A method of controlling the output inverter of a microsource in a distributed energy resource system is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention include using unit or zone power controllers that reduce the operating frequency of the inverter to increase its unit output power. Preferred embodiments includes methods wherein the inverter reaches maximum output power and minimum operating frequency at the same time, and further comprising using a voltage controller implementing a voltage vs. reactive current droop. Other aspects of this embodiment relate to an inverter that implements such methods, and a microsource containing such an inverter. These methods can be extended to control inverters in a plurality of microsources, organized in a single zone or in a plurality of zones.

In the U.S. and around the world, the demand for electrical power continues to grow. At the same time, aging transmission and distribution systems remain subject to occasional failures. Massive failures covering wide geographical areas and affecting millions of people have occurred, even in the United States which has historically enjoyed a relatively robust electrical power system. These problems with the capacity and reliability of the public power grid have driven the development of distributed energy resources (DER), small independent power generation and storage systems which may be owned by, and located near, consumers of electrical power.
One motivating factor is that distributed energy resources can provide more reliable power in critical applications, as a backup to the primary electrical supply. For example, an interruption of power to a hospital can have life-threatening consequences. Similarly, when power to a factory is interrupted, the resulting losses, for example in productivity, wasted material in process that must be scrapped, and other costs to restart a production line, can be catastrophic. In situations like these, where the loss of electrical power can have serious consequences, the cost of implementing a distributed energy resource as a backup can be justified.
Reliability is not the only factor driving the development of distributed energy resources. Power from a distributed energy resource can, in some cases, be sold back to the main power grid. Geographically distributed sources of power, such as wind, solar, or hydroelectric power, may be too limited or intermittent to be used as the basis for a centralized power plant. By harnessing these types of geographically distributed sources using multiple distributed energy resources, these types of power sources can supplement or replace conventional power sources, such as fossil fuels, when the main power grid is available, and provide backup to their owners when the main power grid is unavailable.
In this context, distributed energy resources (DER) have emerged as a promising option to meet customers current and future demands for increasingly more reliable electric power. Power sources for DER systems, sometimes called "microsources," range in size and capacity from a few kilowatts up to 10 MW, they may include a variety of technologies, both supply-side and demand-side, and they are typically located where the energy is used.
Generally speaking, distributed energy resources can harness two broad categories of electrical power sources: DC sources, such as fuel cells, photovoltaic cells, and battery storage; and high-frequency AC sources, such as microturbines and wind turbines. Both types of sources are typically used to provide an intermediate DC voltage, that may be produced directly by DC sources, and produced indirectly from AC sources, for example by rectification. In both types of sources, the intermediate DC voltage is subsequently converted to AC voltage or current at the required frequency, magnitude, and phase angle for use. In most cases, the conversion from the intermediate DC voltage to the usable AC voltage is performed by a voltage inverter that can rapidly control the magnitude and phase of its output voltage.
Distributed energy resources are usually designed to operate in one of two modes: (1) "isolation" or "island" mode, isolated from the main grid, and (2) normal "grid" mode, connected to the main grid. For large utility generators, methods have been developed to allow conventional synchronous generators to join and to separate from the main electrical power grid smoothly and efficiently when needed. Because of fundamental differences between distributed energy resources, such as inverter based microsources or small synchronous generators, and centralized energy resources, these existing methods are not suitable to allow distributed energy resources to smoothly and efficiently transition between island mode and grid mode as the distributed energy resources join and separate from the main power grid.
For example, the fundamental frequency in an inverter is typically derived from an internal clock that does not change as the system is loaded. This arrangement is very different from that of synchronous generators typically used in centralized power systems, in which the inertia from spinning mass determines and maintains system frequency. Inverter-based microsources, by contrast, are effectively inertia-less, so alternative methods must be used to maintain system frequency in an inverter-based microsource.
Another difference between distributed energy resources and centralized energy resources relates to communication and coordination. A centralized electrical power utility is in a position to monitor and coordinate the production and distribution of power from multiple generators. In contrast, distributed energy resources may include independent producers of power who have limited awareness or communication with each other. Even if the independent producers of power are able to communicate with each other, there may not be any effective way to ensure that they cooperate.
Thus, there is a need for methods of controlling microsources in distributed energy resources to ensure that these resources can connect to or isolate from the utility grid in a rapid and seamless fashion, that reactive and active power can be independently controlled, and that voltage sag and system imbalances can be corrected. Further, there is a need for control of the microsources, and in particular the inverters used to supply power to the grid, based solely on information available locally at the inverter so that no communication or coordination between microsources is necessary. Yet further, there is a need for a local controller at the microsource to enable "plug and play" operation of the microsource. In other words, there is a need to add microsources to a distributed energy resource system without changes to the control and protection of units that are already part of the system.

Control of small distributed energy resources


A housing 10 is provided with a groove V1a into which an electrode 3b of a laser oscillation element 30a and an electrode 3a of a laser oscillation element 30b are inserted. Inside the groove V1a, there exists a conductive layer 12 configured to electrically connect the electrode 3b of the laser oscillation element 30a and the electrode 3a of the laser oscillation element 30b.

In recent years, as a light source of a projection-type display apparatus such as a projector or the like, a laser oscillation element such as a semiconductor laser or the like has been attracting attention. The laser oscillation element has excellent characteristics in a monochromaticity of oscillated light, and a high directivity of the light. Moreover, the laser oscillation element has a merit of being driven with a lower power consumption. Thus, the laser oscillation element is expected as a light source that will replace a lamp currently widespread.
However, it is difficult to cause the one laser oscillation element to generate a necessary light quantity for the projection-type display apparatus. Therefore, in the projection-type display apparatus, generally, a light source configured of a plurality of laser oscillation elements is used.
In Patent Documents 1, 2, there has been disclosed a technique in which in a projector (projection-type display apparatus), a light source configured of a plurality of laser oscillation elements (semiconductor lasers) is used. In the following description, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is also referred to as a "related art A." Moreover, in the following description, a technique described in Patent Document 2 is referred to as a "related art B."


An x-ray tube having a coated x-ray tube frame inner surface and a coated anode assembly is provided. The x-ray tube includes an x-ray tube frame in which an anode assembly is disposed therein. A cathode assembly is also disposed within the x-ray tube frame that emits an electron beam to strike a target surface of the anode assembly and form x-rays. A plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating is formed on an inner surface of the x-ray tube frame and on the anode assembly to dissipate heat created by the electron beam.

The present invention relates generally to x-ray imaging systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods of improving heat transfer and lowering peak temperatures within an x-ray imaging tube.
Traditional x-ray imaging systems include an x-ray source and a detector array. X-rays are generated by the x-ray source, pass through an object, and are detected by the detector array. Electrical signals generated by the detector array are conditioned to reconstruct an x-ray image of the object.
In general, an x-ray generating device is formed with a vacuum housing that encloses an anode assembly and a cathode assembly. The cathode assembly includes an electron emitting filament that is capable of emitting electrons. The anode assembly provides an anode target that is spaced apart from the cathode and oriented so as to receive electrons emitted by the cathode. In operation, electrons emitted by the cathode filament are accelerated towards a focal spot on the anode target by placing a high voltage potential between the cathode and the anode target. These accelerating electrons impinge on the focal spot area of the anode target. The anode target is constructed of a high refractory metal so that when the electrons strike, at least a portion of the resultant kinetic energy generates x-radiation, or x-rays. The x-rays then pass through a window that is formed within a wall of the vacuum enclosure, and are collimated towards a target area, such as a patient. As is well known, the x-rays that pass through the target area can be detected and analyzed so as to be used in any one of a number of applications, such as a medical diagnostic examination.
In general, only a very small portion—approximately one percent in some cases—of an x-ray tube's input energy results in the production of x-rays. In fact, the majority of the input energy resulting from the high speed electron collisions at the target surface is converted into heat of extremely high temperatures. This excess heat is absorbed by the anode assembly and is conducted to other portions of the anode assembly and to the other components that are disposed within the vacuum housing. Over time, this heat can damage the anode, the anode assembly, and/or other tube components, and can reduce the operating life of the x-ray tube and/or the performance and operating efficiency of the tube.
Several approaches have been used to help alleviate problems arising from the presence of the high operating temperatures in the x-ray tube. For example, in some x-ray devices the x-ray target, or focal track, is positioned on an annular portion of a rotatable anode disk. The anode disk (also referred to as the rotary target or the rotary anode) is then mounted on a supporting shaft and rotor assembly that can then be rotated by some type of motor. During operation of the x-ray tube, the anode disk is rotated at high speeds, which causes a focal spot on the focal track to continuously rotate into and out of the path of the electron beam. In this way, the electron beam is in contact with any given focal spot along the focal track for only short periods of time. This allows the remaining portion of the track to cool during the time that it takes to rotate back into the path of the electron beam, thereby reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the anode.
While the rotating nature of the anode reduces the amount of heat present at the focal spot on the focal track, a large amount of heat is still present within the anode, the anode drive assembly, and other components within the evacuated housing. This heat must be continuously removed to prevent damage to the tube (and any other adjacent electrical components) and to increase the x-ray tube's efficiency and overall service life.
Prior art x-ray generating devices have taken different approaches to removing this heat from the x-ray tube. In one approach, prior art x-ray generating devices rely upon the use of a second outer housing, separate from the housing forming the vacuum enclosure, to provide a variety of functions, including cooling of the x-ray tube with a coolant, and preventing excessive radiation emissions. This outer housing adds cost and complexity to the x-ray generating device, and can reduce its long term reliability.
In another approach, a single integral housing design is implemented and designed to cool the x-ray tube while also providing radiation shielding. Such a design relies on radiative heat transfer from the anode target to the housing. Various processes, such as sandblasting, grinding, and greening can be used to increase the emissivity of the frame for improved heat transfer, with sandblasting and grinding providing for an emissivity of about 0.35 for radiation having a wavelength of approximately 1.5 micrometers and greening providing for an emissivity of about 0.73 for radiation having a wavelength of approximately 1.5 micrometers. While such emissivity values may be adequate and provide enough cooling to operate the x-ray tube, such values do not provide for optimal performance of the x-ray tube. That is, performance of the x-ray tube could be improved by further increasing the emissivity value of components in the x-ray tube. The improved heat transfer would serve to decrease the maximum temperature imposed on critical components in the x-ray tube, thus leading to increased tube life and increased throughput/performance of the tube.
Another consideration for designs incorporating a single integral housing is that they provide adequate radiation shielding. In particular, such designs require the use of a layer of x-ray shielding material, such as lead, on the housing walls to prevent unwanted radiation emissions. This adds cost and manufacturing complexity to the device, increases its overall size, and may not be desirable from an environmental and safety standpoint.
Therefore, a need exists for an x-ray tube design that can provide improved cooling of the anode assembly and other components within the vacuum enclosure to provide for optimal performance of the x-ray tube. It would also be desirable for the x-ray tube to provide sufficient levels of radiation containment without using lead shields and the like.

Tungsten oxide coated X-ray tube frame and anode assembly


A time division multiple access cellular communication system supports a packet channel is alterable between a packet control channel configuration and a packet traffic channel configuration. In the packet control channel configuration, the packet channel may provide only control functions or a combination of control and traffic functions. The packet channel may also be configured in a packet traffic configuration so that the packet channel provides only packet traffic functions. In this configuration, another packet channel must be configured in the packet control channel configuration to provide control functions for the packet traffic only packet channel. A Digital Control Channel (DCCH) includes information relating to a Beacon Packet Control Channel (PCCH), which contains information on the allocated packet channels. The subscriber unit initiates its packet data operations within the system. When packet data operations are reconfigured, the Beacon PCCH information is altered and the subscriber unit may obtain the new configuration information from the Beacon PCCH.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems; and more particularly to a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) wireless communication system that supports packet data transmissions as well as voice communications. In this wireless system, TDMA radio frequency (RF) channels that support packet data operation can be alterable between three different configurations; a dedicated control only configuration, a combination of control and traffic configuration, and a traffic only configuration. Depending upon the packet data traffic loading within a particular cell and the overall system traffic model, a plurality of packet data channels with different configurations may be dynamically allocated to support packet data communications throughout the system.
2. Related art
Wireless communication systems are well known in the art to facilitate communication between a wireless subscriber unit and other wireless subscriber units as well as between wireless subscriber units and users of wired units, such as those attached to the public switched telephone network. Depending on a particular implementation, a wireless communication system operates according to a communication protocol within a frequency band and on particular RF channels contained within the frequency band. Frequency bands currently in use in North America and around the world for wireless communications include the 800 MHz (cellular) band and the 1900 MHz (PCS) band among others.
Various communication protocols have been developed to standardize wireless communication systems. These communication protocols include, for example, the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) standards, the Global Standards for Mobility (GSM), the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and the TDMA standard. These standards provide the technical requirements that form the compatibility standard for cellular and PCS mobile telecommunication systems. These wireless communication systems were initially developed to support voice communications. However, with the advances in digital computers and data networking technologies, and the need to provide wireless data services in mobile environment, it has become advantageous to develop wireless communication systems that also support data communication between mobile data terminals (e.g., portable computers).
Some wireless data communication networks, such as the Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) network, have been developed specifically to service packet data communications using existing 30 kHz analog RF channels. However, CDPD protocol has been developed as a stand-alone infrastructure independent of the existing wireless voice communication networks. Creating a completely separate network for data communication requires great redundancy in resources on the network side and on the subscriber side. The voice/data user has to subscribe to two different services, two different networks, and two sets of equipment. Thus, it is advantageous to retrofit existing wireless communication systems that operate according to a standardized air interface protocol (e.g., TDMA) to support packet data communications and provide both services using a single subscriber unit. However, retrofitting existing wireless communication systems to support both voice and packet data communications is difficult, especially considering the different networking protocols and different traffic patterns for packet data communication as compared to voice communications.
Considering the networking difficulties, the two networks (CDPD network and TDMA network) can have a common interface between the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and the functionality of the Mobile Data Intermediate System (MD-IS) through a Gateway MSC (GMSC). The GMSC shall provide an interface between the two systems in order to track the Voice/Data terminal roaming between both networks. Considering the different traffic patterns for data services as compared to voice services and its impact on the channel configuration, voice service usually requires a relatively longer holding time for each transaction. Therefore, two channel configurations are used to optimally operate such services. The channel can be configured as a control channel, or as a voice traffic channel. The control channel (DCCH) handles paging, registration, access requests, access response, and channel assignment activities. Also, DCCH can handle some Short Message Services (SMS) Control messages sent over the control channel configuration are usually short and bursty while voice conversations which always takes place over the traffic channel have extended channel utilization. Mobile stations initiate calls on the DCCH and thereafter assigned to a traffic channel for the duration of the call. This particular channel configuration allows for the control channel to have enough bandwidth to continue serving the existing population of idle mobile stations while the traffic channel is busy providing a dedicated communication link.
Similar channel configuration can be useful in certain cases of packet data communication systems. However, similar to the nature of voice services this Control-Only and Traffic Only (COTO) channel configurations are most suitable for longer holding time, where the traffic channel is usually occupied for relatively long period of time (e.g., 60-90 sec). This COTO channel configuration would be optimal in case of transferring large data files. Also, it would be best suited for higher traffic areas where a control only channel is needed to handle the excessive number of new arrivals.
However, in case of low-to-medium traffic areas and/or short and bursty data traffic environments, the optimal solution is a channel configuration that can provide control functionality and traffic facilities. In existing systems, both traffic patterns exist and one channel configuration is usually not the optimal solution all the time.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for a wireless communication systems that efficiently allocates resources to optimally support packet data communications, that compensates for expansion and contraction of packet data traffic loading and that may be easily deployed within existing wireless communication system that supports voice communications.
Thus, in order to overcome the shortcomings related to CDPD communication system described above, as well as other shortcomings and limitation of the fixed channel configuration scheme depicted in typical wireless communication systems, a TDMA communication system constructed according to the present invention efficiently services both voice and data communications by configuring and reconfiguring data channels in response to subscriber loading characteristics. The system includes at least one base station that supports the TDMA voice and data communication services on a plurality of RF channels. At least one of these plurality of TDMA channels is a packet data channel that supports TDMA packet data transmissions. According to the present invention, the TDMA channels can be used either for voice or for data purposes. Furthermore, the TDMA packet data channel is alterable between a packet control only channel configuration, packet control and traffic channel configuration, and a packet traffic channel configuration.
When configured in the control only channel configuration, the packet data channel provides control functions, such as paging, registration, access requests, access response, and channel assignment, and facilities for random based access. When in the control and traffic channel configuration, the packet data channel provides control functions as well as traffic (data transfer) facilities. Both random and reservation based accesses are allowed in this mode of operation. When in traffic only configuration, the packet data channel provides traffic only functions (reservation based access). In system deployment, control only channel configuration requires at least an additional packet control channel operating in traffic only channel configuration. However, traffic only configuration can operate with either control only channel configuration, or control and traffic channel configuration. The control and traffic channel configuration can operate as the minimum requirement for initial deployment of packet data systems. Multiple packet data channels can operate independently using the control and traffic channel configurations.
Several deployment scenarios are feasible for packet data systems. Based on the data traffic model, one can decide the optimal deployment scenario. For the initial deployment, where packet data traffic is expected to be light, the control and traffic channel configuration is the optimal scenario. As traffic loads increases, additional channels of the same configuration can be added where the N channels can operate either independently or collectively. Also, the channel configuration of the packet data channel can dynamically adjusted to any valid deployment scenario. Valid deployment scenarios include (1) one control only channel and N traffic only channels; (2) one control and traffic channel and N traffic only channels; (3) N control and traffic channels; and (4) N control and traffic channels and M traffic only channel, where N and M are greater then zero.
Based on the message size and the initial channel configuration, the Medium Access Controller (MAC) of the packet control channel can decide whether to allow the data terminal to continue its transmission on the same TDMA packet channel or to off-load the terminal into a packet traffic only channel. This functionality allows for the optimal deployment of the TDMA packet data system. Also, allocating and configuring multiple packet channels allows the resident system to be expanded to service data traffic as it increases within the system. Further, deallocating packet channels when packet traffic decreases allows valuable system resources to be conserved.
A typical construction of the system would include multiple base stations coupled by a network infrastructure. A network infrastructure in the typical construction would include the functions of CDPD network entities such as base station controller that couples the radio to at least one switching center. The switching center may then couple to one or more data networks, and one or more voice networks. The data networks may support packet data transmissions between data terminals coupled to the system and data terminals coupled to the data networks. One such data network that may be coupled to the switching center is the Internet.
In TDMA systems supporting packet data operation, a subscriber unit has no prior knowledge of the configuration of the packet channel supported by the system. Thus, the subscriber unit listens to the broadcast channel (BCCH) on the Digital Control Channel (DCCH) supported by the TDMA voice system. The broadcast information includes the availability of the packet data services and includes the location of the Beacon Packet Control Channel (PCCH). Upon receiving this information, the subscriber unit tunes to, and listens to the broadcast information on the Beacon PCCH which contains information on the number and the locations of the packet data control channels. Based on this information, the subscriber unit initiates its packet data hatching operation within the system and start listening to a particular packet data control channel. When the packet data channel (system) is reconfigured, the broadcast information on the Beacon PCCH as well as the other PCCH are altered and the subscriber unit may obtain the new configuration from the Beacon PCCH.
As system loading and packet data transmission requirements change, the system may reallocate resources that service packet data communications. For example, during increased loading periods, additional packet data channels may be allocated for data traffic purposes. Of these, one or two packet channels may be used for control purposes while the rest of the channels may be configured for traffic only. Further, as packet data loading decreases or when reallocation is required for other system conditions, packet data channels may be de-allocated and/or reconfigured considering the changes in system conditions.
Moreover, other aspects of the present invention will become apparent with further reference to the drawings and specifications which follow.

Time division multiple access cellular system supporting packet data transmissions on reconfigurable packet data channels and method of operation


A dental air-water syringe includes a handle and a tip as well as a device for purifying water flowing through the tip. In one embodiment of the invention, the water purifying device is contained within a housing of the tip and optionally includes a number of iodide beads disposed along the length of the housing. In another embodiment of the invention, the device is detachably connected to the tip, and the tip and the device have outer diameters that are approximately equal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention broadly relates to a dental syringe for dispensing air and/or water during dental procedures. More particularly, the invention relates to a dental air-water syringe having a replaceable device for purifying water flowing through the syringe.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hand-held syringes that dispense air and water are commonly used during many dental procedures. For example, compressed air dispensed from dental air-water syringes is often used to dry the patient's tooth structure such as the dentin or enamel. Many dental compositions do not bond strongly to tooth structure if water is present. The application of compressed air to the tooth surface provides a convenient, inexpensive means to assure that the tooth structure is essentially free of moisture so that a strong bond between the composition and the tooth structure is developed.
Water is often dispensed from dental air-water syringes to clean debris and other foreign matter that may be present in the oral cavity. As an example, a spray of water can be utilized to clean tooth structure that is to be subsequently dried by compressed air before ultimately receiving a dental material such as a restorative or the like. A spray of water in the patient's oral cavity can also help to eliminate objectionable odors during the dental procedure.
Dental syringes are typically connected to a source of air and a source of water by flexible tubing having separate air and water conduits. The tubing is often relatively long and has a relatively small cross-sectional area in order to allow the syringe to be held in a number of different orientations and facilitate maneuverability of the tip of the syringe in the oral cavity as may be needed.
Unfortunately, it has been found that film-like growths of microorganisms, also known as biofilms, are often present in large concentrations in the water conduit of the flexible tubing connected to dental air-water syringes. Such biofilms are microbial populations that typically include bacteria, fungi and protozoa that form on the inner surfaces of the small-diameter water conduit. Water flowing through the water conduit may pick up and transport microorganisms from the biofilm and consequently develop a bacterial count significantly higher than a bacterial count that is considered normally acceptable for potable water.
Water having a high bacterial count that is dispensed from dental air-water syringes is a cause for concern for both dental patients and dental staff, particularly if the patient or staff member has a relatively weak immune system. For example, many dental procedures may cause bleeding in the patient's oral cavity, and such bleeding increases the risk that bacteria from the biofilm will enter the patient's blood stream. The dental staff may also be exposed to risk of infection because the bacteria-laden water discharged from the syringe may disperse into the atmosphere as an aerosol and then inhaled.
A number of suggestions have been made in the past to reduce microbial population counts in water dispensed from dental instruments including air-water syringes and dental handpieces. One such suggestion concerned a filter having relatively small openings through which the water must pass before being dispensed from a syringe. An example of such a filter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,004 and includes a microporous membrane having a porosity that blocks the passage of particulate matter having a diameter larger than about 0.2 microns.
Another approach to reducing microbial population counts in water dispensed from dental instruments involves the use of disinfectant media. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,451 describes dental water dispensing instruments that include a disinfectant media held on a support. This patent describes media comprised of multi-valent iodine resin, as well as media made of a multi-valent iodine resin with bromide, a bromide derivative particulate, quantenary ammonium-silver-chlorine-bromine-bromide bearing medias, and other halogen resins or halogen derivatives.
Another method to reduce microbial population counts in water dispensed from dental instruments involves the use of chemical disinfection wherein a liquid that includes a chemical disinfectant is introduced into the instrument. As one example, the water passageways in the flexible tubing interconnecting the instrument and a source of water may be filled with a disinfectant solution that resides in the water conduit for about 10 minutes. The chemical disinfectant is then purged by tap water from the passageways prior to use of the instrument for dental applications. As another example, a dental instrument is connected to a source of disinfectant solution, and small but measurable amounts of the disinfectant solution are released into the water solution and are present in the discharged water.
Devices for reducing microbial population counts in water dispensed from dental air-water syringe water lines, including the devices described above, are often attached to the flexible tubing that interconnects the syringe to the source of water. The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,004, for example, is interposed in the flexible tubing through the use of Luer fittings. Unfortunately, such an arrangement may not satisfactorily reduce the amount of biofilm that may ultimately develop in areas downstream of the device including in areas of the various passages within the syringe.
Other suggestions in the past have included water purification devices that are connected directly to the air-water syringe. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,451 describes in certain embodiments a purifying device that is connected to a hand piece of a dental air-water syringe and in other embodiments a purifying device that is connected to a tip of the dental air-water syringe. Both such concepts are advantageous over the previously mentioned approach, in that the purifying device is relatively close to the location where the water is dispensed from the syringe and is downstream of the flexible tubing that interconnects the syringe and the source of water.
However, there remains a need in the art for a dental air-water syringe with a water purifying device that enhances maneuverability of the syringe tip in the patient's oral cavity. Preferably, the tip of such an air-water syringe would be readily detachable from the hand piece of the syringe for disposal and replacement or re-sterilization. Moreover, the water purifying device of such a syringe preferably would be relatively inexpensive in order to enhance the economic feasibility of disposing of the device after use on a single patient.

Dental air-water syringe with water purifying device


A module for detecting a rotating handle intended to be attached on a tube of a handlebar of a vehicle next to the handle includes a cylindrical magnet, a probe for detecting the magnetic field produced by the magnet, a support for the probe, a printed circuit board whereon the probe is secured, a support for the magnet and a flange used as a housing for the module. The magneto-sensitive probe detects rotation of the magnetic field emitted by the magnet and is secured to the handlebar, with the magnet and magnet holder being secured to the handle. The magnet and magnet holder form a cavity so that the inner radial surface of the magnet is positioned outside and opposite the magneto-sensitive probe. The magnet has a continuously variable magnetization direction so that the total rotation of the angle of the magnetic field generated by the magnet at the measuring point during the mechanical rotation of the handle is greater than 180°.

Document JPH0350905, which has such a position sensor integrated inside a handle and located at the end of the handle, is already known from the previous art. The sensing element is a potentiometer. This embodiment has several disadvantages: a potentiometer uses friction elements and the positioning at the end of the handlebars is not practical for the installation of the sensor, with the need to extend the power and signal feedback wires.
Document EP2610585 presents a great improvement of the principle by a more compact integration, upstream of the handlebar and using a Hall effect probe detecting the magnetic field emitted by a radially magnetized ring sector. This document also proposes the integration of a position return spring within the volume defined by the rotating magnet. This embodiment nevertheless has defects: the volume of the magnet used is large, the Hall effect probe, although positioned inside the magnet, is sensitive to an external disturbing magnetic field due to the absence of an integrated shielding structure.
Document EP2716891 is also known, which has a similar configuration to the previous document but with an integration of the return spring in a different position and a ferromagnetic cylinder head bearing a magnet the magnetization direction of which is not specified, which enables a partial magnetic shielding to reduce the influence of a possible external magnetic field on the Hall effect probe. This embodiment suffers from poor axial compactness and a certain sensitivity to an external magnetic field, despite the cylinder head.
Finally, the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,150 which presents several configurations of magnetic position sensors that can be integrated in an accelerator handle, and using field strength detection from a bipolar polarized magnet, is known. In addition to the fact that only the amplitude of the field is measured, which makes it directly sensitive to any external magnetic disturbance, the rotation of the magnetic field at the measuring point takes only 2 discrete values, 90° and −90°, due to the presence of iron and in any case always less than 180° and can never exceed this value.

Module for detecting a rotating handle of a motor vehicle


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes: a semiconductor layer including a first face, a second face, a side face, and a light emitting layer; a p-side electrode provided on the second face; an n-side electrode provided on the side face; a first p-side metal layer provided on the p-side electrode; a first n-side metal layer provided on the periphery of the n-side electrode; a first insulating layer provided on a face on the second face side in the first n-side metal layer; a second p-side metal layer connected with the first p-side metal layer on the first p-side metal layer, and provided, extending from on the first p-side metal layer to on the first insulating layer; and a second n-side metal layer provided on a face on the second face side in the first n-side metal layer in a peripheral region of the semiconductor layer.

For LED (Light Emitting Diode) to which large electric power is applied, high heat dissipation performance is required. A larger outer shape of an LED package leads to an advantageous heat dissipation. Moreover, packaging at wafer level is advantageous for drastic cost reduction, and, in addition, there is a need for technology of high productivity for a package structure that satisfies the request for heat dissipation.

Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing the same


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: pre-treating a surface of a substrate by supplying an oxygen-containing gas and a hydrogen-containing gas to the substrate heated in a process chamber under a pressure less than atmospheric pressure; and forming a film on the pre-treated substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes: supplying a precursor gas to the substrate in the process chamber; and supplying a reaction gas to the substrate in the process chamber.

When manufacturing a semiconductor device, a process of forming a film on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including: supplying a precursor gas and a reaction gas to a substrate in a process chamber, may be performed.
The film formed on the substrate requires excellent film thickness uniformity.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus, and recording medium


The invention provides a method for activating a T lymphocyte by contacting the T lymphocyte with a dendritic cell (DC) that presents a telomerase reverse transcriptase (TRT) peptide in the context of an MHC class I or MHC class II molecule. The DC may be pulsed with a TRT polypeptide or may comprise a recombinant polynucleotide encoding a TRT such as hTRT. The invention also provides DCs comprising a recombinant TRT polynucleotide. The methods and compositions of the invention are used in prevention and treatment of cancers and other cell proliferation diseases or conditions.

The following discussion is intended to introduce the field of the invention to the reader. Citation of references in this section should not be construed as an admission of prior invention.
The telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex is a specialized polymerase that maintains telomeres, the specialized structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. The length and integrity of telomeres in a cell is correlated with entry of the cell into a senescent stage (i.e., loss of proliferative capacity), or alternatively, the ability of a cell to escape senescence. Of particular interest is the correlation observed between telomerase activity in human and other mammalian cells and the development of a neoplastic phenotype. For example, telomerase activity is detected in immortal cell lines and a diverse set of tumor tissues, but is not detected (i.e., was absent or below the assay threshold) in normal somatic cell cultures or normal tissues adjacent to a tumor (see, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,629,154; 5,489,508; 5,648,215; and 5,639,613; also see, Morin, 1989, Cell 59:521; Shay and Bacchetti, 1997, Eur. J. Cancer 33:787; Kim et al., 1994, Science 266:2011; Counter et al., 1992, EMBO J. 11:1921; Counter et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 2900; Counter et al., 1994, J. Virol. 68:3410). Moreover, a correlation between the level of telomerase activity in a tumor and the likely clinical outcome of the patient has been reported (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,613; Langford et al., 1997, Hum. Pathol. 28:416).
Thus, telomerase plays an important role in the control of cell proliferation and in tumorigenesis. For these and other reasons, human telomerase is an ideal target for preventing and treating human diseases relating to cellular proliferation and senescence, such as cancer. The present invention provides immunological methods for preventing and treating these and other diseases in humans and nonhuman animals.

Method for identifying and killing cancer cells


Direct memory access is provided for each member of a group of IO devices organized into groups. Direct memory access for each IO device is performed in a predetermined order based on the predetermined groups, and may be completed by notification by an interrupt request. A predetermined time delay may be specified between each memory access by each IO device of a predetermined group.

Direct memory access or "DMA" refers to concept of performing data transfer without the involvement of the processor or CPU. In response to certain stimuli or commands, a direct memory access device can move data from one memory location or region to another location or region.
As a general matter, general purpose processors are not designed to be efficient in simply transferring data from one memory location to another. It can therefore waste precious processor cycles for a general purpose processor to repeatedly load data and store data to another location, even though a processor can perform these memory access related tasks. In most cases, the use of direct memory access control can free the processor from performing repeated loads and stores, which allows a processor's cycle time to be used for more meaningful processing tasks.
DMA controllers in general are devices that are designed to do repeated memory loads and stores only, but to do so efficiently. More recently, DMA controllers are now being embedded into input/output ("IO") devices that handle large data transfers, such as network controllers and disk controllers. These embedded DMA controllers transfer the data to and from the memory, from and to the network, disk drive, or wherever the data should be moved. In this manner, the processor will only be disturbed by the notification of an "interrupt" indicating the data is now ready or was sent to the desired location.
While many IO devices now include embedded DMA controllers, many legacy IO devices do not. In such cases, legacy IO devices can require that the processor itself copy data by doing loads and stores. Such IO devices are generally known as PIO (Programmed Input/Output) devices, which require each step of input and output data transfer to be programmed. Typically, slower devices like modems and printers, which do not directly interface with the processor, may be attached to the computer system via serial ports (UARTS) and parallel ports, which are PIO devices. PIO devices can require the CPU to move data to or from the device as each byte is ready, by responding to an interrupt or polling. Thus, in many cases, these PIO devices require certain state checking and waits or other sequential register accesses to operate.
General purpose DMA controllers are designed for efficiency of data transfer. But no matter how efficient the transfer of data may be, slow IO devices are still slow, and there is a need to perform the chores of complicated data access sequences to and from IO devices but in a manner to allow the processor to be freed up from these tasks. Further, IO devices can require strict ordering (sequential access) and even devices with embedded DMA capability may require strictly ordered access to its registers.
Memory ordering or consistency, that is, the way a processor reads the result of a memory write, is an important concept, especially for multi-processor systems. Many forms of memory consistency exist, such as strict ordering (e.g., sequential consistency) and loose ordering (e.g., release consistency). To ensure strict ordering, program order and write atomicity must exist. With program order, previous memory operations are completed before beginning other memory operations. With write atomicity, where more than one copy of data exists, such as with cache-based systems, writes to memory must be visible in the same order to all processors. Additionally, updated memory values after a write operation are not returned to a read before all updates or invalidations of the data are acknowledged.
Loose ordering (or release consistency) refers to a weakly ordered classification of memory operations into data and synchronization operations where program order is enforced by allowing any operations between two synchronization operations to be reordered. The synchronization operation consists of acquired operations and release operations. Release operations are write operations that grant permission to a shared memory location. Acquire operations are read operations that access shared memory locations. Release operations ensure that memory accesses before the operation have been completed while acquire operations require all prior memory accesses to be complete before the operation completes. System busses may be designed with loose ordering to allow multiple transactions to be completed out of order. This can enable better utilization of the bus bandwidth. However, transactions are likely to have different latencies. A read requires the results to be returned from the target, whereas a write can be considered completed as soon as it is issued. But the actual completion of the write requires that the value be written in the target address so that it will return that value when read back.
Main processors typically operate at high frequencies according to the release consistency or loose ordering memory access model. This model generally causes memory access to be performed out of order. Given the speed of the processor, responses to interrupts result in long stall times.
With cache memory systems, when applications on a computer system begin, instructions and data are moved from hard disk into main memory so that a processor can access the data and instructions more quickly. Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) generally is the main memory which serves as the cache memory for the hard disk. When a processor locates data in one of its cache memories, it is referred to as a "hit." There may be many levels of cache memory, some located on the processor or separate from the processor. A failure to locate data in one of the cache locations is called a "miss." Each miss introduces a delay or latency. In connection with the use of a high speed processor, a long cache miss latency is associated with processor interrupt responses. Most high performance systems are designed to execute memory accesses out-of-order in an effort to achieve maximum bandwidth. However, with DMA engines, IO devices require in-order accesses. In other words, such DMA engines do not allow accesses to different IO devices while a first processor runs to access a first IO device. A need therefore exists for an IO direct memory access method and device that provides improved, in-order access to IO devices when used with a high performance processor system.
Although a loosely ordered memory model and high frequency processors are often combined together to provide high performance, these are really two different things. For such a combined system, the high processor frequency means that any time the processor spends waiting or idle translates to more processor cycles being wasted. In a loosely ordered memory system, strictly ordered accesses are special cases, and they are generally slower. But since IO device access in such systems requires many of these strictly ordered accesses, there is also a need to be able to performed ordered IO device access for each of the devices that such a system targets to control.

IO direct memory access system and method


For applying a label to an article, and with a RFID tag on the label also being separated from the article, and for minimizing the influence from the article on the tag, and for securing stable reading and writing of data, a label application device applies a label to which a RFID tag comprising an IC chip and communication antenna is fixed, to the article. A folding device folds a portion of the label having a tag-fixing area to which the RFID tag is fixed, such that the back side of the label is pushed to the surface side of the label so that the label portion protrudes to form an angle and is folded, and then applying the label to the article. A device acts on the label portion to form the fold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a label application device for applying a label to an article, wherein the label is fixed with a so-called RFID tag having an IC chip therein for storing various information.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a recent widely used technology, an IC (integrated circuit) chip for storing various information and a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag comprising a communication antenna connected to the IC chip are together fixed inside a label which may be applied to various articles, to provide wireless, non-contact automatic identification by means of the RFID tag.
FIG. 19 hereof shows a label L which is fixed with a RFID tag T. The label L comprises an outer display layer U and an inner adhesion layer B, at the back of the display layer U. The adhesion layer is fixed on the RFID tag T. The display layer U and the adhesion layer B are serially tacked on a strip-shaped backing paper D.
The RFID tag T is conventionally configured with an IC chip Ta and a communication antenna Tb and is protected by a film layer P which covers the whole.
A label application device applies the label L, to which the RFID tag T is fixed, to an article. A conventional label application device, for example, proposed previously by the present applicant/assignee hereof, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-104521. This label application device conveys a label L, which is tacked on a backing paper D, and adheres the label L at a predetermined attachment position by means of an attachment plate after the label L is released from the backing paper D and the device applies the label L, which is then adhered by the attachment plate, to an article at a predetermined attachment position on the article.
Incidentally, with a UHF RFID tag T in a label L which has been applied by such a conventional label application device, if the material or content of an article to which the label L is applied may disturb the electromagnetic wave, in other words, for example, if the material or content of the article contains metal, water, or the like, although depending on the frequency, a problem may occur because the electromagnetic wave is absorbed into the article due to the influence of the metal or the liquid such as water in the article, or a reader/writer cannot read or write the information of the IC chip Ta due to a disturbance in the electromagnetic wave caused by diffuse reflection.
The present invention concerns the above described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a label application device which affixes a label, having a portion thereof to which a RFID tag has been applied, to an article with the portion having the tag protruding from the label to form an angle to the direction of extension of the label, which angle separates the RFID tag from the article. The influence on the RFID tag from the article to which the RFID tag is applied can be reduced, whereby stable reading and writing of data can be secured.


A data transmission system for dynamically adjusting a protocol data unit (PDU) length and a method thereof are provided. The data transmission system at least includes a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal. After a connection is established between the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal, data is transmitted through a predetermined first data message PDU. When the receiving terminal found that an error rate of the PDU is excessively high, a second data message PDU length is calculated, and the transmitting terminal is informed to use the most appropriate PDU length to transmit data. The data transmission system dynamically adjusts the PDU length to achieve the effect of enhancing the data transmission capacity, so as to solve the problems concerning power consumption and interference between users caused by the process of enhancing the data transmission capacity by way of increasing the transmission power.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a data transmission technology for dynamically adjusting a PDU length according to the bit error rate when packets are transmitted over the network.
2. Related Art
3G refers to the third generation, which is an abbreviation of the third generation mobile phone. Compared with the first generation mobile phone system of Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), the second generation mobile phone system of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and 2.5G General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) constructed on the second generation mobile communication device, 3G provides a higher communication quality and a higher transmission capacity and transmission speed. Different from the usual mobile communication which is mainly applied in voice service, short message service, and value-added service, 3G can transmit dynamic images and high-definition frame. In terms of wireless communication technology, 3G utilizes radio frequency bands higher than before, and has the following main specifications, including Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000).
Currently, WCDMA is mainly applied in Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) and 3G system in Japan. This technology makes the 3G mobile communication be optimized, and makes the 2 GHz frequency band be sufficiently used. The data communication function of the WCDMA is similar to that of a computer network, and the WCDMA is generally divided into four layers, namely, a physical layer, a transport network layer, a radio network layer, and a system network layer. When the data needs to be transmitted, the data is divided into a plurality of data packets with a certain length, and once the connection is established, the data packets are transmitted. If the data packets are seriously lost, the physical layer adjusts the transmission power or the spread factor through power control, so as to reduce the bit error rate (ber) and reduce the block error rate, thereby increasing the effective data transmission and reducing the packet loss rate. However, when an error occurs to most of the data packets, adjusting the transmission power or the spread factor requires enhancing the transmission power and thereby increasing the power consumption, which causes signal interference between users, indirectly influences the transmission quality, such that the overall packet loss rate is increased.

Data transmission system for dynamically adjusting PDU length, method thereof, and computer-readable recording medium


A method for processing user equipment (UE) connection under a mixed mode and a femtocell system are provided. The method for processing UE connection is used in a femtocell for processing the connection of a UE. The method includes the following steps. A connection request is received from a low priority UE under a mixed mode. Whether the measurement results corresponding to the femtocell satisfy threshold settings is determined in response to the connection request, wherein the measurement results include a path loss corresponding to the femtocell. If the measurement results satisfy the threshold settings, then the low priority UE is allowed to be connected to the femtocell. In one embodiment, suitable resource allocation, such as the allocation of power and code resource, is provided after the low priority UE is connected to the femtocell under the mixed mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a user equipment (UE) processing method and a femtocell system, and more particularly to a method for processing UE connection under a mixed mode and a femtocell system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a mobile communication system (such as a 3G network), a femtocell links user equipments (UE) located within a household or a small zone via an air interface, and further links the UE to a network of an operator via a broadband network so as to achieve mobile data offloading. In this manner, indoor communication quality is improved, and voice and data services may be provided at a lower cost.
The femtocell, such as a home node-B (HNB) and a home evolved node-B (HeNB), provides wireless coverage for the UE located within a household. The femtocell provides a connection service to the UE. According to the 3GPP standard, the femtocell provides three connection modes, namely, the open mode, the mixed mode and the closed mode. Under the open mode, every UE is unconditionally allowed to connect to the femtocell. Under the mixed mode, some UEs can be connected to the femtocell with higher priority, and other UEs can be connected to the femtocell with lower priority. Under the closed mode, connection service is provided to specified UE(s) only.
The mixed mode is an important mode for the femtocell. However, the connection under the mixed mode is still lacking of agreed protocols, and details for implementing priority are not yet provided.

Method and system for allowing low priority UEs to connect to a femtocell operating in a mixed mode based on path loss

SERNET (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION


The invention relates to liquid crystal displays used in display sections of electronic apparatus and substrates for a liquid crystal display used for the same and provides a liquid crystal display having high luminance and high display characteristics and a substrate for a liquid crystal display used in the same. A configuration is employed which includes a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other, a liquid crystal sealed between the substrate, a black matrix formed like a grid on one of the substrates, a plurality of pixel regions defined by the black matrix, and a pillar spacer formed on the black matrix and provided such that it protrudes from the black matrix into four adjoining pixel regions when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of one of the substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display used in a display section of an electronic apparatus and a substrate for a liquid crystal display used in the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display has a pair of substrates having transparent electrodes on surfaces thereof opposite to each other and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the substrates. In the liquid crystal display, a voltage is applied between the transparent electrodes to drive the liquid crystal, thereby controlling the transmittance of light at each pixel. Recently, there are increasing demands for liquid crystal displays, and requirements for liquid crystal displays are also diversifying. In particular, improvement of display quality is strongly demanded.
Active matrix liquid crystal displays that are the main stream of liquid crystal displays have a thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element at each pixel. The thickness (cell gap) of the liquid crystal layer of a liquid crystal display is maintained by spherical spacers or rod-shaped spacers. The spherical spacers or rod-shaped spacers are made of plastic or glass. Normally, those spacers are dispersed on one of the substrates at a spacer dispersing step. The two substrates are thereafter combined and are pressed from the outside such that a cell gap on the order of the diameter of the spacers is maintained.
However, since the spacers are provided also in the pixels, they can result in an alignment defect of the liquid crystal and leakage of light. When there is an alignment defect of the liquid crystal or leakage of light, a reduction of contrast or glare on the display screen occur to reduce display quality. Increases in the size of substrates have made it difficult to disperse spacers uniformly. When spacers are ununiformly dispersed, variations of the cell gap occur in the plane of the substrate, which results in irregularities of luminance. In particular, liquid crystal displays of the IPS (in-plane switching) mode and MVA (multi-domain vertical alignment) mode undergo greater changes in luminance in response to changes in the cell gap compared to TN (twisted nematic) mode liquid crystal displays. Therefore, control must be performed to provide a more uniform cell gap in order to achieve display without irregularity of luminance. Further, since the trend towards finer pixels has resulted in reductions in the area of one pixel, the area occupied by a spacer relative to a pixel is becoming greater, and the influence of spacers on display quality is therefore becoming more significant.
The above-described problem is solved by the use of pillar spacers (post spacers) constituted by a photosensitive resin and formed at a photolithographic step. Since pillar spacers are formed at a photolithographic step, they can be provided in an arbitrary density in regions which are shielded from light with a light-shield film (herein after also referred to as black matrix (BM)). Since this prevents the occurrence of alignment defects of a liquid crystal or leakage of light at pixels, neither reduction of contrast nor glare occurs. Since pillar spacers allow a film to be formed with a uniform thickness (height), a uniform cell gap can be maintained throughout the plane of a substrate. Therefore, there will be no irregularity of luminance attributable to variation of a cell gap. Thus, the use of pillar spacers makes it possible to provide a liquid crystal display having high display characteristics.
FIG. 7 shows a configuration of an opposite substrate of a liquid crystal display according to the related art. FIG. 8 shows a sectional configuration of the liquid crystal display taken along the line X—X in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a BM 110 in the form of a grid for shielding light is formed on a glass substrate 107 that constitutes an opposite substrate 104. Although not shown, TFTs, gate bus lines and drain bus lines are formed on a TFT substrate 102 in regions which are shielded from light by the BM 110. Pixel regions of the opposite substrate 104 are defined by the BM 110. Since the BM 110 also shields storage capacitor bus lines (not shown) formed on the TFT substrate 102 across the pixel regions, two apertures α and β indicated by broken lines in FIG. 7 constitute one pixel.
A color filter (CF) layer in any of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) is formed at each of the pixel regions of the opposite substrate 104. For example, CF layers R, G and B are formed like stripes extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 7. A common electrode 116 constituted by a transparent conductive film is formed throughout the substrate over the CF layers R, G and B. An alignment film 115 is formed throughout the substrate over the common electrode 116.
The TFT substrate 102 has a pixel electrode 112 formed in each of the pixel regions on the glass substrate 106. An alignment film 114 is formed throughout the substrate over the pixel electrodes 112.
A liquid crystal 108 is sealed between the opposite substrate 104 and the TFT substrate 102. A cell gap is maintained by pillar spacers 118 which are formed in the regions shielded from light by the BM 110 on the opposite substrate 104. In FIG. 7, the pillar spacers 118 are formed in regions which are located on the BM 110 shielding the storage capacitor bus lines from light and in which the CF layers B are formed, one spacer being provided for every six pixels.
A description will now be made with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9D on a method of manufacturing an opposite substrate 104 and a liquid crystal display having the same according to the related art. First, as shown in FIG. 9A, a film of a metal such as chromium (Cr) or a black resin film is formed throughout a top surface of a transparent and insulating glass substrate 107 and is patterned to form a BM 110. Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, CF layers in R, G and B are sequentially formed like stripes using a pigment-dispersion type photosensitive colored resins, or the like. Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, a transparent conductive film such as an ITO (indium tin oxide) is formed throughout the substrate over the CF layers R, G and B using a sputtering process to form a common electrode 116. Prior to the formation of the common electrode 116, the surface of the substrate may be planarized by applying an acrylic resin or epoxy resin or the like on the CF layers R, G and B to form an overcoat layer.
For example, an acrylic resin type negative photosensitive resist is then applied throughout the substrate. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9D, pillar spacers 118 are formed in an arbitrary density in arbitrary positions using a photolithographic process. The pillar spacers 118 are provided only on the BM 110. Since the accuracy of the height of the pillar spacers 118 is important, they are preferably formed on CF layers in any one of the colors R, G and B if possible considering differences in thickness between the CF layers R, G and B. An opposite substrate 104 is completed through the above-described steps.
Next, an alignment film 115 is applied throughout a top surface of the opposite substrate 104, and an alignment film 114 is applied through a top surface of a TFT substrate 102 which has been manufactured through an array fabrication step. Next, the alignment films 114 and 115 are rubbed in a predetermined direction. The substrates 102 and 104 are then combined such that their surfaces on which the alignment films 114 and 115 are formed face each other, and a liquid crystal is injected between the substrates 102 and 104. A liquid crystal display is manufactured through the above-described steps. The pillar spacers 118 may be formed on the TFT substrate 102.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP-A-2000-305086
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP-A-2001-75500
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP-A-2001-201750
Normally, the pillar spacers 118 are formed with a dimension in the range of 10˜30 μm×10˜30 μm square and a height in the range from 4 to 5 μm. At the rubbing step, the alignment film 114 or 115 is not sufficiently rubbed in regions around the pillar spacers 118. Therefore, the alignment film 114 or 115 in the regions cannot be provided with a predetermined alignment regulating force, and regions having liquid crystal alignment defects are formed around the pillar spacers 118. The regions having liquid crystal alignment defects are also formed around the pillar spacers 118 because of the influence of the spacers themselves. It is therefore necessary to provide the pillar spacers 118 in positions where their neighborhoods can be sufficiently shielded from light with the BM 110 in order to prevent any reduction in display quality even when there are irregularities in the alignment of the liquid crystal.
Recent demands for liquid crystal displays with higher definition and higher transmittance have resulted in a trend toward an improved aperture ratio which is to be achieved by forming the BM 110 with a smaller width here. A problem therefore arises in that it is difficult to reserve sufficient spaces to shield the neighborhoods of the pillar spacers 118 from light. In some occasions, however, the BM 110 must be formed with a great width to shield the neighborhoods of the pillar spacers 118. As a result, the aperture ratio of pixels is decreased, which results in the problem of a reduction in the display luminance of a liquid crystal display.
Physical properties of the material of which the pillar spacers 118 are formed, e.g., compressive displacement and plastic deformation are important in designing the density in which the pillar spacers 118 are to be provided. Therefore, a design is employed which provides the spacers with flexibility to follow up thermal expansion and contraction of the liquid crystal and hardness to endure the application of a pressure. Pillar spacers 118 designed to satisfy such conditions are normally provided in a density of about one spacer per several pixels. When the BM 110 is formed with a great width only in positions where the pillar spacers 118 are provided or when no particular light shielding is performed in the neighborhoods of the pillar spacers 118 conversely, a problem arises in that the transmittance of pixels in the neighborhoods of the pillar spacers 118 becomes lower than that of other pixels and therefore results in display irregularities that are visually perceived on the screen.

Substrate for liquid crystal display and liquid crystal display having the same


A magnetic field H1 in the hard-axis direction and a magnetic field H2 in the easy-axis direction are caused to simultaneously act on a MTJ element having an ideal asteroid curve, thereby reversing the magnetizing direction of the storing layer of the MTJ element. When the actual asteroid curve shifts in the hard-axis direction by Ho, a corrected synthesized magnetic field ({right arrow over (H1)}+{right arrow over (H2)}+{right arrow over (Ho)}) is generated in write operation to reliably reverse the magnetizing direction. The corrected synthesized magnetic field can easily be generated by individually controlling a write word/bit line current on the basis of programmed setting data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) which constitutes a memory cell using a MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) element which stores "1"- and "0"-information using a tunneling magnetoresistive effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, many memories which store information by new principles have been proposed. One of them is a memory using the tunneling magneto-resistive (to be referred to as TMR hereinafter) effect proposed by Roy Scheuerlein et al. (e.g., "A 10 ns Read and Write Non-Volatile Memory Array Using a Magnetic Tunnel Junction and FET Switch in each Cell", ISSCC2000 Technical Digest, p. 128).
A magnetic random access memory stores "1"- and "0"-information using MTJ elements. A MTJ element has a structure in which an insulating layer (tunneling barrier) is sandwiched between two magnetic layers (ferromagnetic layers), as shown in FIG. 41. Information to be stored in the MTJ element is determined on the basis of whether the magnetizing directions of the two magnetic layers are parallel or antiparallel.
As shown in FIG. 42, "parallel" means that the two magnetic layers have the same magnetizing direction. "Antiparallel" means that the two magnetic layers have opposite magnetizing directions (the arrows indicate the magnetizing directions).
Normally, an antiferromagnetic layer is arranged on the side of one of the two magnetic layers. The antiferromagnetic layer serves as a member which fixes the magnetizing direction of one magnetic layer and changes only the magnetizing direction of the other magnetic layer, thereby easily rewriting information.
The magnetic layer whose magnetizing direction is fixed is called a fixed layer or pinning layer. The magnetic layer whose magnetizing direction can freely be changed is called a free layer or storing layer.
As shown in FIG. 42, when the magnetizing directions of the two magnetic layers are parallel, the tunneling resistance of the insulating layer (tunneling barrier) sandwiched between the two magnetic layers is minimized. This state is a "1"-state. When the magnetizing directions of the two magnetic layers are antiparallel, the tunneling resistance of the insulating layer (tunneling barrier) sandwiched between the two magnetic layers of the MTJ element is maximized. This state is a "0"-state.
The write operation principle for a MTJ element will be briefly described next with reference to FIG. 43.
MTJ elements are arranged at the intersections between write word lines and write bit lines which cross each other. A write is done by supplying a current to each of a write word line and a write bit line and setting the magnetizing direction of a MTJ element in the parallel or antiparallel state using a magnetic field generated by the currents flowing through the two lines.
For example, assume that the easy-axis (axis of easy magnetization or easy magnetization axis) of an MTJ element corresponds to the X-direction, a write word line runs in the X-direction, and a write bit line runs in the Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction. In the write mode, a current that flows in one direction is supplied to the write word line, and a current that flows in one or the other direction is supplied to the write bit line in accordance with write data.
When a current that flows in one direction is supplied to the write bit line, the magnetizing direction of the MTJ element is set in the parallel state ("1"-state). On the other hand, when a current that flows in the other direction is supplied to the write bit line, the magnetizing direction of the MTJ element is set in the antiparallel state ("0"-state).
The magnetizing direction of the MTJ element changes in accordance with the following mechanism.
As is indicated by the TMR curve in FIG. 44, when a magnetic field Hy is applied in the longitudinal (easy-axis) direction of a MTJ element, the resistance value of the MTJ element changes by, e.g., about 17%. The change ratio, i.e., the ratio of the resistance difference between the anti-parallel state and the parallel state and the resistance of the parallel state is called "MR ratio".
Note that the MR ratio changes depending on the structure, composition and morphology of the MTJ element. Currently, even a MTJ element with an MR ratio of about 50% is available.
The synthesized magnetic field of the magnetic field Hy in the easy-axis direction and a magnetic field Hx in the hard-axis (axis of hard magnetization or hard magnetization axis) direction is applied to the MTJ element. As indicated by the solid line in FIG. 45, the intensity of the magnetic field Hy in the easy-axis direction, which is necessary for changing the resistance value of the MTJ element, changes depending on the intensity of the magnetic field Hx in the hard-axis direction. When this phenomenon is used, data can be written in only a MTJ element that is present at the intersection between a selected write word line and a selected data line in memory cells arranged in an array.
This mechanism will be described in more detail using the asteroid curve shown in FIG. 45.
A MTJ element has an asteroid curve indicated by, e.g., the solid line in FIG. 45. The direction of the magnetic field Hx in the write mode is constant. Write data is determined by the direction of the magnetic field Hy.
For example, when the free layer of the MTJ element is magnetized downward in FIG. 45, and a point that indicates the intensity of the synthesized magnetic field of the magnetic field (upward) Hy in the easy-axis direction and the magnetic field Hx in the hard-axis direction is present outside (e.g., at the position indicated by the filled circle) the asteroid curve (solid line), the magnetizing direction of the free layer of the MTJ element can be reversed (downward→upward).
Conversely, for example, when the free layer of the MTJ element is magnetized upward in FIG. 45, and a point that indicates the intensity of the synthesized magnetic field of the magnetic field (downward) Hy in the easy-axis direction and the magnetic field Hx in the hard-axis direction is present inside (e.g., at the position indicated by the open circle) the asteroid curve (solid line), the magnetizing direction of the free layer of the MTJ element cannot be reversed.
In other words, when the intensity of the magnetic field Hy in the easy-axis direction and that of the magnetic field Hx in the hard-axis direction are changed to change the position of the intensity of the synthesized magnetic field in the Hx−Hy plane, the data write for the MTJ element can be controlled.
A read can easily be performed by supplying a current to a selected MTJ element and detecting the resistance value of the MTJ element.
For example, switch elements are connected in series to the MTJ elements. Only the switch element connected to a selected read word line is turned on to form a current path. Consequently, a current flows to only the selected MTJ element. Hence, data of the MTJ element can be read.
In the magnetic random access memory, as described above, the data write is executed by, e.g., supplying write currents to a write word line and a write bit line and causing a thus generated synthesized magnetic field to act on a MTJ element.
In the write operation, it is necessary to always accurately write data in a MTJ element. That is, stable write characteristics are necessary. Stabilizing the write characteristics is especially important when data (the state of a MTJ element) stored in a MTJ element and write data are different. In such a case, the magnetized state (magnetizing direction) of the storing layer of the MTJ element must be stably inverted.
As shown in FIG. 45, when the asteroid curve has a symmetrical shape with respect to the X- and Y-axes, the magnetizing direction of the free layer (storing layer) of the MTJ element can be reversed by a predetermined synthesized magnetic field necessary for magnetization inversion independently of the reversing direction (upward or downward).
However, it is impossible in reality to cause, e.g., all chips (formed from a single or different wafers) manufactured, all memory cell arrays (blocks) in one chip, or all MTJ elements in a memory cell array to have the same MTJ element asteroid curve, i.e., a symmetrical shape with respect to the X- and Y-axes.
In fact, chips, memory cell arrays, word lines/bit lines, or MTJ elements have different MTJ element asteroid curves (asymmetrical shapes with respect to the X- and Y-axes), as shown in, e.g., FIGS. 46 to 49.
In this case, if it is assumed that the synthesized magnetic field Hx+Hy to be used for magnetization inversion has a predetermined intensity, the intensity of the synthesized magnetic field Hx+Hy may sometimes not be able to reach outside the asteroid curve depending on the magnetization reversing direction, and the magnetizing direction of the MTJ element cannot be reversed.
The asteroid curve of the MTJ element becomes asymmetrical with respect to the X- and Y-axes because of various variations in the manufacturing process. Detailed examples are as follows.
{circle around (1)} Shape of TMR Element
Although all MTJ elements are designed to have the same shape, the MTJ elements have actually a subtle shape difference due to manufacturing variations.
The shape of a MTJ element determines the magnitude of a magnetic domain or the intensity of an antimagnetic field (a magnetic field which is generated in a magnetic material and has a direction reverse to the external magnetic field). For this reason, that the MTJ elements have different shapes means that they have different magnetic domain magnitudes or antimagnetic field intensities. That is, the magnetic field intensity necessary for reversing the magnetizing direction of the MTJ element changes between the MTJ elements. Hence, the asteroid curve of the MTJ element becomes asymmetrical with respect to the X- and Y-axes.
{circle around (2)} Thickness/Composition of Magnetic Layer of TMR Element
When the thickness of the magnetic layer (free layer and fixed layer) of a MTJ element increases, the magnetic field intensity necessary for reversing the magnetizing direction also increases. That is, a variation in magnetic layer thickness between MTJ elements makes the asteroid curve of a MTJ element asymmetrical with respect to the X- and Y-axes.
As a magnetic material for the free layer (storing layer) of a MTJ element, an alloy made of iron group elements (Fe, Ni, Co, and the like) is generally used. However, an alloy can have a variation in composition.
If an alloy that forms the free layer of each MTJ element has a variation in composition, saturation magnetization changes between the MTJ elements. In addition, an alloy that forms the free layer of each MTJ element generally has a polycrystalline structure. However, if the magnetic anisotropy of the crystal axis increases, it becomes very difficult to make the asteroid curves of all MTJ elements symmetrical with respect to the X- and Y-axes.
Even if the asteroid curves of all MTJ elements are same and symmetrical with respect to the X- and Y-axes, the write operation may be impossible when the positional relationship between a write line and a MTJ element shifts. That is, even when a necessary synthesized magnetic field is applied to the MTJ element, the magnetizing direction of the free layer of the MTJ element may not reverse.
More specifically, even if the minimum value of a write current that generates a magnetic field necessary for reversing the magnetizing direction is obtained at the time of design on the basis of the ideal MTJ element shape and the ideal positional relationship between the write line and the MTJ element, the write operation may be impossible when the positional relationship between the write line and the MTJ element shifts due to mask misalignment at the time of manufacturing.
As described above, in the conventional magnetic random access memory, some MTJ elements have asteroid curves asymmetrical with respect to the X- and Y-axes because of a variation in shape between the MTJ elements or a variation in thickness/composition between the MTJ elements at the time of manufacturing. Even when the asteroid curve is symmetrical with respect to the X- and Y-axes, the write operation may be impossible when the positional relationship between the write line and the MTJ element shifts. Such phenomena often occur at the early stage of development of magnetic random access memories.
It is therefore necessary to develop an inexpensive reliable magnetic random access memory with a high yield, which can eliminate the phenomenon of disabled write operation due to the variation in write characteristics between MTJ elements for each chip, each memory cell array, each word line/bit line, or each MTJ element by controlling the magnitude of the write current (the intensity of the write magnetic field).


A U-shaped clip-on slide nut with two parallel sliding limbs provided with notch elements and capable of being clipped onto an undercut ridge. One sliding limb has a bore and the other limb is provided with a threaded bore aligned with the bore and accommodating a clamping screw. The invention facilitates fixing of a component on the ridge in that the bore is a blind bore, the clamping screw is a countersunk screw, and at least one sliding limb also has a screw receptacle for a securing screw.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a U-shaped slip-on slide nut having two parallel sliding legs with detent elements which can be clipped on an undercut bar, wherein one sliding leg has a bore and the other sliding leg has a threaded bore, aligned with the bore, for a clamping screw.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Slip-on slide nuts of this type are known from German Patent References DE 25 43 021 B2 and DE 35 24 400 C3 and are employed for diverse uses. The fastening screw can in this case be used for axially positioning the slip-on slide nut on the bar. Furthermore, as known from German Patent Reference DE 35 24 400 C3, it is possible to fix an additional component, for example a front panel, in place on a component provided with a bar, such as a connecting bar. The front panel has a fastening bore aligned with the bore and the threaded bores in the sliding legs. This dual function of the fastening screw makes assembly considerably more difficult, since it is necessary, in addition to positioning the slip-on slide nut on the bar, to align simultaneously the front panel with respect to the slip-on slide nut. However, this is practically impossible to perform by a single person without assistance.


In one embodiment, a parallel batch reactor generally includes a plurality of reactor vessels and a plurality of valves configured to allow flow into the reactor vessels when a gas is supplied to the reactor at a pressure higher than a pressure within the reactor vessels and restrict flow from the reactor vessels. A method includes inserting chemical components into the reactor vessels, supplying a first gas to the reactor vessels to pressurize the reactor vessels, stopping supply of the first gas, and supplying a second gas to the reactor at a lower pressure than a pressure within the reactor vessels. The second gas passes through the valves and into the reactor vessels when the pressure within the reactor vessels drops below the pressure of the second gas.

The present disclosure relates generally to parallel batch reactors for screening arrays of materials.
The discovery of new materials with novel chemical and physical properties often leads to the development of new and useful technologies. High-throughput or combinatorial technologies are often used to accelerate the speed of research, maximize the opportunity for breakthroughs, and expand the amount of available information. The use of combinatorial technologies allows high density libraries of very large numbers of materials to be created using parallel or rapid serial synthesis. High-throughput screens are used to test these materials for desired properties to identify compounds, formulations, or materials of interest.
Parallel or rapid serial synthesis allows different compounds, materials, or formulations to be synthesized in separate vessels, often in an automated fashion. Devices have been developed for automating combinatorial, parallel or rapid serial synthesis. One such device includes reaction blocks containing multiple reaction vessels. The ability to conduct meaningful experiments in homogeneous catalysis using these types of devices is dependent on the ability to achieve sufficient control over temperature, pressure, reagent concentrations and ratios, and reaction homogeneity. This is especially challenging for catalysts that produce products that can impart significant changes in the phase or composition of the reaction medium. For example, in homogeneous olefin polymerization, polymers that can precipitate from or increase the viscosity of the reaction mixture can significantly impact the nature and number of accessible active catalyst sites and also prevent efficient mass transfer of gaseous reagents into the reaction, which can mask the true performance of a catalyst.
The inability to adequately control reactions can introduce significant uncertainties in interpreting catalyst performance and lead to false-negative or false-positive results. It is therefore important to have the ability to control the extent of reactions and quench the reactions appropriately. For example, in order to maintain reaction homogeneity, viscosity, and control of the overall composition of the reaction mixture, it is important to control the extent of the reaction by quenching the reaction mixture before the reaction is allowed to produce too much product. In addition, proper quenching of reactions can help prevent subsequent unwanted side reactions involving the desired products.
In order to monitor pressure changes during reactions and add components after a predetermined pressure change, the pressure within reactor vessels is monitored. A commonly used pressure monitoring system includes pressure sensors positioned within a reactor vessel or fluid passageway to measure the internal pressure of the vessel. This limits the type of pressure sensors that can be used.

Methods for chemical reactions in a parallel batch reactor


Methods and systems are provided for diminishing the effects of an acoustic signature of a vehicle while the vehicle is en route to a destination. One method includes the steps of retrieving acoustic data representing an acoustic model of the vehicle, terrain data representing a terrain model of a geographic area surrounding the destination, route data representing a model of a plurality of routes to the destination, and weather data representing atmospheric conditions of the geographic area. The method also includes selecting a route to the destination based on the acoustic, terrain, route, and weather data. A system includes means for performing the retrieving step and the selecting step of the above method. Another system includes memory storing the acoustic, terrain, route, and weather data, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to select a route to the destination based on the acoustic, terrain, route, and weather data.

When engaging an adversary in a hostile situation, the element of surprise can often be the difference between victory and defeat. As such, the ability to approach the adversary without being detected for as long as possible is highly desirable. Often, however, when a vehicle having an engine and/or other noise-generating components is used to engage the adversary, the amount of time the vehicle is able to go undetected may be reduced because the adversary is, at times, able to hear the vehicle before he/she is able to see the vehicle.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods and systems for diminishing the effects of an acoustic signature of a vehicle while the vehicle is en route to a destination. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Methods and systems for diminishing the effects of an acoustic signature of vehicles