuropathic pain is associated with abnormal painful sensations to non-painful stimuli. Neuropathic pain is associated with a number of different diseases/traumas such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), viral infection (such as HIV or Herpes). It is also common in cancer both as a result of the disease or a side effect of chemotherapy. Activation of muscarinic receptors has been shown to be analgesic across a number of pain states through the activation of receptors in the spinal cord and higher pain centres in the brain. Increasing endogenous levels of acetylcholine through acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, direct activation of muscarinic receptors with agonists or allosteric modulators has been shown to have analgesic activity. In contrast blockade of muscarinic receptors with antagonists or using knockout mice increases pain sensitivity. Evidence for the role of the M1 receptor in pain is reviewed by D. F. Fiorino and M. Garcia-Guzman, 2012.
More recently, a small number of compounds have been identified which display improved selectivity for the M1 mAChR subtype over the peripherally expressed mAChR subtypes (Bridges et al., 2008 Bioorg Med Chem Lett; Johnson et al., 2010 Bioorg Med Chem Lett; Budzik et al., 2010 ACS Med Chem Lett). Despite increased levels of selectivity versus the M3 mAChR subtype, some of these compounds retain significant agonist activity at both this subtype and the M2 mAChR subtype. Herein we describe a series of compounds which unexpectedly display high levels of selectivity for the M1 and/or M4 mAChR over the M2 and M3 receptor subtypes.

Bicyclic aza compounds as muscarinic M1 receptor and/or M4 receptor agonists


Multiterminal, high voltage D.C. power networks in which the sub-terminals are electrically isolated from each other comprise D.C. transformers, as the terminals. Each transformer comprises a large number of efficient, high energy batteries, connected as two separate groups: one group made up of paralleled long strings of series connected batteries and the other group made up of paralleled short strings of one or more batteries each. Each transformer also comprises automatic monitoring, control and switching means for periodically exchanging charged and discharged strings between the two groups, one of which--the "primary"--is connected across the supply lines from the power source(s) for the network and the other of which--the "secondary"--is connected across the service lines providing power to users thereof.

An important factor in the present worldwide energy crisis is the cost of energy transportation. In general, energy is more economically transported in the form of nuclear fuel, oil or natural gas than as electricity. In the case of coal, the cost balance is close enough to be tipped either way, depending on circumstances. However, the energy contents of geothermal reservoirs, tides, wind flows, hydraulic heads and gases of low BTU content are definitely not economically transportable over any substantial distance in forms other than as electricity. The latter types of energy sources are being more intensively exploited and it is becoming increasingly important to find ways of decreasing the costs of transmitting electrical power over long distances.
For the high voltages which are most efficient for electrical power transmission, the cost for D. C. transmission lines is considerably lower than for A.C. lines, particularly for underground installations. Also, D.C. systems respond more rapidly to control, avoid the frequency control problems of A.C. systems and offer certain advantages for sea crossings.
Additionally, D.C. is particularly suitable for links between non-synchronous A.C. networks. A further reason to consider D.C. transmission is the increasing need to generate excess power during off-peak periods and store it in an instantly available form for subsequent use during peak demands. Still another consideration is that a great deal of power is consumed as D.C. in end uses such as electrochemical plants, traction devices, elevators and steel mill rolls. Even those uses for which A.C. is preferable could better be served in many cases by individual solid state D.C. to A.C. inverters providing variable frequency control. Thus, it is apparent that there are a number of factors which favor D.C. for power transmission.
Unfortunately, the terminal stations required at the ends of D.C. lines are more expensive than the corresponding ones for A.C. lines. As a rough rule of thumb, the savings in line costs offered by D.C. tend to outweigh the greater terminous costs for lines which are over 300 miles (480 kilometers) long. However, the overall advantage would be more marginal for multi-terminal systems, since terminal costs would constitute a greater proportion of the total costs for such systems. This is a particularly important consideration in view of the advantages of multi-terminal systems (which advantages have been realized for D.C. only at voltages substantially lower than those employed for long distance power transmission).
It is thus apparent that a reduction in terminal costs is essential to fully realizing the inherent advantages of high voltage D.C. (HVDC). A large part of D.C. terminal costs are for A.C. to D.C. and D.C. to A.C. converters (rectifiers and inverters). The most efficient way to supply high voltage D.C. is by rectifying the high voltage output from a step-up transformer operated on relatively low voltage A.C. generated in a conventional power plant. Similarly, almost without exception, the conventional method of utilizing HVDC is to convert it to high voltage A.C. (invert it) and then step the A.C. down to end use voltages through one or more transformers. The latter procedure is followed even when the end use contemplated requires D.C. (end uses for D.C. at typical line voltages are rare or non-existent).
An important reduction in D.C. terminal costs was achieved when it became possible to replace mercury arc rectifier tubes with banks of "high current" thyristors (silicon-controlled rectifiers or SCR's). However, the necessity for employing relatively large numbers of thyristors in series, to accommodate the line voltages involved, results in installations which are still relatively large and expensive. This is well illustrated by the "valves" employed in a long-line, D.C. system which is being developed in the Republic of Zaire to supply power for electrolytic refining of copper.
In the Zaire system, which is representative of the current state of the art, hydropower is used to generate A.C. which is stepped up to 220 kv, rectified to .+-.500 kv D.C., transmitted a thousand miles (1600 kilometers), inverted to A.C., stepped down and again rectified to D.C. for use in the copper mills. The converters at the ends of the line are designed for a normal operating load of 560 megawatts and each includes a total of twelve valves. The valves consist of modularized strings of a large number of thyristors in series and are paired vertically. Each pair, together with the requisite auxiliary equipment, requires a structure 15.3 meters (.about.48 feet) high, 4.1 meters (.about.13 feet) wide and 2.65 meters (.about.8 feet) deep.
The Zaire system is not a multiterminal network and thus does not have to accommodate the switching and control requirements for operating such a network.
In multiterminal A.C. networks, the various terminals can be connected to or disconnected from the line by operation of A.C. circuit breakers capable of handling the volts and amps involved. However, comparable high voltage D.C. circuit breakers are not yet readily available and the conventional approach would be to include at least an inverter circuit, followed by an A.C. breaker at each different terminal, if operation of a really high voltage, multiterminal D.C. system were contemplated.
It has been recognized for some time that development of really efficient high voltage devices for stepping down D.C. from line to terminal voltages ("D.C. transformers") would strongly influence the choice between A.C. and D.C. power distribution systems.
Two different types of D.C. transformers which have received attention in recent years are dynamo-electric rotary transformers and solid state electronic devices which convert D.C. at one voltage to D.C. at a different voltage.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,875,495 (1975) discloses a method of reducing power losses and armature reactions in D.C. dynamos adapted by additional brush sets to function as D.C. transformers. The improvement is said to make practical the use of such transformers to provide smoothly variable voltages for control of D.C. motors and to achieve automatic regenerative braking of the same. It is not proposed to use this type of transformer in power transmission systems and it does not appear that such transformers could be employed at the voltages which would be encountered.
The several known kinds of electronic D.C./D.C. transformers are either "choppers", in which the source voltage is reduced by off/on switching, or are devices which process the power in a D.C. to A.C. (or varying D.C.) to D.C. sequence. Wattage ratings of more than about 1 KW, for either type of device, require the use of thyristors.
The highest wattage rating found in the literature for an individual chopper device is 50 KW for short-term operation and 25 KW for sustained operation: Mormon, Ramsey and Hoff; IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. IA-8, No. 5; Sept./Oct. 1972. The preceding ratings are for operation on a supply voltage of 250 VDC.
The highest wattage rating found for a D.C./A.C./D.C. converter is 0.2 MW for a four thyristor, four diode module operating with a current load of 330 amperes and a supply voltage of 750 VDC: Schwarz and Klaassens; IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics and Control Instrumentation, Vol. IECI-23, No. 2, May 1976. (The 0.2 MW rating is a design rating; the highest wattage attained with an actual module was 10 KW.) Assuming that the 0.2 MW rating could be attained with the described module at the voltages and amperages employed in the above discussed Zaire system, the number of the latter modules required to handle the 560 MW power load in a single terminal in a comparable system would be 560/0.2, or 2800 modules. This would require 11,200 thyristors (and an equal number of diodes). Further, each module would include a saturable core A.C. transformer component.
Thus, it is not apparent from the literature that electronic D.C. transformers offer a practicable alternative to A.C. transformers in HVDC systems.
A third type of "device" which may be described as a D.C. transformer is simply an array of batteries which, in step-down operation, are charged in series across a D.C. power supply and then connected in parallel across a load and discharged. By using several battery sets which are successively cycled between charge and discharge and by appropriately timed switching, an essentially continuous D.C. ouput is obtained.
Since the advent of practical A.C. power systems, around the turn of the century, little or no attention has been paid to battery type transformers. The use of large numbers of batteries for storing off-peak power at power distribution sites has been discussed but supplying power to and retrieving power from the sites at different voltages, or as D.C., has not been suggested.
It is of course evident that power transmitted to a distant terminal could also be battery stored. However, the possibility of using the same batteries to step down the (D.C.) line voltage does not appear to have been considered. This may be attributable to the fact that the voltages employed and the electrical efficiencies realized in the prior art battery type transformers were relatively low.
The state of advancement attained in the battery type transformer art at its apparent prior zenith can be judged from U.S. Pat. No. 443,181 (1890), which is directed to a D.C. distribution system having one or more terminals, each comprising several sets of batteries successively switched back and forth, by a rapidly rotating commutator, between a "high" tension charging circuit and a low tension discharge ("consumption") circuit. The contacts on the commutator "overlap", in the sense that a given set of batteries is not disconnected from a circuit (charge or discharge) until after a second set has been connected in parallel with the first set. (At no time is any set connected in both the charge and discharge circuit).
The following considerations show that if the charging voltage (in the latter system) exceeds a certain value, arcing will occur when the first set of batteries is disconnected from the charging circuit, even though the parallel circuit leg through the second set remains unbroken. The effective voltage across the commutator contacts is the difference between the applied charging voltage and the back emf of the battery (or string) and is equal to the internal IR drop in the battery (or string). If the effective voltage exceeds about 20 volts, arcing will occur as the circuit is broken and the arc will persist until the contacts have been separated a certain distance.
The higher the internal resistance of the battery, the greater the effective voltage across the contacts will be (at a given charging rate). However, even if the resistance is low enough so that the IR drop is only 5% of the applied voltage, the latter voltage cannot exceed about (100/5)20, or 400 volts, if arcing is to be avoided. Furthermore, the only way in which 90% cycle efficiencies can be attained with commercially available batteries is to operate them at impractically low amperage rates. In fact, cycle efficiencies substantially in excess of 80% (IR loss .about.10%) have not been realized in laboratory testing of currently available batteries, according to a recent survey: An Assessment of Energy Storage Systems Suitable for Use by Electric Utilities, Final Report, Vol. II, Electric Power Research Institute Project 225, July 1976.
Thus, the use of battery-type D.C. transformers as a replacement for conventional converters in HVDC terminals is not indicated by the prior art.
It is evident that the prior art does not suggest any practical method of eliminating the need for AC transformers in HVDC systems--particularly in multiterminal systems--and does not contemplate dual function utilization of storage batteries in such systems.

Efficient, high power battery module; D.C. transformers and multi-terminal D.C. power networks utilizing same


A semiconductor structure includes a substrate; first and second fins extending from the substrate and oriented lengthwise generally along a first direction; an isolation feature over the substrate and separating bottom portions of the first and the second fins; first and second epitaxial semiconductor features over the first and the second fins, respectively; and a first dielectric feature sandwiched between the first and the second epitaxial semiconductor features. A maximum width of the first dielectric feature is smaller than a width of the isolation feature between the first and the second fins along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced exponential growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs.
For example, when designing and manufacturing SRAM (static random access memory) cells having pull-up (PU) devices, pull-down (PD) devices, and pass-gate (PG) devices, it is common to form PU devices (e.g., PMOS) in one device region (e.g., in an n-well), and form PD and PG devices in another device region (e.g., in a p-well). However, at least for the PU devices, there is a concern that the spacing among them needs to be sufficiently large so that epitaxial source/drain (S/D) features of the PU devices do not merge to cause short defects. On the one hand, having large epitaxial S/D features are generally desirable for reducing S/D contact resistance. On the other hand, having large epitaxial S/D features also increases the spacing requirements among the PU devices, thereby undesirably reducing device integration. An object of the present disclosure seeks to resolve this issue, among others.

Cut metal gate process for reducing transistor spacing

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A backlit display apparatus illuminates a film for displaying one or more images. The film has a series of frames and at least one mark printed on it corresponding to each frame. The marks provide information representative of frame position relative to the film or otherwise identifying the image displayed by the frame when illuminated. A light source, positioned behind the film relative to an intended viewer in front of the film, illuminates the frames. A detector detects the marks printed on the film as the film is advanced by a motor. An encoder associated with the motor detects the position of the frames as a function of the angular position of the motor when each mark on the film is detected. In response, the encoder generates a position signal representative of the detected positions of the frames. A processor controls the motor in response to the position signal to advance the film so that a selected frame is within the desired viewing area for a predetermined interval of time. The processor also provides a universal interface to other display apparatus or external devices.

The invention generally relates to display apparatus and, particularly, to a backlit motion display apparatus for displaying a series of advertisements or other images in a predetermined manner.
In general, backlit displays, especially those which scroll from one image to another, provide effective advertising in a reliable, user-friendly, multi-image format. A conventional scrolling display apparatus uses a backlit light box, free standing on a pedestal or mounted on a wall, that displays several different images in a single sign. The images are typically printed in frames on a flexible polyester film that is wound on a scrolling spool system. Often, the spool system advances the film scroll for displaying each frame for a predetermined amount of time. Such a display usually advances the frames consecutively in one scroll direction and then in the other or in a single direction and then rewinds the film.
Presently available motion displays use marks to indicate, for example, the centers of the frames. However, centering and other kinds of marks are first printed on tape and then adhered to the surface of the film. This is because typical mark reading devices reflect light off of the tape to detect the marks and conventional film materials are not well suited for reflecting light in this manner. In addition to adding a labor-intensive production step, the tape tends to slip over time and, thus, introduces positioning errors. Moreover, a sticky residue is left on the surface of the film as a result of the slippage. This residue attracts dirt and interferes with mark detection.
Further, motion displays presently use an open loop control scheme for advancing and positioning the frames. Such open loop systems rely on, for example, a time-base only and do not determine the position of the scroll. These open loop motion displays typically run at full speed for a portion of a velocity profile and then shift to a much slower speed while hunting for a centering mark. Due to variations in film length and mass, friction and motor torque, these motion displays must spend almost half of the velocity profile in a slow speed in order to avoid overshooting the centering mark. As a result, presently available motion displays using open loop control schemes fail to provide a desired level of efficiency.
For these reasons, a backlit motion display is desired providing accurate, reliable, closed loop control and which permits printing centering marks, end marks and/or bar codes directly on the film.
Often, an advertiser wishes to provide prospective customers with not only visual displays but also accompanying jingles, additional information, discounts, store directions or the like in connection with the advertisement to enhance its effectiveness. Unfortunately, presently available motion displays are not well suited for these types of enhancements. For this reason, a backlit display providing a convenient and flexible interface to other devices, such as coupon printers, sound controllers and other peripherals is desired.
The invention meets the above needs and overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing an improved backlit display apparatus. Among the several objects and features of the present invention may be noted the provision of such display apparatus that permits convenient interfacing with peripherals; the provision of such display apparatus that permits accurate and reliable mark detection; the provision of such display apparatus that permits accurate and reliable closed loop position, speed and frame sequence control; and the provision of such display apparatus that is economically feasible and commercially practical.
A backlit display apparatus embodying aspects of the invention includes a film supported on a motor-driven spool. The spool has at least a portion of the film wound on it and is positioned so that at least another portion of the film is in front of a light source and within a desired viewing area. The film has a series of frames and at least one mark printed on it corresponding to each frame. The marks provide information representative of frame position relative to the film. The light source, positioned behind the film relative to an intended viewer in front of the film, illuminates the frames. When illuminated, each frame displays an image printed on the film. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting the marks printed on the film as the film is advanced by the motor. An encoder associated with the motor detects the position of the frames as a function of the angular position of the motor when each mark on the film is detected. In response, the encoder generates a position signal representative of the detected positions of the frames. The apparatus further includes a processor receiving and responsive to the position signal from the encoder for controlling the motor to advance the film so that a selected frame is within the desired viewing area for a predetermined interval of time.
In another embodiment, a backlit display apparatus includes a film having a frame and at least one mark printed on it corresponding to the frame. The mark provides information identifying an image printed on the film. A light source, positioned behind the film relative to an intended viewer in front of the film, illuminates the frame. When illuminated within a desired viewing area, the frame displays an image printed on the film. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting the mark printed on the film and a processor responsive to the detector for identifying the image being displayed and generating a signal representative of the identification. In turn, a peripheral, receiving and responsive to the identification signal from the processor, provides multimedia enhancements to the displayed image.
Alternatively, the invention may comprise various other methods and systems.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.


Device for freezing products, comprising a vibrating trough (2) comprising a bottom wall (3) on which the products (9) to be frozen move in contact with a layer of liquefied gas (7). The bottom wall (3) has a pattern of alternating projecting and hollow parts. The projecting parts are distributed in a regular pattern and are in continuous registry with the hollow parts. The height (h) of the projecting parts does not exceed half the thickness (e) of the layer of liquefied gas. The projecting parts have a constant height (h). The bottom wall (3) is an embossed metal sheet, preferably of stainless steel.

Devices of this type are known from the document FR-A-2.212.521, in which the vibrating trough forms a trough containing a bath of liquefied gas, and FR-A-2.674.320, in which the products are placed in contact with a thin film of liquefied gas useful for most applications. In the known devices, the wall of the bottom of the vibrating trough is constituted by a smooth metallic sheet ,which is supposed to promote the spreading of the liquid film and the sliding without hindrance of the products. The applicant has nevertheless found, that for products that do not have a very irregular external shape, and in particular for such products of transverse dimensions greater than 3 cm or substantially flat products, the extended contact between a substantially flat surface of the product and the smooth metal sheet at the bottom of the channel does not permit good circulation of the liquefied gas below the product and hence gives rise to noticeable gradients of freezing in this latter.

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude


In a helical dyamic scanning X-ray CT imaging system, an X-ray source is continuously moved on the same orbit during plural helical scanning operations by controlling a projection direction and a translation of a biological body that is to be examined medically. The helical dynamic scanning X-ray CT imaging system includes a system for helically scanning the biological body as the body is translated along a Z-axis to obtain projection image data of the body along the helically scanned path. Radiation is projected from a radiation source to the biological body being translated along the Z-direction as the radiation source simultaneously moves around the translated biological body. The helical scanning process is carried out during at least first and second helical scanning operations while detecting a radiation angle of the radiation source being detected. The helical scanning process is controlled in such a manner that a first projection angle of the radiation source at a first starting position of the first helical scanning operation is coincident with a second projection angle of the radiation source at a second starting position of the second helical scanning operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a computerized tomographic (CT) imaging method and a CT imaging system capable of helically dynamic-scanning a biological body under medical examination to obtain a CT image thereof. More specifically, the present invention is directed to such CT imaging method/system capable of helically scanning the same biological body for several times, while a contrast medium is injected into this biological body, thereby obtaining a contrast image thereof without any artifact.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of CT (computerized tomographic) imaging methods/systems have been developed in the medical electronic fields, for instance, X-ray CT imaging systems, single photon emission CT (SPECT) imaging systems, and position emission tomography (PET) imaging systems.
In particular, a so-called "helical scanning" type X-ray CT imaging apparatus/system has also been developed and marketed in this field. A typical "helical scanning" type X-ray CT imaging apparatus is known from, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,202 to Isei Mori, entitled "COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHIC APPARATUS UTILIZING A RADIATION SOURCE", patented on Dec. 16, 1986. In this helical scanning type X-ray CT apparatus, while a biological body under medical examination is translated with respect to an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, a predetermined portion of this biological body is scanned as a data acquisition region by projecting X-ray beams through this portion to the X-ray detector in such a way that the X-ray source is continuously moved along a helical orbit around this biological body. For a further description of helical scanning techniques, see the above-described Mori U.S. Patent specification.
Helical scanning type CT imaging method/system defined in the improvement of the present invention provides improvement over those described above. However, to facilitate understanding of the present invention, one conventional helical scanning type X-ray CT imaging system will now be described.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 7, the typical helical scanning operation and the artifact problem caused in one conventional X-ray CT imaging system will be explained. FIG. 1 schematically shows an overall arrangement of the conventional X-ray CT imaging system. FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically represent helical dynamic scanning operation timing charts of the conventional X-ray CT imaging system. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate angiograms and a functional image acquired by the conventional X-ray CT imaging system. FIG. 4 schematically indicates a detector array of the conventional nutate-rotate type X-ray CT imaging system. FIG. 5 schematically indicates a basic structure of this conventional helical dynamic scanning type X-ray CT system. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 7 schematically show the couch position/X-ray source angle/helical scanning orbit of the conventional helical scanning type X-ray CT imaging system.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the overall arrangement of the conventional helical scanning type X-ray CT imaging system will now be described.
In FIG. 1, a pair of X-ray source 41 and X-ray detector 31 are positioned within a gantry 2 in such a manner that the X-ray source 41 and the X-ray detector 31 are mutually rotatable and positioned opposite to each other with respect to a biological body 10 under medical examination laid on a couch 43. The couch 43, i.e., the biological body 10 such as a patient is translated along a direction indicated by symbol "Z" (namely, longitudinal direction of the biological body) by driving a couch servomotor 40. A present position of this couch 43 is sensed by a couch position sensor 45.
The X-ray source 41 and the X-ray detector 31 are relatively rotatable by driving a detector servomotor 20 along a rotation direction "R". A rotation angle of this X-ray detector 31 is sensed by an angular sensor 30 to produce angle data ".theta.". A data acquisition unit 3 is employed within the gantry 2 to produce helical scanning data.
A main control unit 50 is employed and a clock generator 52 is also employed. In response to clock pulses produced from the clock generator 52, the main control unit 50 mainly supplies control signals to the DAS unit 3, the X-ray detector servomotor 20, the angular sensor 30, the couch servomotor 40, and a computing unit 80. A CT image derived from the computing unit 80 is displayed on a monitor 82.
Referring now to the timing charts shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and the images indicated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the conventional helical dynamic scanning operation by the X-ray CT imaging system of FIG. 1 will be described.
In FIG. 2A, an ordinate represents a slice position of the conventional dynamic scanning operation, and an abscissa shows time instants "t.sub.A0 ", "t.sub.A1 ", - - - , "t.sub.B0 ", "t.sub.B1 ", - - - , "t.sub.02 ". Symbols "A.sub.0 ", "A.sub.1 ". - - - , "B.sub.0 ", "B.sub.1 ", - - - , "B.sub.2 " represent X-ray images acquired at the above-described time instants "t.sub.A0 ", - - - , "t.sub.03 ", respectively.
Assuming now that an X-ray contrast medium is injected to the biological body 10 under medical examination at a time instant between the time instant "t.sub.B0 " and the time instant "t.sub.A1 ", since two sets of images "A.sub.0 " and "B.sub.0 " correspond to images acquired before the injection of the X-ray contrast medium, as shown in FIG. 2B, subtraction images "A1-A0", "B1-B0", "A2-A0", "B2-B0", "A3-A0", and "B3-B0" are formed in the computing unit 80. FIG. 3A schematically shows subtraction images "A1-A0", "A2-A0", and "A3-A0". A functional image may be obtained from these subtraction images "A4-A0", "A2-A0", and "A3-A0" by extracting characteristic values of variations contained in the images and then by indicating the characteristic values as high/low density values. For instance, FIG. 3B schematically shows a peak time image (=functional image) the respective pixels of which are indicated by the high/low density values corresponding to such time instants when the density values of the X-ray contrast become maximum, namely the CT values thereof become maximum. From such a functional image shown in FIG. 3B, it can be easily recognized such a position where the X-ray contrast medium has reached at first.
As previously described, when the helical scanning operation would be repeatedly performed for the same slice portions of the biological body 10, while the X-ray contrast medium is injected into this biological body (namely, the helical dynamic scanning operation is carried out), an artifact would be practically induced in the subtraction images of FIG. 3A.

Computerized tomographic imaging method and system for acquiring CT image data by helical dynamic scanning


The invention provides systems and methods to facilitate user thinking about an arbitrary problem and particularly about a complex or multiple part arbitrary problem or related problems. Preferred embodiments of the systems and methods include outputs and interfaces to external systems, components and resources. Preferred embodiments may include creation and compositing capabilities regarding multiple, subdivided and complex or combined arbitrary problems, with regard to individual or multiple users or teams.

It is widely recognized that good problem solving and thinking skills need to be encouraged and supported. The increased capacity of computers and availability of electronic information bring an opportunity to support this need. The need is especially important and more difficult to address in situations of greater complexity, as in when the problem has many facets or portions to it, and/or when multiple problem solvers or contributors are involved.
Today, the development of problem solving and thinking and related topics often occurs as a result of many disparate activities. Most of these skills are taught separately and independently, or in a case by case basis, and are unpredictable in their results. Whether an individual or a team becomes and "end to end" problem solver—capable of defining a problem, finding and researching information, developing their own understanding, defining alternatives and an answer supported by their work, and communicating their views effectively—is uncertain.
Computer and information technology support of problem solving and thinking is fractured and focuses primarily on information handling activities, or is isolated and non robust "thinking skills" support. Separate and independent software programs support search and retrieval, information manipulation and management, information presentation and communication, and others. While this may be comfortable for many adults, little computer support exists for "thinking" and analysis logic particularly for the more qualitative topics that predominate. There are no software enabled processes that help guide good thinking and address the complexity of today's problems, and that do so in a way that interfaces effectively with the information environment in which a user or group of users work.
There is a need for a software tool that enables and supports a comprehensive problem solving and thinking process, especially in information intensive situations. Many users of such a tool would want to do so effectively in the context of their larger information processing environments. This is especially desirable where the state of the art enables significant file transfer and other electronic communication between the tool that supports and enables thinking and problem solving and other electronically based systems, tools and resources, through commonly accepted approaches and standards.
In educational, business and personal situations, there is recognition of the need for improving the abilities of groups working on information intensive projects, in both the quality of the results and the efficiency with which information-intensive work is done. A significant portion of business, educational and personal (such as volunteer activities, hobbies and the like) endeavors involve the joint or in some manner cooperative conduct of information-intensive or inquiry-based projects by multiple individuals or even multiple sub teams. Such projects often include a broad range of problem solving activities, such as defining the problem or topic, finding and analyzing information, formulating conclusions, hypotheses and alternatives, and in many cases developing an answer or course of action, and others. Such group or collaborative or cooperative projects also often result in the production of one or more reports or electronic documents or web sites to convey or share the findings and/or recommendations or views to others. The need for improved support therefore exists both in formal group or collaborative settings, as might exist for example in a business or other formal organization, as well as in informal collaborative or cooperative or joint authoring situations, as might occur around shared personal interests, hobbies, volunteer situations, social networks and the like, as well as in other business and organizational situations.
A large number of individuals can be classified as knowledge workers and routinely formulate understanding about and solutions to, and share or otherwise work together regarding rather unstructured or arbitrary problems. In formal situations, for example, research shows that most knowledge workers are assigned to teams for at least some portion of their work and that most teams are fairly large in their numbers of members. In addition, many if not most knowledge workers have professional or personal areas of interest in more informal settings, which they may pursue inquiry and the development of various documented understandings and reports as well. Informal communities of interest—whether professional or personal—are common, and individuals often seek each other out on an ad-hoc or informal collaborative or cooperative basis as well—sharing information and ideas about professional issues or personal hobbies and interests and the like.
Despite the prevalence of formal groups and informal collaborative or cooperating networks conducting information-intensive projects together, computerized support for generalized, collaborative or cooperative inquiry-based projects in these situations is lacking. Most teams or collaborating individuals utilize at best a loose collection of computerized tools such as the Internet and search engines to find information, E-mail, tools such as Outlook, in some cases social networking tools to seek out others and communicate, and document production tools like Power Point or web site authoring tools to produce results. In some instances, the teams may use tools to share documents and control versioning, or otherwise find and manage the ownership and access to documents. However, generalized computer-based collaboration systems tend to focus on the mechanics and basics of communication and document change management control and access management, and sharing, as opposed to providing support and additional value to the group or collaborative or cooperative thinking, problem solving and information process itself.
There is a significant need for a system and method that enables generalized multi-user and group information-intensive thinking and problem solving in a collaborative or cooperative manner to address these and additional needs and problems. There is a need for a software tool that enables and supports a comprehensive problem solving and thinking process for collaborating or cooperating groups or networks of multiple users, especially in information intensive situations. Many users of such a tool would also want to do so effectively in the context of their larger information processing environments. This is especially desirable where the state of the art enables significant file transfer and other electronic communication between the tool that supports and enables thinking and problem solving and other electronically based systems, tools and resources, through commonly accepted approaches and standards.

System and method to facilitate user thinking about a multidimensional arbitrary problem with output and interfaces to external systems


A process for the removal of metal ions from solution and means for effecting such removal are described. The process is based on the hydroponic growth of sunflowers, terrestrial turfgrasses and/or members of the family Brassicaceae in solutions containing one or more metal ions. Metal ions can be efficiently removed from solutions by passing these solutions through the root biomass of these terrestrial plants. Columns containing the root biomass are also part of the invention.

Deposition of metal-rich mine tailings, metal smelting, leather tanning, electroplating, emissions from gas exhausts, energy and fuel production, downwash from powerlines, intensive agriculture and sludge dumping are the most important human activities which contaminate aqueous systems with large mounts of toxic metals. The list of sites contaminated with toxic metals grows larger every year, presenting a serious health problem and a formidable danger to the environment. Although water treatment procedures have been developed to remove metals from aqueous environments, water treatment plants, for example, do a relatively poor job of removing toxic metals from residential and industrial aqueous waste, contributing to the overall problem.

Method for removing soluble metals from an aqueous phase


A rigid rail assembly for a fall protection system comprises a rigid rail segment and a hanger. The rail segment comprises an upper portion defining an elongate slot and a lower portion. The hanger includes a hanger body adapted to be connected to a support member and a hanger coupling member extending downwardly from said hanger body and which is adapted to be received in the rail segment slot. The rail segment lower portion has opposed elongate side walls extending downwardly and outwardly and a flange extending inwardly from each of said side walls. The flanges define a track for the wheels of a trolley.

This application relates to a modular rigid rail for a fall protection system.
Workers who work on elevated structures are connected to an anchor by means of a lanyard to protect them in the event of a fall. The lanyard can be connected to a fixed point, which will limit the extent to which the worker can move, or to a trolley which will allow the worker to move along an elongate structure, such as a rail car. The trolleys ride along either a cable or a rigid rail. The advantages of connecting the lanyard to a rigid rail over a fixed point include the following:                Rigid rails systems are mounted overhead and feature minimal deflection characteristics so as to limit total arrest distance and the impact effects felt by the user in a fall.        The rigid rail acts as a conduit for a trolley, allowing users' anchor points to track or follow their movements as they traverse the area adjacent to the fall hazard.        Rigid rail systems used in conjunction with self-retracting lanyards further limit the fall arrest distances by way of their automatic functions and locking efficiency of self-retracting lanyards.        The elements of a rigid rail system are typically fastened to a structural element in a manner such that resulting fall arrest loads are transmitted and shared among at least two structural anchor points. These fall arrest loads are further diminished by the efficiency of the self-retracting lanyard's energy absorbing mechanism as well as minor deflection or deformation in the rail element itself.
Current rigid rail systems commonly utilize rails formed from low-carbon steel on a rolling mill. The rails are then incorporated into a truss assembly in order to achieve resistance to permanent deformation under load. While such rigid rail systems will stop a worker's fall, the rails do not dynamically deflect, and thus do not act to diminish the forces felt by the worker in a fall. Further, truss supported rigid rail systems are labor and time intensive to install, and therefore are expensive to manufacture and install.

Fall protection modular rigid rail system


An image forming device, including a cylindrical photoreceptor drum, an end member having a tubular body which is mounted at an end portion of the photoreceptor drum and which has an outer circumferential surface serving as a sliding surface, and a bearing configured to have a hole which defines an inner peripheral surface that corresponds to a sliding surface, the bearing supporting the tubular body of the end member by inserting the tubular body into the hole, wherein a difference between an outside diameter of a part provided with the sliding surface of the end member and a diameter of the hole of the bearing is equal to or more than 0.06 mm and equal to or less than 0.5 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device such as a laser printer or a copying-machine, and more particularly, to a process cartridge and an image forming device having a photoreceptor drum unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming device such as a laser printer or a copying-machine has an image forming device body and a process cartridge detachably attached to the body.
The process cartridge is a member which transfers, to recording media such as paper, contents such as characters and graphics to be indicated. This member is equipped with a photoreceptor drum unit on which the content to be transferred is formed. Accordingly, in the process cartridge, various means for forming, on the photoreceptor drum unit, contents to be transferred are also arranged. For example, means respectively performing development, charging, and cleaning can be cited as the various means.
The photoreceptor drum provided in the photoreceptor drum unit is a cylindrical member. While operated, the drum is rotated around the axis of a cylinder. In order to rotate the photoreceptor drum in this way, a gear provided at the side of the image forming device body transmits a driving force through a driving shaft to another gear provided at a member (end member) mounted at an end portion of the photoreceptor drum.
In such a system, particularly, a color machine provided with plural photoreceptor drums has a fear of color shift, color unevenness or the like caused by a deficiency of rotation accuracy. Thus, it is necessary to provide a high-precision gear at the end member.
The cases of applying, in order to deal with this problem, the following two types of driving methods have increased. According to these driving methods, the above problem can be solved without requiring high-precision gears. Not only a color machine but a black-and-white machine has similar advantages.
A first driving method is to put a penetration shaft through the photoreceptor drum and transmit a driving force to the photoreceptor drum using a key-groove or the like. According to this driving method, the high-precision gears for receiving a driving force from the image forming device body are made unnecessary. However, because the penetration shaft is necessary, there are problems that it is difficult to assemble the photoreceptor drum unit, and that the exchange of a photoreceptor drum takes time.
A second driving method is to transmit, without using a penetration shaft, a driving force directly to a coupling provided at an end member mounted at the photoreceptor drum. Several types of this driving method can be cited. Among them, one type of this driving method uses a sliding surface made of a resin as a shaft while a driving force is received at the coupling provided at the end member, or another type thereof supplementarily uses a sliding surface made of a resin as a shaft. According to such a type of using the sliding surface made of a resin as the shaft (including the type of supplementarily using the sliding surface made of a resin as the shaft), accuracy of transmitting a rotating force is high. The assembly of the photoreceptor drum unit and the exchange of the photoreceptor drum are easily achieved.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 4,415,532 discloses a technique of using the sliding surface made of a resin while a driving force is received at the coupling.

Process cartridge and image forming device