The invention relates to a method for determining the capacity of a battery cell. A battery cell current I is measured during a measurement period, and an open terminal voltage UOCV1,UOCV2 of the battery cell is measured at the beginning and end of the measuring period. The method has the steps of ascertaining a total battery cell current Iges from the measured battery cell current I, ascertaining charge states SOC1, SOC2 at the beginning and end of the measurement period using the measured open terminal voltage UOCV1,UOCV2, ascertaining an estimated value of the capacity Qest using the total battery cell current Iges and a difference between the charge states SOC1, SOC2, ascertaining a total measurement error of the estimated value of the capacity Qest from measurement errors of the total battery cell current Iges and the charge states SOC1, SOC2, and ascertaining a new value of the capacity Qnew using a known value of the capacity Qact, the estimated value of the capacity Q, and the total measurement error. The new value of the capacity Qnew is in a monotonic relationship with the known value of the capacity Qact and the estimated value of the capacity Qest such that the new value of the capacity Qnew is determined more strongly from the estimated value of the capacity Qest in the case of at least one first value of the total measurement error than in the case of at least one second value of the total measurement error, said second value lying above the at least one first value, and the new value of the capacity Qnew is determined less strongly from the known value of the capacity Qest in the case of the first value of the value of the total measurement error than in the case of the second value of the total measurement error. The invention further relates to a computer program, a battery management system (2), and a motor vehicle which are designed to carry out the method.

The invention relates to a method for determining the capacity of a battery cell, and to a battery management system.
The invention additionally relates to a computer program, a battery management system, and a motor vehicle, which are designed for carrying out the method.
Battery packs using lithium-ion technology which consist of a large number of electrochemical cells connected in series are used in hybrid and electric vehicles. A battery management system serves for monitoring the battery and is intended to ensure the longest possible lifetime of the battery in addition to safety monitoring. One task of the battery management system is to ascertain a charge capacity of the cells.
JP 2011-257226 discloses a method for determining a residual capacity of a battery on the basis of a terminal voltage of the battery, wherein the error is minimized by a combination of a plurality of detection methods. The residual capacity of the battery is ascertained as that which was ascertained with a relatively low error.

Method for determining the capacity of a battery cell


Sustained-release compositions for delivering therapeutic concentrations of isovaleramide, isovaleric acid, and certain structurally related compounds are provided for the treatment for a variety of pathological conditions, including epilepsy and spasticity, which are ameliorated by effecting a modulation of CNS activity. The ability of the compositions to sustain relatively constant levels of the drug at a therapeutic dose in the serum for extended periods of time enables a once or twice daily administration schedule.

A number of pathological conditions are characterized by a profound aberration in the normal function of the CNS. Such conditions include, for example, epilepsy, stroke, bipolar affective disorder, migraine, anxiety, spasticity, spinal cord injury, chronic neurodegenerative disorder and diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. At the clinical level, these conditions usually respond only to pharmacologic intervention with compounds or substances that possess significant activity at the level of the CNS.
Isovaleramide, isovaleric acid and related compounds have been described for treating abnormalities of the CNS, such as epilepsy. These compounds provide a therapeutic approach by effecting a modulation of CNS activity without producing excessive sedation, muscle weakness, fatigue, teratogenicity or hepatotoxicity.
It has been discovered herein that orally administered isovaleramide has a short half-life in humans. In the absence of an approach to reduce the rate of uptake of drug following administration, the short half-life requires that isovaleramide be administered frequently to sustain a therapeutic concentration of the drug without adverse effects. Frequent dosing schedules increase costs and raise concerns of patient compliance. Thus, it would be desirable to have a sustained-release formulation of isovaleramide, isovaleric acid and related compounds that can be administered on a once or twice per day schedule for the effective treatment of epilepsy and other pathological conditions of the CNS.

Sustained-release formulations for treating CNS-mediated disorders


As part of a system, a device is provided as part of a system, the device being for capturing vibrations produced by an object such as a musical instrument. The device has a first sensor placed in contact with a surface of the drum, such as a rim of the drum, and a second sensor placed at a fixed location relative to the drum, but not touching the drum. A method may be provided for interpreting the output of the sensors within the system, the method comprising identifying the onset of an audio event in audio data, selecting a window in the data for analysis, applying transforms to generate a representation of the audio event, and comparing that representation to expected representations in a model.

Many traditional acoustic musical instruments, such as percussion instruments, cannot be easily emulated or synthesized by electronic systems. While attempts have been made to build electronic drums, such electronic drums do not currently reproduce the sound of acoustic drum kits, and the subtlety of an acoustic performance may be lost by using existing electronic equivalents of drums.
Modern electronic drum kits are typically activated using a set of binary triggers, such that striking an electronic drum pad at a trigger will produce a specific sound. However, an acoustic drum kit can produce a much wider variety of sounds by using the main drum pad as a continuum, rather than a series of discrete triggers, using the rim of the drum as part of the instrument, and by striking a drum with different materials or utilizing different techniques, each activating the acoustics of the physical object in different ways to produce different sounds. For example, drummers may make unique sounds by hitting the rim of a drum or a side of a drum, or other locations where electronic devices may not have triggers. While some electronic drum pads can distinguish between harder and softer hits, they are still limited to which trigger is activated and at what force.
Traditionally, acoustic drum sounds have been captured by standard acoustic microphones that are prone to also detecting ambient sounds other than those emanating from the drums. Such ambient sounds may include unwanted sounds that are difficult to isolate during processing. Further, such microphones may create signals that are usable to recreate the specific audio from the performance captured, but which cannot be used to modify or refine playback of the performance, since such signals are difficult or impossible for a computerized system to interpret. Further, such signals cannot be easily used to control a computer and cause customized playback of audio other than an amplified version of that captured.
Further, existing electronic drum kits require musicians to familiarize themselves with a new set of equipment that looks and feels different from what they are used to. Drummers are typically comfortable with their kit, and they are proficient at executing special drumming techniques on the equipment they have used for years.
There is a need for a system that can emulate and synthesize percussion instruments without losing the benefits of the acoustic and analog nature of the original instrument. There is a further need for such a system that can interpret signals captured from such percussion instruments and utilize them to control the output of a computer system. There is a further need for such a system that is adaptable to equipment that percussionists use currently and are comfortable with without the limitations of traditional microphones.

Systems and methods for capturing and interpreting audio


A method for providing intake air to an engine in a vehicle comprises delivering compressed fresh air and EGR to the engine via first and second throttle valves coupled to an intake manifold of the engine. During a higher engine-load condition, an EGR exhaust flow is cooled in a heat exchanger and the cooled EGR exhaust flow is admitting to the intake manifold. During a lower engine-load condition, fresh air is warmed in the heat exchanger, and the warmed fresh air is admitted to the intake manifold.

A boosted engine may exhibit higher combustion and exhaust temperatures than a naturally aspirated engine of similar output power. Such elevated temperatures may contribute to increased nitrogen-oxide (NOX) emissions and may accelerate materials ageing in the engine system, including exhaust-aftertreatment catalyst ageing. Exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) is a popular strategy for combating these effects. EGR works by delivering exhaust gas having reduced oxygen content to the intake, which results in lower combustion and exhaust temperatures. In particular, EGR variants that deliver cooled EGR are desirable because they can supply a relatively large flow of exhaust gas to the intake. However, cooled EGR is liable to cause transient control difficulties in boosted engine systems, particularly in combination with spark-ignition. For instance, throttle closure in a system configured for cooled EGR may trap a significant volume of compressed, EGR-diluted air upstream of the throttle. Such trapping may occur on transitioning from high to low engine load, for example. Under low-load, closed-throttle conditions, however, the engine may require fresh air to sustain combustion. Opening a compressor by-pass valve at this time provides a partial, but incomplete remedy for the problem, as the EGR-diluted air remains upstream of the throttle, albeit at a lower absolute pressure.
Other approaches have targeted transient control issues in engine systems having cooled EGR. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,682 to Gray, Jr. provides a base intake manifold through which air and cooled LP EGR are provided to a diesel engine, and, an additional intake manifold that supplies only fresh air to the engine. The additional intake manifold is sourced by a fast-acting, electrically driven air compressor. When torque demand increases rapidly, the fast-acting compressor is switched on, displacing the existing mixture of air and EGR in the base intake manifold and providing increased oxygen mass to the engine, for increased torque. However, this system is particular to diesel engines, which may be unthrottled, and may tolerate significant amounts of EGR even at idle. Thus, the particular transient-control issues addressed in the reference differ from those experienced in spark-ignition engines.
The inventors herein have recognized that improved transient control in an EGR equipped engine system can be achieved by delivering boosted, EGR-diluted air and fresh air through separate throttle valves. In one embodiment, therefore, a method for providing intake air to an engine in a vehicle comprises forming a mixture of fresh air and treated exhaust, and compressing the mixture upstream of a first throttle valve coupled to an intake manifold of the engine. The method further comprises, during a higher engine-load condition, admitting the mixture to the intake manifold via the first throttle valve, and, during a lower engine-load condition, admitting fresh air to the intake manifold via a second throttle valve. In this manner, pressurized, EGR-diluted air remains trapped behind the first throttle valve, thereby alleviating at least some transient-control difficulties associated with cooled EGR.
Another method for providing intake air to an engine in a vehicle comprises delivering compressed fresh air and EGR to the engine via first and second throttle valves coupled to an intake manifold of the engine. During a higher engine-load condition, an EGR exhaust flow is cooled in a heat exchanger and the cooled EGR exhaust flow is admitting to the intake manifold. During a lower engine-load condition, fresh air is warmed in the heat exchanger, and the warmed fresh air is admitted to the intake manifold. In this manner, the heat exchanger serves double duty, abating knock at high engine load, and providing other advantages at low engine load. In particular, in the low-load region of the engine map the intake air can be heated to a significant degree without inducing knock; such heating reduces the density of the gas in the intake manifold with little or no reduction in inlet air pressure. Besides reducing pumping losses, increased intake air temperature may improve combustion reliability and increase EGR tolerance.

Warming intake air using EGR cooler in dual-throttle boosted engine system


An apparatus for cleaning a gas sensor and a method therefor are disclosed. A high voltage is supplied to a heat generating body of the gas sensor for a certain period of time to generate a large amount of heat within a short period of time so as to remove the moisture or miscellaneous gases absorbed into on the surface of the gas sensor, thereby stabilizing the characteristics of the gas sensor. The apparatus includes: a power supply section for receiving an ac voltage from a commercial ac power source to convert it into a rated voltage and an excessive voltage exceeding the rated voltage; and a switching section for supplying the rated voltage to the gas sensor after supplying the excessive voltage of the power supply section to a heat generating body of a gas sensor for a certain period of time. The method for cleaning a gas sensor includes the steps of: supplying an excessive voltage to the heat generating body of the gas sensor; maintaining the excessive voltage for a certain period of time to remove the gas absorbed into the surface of the gas sensor by means of the high heat of the heat generating body; and supplying a rated voltage to the gas sensor to clean the gas sensor.

Generally, a gas sensor senses a gas leakage concentration, and informs of the gas leakage through an external display or an alarm, so that an accident due to a gas leakage can be prevented.
The gas sensor is made by using a metal oxide semiconductor by applying a sintering process. Then the gas sensor is heated on the inside or outside thereof to a certain temperature. Then the sensor element of the gas sensor composed of the metal oxide semiconductor is made to contact an object gas, and then, the varying electric conductivity of the sensor element is measured, thereby recognizing the gas leakage concentration.
The sensing principle of the gas sensor is known to be as follows.
1) Owing to an absorption accompanied by a dissociation of gas and an oxidizing reaction, a migration of electrons occurs between the absorbed molecules and the gas sensor, with the result that the electron density is varied. PA1 2) Owing to a gate action, i.e., a gas absorption, a depleted layer is formed on the surface of the thin film or on the surface of the sintered body. PA1 3) Owing to oxidations and reductions, the chemical composition of the gas sensor is varied. PA1 4) Owing to the self heat generation, the temperature rises, with the result that the electric resistivity is varied.
Due to the material properties, the gas sensor is easily contaminated by the environmental factors such as moisture and miscellaneous gases, and therefore, the gas sensor shows malfunctions in the initial operating days. Therefore, in order to stabilize the characteristics of the gas sensor, the gas sensor is subjected to an aging process after its manufacture by heating it by passing an electric current through it for several hours or several days.
The above described sensor is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei-5-209855. In this sensor, in order to dissipate a dew formation and to sense a steep humidity variation, a heat generating body is installed on the sensor body to heat the sensor.
Further, in this conventional gas sensor, in order to measure a stabilized resistivity at the manufacturing step, it has to be waited for several days in a state with an electric current flowing, and therefore, the productivity is lowered. Further, a lengthy time period is required before the sensor is restored to the original state after once sensed a gas leakage.


An auxiliary light ring device for a vehicular light includes a light collective ring, a secondary reflecting cover and a plurality of emitting objects. The light collective ring is secured around the vehicular light. The secondary reflecting cover is secured to the inner wall of the light collective ring and comprises a plurality of arc-shaped reflecting bowls. Each reflecting bowl receives an emitting object therein. The light from the emitting objects is reflected by the reflecting bowls and collected by the light collective ring to enhance the light emission.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an auxiliary light ring device for a vehicular light, and more particularly, to a vehicular light comprising a light collective ring and a secondary reflecting cover with emitting objects to enhance light emission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Motor vehicles rely upon vehicular lights to drive in a dark or a foggy area. The vehicular lights not only can light the road situation but also provide the other side driver a signal of the coming vehicle.
However, most of the current vehicular lights are not light enough when encountering a foggy or a dark area, and may cause the driver to drive in a dangerous road situation.

Auxiliary light ring device for a vehicular light


An item of seating furniture, in particular an office chair, having a pedestal with a support column on which a first rotational axis for a backrest is arranged which is pivotable between an upright starting position and a reclined resting position. The backrest is articulately connected in its lower region to a seat part, and when the seat part is in one piece, the articulatable connection is provided about a second axis.

The office chair disclosed in DE 103 06 851 is to allow the user to lean back particularly far and in this context discusses the actual stability of the chair and also the stability of the chair sensed by the user by a fixed, horizontal first pivot axis, which cuts the vertical axis of the pedestal, being provided for the backrest. A gas pressure spring or similar is provided in order to return to the starting position again.
EP 296 578 discloses an office chair where the back and the sitting surface are connected together by means of a joint with a horizontal transverse axis. Approximately in the central region of the sitting surface, said sitting surface is connected to the actual frame by means of a rotatable arm. Analogously to this, the backrest is connected to a rotatable second arm in the lower third at the same pivot point as the first arm. So that the four-bar linkage formed in this manner does not collapse, forced guidance in the manner of a step-up gear unit is provided.
EP 559 185 (no US publication) discloses an office chair where the back part is pivotable about a horizontal axis, which is adjustable with reference to the frame by means of a type of bracket, and the sitting surface about an axis which is also fastened to said bracket. Furthermore, the sitting surface is pivotable in its front region about an axis which is fixedly mounted on the frame and, when pivoting in cooperation with a spring, pivots the bracket and consequently the back at the same time. A flexible and compressible region which compensates for changes in spacing is provided between the seat and the back.
DE 100 07 103 discloses an office chair which is similar to the one treated beforehand. Instead of the bracket, however, the back and the seat are pivotally connected on the frame at axes which are adjustable with respect to one another such that the configuration of the back to the seat is determined by the determining of the axis arrangement.
FR 2 527 061 discloses an adjustable chair where the front part of the sitting surface is displaceable and pivotable with reference to a bolt in the border legs by means of a motion link, the rear part is pivotably connected to the back and the back is mounted above the rear legs so as to be rotatable on the frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,466 discloses an adjustable chair which, in side view, comprises a plurality of interconnected four-bar linkages which form a divided sitting surface, a divided back and the armrests. In this case, the armrests are mounted on the frame in an articulated manner or in an articulated manner by means of a cam with tension means and so as to be easily unrollable and the front part of the sitting surface is connected to the frame below the sitting surface by means of a tension means. In designs, the diverse hinge points are able to be adjusted and certain configurations can be predetermined by means of springs.
Said publications correspond, insofar as they exist, to US 2006/244294 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,861,106, 4,547,017 A, US 2003/151,288 A1 and to the named US one. The content of said publications is made the content of the present application by reference.
None of the named office chairs is capable of fulfilling the demands stated below even if only to a large extent.

Abstract: When the seating furniture is in the upright starting position, the second axis is arranged below the first axis. The rear seat part is non-rotatably connected to the backrest. The front seat part or the one-piece seat part is supported by kinematicsin relation to the carrying frame. The front seat part or the one-piece seat part is lowered relative to the rear seat part or the backrest by means of kinematics when the backrest is pivoted back.


Nuclease-resistant RNA aptamers are provided which are capable of neutralizing PDGFRβ and are therefore useful in the diagnosis and/or therapy of PDGFRβ-associated and hyperproliferative-associated diseases, such as cancer and primary tumor metastasis. RNA aptamers provided herein include a modified synthetic RNA sequence wherein at least one pyrimidine residue is modified to 2′-fluoropyrimidine. Pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic kits comprising RNA aptamers are also provided.

Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides which are able to bind with high affinity to specific protein or non-protein targets by folding into complex tertiary structures. Aptamers have generally proven useful as reagents for identifying cell surface proteins and for cell typing. Furthermore, their high specificity and low toxicity render them a valid alternative to antibodies for in vivo targeted recognition as therapeutics or delivery agents for nanoparticles, small interfering RNAs, chemotherapeutics and molecular imaging probes.
The platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) is an important member of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Its ligand, PDGF, has a wide array of important effects on mitogenesis, migration, and development.
More specifically, platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are a family of potent mitogens for almost all mesenchyme-derived cells. The PDGF family consists of four polypeptides, A-D, forming five disulfide-linked dimeric proteins PDGF-AA, -BB, -AB, -CC, and -DD that signal through two structurally similar tyrosine kinase receptors, platelet-derived growth factor receptors α and β (PDGFRα and PDGFRβ). The ligands and receptors can form homodimers or heterodimers depending on cell type, receptor expression, and ligand availability. PDGF-BB and PDGF-DD are the primary activators of ββ homodimeric receptors. PDGF-AA activates only αα receptor dimers, whereas PDGF-AB, PDGF-BB, and PDGF-CC activate αα and αβ receptor dimers (Yarden Y et al., 1986; Matsui T et al., 1989). PDGF receptors have been extensively studied regarding their signaling mechanism, in particular PDGFRβ. The dimeric ligand molecules bind to two receptor proteins simultaneously and induce receptor dimerization, autophosphorylation of specific residues within the receptor's cytoplasmic domain, and intracellular signaling. It has been demonstrated that the activation of PDGFRβ signaling pathway induces various cellular responses, including cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis (Andrae et al., 2008; Ustach et al., 2010; Cao et al., 2004).
In embryogenesis the PDGFR/PDGF system is essential for the correct development of the kidney, cardiovascular system, brain, lung and connective tissue (Betsholtz et al., 2001; Hoch et al., 2003). In adults, it is important in wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis. Abnormalities of PDGFR/PDGF are thought to contribute to a number of human diseases including cancer. Overexpression, point mutations, deletions and translocations of PDGFR, including PDGFRβ, have been described in many tumors (Gilbertson et al., 2003; Yu et al., 2003; George, 2003).
Furthermore, preclinical studies have not only shown an important role for the overexpression and deregulated activation of PDGFRβ-mediated signaling in tumorigenesis and the maintenance of the malignant phenotype, but have also proven that the targeted inhibition of signaling cascades has significant anti-cancer effects (Vassbotn et al., 1993; Kilic et al., 2000; Shamah et al., 1993). Overall these data indicate that PDGFRβ represents a valuable target for tumor therapeutic development (George, 2003).
A number of tyrosine kinase inhibitors under development as anti-tumor agents have been found to inhibit the PDGFRβ. However, these compounds are not selective and have multiple tyrosine kinase targets. Since these small molecule antagonists are not specific to this receptor, it is not possible to distinguish the contribution of PDGFRβ signaling to cancer, including tumor-associated angiogenesis, tumor stimulation and growth, or toxicities associated with administration of such compounds that might be due to unnecessary targeting of multiple receptors.
Among the small molecular inhibitors of PDGFR that act on a wide spectrum of tyrosine protein kinases, imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®/ST571) was developed as an Abelson (Abl) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and also inhibits c-kit, PDGFRα, and PDGFRβ. Sunitinib malate (Sutent®/SU11248) is a broad-spectrum, orally available multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against VEGFR, PDGFR, c-KIT, and FLT-3. CP-673,451 is an inhibitor of both PDGFRα and PDGFRβ. Sorafenib (Nexavar®) is an inhibitor of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway and of angiogenic RTKs VEGFR2 and PDGFRβ. However, toxicity is associated with administration of such compounds that might be due to unnecessary targeting of multiple receptors.
Neutralizing antibodies exist for PDGF ligands and receptors and have been used extensively in experiments evaluating the importance of PDGF signaling in pathogenic processes but, to date, no antibodies exist in clinic (Johanna et al., 2008).
Thus, there is the urgent need to provide a new PDGFRβ-targeting drug for a more specific and selective tumour therapy.


A battery controller has a holder, a calculator, an acquirer, a calculator, and a controller. The holder holds, at a predetermined time, a value of a received power supplied from an electrical power receiving system to equipment supplied with power from a rechargeable battery. A calculator calculates a difference between a present value of the received power and a last-held value of the received power last-held by the holder at the predetermined time. An acquirer acquires a command value of the received power for each predetermined time period defined by a predetermined time interval. A calculator calculates a limit value of the received power for each time that is shorter than the predetermined time, based on the command value of the received power for each predetermined time period. A controller controls charge and discharge in the rechargeable battery, based on the calculated difference and on the limit value.

Of the electrical energy consumed in facilities such as buildings, it is said that the consumed amount thereof in the private business sector such as commercial facilities accounts for approximately 20% of all facilities, a non-negligible amount of energy. With the tight supply-and-demand situation in recent years, there are cases in which large-scale consumers of electric power are subjected to upper limitations on the demand for received power amount (received electric power amount) to equipment (power consumer equipment), by reductions of power supplied during peak demand hours along and an increased demand to shift the peak-time by making use of heat-accumulators.
With the foregoing as a backdrop, the adoption of PV (photovoltaic), wind power, and solar heat equipment and the like is expected to accelerate even further in the future and, additionally, in order to achieve efficient operation of this type of equipment, the output of which is unstable, it is expected that the importance of electrical storage batteries and heat accumulators and the like that can control supply of electric power to the equipment further increases.
In this manner, in order to achieve a good linkage between diverse equipment that consumes electrical energy and to minimize operating costs and the like, a method to establish the operating schedule of this equipment has become necessary. In conventional establishment of operating schedules, the object has been to save energy and cost in equipment in a building, factory, or the like. There is, for example, a ventilation system having an object of reducing the amount of electrical energy consumption or running cost of ventilation equipment.

Battery controller, management system, battery control method, battery control program, and storage medium


The invention relates to a shutter for an optical imaging system. An amount of opaque fluid is moved in a planar capillary space to open and close the shutter. Depending on the position of the opaque fluid with respect to an optical path passing through the capillary space, the fluid opens or blocks the optical path. In an embodiment, the opaque fluid is moved by a pressure differential caused by a diaphragm which is coupled to a piezoelectric actuator. In another embodiment, the opaque fluid is moved by electrostatic forces.

Digital cameras comprise imaging optics which are adapted to focus the image of a target onto an image sensor. The image sensor comprises an array of light sensitive pixels. The plurality of signals provided by the individual pixels constitute the digital image of the target. To the first approximation, a signal provided by each individual pixel is proportional to a time period between resetting or activation of said pixel and shifting of said signal (e.g. charge) to a shift register or to a memory.
A typical low-cost image sensor does not comprise charge shift registers and it cannot hold and store the signals. Thus, when the reading of all signals can not take place simultaneously, the signals obtained from the individual pixels correspond to different time intervals. This may lead to a distortion of the recorded image, image artifacts, when the digital camera or the target is moving.
The problem may be remedied by controlling the optical exposure of all pixels substantially simultaneously by using a so-called global shutter. The signal provided by an individual pixel remains substantially constant after closing the global shutter, and the obtained image corresponds to simultaneous exposure even though the electrical reading of the pixels would not take place simultaneously.
Traditional mechanical global shutters exhibit several drawbacks, e.g. complex mechanical structure, large size and relatively high power consumption. Therefore, mechanically implemented global shutters are not optimal for imaging systems integrated in small portable devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,021 discloses a light beam intensity modulator for controlled attenuation of a light beam. Said modulator is based on a plurality of successive cells. Each of said cells comprises a capillary space between two transparent plates, and an electric field producing means for applying an electric field between said transparent plates to control the displacement of a partially transparent fluid between said capillary space and a reservoir. Light beam intensity is modulated by moving said partially transparent fluid into the line of the light beam in one or more of the cells. According to the teachings of said US publication, the attenuation provided by a single cell is in the order of 10-90%. Further, according to the teachings of said US publication, the operating time of said cells is in the order of 100 ms.
Hence, such a light beam intensity modulator is not applicable as an effective optical shutter in a camera because of insufficient speed and light attenuation capabilities.
Clearly, there is still room for further development in the field of global optical shutters to create a solution that does not suffer from those disadvantages of the solutions.


A technique for the secure exchange and verification of data between multiple entities that use compatible business management systems utilizes serializable data transfer objects to transfer business data over a secure communication path. A conversion algorithm transforms a subset of the business data contained within the transfer objects, and the resulting data string is compared to data strings from other objects that are related to the transaction and which were transformed by the same conversion algorithm. If the data strings are not identical, a discrepancy exists. Serializable objects link all data objects relating to a given business transaction. An interface allows users to view and manage data contained in data objects, including discrepancies between compared objects.

Since small businesses often manually enter data into their business management systems, the potential for inaccurate information in transaction records is always present. Small errors like mistakes in keying in a quantity or transposing two characters of an item number can quickly become expensive problems if left undetected. Companies that use the same business management platform are by no means immune from inaccuracies, especially if they have to manually enter data into their respective systems.
The ability to verify that a customer or supplier has ordered the correct items, sent all or part of a shipment, or has paid an invoice on time can help small businesses reduce errors and run more profitably.
There is a need to facilitate the secure exchange and verification of electronic data between businesses that have compatible business management systems.


A scanning or copying system can include imaging elements and one or more system processors that are programmed or adapted to perform image processing methods and algorithms on image data, and in some instances, to enhance the image. Image data is acquired using imaging elements. Some imaging elements may have overlapping or rotated fields of view or employ differing resolutions. For each imaging element, its output is recombined together with the output of one or more other imaging elements. To perform the recombination, the system can extract features in an overlapping region and match these features in multiple images. In some instances, the features matched can be edges. Alternatively, the recombination can be performed by positioning each subimage with respect to a larger image through image matching and location techniques. Parameters from the recombined image can be extracted and these parameters can be used to correct for geometrical and spatial distortions and thereby enhance the image.

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for scanning documents. More specifically, without limitation, in one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems and methods that employ a plurality of imaging elements that can capture an upward facing document under normal illumination, process plural images, correct for geometrical and other forms of distortions, and reconstruct the image for scanning, displaying, copying, distributing, and storage.
Traditional scanning or copying systems require the document to be placed upside down on a transparent platform. Under the platform, a special illumination system illuminates lines or portions of the document sequentially while imagers or light sensors capture the reflected light to form an undistorted and balanced image of the document. The use of motion components to facilitate the scanning process often hinders performance and adds to both the initial cost and maintenance cost of the system. The traditional design renders use of scanning and copying equipment counterintuitive and inconvenient to use. For example, when a user needs to copy from a thick bound volume of a journal, the user may need to turn the volume upside down and apply sufficient forces with both hands so that the central margins of the pages lie as flat as possible and are therefore not severely distorted and defocused. This process may also create stress and damage to the volume.
These and other disadvantages of known techniques are solved in one embodiment of the present invention by the use of an opto-mechanical imaging system employing multiple imaging elements in conjunction with image processing algorithms. For example, when a user reads a document such as a book, the imaging element array can capture the images of opened pages of the book and processes the images to reconstruct the image to ideal format and clarity. The user need only turn the pages and command the scanning or copying with the disclosed system. The disclosed system may be combined with a system for displaying or printing.
The rapid development of image sensors built using newer technologies such as CCD and CMOS technologies has led to digital sensors that are orders of magnitude more sensitive. Additionally, these sensors are relatively inexpensive, particularly when manufactured in high volume. High-performance hardware to facilitate post-processing has also become inexpensive.
Systems that employ a "camera-like" setup to capture a document such as a bound book for scanning and copying have been the subject of at least one U.S. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,795 to Honda). However, one embodiment of the present invention discloses an innovative scheme that employs a plurality of imagers, image processing algorithms, and processing hardware in such a way that a high-quality, high-performance, yet inexpensive, easy to use device can be made to scan or copy a document face-up.

System and methods for multiple imaging element scanning and copying


A gas path flow blocker comprising a plurality of vanes each comprising a forward portion and an aft portion defining a plurality of gas paths, a forward ring comprising a central axis about which is circumferentially disposed the plurality of forward portions, and an aft ring disposed about the central axis about which is circumferentially disposed the plurality of aft portions wherein the forward ring and the aft ring are moveable with respect to each other to at least partially block the flow of a gas through the gas paths.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the flowpath area in a gas turbine engine. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for adjustably controlling the flowpath area of a gas turbine engine through the use of rotationally mounted vane components.
(2) Description of the Related Art
When operating gas turbine engines, it is frequently desirable to control the amount of gas flowing through the secondary flowpath between the outer duct and the inner support structure. One common method of achieving such control is to install an apparatus for adjusting the area through which the gas may flow. It is most desirable for such an apparatus to provide for complete blockage of gas flow when necessary while causing little if any blockage when needed. Typically, an attempt to maximize the efficiency of either of these constraints results in a diminution in the efficiency of the other.
What is therefore needed is an apparatus, and method for so using, for controlling the flowpath area in a gas turbine engine which provides both near total blockage of gas flow and virtual unimpeded flow of gas when desired.


A connector (10, 110) for joining a plurality of elements (15, 20; 115, 120) having attachment apertures (19, 21; 119, 121) therein including, a pin (25; 125, 125') having a radially extending head (27; 127) and a shank (26; 126, 126') extending axially from the head and having a tapering outer surface (29; 129, 129') over at least a portion of the axial extent thereof, a sleeve (35, 135) insertable in the attachment apertures and having a tapering inner surface (38; 138, 138') over at least a portion of the axial extent thereof for engaging the tapering outer surface of the pin, a discontinuity (37, 137) in the sleeve extending at least a portion of the axial extent thereof, and fastener (45, 50; 145, 150) for axially displacing the sleeve relative to the pin selectively to expand and to permit reduction in the diameter of at least a portion of the outer surface of the sleeve.

Connecting pins in the nature of removable coupling devices for joining machinery elements or other apparatus have been known in the art for many years. Such connecting pins are employed for temporarily joining a plurality of machine elements or other members which have attachment apertures to provide a mode of interconnection. Such connecting pins are referred to as pivot pins or a variety of other names, depending upon the particular application involved and terminology which may have evolved in a particular industry.
Classically, such connecting pins extend through the apertures in normally two members for purposes of temporarily joining the members for some type of machine operation where the two machine elements are to operate as a unit. In many such applications, it is necessary to regularly or intermittently decouple the machine elements by removal of the connecting pin. This is necessary, for example, to dismantle the machine elements, replace worn parts, or for other similar reasons.
In a great many applications, it is possible to selectively employ a solid pin to achieve these operational characteristics. Depending upon the particular application, these solid pins may be cylindrical or tapered to facilitate insertion in the attachment apertures of the mating machine elements. Depending upon various considerations such as orientation, load application, and other similar factors, it may be sufficient that such connecting pins are provided with merely a head or collar at one extremity which maintains it in place in the attachment apertures of the particular machine elements. In other instances, it may be necessary to provide the connecting pin with throughbores for receiving cotter pins proximate both extremities thereof, or collects or other fasteners may be employed at one or both ends of the pivot pin to retain the pin in position.
For most applications, it is necessary or desirable that the pin be closely sized to snugly fit in the attachment apertures of the machine elements in order to preclude undesirable movement of the machine elements relative to each other. In applications where a solid connecting pin is only infrequently removed and the machine elements are subject to the outdoors or an otherwise corrosive environment, the pin and/or the attachment apertures of the machine elements may become sufficiently corroded such as to create extreme difficulty in attempting to remove a solid connecting pin.
In many instances, it may be necessary to strike the pin and machine elements in an area in proximity thereto with a hammer or other heavy object to sufficiently free the pin such that it may be removed from the attachment apertures of the machine elements. Not infrequently the pin and/or the machine elements may be damaged merely in the process of effecting removal of the pin in this manner. Although manufacturing the pin and/or the attachment elements of a material that resists corrosion may be possible in some instances, it is not a uniform solution for all applications and can result in excessively expensive parts. While the use of lubricants can be helpful in some circumstances, they are similarly unsatisfactory in all applications and can become essentially ineffectual over an extended time period. Thus, no reliable, inexpensive solution is in use that eliminates the problem of removing solid connecting pins which have become corroded in attachment apertures of machine elements.


The invention relates to a method and system for guiding a person to a physiological cumulative state in physical exercise, in which the exercise has a physiological target in the form of a physiological state at the end of the exercise, a duration, and a performance parameter. In the method at the start of the exercise the physiological target is set, as is the value of the performance parameter, and during the exercise at regular intervals: at least one quantity proportional to the momentary intensity is measured, and the present physiological state and an estimate of the physiological state and the end of the exercise are calculated with the aid of the momentary intensity and the exercise performed, and a guidance range for the momentary intensity is defined, in order to reach the target state and the performance parameter. The user is guided by means of feedback to remain within the said guidance intensity range. At the start of the exercise the intensity guidance range is expanded according to a pre-selected function, in order to reduce the variation in the guidance.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is the improvement of physical fitness in sport and exercise and the improvement of the state of health. The invention is intended to guide a sportsperson or an exercise enthusiast to a physiological target state defined prior to exercise, in a desired time, over a desired distance, or over a desired route. The invention can relate to applications relating to improving in fitness, health, and relating to weight management. More specifically, the invention relates to what is stated in the preamble to Claim 1. The invention also relates to a corresponding system.
In physical exercise, there is usually not only a physiological target state, but also a performance parameter, which is either the duration or distance of the exercise. Thus the exerciser makes, for example, a workout of 60 minutes, when the duration of the exercise has been fixed. Another usual form of physical exercise is a loop over a set distance. The exerciser will often have a familiar route, over which they run. In that case, the distance is fixed. However, the most important parameter is the physical training effect, which is determined on the basis of the cumulative physiological target state. The physiological state is calculated with the aid of a suitable physiological quantity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Previous attempts have been made to guide exercise by means of methods that are difficult for the user. Previously, methods have been based, for instance, on rigid intensity limits (heart-rate range), to which the exercise is guided. Thus, the heart-rate range is not altered to take into account deviations occurring during exercise (e.g., being above or below the heart-rate range for long periods of time). In addition, diverse, improvement-oriented training requires more complex decision criteria, which are affected by, for instance, the desired duration of training and the training intensity/training induced stress.
Particularly when guiding exercise towards a specific target value of a cumulative quantity, more comprehensive operation is demanded from the guidance system. A more comprehensive guide system is required, because, when predicting the value of a variable farther into the future, even a small change in intensity at the present moment, or in the slope of a cumulative variable will lead to a great change after 30 minutes, for example. This means that the intensity range, to which the target is guided, becomes very narrow. It is very difficult to train on the basis of the feedback based on such a narrow intensity range. By itself, the tolerance of the intensity range (for example, averaging in a selected time window) will not help to solve this problem.
Patent publication FI 115288 discloses a method, in which the heart rate is kept below a specific threshold during post-exercise cool down. The method is based, however, on defining only a specific heart-rate level and on guiding cooling down on the basis of this heart-rate level, and thus does not, in this aspect, differ essentially from other exercise guidance methods based on heart rate level. The patent in question describes a specific blood lactate level (physiological target state), after which the cooling down can be stopped. The system described lacks dynamic guidance relative to a predefined target time or target distance.
Patent application US2005/0026750 discloses a control system for a treadmill. The system is based on predefined speeds. The user is informed if they exceed or do not reach heart-rate limits. Final cool down can be stopped once the heart rate has dropped to the desired percentage of the maximum level. The application disclosed is based on rigid heart-rate limits, which does not take into account exercise that may differ from the guidance at the start of the exercise.
Patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,774 discloses a method, in which the resistance of an exercise device is controlled on the basis of a collected heart-rate signal and, for example, on cadence. The control is, however, based only on heart-rate limits, and deviations from the target intensity are not permitted.
Patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,044 discloses a device, utilizing heart rate, measuring energy consumption with the aid of a calculation algorithm, in which a target for the exercise can be set, and a method for monitoring the achievement of the exercise target. The target set for the person can be either the amount of energy consumed, or a reduction in weight. In the invention, in addition to the heart rate during the exercise, both the momentary and cumulative energy consumption and, the accumulated energy consumption during several exercises, the number of calories, which must still be consumed for the target to be achieved, are displayed, as well as the time required to achieve the target at the present intensity. Even though physiological targets (amount of energy consumed, or weight reduction) can be set in the invention, it differs from the system depicted in the present application, because publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,044 does not describe any sort of guidance method that guides the user to the target. In the invention, it is not even possible to set a target time or other corresponding criterion for the performance, on the basis of which it would be possible to guide the performance. In addition, basing the guidance of the exercise on the time taken to achieve the predicted target on the basis of the present intensity leads to a situation in which a small change in the present intensity will cause, when predicting farther into the future, a change in the cumulative physiological variable (or in any other variable whatever, for instance, in the distance), so that in practice it will be very difficult, if not impossible to guide the exercise towards the target on the basis of this feedback.
Firstbeat Technologies Oy's patent application US2006/0032315 (Saalasti et el.) 'METHOD FOR MONITORING ACCUMULATED BODY FATIGUE FOR DETERMINING RECOVERY DURING EXERCISE OR ACTIVITY' discloses a method for calculating a stress index. The index can also be EPOC (Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption). The patent application does not, however, disclose a method for guiding a person to a physiological target.
Firstbeat Technologies Oy's patent application US2006/004266 'SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND PREDICTING PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE UNDER PHYSICAL EXERCISE' discloses a system, whish predicts the time for achieving a target.
Patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,295 discloses a method, which seeks to provide feedback to someone performing exercise, which will assist the user in reaching a target that one has set, or in motivating him/her to continue exercise after having already reached a target.
If the user decides to carry out exercise with a specific temporal duration, this will also set a suitable (virtual) distance target for the exercise. The exercise terminates when the predefined temporal duration terminates. This combination of time and distance is such that the user can use it to estimate a suitable exercise heart rate. During the exercise, the speed required to achieve the distance target and the predicted result of the exercise (prediction of the distance traveled once the target time has ended) are displayed to the user. The user takes his/her pulse themselves and presses a button on the computer on every third heart beat. The computer can calculate the user's heart rate from this and displays it to the user. If the heart rate is not in the desired range, the user can select a more suitable time-distance pair in the next exercise session. During exercise, the user can compare, by himself/herself, his/her present speed with the target speed and the distance target from the predicted result (prediction of the distance traveled when the target time ends). In addition, according to the invention, the user can be shown whether the predicted result of the exercise is equal to, greater than, or less than the target distance. On the basis of these data, the user can aim at either the precise target, or even at exceeding it. Once the distance target has been reached, the user can use the predicted result to motivate oneself for the remaining time.
If the user decides to perform a workout, for which there is a (virtual) target distance, this will also set a suitable time target for the workout. The workout will end once the predefined distance has been traveled. The user estimates that by using this combination of distance and time he/she will achieve a suitable exercise heart rate. During the exercise, the user is shown the speed required to reach the time target and the predicted result of the workout (prediction of the final time once the target distance has been traveled). The user takes his/her own pulse and presses a button on the computer on every third heart beat. The computer can calculate the user's heart rate from this and display it to the user. In the next workout, the user can select a more suitable time-distance pair, if the heart rate is not in the desired range. During the workout, the user himself/herself can compare his/her present speed with the target speed and the time target from the predicted result (prediction to the final time once the target distance has been completed). In addition, according to the publication, the user can be shown whether the predicted result of the workout is equal to, greater than, or less than the target time. On the basis of these data, the user can aim at either the precise target time, or at less than it. If the target time is exceeded, the user can nevertheless aim at the best possible result, using the predicted final time as motivation.
Patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,295 does not, however, disclose the use of a cumulative physiological target state, nor is it even easy for the user to evaluate the physiological effect of the workout. The same time-distance pair can be performed using different intensity profiles, which achieve quite different physiological effects. According to the publication, impossible speeds are not recommended to the user, but the publication fails to depict any principle on the basis of which impossible target speeds can be excluded.
The whole time, the user must watch the numerical feedback given. In particular, aiming at a specific physiological state (heart-rate range) is left to be the responsibility of the user. Thus, the method disclosed in patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,295 does not solve the problem of how to provide the user with sensible feedback during exercise, which feedback would guide the user to a physiological target state within the framework of a target time or target distance/route. User-friendly guidance, such as would be suitable for exercise combining a target-distance/target time pair, is also not depicted. The principle of expansion (broadening) of the guidance range, which is a property essential for user-friendliness, is also entirely missing from the publication. In addition, patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,295 entirely lacks visual and auditive feedback, displayed and repeated to the user at a suitable frequency, even though it is essential for user friendliness.
Firstbeat Technologies Oy's patent application US2006/004265 'SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND PREDICTING PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE UNDER PHYSICAL EXERCISE' discloses a system for monitoring a physiological state during exercise and predicting the physiological state at the end of a workout. The system disclosed in the application predicts the time taken to achieve the target, but does not guide the user to the target and gives the user no instructions as to how to act at a specific moment in a workout. The publication presents a cumulative quantity, which is suitable when monitoring the cumulative stress of physical exercise. For example, energy consumption by itself is a poorer indicator, because energy is consumed even without physical stress, and energy consumption is not directly connected to homeostatic changes taking place in the body.

Method and system for guiding a person in physical exercise


Improved methods of rinsing and drying microelectronic devices by way of an immersion processing apparatus are provided for effectively cleaning microelectronic devices. Methods and arrangements control the separation of one or more microelectronic devices from a liquid environment as part of a replacement of the liquid environment with a gas environment. Cleaning enhancement substance, such as IPA, is introduced into the gas environment according to a controlled profile while the separation step is conducted. The controlled profile being directed to the timing of introduction of cleaning enhancement substance, the concentration of cleaning enhancement substance and/or flow rates thereof into the vessel. Controlled timing of gas and cleaning enhancement substance delivery can also improve effectiveness of separation. Methods and arrangements are also provided for controlling a drying step to be conducted on the one or more microelectronic devices after they have been separated from a liquid environment by replacing the liquid environment with a gas environment. Preferably, an arrangement of gas distribution devices create one or more drying gas curtains, which gas curtains may be controllably directed with respect to a set of microelectronic devices to provide optimal drying of the microelectronic devices after being separating from a liquid.

At some point during any immersion or wet processing operation, the object being processed is separated from its liquid bath. This may occur many times depending on such process and device at intermediate or final stages of processing. Such may occur in one or more immersion vessels as sequential steps or separated by other different process steps. As a general matter, and depending of the process, it may be desirable to rinse an object for cleaning it after being subjected to processing fluid in order to remove any contaminants or residual processing fluid. Moreover, the object may be further dried to remove any processing or rinsing liquids and to provide a clean processed object.
In the case of processing microelectronic devices, such as those including semiconductor wafers and microelectronic devices at any of various stages of processing, flat panel displays, micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS), advanced electrical interconnect systems, optical components and devices, components of mass data storage devices (disk drives), and the like, cleanliness is critical in virtually all processing aspects. Representative steps in immersion processing of microelectronic devices include microelectronic device etching and rinsing. As used herein, immersion processing means a process where at least a portion of a device, such as a microelectronic device, is subjected to immersion for a period of time for any effective purpose.
One important aspect in providing clean microelectronic devices after immersion processing is to start with the use of clean processing liquids. Clean liquid use can be controlled by known or developed filtering processes so as to minimize introduction of contaminants into the processing environment. This is particularly true where devices are being cleaned or rinsed by an immersion process, such as by using deionized water (DI water) as a rinsing liquid as either flowing or non-flowing liquid bath. Specific filtering techniques for ultra-clean DI water have been developed for use in the microelectronic industry, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,542,441, 5,651,379 and 6,312,597 to Mohindra et al. Microelectronic devices are often rinsed within vessels as a batch or individually by flowing DI water across device surfaces as supported within the vessel and cascading the DI water from the vessel. Such a process vessel for microelectronic device rinsing is commonly referred to as a cascade rinser. Cascade rinsing typically utilizes an immersion vessel having inner and outer chambers that are separated from one another by a partition or weir. One or more devices are positioned within the inner chamber of the immersion vessel. Rinse liquid, such as DI water, is supplied to the inner chamber from a source even after the inner chamber is filled. For some desired period of time then, the rinse liquid overflows and cascades over the weir into the outer chamber. That way contaminants that may be dislodged and/or residual process fluid desirably flow with the cascaded liquid from the inner chamber and away from the devices.
It is also just as important to prevent contamination or recontamination to a surface of a microelectronic device, as such contaminant may be present in the processing liquid as a result of being supplied within the process liquid, as previously dislodged from a device surface, or as a result of the device processing (including previously used processing liquids or other liquid contaminants). This is particularly true when separating the microelectronic device(s) from the liquid bath so that no substantial surface contamination occurs from contaminants that may be suspended within the rinse or other processing liquid. Microelectronic devices may be separated from any liquid bath by lifting the devices from the bath or draining the liquid bath, or a combination of the two. During such separation, contaminants that may be near a device surface during separation can sometimes be deposited onto a device surface depending on surface and particle features, affinities and sizes.
Regardless of the mechanisms involved, the basic step of separation may simply be characterized as the controlled replacement of a liquid environment about an object or portion thereof with a gas environment. As a result, the object or portion thereof is separated from the liquid. In an inline process, separation is typically done by replacing one fluid that is supplied inline with a subsequent fluid (e.g., changing from rinse liquid to clean gas). See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,984,597 and 4,911,761 to McConnell et al. For a liquid bath type immersion process (i.e., where one or more microelectronic devices are supported or suspended within liquid contained by a vessel), the liquid environment can be controllably replaced with a gas environment by lifting or draining, as above.
In order to enhance this separation step, processes have been developed that introduce a substance within the gas environment during the replacement stage about an object that causes the liquid to shed more easily from the object surfaces. By shedding the liquid better, there is less a likelihood that any contaminant would be deposited onto an object surface from the liquid, and there is an increased chance to remove any such contaminant from an object surface. Developed processes utilize isopropyl-alcohol (IPA), in particular, to take advantage of what is known as the Marongoni effect to create a gradient in the concentration of the IPA mixed with the liquid at or near the liquid/gas meniscus formed at the object surfaces. The concentration gradient causes an acceleration of the liquid from an object surface as liquid having a greater concentration of the IPA within such a meniscus has an increased tendency to flow toward a more dilute mixture of IPA within the liquid bath. Many processes and systems have been developed taking advantage to various degrees such Marongoni effect to enhance rinsing and cleaning of microelectronic devices.
In particular, certain apparatuses and methods have been developed as are described with U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,784 to Mohindra et al, and which is owned by the assignee of the present invention. Described processes steps include the introduction of IPA as a cleaning enhance substance within a carrier gas stream for delivering a dilute concentration of IPA within the gas environment as it replaces the liquid environment caused by draining the immersion vessel. The IPA is relied upon, as described above, to increase the tendency of the liquid to flow from object surfaces during the step of separating the object(s) from the liquid.
Whereas the main goal of separation is to leave clean device surfaces, the separation step itself, however, does not necessarily result in dry devices. That is, after a rinsing step, a separate drying step may be performed to dry liquid drops or films that may still be present. A particular drying operation utilized depends on parameters of the separation (e.g. speed of separation, orientation of the microelectronic devices, and the like) as well as characteristics of the microelectronic devices themselves (e.g. the hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of the device surface). Any liquid droplets or films that remain on a microelectronic device surface after separation, such as may result at or near contact points with support structure or as minute droplets or films that hold to the microelectronic device surface, are desirably removed from the microelectronic device surface. If such droplets or films are left to evaporate from the microelectronic device surface, any contaminants within the droplets or films can be deposited on the microelectronic device surface, which contaminants may render a portion of the microelectronic device unsuitable for further processing or use. Known drying techniques include the use of heated gases, such as heated nitrogen gas, after the rinsing step for removing unwanted droplets and films from the microelectronic device surfaces.

Microelectronic device drying devices and techniques


The invention is to offer a glass-break preventing film like filter to be directly attached to a visual side of a plasma display plate, so that no problem occurs of double images caused owing to an air layer, contributing to easy attachment, light weighing, thin size and low cost, and a plasma display apparatus attached with the same. A glass-break preventing film like filter is composed by laminating a reflection preventing film on one side of a glass-break-preventing layer comprising a composite material of a transparent organic high polymer substance and an organized layer like clay, and making the other side an adhesive face, and a plasma display apparatus is composed by directly attaching on a visual side thereof with the glass-break preventing film like filter via the adhesive face of the glass-break preventing layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a glass-break preventing film like filter and a plasma display apparatus attached with the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional plasma display apparatus is, as shown in FIG. 3, formed with a space 320 by a spacer 32 at a visual side of a plasma display plate 31, in which a transparent front plate 33 of a glass plate of around 3 mm thickness is arranged and disposed within a case 34. With this structure arranged with the transparent front plate 33 via the space 320, it is possible to prevent an external shock from directly attacking the plasma display plate 31, and suppress a heat generated in the plasma display plate 31 from transmitting to the transparent front plate 33.
However, a problem is present that an image is reflected in double owing to an air layer formed by the space 320 and refraction of light at a boundary between the plasma display plate 31 and the transparent front plate 33. Further, another problem occurs that the transparent front plate 33 has an around 3 mm thickness so as to stand against the external shock, so that weight is heavy and cost is high.
On the other hand, applicant of this invention already proposed, in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. He. 9-259770, a plasma display apparatus characterized by directly attaching the transparent protective plate at a visual side of the plasma display plate via a heat resistant transparent sheet having a buffering property and an adhesive property. According to this display apparatus, there is no air layer at the visual side, exhibiting an excellent effect avoiding the problem of the double image.
Nevertheless, in the above proposal, since a hard and thick glass plate or an acrylic plate is employed as the transparent protective plate, an operation of attaching this plate to the plasma display plate via the plasma display sheet is not easy. Thus, the glass plate is still involved with problems of weight or cost. In a regard of the impact resistance, the above proposal is not sufficient, and merely judges the impact resistance with impact force (about 0.0294 J) when dropping a steel ball of 3 g weight from a height of 1 mm. For wasting display units, though removing the transparent protective plate for re-cycling, removing is not easy.

Glass-break preventing film like filter and plasma display apparatus


A protective crawling garment that protects the front side of a baby and the baby's clothes. The garment comprises an article of clothing that is worn over the front of the baby's body over the clothes. The upper part of the article may be removed and may be used separately when desired. The lower part of the article includes cushioning leg pads that provide protection for the baby's skin and knees from the friction produced when crawling.

1. Field of the Invention
The market's lack of garments, especially designed for clothing and for protecting baby's skin in contact with any floor surface and the friction this activity involves, has driven us to develop this invention. This garment especially protects the baby's skin in contact with any floor surface, having reinforced integrated cushioned knee pads, at knee level and below. This garment protects the front side of the baby and the baby's clothes, since the front of the baby will be in contact with the floor when crawling, and it consists of a piece of clothing worn over the front of the baby's body over the clothes, in which the upper pail may preferentially be removed and may be used separately according to the moment's need.
The purpose of creating this invention is to provide a protective baby crawling garment.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
There are some textile garments, publicly known, like a one-piece or overall pants with knee protection, registered under the reference W02005082181 and US2008/0047043, both of which refer to crawling pants with integrated knee padded baggy pants. These two models have similar features, although this garment we claim exclusive property of, differentiates from the others because it is only comprised by the body's front part which is mostly in contact with the floor surface when crawling, leaving the back part of the body uncovered extending down the legs as well, avoiding to overdress the baby, since this garment fastens in the back with straps strategically placed, adjusting them to needed size, in addition to this, it has a double function, the upper part or bib may be removed from the lower part or pants, these are the features we consider to be an innovation.
There is also the existence of other patents such as the NL1026103, a one piece baby garment for knee protection only, and the one registered under the U.S. Pat. No. 7,975,634 a baby legging with knee pads and patches to protect baby's knees when crawling, both patents solely cover legs and knees, whereas our innovation is an invention that not only protects the legs and knees, but the protection is extended below the knees, since some babies start their crawling phase by dragging on their abdomen and chest very close to the floor surface, and at the same time the baby's clothes in contact with the floor are protected likewise, all of these features altogether have an inventive activity, and thus we consider an innovation.
Other existing registered patents known are KR20110001090, consisting in a one piece with knees and elbow pad protection, CN201813880, a knee padded pants, and US2007/0022519, a legging garment with a leg pocket containing a removable cushioning pad, as to the aforementioned, all of them have several differences compared to our invention, because ours extends from the chest and below the knees, mainly consisting in the front part secured in the back with strategically placed adjustable straps, wherein bib can be removed from pants, and the cushioning pads used in our invention are a polyurethane foam 5 mm high, with a 13.89 kg/m3 density, a 23 cell/cm of a molecular cell structure, the firmness level density 25% IFD 132N and 65% IFD 311N, with an 8 in H2O air flow giving the right permeability to polyurethane foam making it suitable for our garment, since its pores are completely permeable, open and flexible, preventing the cushioning pads from moisture and stiffness, additionally the polyurethane foam cushioning pads are covered on both sides, on one side they are covered with 100% cotton denim with a 6 oz. weight, and on the other side with a 100% polyester fabric, therefore preventing any deformation or ripping, with a preferably 19 cm long and a 12 cm wide dimension, placed in the pants preferably extending from crotch all the way down below the knees, and laterally on each leg widthwise leaving a 1 cm free from the seams on both sides, they are both sewn preferably on the inner side of the pants over the denim material, contained between this one and the pants lining, the side covering the pad with denim is placed and stitched to the reverse side of the pants with the denim material providing a double reinforcement to the baby's knees, the seams that join both fabrics preferably round the cushioning, pad edges, with a 5 mm margin in all edges, reinforced with a vertical stitching in the central part, and other two horizontal seams with preferably 6 cm separation between each other from the seams, all of these features altogether have an inventive activity, and thus we consider an innovation.
Another registered known U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,888, for kids and babies clothing with elastic knitted fabrics which stretches three-dimensionally, differentiating from our invention being a piece of clothing worn over the front of the body over baby's clothes and it mainly consists in the front part secured in the back with strategically placed adjustable straps, wherein bib may be removed from pants, and it may be used separately, all of these features altogether have an inventive activity, and thus we consider an innovation.


Ways to generate softened loofah embedded products are described. Such softened loofah is softened using a softening solution that includes papaya extract, liquid detergent, and water. The softening solution is heated during treatment of the loofah. The softened loofah is pre-rinsed with a solution of bleach and water and/or rinsed with water. The softened loofah is able to be embedded into a cleaning agent such as soap.

Use of loofah bathing products is ubiquitous in society. Existing products include loofah that is abrasive, coarse, and/or grainy, and therefore not appropriate for sensitive areas such as the face, or for those with sensitive skin.
In addition, existing products may be hard to use with cleansing products such as soap, where a user may find it difficult to generate lather or otherwise utilize the soap.
Therefore, there exists a need for loofah-based bathing and cosmetic products that are soft enough for use on sensitive skin and/or are embedded into appropriate cleansing materials.


The invention provides an amplifying circuit for reducing electric power consumption at a standby mode time. Therefore, in DMOS and NMOS transistors constituting a cascode amplifier, the gate of the DMOS transistor of an initial stage is biased to a grounding voltage through a resistor, and the source of the DMOS transistor is connected to the output side of an inverter through an inductor. When a control signal is set to a level “H”, the output of the inverter becomes a level “L”, and the DMOS transistor attains a turning-on state and a sufficient operating electric current is flowed to the cascode amplifier. Thus, an input signal is amplified and is outputted as an output signal. In contrast to this, when the control signal is set to the level “L”, the output of the inverter becomes the level “H”, and the DMOS transistor attains a turning-off state and the operating electric current of the cascode amplifier is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power consumption reducing technique at a stopping time in an amplifying circuit, particularly, a low noise amplifier used in a high frequency band of a wireless communication system, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a constructional view of a conventional low noise amplifier (hereinafter called "LNA") for a high frequency.
This LNA is assembled into a high frequency LSI of one chip manufactured by directly forming an active element such as a transistor and a diode and a passive element such as a resistor, an inductor, a capacitor, etc. on a silicon substrate by a CMOS process technique.
This LNA has a capacitor 2 and an inductor 3 constituting a filter circuit for interrupting a direct electric current from an input signal IN given to a node 1, and fetching a signal of a predetermined frequency area. A cascode-connected amplifying section is connected to the output side of this inductor 3. The amplifying section has an N-channel MOS transistor 4 of a depression type of an initial stage (hereinafter called "DMOS") and a normal N-channel MOS transistor (hereinafter called "NMOS") 5 of the next stage. The DMOS 4 has characteristics in which a channel is formed and the DMOS 4 attains a turning-on state by implanting ions into a gate area of the normal NMOS even when a gate bias is 0 V.
The inductor 3 is connected to the gate of the DMOS 4 of the initial stage, and the source of this DMOS 4 is connected to the ground through an inductor 6 for impedance matching. The drain of the DMOS 4 is connected to the source of the NMOS 5 of the next stage. This NMOS 5 is set to a gate grounding type in which the gate of the NMOS 5 is connected to an electric power source voltage VDD. The drain of the NMOS 5 is connected to the electric power source voltage VDD through an inductor 7 for a load, and is also connected to a node 8 for outputting an output signal OUT.
Further, this LNA has a bias generating circuit 9 for generating a negative bias voltage to set the DMOS 4 to a turning-off state and reduce a consumed electric current when an amplifying operation is unnecessary in a standby mode. When a control signal CON is given to the bias generating circuit 9, the bias generating circuit 9 generates a negative voltage approximately able to set the DMOS 4 to the turning-off state. When no control signal CON is given to the bias generating circuit 9, the bias generating circuit 9 outputs a grounding voltage GND. The output side of the bias generating circuit 9 is connected to the gate of the DMOS 4 through a resistor 10.
When the amplifying operation is performed by this LNA, the operation of the bias generating circuit 9 is stopped and the grounding voltage GND is outputted. Thus, the grounding voltage GND is given as a bias voltage in the gate of the DMOS 4 through the resistor 10, and this DMOS 4 attains the turning-on state.
A direct current component and a signal of an unnecessary area are removed from the input signal IN inputted to the node 1 through the capacitor 2 and the inductor 3, and this input signal IN is given to the gate of the DMOS 4. This input signal is then amplified by the cascode amplifier using the DMOS 4 and the NMOS 5, and an output signal OUT is outputted from the node 8.
On the other hand, for example, when a transmitter-receiver is transmitting a signal and no amplifying operation using the LNA is required, the bias generating circuit 9 is operated by the control signal CON and generates a negative voltage. The output voltage of the bias generating circuit 9 is applied to the gate of the DMOS 4 through the resistor 10. Thus, the electric current flowed to the DMOS 4 and the NMOS 5 of the cascode amplifier is stopped and the consumed electric current is reduced.
There are Japanese Patent Kokai No. 7-193441 (patent document 1), Japanese Patent Kokai No. 11-265593 (patent document 2), etc. as the prior art.
The above LNA has the bias generating circuit 9 for generating the negative voltage to set the DMOS 4 to the turning-off state. A circuit utilizing a charge pump is normally used in the bias generating circuit 9. However, problems exist in that the circuit construction is large-sized in the charge pump, and self electric power consumption of the charge pump itself is also increased. For example, in a negative voltage charge pump of the above patent literature 2, four transistor elements and four diode elements are used and three capacitor elements are used.


A plane display includes a plurality of pixel capacitors, each of which includes first and second electrodes and a non-linear optical material disposed therebetween. A plurality of storage capacitors are respectively provided in association with the plurality of pixel capacitors, each of which includes the first electrode of the corresponding pixel capacitor, an insulating film, and a third electrode insulated from the first electrode through the insulating film and connected to an external power supply terminal. Additionally, a provided for each storage capacitor and connected between the third electrode of the associated storage capacitor and the external power supply terminal, for preventing a potential drop causable in the course of storing electric charge in the associated storage capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plane display and more particularly to a highly reliable liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display features low power consumption and a small thickness of its body and is gaining widespread applications. An active matrix type liquid crystal display having pixels in the form of thin film transistors has good picture quality and is considered to be the leading configuration in this technical field. However, from the standpoint of reliability, this type of liquid crystal display suffers from degradation in picture quality. More particularly, electrical resistance of the liquid crystal changes overtime degrading in characteristics, and/or leakage current in switching transistors is increased with time, with the result that a predetermined level of voltage can not be maintained and hence transmitivity of the liquid crystal is changed. This causes a degraded picture quality such as degradation in contrast. To cope with this problem, a design has been proposed in which storage capacitors are provided in association with respective pixels. An example of this design is described in SID 84 DIGEST, 1984, pp. 312-315. Plan and sectional views of a specified construction of the storage capacitor are shown in JP-A-61-13228.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the fundamental construction of the prior art storage capacitor. Referring to these figures, a thin film transistor 2 provided in each pixel has a source 14 connected with a pixel transparent electrode 12, an insulating film 18 lies beneath the electrode 12, and a transparent electrode 13 of a storage capacitor lies beneath the insulating film 18 and extends to an end of a matrix substrate 1. At the matrix substrate end, the electrode 13 connects to a storage capacitor conductor 8 which extends to an external terminal. The pixel transparent electrode 12 and storage capacitor transparent electrode 13 may both be made of indium tin oxide (ITO). A signal voltage on a signal line 4 is transmitted from a drain 16 to the source 14 by applying a gate voltage to a gate 15 connected to a scanning line 3 to turn on the transistor 2. Then, the pixel transparent electrode 12 electrically connected to the source 14 drives liquid crystal to activate a capacitor across the liquid crystal and at the same time cooperates with the storage capacitor electrode 13 to form, across the insulating film, a storage capacitor of a capacitance which is a few times the value of the capacitance of the liquid crystal capacitor. The storage capacitor is effective to retain the voltage applied across the liquid crystal for a predetermined period of time.
The above construction was applied to relatively compact liquid crystal displays of 3-inch to 5-inch diagonal and its meritorious effects have been corroborated. On the contrary, large-sized liquid crystal displays face a new problem. More particularly, as the size of display increases to about 10 inches or more in diagonal, the storage capacitor electrode 13 connecting by itself to the conductor 8 exhibits an increased line resistance inside the display region and as a result a sufficient amount of charge can not be stored in the storage capacitor within the predetermined scanning time. This impairs the effects of the storage capacitor.
As is clear from the foregoing, the prior art display fails to consider a potential drop developing in the storage capacitor transparent electrode inside the display region of large-screen displays and it faced has the problem that it can not give full play to its storage capacitor effects.


The present disclosure provides a method for dehydrating a semiconductor structure, including providing a semiconductive substrate, forming a trench on the semiconductive substrate, dispensing an agent in liquid form into the trench, solidifying the agent, and dehydrating a surface in the trench by transforming the agent from solid form to vapor form.

As fabrication techniques for semiconductor integrated circuits continue to develop, the number of elements in a chip has increased. High aspect ratio fin structures were key elements to achieve required cell capacitance in the fabrication devices. However, after various kinds of aqueous processing of silicon wafers, residual moisture may be remained on the surface of wafers, thereby interfere the procedures in advance and induce defects; thence the wafers need to be dehydrated after aqueous processes in order to alleviate the defects on fin structures caused by residual moisture.
Conventionally, the dehydration process includes spinning the wafer at high speed, as the water can be spun off the wafer edge by centrifugal force. However, the fin structures with high aspect ratio are weak and prone to be damaged throughout the process of spinning due to the surface tension applied by water on the fin structures. The pattern of the fin structures may collapse and induce defect after dehydration processes. Furthermore, the collapsed fin structures cannot be effectively recovered hitherto.
According to Young-Laplace equation, the Laplace pressure between an air-liquid interface has a positive correlation with surface tension, contact angle, and distance between two given fin structures. Meanwhile the pattern deflection has a positive correlation with pattern height, aspect ratio, contact angle, and Laplace pressure. Therefore surface tension and contact angle are two of the major factors to be solved pertinent to pattern deflection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for dehydrating semiconductor structure and dehydrating method of the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.


A banjo-type axle housing includes a hollow central member having a pair of hollow tubes extending outwardly therefrom. Forwardly and rearwardly facing openings are formed in the central member, each having triangularly shaped side portions located adjacent to the tubes. In a first embodiment, a pair of triangularly shaped support plates are disposed within the side portions and secured to the central member so as to completely close them. In a second embodiment, a pair of modified baffle plates are provided, each including a central baffle portion having an opening formed therethrough and a pair of triangularly shaped side portions formed integrally with the central baffle portion. The side portions are bent so as to extend generally perpendicular relative to the central baffle portion. The modified baffle plates are secured to the central member of the axle housing and perform the functions of the separate baffle plates and side portions of the first axle housing.

This invention relates in general to vehicle axle assemblies and in particular to an improved structure for a banjo-type axle housing.
Axle assemblies are well known structures which are in common use in most vehicles. Such axle assemblies include a number of components which are adapted to transmit rotational power from an engine of the vehicle to the wheels thereof. Typically, an axle assembly includes a differential which is rotatably supported within a non-rotating carrier. The differential is connected between an input drive shaft extending from the vehicle engine and a pair of output axle shafts extending to the vehicle wheels. The axle shafts are contained in respective non-rotating tubes which are secured to the carrier. Thus, rotation of the differential by the drive shaft causes corresponding rotation of the axle shafts. The carrier and the tubes form a housing for these drive train components of the axle assembly, inasmuch as the differential and the axle shafts are supported for rotation therein.
Axle housings are generally classified into two basic types. The first axle housing type is a unitized carrier construction, commonly referred to as a Salisbury or Spicer type axle assembly. In this structure, the carrier (which houses the rotatable differential) is directly connected to the two tubes (which house the rotatable axle shafts). An opening is provided at the rear of the carrier to permit assembly of the differential therein. This opening is closed by a cover during use.
The second axle housing type is a separable carrier construction. In this structure, the axle tubes are connected together by a central member which is formed separate and apart from the carrier. This central member is generally hollow and cylindrical in shape, having a large generally circular opening formed therethrough. During assembly, the differential is first assembled within the carrier, then the carrier is secured to the central member. The overall shape of this type of axle housing (i.e., the generally round shape of the central member and the elongated tubes extending therefrom) generally resembles the shape of a banjo musical instrument. Hence, this type of axle housing is commonly referred to as a banjo-type axle housing. Banjo-type axle housings are advantageous because the carrier and differential can be removed from the axle assembly for service without disturbing the other components thereof.
One known structure for a banjo-type axle housing is formed by splitting one end of each of two tubes, spreading the two split ends apart, and securing the spread ends together to form a hollow cylindrical central member. The central member includes rearwardly and forwardly facing openings. A rear mounting plate and cover are secured over the rearwardly facing opening and a forward mounting plate is secured over the forwardly facing opening. The forward mounting plate includes a generally oval shaped opening which receives a differential and carrier assembly. Typically, a pair of baffle plates are secured within the axle housing central member to cover the interior ends of the axle tubes. The baffle plates have apertures formed therethrough through which the axle shafts extend. The baffle plates function to prevent the splashing of differential lubricant out of the central member into the axle tubes.
The above-described banjo-type axle housing has been in common use for years. However, it has been found that under typical vertical loading conditions, the axle housing develops tensile stresses within the curved portions of the spread apart tube ends which form the central member. These tensile stresses can cause the central member of the axle housing to fracture at or near the curved portions. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for a banjo-type axle structure which is resistant to these tensile stresses and, therefore, has a longer useful life. Also, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for a banjo-type axle housing which is simple and inexpensive in construction.


An adjusting screen with a predetermined format including a specific indication mark which is used to correct the display irregularity of the screen in a relationship between a plurality of mirrors and regions of the screen with a predetermined format is generated to be displayed on a display screen. In accordance with a shift input instruction that moves the screen which is displayed on the display screen in a forward or backward direction as seen from a user, the screen shift control is performed to control the adjusting screen including a specific indication mark to be moved forward or backward by a predetermined amount to be displayed on the display screen. In a state where the screen is moved by a predetermined amount by the screen shift control (in a state where the screen deviation is corrected), a video is disposed in the plurality of regions to generate an adjusting screen with a format to be displayed on the display screen and the displayed video is reflected from the plurality of mirrors to be displayed as a three-dimensional video.

A three-dimensional video display device that displays a video displayed in a two-dimensional video display device as a three-dimensional video using a mirror assembly including a plurality of half mirrors has been known. For example, a three-dimensional video display device which is suggested in this invention is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In other words, using a mirror device having a plurality of mirrors (half mirrors and total reflection mirror) which are inclined on a screen of the two-dimensional video display device toward an observer at a predetermined angle and disposed at a predetermined interval in a depth direction, in a screen of the two-dimensional video display device, a plurality of virtual image generating regions that generate virtual images by the mirrors in a position of the mirror and virtual image non-generating regions that do not generate a virtual image between the virtual image generating regions are formed, and an image displayed in the virtual image generating region is reflected by a corresponding mirror to be displayed as a three-dimensional video at an observer side.
Further, a similar three-dimensional video display device is also disclosed in Patent Document 2. Most of all, in Patent Document 2, it is disclosed that when information is displayed in each display region of the display screen which is divided into (N+1) regions, an enlargement/reduction controller 105 controls the enlargement or reduction of a display size at which the information is displayed (size of the display region).

Three-dimensional video display device, control method thereof, and screen adjusting program