This invention relates to non-steroidal compounds that are modulators of androgen, glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and progesterone receptors, and also to the methods for the making and use of such compounds.

Nuclear receptors are a class of structurally related gene expression modulators that act as ligand-dependent transcription factors (R. M. Evans, Science 240, 889 (1988)). The steroid receptors, namely the androgen receptor, the estrogen receptor, the glucocorticoid receptor, the mineralocorticoid receptor, and the progesterone receptor represent a subclass of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Nuclear receptor ligands in this subclass exert their effects by binding to an intracellular steroid hormone receptor. After the receptor-ligand complex is translocated to the nucleus of the cell, the complex binds to recognition sites on DNA, which allows for the modulation of certain genes.
Certain substances have demonstrated the ability to exhibit their activity in a tissue selective manner. In other words, tissue selectivity allows a nuclear receptor ligand to function as an agonist in some tissues, while having no effect or even an antagonist effect in other tissues. The term "selective receptor modulator" (SRM) has been given to these molecules. A synthetic compound that binds to an intracellular receptor and mimics the effects of the native hormone is referred to as an agonist. A compound that inhibits the effect of the native hormone is called an antagonist. The term "modulators" refers to compounds that have a spectrum of activities ranging from full agonism to partial agonism to full antagonism. The molecular basis for this tissue selective activity is not completely understood. Without being limited to any particular explanation, particular ligands put nuclear receptors in different conformational states. These states dictate the ability of coactivators, corepressors, and other proteins to be recruited by the nuclear receptor ("NR"). The unique cofactor-NR ensembles are the gene transcription factors that are thought to modulate tissue selective effects.
Ligand-mediated effects through the action of nuclear receptors are not limited to the classical genotropic mechanism outlined above. It is thought that some, if not all, of the separation of anabolic and general homeostatic effects from the stimulation of sexual tissues can be explained by a particular ligand's ability to potentiate non-genotropic pathways. One example of liganded nuclear receptor induction of non-genotropic pathways is found in the work of S. C. Manolagas et al., Cell, 104, 719-730. The action of a sex steroid NR on osteoblasts and other cell types is shown to involve the Src/Shc/ERK signaling pathway. This activity is mediated through the ligand binding domain of the sex steroid nuclear receptor alone. The NR DNA-binding domain is not required to attenuate etoposide-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. An NR lacking the DNA binding domain cannot function in the classical mode, acting as a transcription factor.
Nuclear receptor steroid ligands are known to play important roles in the health of both men and women. In regard to men's health, testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), for example, are endogenous steroidal ligands for the androgen receptor that likely play a role in every tissue type found in the mammalian body. During the development of the fetus, androgens play a role in sexual differentiation and development of male sexual organs. Further sexual development is mediated by androgens during puberty. Androgens play diverse roles in the adult including stimulation and maintenance of male sexual accessory organs and maintenance of the musculoskeletal system. Cognitive function, sexuality, aggression, and mood are some of the behavioral aspects mediated by androgens. Androgens affect the skin, bone, and skeletal muscle, as well as blood lipids and blood cells.
The study of androgen action and male reproductive dysfunction continues to expand significantly. In fact, only recently has the definition of a disease state been associated with hormonal changes that occur in aging men. This syndrome, previously referred to as Andropause, has more recently been described as Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male, or "ADAM" (A. Morales and J. L. Tenover, Urologic Clinics of North America (2002 Nov.) 29(4) 975). The onset of ADAM is unpredictable and its manifestations are subtle and variable. Clinical manifestations of ADAM include fatigue, depression, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction as well as changes in cognition and mood.
Published information indicates that androgen replacement therapy (ART) in men may have benefits in terms of improving body composition parameters (e.g. bone mineral density, increasing muscle mass, and strength) as well as improving libido and mood in some men. Therefore, andrologists and other specialists are increasingly using ART for the treatment of the symptoms of ADAM—though there is due caution given androgen's, like testosterone, potential side effects. Nonetheless, there is increasing scientific rational of and evidence for androgen deficiency and treatment in the aging male. Current testosterone-based ART therapies include injections, skin patches, gel-based formulations, and oral preparations. All of these therapies are somewhat efficacious in the treatment of ADAM, but, due to the dramatic fluctuations in plasma T-levels following treatment, success with these therapies has been variable.
Testosterone replacement products, such as AndroGel® (1% testosterone gel CIII, marketed by Solvay Pharmaceuticals) are emerging as a treatment of choice among physicians. Such products, however, fail to correctly mimic physiological testosterone levels and have potential side effects including exacerbation of pre-existing sleep apnoea, polycythemia, and/or gynaecomastia. Furthermore, the longer-term side effects on target organs such as the prostate or the cardiovascular system are yet to be fully elucidated. Importantly, the potential carcinogenic effects of testosterone on the prostate prevent many physicians from prescribing it to older men (i.e. age >60 years) who, ironically, stand to benefit most from treatment. Also, all of the existing treatment options have fundamental problems with their delivery mechanism. The need for a novel selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) is obviated by the potential side effect profile manifested in conventional treatments. A SARM would ideally have all the beneficial effects of endogenous androgens, while sparing sexual accessory organs, specifically the prostate.
In regard to female health, progesterone, the endogenous ligand for the progesterone receptor ("PR"), plays an important role in female reproduction during the various stages of the ovarian cycle and during pregnancy. Among other things, progesterone prepares the endometrium for implantation, regulates the implantation process, and helps maintain pregnancy. The therapeutic use of synthetic versions of progesterone (progestins) stems from progesterone's ability to regulate endometrial proliferation. In fact, progestins are included as part of hormone replacement therapy ("HRT") in women to reduce the incidence of endometriosis. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of therapy is tempered by undesired side-effect profiles. Chronic progestin therapy or continuous estrogen replacement regimens are often associated with increased bleeding. Excessive stimulatory effects on the endometrial vasculature may result in proliferation and fragility.
Compounds that modulate the effects of progesterone binding to PR are believed useful in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of endometriosis and uterine fibroid processes. Progesterone receptor antagonists such as mifepristone, also known as RU-486, and other PR modulators can inhibit endometrial proliferation at high estradiol concentrations in primates. Human clinical data with mifepristone supports the efficacy of a PR antagonist in endometriosis (D. R. Grow et al., J. Clin. Endocrin. Metab., 1996, 81). Despite enthusiasm for its use, RU-486 also acts as a potent ligand for the glucocorticoid receptor ("GR"). This cross-reactivity with the GR is associated with homeostatic imbalances.
Thus, modulators of nuclear steroid hormones that are highly specific for one receptor could offer greater benefit with less side effects in the treatment of both female and male related hormone responsive diseases.

Aniline derivatives as selective androgen receptor modulators


The present disclosure relates to a communication and powering system, such as a medical communication and powering system. An example communication and powering system includes at least one communication module with a communication transmitter, which is configured and arranged to transmit and send communication signals, at least one charging and/or powering module with an energy charging and/or powering transmitter, which is configured and arranged to provide and/or transmit charging and/or powering energy, and at least one receiver being a receiver for communication signals and energy, wherein the receiver has and/or can be switched into a first status for receiving communication signals provided by the communication module and wherein the receiver has and/or can be switched into a second status for receiving energy provided by the charging and/or powering module.

Communication and power charging system in a medical field may be used to submit energy and communication signals transcutaneously.
For example US 2015/0012061 A1 relates to a medical device for providing a stimulation therapy including a call configurator to receive both inductive charging and telemetric signals. Inductive charging signals are in a first frequency band. The telemetric signals are in a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The medical device includes inductive charging circuitry configured to provide electrical power to the medical device via the inductive charging signals. The medical device includes telemetric circuitry configured to conduct telecommunications with the external device via the telemetric signals. The medical device includes a first component electrically coupled between the coil and the inductive charging circuitry. The first component is configured to allow the inductive charging signals to pass through. The medical device includes a second component electrically coupled between the coil and the telemetric circuitry. The second component is configured to substantially drop the inductive charging signals while allowing telemetric signals to pass through.
Alternative solutions are for example disclosed by EP 1 680 182 A1, EP 1 675 648 A1 and EP 1 575 665 A1.
It is an object of the present disclosure to combine communication and wireless-charging within one electronic circuit, such as for a medical device. In this way, the electronic circuit may be simplified and is easier in handling.
This object is solved according to the present disclosure with a system with at least one communication module with a communication transmitter which is configured and arranged to transmit and send communication signals; at least one charging and/or powering module with an energy charging and/or energy transferring transmitter which is configured and arranged to provide and/or transmit charging and/or powering energy; and at least one receiver for communication signals and energy, wherein the receiver has and/or is configured to be switched into a first status for receiving communication signals provided by the communication module and wherein the receiver has and/or is configured to be switched into a second status for receiving energy provided by the charging module. Accordingly, a communication and powering system, e.g., power/energy transfer/charging system, such as a medical communication and power/energy transfer/charging system is provided, comprising: at least one communication module with a communication transmitter, which is configured and arranged to transmit and send communication signals, at least one charging and/or powering/energy transferring module with an energy charging and/or powering/energy transferring transmitter, which is configured and arranged to provide and/or transmit charging and/or powering energy, at least one receiver being a receiver for communication signals and charging power/energy, wherein the receiver has and/or can be switched into a first status for receiving communication signals provided by the communication module and wherein the receiver has and/or can be switched into a second status for receiving charging energy provided by the charging module.
The disclosed systems and methods are based on the basic principle that there is one communication transmitter and one energy charging and/or powering/energy transferring transmitter, which communicate with the same receiver. With the communication transmitter communication signals of any kind may be transmitted. With the energy charging and/or powering/energy transferring transmitter, energy may be transferred from the transmitter via the receiver to a power and/or energy source like a battery or even more simple, just to provide energy more or less online. By this, fewer elements for the whole communication and power charging systems are needed and the function of receiving communication signals and charging energy by one common receiver allows easier and simpler design of electronics on the receiving side. For example, in medical cases at least the receiver is implanted. If the receiver comprises only a low number of elements than the construction of the circuit is less power consuming and more reliable.
By providing power/energy "online," power/energy may also be supplied to an implanted device to enable communications so the implanted device can report any issues associated with the implanted device and in some examples even to initiate a recovery procedure. Accordingly, with the charging and/or powering/energy transferring module, power/energy can be supplied, and with the communication module and the receiver, signals can be exchanged, also vice versa. Then, the receiver may not only receive, but also send and transmit signals back to the communication module and thus work as a transceiver.
It is possible that the first status and the second status are enabled at the same time. In such a way of operation concurrent communication signal and charging energy transmission may be provided.
Alternatively, it is possible that the first status and the second status are alternating and/or not enabled at the same time. By this, it is possible to have a well-defined transmission of communication signals followed by transmission of charging energy and vice versa.
Moreover, it is possible that the communication transmitter is configured and arranged to transmit and send communication signals within a first frequency range and that the energy charging transmitter is configured and arranged to provide and/or transmit charging energy within a second frequency range, wherein the first and second frequency range are different from each other. By using different frequency ranges for the communication signals and for the charging energy it is possible to have only one receiver on the receiving side. This helps to simplify the circuit design and the electronic design on the receiving side.
The communication transmitter may be also embodied as transceiver, e.g., a combined module, which has transmitting capabilities and receiving capabilities. This way, the communication transmitter is then a transmitter and a receiver.
Furthermore, it is possible that the receiver is implantable or implanted into a subject and the communication module and/or the charging and/or powering/energy transferring module are not implanted into a subject. Generally it is possible that the communication module and/or the communication transmitter may be implanted as well. In general, the disclosed systems and/or methods may include or be configured to provide, at least partially, a transcutaneous transmission of communication signals from outside of the body to the inside of the body and vice versa. The disclosed systems and/or methods may also include or be configured to provide a transmission of charging energy transcutaneously at least from the outside of the body to the inside of the body. In other words, the system has parts that are arranged externally and outside of the human body and parts of the system that are arranged within, that is, implanted into the human body.
Moreover, at least one of the communication transmitter and the energy charging and/or powering/energy transferring transmitter may be embodied as an antenna or antenna coil. By this, for example magnetic induction may be used and transmitted by the antenna or antenna coil. For example, one antenna or antenna coil may be included in or provided for the communication module and another, second antenna or antenna coil may be included in or provided for the charging module.
Furthermore, the receiver may comprise an antenna, such as an antenna coil, and a communication and a charging diplexer (hereinafter also diplexer or C/C-diplexer). With the antenna, communication signals and energy may be received. The diplexer may enable frequency-domain multiplexing to be performed. These joint frequency bands may be occupied by two parts of the diplexer. Accordingly, signals with different frequencies can coexist without interfering with each other. By this, the design of the receiver can be simplified as only a single antenna for the receiver may be used. No further antenna is needed. Generally speaking, a further antenna may be used for redundancy reasons. However, such a further antenna or further antennas are no longer necessary, as a single antenna is sufficient.
The antenna may be an inductor and the diplexer may comprise a switch to ground or reference, at least one capacitor, such as a first capacitor and a second capacitor, connected to the antenna, wherein the antenna and the second capacitors form a resonant tank. Such a tank circuit may be also called LC-circuit or resonant circuit and may be an electric circuit consisting of a conductor, and a capacitor, which are connected together. The circuit can act as an electrical resonator, an electrical analogue of a tuning fork, storing energy oscillating at the circuit resonance frequency. LC circuits are used either for generating signals at the particular frequency or picking out a signal at the particular frequency from a more complex signal. This function may be called bandpass filter. By such a tank circuit it is possible to receive charging energy and communication signals very easily and reliably. Moreover, all components may be formed by passive electronic components. No battery is needed for the receiver. The basic idea of this concept may be described as follows:
In principle there maybe for example at least three capacitors and at least one inductor/antenna and at least one switch:                one capacitor in parallel to a communication port, which can be hidden inside a communication chip;        two capacitors in series between the communication port and the inductor; and        a switch across the communication (com) port.
When the switch is open in this example, then the inductor resonates with the parallel capacitance of the com port, and this capacitance is dominantly determining the resonance frequency, with little influence of the series capacitors.
When the switch is closed in this example, then the resonance is determined by the net capacitance of the two series connected capacitors and the inductance. The series capacitors are now parallel resonating capacitors.
In this example, the purpose of the switch is two-fold: on the one side the switch is protecting the com port input against too high voltages and creates a lower resonance frequency path using the two series capacitors. On the other side, the two series capacitors are forming a voltage divider when the switch is closed and the associated ratio can be adapted to a required impedance matching to the subsequent rectifier.
For example, in the connection between the first capacitor and the second capacitor a branch-off line is connected, wherein the branch-off line is connected to a connection point, the connection point being connection to a charging line and a communication line, wherein in the communication line a third capacitor and a connection to a switch to ground or reference is arranged. This specific arrangement allows a very easy passive arrangement of electronic components forming the resonant tank/LC-circuit. Also only a very low number of electronic components may be used.
Moreover, it is possible that the third capacitor is arranged between the connection point and the connection to the switch to ground.
Additionally, it is possible that in the connection line connecting the second capacitor and the antenna a connection to ground or reference is provided. By this alternative an additional embodiment may be realized.
It is also possible that from the antenna a branch-off line is connected, wherein the branch-off line is connected to a connection point, the connection point being in connection to a charging line and a communication line, wherein in the communication line a capacitor and a connection to a switch to ground is arranged. Again, only a single antenna at the receiving side may be used.
Additionally, the capacitor may be arranged between the connection point and the connection to the switch to ground.
Also, it is possible that the antenna may be connected to a circuit with a capacitor and connection to ground, wherein the capacitor and the connection to ground are arranged in series. In this embodiment still only one antenna on the receiving side may be used, like a deep whole antenna. The individual elements will not act as a similar antenna on the same frequency.
Moreover, the receiver may be connected to a separate implantable medical device (IMD).
For example, the implantable medical device may be an implantable pulse generator (IPG).
By separating the implantable medical from the system of the communication and power charging system specific advantage may be achieved.
For example, the communication and charging and/or powering system may be well defined and include only very few passive components. Also, no complete revision of an already implanted and existing implantable medical device is needed. So, the charging and communication system may be added to existing implanted medical devices. By separating the IMD with the system, it is also possible to design a platform independent communication and charging system, which is not directly and necessarily linked to the implantable medical device. The range of use is thereby increased.
The implantable medical device (IMD) may be rechargeable or powered (online) via the receiver by means of the charging module and, via the receiver, communication signals may be exchanged between the implantable medical device (IMD) and the communication module. By this recharging and the exchange of communication signals, e.g., for telemetry, monitoring or re-programming of the IMD may be exchanged and transmitted.

Medical communication and power charging system


This invention relates to a composition, comprising a) at least one quaternary ammonium compound of the formula (I) wherein R is a C5 to C21 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, X is an anionic counter ion, and Ra, Rb are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, allyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl or benzyl residues, b) ammonium bisulfite or sodium bisulfite, c) glutaraldehyde or THPS, and d) at least one organic dye.

Towards the end of the construction phase of a piece of oilfield equipment, or after rehabilitation of an existing piece of equipment, it is often necessary to pressure test this equipment for integrity assurance at a pressure above that of its designed working pressure. Pressures are typically conducted at 125% of the planned maximum allowable operating pressure, but may range from 100% to 150%. The duration of the hydrostatic pressure tests may vary depending on the system being tested and the relevant codes and schedules of piping and equipment (Powell, D. E., Melancon, B., and Winters, R. H., (2011) Guidelines When Conducting Hydrostatic Pressure Tests and Management of Extended Dwell Times Through Dry/Wet Lay-Ups. Paper 11082).
Pressure testing is typically performed with water (termed hydrostatic testing). After the pressure test is completed it is not unusual for the hydrotest fluid to remain in the tested equipment for an extended period of time. The fluid used for hydrotesting can be extremely varied in quality and source. In offshore facilities, seawater is invariably used. On land it can be brackish water, river water, lake water or pond water. In both onshore and offshore scenarios, it is also possible for recycled produced water or aquifer water to be used; use of potable water and drill water has also been commonplace. It is possible for any of these water sources to cause corrosion due to several different mechanisms:                Oxygen induced corrosion: most of the water types used for hydrotesting are fully saturated (up to and beyond 8 mg/L) with oxygen. This can cause flash rusting especially around welds where the heat affected zones and weldment material are particular susceptible.        Microbially induced corrosion: this is a major threat to pipelines and storage tanks. While this may be limited during a hydrotest because of a lack of nutrients (if fresh water is used), any biofilm left behind after a hydrotest can further proliferate after the equipment is commissioned resulting in severe localized pitting corrosion (Little, B. J. and Lee, J. S. (2007) [Microbially Influenced Corrosion. Wiley and Sons, New York, 279 pp]). Under-deposit corrosion can also occur as a result of MIC and biofilm build up.        Chloride induced corrosion: depending on the type of water used for the hydrotest, general corrosion can be induced as a result of increased electrolyte in the hydrotesting water.
The severity of the corrosion from the above three mechanisms is reliant upon the quality of water and source of water used for the hydrotest.
Single functionality hydrotest chemicals generally include oxygen scavengers such as ammonium bisulfite or sodium bisulfite; biocides include Pentane-1,5-dial (Pentanedial, Glutaraldehyde, Glutaric acid dialdehyde, Glutaric aldehyde, Glutaric dialdehyde, 1,5-Pentanedial) or Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS); corrosion inhibitors typically include proprietary quaternary ammonium compounds, for example as described by Janak and Ludensky, WO 2013/007811 A1. The various single functionality chemicals are also discussed by Penkala, J. E., Fichter, J., and Ramachandran, S. (2010) [Protection Against Microbiologically Influence Corrosion by Effective Treatment and Monitoring During Hydrotest Shut-In. Paper 10404], Ruschau, G., Huang, W., Sullivan, E., and Surkein, M. (2011) [Hydrotesting of LNG Tanks Using Untreated Brackish Water. Paper 11216], Powell, D. E., Melancon, B., and Winters, R. H. (2011) [Guidelines When Conducting Hydrostatic Pressure Tests and Management of Extended Dwell Times Through Dry/Wet Lay-Ups. Paper 11082] and Huang, W., Xu, D., Ruschau, G., Wen, J., Homemann, J., and Gu, T. (2012) [Laboratory Investigation of MIC Due to Hydrotest using Seawater and Subsequent Exposure to Pipeline Fluiids with and without SRB Spiking. Paper C2012-0001226].
Prasad, U.S. Pat. No. 6,815,208 discloses a method for treating hydrotest water to inhibit oxygen corrosion, MIC, and allow the safe discharge of the water. The patent describes a combination treatment plan (using individual chemicals sequentially) that enables reduction of biocide usage by increasing the pH of the hydrotest fluid. The method includes adding an oxygen scavenger to removed oxygen and prevent oxygen corrosion; raising the hydrotest water pH, typically in excess of pH 9.5; then adding a biocide in a reduced amount; and then adding a scale inhibitor to inhibit scale that could have been induced by increasing the pH to alkaline conditions.
Cook, U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,667 describes a process for conditioning metal surfaces to inhibitor corrosion and/or scale deposition using a water soluble salt. The patent claims use of a combination scale and corrosion inhibitor to be used in an aqueous system that can adsorb onto metal surfaces thereby protecting them from scale deposition and corrosion attack.
Cuisia, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,600 discloses a method for inhibiting or preventing corrosion of metals in contact with an aqueous system containing dissolved oxygen and adding an oxygen scavenger to the system having the formula (C)nH2OH—COOH wherein n is 5 or 6, lactone derivatives, or its water soluble salts, in an amount effective to substantially remove dissolved oxygen.
Bryan, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,896 claims the use of phosphonium salts, such as Tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium (THP) salts, and aldehydes, such as formaldehyde, exhibiting synergistic biocidal activity. Use of combinations of different biocides can lead to synergism when compared to the individual components.
Craig, U.S. Pat. No. 2003/0057401 discloses water-soluble corrosion inhibitor compositions, useful for inhibiting corrosion of an oil or gas pipeline. The compositions contain a corrosion inhibitor component and a binding agent component and may be applied to the internal surface of a pipeline during or before their construction. When the pipeline is flooded with hydrotest fluid, the compositions dissolve over a period of time and inhibit internal corrosion of the pipe. This patent uses binding agents such as polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol or fish glue to "encapsulate" corrosion inhibitor chemistries into a bound material that can be applied to pipeline pre-commissioning and then release into the hydrotest fluid slowly over time. Janak and Ludensky, WO 2013/007811 describes the prevention and removal of biofilm growth and microbially induced corrosion in gas and/or liquids steams in industrial process systems, such as oil and gas production and gathering systems.
The method comprises the addition of one or more quaternary ammonium compounds ((R1R2R3R4N+)nXn−) such that the treatment regime involves an initial batch treatment as micelle forming concentrations of that are followed by batch or continuous treatment of the same compounds or alternate biocides.
Although a number of hydrotest chemicals and systems for use in oil and gas industry are known in the prior art, there is a continued need for more effective products and systems. Especially there is still a need for chemical systems that perform multiple tasks during the hydrotest. This is especially true for the more and more common place subsea systems that are very challenging to treat with combinations of single application chemicals. The current invention describes the use of complex blends of chemicals that are able to perform no less than 4 different functions in a hydrotest, including oxygen scavenging, corrosion inhibition, biocidal activity and leak detection via the use of visual dyes.

Hydrotesting and mothballing composition and method of using combination products for multifunctional water treatment


A circuit includes a first set of transistors and a second set of transistors. The first set of transistors is configured to be turned on in a sequential manner. The second set of transistors is configured to be turned on in a sequential manner after the first set of transistors is turned on. A transistor of the first set of transistors corresponds to a first time delay. The first set of transistors corresponds to a second time delay that is a multiple of the first time delay.

In some approaches, when a circuit is powered up, many transistors are turned on at a same time. Powering up the circuit is also called waking up the circuit because the circuit is woken up for operation, from a sleep mode, for example. When many transistors are turned on during waking up, a large amount of current flows through corresponding power nodes used by the transistors and results in a current spike called a wakeup peak current.
Reducing the wakeup peak current of a circuit to be within a design specification increases a wakeup time of the circuit. For example, in an approach, a wakeup circuit includes a series of wakeup stages. Each wakeup stage includes a PMOS switch connected in a chain manner. A wakeup signal is sequentially fed to each PMOS switch to turn on the chained PMOS switches one by one in a sequential manner. By turning on each PMOS switch in a sequential manner, the wakeup peak current is reduced. In such a condition, the wakeup time increases, however. Logic gates are also used in the wakeup circuit and result in increased circuit areas.
FIG. 8 is a diagram of a memory macro usable in conjunction with the circuit depicted in FIG. 1, FIG. 4, or FIG. 7 in accordance with some embodiments.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


A molding press (10) for simultaneously operating a pair of molds, each having a pair of mold sections (M1, M2; M3, M4), including a base (13) for mounting two horizontally displaced mold sections (M1, M3), each constituting one section of one of the pair of molds, a first bolster (11) for mounting a mold section (M2) in alignment for mating engagement with one mold section (M1) on the base, a second bolster (12) for mounting a mold section (M4) in alignment for mating engagement with the other mold section (M3) on the base, rod assemblies (30) for interconnecting the first bolster and the second bolster in fixed space relation, for guiding relative movement between the base and the bolsters during opening and closing of the pair of molds, and for mounting pistons (44, 160) operatively interrelated with cylinder assemblies (40,140) on the base, and an auxiliary cylinder assembly (70) for effecting relative movement between the base and the bolsters for opening of one of the pair of molds while closing the other of the pair of molds and vice versa. The pistons (160) may be provided with fluid transfer bores (165) for selectively providing for relative displacement between the pistons (160) and fluid in the cylinder assemblies (140).

While presses according to the instant invention may have utility in regard to injection molding and reaction injection molding (RIM) processes, a particular area of applicability resides in the production of reinforced plastic parts or products that are composite structures in which a resin, either thermosetting or thermoplastic, is combined with a reinforcing member to strengthen and improve various properties of the plastic matrix. Particularly useful processes include resin transfer molding (RTM) and structural reaction injection molding (S-RIM). The former usually employ epoxies or polyester resins, although other thermosetting resins can also be employed. Polyurethanes are employed in S-RIM systems.
Both processes commonly employ a fiber preform or mold charge blank which may approximate the shape of the composite products or at least provides a structural backbone for the product. The mold charge blank is placed inside of a multiple-piece mold, after which the liquid resin or reaction components are transferred into the closed mold to impregnate the reinforcement material and fill all void space within the mold. After the necessary reaction and cure time for the particular resin, the mold is opened, and the finished composite product is removed.
Such composite products are currently of particular interest and importance in a variety of industrial applications, such as the automotive industry, where features such as weight reduction, strength, appearance, durability, flexibility, and consolidation of parts are significant design considerations. Automobile bumpers, for instance, made of polyurethanes reinforced with fibers from a mold charge blank, provide improved performance characteristics, particularly strength, and may also reduce the total weight and number of parts required.
Fiber mold charge blanks are manufactured separately and are supplied to the mold for combination with the liquid resin component(s). A variety of methods have been employed for making mold charge blanks, including the spraying of chopped fibers onto a molded surface and the forming of reinforcing mat or fabric in desired thickness and layers into the shape of the mold charge blank. The fiber material is normally combined with a thermoplastic binder material, and the "laid up" material is then placed in a preheat oven, transferred to a mold, pressed by the mold to the desired shape, and cooled to produce the actual mold charge blank which can be handled and stored until final manufacture. The binder material stiffens the mold charge blank, giving it appropriate structural integrity for liquid molding in the forming tool or handleability for storage or transfer to the final mold where resin transfer occurs.
Advances in automating the production of mold charge blanks have made the final molding process a primary limiting factor in the productivity of relatively large products requiring molds having projected area dimensions which may be on the order of 50 square feet. The final molding process is severely limited in a time sense due primarily to the reaction and cure time of the resins which may be on the order of ten seconds to a few minutes. Further, due to the size, weight, and complexity of the molds, most presses for such relatively large products employ very large and highly expensive hydraulic systems. Such hydraulic systems are necessary in order to achieve acceptable press closure speeds and to provide sufficient clamping forces over the extensive mold areas such that mold flash is eliminated or is reduced to a minimum.
Although the prior art relating to molding presses of this general type is extensive, very little of the known art appears to be directed to the combination of factors involved in achieving the molding of large parts at high production rates. For small parts, double-acting horizontal presses have been proposed employing a pair of spaced, fixed bases with a pair of bolsters supported on tie rods positioned outwardly of the bases for alternately opening and closing two molds. Horizontal presses having two bases and three bolsters to operate two molds independently by complex hydraulic controls have also been proposed. Both horizontal and vertical presses for simultaneously opening and closing two molds by a variety of mechanical arrangements are also known in the art. Other presses have employed complex hydraulic systems with large numbers of cylinders or complex fluid transfer systems to accommodate larger clamping force requirements. None of these approaches, however, lend themselves to the production of large parts at high production rates in a press configuration having flexibility in operation, reasonable size, and an attractive manufacturing cost.


A locking mechanism that allows a live bolt lock plate and a primary vertical lock plate to move relative to one another irrespective of the plates connection with a drive mechanism is provided. The drive mechanism includes first and second gears and is used to move the locking mechanism between locked and unlocked positions. The live bolt lock plate has a slot defined therein and is engaged with the first gear of the drive mechanism. The primary lock plate is engaged with the second gear of the drive mechanism and has a guide pin mounted thereon. The guide pin is positioned within the slot to slidingly couple the live bolt lock plate and the primary lock plate, in addition to their connection with the drive mechanism. A tumbler stack is associated with the primary lock plate for selectively allowing the primary locking plate to be moved to the unlocked position.

This invention relates to a locking mechanism for a safe door. In particular, this invention relates to a locking mechanism that includes a vertical lock plate and a live bolt lock plate that are coupled to one another in such a way that movement of one of the plates causes movement of the other plate irrespective of whether the plates are coupled with a drive mechanism.
Mechanisms for locking safe doors are well known in the art. One of these locking mechanisms generally includes a drive gear, a live bolt lock plate coupled with at least one locking pin, a primary vertical lock plate, and a tumbler stack. The drive gear operates to couple the live lock bolt plate with the primary vertical lock plate and is the principal mechanism for moving the plates relative to one another. In particular, as the drive gear is rotated, the live bolt lock plate moves along a linear path to engage and disengage the locking pins with the safe housing, and the primary vertical lock plate moves in a direction that is perpendicular to the movement of the live bolt lock plate when the notches in the tumbler stack are aligned. When the notches in the tumbler wheel are not aligned, the primary vertical lock plate is not permitted to move, thereby preventing the drive gear from moving the live bolt plate and locking pins to an unlocked position.
The use of the drive gear as the primary mechanism for coupling and moving the live bolt lock plate and the primary vertical lock plate relative to one another presents a number of drawbacks and deficiencies. For instance, an unauthorized attempt to open the safe door may be made by bypassing the locking mechanism. One way to bypass the lock mechanism is to displace the drive gear in such a way so that the drive gear is no longer aligned with the primary vertical lock plate. When the drive gear is no longer in alignment with the vertical lock plate and the drive gear is rotated, the primary vertical lock plate will not move since the drive gear and vertical lock plate are no longer engaged. At this point, the live bolt lock plate may be manipulated in such a way to disengage the locking pins from the safe housing without having to worry about whether the tumbler stack will permit the primary vertical lock plate to move into an unlocked position. In other words, the primary vertical lock plate and the tumbler stack no longer play an active part in locking the safe since they are not connected with the drive gear and the live lock bolt plate.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a locking mechanism where the live bolt plate and primary vertical lock plate are coupled together in such a way where movement of one plate causes movement in the other plate regardless of whether the drive gear is engaged with both of the plates. The present invention fills these needs as well as other needs.


A method is described for forming MOSFETs with shallow trench isolation wherein the abrupt corners introduced by anisotropically etching the silicon trenches are modified by an oxidation step which rounds off the corners and also reduces the effect of tensile stresses caused by the densified trench filler material. The method selectively exposes the corner regions to an oxidation whereby the formation of an oxide birdsbeak modulates the corners and introduces a compressive stress component in the corner region. Several variations of the procedure are disclosed, including embodiments wherein birdsbeaks extending in both a vertical and horizontal directions from the corners are employed. The channel and gate oxide edges of MOSFETs extend to these corners. By attenuating the abrupt corners and reducing the mechanical stresses, gate oxide integrity is improved and anomalous sub-threshold currents of MOSFETs formed are abated.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to processes for the manufacture of semiconductor devices and more particularly to processes for forming field isolation.
(2) Description of Prior Art
The formation of integrated circuit devices on silicon substrates requires that a means be provided to electrically isolate the various circuit components from each other. To this end regions of field insulation, typically of silicon oxide, are formed adjacent to the circuit components.
The well known method of local oxidation of silicon(LOCOS) to form field oxide isolation around semiconductive devices built into the surface of silicon wafers has been practiced for over twenty-five years and has served well to provide field isolation for many applications. Over the years many problems with LOCOS have surfaced which have been addressed in a great variety of ways. Most notable are the problems which deal with the growth of oxide under the hardmask used to define the oxide regions and the resultant uneven surface topology over the field oxide. The oxide penetration under the mask is commonly referred to as birdsbeak. These problems still persist and become aggravated as the technology tends towards smaller, shallower devices at high densities.
A promising replacement for LOCOS field oxide isolation has been found in trench isolation. Although deep trench isolation(DTI) has been used nearly as long as LOCOS for bipolar transistor isolation, it has not been widely practiced in the manufacture of CMOS (complimentary metal oxide silicon) integrated circuits. More recently, however, as device densities increase and isolation widths become smaller, shallow trench isolation(STI) is gaining favor over LOCOS in CMOS technology. The Trenches are formed in the silicon around the semiconductor devices by reactive ion etching. They are then filled either entirely with silicon oxide or lined with thermal silicon oxide and filled with another material such as polysilicon. The thin (<200 .ANG.) thermal silicon oxide liner is included even when the trench filler material is an insulator.
Unlike LOCOS field isolation, the geometric features of STI are generally more abrupt, presenting sharp corners at both the top and bottom of the trenches. The sharp features, although welcomed by the smaller and denser circuit designs, aggravate device performance issues which are stress related. In particular, major problems are encountered when STI is used in CMOS technology that are caused by electric field crowding at the edges of the active device regions. These problems include anomalous sub-threshold conduction and poor gate oxide integrity. In addition, tensile stresses are induced in the devices themselves by shrinkage of the trench filling oxide through densification of the oxide during subsequent annealing.
A recent innovation in STI technology has been the incorporation of a silicon nitride liner over the thin thermal silicon oxide liner. The silicon nitride liner acts as an oxidation barrier during a pyrogenic oxide anneal which enables improved densification of the filler oxide. Such a technique was introduced by Fahey, et.al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,884 wherein a silicon nitride liner less than 5 nm. thick was deposited over the thermal oxide. A pyrogenic anneal(wet oxidation conditions) permitted densification of the oxide filler at lower temperatures than the conventional argon anneal. In addition the wet oxidation step removed fluorine which was not the case with an argon anneal. Ho, et.al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,823 crystallized the amorphous as deposited silicon nitride liners by rapid thermal anneal (RTA), thereby permitting the use of thicker silicon nitride liners without incurring undercutting by wet etches which are used to remove a pad nitride layer used as the RIE(reactive ion etching) hardmask for etching the silicon trench. Bose, et.al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,858 also introduced a silicon nitride liner in an STI process wherein the liner served not only as an oxidation barrier during steam densification of the filler oxide, but also provided a more receptive surface than the thermal oxide to form a more durable bond with the conformal dielectric filler material.
After the filler oxide has been deposited and densified by pyrogenic annealing as taught by the prior art, the silicon nitride hardmask used for the trench RIE and the accompanying pad oxide are removed by wet etching, leaving a structure which is shown in a cross section of the wafer 10 in FIG. 1. The trench 20 has been filled with LPCVD silicon oxide and densified by annealing. The pad oxide 12 and the silicon nitride liner 14 remain under the filler oxide 16. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a slight undercut of the pad oxide adjacent to the sharp upper silicon corner 18, which is likely to occur since the pad oxide is removed a wet etch.
The sharp corner 18, which is not addressed by the prior art, is conventionally ignored and a gate oxide 22 is grown over the exposed silicon active area. The gate oxide thus formed is thinner at the sharp corner 18 than over the planar region. This creates a gate oxide integrity risk along the edges of the active channel region. In addition, the tensile stresses in the densified filler oxide extend stresses into the channel region, thereby causing crystalline distortions and defects in the channel region which result in anomalous currents and leakages in subsequently formed MOSFETs.
Paoli, et.al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,704 shows a method for forming STI using trench liners and planarization but does not address problems related to the abrupt corners at the edges of channel regions of MOSFETs encountered in the process.
The application of spacers along the edge of the filler oxide may be used to offset the edge of the channel region from the sharp corner, however, the dimensions of these spacers would be comparable with the widths of narrow channel devices and would consequently reduce the drive current capabilities of these devices.

Shallow trench isolation of MOSFETS with reduced corner parasitic currents

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.


Disclosed is a backlight module. The backlight module includes a back plate, a light guide plate, and a clamp; the back plate includes a back plate body, and a plurality of side plates disposed along a periphery of the back plate body and connected to the back plate body, and a plane of each side plate is intersected with a plane of the back plate body. The light guide plate is disposed on a side, connected to the side plate, of the back plate body, and a gap is present between the light guide plate and each of the plurality of side plates. The clamp is disposed in the gap between the light guide plate and at least part of the plurality of side plates, and interference-fitted with the gap. The clamp is resilient, and the clamp and the side plate are positioned by a projection-recess fitting structure.

With increasing demands for vehicle-mounted display devices and continuous improvements of specification in the market, high productivity and high reliability of products are desired.
In the related art, a backlight module includes a back plate, a light guide plate, and a clamp. The clamp may be configured to be embedded into a gap between the back plate and the light guide plate. In order to improve the reliability of the clamp, a double-sided adhesive is arranged between the clamp and the back plate, such that one surface of the double-sided adhesive is bonded to the clamp, and the other surface of the double-sided adhesive is bonded to the back plate.

Backlight module including clamp, display panel and display device including the same

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


A magnetic sensor includes a thin deformable membrane made of a conductive material forming a first plate of a capacitor which conducts an electric current therethrough. A second capacitor plate of the capacitor includes a doped region of a semiconductor substrate. A layer of a gaseous dielectric separates the two plates. The membrane deforms due to the effect of the Lorentz force generated by a magnetic field lying in the plane of the membrane and perpendicular to the lines of current being conducted therethrough. In addition, a process for fabricating this magnetic sensor is also provided as well as a device for measuring a magnetic field using the magnetic sensor.

Silicon-based magnetic sensors generally use the asymmetry induced by the magnetic field based upon the Hall effect. This is because, after a magnetic field has been applied, an electric field is created perpendicular to the electric current causing a shift in the lines of current. A potential difference then occurs that can be measured, and this difference is proportional to the magnetic field and to the electric current.
In the microelectronics field, the trend towards components of increasingly small dimensions means an undesirable reduction in the sensitivity of sensors of this type. To overcome this drawback, it is either necessary to use a low operating temperature or a material having a high electron mobility. The use of a low temperature makes it more difficult to use sensors, and increases the complexity and cost of the magnetic-field measurement devices. Furthermore, silicon, which is a material of choice in microelectronics, has a relatively low electron mobility (1500 cm2/Vs at room temperature), which impedes its use in Hall-effect sensors.

Magnetic sensor of very high sensitivity


An image-capturing system having a function of allowing the user to easily find the position of an image-capturing device is provided. An image-capturing system includes: an image-capturing unit; an image storage unit for storing a camera position image taken toward the image-capturing unit from an image-capturing region taken by the image-capturing unit; and a remote control unit which allows the user to perform operation for remote control of the image-capturing unit. With such an arrangement, the remote control unit includes a reception unit for receiving the camera position image stored in the image storage unit, and a display unit for displaying the camera position image received by the reception unit. The remote control unit further includes an image-capturing request unit for making a request to the image-capturing unit for image capturing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-capturing system and an image-capturing method.
In particular, the present invention relates to an image-capturing system for capturing an image and an image-capturing method thereof.
2. Related Art
As conventional systems including a camera installed in amusement parks and so forth for capturing an image, an image-capturing system has been known which has a function of capturing an image upon detection of a subject approaching the camera within a predetermined distance therefrom, based upon airwaves transmitted from a transmitter carried on the subject as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-24229.
In general, cameras installed an amusement parks and so forth are preferably installed in a less conspicuous manner for visitors in an amusement park and so forth from the perspective of scenery.
However, this leads to a tradeoff problem that the visitors in the amusement park and so forth cannot readily find the camera.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image-capturing system and an image-capturing method for solving the aforementioned problems.

Image-capturing system and image-capturing method


A spectacle lens includes an activable optical filter having at least an electrochromic device and being configured to be actively switched between at least three configurations. In the first configuration, the activable optical filter is uniform. In the second configuration, the activable optical filter attenuates selectively light from a localized light source. In the third configuration, the activable optical filter is uniform. Furthermore, the chromaticity difference ΔChrom between each of the configurations is smaller than or equal to 20.

During life, individuals have their eyes exposed to a strong luminosity, which generates discomfort and glare. Solar lenses or sunglasses are configured to protect the eyes of the wearer of such sunglasses from glare, but are not systematically worn when high luminosity is rare and last a short time, particularly in the winter, fall and spring and thus no protection is provided during that time. Thus, there is a need to provide eyeglasses able to switch from a clear state to a low light transmission state.
It exists photochromic lenses configured to be darken upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, usually associated with strong natural luminosity. However, such photochromic lenses are passive and cannot be activated on demand by a spectacle wearer or automatically in specific conditions. In addition, such photochromic lenses are usually not activated by artificial light or indoor.
Moreover, it exists activable solar lenses, for instance based on liquid crystals or electrochromic systems. Such activable solar lenses can be switched from a clear state to a low light transmission state so as to protect the eyes of the wearer from strong luminosity.
Nevertheless, it is highly desirable to have an intermediate state in activable solar lenses, said intermediate state being able to filter a maximum of the potentially harmful wavelengths such as high energy blue light, increase contrast or visual comfort in some situation.
It exists passive filters which partially modulate the spectrum of the light received by the eye of the wearer. However, in such passive filters, the spectral filtering functions cannot be activated at the most appropriate times.
Additionally, it exists active glasses comprising pixelated lenses. However, the pixelated lenses of such active glasses are not completely transparent and are difficult to control. Moreover, the pixelated lenses usually comprises a limited number of pixels, which generates dye discontinuities on the active glasses.
Moreover, it could be possible to realize an electrochromic cell of an active optical filter of a spectacle lens having a variable thickness to obtain a gradient of light transmission. However, with this solution, the gradient is permanently defined and does not allow a uniform tint on the entire spectacle lens.
An object of the present invention is to provide a spectacle lens comprising an improved activable optical filter.

Spectacle lens comprising an activable optical filter and optical equipment comprising such spectacle lens


The present disclosure is drawn to fabric print media, a coating composition, and a method of coating a fabric substrate to form a fabric print medium. The fabric print medium can comprise a fabric substrate having an ink-receiving coating applied thereto, the coating comprising a metal complex, an organophosphate, and a starch.

Different forms of printing, such as inkjet printing, have found various applications on different substrates including traditional cellulose paper, metal, plastic, fabric, and the like. Regarding fabric specifically, challenges related to various printing technologies exist because of the nature of fabric. Some fabrics, for example, can be highly absorptive, diminishing color characteristics, while some synthetic fabrics can be crystalline, decreasing aqueous ink absorption leading to ink bleed. These characteristics result in the image quality on fabric being relatively low. Additionally, black optical density, color gamut, and sharpness are often poor compared to images printed on cellulose paper or other media types. As the moisture sensitivity of images printed on fabric is usually high, images are formed that have poor waterfastness and washability. Yet another problem associated with printing on fabric is related to a reduction in softness that is often associated with treated fabrics. Consumers usually prefer softer fabric properties while maintaining colorant adherence and image quality. Further, when fabric is intended to be worn, or used in close proximity to the body, there are also concerns about using coatings that increase the flammability of the fabric. Thus, fire retardant characteristics can also be desirable when providing printable fabrics.
Obtaining good print characteristics while retaining fabric softness and fire retardant characteristics can be challenging, and providing one or more of these features can provide an advancement in the art of printable fabric.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for removing salt and water from a fish meal production process stream without sacrificing fish protein solids that are to be recovered as final product. Fish oil and fish protein solids are allowed to separate from water in the process streams, allowing for the removal of water and dissolved salt without the removal of substantial amounts of fish protein solids.

Fish meal is a fishery by-product consisting essentially of process scrap from the filleting operation or from whole fish. Fish meal can be produced by a dry process wherein waste from cod, halibut, and haddock heads is disintegrated and dried.
A wet process also exists for the production of fish meal. FIG. 1 illustrates a known process for producing fish meal from the carcasses of processed pollock. In this known process, the processed carcasses 240 are cooked in a steam cooker 250 prior to delivery to a screw press 260 that separates the cooked carcasses into a press cake 262 rich in solids and a press fluid 264 rich in fluids. The press cake is delivered to a dryer 320 where water 322 is removed and fish meal 324 is recovered. The press fluid is processed through a decanter 280 which separates the press fluid into sludge 282 rich in solids and a fluids rich component 284. The sludge is delivered to the dryer where water is removed and fish meal recovered. The fluids rich component is delivered to a centrifuge 300 that is used to separate fish oil 302 from the fluids rich stream and provide a solids cake 304 and a fluid stream 306. An evaporator 310 is used to remove water 312 from the fluid stream from the centrifuge and concentrate the fish protein solids 314 in the fluid stream from the centrifuge. The concentrated fish protein solids are then delivered to the dryer for removal of the residual water. Each of the successive separations performed by the decanter, centrifuge, and evaporator recovers a portion of the fish protein solids that the previous separation process was unable to isolate and recover.
The increasing worldwide demand for processed fish products has resulted in the production of larger amounts of fishery by-products which are available to be processed into fish meal. In an effort to recover the fish protein solids present in these raw materials and convert them into fish meal, existing fish meal production facilities are often pushed to capacity or over capacity. A typical raw material stream includes 70-80% water in which the fish protein solids are either dissolved or suspended. During the production of fish meal, this water must be treated and the fish protein solids separated therefrom. In existing fish meal processing plants, it is often the capacity of the separation operations, such as the decanter, centrifuge, evaporator or dryer that limits the volume of water that can be handled by the system. While it may be possible to upgrade the existing equipment by replacing it with larger capacity equipment, such upgrades do not come without an economic cost. A similar dilemma is faced in the building and design of new fish meal production facilities. The need for larger capacity separation equipment naturally makes the return on investment lower.
When the raw material originates from fish that were refrigerated in salt water, steps must be taken to remove a portion of the salt so that the recovered fish meal product has an overall salt content that meets industry standards. Typically, industry standards are set at about 2%-3% salt for the fish meal product. It has been proposed that electrocoagulation or hyperfiltration could be used to remove salt from the fish meal process streams without a significant removal of fish protein solids therefrom. Such prior attempts have met with limited acceptance and success. As a result of the unavailability of an effective means of removing salt from fish meal process streams, certain fish meal processing plants remove salt by sacrificing a portion of the recoverable fish meal and dumping it as a waste product. This poses at least two potential problems. First, there is the economic loss associated with the loss of the fish protein solids and fish oil present in the wasted material. Additionally, the fish protein solids in the wasted material make it more difficult to dispose of the material, particularly given the present environmental climate.


A liner for a primary vessel comprises a plurality of attached, corrugated continuous sheets of membrane-type material. Each sheet has a herringbone pattern of repetitive parallelogram-like elements. Each parallelogram-like element is bounded at its four sides by bends to adjacent parallelogram-like elements, each sheet having minimally developed corrugations. The continuous sheets are therefore supportable by bearing walls of the primary vessel and may follow any deflections of these walls under conditions of structural stress and thermal deformation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to liners for primary vessels and more particularly to an extensible and compressible liner for a primary vessel which does not maintain structural support for that primary vessel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liners are used for fluid, gas, vacuum and granular solids containment. Some types of liners are only used for containment and do not provide structural support of the pressure applied to the liner by the contents, ullage gas or vacuum. (It is understood, however, that these liners do provide support between small gaps in the surface of the primary vessel which are bridged by the liners.) This type of liner is the subject of the present invention.
Pressure is transmitted through the liner and is supported by other load paths. As such, this type of liner must flex, expand, and contract to follow the relative displacements of the supporting primary vessel without significantly altering the pressure distribution to the primary vessel and yet still fulfill its functional requirements. Such external primary vessels may include (by way of illustration and not limitation), for example the hull of the ship, the shell of an aircraft or a tank. Such liners may also be used with the primary vessel that provides internal support for the liner. An example of such an internal vessel (where the liner is external) is a vacuum bag supported by its contents or internal structure.
Requirements of both these external and internal liners usually include elastic behavior of the liner up to maximum strains, maximum operating pressure, cycle life and thermal environments. To accomplish their objectives, the liners are usually textured. Texturing, as defined herein, is a design to gather, stretch, compress, shear or a combination of the above, moving the planar sheet, which forms the liner, out of plane in the form of multiple waves, folds, or dimples. The resulting excess material allows the liner to fulfill its desired functions. Texturing of this type also provides for relatively easy manufacturing of simple and compound shaped liners by forming on assembly, forming during or after texturing, or a combination thereof.
Containment of cryogenic fluids in a primary vessel at normal or very hot temperatures is particularly problematic. Similarly, containment of a vacuum bag around insulation (in this instance serving as the primary vessel), presents challenging design obstacles. Both applications require large strains (0.010 to 0.020 inches per inch), many times the yield of most liner type of materials, to accommodate the thermal and applied load deformation of the primary vessel.
For applications involving hot or cryogenic temperatures, and for the leak tightness necessary for some gases or liquids, metal liners are required. Metal liners must also be thin to meet desired flexibility and weight requirements. Stretching thin foil is a manufacturing problem and leak tightness is also impaired. Therefore, the design in which most of the texturing of the sheet is produced by a minimum amount of gathering is desired, if not mandatory.
Another essential attribute of an extensible and compressible liner is that it must accommodate the three-dimensional and biaxial nature of the deformed structure. Thermal displacements are nearly equal in all directions. An idealized metal cylinder pressure vessel has a 5-to-1 expansion ratio between the circumferential and longitudinal directions. Therefore, the natural longitudinal versus transverse biaxial displacement of the texture design should be either both extensible (+/+) or both compressible (-/-). Many textures even produce -/+ and displacements similar to the Poisson's Ratio effects in monolithic metals. These types of textures also produce very rigid stiffness in non-longitudinal/transverse, 45.degree. directions. This type of action is unsuitable for the requirements previously stated.
Liners are very rarely made from one monolithic sheet, thereby necessitating the need for individual textured sheets to be attached to each other or to close-out edge members of the primary vessel. Where leak tightness is required, proper matching of the textures of adjacent sheets at the joints is essential. Complexities of the texture make this matching difficult. The requirement for this matching, for complete folds and for adapting to corners of the primary vessel, present a very formidable set of design requirements, heretofore believed to be insolvable for practical applications. As will be disclosed below, the liner of the present invention meets all of these requirements.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,094, entitled "Extensible Metal Sheets", issued to M. J. French et al., discloses an extensible unitary, continuous, fluid impermeable sheet including an enclosed area bounded entirely by non-intersecting but meeting corrugations in the sheet, which corrugations extend linearly beyond the enclosed area, and which corrugations are capable of flexing in response to thermal expansion of the sheet. However, the folds are relatively widely spaced, creating a complicated folding at the intersections of the multi-directional folding. Since the folds are far apart, substantial motion at each fold is required because of the non-textured material between the folds are rigid. Furthermore, the bends for the folds approach a full (180.degree.) fold which would be difficult to be utilized on thin metal liners, especially at the multi-directional folds at intersections. Additionally, the complexity of the folding disclosed in the '094 patent would limit applications to large scale patterns for producibility.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,302, entitled "Container for Liquified Gases", issued to R. G. Jackson et al., discloses a container for cryogenic liquids having load-bearing insulating walls backing up thin, flexible membrane walls which constitute the primary container. The membrane walls are attached at the corners to rigid angle-section anchoring members which are supported by the insulating walls, and which are sufficiently strong to transmit to the insulating walls, without appreciable deformation, all loads transmitted to them by the membrane walls.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,543, entitled "Shear Flexibility for Structures", issued to M. L. Stangeland, discloses a flexible sheet member having cross convolutions oriented 45.degree. to the shear vector with spherical reliefs at the convolution junctions. The Stangeland invention requires extensive stretching.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,808,590, entitled "Method of Manufacturing Paper, Pasteboard, Felt and the Like", issued to A. W. Andernach, discloses a process producing biaxial texturing which pertains mainly to processing fibrous products.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,968,088, entitled "Protective Lining for Vessels", issued to L. A. Mekler, discloses a corrugated liner for vessels. The Mekler device has a single corrugation and as such handles flexure in only one direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,088,621, entitled "Insulated Tank for the Storage and Transportation of a Cold Boiling Liquefied Gas", issued to E. H. Brown, addresses the biaxial flexure requirements of a cryogenic liner. However, the corrugation described in that patent requires forming and stretching.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,617, entitled "Liquid Storage Tank", issued to C. H. Sieders et al., addresses multi-directional expansion requirements. However, use of the widely spaced corrugations disclosed in the Sieders patent would require stretching to form the liner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,599, entitled "Cuspated Sheet Forming", issued to D. G. Keith, discloses a process for forming thermoplastic sheets. The resulting geometry appears as an origami pattern obtained by thermoplastic deformation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,932, entitled "Machine for Manufacturing Herringbone-Pleated Structures", issued to L. V. Gewiss, discloses a machine that includes consecutive feeding forming and bunching components by which a continuous band of flat sheet material, which may be prepleated longitudinally, is fed between a pair of endless forming assemblies which cooperate to form continuously a roughed-out shape of the final herringbone-pleated structure and which also advance to a bunching means positioned downstream from the forming assemblies.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,847,216, entitled "Packing", issued to C. R. Hubbard, discloses use of an origami type of folding in a "full fold on itself" condition. This produces a very dense and strong but flexible packing for heavy parts.

Tension and compression extensible liner for a primary vessel


A pillow is provided which includes a neck portion extending along a length of the pillow, and a head portion attached to the neck portion, the head portion divided into at least two head compartments. A filling material is provided within the neck and head portions. The pillow can also be embodied as a pillowcase having a first side, a second side, and an opening for receiving a pillow therein. Within at least one of the first side and second side, the pillowcase includes a neck portion extending along a length of the pillowcase, a head portion including at least two head compartments, and a filling material provided within the neck and head portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pillows.
2. Background Art
Nearly everyone uses a pillow when they sleep. However, typical pillows, which may be filled with materials such as down feathers, synthetic fibers or polymeric materials, may not provide adequate support to a person's head or neck. Furthermore, as a person shifts positions throughout the night, the filling materials can accumulate in the corners of the pillow leaving the user with little, if any, support.


This indexing system (10) for use with a binder (12) includes a plurality of section divider sheets (14) each having an outstanding tab (16) with index indicia thereon and a foldout index sheet assembly (18). The assembly (18) includes a carrier sheet (20) and a foldable index sheet (22) having foldout portion (24) provided with index indicia corresponding to the indicia on the tabs and an adjacent portion (26) attachable to the carrier sheet (20).

This invention relates generally to index sheets for binders and more particularly to an index sheet which can be moved into a visible position for review.
There are several ways of indexing binders, the most common probably being the provision of index information directly on tabs attached to section divider sheets. Another indexing system, which is more convenient, provides the divider tabs with indexing indicia such as sequencial numerals or letters and an index sheet which provides corresponding indicia and related index information aligned with the divider tabs. The latter system works well but suffers from the disadvantage that when the binder is open at a particular section the index sheet is hidden. Systems have been devised to provide index sheets which can be moved into a viewing position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,839 provides a movable index sheet which is slotted and slidably mounted on tabs provided on a sandwiching base sheet. This system is relatively complex as are other systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,291,573 in which an index is slidably concealed in the spine of the binder.
The present system overcomes these and other disadvantages in a manner not revealed in the known prior art.

American Trading and Production Corporation


In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method including providing scanning interferometry data for a test object using phase shifting interferometry, the data including intensity values for each of multiple scan positions for different spatial locations of the test object, the intensity values for each spatial location defining an interference signal for the spatial location, the intensity values for a common scan position defining a data set for that scan position. The method also includes temporally transforming at least some of the interference signals into a first frequency domain signal, determining an estimated phase profile of the test object based on the first frequency domain signal, determining phase shifts at multiple scan positions based on the estimated phase profile, and determining a more accurate phase profile of the test object based on the estimated phase profile and the phase shifts.

Phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) techniques can be used to measure surface profiles with nanometer level resolutions. A test surface of arbitrary shape is imaged with a Fizeau interferometer capable of producing a controlled phase shift along a Z axis for a PSI acquisition with the chosen algorithm. The optical system is aligned along the Z axis and the surface is imaged onto a camera so each pixel corresponds to a unique position in the XY plane. A laser beam is directed towards a reference surface and the test surface, and the interference between the light beams reflected from the test and reference surfaces are sampled as a function of phase shift and subsequently analyzed with a PSI algorithm to extract the test surface phase map, which is converted into physical units using the known wavelength of the laser beam. A conventional PSI algorithm assumes a constant scanning motion (i.e., constant velocity).
If the scanning motion is not uniform, errors in the measured surface profile occur. Unfortunately, it is often the case that the scanning motion in PSI is not uniform. This can occur due to nonlinear motions of the scanning mechanism, or through vibrations that act on each component of the interferometer differently.


A signal processing apparatus includes an adder that acquires a plurality of input signals from a plurality of microphones and calculates an added value obtained by adding the input signals together, a subtracter that acquires a plurality of input signals from the plurality of microphones and calculates a subtracted value obtained by subtracting one input signal from the other input signal, and a determination unit that determines whether noise is included in the input signals based on the added value and the subtracted value.

When wind hits a microphone, a diaphragm included in the microphone vibrates largely, so that noise is included in an input signal. Here, if noise is included in the input signal, when speech recognition is performed or a hands-free phone call is made, the accuracy of the speech recognition and the quality of the phone call degrade. Therefore, in conventional speech recognition and a hands-free phone call, a conventional apparatus which suppresses irregular noise generated when wind hits the microphone is used.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the conventional apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 10, a conventional apparatus 10 is connected to microphones 10a and 10b. The microphones 10a and 10b are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The conventional apparatus 10 includes a correlation analyzer 11, a noise analyzer 12, and a noise reduction unit 13.
The microphone 10a is a microphone which converts collected sound into an input signal Lin(t) and outputs the input signal Lin(t) to the conventional apparatus 10. The microphone 10b is a microphone which converts collected sound into an input signal Rin(t) and outputs the input signal Rin(t) to the conventional apparatus 10. Here, t corresponds to a sampling number of the input signal.
The correlation analyzer 11 calculates a correlation value r(t) between the input signal Lin(t) and the input signal Rin(t) by using the formula (1). In the formula (1), the correlation analyzer 11 sequentially changes the value of i from 1 to n and calculates a correlation value r(t). For example, the value of n is 128. The correlation analyzer 11 outputs the correlation value r(t) to the noise analyzer 12.r(t)=ΣLin(t−i)Rin(t−i)/((ΣLin(t−i)2)1/2(ΣRin(t−i)2)1/2)  (1)
When the value of the correlation value r(t) is small, the noise analyzer 12 determines that there is noise of wind and outputs control information to turn down volume to the noise reduction unit 13.
The noise reduction unit 13 adjusts the volumes of the input signals Lin(t) and Rin(t) and outputs the input signals Lin(t) and Rin(t) to an external apparatus. For example, when the noise reduction unit 13 receives the control information to turn down volume, the noise reduction unit 13 turns down the volumes of the input signals Lin(t) and Rin(t) and outputs the input signals Lin(t) and Rin(t) to the external apparatus.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-289762
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-005133
However, in the conventional technique described above, there is a problem that noise included in a target input signal such as voice is not sufficiently suppressed.
For example, in the conventional technique, when wind blowing against the microphone is strong, the noise of the input signal can be suppressed. However, when wind blowing against the microphone is weak, the difference of correlation coefficient between a section including voice and a section including wind hitting noise is small, so that the noise is not accurately suppressed.

Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method


An intermediate transfer member that is fully coated with a self crosslinked acrylic resin.

Intermediate transfer belts can be generated in the form of seamed belts fabricated by fastening two ends of a web material together, such as by welding, sewing, wiring, stapling, or gluing, and such belts can also be generated in the form of a seamless intermediate transfer belt.
More specifically, seamed belts can be fabricated from a sheet cut from an imaging member web. The sheets are generally rectangular or in the shape of a parallelogram where the seam does not form a right angle to the parallel sides of the sheet. All edges may be of the same length or one pair of parallel edges may be longer than the other pair of parallel edges. The sheets are formed into a belt by joining overlapping opposite marginal end regions of the sheet. A seam is typically produced in the overlapping marginal end regions at the point of joining where the joining may be effected by any suitable means. Typical joining techniques include welding, such as ultrasonic welding, gluing, taping, pressure heat fusing, and the like.
An ultrasonic welding process is accomplished by retaining in a down position the overlapped ends of a flexible imaging member sheet with a vacuum against a flat anvil surface, and guiding the flat end of an ultrasonic vibrating horn transversely across the width of the sheet, over and along the length of the overlapped ends, to form a welded seam. Ultrasonically welding results in an overlap seam that has an irregular surface topology rendering it difficult for a cleaner blade to clean toner around the seam, and which irregular surface can also cause damage to the cleaner blades by nicking the cleaning edge of the blade. In addition, toner trapping resulting from the poor cleaning and the blade damage causes streaking from the seam, which in turn adversely impacts image quality.
When ultrasonically welded into a belt, the seam of multilayered electrophotographic imaging flexible member belt may occasionally contain undesirable high protrusions such as peaks, ridges, spikes, and mounds. These seam protrusions present problems during image cycling of the belt machine because they interact with cleaning blades to cause blade wear and tear, which ultimately adversely affect cleaning blade efficiency, and reduce service life.
A bump, surface irregularity, or other discontinuity on the surface of the belt and in the seam of the belt may disturb the tuck of the cleaning blade as it contacts the intermediate transfer belt surface to effect residual toner and debris removal. The increased height differential may allow toner to pass under the cleaning blade and not be cleaned. Moreover, seams with a bump or other morphological defects can cause the untransferred residual toner to be trapped in the sites of seam surface irregularities. The seam of an intermediate transfer belt, which is repeatedly subjected to the striking action by a cleaning blade under machine functioning conditions, has triggered the development of premature seam delamination failure. In addition, the discontinuity in belt thickness due to the presence of an excessive seam height yields variances of mechanical strength in the belt and reduces the fatigue flex life of the seam when cycling over the belt module support rollers. As a result, both the cleaning life of the blade and the overall service life of the intermediate transfer belt can be diminished.
Also, such irregularities in the belt height and the seam height emit vibrational noise in xerographic development systems, which noise disturbs the toner image on the belt, and degrades resolution and transfer of the toner image to the final copy sheet. This is particularly prevalent in those applications requiring the application of multiple color layers of liquid or dry developer on an intermediate transfer belt, which are subsequently transferred to a final copy sheet. Further, the seam discontinuity or bump in such a belt may result in inaccurate image registration during development, inaccurate belt tracking, and overall deterioration of motion quality, as a result of the translating vibrations.
In a typical electrostatographic reproducing apparatus, a light image of an original to be copied is recorded in the form of an electrostatic latent image upon a photosensitive member or photoconductor. The latent image is subsequently rendered visible by the application of electroscopic thermoplastic resin particles and colorant, which are commonly referred to as toner. Generally, the electrostatic latent image is developed by contacting the latent image with a developer mixture comprised of carrier granules having toner particles adhering triboelectrically thereto, or there can be selected for development a liquid developer material, which may include a liquid carrier with toner particles, dispersed therein. The developer material is advanced into contact with the electrostatic latent image, and the toner particles are deposited thereon in image configuration. Subsequently, the developed image is transferred to a copy sheet. It is advantageous in some situations to transfer the developed image to a coated intermediate transfer web, belt or component, and subsequently transfer with high transfer efficiency the developed image from the intermediate transfer member to a permanent substrate. The toner image is subsequently usually fixed or fused upon a support, which may be the photoconductor or other support such as plain paper.
In electrostatographic printing machines wherein the toner image is electrostatically transferred by a potential difference between the imaging member and the intermediate transfer member, the transfer of the toner particles to the intermediate transfer member and the retention thereof should be substantially complete so that the image ultimately transferred to the image receiving substrate will have a high resolution. Substantially about 100 percent toner transfer occurs when most or all of the toner particles comprising the image are transferred, and little residual toner remains on the surface from which the image was transferred.
Intermediate transfer members may allow for a number of positive attributes, such as enabling high throughput at modest process speeds, improving registration of the final color toner image in color systems using synchronous development of one or more component colors using one or more transfer stations, and increasing the range of final substrates that can be used.
In operation, an intermediate transfer belt is brought into contact with a toner image-bearing member such as a photoreceptor belt. In the contact zone, an electrostatic field generating device, such as a corotron, a bias transfer roller, a bias blade, or the like, creates electrostatic fields that transfer toner onto the intermediate transfer belt. Subsequently, the intermediate transfer belt is brought into contact with a receiver. A similar electrostatic field generating device then transfers toner from the intermediate transfer belt to the receiver. Depending on the system, a receiver can be another intermediate transfer member or a substrate onto which the toner will eventually be fixed. In either situation, the control of the electrostatic fields in and near the transfer zone is a significant factor in toner transfer.
Thus, there is a need for a seamed member, such as a belt that avoids or eliminates a number of the above disadvantages, and more specifically, there is a need for an ITB with excellent surface topology such that it can withstand dynamic fatigue conditions. For example, the acrylic resin coated belt as disclosed herein provides a smoother belt surface with substantially decreased or eliminated profile protrusions or irregularities thereby extending its service life. Also, there is a need for a substantially completely imageable member which avoids or minimizes a number of the disadvantages indicated herein by overcoating the entire member including the seam, with an acrylic resin that is crosslinked, and which layer is mechanically robust, and electrically is about equal to the surface resistivity of the seamed intermediate transfer belt (ITB).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A plasma arcing sensor is used to increase the frequency of plasma arcing by way of neutralization of positive charges and negative charges. When the plasma arcing can be predicted, the process parameters to prevent from the plasma arcing can be carried out. The plasma arcing sensor comprises a top conductive layer formed over a substrate. A conductive layer is disposed between the top conductive layer and the wafer where the conductive layer and the top conductive layer are electrically isolated with dielectrics.

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 89103702, filed Mar. 2, 2000.
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plasma arcing sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
Since the deposition process by plasma has it characteristic of low temperature operation and the plasma etching is anisotropic etching, the processes with regard to plasma are widely used in fabricating semiconductor integrated circuits. The plasma process is carried out by forming ions or atoms with charges in the plasma chamber and followed by ion bombardment to the wafer. When the ions or atoms in the plasma chamber carry a great amount of charges, and the suspector, used to support the wafer, is biased, arcing happens between the wafer and such carriers. As a result, arcing causes damage of wafer during the fabrication of the semiconductor and leads to failure of product percentage to {fraction (1/1000)} high such that the productivity is seriously reduced. Thus, adjusting the conditions and parameters of the process to prevent from arcing is important.
However, it is quite difficult to monitor or study arcing phenomenon since it may not occur often, and normally it may happen once a while and then disappear. Repeatable experiment is nearly impossible since arcing is hard to predict due to its low possibility. Accordingly, when the process engineer changes conditions of the plasma process to reduce the arcing, it cannot be tested by repeated experiment.
The invention provides a plasma arcing sensor, thereby increasing the possibility of arcing in the plasma chamber.
The invention also provides a plasma arcing sensor to increase the possibility of arcing in the plasma chamber and helps engineers adjust the parameters of the process, thereby preventing from arcing in the plasma chamber.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a plasma arcing sensor. A conductive layer is formed over a substrate. A top conductive layer, formed over the conductive layer, is isolated from the conductive layer with dielectrics. An insulating layer is formed to cover the top conductive layer. The area of the top conductive layer is smaller than that of the conductive layer.
The invention further provides a plasma arcing sensor. A plurality of conductive layers is formed over a substrate and such conductive layers are insulated by dielectrics. A top conductive layer, formed over the conductive layers, is covered by an insulating layer and isolated from the conductive layers with dielectrics. The area of the top conductive layer is smaller than that of the conductive layers.
This invention also provides a method of monitoring plasma arcing, thereby detecting the possibility of plasma arcing when an insulating layer is etched by plasma. A wafer having a plurality of plasma arcing sensors is provided, and each of the plasma arcing sensors has a top conductive layer with different charge density thereon. A plasma etching process is performed to the wafer to expose the top conductive layer and then neutralization between the top conductive layer and the plasma decides the possibility of plasma arcing.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.


Concrete masonry unit blocks with recesses providing pockets sized to receive dimensional lumber components, enabling easy design and fabrication of block and lumber assemblies, typically using construction adhesive to bond the blocks to each other. Various dimensions and shapes of blocks are possible, as well as numerous shapes and sizes of pocket-forming recesses in the blocks. A wide variety of attractive and functional structures can be built with the blocks of this invention and widely-available dimensional lumber.

Concrete masonry unit blocks are available that are intended for use with dimensional lumber. These units are scaled to match the lumber sizes. For instance, there are nominal 2″×4″ units (actually about 1½″×3½″) so that omission of a block of that size from an assembly of such blocks will leave a void sized to receive a portion of a "2×4" piece of lumber. Among other deficiencies, such blocks look small and insubstantial, and assemblies of such blocks require a large number of units because of their relative small size.

Concrete masonry unit blocks with dimensional lumber pockets and assemblies of blocks and lumber