To eliminate electric discharge when an element formation layer including a semiconductor element is peeled from a substrate used for manufacturing the semiconductor element, a substrate over which an element formation layer and a peeling layer are formed and a film are made to go through a gap between pressurization rollers. The film is attached to the element formation layer between the pressurization rollers, bent along a curved surface of the pressurization roller on a side of the pressurization rollers, and collected. Peeling is generated between the element formation layer and the peeling layer and the element formation layer is transferred to the film. Liquid is sequentially supplied by a nozzle to a gap between the element formation layer and the peeling layer, which is generated by peeling, so that electric charge generated on surfaces of the element formation layer and the peeling layer is diffused by the liquid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a peeling apparatus by which a layer including a structure, which is formed over a substrate, is peeled from the substrate. In particular, the present invention relates to a peeling apparatus used for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor device for separating an element formation layer including a semiconductor element from a substrate used at the time of manufacture.
In the present invention, a semiconductor device for being manufactured includes a semiconductor element that can operate by utilizing semiconductor characteristics and a general device that operates by using a plurality of semiconductor elements.
As the semiconductor element, for example, a transistor, such as a MOS transistor or a thin film transistor, a diode, a MOS capacitor, and the like are given. In addition, the semiconductor device refers to an integrated circuit having a plurality of semiconductor elements, a device having a plurality of integrated circuits, a device having an integrated circuit and another element, or the like. The integrated circuit refers to, for example, a memory circuit such as a CPU, ROM, or RAM.
The device having a plurality of integrated circuits and the device having an integrated circuit and another element include, for example, a liquid crystal module substrate, a liquid crystal module using this module substrate, a liquid crystal display device using this module substrate, an EL (electroluminescence) module substrate, an EL module using this module substrate, an EL display device using this module substrate, an electronic appliance in which the liquid crystal module or the EL module is used as a display unit, an IC chip which is provided with an antenna and can communicate wirelessly, an electronic tag on which such an IC chip is mounted, an IC card, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technique has been developed in which after an integrated circuit is formed of a semiconductor element such as a TFT over a substrate such as a glass substrate or a quartz substrate, the integrated circuit is transferred from the substrate used for manufacturing the integrated circuit to a plastic film substrate. First, a step of peeling an integrated circuit from a substrate used for manufacture is needed in order to transfer the integrated circuit to another substrate. Thus, a technique has been developed by which an integrated circuit is peeled from a substrate.
For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. H10-125931), the following peeling technique using laser ablation is described. A separation layer formed of amorphous silicon is faulted over a substrate, a layer to be peeled which is formed of a thin film element is formed over the separation layer, and the layer to be peeled is bonded to an object to which the layer to be peeled is transferred, by a bonding layer. The separation layer is ablated by laser light irradiation, so that peeling of the separation layer is generated.
In addition, in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2003-174153), a technique is described in which peeling is performed by physical force such as that by human hands. In Patent Document 2, a metal layer is formed between a substrate and an oxide layer and peeling is generated at an interface between the oxide layer and the metal layer with the utilization of weak bonding of the oxide layer and the metal layer at the interface, so that the layer to be peeled and the substrate are separated from each other.
It has been known that when peeling is generated, electric charge is generated on surfaces of two separated layers and electrification is easily generated. This phenomenon is referred to as peeling electrification. Since the surfaces of two layers are close to each other at the moment of peeling, electric capacity is formed between these surfaces. When peeling proceeds, electric capacity is decreased with increase in a distance between the two layers; however, the amount of electric charge generated by peeling electrification is not changed, and thus, electric potential of the surface of the layer is increased inversely proportional to the electric capacity. When the electric potential of the surface of a peeled layer is increased, electric charge which is charged on the surface of the layer might be discharged toward inside the layer.
Accordingly, in the case where an object to be peeled is an integrated circuit, a semiconductor film, an insulating film, a conductive film, or the like is destroyed by melting due to heat generated by electric discharge. Consequently, a semiconductor element does not function in some cases. Even when the semiconductor element can operate without receiving a visible damage, a semiconductor or an insulator deteriorates due to high electric potential application and the semiconductor element does not show expected characteristics in some cases. Therefore, when electric discharge due to static electricity is generated, the semiconductor element is destroyed, or the integrated circuit itself using the semiconductor element does not operate normally due to characteristic deterioration in some cases.
Destruction of a semiconductor element or the like by electric discharge due to static electricity is referred to as electrostatic breakdown. Electrostatic breakdown is one of causes which drastically reduce yield. As a conventional method of avoiding electrostatic breakdown, there are a method in which electric discharge due to static electricity is tried not to be generated and a method in which damage to a semiconductor element caused by electric discharge is suppressed even when electric discharge due to static electricity is generated. As the former method, a method of removing generated static electricity by providing an ionizer in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is known. A typical example of the latter method is a method of manufacturing a protective circuit with a semiconductor element, and high electric potential generated by electric discharge can be prevented from being applied to a semiconductor element because of the protective circuit.
Even if static electricity is generated, electrostatic breakdown is not generated as long as electric discharge is not performed. Electric discharge is easily generated when electric potential difference between two objects is large. Therefore, an ionizer is an apparatus for supplying a positive ion and a negative ion to the air which serves as a path of electric discharge and for preventing generation of a large electric potential difference between the objects, as electric discharge is increased. However, since electric discharge due to peeling electrification is generated instantaneously when two layers are separated, electricity is not removed in time by an ionizer in some cases.
In addition, in the case of providing a protective circuit, when electric charge of electric discharge passes through the protective circuit, the protective circuit functions; therefore, destruction of a semiconductor element can be avoided. However, since surfaces of two layers to be separated are charged in peeling electrification, the electric discharge does not always pass through the protective circuit. Accordingly, in peeling electrification, electrostatic breakdown is not sufficiently prevented by the protective circuit.
For example, a method for preventing electric discharge due to peeling electrification is described in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2005-79395) (see Scope of Claims, Lines 42 to 48 in Page 9). Here, a conductive film is formed over a substrate, and a stacked body including a semiconductor element or the like is formed thereover. Peeling is generated at an interface between the substrate and the conductive film and electric charge generated at the time of peeling is diffused into the conductive film, so that destruction or characteristic deterioration of the semiconductor element due to charge is avoided.
However, in the peeling method of Patent Document 3, the conductive film remains in a lower part of the stacked body. Depending on an intended purpose of the stacked body, the conductive film becomes an obstacle and an expected intended purpose cannot be carried out due to the conductive film in some cases. In such a case, a conductive film is needed to be removed in the peeling method of Patent Document 3.

Peeling apparatus and manufacturing apparatus of semiconductor device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A kit for identifying individually sized objects or implements, such as socket sets and wrenches of all types thereby facilitating visual identification of the individual objects, the kit including a substrate which supports a legend and a predetermined number of bands or strips, each having a particular color. The colored bands or strips are adhesively affixed on particular objects. The color of each band correlates with an object size which is expressed on the legend.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a kit, and more particularly to a kit which is especially well-suited for identifying individually sized implements, or objects of interest, such as the individual elements of a set of sockets, allen wrenches, box wrenches, open-end wrenches, or the like, and wherein, the kit quickly facilitates the visual identification and selection of an appropriately sized implement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Socket sets usually include a rachet wrench and a predetermined number of sockets which are used interchangeably with the rachet wrench. The individual sockets, may have, for example, a hexagonal bore for engagement with a suitable fastener such as a nut or a head of a bolt. The hexagonal bores of each of the sockets typically are manufactured in predetermined increments, such as in 1/16 of an inch, or 1 mm increments, as in the case of metrically dimensioned tools. Additionally, box wrenches, open-ended wrenches and allen wrenches are similarly sized for use with suitable fasteners.
Normally, the average set of sockets are identified as to size by being stamped with an appropriate symbol during the manufacturing process. These markings are often difficult to identify, especially when the tool is being selected for use in various environments such as, for example, beneath a vehicle or in cramped quarters or in poorly lighted working spaces. Additionally, the problem in identifying an appropriately sized tool is compounded when the worker may have to utilize both metric and non-metric tools on the same project.
It is known that a colored, or non-colored, preformed elastomeric sleeve, having size indicia molded thereon, may be disposed in interfitted relation on an individual socket to facilitate its visual recognition. However, and while such elastomeric sleeves may be useful for these purposes, these same sleeves are replete with a multiplicity of deficiencies and shortcomings which have detracted from their usefulness.
Foremost among the deficiencies of these preformed elastomeric sleeves is their apparent inability to be utilized in combination with other irregularly shaped tools or implements, such as, for example, box wrenches or open-end wrenches. More particularly, the elastomeric sleeves of the prior art are specifically designed to engage a substantially, cylindrically shaped exterior surface, such as the rearward portion of the socket.
Additionally, another significant deficiency of the preformed sleeves of the prior art is their apparent inability to be utilized with sockets which are produced by various manufacturers. More particularly, and if a user has sockets which do not have the same outside diameter, then, in that event, the preformed sleeves will not be operable for their intended purposes.
The foregoing illustrates the several limitations known to exist in the prior art. Therefore, it has long been known that it would be advantageous to provide a means for overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable kit is provided which overcomes the noted deficiencies and which further includes additional features which are more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Kit for identifying individualy sized implements


A computer system that optimizes the power efficiency of a portable computer system is described. Specifically, the secondary memory of the system is partitioned. A standard hard disk drive is used to store lower utilization applications, while a micro storage unit is used to store high utilization applications.

A computer system typically comprises a main memory and a secondary memory. Main memory or random access memory (RAM) refers to the physical system that is internal to the computer. The computer manipulates only the data that is in main memory. Therefore, programs that are executed and files that are accessed are typically copied into main memory. When the computer system is powered off, the data in main memory is typically not retained. The amount of main memory in a computer system determines how many programs can be executed at one time and how much data can be readily available to a program.
In contrast to main memory, the data in secondary memory is typically retained even after the system is powered off. Secondary memory allows large amounts of data to be stored. Examples of secondary memory include mass storage devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, optical disks, and tapes.
The secondary memory of a portable computer system typically comprises a single hard disk drive (HDD). The HDD consumes approximately 9% of a computer system's power. Approximately 90% of the battery life of a portable computer system is currently consumed during system boot-up and by an idle operating system.

Tiered secondary memory architecture to reduce power consumption in a portable computer system


According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for accessing protected content includes a first computing device with at least one processor. The system determines one or more users associated with information required to access content of a protected document based on a set of rules. A request is generated and sent to at least one second computing device associated with the one or more determined users to retrieve and utilize the required information to access the content of the protected document. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for accessing protected content in substantially the same manner described above.

1. Technical Field
Present invention embodiments relate to archiving content, and more specifically, to accessing protected content (e.g., password protection, encryption or encoding, access restrictions, etc.) in order to archive that content.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Compliance archiving is the process of capturing corporate data, such as electronic mail (e-mail) messages or files, from a shared file system or user workstation. This data may later serve as evidence in legal cases. A full-text search index is typically created over the archived data to enable content searches to be performed based on keywords. The content searches require that text content of the data be accessible by an archive system.
In the case of compliance archiving for e-mail messages, a mechanism referred to as e-mail journaling is frequently used in which e-mail systems of the corporation create a copy of every e-mail message that is sent or received across a corporate network in order to archive these messages. However, the e-mail message sent by a user may be encrypted with the sender's and/or the recipient's credentials. Thus, no systems other than the e-mail system have appropriate credentials to decrypt the e-mail contents. Accordingly, the journal copy of the e-mail message is encrypted and cannot be used for compliance content searches since the contents of an encrypted e-mail message cannot be parsed and added to the full text index, nor can such an e-mail message be restored and read by anybody other than the designated recipients or sender. If the recipients or sender are no longer employees of the corporation, it may be impossible to access the content of the encrypted e-mail message.
Although a policy may be provided in which a corporate user account is always given appropriate access credentials to every e-mail message that is encrypted by a corporate e-mail system, implementation of such policies is difficult and may not always be possible.
In the case of performing archiving for legal compliance and discovery, content of encrypted documents cannot be text indexed for searching purposes and, therefore, this content cannot be searched and found easily. These documents can be of various kinds of document types that have been encrypted by the document originator or owner (e.g., text documents, spread sheets, archive files such as .zip files, etc.). In most cases, the only way to get access to content of encrypted documents is by requesting the originator or owner of the document to provide a decrypted version or a decryption key.
In a compliance archiving scenario, a significant compliance risk occurs when asking a user for a decrypted version of a document. This results from the possibility that the content of the provided decrypted document does not reflect the content of the original encrypted version. In order to verify the content of the decrypted document, as digital signature over the original content would have to be generated before that content was encrypted. However, the generation of the digital signature does not occur for most applications and cannot be generated once the content has been encrypted.
Although automatic or manual decryption of a document may be employed, the automatic decryption is limited to specific kinds of encryption and applications, while manual decryption (e.g., requesting users to manually remove encryption) cannot guarantee integrity of the decrypted document.

Accessing protected content for archiving


An adjustable, self-gripping and self-balancing fishing rod holder comprises a mounting block adapted to be secured to the gunwale rail of a fishing boat or the like and a cooperating receiver swiveled to the block that holds the rod. The preferably wire receiver holds the handle or grip portion of a fishing rod in such a manner that its grip is increased on the fishing rod when a fish strikes. The resilient, generally rectangular mounting block comprises a rail receptive bore forward of the block's center. Two bolts secure the halves of the block together, frictionally capturing the rail therebetween. The receiver is constructed of a single continuous piece of wire forming a forward cradle, an integral notch, and a central base interconnecting the cradle to the notch. The cradle and notch are offset. A bracket spanning the base pivotally secures the receiver to the block. The bore and the pivot bolt are offset from the center of the block in opposite directions. The pivot bolt is offset approximately twice as far as the bore. By turning the receiver angularly relative to the mounting block, one may distribute the vector forces exerted upon the holder along the length of the rail. In response to a vigorous strike, tipping is resisted by the structural offsets, and the rod is more firmly gripped by the holder.

The present invention broadly relates to fishing rod holders. More particularly, it relates to self-gripping fishing rod holders of the type that can be conveniently secured at the periphery of a boat to conventional gunwale rails. Art within the field of this invention can be found in U.S. Class 43, Subclass 21.2 and others.
When pursuing the popular pastime of fishing, it is often desired by fishermen to employ more than one fishing rod or to perform other tasks while fishing. Hence, it is often necessary that a fishing rod go unattended, at least momentarily. In locales where it is feasible to do so, many fisherman use fishing rod holders. Such holders allow the fisherman to temporarily leave a rod unattended or to simultaneously fish with several rods.
Many types of fishing rod holders are known in the art. Some are made out of stamped steel or fashioned from wood. It is also well known in the art to provide a continuous wire framework to hold a fishing rod in a position appropriate for unattended fishing. Regardless, it is necessary to mount the rod holder on a fishing boat or other structure. Hughes U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,229 discloses a mounting bracket for a fishing rod holder. Fishing rod holders take many forms. Simko, U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,021; Koppel, 4,479,322; and McClelland 4,594,805 each disclose wooden and/or plastic structures with a forward prop and a rear retaining area for holding a fishing rod while unattended. Some fishing rod holders are constructed of a continuous piece of wire or rod. U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,761, discloses a device which exhibits a spring like resilience intended to be mounted between the rail of a boat and its gunwale.
Numerous fishing rod holders are commonly sold in sporting goods stores. Bass Pro Shops 1992 Fall Catalog includes several. A rod holder, Item 549-252, disclosed on page 258 of that reference is a continuous bent wire or rod design. More conventional rod holders are disclosed in this reference, Item 549-254 on page 259 and Items 549-428 and 549-432.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,487,094 issued to Brown on Nov. 8, 1949, illustrates a fishing rod holder intended to be inserted into the ground or mounted on a boat.
Bloodsworth U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,666 illustrates a fishing rod holder similar to Brown except it employs a ring to retain the grip of the rod.
Emery U.S. Pat. No. 3,020,014 illustrates a device similar to that of Brown however it is made out of two separate pieces of stock, and it is "padded".
It is desirous to provide a fishing rod holder which will securely hold a fishing rod while the fisherman is busy with other rods or tasks. In other words, it is important that self gripping features be incorporated into a successful design. It is also desirous to provide a fishing rod holder that is responsive to the stress placed upon it by a strike. The rod holder should employ a mount which will fix the holder in position. Ideally, a rod holder embodying these qualities will provide a progressively stronger grip on the fishing rod handle as a fish pulls on the line. Additionally, such a rod holder needs a quick release feature to facilitate use. In other words, it is necessary not only that the rod holder grip the rod while waiting for a strike, it is necessary that the rod holder secures the rod once a strike occurs. Further, it must be easy and convenient for the fisherman to disengage the rod from the rod holder to land the fish immediately after a strike.

Self-gripping, self-balancing fishing rod holder


An exemplary method includes a personal navigation assistance system detecting an upcoming trip of a user to a destination, accessing data associated with the upcoming trip from a plurality of disparate information sources, aggregating the accessed data associated with the upcoming trip, generating, based on the aggregated data, navigational assistance content for the upcoming trip, and providing the navigational assistance content for the upcoming trip to a computing device for presentation to the user. In certain examples, aggregated data includes real-time parking space availability information, and the navigational assistance content includes parking assistance content generated based on the real-time parking space availability information. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Personal navigation systems have become fairly prevalent in recent years. A user of a computing device is able to access and use such a navigation system to find a destination. For example, a conventional navigation system may provide navigational guidance in the form of a digital street map of a geographic area surrounding the user and/or turn-by-turn driving directions to guide the user to the destination.
While conventional navigation systems have benefited users of computing devices, there remains room for improvement. For example, conventional navigation systems are limited in the information they can use to generate navigational guidance, how the information is used to generate the navigational guidance, and/or in the information contained in the navigational guidance provided to users.

Personal navigation assistance systems and methods


A method and system for providing electronic universal incentive awards processing with blockchains. Universal incentive award points are earned for academic (e.g., tutoring, homework completion, lab completion, project completion, etc.) athletic (e.g., watching sports events, participating in sports events, assisting with sports events, etc.), mentoring, volunteering, extra-curricular activities, clubs, community service and/or other selected activities. The universal incentive award points earned are stored in a blockchain. The blockchain allows the creation and use of universal electronic universal incentive award points with transparency, authentication, verification and fraud prevention. The universal incentive award points are immediately redeemable from the blockchain for goods and services. The incentive award points information can be immediately sent and received with wireless, contactless transfer of information.

It is desirable to create an environment where all students can achieve their future goals which are monitored through a universal incentive award points based program and overseen by certified individuals, teams, coaches, teachers, neighbors, academics, parents, cooperatives, parishes, friends, etc.
A universal incentive award points program creates an equal opportunity for any student to use their a universal incentive award points at any participating University, College, Community College, Trade School, Performing Arts Institution, etc. Under a universal incentive award points program, students will receive a universal incentive award points to be used at all participating academic and non-academic sponsors to better improve their higher learning and quality of life.
One current solution to pay for institutions, on a college level, is to award scholarships, room, board and any incentives generated through alumni and endowment funding. Such financial is available to college students through conformed scholarships and awarded grants from alumni programs. Athletic scholarships are also used to provide financial aid. However, such financial aid is not available to all students.
It is also desirable to have a universal incentive award points based program where all students, including international students earn universal incentive award points via selected activities (e.g., community service, etc.) to redeem for college costs and other goods or services. The goods and services include those donated by corporate sponsors that will donate their goods or services as a tax-free write off.
However, are a number of problems associated with creating, providing and using universal incentive award points.
One problem is that universal incentive award points do not exist for academic, athletic, volunteering, extra-curricular activities, clubs, community service and/or other selected activities.
Another problem is that universal incentive award points cannot be easily made available with transparency, authentication, verification and fraud prevention.
Another problem is that universal incentive award points cannot be easily created, stored, verified and then immediately redeemed for goods and services.
Thus, it is desirable to solve some of the problems associated with incentive award points.

Method and system for providing electronic universal incentive awards with blockchains


A cylindrical ion trap (CIT) mass spectrometer constructed using a non-conductive substrate (LTCC) as the basis for the ring electrode. Photolithography and electroless plating were used to create well-defined conductive areas on the LTCC ring electrode. The inventive method allows for the precise control of establishing conductive areas on a non-conductive substrate through the steps of punching, lamination, firing, metallization and photolithography on the metallized layer.

In-situ sensors enable researchers to investigate real-time chemical dynamics in the environment, thereby greatly improving sampling densities and providing the capability for autonomous measurements in harsh environments. For example, deployed sensors can be used to detect, quantify and trace harmful and toxic chemicals that have been released in populated areas. Miniaturized mass spectrometers (MS) can be especially versatile and powerful as sensors for on-site identification and characterization of a wide variety of chemicals. Miniaturization is desirable for field-deployed mass spectrometers because of the corresponding reduction of electrical power consumption, simplification of vacuum systems, and the possibility for rapid parallel chemical analysis.
Recent efforts in extreme miniaturization of mass spectrometers and their components have been stimulated by opportunities arising from micro-fabrication techniques and advances in materials sciences. Previous attempts have focused on micro-fabrication of as many as a million micron-sized cylindrical ion trap (CIT) mass spectrometer arrays on silicon wafers. While an array-based approach for MS miniaturization can be useful to compensate for the reduced signal intensities that result from miniaturization of each mass spectrometer, affordable batch fabrication of such arrays remains a challenge.

Fabrication of 3-D ion optics assemblies by metallization of non-conductive substrates


The present invention provides mammalian homologs of the Drosophila Grainyhead (GRH) transcription factor, call MGR and means of identifying such proteins and their genes. Nucleic acid and protein sequences are provided for human and mouse MGR transcription factors. In addition mammalian isoforms of MGR including human MGR p49, human p70, mouse p70, mouse MGR p61, and human and mouse homologs of MGR, brother of mgr (BOM) and sister of mgr (SOM), are disclosed. Antibodies to and methods of using these identified MGR, BOM and SOM transcription factors are also provided. The present invention further provides medical assessment systems including drug evaluation systems comprising genetically modified animals.

Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any country.
Bibliographic details of references provided in the subject specification are listed at the end of the specification.
The increasing sophistication of recombinant DNA techniques has provided significant progress in understanding the mechanisms involved in regulating eukaryotic gene expression. This is greatly facilitating research and development in the plant, agricultural, medical and veterinary industries. Transcription factors are an important component in the control of gene expression. However, despite their importance, mammalian transcription factors have not been well investigated for their diagnostic and therapeutic potential.
RNA polymerases in eukaryotic cells cannot initiate transcription alone; before transcription can begin, they require interaction between transcription factors and the promoter. These factors assemble at the promoter and, via a series of steps, facilitate both the binding of RNA polymerase II to the promoter and its subsequent phosphorylation and release to initiate transcription.
In addition to these general transcription factors, many thousands of transcription activators and/or negative regulators (inhibitors) exist, which control the process of initiation of gene transcription from great distances along the DNA. These factors influence the timing and extent of transcription of a particular gene. Indeed, they control whether and to what extent a particular gene is transcribed in a cell of a particular tissue type. Although most gene regulators identified to date have been found to be proteins, some transcription factors may also be RNA molecules.
In Drosophila, the transcription factor known as "Grainyhead" regulates key developmental process in the embryo and is encoded by the gene grainyhead. During development, Grainyhead is initially involved in dorsal/ventral and terminal patterning of the newly fertilized embryo through the formation of multi-protein complexes that repress transcription from the decapentaplegic, tailless and zerknuellt genes (Huang et al., Genes Dev. 9: 3177-3189, 1995; Liaw et al., Genes Dev. 9: 3163-3176, 1995). Later, grainyhead is predominantly expressed in the embryonic central nervous system in cuticle-producing tissues, where it binds to promoters and influences transcription from other developmentally regulated genes including engrailed, fushi tarazu and Ultrabithroax (Bray et al., Genes Dev. 3: 1130-1145, 1989; Dynlacht et al., Genes Dev. 3: 1677-1688, 1989; Biggin and Tjian, Cell 53: 699-711, 1988; Soeller et al., Genes Dev. 2: 68-81, 1988; Dynlacht et al., Cell 56: 563-576, 1991; Attardi and Tjian, Genes Dev. 7: 1341-1353, 1993; Uv et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 14: 4020-4031, 1994).
The importance of grainyhead in Drosophila development is emphasised by the embryonic lethal phenotype observed in flies carrying mutations in this gene. The embryos have flimsy cuticles, grainy and discontinuous head skeletons and patchy tracheal tubes (Bray and Kafatos, Genes Dev. 5: 1672-1683, 1991). A neuroblast-specific isoform of the protein, arising from alternate splicing, has also been identified. A mutation that abolishes this isoform is pupal- and adult-lethal, and flies demonstrate uncoordinated movements (Uv et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 17: 6727-6735, 1997).
Mammalian homologs of grainyhead have previously been proposed, including three genes designated CP2, LBP-1a and LBP-9. Studies have implicated them in a wide variety of cellular and developmental events including T cell proliferation, globin gene expression and steroid biosynthesis (Sueyoshi et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 15: 4158-4166, 1995; Jane et al., EMBO J. 14-97-105, 1995; Volker et al., Genes Development 11: 1435-1446, 1997; Zhou et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 20: 7662-7672, 2000). However, in situ analyses of both CP2 and LBP-1a reveal ubiquitous expression of both genes, unlike the highly restricted pattern observed with grainyhead in Drosophila (Bray et al., 1989, supra; Dynlacht et al., 1989, supra; Bray and Kafatos, 1991, supra; Ramamurthy et al., J. Biol. Chem. 276: 7836-7842, 2001). It is concluded, therefore, that these genes are not close homologs of grainyhead.
Abnormalities in mammalian transcription factor expression are considered to play a role in a number of different genetic disorders and birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. There is therefore a need to identify mammalian transcription factors and in particular close mammalian homologs of Grainyhead and to use these to develop a range of diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Mammalian grainyhead transcription factors


Disclosed is a remote monitor and control system for draining floodgate of a seawall in that movie and audio signals of a draining floodgate are transmitted to a remote place through a communication network and each device can be remotely controlled in the remote place through two-way communications. The remote monitor and control system for draining floodgate of a seawall according to the present invention includes a spot control means, a control means, and a remote control means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote monitor and control system for draining floodgate of a seawall, and more particularly to a remote monitor and control system for draining floodgate of a seawall in that movie and audio signals of a draining floodgate are transmitted to a remote place through a communication network and each device can be remotely controlled in the remote place through two-way communications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, in a conventional draining floodgate, the water level or the opening and closing thereof is manually controlled on the spot. Accordingly, in case of emergency, since the manager directly goes to the spot and deals with the emergency situation, it has a difficulty in quickly dealing with the problem. Also, as though the manager goes straight to the spot, since it is necessary to make a close investigation of it, there is a problem in that it can give rise to delay of processing time.
Generally, the draining floodgate mounted on a dam and so on includes an opening and closing device for opening and closing the floodgate and controlling the volume of water kept in store. In the past, the draining floodgate can be manually opened and closed through the rotation of a control handle. Recently, the draining floodgate can be automatically opened and closed by using a motor and gear units or a hydraulic piston system and so on.
However, in case of the conventional automatic manner, since the control panel for driving the motor and so forth is formed at the spot, in order to open and close the draining floodgate, it is necessary to directly operate the switch of the control panel located at the spot. Also, in case of urgent emergency such as a suddenly localized heavy rain or storm, it cannot quickly cope with the situation.
Korean patent registration No. 189321 discloses the remote control system for draining floodgate capable of receiving the opening and closing operation information through a beeper call signal. However, there are problems in that the manager cannot visually check out the present state thereof and the operation of the opening and closing thereof is often time consuming.
More concretely, since the beeper use one-way communications, the manager of the floodgate can control the opening and closing thereof through the control of the motor according to the wireless operation signal thereof. However, the manager of the floodgate cannot check out the present state of the opening and closing. Also, there are problems in that the manager cannot visually check out the present state thereof and the information of the opening and closing thereof should be generated through the key of the phone. Moreover, in case of many floodgates, the opening and closing orders on the entire floodgates must be issued one by one.
Korean patent application No. 1997-0049594 discloses the remote operating system for draining floodgate in that beepers are formed at each floodgate and shortwave communications equipments are formed between relay devices, so that each relay device informs the operator of the present state of each floodgate through telephone calls and the operator operates the floodgate through the operation of the telephone keys. However, it is impossible to control each floodgate in a row and the operation of the opening and closing thereof is often time consuming because it is necessary to send the operation result again after operation thereof.
Korean patent application No. 2001-0047206 discloses the remote monitoring and operating system for draining floodgate using an internal digital circuit modem in that each floodgate is communicated with a remote place through interphones and the transmission of the camera signals and various equipments can be operated through speed data communications. However, it has a difficulty in operating each floodgate owing to weather conditions or external surroundings and so on.
Korean patent application No. 2002-0002137 discloses the method for operating draining floodgate using a computer and the apparatus thereof in that a power generating means, floodgate opening and closing sensors and power supplement portions are formed at each floodgate and the opening and closing rate of each floodgate is displayed on a manage computer monitor, so that each floodgate can be operated according to the opening and closing information of each floodgate. The system can obtain the information on the opening and closing rate and so forth through various sensors. However, it has a difficulty in obtaining the surfaces of the inland water and seawater respectively in detail
Also, in the Korean patent application No. 2002-0002137, there are floodgates, electric motors for controlling the floodgates and electric control panels in the spot.
The control panel serves to close, open and stop each floodgate. However, during the operation of a CT measurement device or relay switches, the spark noises or an instant drop of electric pressure can be generated owing to a load and so forth. Accordingly there is a problem in that it can give the CPU, D/I, D/O, A/I, transmitter and so on a mortal damage.

Remote monitor and control system for draining floodgate of seawall


Provided is a standard plasmid for assaying a genetically modified plant, a method for quantitatively analyzing a target transgene within the genetically modified plant using the standard plasmid, and a kit for quantitatively analyzing the genetically modified plant including the standard plasmid, wherein the standard plasmid of the present invention is possible to be utilized for assaying a genome containing a 5-enoyl-4-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene or a cry1Ab gene, and in particular, significantly useful as a standard material capable of analyzing whether the genetically modified plant such as soybean RRS or GM maize MON810 is incorporated or an incorporation ratio thereof.

Genetically modified food are food products derived from genetically modified organism and obtained from the latest technology for improving shelf life, nutritional content, color, flavor, and texture of food. The GMO refers to organisms in which productivity is increased by artificially separating and combining useful genes of animals and plants or microorganisms unlike developing by the existing crop breeding, that is, organisms having a new genetic trait obtained by inserting external derived gene into genetic material of reference organisms using modern biotechnology rather than traditional breeding or natural recombination. In addition, genetic recombination food refers to food produced by using the genetically modified organism as raw materials. In general, in order to increase productivity of genetically modified agricultural products, genes related with herbicide-resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, cold resistance, and the like, have been introduced into the agricultural products. These days, many GMO foods are distributed, and among them, soybean foods are largely occupied. In addition to soybean, other various GMO foods including corn, papaya, pumpkin, and the like, are also distributed. Meanwhile, according to current controversies related to human health by the GMO, there is growing concern of consumers and farmers in respect to the GMO all over the world. Accordingly, in order to commercialize genetically modified crop, evaluation of environmental hazards, human health and food safety is required, and in relevant countries to import the genetically modified agricultural products, a regulatory system including GMO mandatory labeling has been established. In Korea, a label, of which food that has 3% or more of genetically modified plants introduced, needs to be marked as a genetically modified plant has been enforced. Other countries face a similar situation even though there is a difference in an incorporation tolerance. Accordingly, accurate analysis techniques for quantitatively measuring an incorporation ratio are required, in addition to qualitative analysis for measuring whether the GMO is incorporated.
The quantitative analysis of the GMO is largely divided into a protein analysis and a DNA analysis. In general, ELISA method targeting a protein which is expressed from a foreign gene introduced into the genetically modified plants has drawbacks that a detection intensity is lower than the PCR method, and a heat treatment may cause a denaturation of the protein. A technology of quantifying a foreign gene introduced into the genetically modified plant using a real-time PCR is widely employed. The real-time PCR renders a simultaneous amplication of the foreign gene and a quantitative monitoring the amount of amplification product. Quantitative analysis data may be obtained as a ratio of the foreign gene and endogenous genes with regard to predetermined amounts of a standard material by employing a real-time PCR, in which a fluorescent probe or certified reference material (CRM) or a standard plasmid is used as a standard material, in addition to a primer set required for the qualitative PCR.
Above all things, for accurate and precise analysis of the incorporation tolerance of the genetically modified plant, the standard material used for analysis is significantly important. Currently, GMO soy is neither cultivated and produced nor distributed in Korea. However, according to a government announcement, 932,000 tons of GMO soybeans (edible) corresponding to 77% of the total bean import volume, were imported in 2008. The GMO soy is used as a raw food material by extracting oils and protein. Soy protein is mainly used for bread, snack, processed meat products, baby food, and nutritional supplements, soybean fiber is used for wheat bread, cereals, snack processed goods, and soybean oil is used for salad oil, salad dressings, shortenings and raw materials of processed food, and the like. A GMO labeling requirement of soybeans and and a strict enforcement thereof are a sound public policy. Thus, there is a need for an improved standard material which can be used to accurately detecting and quantifying a foreign gene in a GMO. In addition, for a quantitative analysis of corns including various corn varieties, the use of one single standard material does not produce an accurate result because corns have different expression amounts depending on the variety. Also, a protein detection method has a limitation in detecting proteins expressed from a foreign gene in processed foods or raw materials containing GMOs, because recombinant proteins undergo denaturation or lysis during the food processing steps. That is, the standard material for analyzing genetically modified corns is required to have a long shelf-life as well as stability and homogeneity of the standard material itself, and such a standard material is needed.

Standard plasmid for assaying genetically modified organism, and analysis method and assay kit using same

KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND SCIENCE


Body function measuring apparatus which provides: (1) an indication of the body function being measured, and (2) a loose probe condition by determining that the difference between the rate of change of a first body function signal, developed by a first sensor in the probe, and the rate of change of a second body function signal, developed by a second sensor in the probe, exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Many probes are in use today to measure or monitor a function of the body with which the probe is in contact or to control or influence a body state or condition. For example, a signal representative of the skin temperature of an infant in an incubator can be used to display the of the infant and can be used to control the incubator heater to regulate the thermal environment of the incubator. In such an application, it is important that intimate contact between the skin and the probe contact surface which carries the temperature sensor be established and maintained. Should the probe become dislodged, resulting in a total or partial loss of contact, the temperature indication will be incorrect and the control of the incubator heater will be other than what is desired, quite possibly leading to dangerous consequences.
Many loose probe indicators have been suggested or put into actual use. Some are based on using the signals representative of the body function being measured to detect a loose probe condition. Others are based on directly measuring some characteristic of the contact, such as impedance, which changes as the contact changes. Yet others incorporate in the probe special sensors, for example optical sensors, which detect changes in the position of the probe relative to the skim  skin. Generally, the operation and reliability of the prior art loose probe indicators have not been sufficiently satisfactory.


Liquid compounds useful as laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and cleaning formulations are made by mixing (a) an alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside and (b) an alkyl polyalkylene glycol ether in the absence of water in a weight ratio of (a) to (b) of 10:90 to 90:10.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to liquid, water-free compounds for the production of laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and cleaning formulations containing glycosides and nonionic surfactants, to the use of these compounds for the production of surface-active formulations and to a process for the production of solid detergents using the liquid compounds.
2. Description of the Related Art
Alkyl oligoglucosides are nonionic surfactants which are acquiring increasing significance by virtue of their excellent performance properties and their particularly advantageous ecotoxicological properties. By virtue of their foaming power, which is comparable with that of anionic surfactants, not only are they suitable for manual dishwashing detergents and hair shampoos, they are also of interest for use in the detergents field. The fact that alkyl oligoglucosides have hitherto been used almost without exception for liquid applications is attributable to the fact that glucosides on the one hand have a high melting range and, on the other hand, can be decomposed during the spray drying of water-containing surfactant slurries typically applied to powder-form products because the sugar structure of the surfactants does not allow temperatures above 120.degree. C. to be applied. Although it is of course possible subsequently to add alkyl oligoglucosides together with other temperature-labile detergent ingredients, for example perfume oils, enzymes and the like, to the tower powder, this has not proved to an economical option in the past.
In addition to the production of washing powders in spray drying towers, where hot drying gases are passed through the tower in countercurrent to the liquid compounds trickling down the tower in the form of fine droplets, recent years have seen the establishment of processes in which a liquid compound is sprayed onto a solid support and at the same time dried and granulated, for example in a mixer or in a fluidized bed. Although these processes operate at distinctly lower temperatures and thus basically enable alkyl oligoglucosides to be used, there is the problem that, even at temperatures in the range from 40.degree. to 60.degree. C., the glucosides are present as cutting-resistant pastes both in the form of their water-containing pastes and in the form of mixtures of those pastes with otherwise liquid nonionic surfactants typically used for detergent purposes. However, since liquid compounds are required for the granulation processes mentioned above, the mixtures would have to be melted and constantly heated before each use which would not only involve considerable outlay on equipment, it would also be uneconomical. Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to remedy this unfavorable situation.

Non-aqueous liquid mixtures of alkyl polyglycoside and alkyl polyalkylene glycol ether useful in various detergent applications


An image entering from the left side of the figure passes through a correcting lens unit, and forms an image on an image pickup device on the right side of the figure. The correcting lens unit includes a cylindrical outer frame and a lens arranged therein, and at coupling points, coupled to one end of each of electrostrictive coils and suspended thereby. Electrostrictive coils strain in response to voltages applied from a voltage applying unit, causing displacement of electrostrictive coils. The displacement is transmitted to correcting lens unit through the coupling points, and therefore, in accordance with the displacement from electrostrictive coils, position and/or direction of correcting lens unit changes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens driving apparatus and an image pickup apparatus including the lens driving apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lens driving apparatus and an image pickup apparatus allowing free focus adjustment and camera shake correction.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, it has been known that when a DC electric field is applied to a crystalline body, a strain is generated in the crystalline body. A crystalline body in which strain generates upon application of the DC electric field is referred to as an electrostrictive element.
The electrostrictive element is classified into those producing electrostrictive effect, in which strain of one same direction is generated regardless of the direction of electric field generated in the crystalline body, and those producing piezoelectric effect in which direction of strain generation differs dependent on the direction of electric field generated in the crystalline body. Generally, the electrostrictive effect is produced in a crystalline body having a symmetrical crystal structure and the piezoelectric effect is produced in a crystalline body having an asymmetrical crystal structure.
An actuator realizing mechanical operation through the use of such an electrostrictive element has been proposed. By way of example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 06-216424 discloses a deformation actuator utilizing a piezoelectric element, which is an electrostrictive element producing the piezoelectric effect, having a strip-shaped piezoelectric element spirally wound on a surface of a hollow coil spring. By such a deformation actuator, a small amount of strain (amount of displacement) of the piezoelectric element is enlarged to attain a sufficient amount of displacement to attain the function of the actuator.
The deformation actuator disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 06-216424 mentioned above, however, requires a complicated process step of spirally winding the strip-shaped piezoelectric element on the surface of the hollow coil spring. In this connection, International Publication No. WO2002/103451 discloses a camera in which an electrically active substance formed to have a spiral shape drives a lens. In this camera, the spiral-shaped electrically active substance functions as an actuator.
In the camera disclosed in International Publication No. WO2002/103451, positioning of a camera lens means focusing and zooming operations of the camera, and the lens moves along an optical axis only.
Therefore, inclination of a lens with respect to the optical axis caused in the process of assembly, or blurring due to hand movement (camera shake) at the time of image pickup cannot be corrected. Further, as the lens is held by one coil (actuator), shock-tolerance is unsatisfactory.

Lens driving apparatus and image pick-up apparatus including the same


The movable track of the automatic exchanging device is moved outward by hydraulic cylinders, letting the hanging bracket thereon, which is carried from a preceding process cycle, to be moved onto the rail of the conveying system of a proximate process cycle, so that another hanging bracket, which is carried on the rail of said proximate process cycle, is moved onto the movable track for shifting to the rail of said preceding process cycle.

The present invention relates to an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket automatic exchanging device which automatically exchange an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket from one process cycle to another.
The process of electroplating is widely accepted in various industries, which covers mechanical parts or products thinly with silver by electrolysis. While electroplating, a workpiece must be treated through several process cycles. Automatic conveying systems are known and widely used in carrying workpieces in each process cycle by an electroplating workpiece hanging brackets. However, manual operation is still required in moving an electroplating workpiece hanging bracket from one process cycle to another.

Electroplating workpiece hanging bracket automatic exchanging device


A centralized management system for medical devices includes a network, a central server coupled to the network, and a medical device programmer coupled to the network. The central server includes at least one prescription system for prescribing at least one programmable parameter of a medical device based on at least one characteristic of a patient. The medical device programmer communicates at least one characteristic of a patient to the central server via the network, receives at least one parameter from the central server via the network, and programs the medical device using the at least one parameter. In one embodiment, the central server hosts expert prescription systems defined by multiple experts, and a user selects one of the expert prescription systems. In another embodiment, the central server hosts a custom prescription system defined by the user.

Implantable medical devices are commonly used for treating various medical conditions, many of which relate to the heart. For example, cardiac rhythm management (CRM) implantable devices are often implanted in patients to deliver therapy to the heart.
CRM implantable devices include, for example, cardiac pacemakers or "pacers". Pacers deliver timed sequences of low energy electrical stimuli, called "pace pulses", to the heart via an intra vascular leadwire or catheter (referred to as a "lead") having one or more electrodes disposed in or about the heart. The pace pulses initiate heart contractions in a process called "capturing" the heart. By properly timing the delivery of the pace pulses, a heart with an irregular cardiac rhythm (i.e., a cardiac arrhythmia) can be induced to contract with a proper rhythm, thereby improving its efficiency as a pump. Pacers are often used to treat patients with bradyarrhythmias (i.e., hearts that beat too slowly, or beat irregularly).
CRM implantable devices also include cardioverters or defibrillators that are capable of delivering higher energy electrical stimuli to the heart. Defibrillators are often used to treat patients with tachyarrhythmias (i.e., hearts that beat too quickly). Such too-fast heart rhythms can cause the heart to pump inefficiently since the heart is not allowed sufficient time to fill with blood before contracting to expel the blood. A defibrillator is capable of delivering a high energy electrical stimulus that is sometimes referred to as a "defibrillation countershock". The countershock interrupts the tachyarrhythmia to allow the heart to re-establish a normal rhythm for efficiently pumping the blood. Still other types of CRM implantable devices include, for example, pacer/defibrillators that combine the functions of both pacers and defibrillators, drug delivery devices, or any other implantable medical devices that are used for diagnosing and/or treating cardiac arrhythmias.
CRM implantable devices are often capable of delivering therapy to the heart of a patient in a manner that depends on one or more parameters that can be set or adjusted by the patient's physician. For example, a pacer may have programmable parameters such as atrioventricular (AV) delay (i.e., the length of time between an atrial sensed or atrial paced event and the delivery of a ventricular output pulse), an LV offset (i.e., the length of time between a sensed or paced event in a first ventricle and the delivery of an output pulse to a second ventricle), a target heart rate, whether or not to turn on rate smoothing, smoothing percentage for increasing rate, smoothing percentage for decreasing rate, etc. The programmable parameters depend on the particular CRM implantable device, and are typically intended to be programmed based upon the physician's evaluation of the patient.
The primary clinical tool that allows a physician to set or update programmable parameters of a CRM implantable device is a medical device programmer. Such medical device programmers often use inductive coils to provide bidirectional telemetry between the programmer and the implantable device. By using such a programmer, a physician can receive and view stored cardiac and system data from the implantable device, and can send programming instructions back down to the implantable device. Thus, programmers allow physicians to set or adjust the programmable parameters of implantable medical devices.
As additional therapeutic features are introduced into CRM implantable devices, programming such devices to provide optimal therapy for a particular patient has become an increasingly complicated task for medical practitioners. For example, many medical practitioners who may implant only a few devices per year do not have the time nor the resources that would be needed to optimally program such devices. Even practitioners more familiar with such devices, such as physicians who perform perhaps 50 implants per year and who may know how to create custom profiles for particular classes of patients for particular devices, typically do not have the time nor the resources to stay current with each new development in the field. Such problems are likely to worsen as the number of different types of implantable devices increases, and as each type of implantable device becomes more complex. As a result of such problems, many if not most practitioners use only the factory-set, default parameters of CRM implantable devices, while other medical practitioners may adjust only a subset of the parameters from the factory-set parameters. While using default parameters may provide adequate therapy for a generalized class of patients, the use of such parameters often does not provide optimal therapy for a particular patient.
Thus, even though medical device programmers give medical practitioners the capability to set or update the programmable parameters of CRM implantable devices, the medical practitioners often lack the resources and the knowledge that would be needed to optimally program such devices to provide optimal therapy for particular patients. This problem is likely to worsen as new types of CRM implantable devices are developed, and as new and additional features are added to new and existing CRM implantable devices. As a result, the therapeutic benefits of such devices may not reach their full potential.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an improved system and method for programming CRM implantable medical devices that solves these and other problems.

Centralized management system for programmable medical devices


Systems and apparatus are described that facilitate the evaluation and characterization of ALD processes as a function of process parameters such as temperature, gas flow rate, and pressure. In some embodiments, systems and apparatus are described that allow the ALD process to be characterized at different pressures in a combinatorial manner.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a deposition process used to form thin layers on complex structures found in many advanced semiconductor devices. The general steps of the ALD process are well known and typically consist of i) exposing the substrate to a precursor pulse to form a monolayer of the precursor on the surface; ii) purging unreacted precursor from the system; iii) exposing the substrate to a reactant (i.e. usually an oxidant) pulse to form a layer of material on the substrate; iv) purging unreacted reactant from the system; and v) repeating steps i)-iv) until a layer of the desired thickness is formed.
Ideally, the exposure of the substrate to the precursor pulse forms a saturated, self-limiting monolayer on the surface. This has the added benefit that the growth of the layer will be conformal. This benefit makes ALD processes especially useful for depositing thin layers on complex structures found in many advanced semiconductor devices. Because of the self-limiting nature of the deposition, the conformality is expected to be approximately 100% and the deposition should be insensitive to pressure. However, in practice, the conformality is not 100% and the deposition rate is observed to vary as a function of pressure. Therefore, systems and apparatus are needed to efficiently evaluate and characterize the deposition of materials using an ALD technique as a function of different process parameters.

ALD process window combinatorial screening tool


A medical instrument tool or end effector constructed of a fixed jaw having a distal grasping end and a proximal body end; a movable jaw having a distal grasping end and a proximal body end; a slide member controlled from a tool actuator, adapted for linear translation and supported between the jaws; at least one link that inter-couples between the slide member and the movable jaw; and a pivot member mounted at the fixed jaw and for engagement with a slot in the body end of the movable jaw.

An end effector that employs a multiple bar linkage is known. One reason for using a structure of this type is to enable the jaws of the end effector to be closed in a more parallel manner. However, present end effectors of this type are not effective in providing a uniform grasping action as there is excessive lateral action upon closing the end effector. With existing jaw constructions the jaws travel, upon closing, to provide a significant undesired sheering action where the end effector jaws engage tissue or a vessel.
A rudimentary form of a grasper may be considered as consisting of a pair of jaws with a single pivot point and act like a pair of needle nose pliers. This type of closing action puts immense pressure on tissue portions nearest the apex of the jaws with a squeezing action forcing soft tissue outwards towards the ends of the jaws. This type of end effector can cause severe damage to delicate soft tissue.
An alternative style of jaws is a parallel jaws mechanism such as shown in FIGS. 2-7. This type of jaw mechanism exerts a more even top to bottom clamping pressure on soft tissue but still has a disadvantage in that the top, moveable jaw has a horizontal travel component that can effect a tearing action on soft tissue such as veins as the jaws are closed upon them. The end effector construction shown in FIGS. 2-7 herein employs a multiple bar linkage for operating the end effector.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 2-4, which illustrates the fixed jaw 146 and related movable jaw 144. The end effector 16 includes a main body portion 154 of the fixed jaw 146 that is affixed to the distal end of distal bending member 20. A protective sheath 98 may be disposed about the distal bendable member 20 to prevents bodily fluids from entering cavities in the distal bending member. A channel 147 is formed in the main body 154 for receiving the moveable jaw 144 therein. The moveable jaw 144 is hinged to the main body 154 by means of two links 156 and 158 which are attached to fixed pivot points on both the moveable and fixed jaws. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper ends of links 156, 158 extend into slot 149 formed in the moveable jaw 144 and are joined by pivot pins 162, 164 to bores 163, 165 in the jaw 144. The lower ends of links 156,158 extend into slot 148 formed at the bottom of channel 147 and are joined by pivot pins 166,168 to bores 167,169 in the main body 154. This fixed point linkage arrangement results in significant lateral action as the upper jaw 144 rocks back and forth on links 156 and 158 as can be seen in the sequence views described in FIGS. 4-7.
The actuation cable 38 is attached at its' proximal end to a slider/ratchet mechanism (not shown) in the handle of a surgical tool that, instead of imparting a proximal pulling motion to cable 38 when the jaw actuation lever is squeezed, imparts a distal pushing motion to cable 38 when the jaw actuation lever is squeezed. The distal end of cable 38 is fixed to yoke 138 which is slidably mounted in the main body 154. The yoke has tubular boss 139 which rides in guide/bore 155 in the main body 154. The boss 139 is firmly fixed on the end of cable 38 and is free to slide proximally/distally in the bore 155. The yoke 138 is coupled with an arm extension 160 at the proximal end of moveable jaw 144 by pin 142. The extension arm 160 is disposed angularly to the main longitudinal axis of the movable jaw 144. See, for example, FIGS. 3-5 where the extension arm 160 has an elongated slot 161. The pin 142 is force fit in bores 143 in the yoke 138 and passes through, and is free to slide vertically in, the slot 161 in the extension arm 160. The extension arm 160 thus is free to slide vertically in relation to the yoke 138 so as to accommodate the vertical movements of the moveable jaw as it opens and closes in response to the push/pull action of the cable 38. The jaws 144, 146 have opposing serrations 170 for enhanced the gripping of tissue.
FIGS. 4-7 show a sequence of action as the jaws clamp down on an object such as a the illustrated vein V. FIG. 4 shows the moveable jaw 144 in a fully open position about to close down on the vein V. In this position the tip 174 of the movable jaw 144 is situated a maximum distance DMAX proximally from the tip 176 of the fixed jaw 146. As the jaw actuation lever (not shown) is squeezed, the cable 38 is urged distally (arrow 172) and the serrations 170 on jaw 144 make contact with a top contact point TCP on vein V while the serrations 170 on jaw 146 make contact with bottom contact point BCP on vein V as shown in FIG. 5. As the moveable jaw 144 closes down upon the vein (arrow 178) a rolling action is imparted to the vein V as indicated by the vector of arrow 178. By the time the jaws have closed to the extent illustrated in FIG. 6 the top contact point TCP has traveled an average distance DAVG in relation to the bottom contact point BCP. This rolling motion in conjunction with the serrations 170 can cause a significant tearing action in any soft tissue and is a major drawback to this type of jaw actuation mechanism. The distance DAVG may be slightly less than DMAX due to the offset of TCP and BCP according to how far distal or proximal they occur along the length of the jaw serrations in relation to the size of the tissue grabbed. FIG. 7 shows the jaws fully closed without any tissue present.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved end effector construction, and in particular one that has the jaws of the end effector close without any substantial lateral motion between the jaws.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved end effector construction with absolute minimum lateral motion between the jaws, and with a structure that is relatively simple, operates effectively and can be manufactured relatively inexpensively.


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, a third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, a gate electrode, a gate interconnect, a second insulating layer, and a first electrode. The first semiconductor region includes a first region and a second region provided around the first region. The gate interconnect is provided on the second region. The gate interconnect includes a first portion and a second portion provided around the second portion. A thickness in the first direction of the second portion is thinner than a thickness in the first direction of the first portion. A length in the second direction of the gate interconnect is longer than a length in the third direction of the gate electrode. The first electrode contacts the gate interconnect.

A semiconductor device such as a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), or the like may have a trench gate structure in which a gate is formed in the interior of a trench.
In the trench gate structure, there are cases where an interconnect is filled into the outer circumference of the semiconductor device; and the interconnect is connected to gate electrodes and an electrode pad. When the semiconductor device is switched to the ON state, a voltage is applied to the gate electrodes from the electrode pad via the interconnect.
It is desirable for the electrical resistance between the interconnect and the electrode pad to be low.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


A propulsion control apparatus includes first and second power converting units capable of performing bidirectional power flow control, an ACL provided on each alternating-current end side of the power converting units, a first switching device performing connection switching to connect a power storage device or a direct-current overhead wire to each direct-current end of the power converting units, a second switching device switching connection of the alternating-current end of the first power converting unit to either the ACL or an AC motor side, a third switching device switching connection of the alternating-current end of the second power converting unit to either the ACL or the AC motor side, a fourth switching device switching connection of the AC motor to either the first power converting unit side or the second power converting unit side, and a control unit controlling operations of the power converting units and the switching devices.

As conventional propulsion control apparatuses for electric motor cars including power storage devices, for example, in a propulsion control apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 (in the literature, disclosed as a charging and discharging control apparatus), a configuration mounted with two power conversion devices formed by a bidirectional step-up/down chopper that converts a direct-current voltage received from an overhead wire into a direct-current voltage for a power storage device and an inverter that converts direct-current power into alternating-current power and drives a motor is disclosed.

Propulsion control apparatus for electric motor car


The present technology relates to systems and methods for rapidly charging a battery of a device when the device is attached to an AC adapter. Some embodiments of the present disclosure describe an activation circuit in an AC adaptor and a detection circuit in a downstream device that cooperatively ensure optimal power delivery. Some embodiments of the present disclosure describe a device with a system load, a battery, and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide the battery with a charging current of Ibat=Imax−Isys when the device is in a USB compliant mode of operation and a charging current of Ibat=Imax when the device is connected to an AC adapter.

Convenient, faster and more efficient charging solutions are needed to address current consumer demands. To minimize charging times, a downstream device (e.g., mobile phone, rechargeable speaker, etc.) preferably allocates the maximum amount of current to its battery that is permitted by the size and/or chemistry of that battery. Presently, standardized communications interfaces, such as universal serial bus (USB) interfaces, provide a convenient mechanism for consumers to charge their electronic devices. However, the specifications associated with these standardized communications interfaces often limit the amount of power that can be supplied to downstream devices.
In standardized communications interfaces, a majority of the power is often delivered to the downstream device during a constant current (CC) mode. Thus, current often plays a pivotal role, while voltage merely complements the overall power needs of the downstream device. This is demonstrated by the equations below where PVDD is the power delivered to a downstream device, Pmax is the maximum power that can be delivered to the downstream device through the standardized communications interface, Psys is the power delivered to the system load, Pbat is the power delivered to the battery, Imax is the maximum amount of current that can be delivered to the downstream device through the standardized communications interface, Isys is the amount of current required by the system load, and Ibat is the current available for charging the battery:PVDD=Pmax where Ibat=Imax−Isys and Pmax=Psys+Pbat
Total power consumption, operational losses and efficiency requirements are also factors to consider when dealing with various cables (e.g., USB cables) and switching regulators (e.g., a buck-boost control circuit). In this landscape, it is a challenge to simultaneously: (a) comply with the maximum current ratings of standardized communications interfaces and (b) rapidly and efficiently charge the battery of a downstream device.
A typical solution for devices with a USB interface, and current industry standard, is Qualcomm's Quick-Charge technology. This technology allows a downstream device to request power from an AC adapter in predetermined voltage increments. Specifically, depending on the version of the implemented specification (i.e., 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and soon 4.0), a downstream device can request the following:
1.02.03.04.0Voltage:5 V5/9/12V3.2/5/9/12/20V5/9/3.0-5.9/3.6-20VCurrent:2 A3A1.5-3A3/2.5-4.6ATotal Power:10 W 18W18W18 W/27 W
One problem with this solution is the fact that power needs to be negotiated and allocated. Furthermore, since power can only be delivered in predetermined voltage increments, the AC adapter may not be matching the exact power needs of the downstream device. This creates an inherent variation in charger efficiency. For example, the efficiency of a buck regulator decreases as the input voltage increases. Furthermore, delivering excessive voltage to a downstream device increases the amount of power dissipation (i.e., power loss) across the cable connecting the AC adapter to the downstream device.
Moreover, in the case of an AC adapter with, for example, a USB output connector, the only power limitation is the output power capability of the AC adapter. This presents an opportunity to have the output path from the charger managed such that the power requirements of a system load and a battery of a downstream device are summed. This relationship is demonstrated by the equations below where PVDD is the power delivered to a downstream device, Pmax is the maximum power that can be delivered to the downstream device through the standardized communications interface, Psys is the power delivered to the system load, Imax is the maximum amount of current that can be delivered to the downstream device through the standardized communications interface, Isys is the amount of current required by the system load, and Ibat is the current available for charging the battery:Pmax=(Pconnection_loss+PVDD)=(Pconversion_loss+Psys+Pbat_chrg)where Ibat=Imax
Current industry solutions also fail to fully exploit the relationship described above. For example, in one current industry solution, a downstream device may implement a current split for battery voltages below a minimum threshold of a system load. The current split is implemented after the battery charger and thus makes the maximum charging current the limit of the total current available to the system and the battery. In such implementations, when the battery voltages are above the minimum threshold, the system load and the battery of the downstream device are connected such that the converted current provided by an AC adapter is shared between the two and the total limit is again imposed by the maximum battery charging current limit. In another current industry solution, a downstream device may provide separate paths for delivering power from an AC adapter to a system load or a battery. In this type of downstream device, there is no path directly connecting the battery to the system load. This configuration typically needs multiple current limiters and therefore creates a stock-up of tolerances, which leads to a reduction of the total current available from USB host. In yet another current industry solution, a system load is supplied directly from the battery through a buck-boost control circuit. However, this implementation, by default, limits the maximum charge current to:Ibat_charge=Ibat−Isys.

Systems and methods for charging a battery

FUNDAMENTAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL LLC


A process is disclosed for the production of metal sheets enamelled with two layers, wherein the sheet is coated, before shaping, with a polymer suspension. The sheet is then dried and shaped, and optionally is coated with an enamel frit. The sheet is then fired at a temperature of 560 to 850 degrees C. The binder in the polymer suspension is preferably a material which burns completely at melting and stoving temperature.

It is generally known that steel sheets are normally enamelled as follows:
a) cutting to size of the generally oiled and, in special cases also dried sheets PA1 b) shaping of the sheets, optionally after application of drawing aids, into workplaces, for example by deep drawing PA1 c) chemical pretreatment of the workpieces, for example by degreasing, pickling, nickel plating and/or passivation PA1 d) application of the enamel frit by known methods, for example by electrostatic powder coating (in which case step c) may be partly omitted) or slip coating PA1 e) drying (in the case of wet coating) PA1 f) firing.
In one particular enamelling technique, the enamel is applied to thin steel strip (0.3-0.4 mm) first in a double-sided base layer (drying/firing) and then in a single- or double-sided top layer (drying/firing). The enamelled "semifinished product" may then be correspondingly cut to size and bonded to form sandwich elements (support materials: gypsum boards, fiber boards, PU foams, etc.). However, the enamelled strip cannot be sharply bent or even deep-drawn on account of the glasslike nature of its surface. So far as the pretreatment and uniformity of coating of unshaped steel sheets are concerned, major advantages are obtained over the conventional technique of treating previously shaped sheets. However, workpieces can only be shaped to a limited extent, if at all, after coating with enamel in view of the brittleness of the enamel layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,426 describes a process for enamelling metal objects. An enamel layer is first applied to the pretreated metal and dried, after which an organic polymer is applied and subsequently fired. The disadvantage of this process is that, in the case of light-colored enamelling, the metal sheets have to be intensively pickled and nickel-plated to obtain good adhesion. Although this can be done continuously on the coil itself either chemically or electrolytically, it does require expensive equipment.
In order to avoid the complicated procedure involved in the pretreated process described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,426, U.S. Pat. No. 3,906,125 proposes pretreating the steel sheets by various annealing processes. However, this procedure is also very complicated and expensive and, accordingly, has never been adopted in practice.

Process for the production of enamelled workpieces


This invention switches the number of bits per pixel between object types when converting code information into image data, thereby rendering one entire page at high speed while minimizing the influence on print quality. For this purpose, an apparatus analyzes received PDL data, and generates a DL (Display List) serving as a rendering unit. The apparatus determines whether the DL is a character/line image or a halftone image including a photograph image. When determining that the DL is a character/line image, the apparatus resizes the DL in accordance with the resolution of a printer engine, and renders each color component at an 8-bit precision (integer). When determining that the DL is a halftone image including a photograph image, the apparatus resizes the DL in accordance with the resolution of the printer engine, and renders each color component at a 10-bit precision (8-bit integral part+2-bit decimal part).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which receives code information such as PDL data and encodes image data generated based on the code information, and a control method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A general page printer requires a page memory for accumulating a one-page image. For example, a printer capable of printing an A3 full-color image (24 bits per pixel) at a resolution of 400 dpi requires a memory as large as 96 Mbytes, which accounts for a large part of the cost.
One solution to this problem is an image compression algorithm such as a JPEG encoding technique (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-066965). This algorithm compresses image data by DCT transformation and quantization, and decompresses the data in real time when printing it out. This can reduce the amount of uncompressed image data to about 1/10 or less, greatly decreasing the memory cost.
To improve the image quality, data must be processed not at a bit precision of 8 bits per pixel but at a higher bit precision of 10 bits per pixel, as shown in FIG. 6.
Compressing image data expressed by 10 bits per pixel, unlike conventional image data, may influence the compression/decompression speed, rendering speed, or data transfer speed because the original data amount is larger than the conventional one.

Image processing apparatus and control method therefor


A CT scanner pre-scans a patient by radiating rays of a lower amount from one direction to obtain a perspective prescanning image. An operator defines a main scanning area, in which images for medical application are to be captured, with reference to the prescanning image displayed on a monitor screen. A site recognizer analyzes data of the prescanning image to recognize anatomical structures located in the defined main scanning area. Based on the recognized anatomical structures and order data designating a site of inspection, it is judged whether the main scanning area corresponds to the site of inspection designated by the order data. If not, a warning is displayed on the monitor screen. The site recognizer may recognize all anatomical structures contained in the prescanning image, so that a default main scanning area may be defined on the basis of the recognition results and the order data.

In medical facilities, such as clinics and hospitals, a variety of modalities like those for CR (computed radiography), CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), PET (positron emission tomography) and ultrasonography, have been widely used for capturing images of anatomical structures from patients. The images captured by these modalities are utilized for medical diagnoses, and play an important role these days.
Doctors in charge of the patients, such as internists and surgeries, forward orders to a radiological department, instructing a body site of inspection and the inspecting directions. So operators of the modalities, e.g. radiologists, capture medical images according the orders. However, the captured medical images do not always correspond to the site designed by the order. Because the position of anatomical structures differ a little between individual patients, it is difficult especially for tomographic modalities, such as CT scanners and MRI scanners, to adjust the imaging or scanning area to the ordered site.
In order to solve the above problem, CT and MRI scanners have been known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,957 and JPA 2005-245914, wherein prescanning is carried out in advance to main-scanning, and an anatomical image of a patient captured by the prescanning is displayed on a monitor, so that the operator defines a main scanning area on the displayed prescanning image by use of a cursor or the like. Then an image served for medical purpose is captured from the main scanning area. These prior arts allow the operator to define the main scanning area graphically on the monitor displaying the anatomical image of the patient, so the operator can define the main scanning area precisely while locating the anatomical structures of the patient.
Even with these prior arts that make prescanning, if the operator misreads the order, the main scanning area defined by the operator does not correspond to the body site of inspection as designated by the order. For example, if the operator mistakes that the site of inspection is abdomen while the order designates chest as the site of inspection, the main scanning area defined with reference to the prescanning image can precisely cover the patient abdominal region but does not correspond to the site of inspection.
JPA 2004-290329 discloses a modality that recognizes what sites are captured as a medical image by the CR scanner and judges whether the captured sites correspond to the site ordered to inspect. Because this prior modality makes the judgment on the formal medical image as captured by the main scanning, the operator must carry out the main scanning again if the captured sites do not correspond to the site of inspection. In that case, it takes extra time to retake the formal image again, and the patient is irradiated excessively by the repeated main scanning. Especially in the CT system, the radiological dosage by one cycle of main scanning is so much that the excessive amount of radiation to the patient due to the repeated main scanning is a serious problem.

Imaging method and modality for medical application


A fixture is provided for a bag rack. The fixture has a wire frame with two mounting plates on it for mounting the fixture to two alternative locations on a bag rack. Two fixtures are mounted to each bag rack. Each fixture includes multiple rows of posts, with two posts in each row. Handles for a reusable bag are extended over arms on the bag rack and below the posts on the fixtures to keep the reusable bag open during filling.

In the retail industry, fixtures have been developed to hold shopping bags open to make it easier to quickly fill the shopping bags with purchased items. These fixtures are designed to accommodate disposable shopping bags that have known dimensions and shapes. The dimensions and shapes of the bags are known because retailers typically purchase the disposable bags and provide them to their customers.
In an effort to reduce the number of shopping bags that are disposed of annually, an effort has arisen to use durable shopping bags that can be brought back to the store several times. Unfortunately, such reusable bags have different constructions from the typical disposable bags provided by retailers. In addition, a number of different sized and shaped reusable bags have been developed and sold. As a result, current retail fixtures cannot accommodate the variety of reusable bags that customers may want to use. Such bags must therefore be held by hand during filling, reducing the efficiency of store operations.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.