A foil-decorating injection molding apparatus having a male mold, a female mold, a transport chuck for feeding a decorative sheet S between the male mold and the female mold, and a clamper for pressing and fastening the decorative sheet onto a parting surface of the female mold. The transport chuck consists of two clamping devices each clamping a side edge of the decorative sheet. The clamper consists of a pressing frame and a connecting member. When the pressing frame is in abutment with the female mold, a space is provided between the connecting member and the female mold in which the clamping devices can pass through. After the decorative sheet is fed by the clamping chuck, the sheet can be fastened by the clamper without waiting until the chuck is brought back to an initial standby position, thereby reducing the manufacturing time.

Integrally bonding a decorative sheet to the surface of an injection molded resin article simultaneously with the injection molding thereof has conventionally been performed (see Patent Document 1, for example). FIG. 8 shows a foil-decorating injection molding apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus in the vicinity of a female mold. The foil-decorating injection molding apparatus 100 comprises the female mold 2 with a contour corresponding to a desired article to be obtained, and a male mold 20. The bottom of the female mold 2 is fixed to a movable platen 5 such that the female mold 2 can be moved towards or away from the male mold 20 by a fluid pressure cylinder ram 7.
The female mold 2 is formed with a cavity 4 with a contour corresponding to the shape of the desired article to be obtained. In the cavity 4, there are bored vacuum suction holes 17 that open out to the cavity 4 and which lead to an external vacuum pump via a vacuum suction passageway 14 bored in a bottom portion of the female mold 2 and via a conduit 15. The female mold 2 is also fitted with a rectangular frame clamper 110 for pressing and fastening a decorative sheet S onto a parting surface 2a of the female mold 2.
On the other hand, the male mold 20 is fixed to a fixed panel 25 in which a nozzle 28 of an injection molding machine is mounted. The male mold 20 is provided with a protruding portion (core) 21 at the center corresponding to the shape of the article. In the protruding portion 21, there is formed a runner 22 for injecting a molten resin into the cavity 4 of the female mold 2 via the nozzle 28 of the injection molding machine.
Above the female mold 2, there are provided a reel 70, a guide roller 74, and a pair of feed rollers 72 for winding and rewinding an elongated band of a decorative sheet RS that is wound in a roll. A transport chuck 130 is disposed between the feed roller 72 and the female mold 2 for feeding a decorative sheet S onto the parting line 2a of the female mold 2. On the lower side of the female mold 2, there is disposed a receiving chuck 50 for receiving an end Sa of the decorative sheet S that has been transported via the transport chuck 130.
When performing an injection molding and foil decoration simultaneously using this apparatus 100, the elongated band of the decorative sheet RS wound in a roll is drawn out by the feed rollers 72. A decorative sheet S is then clamped by the transport chuck 130 near the end Sa of the sheet, as shown in FIG. 9. The transport chuck 130 is then transported vertically downward in a plane parallel to the parting surface 2a of the female mold 2, until the very tip of the end Sa of the decorative sheet S protrudes downward just a little beyond the lower end of the receiving chuck 50.
Then, the end Sa of the decorative sheet S is grasped by the receiving chuck 50, and, as shown in FIG. 10, the transport chuck 130 is released, raised, and brought back to the initial standby position shown in FIG. 9. The decorative sheet S is then pressed and fastened onto the parting surface 2a of the female mold 2 by the clamper 110. Thereafter, a heating panel 80 that has been withdrawn from the areas between the female and male molds is now brought closer to the clamper 110 until it is directly opposite thereto so that it can heat and soften the decorative sheet S, as shown in FIG. 11.
A heated-wire type sheet cutter 90 is provided on the upper end of the heating panel 80 via an L-shaped support member 92 such that the cutter 90 protrudes beyond the heating panel 80 and the clamper 110 towards the female mold 2. As the heating panel 80 is moved and brought into contact with the clamper 110, the decorative sheet S is cut in the direction of the width thereof by the sheet cutter 90, and a single-shot length of the decorative sheet S at its end can be cut off from the upstream portion of the sheet. The tip portion of the decorative sheet S from which the single-shot length has been cut off is later wound back to the position (see FIG. 12) where it is grasped by the transport chuck 130 in preparation for the next shot.
Simultaneous with, or immediately after the decorative sheet S heating/softening step, the decorative sheet S is vacuum-sucked via the vacuum suction holes 17 formed in the female mold 2 so that the decorative sheet S is stretched in conformity with the cavity 4 of the female mold 2 in an airtight manner. Following this stretching step, the female mold 2 is moved towards the male mold 20 for mold clamping in a mold clamping step. This is followed by an injection molding step (see FIG. 12) in which an injection molding resin in a molten or in an uncured, liquid state is injected into the cavity 4 formed between the female mold 2 and the male mold 20 via the runner 22 in the male mold 20. A mold opening step is then conducted in which the female mold 2 and the male mold 20 are separated, followed by a removal step in which a molded article P to which the decorative sheet S is integrally bonded is removed from the female mold 2.
The decorative sheet may employ either a laminate sheet or a transfer sheet, depending on the type of the desired product. In the case of using a laminate sheet, the laminate sheet per se will have been foil-decorated by injection molding, resulting in the entire layers of the sheet being integrally bonded to the surface of the injection molded resin article and creating a pattern layer. On the other hand, when the decorative sheet is a transfer sheet, a support sheet is peeled from the pattern sheet that has been integrally bonded to the surface of the injection molded resin article, whereby only a transfer layer of the pattern layer, for example, is left behind on the injection molded resin article, thereby creating a pattern layer and completing the foil-decorating process.
Instead of the receiving chuck 50 in the above-described apparatus 100, a second clamper may be provided adjacent to the first clamper (see Patent Document 2, for example). FIG. 13 shows a major portion of the foil-decorating injection molding apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, where a second clamper 250 is provided beneath and adjacent the first clamper 210. In this apparatus, the decorative sheet S that has been fed onto a female mold 202 by a transport chuck 230 is grasped by the second clamper 250 and, after the transport chuck 230 has been returned to the initial standby position as shown, the decorative sheet S is pressed and fastened onto the female mold 202 by the first clamper 210.
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent No. 3093159
(Patent Document 2) Japanese Patent No. 2714258

Apparatus and method for molding of decorative molded article


The present invention relates to a headlight device comprising in particular a light source, a mirror exhibiting a reflecting surface and a transparent optical deflection element positioned in front of the mirror, the mirror being capable of interacting with the light source in order to generate a beam bounded by a line of interruption, and the deflection element being capable of providing a horizontal displacement of the light without modifying the vertical distribution of the latter, and at least one detachment element arranged on at least one of the surfaces of the mirror or of the optical deflection element reached by the light to obtain a line of interruption of the light beam that is not flat.

The object of this invention is a motor vehicle headlight device comprising essentially a combined mirror and deflection element designed to produce a light beam whose interruption is not flat. The essential object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the headlight device of prior art, this improvement consisting in the introduction of modifications to the surfaces of the mirror and/or deflection element in order to obtain an interruption of the light beam produced that is not flat. The headlight device, initially designed as a fog light, may therefore be used as a headlight device of the dipped headlight type in particular.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Headlight employing a combined mirror and deflection element with a non-flat light beam cut-off line


A fluorinated ion exchange polymer is prepared by grafting at least one grafting monomer derived from trifluorostyrene on to at least one base polymer in a organic solvent/water mixture. These ion exchange polymers are useful in preparing catalyst coated membranes and membrane electrode assemblies used in fuel cells.

Electrochemical cells, such as fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries are known. Depending on the operating conditions, each type of cell places a particular set of requirements upon the electrolytes used in them. For fuel cells, this is typically dictated by the type of fuel, such as hydrogen or methanol, used to power the cell and the composition of the membrane used to separate the electrodes. Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, powered by hydrogen as the fuel, could be run at higher operating temperatures than currently employed to take advantage of lower purity feed streams, improved electrode kinetics, better heat transfer from the fuel cell stack to improve its cooling. Waste heat is also employed in a useful fashion. However, if current fuel cells are to be operated at greater than 100° C. then they must be pressurized to maintain adequate hydration of typical proton-exchange membranes to support useful levels of proton conductivity.
There is an ongoing need to discover novel grafted films that improve the performance of the latest generation of electrochemical cells, such as fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries, to develop new membrane materials that will maintain adequate proton conductivity at lower levels of hydration and have sufficient durability for the intended application.

Process to prepare stable trifluorostyrene containing compounds grafted to base polymers using a solvent/water mixture


The present invention provides a personal propulsion device including a body unit having a center of gravity, where the body unit includes a thrust assembly providing a main conduit in fluid communication with at least two thrust nozzles, with the thrust nozzles being located above the center of gravity of the body unit. The thrust nozzles are independently pivotable about a transverse axis located above the center of gravity, and may be independently controlled by a single common linkage. The present invention may further include a base unit having an engine and a pump, which provides pressurized fluid to the body unit through a delivery conduit in fluid communication with both the base unit and the thrust assembly.

Personal flight has been an eternal dream and a recent reality. However, unlike birds, human beings have a low power-to-weight ratio, and personal flight has only been accomplished by developing machines using powerful engines and aerodynamic lifting surfaces, such as autogyro aircraft, fixed wing airplanes, and helicopters. Arguably, the closest experience to that of individual, unrestricted flight has been attained through the use of single passenger devices, consisting mainly of a flight pack or similar structure that fits on or around the torso of an individual.
Typically, flight packs include propulsion devices such as propellers, rotor blades, or rockets, which often require a highly flammable fuel in order to generate sufficient thrust for flight. In addition to having a reservoir of volatile fluid attached to the body of a pilot, the close proximity of the propeller, rotor blades, or rocket exhaust to the pilot further poses significant safety risks. Another drawback of such self-contained, single-passenger flight packs is that the pilot must support the entire weight of both the airframe and fuel on his back, which can be highly uncomfortable and places severe limits on operation duration and range. Moreover, the location of thrust forces and the weight distribution of the fuel and accompanying components in such designs increase instability during take-off and for the duration of the flight.
Existing single passenger devices suffer an additional major drawback, in that the fuselage, engine, electrical equipment, fuel, and flight instrumentation are all part of the aircraft. As a result of the added weight of these systems, a significant amount of engine output and fuel is required to generate sufficient thrust to achieve flight. This necessitates larger and heavier engines and, even then, the power-to-weight ratio is often quite low.
As an alternative to employing the combustion of volatile fluids to directly generate thrust, the high-pressurization of non-flammable fluids, such as water, has been proposed to create sufficient thrust in order to achieve flight. While the use of pressurized water may significantly reduce the above-mentioned safety risks, even water-propelled devices still have drawbacks in that the pressurization source must be carried into the air along with the fuselage and accompanying systems, contributing to a low power-to-weight ratio, and requiring larger engines in order to generate sufficient thrust.
It would be desirable to provide a single passenger aircraft that is safe, stable, and achieves a higher power-to-weight ratio than typical single-passenger devices. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a single passenger aircraft that provides maneuverability, vertical takeoff and landing, as well as practical flight range and duration.


A sequential access type memory medium of a large memory capacity is composed of a number of semiconductor memory modules, each including a semiconductor memory device and necessary peripheral circuits accommodated in a square package. The same number of terminals are provided on each of four sides of the square package. The terminals on the four sides are so wired that the same kind of signal is transferred through positionally corresponding terminals of four sides of the square package, and the terminals on one side are of a plug type and the terminals on the remaining three sides are of a socket type which can be fitted and connected with the plug type terminal so as to interconnect corresponding signal lines. In addition, positionally corresponding socket type terminals of three sides of each memory module are interconnected so as to interconnect the terminals for the same signal. Thus, a plurality of memory modules are interconnected in an arbitrary order and in arbitrary location with using no printed circuit board and with a high expandability, so that in each semiconductor memory module, an address signal is generated on the basis of the synchronous signal supplied from an external, and the synchronous signal is supplied to the just succeeding semiconductor memory circuit after the data reading of the first mentioned semiconductor memory circuit has been completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory circuit, a semiconductor memory module using the same, and an acoustic signal reproducing system, and more specifically to a semiconductor memory circuit composed of a ROM (read only memory), a semiconductor memory module enabling a plurality of memory modules to coupled to each other, and an acoustic signal reproducing system for a Hi-Fi (high fidelity) acoustic signal of a compact disc type.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional semiconductor memory circuit composed of semiconductor memory devices, in particular a semiconductor memory circuit composed of ROM devices, can be divided into one in which the memory is accessed at random, and another in which the memory is accessed sequentially. In the former type in which the memory is accessed at random, it is necessary to supply an address signal so as to select one word from a number of words stored in memory.
For example, in order to select one word from 2.sup.16 words (=65,536 words), an address signal of a 16-bit length is necessary. In addition, if the number of words is increased, the length of the address signal correspondingly becomes large. In ordinary cases, the address signal is supplied in a parallel format in order to speed up the access operation. As a result, the number of address signal lines is increased with the increase in the number of words, namely, with the increase in the memory capacity. Therefore, an addition electronic circuit becomes necessary with the increase in the memory capacity. This imposes restrictions at the time of increasing the memory capacity or of determining the memory capacity. Furthermore, since individual memory devices have only relatively small memory capacity, such individual memory devices have to be combined to each other. This gives a further restriction in wiring or locating the address signal lines.
In the type in which the memory is accessed sequentially, since it is not necessary to supply the address signal for the purpose of selecting the word, a large memory capacity can be easily realized by using a number of semiconductor memory devices. In addition, the restriction at the time of determining the memory capacity is small. The memory circuit in which the memory is accessed sequentially, is now widely used in household electric appliances. In the case that the semiconductor memory circuit including a number of ROM devices as semiconductor memory devices, is used as a storing medium for a Hi-Fi acoustic signal and the like, a voluminous memory capacity is needed.
On the other hand, a conventional semiconductor memory module has such a structure that a plurality of semiconductor memory modules cannot be connected directly to each other, and are connected through an additional circuit such as a printed circuit board.
In addition, an acoustic reproducing system using the conventional semiconductor memory circuit are used for example in an audio response system of household electric appliances. However, since the absolute memory capacity is small, it is difficult to reproduce a high quality signal such as a Hi-Fi acoustic signal.
As mentioned above, the conventional semiconductor memory circuit has required the wiring of the address signal lines, which is one restriction at the time of increasing or determining the memory capacity. In addition, it is difficult to constitute a sequential access memory medium in which the memory access is sequentially performed.
The above mentioned conventional semiconductor memory module composed of the semiconductor memory circuit has been disadvantageous in which since a plurality of semiconductor memory modules are interconnected in a fixed order or arrangement by use of the printed circuit board, the sequential access memory medium cannot be freely constituted. In other words, it is not possible to freely connect an arbitrary number of conventional semiconductor memory modules in an arbitrary order.
The above mentioned conventional acoustic signal reproducing system using the semiconductor memory circuit has various disadvantages since electric means and mechanical means exists in a mixed condition. For example, there is a limit in vibration proof, endurance and reliability, and miniaturization and lightening are impossible. Therefore, this conventional acoustic signal reproducing system is not suitable to reproduction of the Hi-Fi acoustic signal because of the limited memory capacity.

Semiconductor memory circuit, semiconductor memory module using the same, and acoustic signal reproducing system


A push-open type slide structure comprises a top fastener and a locking device between an outer slide rail and a pull rod. The loading plate is extended from one side of the center portion of the main body. Two pillars are extended from both sides of the main body. A positioning fastener is coupled with the loading plate. A hook is mounted on the inner edge of the loading plate. A guide pillar is mounted on the rear end of the loading plate. The hook is inserted into the action trench of the main body and coupled with the elastic device. The locking device has a connection part for coupling with a guide part and a shaft holder. The push-open type slide structure is lockable or unlockable by pivotal rotation between the loading plate and the locking device. As a result, the push-open type slide structure can be controlled easily.

Generally speaking, the slide structures, which are applied to the drawers of general servers or computer desks, are composed of two or three-staged slide rail components and one or two bearings. In addition, the drawers are opened or closed by sliding the slide structures, wherein the aforesaid two or three-staged slide rail components have respective rail segments, which are outward pullable.
However, these conventional two or three-staged slide rail components, which are not interlocked together, can be pulled outward easily. In other words, if the cabinets are shifted or slanted or if the drawers are excessively pulled out, the drawers may be opened completely. If several drawers are opened simultaneously, the cabinets may be thus toppled down.


A base insert, a wireless floating horn switch including an insulated base insert, and a steering wheel assembly including a wireless floating horn switch, the wireless floating horn switch is constructed so that it can operate in association with an air-bag assembly to actuate a horn circuit when pressure is applied to the air-bag assembly. The wireless floating horn circuit includes an insulated base insert, an horn circuit connector, an attaching assembly for uniting an air-bag mounting bracket with the insulated base insert, and spring for urging the mounting bracket away from the insulated base insert, a contact and an activator for urging the contact to complete the horn circuit.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention concerns an electrically conductive base insert for use in a wireless floating horn switch assembly. The wireless floating horn switch is installed on a steering wheel and an air bag is installed to the wireless floating horn switch assembly. The switch allows the horn to be activated by pressing the air bag assembly. This invention also includes a steering wheel assembly comprising the wireless floating horn switch of this invention.
(2) Description of the Art
Traditional steering wheels include horn activators that are located in the center of or around the periphery of a steering wheel. The horn circuit is activated by pressing the center of the steering wheel or by pressing the horn actuator. With the advent of steering wheel mounted air-bags however, automobile horns were moved to discrete small buttons located towards the periphery of the steering wheel because the air-bag assemblies occupies all the space in the center of the steering wheel. There was a need, therefore, for a horn that could be actuated by pressing the center region of a steering column containing an air-bag.
The inventor became aware of the need for a center region actuated horn circuit complementary to an air-bag assembly when he was presented with a potential design for a wireless floating horn switch. The circuit disclosed to the inventor included a top circuit integral to a bracket cooperative with the air-bag assembly and a separate bottom circuit. When the top and bottom circuits were united, the horn sounded.


System and apparatus particularly suited for tracking a radiopharmaceutical present within a lymph duct and locating a sentinel node within which the radiopharmaceutical has concentrated. A smaller, straight, hand-held probe is employed carrying two hand actuable switches. For tracking procedures, the probe is moved in an undulatory manner wherein the location of the radiopharmaceutical containing duct is determined by observing a graphics readout developed preferably employing a circularly accessed data memory. When the region of the sentinel node is approached, a switch on the probe device is actuated by the surgeon to carry out a sequence of squelching operations until a small node locating region is defined. At that point in the procedure, the straight small probe will be pointed at and in adjacency with the radiopharmaceutical containing sentinel node. The probe-mounted switches are configured to apply preset current levels upon the probe pre-amplifier power supply. These levels are detected, identified by a discriminator and emulating signals are generated. A sterilizable remote switch provides a squelch threaded level trim function.

An evaluation of the presence or absence of tumor metastasis or invasion has been a major determinant for the achievement of an effective treatment for cancer patients. Studies have determined that about 30% of patients with essentially newly-diagnosed tumor will exhibit clinically detectable metastasis. Of the remaining 70% of such patients who are deemed "clinically free" of metastasis, about one-half are curable by local tumor therapy alone. See Sugarbaker, E. V., "Patterns of Metastasis in Human Malignancies", Cancer Biol. Rev. 1981 2:235. The remaining patients will have clinically occult (undetected) micrometastasis that ultimately become manifest.
The involvement of the lymph system in tumor metastasis has been the subject of extensive investigation and is well established. Lymphatic systems are present as widely dispersed tissues, fluids, and cells concerned in a variety of interrelated functions of the mammalian body including the circulation and modification of tissue fluid formed in the capillary beds, and the removal by mononuclear phagocytes of cell debris and foreign matter. The lymphatic system is importantly involved in participation with the blood vascular system in developing the immune response of the lymphocytes and other cells. Lymph flows within the system as a consequence of a variety of perceived mechanisms of organ and tissue dynamics. For certain cancers, metastasis occurring in consequence of lymph drainage will result in initial location or positioning of neoplastic cells at certain lymph nodes typically deemed "regional nodes" within a pertinent lymph drainage basin. Some cancers, for example, melanomas, have been observed to exhibit variability in lymphatic drainage patterns emanating from different portions of the body. Other cancers, such as those encountered in the breast will evidence somewhat more predictable nodal involvement. In designing forms of cancer disease management, therefore, efforts are directed to the identification of affected lymph nodes. For melanomas, it has been a more recent practice to identify the pertinent drainage basin or regional nodes along with an evaluation of the extent of lymph involvement with micrometastasis. A pre-surgical step undertaken in about 20% of investigational procedures concerning melanomas looks to carrying out of a gamma camera generated form of lymphoscintigraphy which gives the clinician a gross two-dimensionally limited image, generally showing the tumor site injection of sulfur colloid labeled with technetium 99-m (.sup.99m T.sub.c) and, spaced therefrom, a region of radioactivity at the pertinent regional lymph nodes. The latter information at least confirms the path of drainage and the location of the proper drainage basin. Regional nodes then are removed and submitted for pathology evaluation.
For cancers such as breast cancer, the sites of lymph node involvement are commonly encountered at axillary, internal mammary, and supraclavicular lymph node regions. Of these, the axillary lymph node region is the principal site of regional metastasis from carcinoma of the breast, and approximately 40% of patients have evidence of spread to the axillary nodes. In early approaches to the disease, these axillary nodes were removed as a form of therapy. Presently, however, their positive involvement, or lack thereof, has become the subject of diagnostics as opposed to therapy. In this regard, the combination of the presence and extent of metastasis to the axilla represents the single most important prognostic factor for the management of patients with breast cancer. See generally "Cancer, Principles and Practice of Oncology", vol. 1, 4th ed. DeVita, Jr., et al., chapter 40, Harris, et al., J. P. Lippincott Co., Philadephia, Pa. (1993).
The axilla is a triangular region bounded by the axillary vein superiorly, the latissimus dorsi laterally, and the serratus anterior medially. With more current diagnostic procedures, essentially all axillary nodes at the axilla assumed to represent the drainage basin are removed during surgery for analysis. In general, somewhere between 10 and 30 nodes will be removed in the course of dissection with, of course, the attendant risks. In this regard, these nodes are generally surrounded by investment or fatty tissue and visualization of them necessarily is limited. Such dissection will pose risks of cutting the long thoracic nerve, the thoracic-dorsal nerve, the nerve to the pectoralis major or the axillary vein. Morbidity may occur in some cases due to regional node removal and patients are known to frequently discuss a numbing of the arm region following the procedure.
While this form of somewhat radical axillary lymph node dissection has been the conventional approach to determining nodal metastatic involvement, more recent data suggests that less radical axillary node evaluation procedures may generate equivalent information for staging and patient management, but with far more limited dissection and resultant trauma, as discussed below.
Patient management for staging purposes for the case of cutaneous melanoma is highly predicated upon determinations of lymph involvement. A number of factors are involved in the prognosis of the disease, including, inter alia, location, tumor thickness, level of invasion, growth patterns, and of particular importance the identification of regional node metastatic involvement. Generally, surgical excision of metastatic nodes within the drainage basin of a lesion has been considered the only effective treatment for cure or disease control. Some investigators have preferred to excise only clinically demonstrable metastatic nodes associated with the lesion, while others have chosen to excise the nodes even where they may appear normal because of the risk of the presence of occult (clinically undetectable) metastasis. A substantial dialog has been carried on by investigators as to whether or not elective lymph node dissection or lymphadenectomy is an appropriate therapy. Elective lymphodenectomy has the major advantage of treating a nodal metastasis at a relatively early stage in its natural history when the tumor burden is low. On the other hand, such an approach may subject patients to surgery which would otherwise have been unnecessary. In particular, where patients exhibit a clinical Stage I level of the disease, there will be no nodal metastasis present and no benefit then can be realized from regional lymphadenectomy.
Relatively recently, Morton, et al., undertook an investigation of a procedure designed to identify that lymph node nearest the site of a melanoma and within the pertinent lymph drainage basin. Such a node, being on the most direct drainage pathway will present the most likely site of early metastasis and is referred to as the "sentinel node". Thus, by carrying out only a limited dissection specific to this node and performing pathologic analysis of it, staging can be achieved without at least initial resort to more radical lymphadenectomy. With the approach, once the drainage basin from a lesion is identified, for example, by lymphoscintigraphy, an intraoperative mapping of the cutaneous lymphatics with vital dye is carried out at the time of surgical removal of the primary lesion. The vital dye, for example of blue color, is injected at the site of the lesion and tracked by blunt dissection until the sentinel node is reached. That node is now exclusively of blue color and readily identified. Thus, the sentinel draining lymph node of each primary melanoma is isolated and removed. By examining the sentinel nodes, for example by frozen section using routine hematoxylineosin histopathological techniques, as well as rapid immunohistochemical techniques, only those patients who have evidence of micrometastasis in the sentinel draining node are subject to subsequent lymphodenectomy. See generally, Morton D., Wen D.-R., Wong J., et al. "Technical Details of Intraoperative Lymphatic Mapping for Early Stage Melanoma", Arch. Surg. 1992: 127:392-399; and "Lymphoscintigraphy in High-Risk Melanoma of the Trunk: Predicting Draining Node Groups, Defining Lymphatic Channels and Locating the Sentinel Node", R. F. Uren, et. al, J. Nucl Med 1993; 34:1435-1440.
The approach of Morton, et al., also has been undertaken to moderate the otherwise somewhat radical axillary lymph node dissection common in staging breast cancer. Through the utilization of the noted vital dyes in conjunction with the lymph drainage system from primary breast tumor, less radical sentinel node based procedures may result in adequate axillary staging and regional control. With the procedure, in general, a vital blue dye is injected into the breast mass and surrounding breast parenchyma. Following a relatively short interval, a transverse incision is made just below the hair bearing region of the axilla. Blunt dissection is performed until a lymphatic tract or duct leading to a blue stained node is identified. The lymph duct, having a blue color, provides a guide path leading to the location of the most proximal lymph node and thus the sentinel node. This sentinel node is excised and evaluated. While the procedure calls for considerable surgical experience and talent associated with the delicate task of following the blue duct (a ruptured dye-carrying duct can be problematic), the ability to identify a tumor-free sentinel lymph node will enable the surgeon to accurately stage metastasis-free breast cancer patients without subjecting them to the risks of radical dissection. The approach may also improve histologic staging by enabling the pathologist to focus on fewer lymph nodes. See generally Guiliano, A. E.; Kirgan, B. M.; Guenther, J. M.; and Morton, D. L., "Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Lymphadenectomy for Breast Cancer", Annals of Surgery, vol. 220, no. 3: 391-401, 1994, J. B. Lippincott Company.
Lymph node involvement in metastasis also has been the subject of investigation in other quite different forms of cancer such as colonic cancer. This has been through the utilization of a hand-held radiation responsive probe. U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,840 by Martin., M. D. and Thurston, Ph.D., entitled "Method for Locating, Differentiating, and Removing Neoplasms", issued Nov. 8, 1988, reviews the approaches of nuclear medicine for locating colonic tumor. The patent discloses a method for locating, differentiating, and removing neoplasms which utilizes a radiolabelled antibody in conjunction with the radiation detection probe, which the surgeon may use intraoperatively in order to detect the sites of radioactivity. Because of the proximity of the detection probe to the labelled antibody, the faint radiation emanating from occult sites becomes detectable because, in part, of the inherent application of the approximate inverse square law of radiation propagation. The procedure is known as the RIGS.RTM. procedure, RIGS being a registered trademark of Neoprobe Corporation, Dublin, Ohio. The RIGS system has been found to provide a unique identification of involved lymph nodes for staging evaluation. See, for example, Nieroda, C. A., et al., Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. vol. 169(1), 1989, pp 35-40. This RIGS lymph evaluation also may be employed with certain more minimally invasive procedures as described by M. W. Arnold, M. D., and M. O. Thurston, Ph.D., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,456, entitled "Radiation-Based Laparoscopic Method for Determining Treatment Modality" issued Jan. 24, 1995.
As an aspect of the RIGS system, the location of involved lymph material or neoplasm is carried out utilizing a statistical approach. With this approach, a background count rate of radiation emanation is developed, for example, at the aorta of the patient for an interval of time, for example, 5 seconds. A microprocessor-based control system then calculates a statistically significant value, for example a predetermined number of standard deviations of the basic count rate to derive a statistically significant threshold radiation count rate level. The ranging procedure is referred to by surgeons as "squelching". Operating in conjunction with that threshold level, the instrument provides the surgeon with audible cues representing that a high probability of tumor involvement is present at a location closely adjacent the forward window of the hand-held probe.
RIGS-based instrumentation, for example as described in Denen, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,803, entitled "Detector and Localizer for Low Energy Radiation Emissions", issued Jan. 31, 1989, may be employed for detecting and "mapping" a lymph duct draining from a tumor or lesion. Additionally, the squelching procedure, heretofore employed to preset the instrumentation so as to locate otherwise undetectable tumor may be used as a guide to the sentinel node. However, the control unit and standard hand-held probe used with it initially were designed for a different type of use involving very faint levels of radiation. Performing with this very low level radiation, the instrumentation located labeled antibody present at the site of occult (often extremely small) tumor. By contrast, the radiopharmaceutical materials employed in sentinel lymph node location often are of a comparatively high intensity (count rate). Instrument components now are called for to enhance the techniques of locating regional nodes associated with a tumor or lesion and for isolating and differentiating the sentinel node from the regional node grouping within its locality.

Remotely controlled apparatus and system for tracking and locating a source of photoemissions


A motor vehicle has a pair of main drive road wheels, a pair of auxiliary drive road wheels, and a differential disposed between the auxiliary drive road wheels, the main and auxiliary drive road wheels serving as the front and rear road wheels of the motor vehicle. An apparatus for driving the front and rear road wheels includes a speed increasing device disposed in a power transmission path leading to the differential between the auxiliary drive road wheels, detecting means for detecting a speed of travel of the motor vehicle and a steering variable, and control member for enabling the speed increasing device by predicting a turn of the motor vehicle based on the detected speed and the detected steering variable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving the front and rear road wheels of a motor vehicle, and moro particularly to an apparatus for driving the front and rear road wheels of a motor vehicle, which apparatus includes torque transmission clutches capable of adjusting the amounts of torque to be transmitted to a pair of laterally spaced auxiliary drive road wheels, and a speed increasing device disposed in a power transmission path connected to the driven wheels, the speed increasing device being capable of changing the speed of rotation.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
As shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is known a front and rear road wheel drive motor vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a "4WD motor vehicle) in which drive power from an engine 1 is transmitted through a transmission T/M and an output shaft 2 thereof to a front wheel differential 3 comprising a differential case 4 and a pair of output shafts 5, 6 coupled to respective front road wheels FW through drive axles 7, 8, respectively, and then the drive power is transmitted from the front wheel differential 3 through a propeller shaft 9 to a rear wheel differential 13 for driving a pair of rear road wheels RW. The rear wheel differential 13 has a differential case 14 to which the rear end of the propeller shaft 9 is coupled through meshing gears 11, 12. The differential case 14 is combined with a pair of torque transmitting clutches (e.g., hydraulic multiplate clutches) 21, 25 mounted respectively on output shafts 15, 16 coupled to the respective rear road wheels RW through drive axles 17, 18, respectively. The hydraulic multiplate clutches 21, 25 are controlled by a hydraulic pressure control system (not shown) for varying the drive power to be transmitted to the output axles 15, 16.
More specifically, the hydraulic multiplate clutches 21, 25 comprise outer plates 22, 26, respectively, fixed to lefthand and righthand portions of the differential case 14 and inner plates 23, 27, respectively, fixed to the respective output axles 15, 16 and alternating with the outer plates 22, 26. The drive power to be transmitted to the output axles 15, 16 can be varied by introducing oil under pressure into hydraulic pressure chambers 24, 28 of the respective clutches 21, 25.
Now, it is assumed that the 4WD motor vehicle makes a turn as shown in FIG. 2. When the motor vehicle is smoothly steered while the engine power is small and the front road wheels FW are subjected to a small degree of slippage, the outer rear wheel RW (with respect to the turning circle) which is an auxiliary drive road wheel runs along a path r.sub.4 that is positioned outwardly of an average path f.sub.0 of the front road wheels FW which are main drive road wheels. Ideally, therefore, the rotational speeds .omega..sub.1, .omega..sub.2 of the inner and outer front road wheels FW, the rotational speed .omega..sub.0 of the propeller shaft 9, and the rotational speeds .omega..sub.8, .omega..sub.4 of the inner and outer rear road wheels RW should preferably meet the following relationship: ##EQU1##
In the 4WD motor vehicle shown in FIG. 1, however, even if the pressure applied to the hydraulic multiplate clutch 25 associated with the outer rear road wheel RW is increased, the rotational speed .omega..sub.4 does not exceed the rotational speed .omega..sub.0, but is equal to the rotational speed .omega..sub.0 at most. It has been unable to produce drive power to rotate the outer rear road wheel RW so that the relationship .omega..sub.0 <.omega..sub.4 will be achieved. Consequently, the motor vehicle undergoes tight-corner braking when making a turn.
If the pressure applied to the hydraulic multiplate clutch 25 coupled to the outer rear road wheel RW were lowered, then the condition .omega..sub.0 <.omega..sub.4 would be reached, but this would fail to accomplish the advantages of the 4WD motor vehicle resulting from the positive driving of all the front and rear road wheels.
The 4WD motor vehicle shown in FIG. 1 is structurally based on a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FF) motor vehicle. However, the above problems are also associated with a 4WD motor vehicle which is structurally based on a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive (RR) motor vehicle.
More specifically, FIG. 3 shows a 4WD motor vehicle in which engine power is transmitted from a transmission output shaft 2 to a rear wheel differential 3 and then transmitted from the rear wheel differential 3 through a propeller shaft 9 to a front wheel differential 13. The front wheel differential 13 has hydraulic multiplate clutches 21, 25, identical to those shown in FIG. 1, disposed in a differential case 14 and mounted respectively on front wheel output shafts 15, 16.
When the 4WD motor vehicle makes a turn as shown in FIG. 4, since the outer front wheel (with respect to the turning circle) which is an auxiliary drive road wheel runs along a path f.sub.2 that is positioned outwardly of an average path r.sub.0 of the rear road wheels which are main drive road wheels, the following relationship should preferably be met: ##EQU2## However, even if the pressure applied to the hydraulic multiplate clutch 25 associated with the outer front road wheel is increased, it is unable to produce drive power to rotate the outer front road wheel so that the relationship .omega..sub.0 <.omega..sub.2 will be achieved.
This also holds true for a 4WD motor vehicle that is structurally based on a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (FR) motor vehicle, not shown, and also for a midship-engine, rear-wheel-drive motor vehicle, not shown.
One solution to the above problem is to provide a speed increasing device having a speed changing capability and disposed in a drive power transmitting path from a differential coupled to main drive road wheels to a differential coupled to the auxiliary drive road wheels, the speed increasing device being controllable to make drive power applied to the main drive road wheels smaller than drive power imposed on the auxiliary drive road wheels. A drive torque applied to an outer one of the auxiliary drive road wheels can be larger than a drive torque applied to an inner one of the auxiliary drive road wheels by controlling a pair of torque transmitting clutches, thus improving operating performance or abilities, such as turning performance or ability, of the motor vehicle.
When the motor vehicle makes a turn, the speed increasing device in the power transmission path has to be switched to a speed increasing mode. If the speed increasing device is switched after the turn of the motor vehicle has been detected, however, a control time lag or delay is developed, and hence the response of the speed increasing device is limited.

Front and rear road wheel drive apparatus for motor vehicle


A system and a method for detecting the presence of an occlusion in an intravenous (IV) line supplying a medicinal liquid to a patient. Two pressure occlusion sensors are employed to produce a value for the proximal and distal pressures within an IV pumping cassette that is disposed in the fluid path of the IV line. Each pressure occlusion sensor includes a strain gauge connected to a leaf spring that is fixed at one end within a pump chassis and a rod that is disposed transverse to the leaf spring. Each rod has one end that responds to the force of a portion of an elastomeric membrane inside the pumping cassette and another end that contacts a free end of the leaf spring. When a leaf spring is flexed by the movement of a rod, the strain gauge mounted on the leaf spring produces a differential voltage that corresponds to a fluid pressure within the pumping cassette. The distal pressure occlusion sensor automatically opens a flow stop on the pumping cassette when the pumping cassette is inserted into the pump chassis. The outputs from the distal and proximal pressure sensors are sampled at least once per second to ensure that maximum pressure values are not exceeded and that a pressure sensor failure is immediately detected.

Intravenous (IV) lines are used to convey medicinal fluids into a patient's cardiovascular system. A typical IV line includes a fluid reservoir coupled to one end of a flexible tubing that is connected in fluid communication with a large vein of a patient. An inline IV pump is often employed to effect and control the flow of the medicinal fluid through the tubing to the patient. Also, at least one occlusion sensor is usually included to detect when the flow of fluid through the IV line is fully or partially interrupted. Partial or complete occlusion of fluid flow is one of the more common problems in the use of an IV line. The patient may unintentionally compress the tubing, e.g., by rolling onto it, and stop the fluid flow, or a blood clot may block the flow of fluid where it enters the cardiovascular system. In addition, an electrical or mechanical failure of an IV pump disposed in the IV line may cause the flow of fluid through the line to be impeded. Problems can also arise if false alarms are triggered by minor pumping irregularities or occasional spikes in the signal produced by the occlusion sensor, since too many false alarms can cause medical personnel to ignore valid alarms.
In the prior art, pressure activated occlusion sensors have been disposed at the proximal and distal ends of a disposable pumping cassette (IV pump) for determining when the flow of fluid through the IV line is impeded. When the measured pressures indicate that the flow of fluid is impeded, an alarm is activated that notifies medical personnel of the condition. Typically, a separate assembly is employed for coupling a pressure occlusion sensor to an IV line, and the occlusion sensor is disposed adjacent to an IV pump. However, the limited space adjacent to ambulatory IV pumps has generally restricted the use of pressure occlusion sensors to non-ambulatory IV pumps.
Prior art pressure occlusion sensors typically must be calibrated by medical personnel each time they are coupled to an IV line, using a time consuming procedure. Also, special training is often necessary for medical personnel to be proficient at calibrating the pressure occlusion sensors. Thus, a clear need has developed for a pressure occlusion sensor that is integrated with the IV pump to conserve space and which is automated to implement the calibration procedure. While accurately detecting any significant hindrance to fluid flow, such an occlusion sensor should minimize false alarms.


A method of manufacturing a thermal transfer device including providing first and second thermally conductive substrates that are substantially atomically flat, providing a patterned electrical barrier having a plurality of closed shapes on the first thermally conductive substrate and providing a nanotube catalyst material on the first thermally conductive substrate in a nanotube growth area oriented within each of the plurality of closed shapes of the patterned electrical barrier. The method also includes orienting the second thermally conductive substrate opposite the first thermally conductive substrate such that the patterned electrical barrier is disposed between the first and second thermally conductive substrates and providing a precursor gas proximate the nanotube catalyst material to facilitate growth of nanotubes in the nanotube growth areas from the first thermally conductive substrate toward, and limited by, the second thermally conductive substrate. In this thermal transfer device, introduction of current flow between the first and second thermally conductive substrates enables heat transfer between the first and second thermally conductive substrates via a flow of electrons between the first and second thermally conductive substrates.

The invention relates generally to thermal transfer devices, and particularly, to solid-state thermal transfer devices.
Thermal transfer devices may be used for a variety of heating/cooling and power generation/heat recovery systems, such as refrigeration, air conditioning, electronics cooling, industrial temperature control, waste heat recovery, and power generation. These thermal transfer devices are also scalable to meet the thermal management needs of a particular system and environment. Unfortunately, existing thermal transfer devices, such as those relying on refrigeration cycles, are relatively inefficient and environmentally unfriendly due to mechanical components such as compressors and the use of refrigerants.
In contrast, solid-state thermal transfer devices offer certain advantages, such as the potential for higher efficiencies, reduced size and weight, reduced noise, and being more environmentally friendly. For example, thermotunneling devices transfer heat by tunneling hot electrons from one electrode to another electrode across a nanometer-scale barrier. The heat transfer efficiency of these thermotunneling devices depends upon various factors, such as material characteristics (e.g., electrodes and barrier), electrode alignment, electrode spacing, and thermal losses. For example, the efficiency of these thermotunneling devices generally improves if the electrodes have a low work function, the barrier is in vacuum or an inert gas, and the spacing between the electrodes is less than about 50 nanometers. Unfortunately, electrode spacing is particularly difficult to achieve and maintain in these thermotunneling devices. Thus, achieving efficient thermotunneling devices can be problematic.
Accordingly, a need exists for creating a thermal transfer device with low work function electrodes and a controlled spacing between the electrodes.

Thermal transfer device and system and method incorporating same


A wet connect system including a connector housing, a wet connector disposed in a pocket of the housing, a washout window in the pocket and a washout outlet in the pocket, the washout outlet fluidly connected to a washout pathway, the pathway at least partially within the housing.

In the resource recovery and fluid sequestration industries, making connections in the downhole environment, be they electrical, optical, hydraulic, etc. need to be made. Difficulties in making such connections are usually associated with debris that has collected at the connection site. Efforts to clean this area have been tried with varying success. The art would well receive additional configurations that provide for clean connection areas.

Wet connect pocket washout, method, and system


This application provides a motor, including a stator core and a motor housing provided with a distribution groove, a liquid inlet channel, and a liquid outlet channel. The distribution groove is provided on an inner wall of the motor housing, the liquid inlet channel is in communication with the distribution groove and an outer space of the motor housing, and the liquid outlet channel is in communication with an inner cavity and the outer space of the motor housing. An outer wall of the stator core is provided with a stator groove. The stator groove is in communication with both the distribution groove and the liquid outlet channel. The liquid inlet channel, the distribution groove, the stator groove, and the liquid outlet channel are in communication to form a coolant channel.

A heat dissipation technology is one of the key technologies for miniaturization of a motor of an electric vehicle. Whether the motor can dissipate heat well directly affects operation reliability of the motor and vehicle performance. The motor includes a stator, and a corresponding heat dissipation design generally needs to be made for the stator. However, a stator of a conventional motor has relatively poor heat dissipation efficiency.

Motor, motor cooling system, and electric vehicle

Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.


A new Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Syncin Pueblo’ particularly distinguished by the greyed-orange ray floret color with mostly green discs at the early age, single, daisy-type flowers, strong stems, good shelf-life, medium green foliage, uniform plant habit and flowering response time, and about an 8 week flowering response time.

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Syncin Pueblo'.
'Syncin Pueblo' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has greyed-orange ray floret color with mostly green discs at the early age, single, daisy-type flowers, strong stems, good shelf-life, medium green foliage, uniform plant habit and flowering response time, and about an 8 week flowering response time.
'Syncin Pueblo' originates as a natural whole plant mutation of 'Yopueblo', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,546. 'Syncin Pueblo' was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of the parent cultivar in a field trial in Fort Myers, Fla. in March 2008. The parent cultivar 'Yopueblo' has a lighter orange ray floret color.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Syncin Pueblo' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in June 2008 in a controlled environment in Fort Myers, Fla.


A process is disclosed for making metal plated PPD-T fibers wherein the plating is durable and highly conductive. The process involves contacting the fibers with an 80 to 90% sulfuric acid solution, neutralizing and washing the fibers with water, and then plating the fibers by an electroless plating process. The acid treatment of the fibers promotes adhesion between the metal and the fiber and high electrical conductivity for the plated metal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electroless metal plating of aramid fibers wherein the metal is strongly adhered to the aramid fiber substrate and provides a highly conductive surface. The aramid is subjected to a preplating treatment including carefully controlled exposure to a concentrated sulfuric acid solution, followed by washing, catalyzation, and the electroless plating, itself.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electroless plating is the deposition of a metal film by interaction of metal ions and a chemical reducing agent in a basic solution. Electroless plating, in a general way, is well known. One of the difficulties in achieving successful electroless plating has resided in obtaining good adhesion between the plating substrate and the plated metal. While mere encapsulation may suffice for some applications and some articles, good adhesion of the plated metal is essential for fiber surfaces because the plated metal coating must be durable enough to withstand the forces of further processing and end use stresses.

Electroless plated aramid surfaces and a process for making such surfaces


A waste material separating apparatus and method which comprises a frame and a vibratory screening deck or tier within the frame, the screening deck having a plurality of generally parallel, straight rod elements to act as bludgeons on the waste material. The rod elements are removably extended from a transverse rail. Waste material to be separated into a coarse material and a finer material is discharged onto the rod element. The separating apparatus has an eccentric rotating shaft secured to the deck to impart vibratory motion to the rod elements so that the free ends of the vibratory fingers vibrate in a generally vertical direction, and bludgeon and break up the compacted solid waste landfill material. The solid material is progressively moved from the tall to short end of the frame by forward rotary motion of the rotary shaft and falls off the ends of the vibratory rod elements onto the lower tiers to decompact and break up and tumble the waste material. The fiber material falls through the rod elements and is recovered within the frame while the coarse material is discharged from the short end of the frame.

Soil and loam screening apparatus are known in which a screening apparatus includes a frame and a pair of sloping vibratory shaker screens supported within the frame. Generally, the frame has a tall end and a short end joined by two sides and has funneling surfaces directed toward the upper shaker screen. Soil or other material to be screened is dumped onto the upper shaker screen, for example, from the shovel of a payloader, falls from the lower end of the upper shaker screen outside of the frame, while the material which is smaller than the screen of the upper frame passes through the upper shaker screen to a lower vibratory screen of smaller opening dimensions which permits coarser material to be discharged at the one short end of the frame and finer material to pass through the lower shaker screen either onto a conveyor belt or within the frame for later retrieval. Such vibratory loam and soil material screening apparatuses are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,194, issued Apr. 8, 1980; U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,000, issued Dec. 2, 1980; U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,572 issued Mar. 17, 1981 ; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 263,836, issued Apr. 13, 1982, hereby incorporated by reference and which apparatuses are known in the industry as Read Screen-All.RTM. soil separating apparatuses (Read Screen-All.RTM. is the registered trademark of James L. Read, Middleboro, Mass.).
Generally, the shaker screen assembly in the above-described loam and soil material separating apparatus is secured by compression springs and the shaker assembly bounces on the springs in a rotary-type movement. Movement is imparted by the operation of an off balance shaft mechanism secured to the upper and lower shaker mechanisms generally by an off balance flywheel secured to each end of a shaft, which shaft is driven by a hydraulic motor. Generally, the upper shaker screen is composed of a woven wire assembly of typically large diameter wire in order to withstand the impact of soil or another heavy material dumped by a payloader directly onto the upper screen assembly, and which soil material may include large rocks or other heavy debris, while the screen of the lower shaker assembly is usually of smaller diameter wire and having smaller openings with the diameter of the woven screen and openings selected for the particular separation desired.
While loam and soil material are generally quickly and efficiently separated in the above-described separating apparatus, where the feed material to the apparatus comprises a wide variety of material such as that found in dumps, which would include leaves, paper bags, sticks, as well as sand, soil, rocks, twigs, cans, bottles, tires, domestic and industrial garbage and trash, and construction site debris, the separation of such material becomes much more difficult.
There are a wide variety of vibratory screening apparatus employed to screen various, disparate feed-type materials, and which vibratory screening apparatus rather than using woven screens, comprise comb or finger-like members composed of rods arranged in a series of decks over which the feed material is passed to be separated. Typically, the screening decks are arranged in a shingle array fashion, with each deck generally horizontally or slightly downwardly tilted from the horizontal and having a plurality of array of finger or rod-like members projecting from a transverse frame, so as to provide for the desired separation.
One vibratory screening apparatus is described for example in U.K. Patent GB 2 134 415B, published Aug. 15, 1984, which describes a screening apparatus with a plurality of replaceable screening decks arranged transversely with finger-like members defining spaces therebetween and which spaces diverge in a direction from the transverse screen portion of the apparatus. In addition, a similar screening apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,379, issued Sep. 15, 1987, which apparatus includes a plurality of inclined, open-ended bars capable of oscillatory movement and formed in a stepped arrangement with one screen located behind the other to provide for the separation of a wide variety of materials. The screening apparatus employs bars of circular, rectangular, prismatic or T-shape profile cross section and zigzag-shaped bars for example to prevent the passage of paper sheets through the bars.
It is desirable to provide for the more efficient and effective separation of a wide variety of material, particularly waste material from landfill sites which include composted, recyclable, soil-impregnated waste material.

Waste material separating apparatus and method


The present invention includes a semiconductor layer formed over an insulation layer and a substrate. Doped regions are formed in a portion of the semiconductor layer. A gate dielectric and a gate are respectively formed over the semiconductor layer. The arrangement of the gate sidewall and semiconductor layer surface is substantially orthogonal, multi-portion dielectric layer is formed on the gate and a portion of the silicon layer. Charge trapping dielectrics are attached on the multi-portion dielectric layer acting as carrier trapping structure. The gate-to-source/drain non-overlapped implantation is capable of storing multi-bits per transistor.

The semiconductor industry has been advanced to the field of Nanometer Scale technologies. The fabrication of the nonvolatile memories also follows the trend of the size reduction. The nonvolatile memory includes various types of devices which have been developed for specific applications. One of the applications of flash memory is BIOS for computers. The high-density nonvolatile memories can be applied as the mass storage of portable handy terminals, solid-state camera and PC cards. It is because that the nonvolatile memories exhibit many advantages, such as memory retention without power, fast access time, low power dissipation in operation, and robustness.
The formation of nonvolatile memories toward the trends of low supply power and fast access, because these requirements are necessary for the application of the mobile computing system. Nonvolatile memory devices include a floating gate to store charges and an element for electrically placing charge in and removing the charges from the floating gate. At present, the low voltage nonvolatile memory is applied with a voltage of about 3V to 5V during charging or discharging the floating gate. In order to attain high tunneling efficiency, the thickness of the dielectric between the floating gate and substrate has to be scaled down due to the supply voltage is reduced. The data program method of a non-volatile memory device includes a method using Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling. In FN tunneling, a high voltage is applied to a control gate to induce a high electric field in a tunnel oxide layer, and electrons of a semiconductor substrate pass the tunnel oxide layer and are injected into a floating gate. During the mode of erasing, the bias may apply on the source to discharge the electron from the floating gate to the source of a memory device.
Currently, the SOC (system on chip) desires memory with high operation speed and integrated in one single chip. For example, the single polysilicon processing may integrate with other devices such as transistors. The typical non-volatile memory employs stack gate memories by double polysilicon processing. One type of the memories uses trapping layer instead of floating gate (FG) to hold the carrier. The memory cells are constructed with a trapping ONO or ON layer. The memory cell generally includes a P-type silicon substrate and two PN junctions between N+ source (or drain regions) and P type substrate, a nitride layer sandwiched between two oxide layers and a polycrystalline layer. To program or write the cell, voltages are applied to the drain and the gate and the source is grounded. These voltages generate an electric field along the length of the channel from the source to the drain. This electric field causes electrons to be drawn off the source and begin accelerating towards the drain. The hot electrons are generated at the boundary between drain and channel during the acceleration.
In the prior art, please refer to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,881,108; 5,768,192 to Eitan B. entitled "Non-volatile semiconductor memory cell utilizing asymmetrical charge trapping", filed on 16 Jun. 1998. The charge trapping memory may also be referred to U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,554 to Yoshikawau and Kuniyoshi, entitled "Semiconductor Memory". The patent disclosed a memory with ONO structure. Further article teaches the memory with ONO stacked layer could also be found. Please refer to the article, Chan, T. Y. et al, "A True Single-Transistor Oxide-Nitride-Oxide EEPROM Device," IEEE Electron Device Letters, vol. EDL-8. No. 3, March 1987.
Furthermore, another type structure called FinFET is developed recently. The channel region of the device is similar to a Fin structure that is why it was named as FinFET device. The source/drain and the channel are formed in a single crystallographic orientation silicon layer. Gate oxide is subsequently formed over the silicon layer, followed by forming a gate wrapping the channel region, thereby creating the creating the dual gate structure. Thus, the channel width of the FinFET device is wider than the prior structure. It allows generating higher driving current than that of the conventional FET device. In the prior art, please refer to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,881,108; 6,800,910 to Lin; Ming-Ren, and assigned to Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., entitled "FinFET device incorporating strained silicon in the channel region". The filing date is Dec. 31, 2002. Other reference could refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,516, assigned to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, entitled "Method of forming an N channel and P channel FINFET device on the same semiconductor substrate". The filing date is Sep. 5, 2002.

Fringing field induced localized charge trapping memory

Applied Intellectual Properties Co., Ltd.


A lens meter comprising light sources for project luminous flux for measurement to a lens to be examined and a light receiving element for detecting the measuring luminous flux passed through the lens to be examined, wherein refractive characteristics of the lens is detected on the basis of the examined data by the light receiving element, the lens meter comprises a measurement target having predetermined patterns, device for moving the target to one of a plurality of arrangement positions on the optical path of the measuring luminous flux, device for selecting one position to which the measurement target is to be moved among a plurality of arrangement positions on the optical path on the basis of the examined data by the light receiving element, device for controlling the target moving device in accordance with the selection by the selecting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens meter, and more particularly to the lens meter capable of measuring optical characteristics of lenses to be examined, for instance spectacle lenses, contact lenses and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Known is a measurement principle of lens meters such that a target provided with a predetermined pattern is disposed in front or behind of a lens to be examined and a light receiving element detects the optical image of the target deflected by passing through the lens to be examined, so that optical characteristics of the lens are obtained based on the detected results of the light receiving element.
When the position of the target is fixed in such a kind of lens meter, the optical image of the target formed on the light receiving element becomes a blurred image by the refractive power of the lens to be examined, the blur degree of the image becoming larger in proportional as the refractive power of the lens increases.
For preventing measuring errors from occurring due to blur of the image, there is also a lens meter in which the target is moved along an optic axis of measuring light according to the refractive power of the lens to be examined so that blur degree of the image formed on the light receiving element may be reduced.
However, the above mentioned lens meter in which the target is moved along the optic axis, the position of the optical image of the target being moved along with movement of the target, needs to detect an accurate position to which the target for carrying out high precise measurement. In the conventional lens meters having a system for moving a target along an optic axis of measuring light, it is difficult to detect always an accurate stop position of the target in reason of secular change and others. Accordingly, such a conventional apparatus is required providing with a detecting system for detecting the stop position of the target separately from the system for controlling movement of the target. This causes problems of complication in construction of the apparatus and the increased cost.


A method of making a dental crown or bridge restoration includes forming a precursor crown outside of a patient's mouth with a first restorative material, with a buccal contour on the buccal wall substantially the same as a buccal contour on a final crown restoration, and an open space on or around at least one of the mesial side wall or the distal side wall; and filling and securing a second material, different from the first restorative material, inside the open space or pocket of the precursor crown while outside the patient's mouth, and with the precursor crown having a strength substantially equivalent to the final crown restoration, and with the buccal contour being substantially the same as the buccal contour on the final crown, prior to filling and securing the second material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method for making a dental restoration or prosthesis, such as a crown or a bridge. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for making a dental restoration with a second material filling a pocket in the dental restoration.
2. Related Art
Minimal intervention is a key phrase in today's dental practice. Minimal intervention dentistry (MID) focuses on the least invasive treatment options possible in order to minimize tissue loss and patient discomfort. Concentrating mainly on prevention and early intervention of caries, MID's first basic principle is the remineralization of early carious lesions, advocating a biological or therapeutic approach rather than the traditional surgical approach for early surface lesions. One of the key elements of a biological approach is the usage and application of caries inhibiting (or remineralizing) agents to tooth structure (enamel and dentin lesions). These agents are part of a new era of dentistry aimed at controlling the demineralization/remineralization cycle, depending upon the microenvironment around the tooth.
Dental caries is a multifactorial disease caused by the interaction of dietary sugars, dental biofilm and the host's dental tissue within the oral environment (Buzalaf M A R, Fluoride and the Oral Environment, Monogr Oral Sci, Basel, Karger, 2011, vol 22, p 97-114). It is the cumulative result of consecutive cycles of demineralization and remineralization at the interface between the biofilm and the tooth surface. Oral bacteria excrete acid after consuming sugar, leading to demineralization (Fejerskow O, Kidd, E A, Nyvad B, Baclum V, Defining the disease: an introduction: in Fejerskov O, Kidd E (eds): Dental Caries—The Disease and its Clinical Magement, ed 2, Oxford, Blackwell Munksgaard, 2008, p 3-6). Upon this acid challenge, the hydroxyapatite crystals are dissolved from the subsurface. Remineralization is the natural repair process for non-cavitated lesions. It relies on calcium and phosphate ions, assisted by fluoride, to rebuild a new surface on the existing crystal remnants in the subsurface. The remineralized crystals are less acid soluble than the original ones (Featherstone J D, Dental Caries: a dynamic disease process, Aust Dent J, 2008; 53(3):286-91).
When the enamel and dentin no longer have adequate structure to maintain their mineral framework, cavitation takes place and remineralization is an insufficient treatment. Tooth preparation and restoration are now required. Although most restorative materials are inert with respect to the biological tissues of the tooth, some are bioactive. Bioactive restorative materials actually interact with or affect the biological tissues. They effectively work with the dental hard tissues to harden and "heal" them. The most widely used bioactive (caries inhibiting) restorative materials are calcium, phosphate, and fluoride. These agents release calcium ions, phosphate ions, and fluoride ions, respectively. Silver, copper, and zinc can also be used to inhibit the caries causing microbes.
It is well established that topically applied fluoride ions as a typical example of CIMs (caries inhibition materials), through integration into the mineral component of enamel and dentin, can function to reduce the incidence and progression of dental caries. (J. M. Ten Cate, "Current concepts on the theories of the mechanism of action of fluoride," ActaOdontologicaScandinavica, vol. 57, no. 6, pp. 325-329, 1999.) (C. González-Cabezas, "The chemistry of caries: remineralization and demineralization events with direct clinical relevance," Dental Clinics of North America, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 469-478, 2010). Fluoride complexes have the ability to promote dental tissue remineralization in addition to increasing the resistance of tooth structure to demineralization. (W. Evans, "Conference report: a joint IADR/ORCA international symposium—fluorides: mechanisms of action and recommendations for use," Journal of Dental Research, vol. 68, no. 7, pp. 1215-1216, 1989). Fluoride can be made available to tooth surfaces through several methods, including via dentifrices, mouth rinses, and fluoridated water intake. It can also be used as a FRRM (Fluoride releasing restorative material) generally in the form of glass ionomer restorative material/cements or RMGI (resin-modified glass ionomer) restorative material/cements.
Some fluoride releasing dental materials are known. Some are fluoride ion releasing materials, mostly in a resin matrix. Often, the material is applied on the natural tooth directly inside a patients mouth. Some of these materials are an adhesive cement to seat a crown. For example, see: U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,910 (Raws et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,920 (Zimmerman et at); U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,617 (Causton et al), U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,646 (Hench et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,786 (Aasen et al); EP application 0,380,796 (Danielson); U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,586 (Hammesfahr et al); EP Application 0,509,516; U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,338 (Tsunekawa); International publication number WO 94/23944 (Sladek); U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,720 (Nowak et al); EP application 0,772,709 (Braden); EP application 0,873,107 (Mitra et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,924 (Braden et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,153 (Roberts et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,879 (Kawashima et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,113 (Connelly); U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,775 (Xu et al); International publication number WO00/69393 (Brennan et al); U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,562 (Rusin et al); U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,694 (Reynolds et al); U.S. Pat. publication 2008/0305053 (Lee et al); U.S. Pat. No. 8,217,173 (Xu et al); and International publication number 2012/101432.
Also, some calcium and phosphate releasing dental material are known. Some are calcium ion and/or phosphate ion releasing materials, mostly in a resin matrix. Some of the materials are applied on the natural tooth directly inside a patient's mouth. Some of these materials can be used as an adhesive cement to seat a crown. For example, see: U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,694 (Reynolds et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,971 (Constanz et al); U.S. Pat. No. 7,892,346 (Insley et al); U.S. Pat. No. 8,609,071 (Reynolds); U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,602 (Murphy et al); U.S. Pat. No. 8,512,741 (Tan et al); U.S. Pat. No. 7,709,029 (Chow et al); U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,460 (Xu et al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,251 (Dalai et al); 2005040286 (Rusin et al); 20050020720 (Dickens et al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,725 (Chow et al); 20030167093 (Xu et al); 20020137812 (Chow et al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,992 (Chow et al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,989 (Kandel et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,971 (Constanz et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,016 (Imura et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,254 (Chow et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,342 (Antonucci et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,399 (Ison et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,264 (Constanz et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,053 (Brown et al).
Also, some bioactive dental materials are known. Some bioactive dental materials are applied on a natural tooth directly inside a patient's mouth. Some of these materials can be used as an adhesive cement to seat a crown. For example, see: U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,644 (Day et al); U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,720 (Kessler et al); WO/2007/144662 (Hill et al); U.S. Pat. No. 7,329,129 (Cook et al); US20040065228 (Kessler et al); US20070221093 (Erdrich et al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,374 (Litkowski et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,233 (Salonen et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,942 (Likowski et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,836 (Yamamuro et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,916 (Hench et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,520 (Kokubo et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,836 (Yamamuro et al); US 20130171220 (Hill et al); WO/1202/002996 (Bringley et al).
A bioactive delivery device for delivering a bioactive solution to the maxillary or mandibular, periodontal and/or mucosal tissues is known. For example, see WO/2008/086566 (Cochrane et al).
Methods of making dental crowns are known. Some include an artificial tooth which comprises an outer shell of esthetic porcelain and an inner core selected from reinforcing strong porcelain, synthetic resin, and a combination of synthetic resin and reinforcing strong porcelain. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,829 (Halpern et al).
A dental prosthesis structure is known including a metal base contoured in a desired form and having a glass veneer of substantially the same coefficient of expansion as the metal base bonded to the metal base. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,772 (MaoNairn et al).
A preformed artificial crown for restoring a damaged tooth is known. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,468,028 (Sunter).
A composition and method of preparing a model base in the manufacture of dental prosthesis is known in which the model base is made of alkali phosphate and alkaline-earth fluoride. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,488 (Kristin et al).
A porcelain superstructure surrounding a metal substructure composed of a framework of relatively thin metal members interconnected to form concavities within the porcelain superstructure is known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,740 (Shoher et al)
See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,574 (Neihart); U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,389 (Schwartz); U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,007 (Sigler et al); U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,689 (Corbetta); U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,402 (Hirabayashi et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,339 (Abera); U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,865 (Suh et al).
There is no agreement in the literature in regards to the question of what quantity of fluoride has to be released from a filling material in order for it to provide a reliable caries-inhibiting action (R. W. Phillips, "Restorative Materials Containing fluoride, Journal of American Dental Association 116 (1988) 762-763). In view of clinical findings with various fluoride-releasing filling materials, it is, however, to be noted that the quantity of fluoride which is released by glass ionomer cements can reduce the formation of secondary caries to an extent that is clinically relevant (G. Wesenberg et al., J. Oral Rehabil. 7 (1980) 175-184). Also, it has been shown that in the case of so-called composite filling materials that display no or very little fluoride release, there is a particular susceptibility to attack from secondary caries (E. A. M. Kidd, Br. Dent. J. 144 (1978) 139-142).
Fluoride (F—) release is a desirable attribute for a material used in some dental applications. In general, materials that release greater amounts of fluoride have greater caries prevention potential and are desirable. For direct treatment methods to be directly used inside the patient's mouth, there are many dental materials being used that release fluoride including silicate cements, glass ionomer cements, glass ionomer hybrid (resin-modified) cements, and fluoride releasing composite resins. These materials are used either for filling materials after removal of caries or for adhesive material between the crown and prepared tooth. Also, it has been well known that fluoride releasing materials, as one example of a caries inhibiting material, release fluoride ions and recharges the ions when the fluoride ion level is high inside the mouth from the fluoridated dentifrices over long period of time.


A method and arrangement are disclosed for transmitting television programs via a plurality of channels, and an additional data service, for example, an Electronic Program Guide, via a selected television channel. While processing and displaying the program guide, prior art television receivers cannot continue the reproduction of a currently received TV program because the program is generally transmitted via a different channel. The invention provides a solution to this problem by duplicating a signal component representing, for example, the audio contents of the various television programs in said selected television channel. This allows customers to keep up with the service they were watching before, and to immediately return to the program if something of interest appears to happen. The invention is particularly applicable in Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) systems where each channel can accommodate a plurality of TV programs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and arrangement for transmitting television programs via a plurality of channels, and additional data services via a selected one of said channels. The invention also relates to a method and arrangement for receiving said television programs and additional data service. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable in Digital Video Broadcast systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) systems, a plurality of television programs is accommodated in an MPEG transport stream which is transmitted via a satellite, cable, or terrestrial channel. A DVB delivery system comprises a plurality of such channels.
Along with the television programs, additional services are provided. An example of an additional service is an electronic program guide (EPG). Such a program guide comprises program schedule information relating to the television programs that are transmitted by the delivery system. The program schedule information may be distributed through multiple channels, or completely transmitted in a selected one of said channels.
In order to receive, process, and display an additional service such as the program guide, the receiver (usually, a set-top box) needs to be tuned to the specific channel in which the program guide is transmitted. Generally, this channel is different from the channel to which the receiver is currently tuned. Consequently prior art receivers cannot continue the reproduction of a television program when the program guide is being accessed.

Transmission and reception of television programs and an additional data service


A method of manufacturing a piston using a swaging tool includes the step of positioning a portion of a first member and a portion of a second member of the piston within a first end of an opening formed through the swaging tool, such that a reduced diameter portion of the second member is substantially aligned with a first ring portion of the first member and an end portion of the second member contacts a second ring portion of the first member to create an annular space adjacent to the first ring portion and the reduced diameter portion. The method also includes the step of subsequently swaging the first ring portion by moving the first ring portion in a direction toward a second end of the swaging tool, such that a portion of the first ring portion is positioned within the annular space to fix the first member to the second member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to compressors, pistons for use in such compressors, and methods of manufacturing such compressors and pistons. In particular, the present invention is directed towards methods of manufacturing the piston of the compressor using a swaging tool.
2. Description of Related Art
Known methods of manufacturing a piston, such as the method described in Japanese Publication No. JP-A-10-159725, use a disc-shaped lid member and a cup member. The lid member forms an end surface of a piston head and the cup member includes a cylindrical portion. The bottom of the cup member is formed integrally with a connector for connecting the cup member to a swash plate. The cylindrical portion forms a peripheral surface of the piston head and has an open end, and the open end forms a brim of the cup member. The lid member closes the open end of the cylindrical portion, and a swaging tool is used to swag the brim of the cup member which forms a sealed cavity within the piston head. Specifically, the brim of the cup member is sealed to the lid member.

Method of manufacturing a piston having a hollow piston head


In one embodiment, a radiation detection system is provided including a radiation detector and a first enclosure encapsulating the radiation detector, the first enclosure including a low-emissivity infra-red (IR) reflective coating used to thermally isolate the radiation detector. Additionally, a second enclosure encapsulating the first enclosure is included, the first enclosure being suspension mounted to the second enclosure. Further, a cooler capable of cooling the radiation detector is included. Still yet, a first cooling interface positioned on the second enclosure is included for coupling the cooler and the first enclosure. Furthermore, a second cooling interface positioned on the second enclosure and capable of coupling the first enclosure to a cooler separate from the radiation detection system is included. Other embodiments are also presented.

Radioactive materials are often detected and identified by measuring gamma-rays emitted from the materials. The energy of gamma-rays is specific to that particular material and acts as a "finger print" to identify the material. A high resolution detector typically has better sensitivity and identification capability.
A germanium semiconductor, cooled to 100 K or below, gives the best resolution of current available detector materials and is often employed for this purpose. However, the requirement of keeping the detector below 100 K requires special cooling mechanisms to be implemented, including the use of liquid nitrogen. These requirements mean that germanium-based detectors are typically constrained to use in the laboratory where there is access to liquid nitrogen. Furthermore, the large size of the container of liquid nitrogen means that the radiation detection system is often too heavy to be easily moved by one person. Thus, the weight and power requirements of these detection systems make them unpractical for hand-held use.
There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

Hand-held, mechanically cooled, radiation detection system for gamma-ray spectroscopy

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


A wide viewing angle is achieved with a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of this invention, in which alignment directions of liquid crystal molecules are controlled by electric field between electrodes on a substrate. A pixel electrode and an insulating film covering the pixel electrode are formed on a TFT substrate. A plurality of concave portions and convex portions extending in parallel to each other are formed in the insulating film alternately. A common electrode is formed on each of the concave portions. And a CF substrate is disposed facing to the common electrodes. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the insulating film and the common electrodes and the liquid crystal layer. When a predetermined voltage is applied to the pixel electrode to induce an electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrodes, liquid crystal molecules are rotated along lines of electric force of the electric field in a plane parallel to the TFT substrate. Also, the liquid crystal molecules tilt vertically between the common electrodes symmetrically with respect to a center line between a neighboring pair of the common electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, specifically to a liquid crystal display device in which the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules is controlled by an electric field between electrodes on the same substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one way of achieving a wide viewing angle for a liquid crystal display device, a method has been developed to realize a light switching function by rotating the liquid crystal molecules in a plane parallel to the substrate with a lateral electric field generated between the electrodes on the same substrate. In-Plane Switching (hereafter referred to as IPS) method and Fringe-Field Switching (hereafter referred to as FFS) method are examples of such a technology.
A conventional liquid crystal display device using the FFS method will be explained referring to the drawings. FIGS. 6 and 7 show cross-sectional views of a display pixel in the conventional liquid crystal display device using the FFS method. FIG. 6 shows the display pixel when no voltage is applied to a pixel electrode 12 that is to be described later, and FIG. 7 shows the display pixel when a voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 12.
A TFT (Thin Film Transistor) substrate 10 faces a light source BL as a first transparent substrate made of a glass substrate or the like, as shown in FIG. 6. A first polarizing plate 11 that linearly polarizes light from the light source BL is formed on a surface of the TFT substrate 10 facing the light source BL. The pixel electrode 12 to which the voltage is applied in response to a display signal is formed on another surface of the TFT substrate 10 that is not facing the light source BL. An insulating film 43 is formed on the pixel electrode 12 to cover it. Common electrodes 14 extending parallel to each other at predetermined intervals are formed on the insulating film 43. A first alignment film 15 covering the common electrodes 14 is formed on the insulating film 43.
A color filter substrate (hereafter referred to as CF substrate) 20 faces the common electrodes 14 as a second transparent substrate made of a glass substrate or the like. A color filter 21 and a second alignment film 22 are formed on a surface of the CF substrate 20 facing the common electrodes 14. A second polarizing plate 23 is formed on another surface of the CF substrate 20 that is not facing the common electrodes 14. The first and second polarizing plates 11 and 23 are disposed so that their polarization axes are perpendicular to each other. A liquid crystal layer 30 is sealed between the TFT substrate 10 and the CF substrate 20.
In the liquid crystal display device described above, an average direction of alignment (hereafter simply referred to as alignment direction) of liquid crystal molecules 31 in the liquid crystal layer 30 in a state where no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 12 is perpendicular to a polarization axis of the first polarizing plate 11 in a plane parallel to the TFT substrate 10. The linearly polarized light outgoing from the first polarizing plate 11 does not go through the second polarizing plate 23 because its polarization axis is perpendicular to the polarization axis of the second polarizing plate 23. That is, black is displayed.
On the other hand, when the voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 12 to induce an electric field between the pixel electrode 12 and the common electrodes 14, the liquid crystal molecules 31 are rotated along lines of electric force of the electric field in a plane parallel to the TFT substrate 10, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the linearly polarized light outgoing from the first polarizing plate 11 becomes elliptically polarized light after traveling through the liquid crystal layer 30. That is, there is a component of linearly polarized light that goes through the second polarizing plate 23. In this case, white is displayed.
The alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules 31 is tilted to a tangential direction of the lines of electric force of the electric field in a plane perpendicular to the TFT substrate 10 in the vicinity of the insulating film 43 between the common electrodes 14. That is, the alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules 31 tilt symmetrically with respect to a center line between a neighboring pair of the common electrodes 14. Dependence on the viewing angle is cancelled out by the symmetrical tilt of the alignment directions, making it possible to achieve the wide viewing angle.
Technologies mentioned above are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-296611.
Although the liquid crystal display device described above contributes to wider viewing angle in displaying white when the voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 12 to induce the electric field between the pixel electrode 12 and the common electrodes 14, it has not been considered sufficient. This invention is directed to improving the wide viewing angle characters of the conventional display device in which the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled by the electric field between the electrodes on the same substrate.

Liquid crystal display device comprising a first electrode in contact with a bottom surface and a second electrode in contact with a top surface of a single layer insulating film comprising concave and convex portions