An improved random-access memory apparatus and method for rapidly reading and writing high-level logic data to and fiom the random-access memory apparatus during phase-driven timing cycles. The improved random-access memory apparatus includes an unbalanced storage circuit for the evanescent storage of binary data, and includes two opposing logic inverters coupled together such that high level logic data can be rapidly written to the unbalanced storage circuit during a write cycle. A first logic inverter is sized larger than a second logic inverter. In addition, the improved random-access memory apparatus includes a circuit for reading and writing binary data to and from the unbalanced storage circuit. The circuit for reading and writing binary data to and from the unbalanced storage circuit operates in a cycle which includes clock phases carried on a phase line to the circuit for reading and writing binary data to and from the unbalanced storage circuit. The first logic inverter included within the unbalanced storage circuit is preferably a high-performance type of logic inverter type and the second logic inverter is preferably of a type weak in its ability to drive a binary logic signal. The unbalanced storage circuit preferably operates in a cycle which includes four clock phases carried on the phase line to the circuit for reading and writing binary data to and from the unbalanced storage circuit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates, in general, to integrated circuit technology and, in particular, to the design of very large-scale integrated circuits. More particularly the present invention relates to the design of fast dynamic logic circuits. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to domino logic circuitry and to random-access memory circuit designs having memory cells that are undisturbed during cell-access time periods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dynamic logic cells which are maintained in integrated circuits in a space-efficient and wireable fashion, and which are undisturbed during certain cell-access time periods is a goal sought by designers of very large-scale integrated circuits. In the design of integrated circuits utilizing dynamic logic cells, particularly register memory arrays, it is highly desirable to employ circuits having a minimal number of active devices per stage. This reduces the cost of dynamic logic circuits, when realized in integrated-circuit form, and results in higher packing density in view of the reduced area occupied per stage. It is also highly desirable to promote faster read and write operations for dynamic logic cells utilized in random-access memory designs. This reduces delay in processing which, in turn, increases performance.
It is well-known that complex logic functions can be implemented with shorter latency and smaller layout area by using dynamic logic rather than static logic. A wellknown example of a technique utilizing dynamic logic is "DOMINO" (hereinafter referred to as "domino"). This technique employs clocked transistors for precharging, a pull-down network having signal inputs, a clock input for discharging, and an inverter for buffering inverting an output signal. Due to the inversion of the output signal, it is possible to feed the output of such a domino logic circuit to the input of another domino logic circuit, and multiple logic levels can be connected for computation during the same evaluation clock phase.
Domino logic circuits use MOS (metal oxide silicon) transistors in their evaluation networks, resulting in a small layout available for design. Domino logic circuits are principally utilized for the implementation of non-inverting logic functions reduced to a combination of AND, OR, OR/AND or AND/OR gates. An advantage of domino logic is that it can be used to implement multiple levels of logic during a single evaluation clock phase very quickly, while still maintaining an acceptable noise immunity on intermediate nodes. This is partly due to the use of inverters between logic stages.
Random-access memory designs typically utilize MOS structures in conjunction with dynamic logic cells. Random-access memory is semiconductor-based memory that can be read and written by a microprocessor or other hardware devices. The storage locations in a random-access memory can be accessed in any order. Dynamic randomaccess memory can have as few as one integrated transistor and one capacitor component. Thus, a large number of random-access memory cells can be fabricated in a small wafer area. However, because dynamic random-access memory is volatile, the stored charge on the capacitor is required to be periodically refreshed, thereby requiring, in many instances, refresh circuitry. On the other hand, the memory-refresh requirements may be left to the programmer of the microcomputer to assure that all cells have been accessed in a prescribed period of time. Random-access memory at the chip level can be classified as memory having an access time independent of the physical location of data. This is contrasted with serial-access memories, which have some latency associated with the reading or writing of a particular datum, and with content-addressable memories.
In high-speed microcomputer applications which are computationally intensive, a large amount of on-chip memory is required. "Cycle-scaling" techniques commonly employed by programmers for memory-refresh purposes are thus limited. Also, dynamic random access memories are not easily integrated with microcomputers requiring read and write operations of different addresses within a single machine cycle. A four-phase microcomputer clocking system typically allows little or no time to refresh memory, so that the burden is placed on the programmer to ensure that an entire memory array included within a random-access memory chip is refreshed. In real-time applications, this constraint is highly undesirable. An unbalanced memory cell which includes transistors of varying size and type can assist in avoiding such "refreshment" by speeding write and read-time periods. However, this also contributes to an increase in read and write error conditions.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for an improved memory array having dynamic-type cells adapted for high-density fabrication, and in which unbalanced static memory cells create a faster write into a register while eliminating error conditions commonly found in such unbalanced static memory cells. A need further exists to effectively write data into register cells in as short a time period as possible. A need also exists to incorporate such faster static memory cells into domino logic circuitry, while reducing errors associated with unbalanced static memory cells.

International Business Machines Corporation


A communications device configured to generate a first diversity signal comprising: a first single coded signal spanning a first frequency sub-band, and a second single coded signal contemporaneous with the first single coded signal spanning a second frequency sub-band offset from the first frequency sub-band such that the total bandwidth of the first diversity signal is greater than the bandwidths of either of the first and second frequency sub-bands alone; and a signal transmitter configured to transmit the first diversity signal to a first counterpart communications device; the first and second single coded signals each having properties such that, after undergoing a procedure comprising being: transmitted, received, shifted into a receiver frequency sub-band spanning a narrower bandwidth than the total bandwidth of the first diversity signal, and cross-correlated with a replica signal based on the transmitted signal, a single significant peak corresponding to the most direct transmission path is produced.

A well understood problem in the field of telecommunications is that of the quality of a received signal being poor due to local fading and/or interference. Fading can occur in environments where the transmitted signal is reflected in a variety of locations and directions and therefore takes multiple paths between the transmitter and receiver. Where the multipath reflections interfere with one another destructively there is a fade. The location of fades varies with the frequency of the carrier wave used in the transmitted signal. Fading can be a serious problem for narrowband communication systems. (In narrowband systems the bandwidth of a message does not significantly exceed the coherence bandwidth of the channel it is transmitted on. This implies that the channel under consideration is sufficiently narrow that its frequency response can be considered flat.) Interference arises when transmitters within range of a communications device transmit in the same frequency band at the same time as the communications device (or another communications device the first communications device is attempting to listen to).
One method of addressing this problem is to implement frequency hopping. In a frequency hopping system a baseband signal is frequency-mixed up to a variety of radio frequency (RF) channels in a sequence that is known to both the transmitter and receiver so that they "hop" between different channel frequencies. The effects of fading and interference are then diluted as only some of the hop frequencies will be affected. Interleaving and forward error correction (FEC) are used to average out these effects and produce a useful wireless connection. However, in low cost and low power systems, or when short packet lengths are used, interleaving, frequency hopping and FEC may require undesirably large quantities of electrical and/or processing power.
Another way of addressing the fading problem is to employ multiple antennas, spatially separated. The receiver determines which antenna is presently receiving the best signal and preferentially receives with that antenna. However, where small size and/or low cost are important design aims, for example in mobile devices and/or long range chirp communication devices, the additional antenna, receiving circuit, and requisite processing power may not be desirable.
Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is sometimes used to address frequency-dependent fading. In OFDM several orthogonal sub-carrier tone signals are used to carry data on parallel data streams or channels. However the composite signals used in OFDM, although composed of narrowband signals, are in fact wideband. Such wideband signals require a faster clock (and hence more circuitry and power) in the receiver than narrowband signals.
What is needed is a communications device, system and method for communications that reduces the effects of fading and/or interference without the disadvantages of the prior art discussed above.


A system and method for producing an image using a radio frequency (RF) coil in a magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI). A static magnetic field (B0) extends across a first and second region of interest (ROI). A local radio frequency (RF) coil, shaped like a dental arch, is positioned proximate to the ROIs, the ROIs being the upper and lower jaw of a subject. The RF coil and the subject are oriented in the static magnetic field (B0) to align an axis extending through a loop of the coil with the B0 direction of the static magnetic field extending across the ROIs. A pulse sequence is then performed with the MRI system and the RF coil to acquire imaging data from the ROIs simultaneously while using a transverse component of an excitation field (B1). The image data is reconstructed to create an image of the ROIs.

The field of the invention is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a device and method for imaging multiple regions of interest (ROIs) using a radiofrequency (RF) coil.
When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B0), the individual magnetic moments of the excited nuclei in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. If the substance, or tissue, is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B1) which is in the x-y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment, Mz, may be rotated, or "tipped", into the x-y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment Mt. A signal is emitted by the excited nuclei or "spins", after the excitation signal B1 is terminated, and this signal may be received and processed to form an image.
When utilizing these "MR" signals to produce images, magnetic field gradients (Gx, Gy, and Gz) are employed. Typically, the region to be imaged is scanned by a sequence of measurement cycles in which these gradients vary according to the particular localization method being used. The resulting set of received MR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques.
MRI-based techniques are increasingly preferred over other imaging modalities in clinical medicine, for example, due to growing healthcare concerns over cumulative exposure to ionizing radiation, as is used in x-ray and computed tomography (CT) imaging. Even in dentistry applications, where x-ray has been a mainstay of clinical practice, MRI is growing in popularity.
Beyond the avoidance of ionizing radiation, MR techniques for diagnostic imaging in dentistry have become of greater interest due to new advances that have enabled direct imaging of densely calcified tissues of the human body, such as dentin and enamel. These tissues have low water content and, thus, a low fraction of protons to obtain signal from for MRI imaging. Also, these tissues have a quickly decaying signal and, thus, very short transverse relaxation times, T2. In other words, the signal from mineralized dental tissue decays before MRI signal digitization occurs, resulting in MRI images with little or no image intensity. However, currently, there are at least four different and clinically viable MRI methods for obtaining images of densely calcified dental tissues, these include: i) Ultrashort TE (UTE), ii) Sweep Imaging with Fourier Transformation (SWIFT), iii) FID-projection imaging also called BLAST, RUFIS, WASPI, or zero TE (ZTE), and iv) combined PETRA techniques. Thus, dental MRI is a feasible technique for diagnostic imaging.
Dental MRI can be more informative than x-ray imaging techniques by visualizing, noninvasively and simultaneously, both hard and soft tissues in three dimensions. However, clinical MRI has yet to attain the resolution of CT imaging and, in particular cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging from 0.1-0.3 mm for all the regions of interest, such as for all teeth required for dental applications. The SNR and resolution for dental MRI is highly dependent on the configuration (i.e., filling factor) and performance of the radio frequency (RF) coil and field-of-view (FOV). For example, to image the mandible, extra-orally positioned surface coils, or head coils, are required, which have limited resolution and sensitivity and are expensive. As such, traditionally, MRI imaging has been restricted to imaging of the mandibular neurovascular bundle, vitality of the pulp structure, visualization of the anatomy and pathology of the dento-alveolar region, detection of osteomyelitis in the mandible, and the indirect imaging of highly mineralized tissue through contrast produced by an MRI-visible medium.
Also, in order to reach the necessary resolution, artifacts related to patient movement need to be minimized (including avoiding swallowing). Therefore the dental coil needs to be rigidly fixated in relation to the imaging system yet comfortable to prevent patient fatigue that results in fidgeting. The specifics of short T2 imaging do not allow for the use of slice or slab selections, both to preserve signal from hard tissues having ultra-short T2 and due to the three-dimensional radial free-induction decay acquisition strategy. Thus the acquired FOV must include the entire sensitive volume of the RF coil to avoid signal folding onto areas of interest in the image. The spatial resolution, which is the linear size of the image voxel, depends on the FOV and the reconstructed matrix size. To reach the necessary resolution, for example, 0.3 mm, the FOV should not exceed about 80 mm to 120 mm with 2563 to 3843 matrix sizes, respectively. However, increasing the matrix size is not practical because it is restricted by the clinical scan time, typically around 2-3 minutes for conventional 3D scanning. Thus, in dental applications using traditional head or neck coils, the necessary resolution will not be achieved. Therefore, a dedicated, localized surface coil design is needed.
The logical approach to imaging teeth would be to adopt existing surface coil designs with extra-oral placement adjacent to the area of interest. The diameter of such a receive coil should not exceed about 120 mm because it is limited by the size of the optimal FOV. The depth of the sensitive region in the axial direction, which is perpendicular to the plane of the surface coil, is limited to about the radius of the coil. To obtain an image of a right molar tooth, for example, such an extraoral coil could be positioned over the right cheek. For an average-sized patient, the distance between the coil and the molar teeth is between 30 and 50 mm, and as a result, sensitivity is significantly diminished. In addition, with the coil in this configuration, the cheek and buccal fat produce intense signals. Therefore, the resulting images contain more signals from less important structures of the mandible and maxilla and vice versa.
The resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) could be increased by using a loop coil positioned intra-orally, in the buccal vestibule that is between the teeth and adjacent cheek. By sacrificing some comfort, as well as some SNR, the intense signal from the cheek can be shielded out. However, due to space restriction and the need for comfortable positioning of the coil, the root tips of the teeth are unavoidably outside the coil sensitive volume and not well visualized. Further, normal intraoral anatomy makes it difficult to position the coil posterior enough to obtain images of the most distal teeth in the mouth, and common variations of intraoral anatomy, such as the presence of buccal tori and frena, pose additional difficulties in positioning the coil. This suggests that using the buccal vestibule approach for RF coil placement is problematic for patient comfort and limits visualization of oral structures. Accommodating all patient sizes and anatomical variations would likely require multiple types and sizes of coils as well as repeated scans in order to obtain needed images
Dental MRI continues to develop as an important imaging technique, however, it would be desirable to have a system and method for placement of a dental coil such that the sensitive volume of the coil covers the most important dental structures and excludes the less informative tissues (i.e., the cheeks, lips and tongue), as well as reduce patient discomfort and total time to image the areas of interest.

System and method for multi-ROI MRI imaging using an RF loop coil


Solid-state transducer (“SST”) dies and SST arrays having electrical cross-connections are disclosed herein. An array of SST dies in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a first terminal, a second terminal and a plurality of SST dies coupled between the first and second terminals with at least a pair of the SST dies being coupled in parallel. The plurality of SST dies can individually include a plurality of junctions coupled in series with an interconnection between each individual junction. Additionally, the individual SST dies can have a cross-connection contact coupled to the interconnection. In one embodiment, the array can further include a cross-connection between the cross-connection contacts on the pair of the SST dies.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are solid-state devices that convert electrical energy to light, and generally comprise one or more active regions of semiconductor material formed between oppositely doped materials. When a bias is applied across the doped materials, the active region generates light that can be emitted from all surfaces of the LED. In addition to LEDs, solid-state lighting ("SSL") devices can use organic light emitting diodes ("OLEDs"), and/or polymer light emitting diodes ("PLEDs") as sources of illumination, rather than electrical filaments, plasma, or gas. SSL devices are used in a wide variety of products and applications including common consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), digital cameras, MP3 players, and other portable electronic devices utilize SSL devices for backlighting. SSL devices are also used for traffic lighting, signage, indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, and other types of general illumination.
In many applications, it is desirable to have SSL devices that provide high light output with better performances being realized through reducing the difference between power supply output voltage and input voltage. One conventional technique of achieving high input voltage in LEDs is serially coupling a plurality of LED dies in an array. In certain embodiments, the individual SSL dies may include more than one LED junction coupled in series.
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view and FIG. 1B is a top plan view of a conventional high voltage SSL device 10 shown with two junctions in series. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the high voltage SSL device 10 includes a substrate 20 carrying a plurality of LED structures 11 (identified individually as first and second LED structures 11a, 11b) that are electrically isolated from one another by an insulating material 12. Each LED structure 11a, 11b has an active region 14, e.g., containing gallium nitride/indium gallium nitride (GaN/InGaN) multiple quantum wells ("MQWs"), positioned between P-type GaN 15 and N-type GaN 16 doped materials. The high voltage SSL device 10 also includes a first contact 17 on the P-type GaN 15 and a second contact 19 on the N-type GaN 16 in a lateral configuration. The individual SSL structures 11a, 11b are separated by a notch 22 through which a portion of the N-type GaN 16 is exposed. An interconnect 24 electrically connects the two adjacent SSL structures 11a, 11b in series through the notch 22.
In operation, electrical power is provided to the SSL device 10 via the contacts 17, 19, causing the active region 14 to emit light. Higher light output can be achieved at the assembly level by mounting several high voltage SSL devices onto a single circuit board, e.g., an LED package array to deliver higher flux. Typical arrays include many LED packages which can be coupled in series, in parallel or in a combination of series and parallel coupled packages. For example, high voltage can be achieved by wiring several conventional high voltage SSL devices 10 in parallel configuration. Arrays of high voltage SSL devices can be advantageous in that the number of LED packages included in the array is independent of the total package voltage (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0161161, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). However, despite improved light output and higher flux delivery, arrays incorporating the SSL device 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B are subject to junction failure which can cause problems with chip usability, deterioration, and create high variation in bias across individual coupled SSL devices in the array. For example, an individual LED structure 11a can fail, become an open circuit, or become a short circuit, causing the remaining LED structure 11b as well as other serially or parallel coupled dies to fail, reduce performance or lose stability. Accordingly, there remains a need for high voltage LEDs, high voltage LED arrays and other solid-state devices that facilitate packaging and have improved performance and reliability.

High voltage solid-state transducers and solid-state transducer arrays having electrical cross-connections and associated systems and methods


A system and method for transferring information between an HTTP client and an HTTP server where a state object is stored on the HTTP client before making a request to the HTTP server. The state object may be sent to any HTTP server in any domain. In one embodiment, a particular state object is sent to the HTTP server based on the information requested from the HTTP client. In another embodiment a state object is automatically created by the HTTP client based on previously requested information. Additionally, the state object and their attributes can be defined and/or created by the user.

This disclosure relates generally to information transfer and, more particularly, to a system and method for transferring information between a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client and an HTTP server.
A prior art system and method for transferring information between a server and a client is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,670 issued Jun. 30, 1998 to Montulli. In this prior art system and method, an HTTP client requests a file from an HTTP server. The HTTP client and HTTP server are both computers that use the HTTP to communicate with each other. After the HTTP server receives the request, it transmits the file, as well as a state object, to the HTTP client. The state object, also known as a "cookie", typically includes a name attribute, an expiration attribute, a domain attribute, a path attribute, and an attribute requesting transmission using a secure channel.
The name attribute serves to identify a cookie and is a name for the cookie while the expiration attribute defines the valid lifetime of the cookie while the expiration attribute defines the valid lifetime of the corresponding cookie. The domain attribute defines a domain in which the cookie is valid and is set using the domain name (store.com, for example) of the server sending the file to the client. The client would examine the domain attribute when making future server requests. If the server that the client system is accessing falls within the defined domain name, then the cookie may be sent to the server when making the request. Thus, after making an initial request to the server and providing information to the server (such as a user name, password, credit card information, etc.), future requests to the server within the domain name can be made without having to continually provide the information. This information is sent in the cookie.
The path attribute is used to specify a subset of file system directories in a domain for which the cookie is valid. If a cookie is valid within a particular domain, then the path name (\music, for example) for a requested document is compared with the path attribute. If there is a match, the cookie is considered valid and is sent with the request.
In some systems, the attribute requesting transmission using a secure channel will only transmit the cookie to an HTTP server over a secure sockets layer (SSL), referred to as an HTTPS server.
There are, however, many limitations associated with using such a prior art system and method. To begin with, a state object is transmitted from a server to a client only after the client has requested information (such as a file, document, video, etc.) from the server. Thus, a client must have interaction with a server before the state object can be sent from the server and stored on the client to be used in future requests to the server. Another limitation is the fact that the state object can only be used when a future request is made from the client to a server that is within the domain identified in the domain attribute. If the client requests information from a server that is not within the identified domain name, then the state object may not be used. Instead, another state object must be created by the server in the new domain being accessed. For example, a user may provide information to a domain name (such as store1.com) to purchase a compact disk (CD). If the user then wanted to access a different domain name (such as store2.com) to purchase another compact disk, the store1.com state object could not be utilized. Instead, the user would have to provide much of the same information to store2.com that was provided to store1.com so that a new state object could be created to allow the user to perform a similar function (e.g., buy a CD) from store2.com. Thus, transactions may only be handled between specific clients and specific servers. This leads to inefficiencies for the user and within the network because time will be spent creating multiple state objects that perform similar functionality and space will be utilized storing these multiple state objects.

System and method for transferring information in a hypertext transfer protocol based system


A semiconductor device has an interconnect layer, connected to a connecting region, such as a diffusion region or layer formed on the surface of a substrate, through a contact hole formed in an interlayer insulating film, which includes a concavity, representing a defective portion, extending from the bottom portion of the contact hole to the surface of the interconnect layer. This defective portion occurs because the metal comprising the interconnect layer will not penetrate to completely fill the contact hole. To correct for this formed defective portion, the concavity, the concavity is permitted to be formed followed by its filling with a plug electrode comprising a high quality penetration metal film, such as, tungsten. As a result, the mechanical as well as electrical characteristics of the interconnect layer connection to the connecting region is significantly improve by the presence of the plug electrode. In an alternative approach, both the interlayer insulating film and the interconnect layer comprising, for example, aluminum layer, may first be formed on the surface of the substrate followed by the selective etching to form concavities or contact holes within which are formed plug electrodes comprising, for example, a tungsten film for electrically connecting the interconnect layer to the diffusion layer through the plug electrode per se.

This invention relates generally to wiring structures for semiconductor devices, and more particularly to wiring structures connected to other connecting regions of the semiconductor devices through a contact hole of an interlayer insulating film employing a plug electrode to thereby electrically connect the semiconductor device connecting regions and the interconnect layer employing miniaturizing patterns of interconnect layers.
In a conventional wiring structure for a semiconductor device in the case where a via or a contact hole is formed in an interlayer insulating film, the interconnect layer is connected to a connecting region representing a lower interconnect layer or a diffusion layer formed in the surface of a semiconductor substrate or a multilayer interconnection. The acquired mechanical electrical characteristics and the resultant reliability of semiconductor device depends on the condition or state of the interconnect layer formed within the contact hole.
Reference is made to FIG. 14A illustrating a typical interconnect layer condition occurring relative to a contact hole. In FIG. 14A, a substrate 91, such as, p-type silicon, includes a deposited interlayer insulating film 93 on substrate 91 with a formed contact hole 94 through which diffusion layer 92, such as, with an n-type dopant, has been formed in the surface of substrate 91, which is followed by the formation of interconnect layer 95 comprising, for example, aluminum. The aluminum interconnect layer 95 is formed by means of deposition on the substrate 91, contact of layer 95 is made directly to diffusion layer 92. However, the deposit of the metal is not fully uniform and complete in contact hole 94, in that, for example, the metal does not deposit on the bottom corner of contact hole 94, as indicated at 94B, and forms a defective concavity or portion 95B in the form of an irregularly shaped aperture with the remaining portion of interconnect layer 95 forming an aperture verge 94A of contact hole 94. With this condition present, the contact resistance between interconnect layer 95 and diffusion layer 92 as well as the wiring resistance of interconnect layer 95 within contact hole 94 is high.
Furthermore, the disconnection of interconnect layer 95 from with contact hole 94 can easily occur. Also, in case where a multilayer interconnect is formed on the surface of substrate 91, the configuration of concavity 95B is in relief, i.e., a multitude of raised surfaces, in the upper portion of contact hole 94 so that a stepped difference or multiple stepped difference tends to occur on the upper portion of interconnect layer 95.
To correct for this situation, conventionally the internal portion of a contact hole 94 is initially filled with a plug electrode 96, as illustrated in FIG. 14B. Plug electrode 96 may be comprised of a tungsten film having good penetration quality. The use of such a single metal plug electrode of tungsten is know in the art, as set forth in the article to Carter Kaanta et al., "Submicron Wiring Technology With Tungsten and Planarization", International Device Electron Meeting, 1987, pp. 209-212. Next, interconnect layer 97, such as, aluminum, is formed on the surface of plug electrode 96. However, with the miniaturization of the pattern comprising interconnect layer 97 due to a reduce scale of circuit integration, the size of contact hole 94 becomes corresponding smaller resulting in an increase in contact resistance. Further, because only the upper surface of plug electrode 96 is connected to interconnect layer 97 at 98, the result contact area is smaller between plug electrode 96 and interconnect layer 97. The loss of contact area in this case is more accentuated when the size of contact hole becomes smaller due to a reduction of the scale of integration into the submicron range.
In addition, the process of forming interconnect layer 97 may consistently result in poor penetration relative to electrode 96 so that if a defective portion, such as, a poor contact region with electrode 96, is produced in interconnect layer 97, and there is no developed subsequent processing technique for restructure or restoring such a defective portion. As a result, a defective and nonusable integrated circuit structure is produced.
An object of this invention is to provide a method and structure for reliable mechanical and electrical connection between an interconnect layer and a connecting region such as, a diffusion layer, in a semiconductor device of an integrated circuit, even where the integration scale of the interconnect layer pattern and the integrated circuit is reduced to the sub-micron range.

Semiconductor device with enhanced via or contact hole connection between an interconnect layer and a connecting region


A mold includes a cavity and a core which define a space in which an optical attenuator and supporting portion are formed. The includes a core pin, movably located in the core element. The core pin has a proximal end defining a surface of the lens portion and a distal end remote from the molding space. A core pin motor is coupled to the core pin, through a number of intermediate elements, so that the core pin can be moved relative to the core element to adjust a thickness of the lens portion. The intermediate elements can include a ball screw, a ball screw end cap fixed to a core pin holder block, a ball screw nut fixed to an outer surface of the mold so that an outer end of the ball screw passes through the nut to a location outside the mold.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to apparatus for precision molding of optical attenuators and related control apparatus operating as a system and the methods employed by such systems. In particular, this invention relates to a high-precision injection mold having certain adjustment features to control at least one dimension of an injection molded article, and to a control system and methods for controlling the adjustment of the mold so that the molded articles meet defined dimensional criteria.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,345 describes a fiber optic connector that includes an optical attenuator element for adding attenuation and reducing return loss in the fiber optic system. The optical attenuator element includes a disk-shaped plate-like lens portion through which light travels from one optical fiber to another length-wise adjacent optical fiber. The lens portion of the optical attenuator element is supported in position by a sleeve of the fiber optic connector that includes a longitudinally extending slot. The attenuator element is generally T-shaped with the stem of the T forming the lens portion and the capital portion of the T forming a head, which is captured in the longitudinally extending slot in the fiber optic connector. To achieve the desired result the lens or disc must be selected of a suitable thickness, flatness, surface finish, and parallelism to maintain fiber-end contact and to provide the desired attenuation. The lens portion of the attenuator generally has a diameter of about 1.25 mm and a thickness which ranges from about 200 to 1750 microns to achieve a 5 dB to a 20 dB loss, respectively. Using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plastic, the attenuator elements can be molded in various thicknesses to attain desired attenuation range, but this requires a high-precision molding system to achieve the desired result. The preferred plastic is Acritherm HS312s PMMA available form ICI Acrylics, Inc.
In practice, the manufacture of such molded optical attenuators presents many difficulties. It is desirable that the lens portion be manufactured to provide attenuators in 1 dB increments, and so labeled, so that the attenuators can be easily and reliably used in the field without the necessity of testing. To achieve the desired reliability, the thickness of the lens portion must be held to about xc2x11.3 xcexcm. This close tolerance on thickness is difficult if not impossible using conventional molding techniques since the thermal variations that typically occur during the injection molding process are such as to cause expansion and shrinkage of the molding space by amounts that may be significantly greater than this, depending on the nature of the materials forming the mold.
Additionally, it is desirable to form attenuators down to 1 dB which amounts to a total thickness of only about 50 xcexcm, which some have characterized a xe2x80x9ccontrolled flashyxe2x80x9d. The total volume of the attenuator including the head portion is so small that as little as 1.5 mg of plastic forms the entire device, which can amount to one pellet or less of the plastic. Thus the processing practice has been to provide an additional waste part of much larger volume unitarily coupled to the attenuator head portion, which is then removed subsequent to the molding process. It is also desirable, that the formation of the attenuators be achieved in a highly automated process, requiring little human oversight or attention so that the per-unit cost can be held to a minimum.
Accordingly, a system for molding according to the present invention is intended to produce an optical attenuator that includes a lens portion and a supporting portion unitary with the lens portion. The system includes a molding machine containing a mold in which the attenuator is formed, an extractor robot and optical inspection portion that receives the attenuator following formation, a controller that can be in the form of a programmed general purpose computer that assesses the inspection information received from the optical inspection portion and send control signals to the molding machine and mold.
The mold includes a cavity element and a core element that together define a space in which said supporting portion of the attenuator is formed. A portion of the cavity element also defines one surface of the lens portion of the attenuator. The cavity element and core element are separable from each other by an actuating motor of the molding machine subsequent to each injection cycle to permit removal of each optical attenuator molded between the cavity element and the core element. The mold also includes a core pin, movably located in the core element. The core pin has a proximal end defining a second surface of the lens portion and a distal end remote from the molding space. A core pin motor is coupled to the core pin, through a number of intermediate elements, so that the core pin can be moved relative to the core element to adjust a thickness of the lens portion.
The mold preferably includes a core pin holder block contacting or holding the distal end of the core pin. A ball screw end cap is fixed to the core pin holder block and a ball screw is engaged in the ball screw holder block so that rotation of the ball screw relative to the ball screw end cap causes movement of the core pin holder block to adjust the position of the core pin relative to the core element, and thereby the size of the space in which the lens portion of the attenuator is molded. A first pulley is fixed to the ball screw and a second pulley fixed to the core pin motor. A transmission coupling such as a timing belt couples the first and second pulley so that rotation of the core pin motor is transferred to the ball screw for adjusting the position of the core pin relative to the core element. With a very fine pitch threading on the ball screw, exceptionally small movements can be made in the core pin that are effective to achieve the very close tolerance needed to mold the lens portion of the attenuator.
The extractor is situated adjacent to the molding machine so that it can extract each optical attenuator from the mold at the completion of each molding cycle. The extractor includes an optical measuring device preferably in the form of a laser. The optical measuring device measures at least the thickness of the lens portion and generates an output signal indicative of the measured thickness. Preferably, the measurement is one that tests the attenuation achieved through the lens portion at a specified wavelength.
The controller can be a general-purpose computer such as a p.c. that has an input coupled to the optical measuring device to receive the measurement information derived by that device. The controller has an output coupled to the core pin motor to provide a signal specifying any movement of the core pin motor necessary to achieve a desired thickness of the lens portion. The controller also has a second output coupled to the actuating motor of the molding machine providing a second signal for initiating an injection cycle by the injection molding machine. The controller can, of course, have other connections that may control, for example, the plastic injection temperature, the packing time, the shot size, the mold open and close speed, and coordinate the movements of the extractor with the mold opening. The controller can also use the measured output of the measuring step to control an engraver focused on the supporting portion of the attenuator to engrave a symbol indicative of the measured result of the optical measurement. This information can also be employed to control a sorting mechanism to collect the optical attenuators into prescribed groups based on the result of the optical measurement.
The controller can be supplied with a stepped index or table of optimum thickness values corresponding to selected values of attenuation desired for the lens portion. The index or table can also specify an acceptable value on each side of each step in the stepped index that defines an acceptable range of variability, with values outside the specified range requiring corrective action. The controller preferably includes a comparitor that compares the result of said optical measuring step with a selected one of the stepped index values and associated ranges. The controller then generates a signal to the core pin motor based upon the amount to which the result of said optical measuring step differs from the desired range for the selected stepped index value.
Additional features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention that references the accompanying drawings.


An anti-torque rotor is described for a helicopter, comprising: a mast rotatable about a first axis; a plurality of blades hinged on the mast, extending along respective second axes transversal to said first axis and rotatable about respective said second axes to alter the respective angles of attack; a control element sliding and rotating with respect to the mast, and operatively connected to said blades to cause the rotation of said blades about respective second axes following a translation of said element along the first axis; a control rod sliding axially along first axis with respect to the mast and angularly fixed with respect to the first axis; and a bearing interposed between the control rod and the control element, sliding along the first axis with respect to the mast and integrally with the control rod; the anti-torque rotor further comprises an interface made of an antifriction material interposed between said control rod and said bearing.

Helicopters are known to basically comprise a fuselage, a main rotor positioned on the top of the fuselage and rotating about an axis of its own, and an anti-torque rotor located at the tail end of the fuselage.
Helicopters also comprise, in a known manner, one or more power units, such as turbines for example, and a transmission unit interposed between the turbines and the main rotor adapted to transmit motive power from the turbines to the main rotor.
In greater detail, the anti-torque rotor, in turn, basically comprises:                a mast rotatable about a first axis;        a hub rotatable about the first axis; and        a plurality of blades hinged on said hub, projecting in a cantilever fashion from the hub and each extending along respective second axes transversal to the first axis.
The mast of the anti-torque rotor is driven in rotation by a set of gears driven by the main transmission unit.
The blades of the anti-torque rotor rotate integrally with the mast about the first axis and can be selectively tilted about the second axis, so as to be able to alter the respective angles of attack and consequently adjust the thrust exerted by the anti-torque rotor.
In order to adjust the angles of attack of the respective blades, anti-torque rotors comprise:                a rod, operatively connected to a pedal operable by the pilot through a mechanical connection or fly-by-wire link and sliding inside the mast along the first axis, but angularly fixed with respect to the first axis;        a control element, also known as a "spider", integrally rotating with the mast about the first axis and equipped with a plurality of arms connected to respective blades in an eccentric position with respect to the associated second axes; and        an antifriction bearing, mounted in a sliding manner with respect to first axis, interposed between the rod and control element, and configured so as to transmit an axial load from the rod to the control element.
More specifically, the antifriction bearing, in turn, comprises:                a radially outer ring fastened on the control element;        a radially inner ring fastened to the control rod; and        a plurality of rolling bodies, which roll in respective raceways defined by the radially inner and outer rings.
In a normal operating condition of the bearing, the rolling bodies allow rotation of the outer ring with respect to the inner ring and the consequent rotation of the control element with respect to the rod.
Operation of the pedal causes the control rod to slide parallel to the first axis. This sliding causes, via the antifriction bearing, the control element to slide parallel to the first axis along a given path of travel.
This sliding causes rotation of the blades about the associated second axes, so as to alter the respective angles of attack by equal amounts associated with the given path of travel.
From the foregoing, it follows that a possible failure of the antifriction bearing would risk making the anti-torque rotor effectively uncontrollable, causing a hazardous situation for the helicopter.
In particular, a first failure situation might occur in the case where rolling bodies and/or the raceways of the inner or outer rings become damaged, for example due to the accidental introduction of foreign bodies inside the bearing, the loss of lubricating grease, or damage to the raceways or surfaces of the rolling bodies.
In this condition, instead of allowing the relative rotation of the control element to the control rod, the antifriction bearing would improperly transfer a twisting moment, progressively growing over time, from the outer ring to the inner ring.
This twisting moment would be transmitted to the control rod, generating a risk of damaging the control rod.
Regarding this first failure situation, there is awareness in the industry of the need to reduce the risk that these twisting moments could irreversibly damage the control rod.
A second failure situation might occur in the case where the rolling bodies break with consequent detachment of the inner ring from the rolling bodies. In this case, the bearing would no longer be slidable parallel to the first axis, and the rod would no longer cause translation of the control element.
There is awareness in the industry of the need to promptly detect the failure state of the antifriction bearing, so that the pilot can quickly land before the helicopter becomes completely uncontrollable.
There is also awareness in the industry of the need to ensure correct control of the anti-torque rotor, even in the event of failure of the antifriction bearing.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,359,073 describes an anti-torque rotor.
In greater detail, U.S. Pat. No. 9,359,073 describes an anti-torque rotor comprising a mast, a rod, and a first and second bearing arranged in series.
The first bearing comprises a first ring rotating with the mast and a second ring.
The second bearing comprises a third ring and a fourth ring.
The third ring of the second bearing and the first ring of the first bearing are connected to each other in a non-rotatable manner.
The anti-torque rotor also comprises a locking device interposed between the third and the fourth ring and adapted to prevent rotation of the third ring with respect to fourth ring. This locking device comprises an element that is breakable in the case of the first bearing failure and not breakable in the case of correct operation of the first bearing.
The solution shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,359,073 is particularly complex as it requires using two antifriction bearings and a locking device.
EP-A-3,216,696 discloses an anti-torque rotor according to the preamble of claims 1 and 10.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,386 discloses a fail safe, segmented drive shaft system includes a segment support assembly comprising a ball bearing, for primary rotation, disposed within a journal bearing, for secondary rotation, which is disposed within an elastomeric damper that has a vibration probe placed in it for failure detection, and a coupling assembly comprising a flexible diaphragm for primary, flexible coupling between segments and gear teeth which engage for secondary coupling upon failure of the diaphragm. The teeth are not concentric with the rotational axis, so vibration indicates failure of the primary flexible coupling.


A portable armrest provides a removable apparatus for use with passenger seats having a seat bottom, a seat back, and a headrest portion supported on the seat back by one or more headrest support posts engaged into one or more receiving holes in the seat back. The apparatus includes a top plate portion engageable with the receiving holes in the seat back (e.g., holes for penetration and capture by the headrest support posts, or integral posts for insertion into the receiving holes), a downwardly depending side portion, and an armrest arm portion, and may include a seat back clamp for releasable capture of the side edge of the seat back.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to seats and other passenger supports, and more specifically to an improved portable armrest apparatus for use with automobile, truck and other passenger seats.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Passenger seats such as those used in automobiles and trucks are well known, and often include an integral armrest on one or both sides of the seat, so that the seat occupant may rest or support his arms. However, many known passenger seats do not include such integral armrests, rendering the seats less comfortable for many users.
Some portable (aftermarket) armrests have been designed for use with such seats. For example, McPartland U.S. Pat. No. 1,378,704 discloses, inter alia, an armrest device that may be suspended from a passenger seat back by use of an adjustable clamp mechanism. Mahon et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,048 discloses an armrest and tray combination that mechanically hooks over the top of the seat back, and is therefore supported in the middle of a bench-type seat. However, due to their attachment methods, no known prior art portable armrests enable selective positioning of an armrest on either side of a bucket-type passenger seat.


Disclosed is a method of making a mercaptan by reacting an aliphatic alcohol with hydrogen sulfide in a continuous gaseous phase reaction. The reaction is performed in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a catalytically active carrier that contains base and/or acid active sites, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal bicarbonate, carbonate, oxide, or hydroxide, and a transition metal acid or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt thereof. Selectivities of close to 100% are obtained.

This invention relates to a process for synthesizing mercaptans from alcohols and hydrogen sulfide. In particular, it relates to a novel catalyst for use in that process.
Mercaptans can be synthesized by reacting alcohols with hydrogen sulfide in the presence of a catalyst. Catalysts used for this reaction have included bases such as potassium hydroxide and transition metal oxides, such as K.sub.2 WO.sub.4, on an alumina substrate. These catalysts can produce selectivities as high as 95% for the conversion of methanol to methyl mercaptan, but conversions of higher molecular weight alcohols to mercaptans are substantially lower. Alcohol that is not converted to mercaptan is converted into undesired byproducts, such as alkenes, ethers, and sulfides; unreacted alcohol may also be present in the product mixture. Not only is this a waste of alcohol, but it is usually necessary to separate the desired mercaptan from these byproducts, which may be difficult since an azeotrope may exist between the alcohol and the mercaptan. This adds an additional expensive step to the production process.


Routing information is distributed interdomain using a policy-based protocol and intradomain by flooding. A network device receives a message with routing information from outside its domain and applies policy. Policy filtered routing information is flooded throughout the domain of the network device. A link state advertisement header is added to the routing information to perform flooding. Policy is also applied to flooded routing information before sending such message to another domain.

The Boarder Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a policy centered protocol that provides for interdomain connectivity. The ability to apply policy permits very flexible methods of route selection and determination. However, in accordance with BGP protocol, each router within a domain must have a consistent view of the network outside of its domain. In order to satisfy this requirement, a single domain of network devices is required to have complete connectivity between its various network devices. This is accomplished using combinations of route reflectors and meshes. BGP has added the concept of confederations to intradomain BGP topology. Use of confederations is discussed in "Autonomous System Confederations for BGP", P. Traina, IETF RFC 1965, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Confederations provide additional hierarchy within a BGP domain. Due to the requirement for intradomain connectivity for BGP routers, it is difficult to scale the use of BGP to large domains.

Apparatus and method of distributing routing information


In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for building a speech application. The method comprises reading data from a table; creating a data construct that models the structure of the table, in terms of fields contained therein; providing a user interface (UI) to display the structure of the table to a user; receiving a selection of data fields from the user; and automatically generating code for a voice browser (VB) based on the selection.

A conversational voice response (CVR) system comprising a voice user interface (UI) which allows a user to have a dialogue or conversation with the system in order to identify and play back audio/voice content of interest, has been described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/319,144, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Such a CVR system may, advantageously, be used to make available, in audio form, a vast amount of information/content currently residing within databases, in table form. However, specialized database access scripting skills are required in order to design the CVR system to access a database, in addition to the skills required to design a speech application for the CVR. The applicants have found that the two skills are not easily found in a single person, and thus, the interfacing of CVR systems with databases is being hampered.

Machine assisted speech generation for a conversational voice response system


Embodiments of the present invention provide a dynamic resource allocator to allocate resources performance optimization in, for example, a computer system. The dynamic resource allocator to allocate a resource to one or more threads associated with an application based on a performance rate. Embodiments of the present invention may further include a performance monitor to monitor the performance rate of the one or more threads. The dynamic resource allocator to allocate an additional resource to the one or more threads, if the thread is performing above a performance threshold. In embodiments of the present invention, the dynamic resource allocation strategy may be decided based on, for example, optimizing the overall system throughput, minimizing power consumption, meeting system performance goals (e.g., real time requirements), user specified performance priorities and/or application specified performance priorities.

A typical computer system consists of several basic components and/or resources, including a processor, volatile and non-volatile memory, and various peripheral devices, including graphics controller(s), mass storage devices, and input/output devices. A chipset connects these computer system components together, and manages the flow of information between them. Known protocols may be used by the computer system for communications among system components.
Moreover, a processor in a computer system may include a plurality of different units such as instruction fetch unit, decode unit, execute unit, memory unit, retirement unit, etc. These units may include an instruction pipeline that processes instructions. These units may contain resources that are allocated for processing threads associated with one or more applications or other program(s) being processed by the system. As a computer system processes the one or more applications, processes or threads associated with these applications may compete for limited resources.
In a multi-threaded micro-architecture processor, these limited resources may be used by multiple threads, or logical processors with hardware support. In a typical processor, some resources may be partitioned so the threads have equal shares while others are fully shared. Inefficiencies may arise when resources are statically partitioned or allocated. For example, if resources are divided equally among threads (e.g. divided in half between two resources), then one thread may optimally utilize its half of the resources while the other thread only partially utilizes its half. This may occur if one thread does not need that particular resource as much as the other does and so its allocation of the resource is wasted while the other thread could use it. If a computer system is not fully using all its resources it may deliver lower overall system performance.
For example, a word processor running on a computer system may compete for resources with a CD (compact disc) player processing audio files on the same system. In this example, the re-order buffer resources may be equally allocated to threads associated with each of these applications. While the word processor application may utilize its cache resources to their maximum extent, the audio application may not need all of the caching resources and under-utilizes these resources. Although the audio application will require sufficient resources so that the application offers good sound quality, some resources allocated for threads associated with the audio application may be wasted.
When resources are fully shared among threads, fairness issues can arise resulting in similar inefficiencies. One thread that allocates the resource faster but not necessarily for the execution of useful micro-ops can take over most of the resource, in expense of the other thread(s) that may be doing more useful tasks.

Method and system for dynamic resource allocation


After-market, detachable warning lights for a reversible highway sign are easily attachable to existing stop/slow highway signs currently in use in highway construction areas. Left and right light boxes are attached to opposite vertical edges of the sign with a pair of red lights on the “stop” side of the sign and a pair of yellow lights on the “slow” side of the sign. A multi-functional switch enables the workman to create a variety of lighting conditions. These conditions could include red and yellow constantly ON; red and yellow blinking; red and yellow strobing slowly; and red and yellow strobing rapidly. In addition, the switch enables the workman to put either set of lights in a particular independent mode thus increasing the variation of the lighting system. For example, the red lights may utilize a constant ON mode while the yellow lights could be slowly strobing. The sign and pole have internal wiring and are supported by a lower base with wheels. The twelve-volt battery supply rides on the base. The sign is readily moved from site to site and allows the workman to select many different combinations of lighting effects.

This invention relates to the field of highway maintenance and safety. More particularly, a reversible highway worker warning sign apparatus is disclosed which is used to protect highway workers in construction areas.
During road construction, highway workers are often placed in a dangerous position. Because most road construction occurs while traffic is still moving, cars move past the construction site, often at a fast speed. Highway workers are subject to the oncoming traffic and must perform their construction duties simultaneously with keeping a careful watch out for oncoming traffic. Because the highway worker is often distracted from safety precautions due to their attention to their construction jobs, highway departments have instituted various types of safety measures.
In particularly dangerous situations, a worker carrying a highway safety sign guards construction crews, usually having one sign at each end of the construction zone. When lanes are blocked off, these cautionary highway signs and flagmen also direct traffic such that vehicles may use only one lane of the roadway for both directions of traffic. In order to accomplish this, one flagman will stand at the beginning of the construction site with a dual stop/slow warning sign. A second flagman stands at the other end of the construction site with a similar stop/slow highway sign. As traffic is directed through the construction site, one worker will display the "slow" side of the sign to oncoming traffic while another worker, at the opposite end of the traffic pattern, will display the "stop" side of the sign. This allows traffic to move slowly past the construction site in one direction. Once the line of traffic has moved past the construction site, the workers will then reverse their signs so that the traffic can move in the other direction.
The double-sided signs in these highway construction sites often serve the purpose of adequately protecting the highway workers, particularly in daylight. However, under particularly hazardous conditions such as highway construction on an interstate highway where speeds are often in excess of 70 miles per hour, further safety measures are necessary. One particular type of safety measure that improves the safety of the construction sight is the attachment of warning signals or other lighted devices to the stop/slow highway sign.
One such highway warning sign device is found in the 1998 patent issued to Zumbuhl, U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,051. Zumbuhl disclosed a special type of bracket assembly to support a sign. The sign itself is inserted into the bracket assembly. Zumbuhl also has warning lights attached on the top and bottom of the bracket. The stop and slow signs are illuminated with the addition of the upper and lower lights. However, there are other means which would increase the recognition of the hazard sign and that can be attached to already existing traffic hazard signs.
It is an object of this invention to provide a visually lighted traffic hazard sign that may be readily attached to signs that already exist and are already in use throughout the United States. A particular advantage of supplying a lighting system that can be attached to the already existing signs is the decrease in cost associated with completing the entire system, since new signs would not have to be made or signs would not have to be fitted to the other brackets.
It is another object of this invention to provide a lighting system for a traffic hazard sign that is itself reversible. One side of the lights would show red, to signify the side of the sign with the "stop" emblem. The lights on the opposite or "slow" side of the sign would show yellow.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a set of red and yellow lights that could alternately flash, strobe slowly, or strobe quickly. Other and further objects of this invention will become obvious upon reading the below described specification.


Semiconductor devices with slotted vias, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a routing region of the semiconductor device includes a set of slotted vias arranged in a non-orthogonal array pattern. Further, patterns of metal lines associated with the set of slotted vias are drawn to align and/or overlap with the slotted vias. As a result, the metal lines may include zig-zag patterns within the routing region. Further, edges of the slotted vias may have a staircase pattern with sets of horizontal and vertical line segments such that a combination of the horizontal and vertical line segments can orient the slotted vias in a non-orthogonal direction.

Semiconductor devices are widely used in various electronic devices. For example, semiconductor memory devices are used to store information related to the electronic devices such as computers, wireless communication devices, cameras, digital displays, and the like. Information is stored by programing different states of a memory cell. Various types of memory devices exist, such as non-volatile memory devices (e.g., NAND Flash memory devices) and volatile memory devices (e.g., dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), etc.).
Improving memory devices, generally, may include increasing memory cell density, increasing read/write speeds or otherwise reducing operational latency, increasing reliability, increasing data retention, reducing power consumption, or reducing manufacturing costs, among other metrics. One way of reducing manufacturing costs is to improve manufacturing processes to increase the margin of successfully manufactured devices. Manufacturers can improve the manufacturing margin by implementing processes that, for example, increase the consistency or tolerance off manufacturing steps (e.g., removal or deposition of materials), improve the scale of manufacturing, reduce variability among memory cells, etc.

Non-orthogonal slotted vias for semiconductor devices and associated systems and methods


An antipollution cap comprises a base member (7) attachable to an eyedrops container (A) for containing a fluid, a overcap (8) mountable on the base member (7), a pressing member (9) inserted into and held by the base member (7) to be slidable relative thereto, with a groove portion (91) formed in a side face thereof for guiding the fluid to the outside, the pressing member being pressed toward the eyedrops container (A) by the overcap (8) to cancel a sealed condition of the eyedrops container (A), a first tight contact member (11) provided on a tip end portion (77) of the base member (7) to be placed in tight contact with the pressing member (9) from outside and yet allow the fluid to be discharged therethrough, and a second tight contact member (12) provided on an inner periphery of the base member (7) to be placed in tight contact with the pressing member (9) in a pressed position thereby preventing the fluid from being discharged therethrough and yet allowing ambient air to flow therein.

Examples of existing eyedropper, especially those for applying a medical fluid such as medical eyedrops, which are in wide use, are what is called a three-piece type eyedropper including a main container body in the form of a hollow cylinder, with an instilling tube attached thereto, and with a cap mounted on the main container body to make three components forming a whole eyedropper, and, as shown in FIG. 11, what is called a bottle pack eyedropper X which may be an integral molding type container A, with an instilling tube 6 and a main container body 10 formed integrally by blow molding or vacuum forming technique, and with a cap B screwed or fitted to the container A. It is also known that the instilling tube 6 has a stopper with an instilling opening 6a mounted on a tip end of the tube (see FIGS. 1 and 2 of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 39-11991). As a material of the eyedropper X of this type, a soft thermoplastic resin is used because it is easy to form and so on.
When the medical fluid contained in the eyedrops container A is applied with this type of eyedropper X, a barrel 2 of the eyedrops container A (main container body 10) is held by tips of two digits to keep an applying posture where the instilling opening 6a of the eyedrops container A faces the eye to receive the fluid. The barrel 2 is pressed toward an axis of the container while maintaining the applying posture, whereby the medical fluid is distilled and applied from the instilling opening 6a.
Since the medical fluid, especially medical eyedrops are applied directly to the eye which is an especially sensitive organ in the human body, it is strictly required to maintain them in aseptic condition until instillation. Therefore, an aseptic filling is required to be carried out in an aseptic room meeting strict conditions after sterilizing each component of the above-noted eyedropper with steam sterilization or with EO gas sterilization, and after sterilizing the medial fluid with sterilization by filtration using a membrane filter and so on.
With the eyedrops container of the above conventional eyedropper (the integral molding type container, for example), the eyedrops container is filled with the medical fluid in aseptic condition and then the cap is mounted on the eyedrops container to seal the container. Thus, the medical fluid contained in the eyedrops container can be prevented from directly contacting ambient air, as a result of which the medical fluid can usually be maintained in aseptic condition until the cap is released for instillation.
However, as the medical fluid is distilled and applied from the instilling opening after the eyedrops container is opened, ambient air flows into the eyedrops container from the instilling opening in a volume corresponding to the medical fluid applied. At this time, the aseptic condition within the eyedrops container cannot be secured because of germs present in the ambient air or the like, which might pollute the interior of the eyedrops container (interior pollution of the eyedrops container after it is opened).
In order to avoid such interior pollution, a method of filling the eyedrops container with the medical fluid added with an antiseptic solution in advance is in wide use (antiseptic treatment of the medical fluid).
On the other hand, attempts have been made to prevent the germs present in ambient air being taken into the eyedrops container. The present invention has been made from this point of view.
Incidentally, a completely integrally formed and sealed eyedrops container is in wide use, which container dispenses with the instilling opening for discharging the medical fluid in order to avoid contact with ambient air. It is desirable to provide a cap advantageously mounted on such an eyedrops container in a sealed condition.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a cap for mounting on a container in a sealed condition containing a fluid and capable of preventing the fluid from contacting ambient air before the container is opened and preventing pollution of the container interior after it is opened.


A lubricant containing a branched aliphatic diester of the general formula: R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 C--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --X--R--X'--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CR.sub.4 R.sub.5 R.sub.6 in which R.sub.1 to R.sub.6 independently represent a hydrocarbon group having 1-18 carbon atoms; R is a fluorinated hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms; either one of X and X' represent either one of --OCO-- and --COO--, while the other of X and X' represent the other of --OCO-- and --COO--; and n is an integer from 0 to 6, and optionally an aliphatic amine of the general formula: R.sub.7 NR.sub.8 R.sub.9 in which R.sub.7, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 independently represent a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 26 carbon atoms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lubricant and a magnetic recording medium using the same. More specifically, the lubricant allows for low friction, low abrasion sliding between two touching solids, regardless of high or low speeds, or high or low loads, and under all environmental conditions such as high or low temperatures, or high or low humidity. The present invention also pertains to the use of this lubricant in magnetic recording media having excellent durability and traveling performance.
2. Prior Art
With the aim of allowing for low friction, low abrasion sliding between two touching solids and lengthening the usage period of instruments and equipment, development is being carried out on the hardening of solid surfaces and on lubricants. The demand for size reduction in the OA instrument field is particularly strong, and every year precise mechanisms in the slidable portion area are introduced. In the future, precision parts will require increasing reductions in friction and abrasion when the sliding begins, ends and is in progress, and a greater reduction in the load on the motor, etc., than is provided by the current slidable instruments, when they operate continuously or discontinuously under a broad range of environmental conditions. In conventional protective lubrication systems, the slidable position has a hard surface layer which is difficult to abrade, and grease, oil, half-solid or liquid lubricants are used.
However, in precision equipment in which smoothing of the touching portions have been completed, a lubricant which allows low friction, low abrasion sliding between two touching solids regardless of high or low speeds, and high or low loads cannot be obtained. Thus, the problems of poor starting, or a sudden accidental increase in the friction force when sliding cannot be avoided.
When compared to coating type magnetic recording media, ferromagnetic metal thin film type magnetic recording media, which are made by depositing ferromagnetic metals or their alloys, etc. on a non-magnetic support by vacuum deposition, etc., can easily increase the anti-magnetization properties and decrease the thickness of the media, and have good high-density recording properties. On the other hand, they have disadvantages in that the coefficient of friction at the magnetic head increases, and they are easily abraded or damaged, since they use no tough binder resin, and the ferromagnetic metal thin film layer or the protective membrane has good surface smoothness. Thus, their durability and traveling performance are inferior.
Accordingly, durability and traveling performance are improved by the provision of various lubricants, such as ester-type lubricants, on the ferromagnetic metal thin film (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,735,848, 5,356,726 and 5,376,465, and Japanese Kokai Patent Publication Nos. 60-85427, 2-210615, 4-368621 and 6-274858).
However, the problem of smudging on the magnetic head or "drop out" has not been solved. The durability and traveling performance are insufficient, especially under high temperature and humidity conditions.

Lubricant and magnetic recording medium using the same


A medical device having stratum compactum of tissue membrane is provided. The present invention further provides a method for producing a medical device having stratum compactum of tissue membrane. The method includes the steps of: separating tissue membrane including stratum compactum from tissue; sterilizing or disinfecting the separated tissue membrane; and removing all other layers except the stratum compactum from the sterilized or disinfected tissue membrane using an enzyme.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a medical device used for a medical prosthesis and an artificial tissue which are implantable and tissue-regenerative, such as a pledget, a bolster, a patch graft, a suture,-wound and burn dressings, a donor-site skin graft, a post-operative antiadhesive, an artificial blood vessel, an artificial urethra, an artificial ureter, an artificial esophagus, an artificial trachea, an artificial membrana tympani, and an artificial oral mucosa.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of surgery, when damage, abnormality, dysfunction or the like occurs in a certain site of body tissue, the defective tissue is conventionally and frequently repaired by anaplerosis and prosthesis using an artificial substance as a medical device substituting the function of the tissue, for curing the tissue, preventing adhesion of the tissue and restricting the abnormal development of the tissue. The above-mentioned medical devices are required to have: biocompatibility in blood, biological fluid and/or body tissue; physical properties such as strength, elongation, softness and flexibility, and chemical and biological safety necessary for the portion and condition to be applied and suture and anastomosis; and suitable operativeness.
Generally, existing tissue-derived materials, whether homologous or heterologous, are conventionally used because of their acceptable safety and efficacy characteristics, even though undesirable conditions such as immunological rejection, blood coagulation, tissue hypertrophy, keloid or the like may be caused in some cases when enthesis is conducted. The tissue-derived materials include medical devices derived, for example, from human cerebral dura mater, human fascia lata, horse pericardium and pig pericardium.
On the other hand, synthetic polymer materials are also widely used as medical devices because such materials have excellent physical properties which can be easily controlled. However, many of the synthetic polymer materials are inferior to the aforementioned tissue-derived materials in terms of biocompatibility, bioaffinity and the like. Moreover, these synthetic polymer materials lack physiological function, for example, tissue regeneration. Therefore, the synthetic polymer materials merely substitute the body tissue with foreign substances. Thus, a novel medical device possessing the above-mentioned excellent characteristics is still required.
As medical devices made of such tissue-derived materials or synthetic polymer materials, the following materials have been conventionally developed.
For examples Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-4229 relates to a medical prosthesis utilizing human amnion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,552 relates to a burn dressing in which a crosslinked human amnion is used.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-52662 relates to a structure for covering damage made of an air permeable cloth substrate on which collagen-dispersed gel is carried. Japanese National Publication No. 61-502129 relates to a collagen-based biodegradable matrix for use in the topical application of an external or internal wound.
However, none of the above-mentioned medical devices described in the publications sufficiently satisfies all of the above required properties. The above-mentioned medical devices satisfy only a specific property among biocompatibility, strength, flexibility, operativeness for operation, but they do not satisfy the other properties such as biocompatibility, strength, flexibility and operativeness. Otherwise, even though some of the above-mentioned medical devices may possess all properties to a certain level, the levels are insufficient for each of the required properties.
More specifically, for example, human amnion described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-4229 comprises cells and cytoplasm such as an epithelium layer and a fibroblast layer. Therefore, there is a possibility that serious side-effects are caused due to the activity of a slow virus, the activity of prion which is a pathogen causing Creutz feldt-Jakob syndrome and an immunological rejection. If the human amnion is sufficiently crosslinked, for example, by glutaraldehyde to decrease these medical risks and to improve the properties of material, the modified human amnion cannot be absorbed in the body, and as a result, a foreign substance is present in the body such as the case of TEFLON.TM. (polytetrafluoroethylene). Thus, chemically modified materials are disadvantageous in that the materials permanently remain in the body and are further encapsulated by surrounding tissue, and the encapsulated tissue portion is thickened and enlarged with the elapse of time. Consequently, disadvantageous disorders, such as adhesion between the peripheral tissues are caused. In this way, the above-mentioned conventional medical devices are not medical devices for homologous transplantation.
A medical prosthesis made of a human cerebral dura mater, which has cell tissues, has been used for several decades, and is accepted as a medical prosthesis for homologous transplantation. However, it is not legally accepted to be applied to a biological region except for the human cerebral dura mater. Moreover, it has been recently reported that a serious side effect, that is epilepsy, occurs after the prosthesis on human cerebral dura mater. Furthermore, since the medical prosthesis made of a human cerebral dura mater is collected from a human body, the material is disadvantageous in its poor ability of supply and extremely high cost. Thus, the medical prosthesis made of a human cerebral dura mater has a critical defect that it is not equally offered in terms of medical welfare.
When a defective part undergoes anaplerosis or prosthesis by exsection in an abdominal organ, it is impossible to suture the defective part as it is in the case where the organ is a feeble organ such as the liver. On the other hand, when a defective part undergoes anaplerosis or prosthesis by exsection in a bone, significant strength is required to suture and fix the defective portion. In such a case, a suture reinforcing material excellent in strength and flexibility is required.
Thus, a medical device, which is excellent in strength, softness and flexibility and has bioabsorption ability, is required. For example, a mesh fabric made of polyglycolic acid is used as a medical device satisfying the above conditions. However, since the mesh fabric is permeable, it disadvantageously leaks body fluid, for example, bile from a gallbladder, from an organ to which the mesh fabric is applied.
In prosthetic therapy of an affected portion, a medical device is required to satisfy the following conditions: capability of preventing liquid and gas in the applied portion from being leaked and lost; easiness to be sutured; capability of reinforcing by suture; bioabsorption to promote regeneration and self-repair of tissue of an affected part; excellent biocompatibility; excellent operativeness, for example, easiness to treat in surgical operations in terms of adhesion to a defective part; stably supply at reasonable cost.

Medical device and method for producing the same


A fiber or plastic based package includes: an interface adapted to attach and connect, in a detachable manner, a module to a fiber or plastic based package, the module including a wireless transmitter, and the interface including conductors for transferring package data from the fiber or plastic based package to the module. A module, system and software are also implemented in connection with the fiber or plastic based package. A smart package, its management and various applications thereof are provided.

Present fiber or plastic based (alternatively, fiber based, paper based etc.) packages intended for packaging goods or objects the use and storage of which need to be tracked, monitored or observed require human based or manual solutions to implement these things. Examples of such packages include e.g. medicine packages, food packages, various packages for goods and so on. The opening, use, storage, preservability, temperature, handling etc. of packages need to be monitored and observed so as to ensure the appropriate use and condition of the packaged goods. A problem with packages has been the reading, collecting or obtaining the information associated with the packages so that such information can be used and applied.
A known solution to the problem, brought about by Cypak, has been to use a special reader, or reader device. However, such a reader device has to be a highly specialized apparatus, suitable exclusively for a certain type of package suitable for the reader device. Therefore, there should exist at the reading site, such as a pharmacy or hospital, for example, a special reader device which is able to read the information on the package, say, instructions on a medicine package. It is a drawback that the reader device must be specially tailored and designed for the package in question. Another drawback of this known solution is that the package must include a transmitter (and possibly a receiver) implemented and designed in a fixed and integrated manner, capable of communicating information from the package to the reader device, which transmitter could be e.g. a special integrated transmitter or a rfid type transmitter reader loop or such. In addition, people, such as the personnel in a pharmacy or shop, need to learn to use the reader device.
In practice, a separate reader is a disadvantage for this known solution because, for example, the overall costs of the solution are very significant on the packaging scale, the reader device may get lost in which case a new one needs to be purchased, people need to learn to use the reader, the use of the reader is human based, i.e. manual, etc. All this requires expensive, complicated and/or difficult-to-use technology of both the package and the reader device proper.

Fiber or plastic based package, apparatus, method, program and system for wireless data communication by fiber or plastic based package


A nucleic acid molecule that can bind to HMGB1 protein and applications thereof are provided. A nucleic acid molecule having a dissociation constant for HMGB1 protein of 5×10−7 or less can be used as the nucleic acid molecule that can bind to HMGB1 protein. The HMGB1 binding nucleic acid molecule can bind to HMGB1 protein that is known to be a cause of diseases such as cancer and inflammation, and it is therefore possible to obtain an effect to prevent and an effect to treat such diseases by allowing the HMGB1 binding nucleic acid molecule to bind to HMGB1 protein in a living body.

High-mobility group box 1 protein, i.e., HMGB1 protein (hereinafter referred to as "HMGB1"), is a protein essential for survival (Non-Patent Literature 1), and HMGB1 functions in a cell nucleus as a protein that forms a chromatin structure required for initiation of transcription (Non-Patent Literature 2). When HMGB1 is leaked or secreted out of a cell, HMGB1 functions as a cytokine that facilitates an inflammatory reaction, a morphological change of a cell, and migration of a cell (Non-Patent Literature 3). In recent years, an analysis of extracellular functions of HMGB1 has advanced, and it has been revealed that when autoimmune diseases, sepsis, traumatic shock, ischemia, and ischemia reperfusion disorders occur, HMGB1 aggravates inflammatory reactions or induces apoptosis. Accordingly; it has been demonstrated that HMGB1 serves as a target substance and a diagnostic marker of the treatment of these diseases (Non-Patent Literature 4). Moreover, regarding cancers, it has been reported that HMGB1 is involved in proliferation and metastasis infiltration of breast cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, prostatic cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and the like, and the level of HMGB1 expression is increased compared with that in normal tissue (Non-Patent Literature 5). Under this circumstance, it has been desired that a substance that can bind to HMGB1 and neutralize the function thereof in order to prevent and treat the aforementioned diseases. However, only a diagnostic method that uses a monoclonal anti-HMGB1 antibody and a cerebral infarction model treatment in laboratory animals have been shown to be effective so far (Patent Literature 1 and 2, Non-Patent Literature 6).

HMGB1 binding nucleic acid molecule and applications thereof

Kanagawa Prefectural Hospital Organization