The present disclosure relates to the field of biology, in particular, to an anti-CLD18A2 VHH. The present disclosure provides an anti-CLD18A2 VHH. A complementarity determining region (CDR) of the anti-CLD18A2 VHH includes CDR1-CDR3 having amino acid sequences as shown below: CDR1 having an amino acid sequence represented by one of SEQ ID NO. 4-11, CDR2 having an amino acid sequence represented by one of SEQ ID NO. 19-26, and CDR3 having an amino acid sequence represented by one of SEQ ID NO.33-39. The anti-CLD18A2 VHH of the present disclosure can specifically bind to the epitope on CLD18A2, and the corresponding fusion protein thereof has good specificity and affinity for CLD18A2, and has a noticeable tumor suppression effect.

A claudin 18 (CLD18) is a transmembrane protein with a molecular weight of about 28 kiloDalton (kD), located in the tight junction of epithelium and endothelium, and tightly connected between adjacent cells. Claudins on cell surfaces of normal epithelial tissues can hardly be contacted due to the dense intercellular space. However, the space between tumor cells is relatively sparse. Therefore, claudins on tumor cells become a potential target for extracellular antibodies and immunotherapy. CLD18 has four hydrophobic regions, which serve as transmembrane regions to form two extracellular domains, in which a hydrophobic region 1 and a hydrophobic region 2 form a circular extracellular domain 1, and a hydrophobic region 3 and a hydrophobic region 4 form a circular extracellular domain 2. Due to different gene splicing, CLD18 can turn into two kinds of spliced bodies: CLD18A1 and CLD18A2. CLD18A1 is expressed in the normal lung, while CLD18A2 is only expressed in gastric cells. More importantly, CLD18A2 is only present in differentiated short-lived gastric epithelial cells, but not in gastric stem cells (Niimi T et al. Biol. 2001; 21(21):7380-7390.). These characteristics show that CLD18A2 is a clinically valuable therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric cancer and other CLD18A2 positive tumors.
Successful application of monoclonal antibodies in cancer detection and biologically targeted therapy has caused a revolution in tumor therapy. However, traditional monoclonal antibodies with an excessively large molecular weight (about 150 kD) can hardly penetrate tissues, resulting in low effective concentration in the tumor area and insufficient therapeutic effect. Traditional antibodies have a high risk of immunogenicity, but once they are humanized, it is difficult for the modified antibodies to retain the affinity of the parent antibodies. In addition, many factors, such as a long development period, high production cost, and low stability, limited the application and popularization of fully humanized traditional antibodies in clinical practice. Heavy-chain antibodies (VHHs) that recently emerged include the smallest functional antigen-binding fragments derived from heavy-chain antibodies in adult camels, with high stability and high affinity for antigen binding. Compared with conventional antibodies, VHHs have many unique properties: 1) The sequence encoding of VHHs has high homology with human VH families 3 and 4, making them weak in immunogenicity; 2) VHH has a small molecular weight, only about 15 kDa, and the simple structure of the VHH makes it easy to be massively expressed in microorganisms and easy to be purified; 3) VHHs can recognize a large number of epitopes, including some epitopes that are hidden in molecular clefts; 4) Due to their small molecular weight, VHHs can easily penetrate tissue and reach positions that are difficult to reach by conventional antibodies; 5) VHHs have high solubility and stability under denaturing or high-temperature environments. The unique properties and low cost of VHHs have greatly expanded their application range. Therefore, VHHs have great value in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases and also have excellent development prospects in the antibody-targeted diagnosis and treatment of tumors.
However, there is no specific VHH targeting the epitope of CLD18A2 at present. Therefore, it is of great value to develop new VHHs with high specificities and potency against CLD18A2.

Heavy-chain antibodies (VHHs) against claudin 18A2 and use thereof


A shift register includes a plurality of first to n-numbered stages, where n is a positive integer. Each stage includes a node controller controlling respective voltages of a first node and a second node in accordance with an output signal from the (i−j1)-numbered stage and an output signal from the (i+j2)-numbered stage, wherein i is a positive integer from 1 to n, j1 is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2, and j2 is a positive integer equal to or different from j1; and an output unit outputting one of a plurality of clock signals in accordance with the respective voltages of the first and second nodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to display device, and more particularly, to a shift register for a display device and a driving method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, various flat panel displays that are lighter and less bulky than cathode ray tubes (CRT) have been developed. These flat panel displays include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), and a light emitting display (LED). In particular, the LCD includes an LCD panel having liquid crystal cells in a matrix arrangement, and a driving circuit for driving the LCD panel. The LCD displays an image by controlling a light transmittance of the liquid crystal cells using an electric field.
The liquid crystal cells are disposed in pixel regions formed by crossings of gate lines with data lines in the LCD panel. The LCD panel is provided with a common electrode and pixel electrodes for applying an electric field to each of the liquid crystal cells. Each of the pixel electrodes is electrically connected to one of the data lines through source and drain terminals of a switching element, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT).
The TFT used for the LCD includes a semiconductor layer of amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon. An amorphous silicon layer provides good uniformity and stable characteristics to the LCD panel. However, it is difficult to improve pixel density in an amorphous type LCD due to its low charge mobility. To overcome such drawbacks, a driving circuit using amorphous silicon has been built into an array substrate.
FIG. 1 illustrates a related art LCD. Referring to FIG. 1, the related art LCD includes an LCD panel 10, a printed circuit board 20, a plurality of tape carrier packages (TCP) 30, and a plurality of data integrated circuits 40. The LCD panel 10 is provided with a gate shift register 50 for supplying gate pulses to an image display unit 12. The printed circuit board 20 is provided with a control circuit (not shown) and a power circuit (not shown). The TCPs 30 are connected between the printed circuit board 20 and the LCD panel 10. The data integrated circuits 40 are respectively provided in the TCPs and supply analog video signals to the image display unit 12.
The image display unit 12 displays images through liquid crystal cells LC arranged in a matrix. Each of the liquid crystal cells LC includes a TFT made of polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon as a switching element electrically connected to each crossing of gate lines GL and data lines DL. The data lines DL are supplied with the analog video signals from the data integrated circuits 40. The gate lines GL are supplied with the gate pulses from the gate shift register 50.
Each of the TCPs 30 is electrically connected between the printed circuit board 20 and the LCD panel 10 by a tape automated bonding TAB. Input pads of each TCP 30 are electrically connected to the printed circuit board 20 while output pads of each TCP 30 are electrically connected to the LCD panel 10.
Each of the data integrated circuits 40 is supplied with control signals and data signals from the control circuit through the input pads of each TCP 30 and converts the data signals into analog video signals using the input control signals to supply the analog video signals to the data lines DL of the LCD panel 10 through the output pads of each TCP 30. The gate shift register 50 is directly formed at one side of the LCD panel 10.
FIG. 2 illustrates a gate shift register according to the related art LCD of FIG. 1. The gate shift register 50 includes a plurality of stages 511 to 51n whose output nodes are respectively connected to corresponding gate lines GL1 to GLn. The stages 511 to 51n are respectively connected to a start pulse SP input line and at least one clock signal CLK input line. At least one clock signal CLK is phase-delayed by one clock period. If the number of the clock signals CLK is two, for example, the gate shift register 50 is referred to a two-phase shift register.
FIG. 3 illustrates driving waveforms for the related art gate shift register shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, the gate pulses GP are sequentially supplied to the gate lines GL1, to GLn. Specifically, a first gate pulse GP is applied to the first gate line GL1 in a first time period. A second gate pulse GP is applied to the second gate line GL2 in a second time period following the first time period. So, the gate pulses GP are sequentially applied to the gate lines GL1 to GLn.
Thus, in the related art gate shift register, each of the stages 511 to 51n shifts the start pulse SP by one clock period and output the delayed SP when a clock signal CLK is received. The signal output from each of the stages 511 to 51n of the gate shift register 50 is supplied as a start pulse to the next corresponding stage from 512 to 51n. For example, the output from stage 511 is supplied to state 512, and the output of stage 512 is supplied to stage 513, and so on.
The above-described related art LCD displays a desired images in the image display unit 12 by supplying the analog video signals from the data integrated circuits 40 to the data lines DL and concurrently supplying the gate pulses to the gate lines GL using the gate shift register 50 provided in the LCD panel 10.
In the related art LCD, since all the stages 511 to 51n are connected to the clock signal CLK input line, a load of an output line of the shift register increases, thereby causing errors in operation. Also, in the related art LCD, since the gate pulses are sequentially supplied to the gate lines, it is difficult to perform a divisional scan of the LCD panel 10 and change a scan direction when required.

Shift register and display device using the same and driving method thereof


Methods and apparatus for automatically identifying and correcting faults relating to poor communications service in a wireless system, e.g., in real time, are described. The methods are well suited for use in a system with a variety of access points, e.g., wireless and/or wired access points, which can be used to obtain access to the Internet or another network. Access points (APs), which have been configured to monitor in accordance with received monitoring configuration information, e.g. on a per access point interface basis, captures messages, store captured messages, and in collaboration with network monitoring apparatus which can be in an AP or external thereto, use message sequences to determine a remedial action to be automatically taken when poor service is likely as may be predicted based on the detected message sequence between a UE and one or more APs.

Wireless mobile devices may experience communications issues that can be due to a variety of reasons. Lack of service, e.g., corresponding to a dead zone may be due to an Access Point (AP) fault, backbone or other issue, etc. Failure to be able to access a web site or establish a communications session may be due to a DHCP error or for other reasons.
With existing systems when a user experiences an issue he either awaits for the fault to clear, retries the failed operation, or contacts the network administrator requesting a resolution of the problem. In many cases the user and/or system administrator waits for faults to occur and then attempts to identify the fault and take corrective action.
It can be difficult to diagnose and troubleshoot problems in wireless systems in part because devices have many different parameters such as device type, hardware, software and they may interact with various access points within different wireless channels. Connectivity problems may be due to miss-configurations of applications running on a device, poor wireless signal conditions, wireless device operating system (OS) specific issues, problems relating to the network backhaul i.e., from APs to the backend network and/or issues with a particular access point. Access point issues may stem from configuration, loading, malfunctioning component in a device, faulty equipment and/or other issues.
As part of establishing and proceeding with a communications session or web server access operation a user equipment (UE) may send and receive several messages to an access point. A failure to receive or successfully communicate a message, or a message indicating a failure or a problem with completing a portion of the communications establishment process may be the result of a variety of different reasons. Excessive delays in receiving responses to messages may result in a communication failure. The need for a message to be retransmitted and/or other action to be taken may not prevent successful communication but may result in an unintended delay in communication. While a failure to ultimately complete a sequence of messages relating to a communications session may result in a communications failure that may be reported by the UE or another network device, in many cases the UE will simply move to a new location and access the network via a different AP or different network altogether. Therefore, the same fault may affect multiple UEs and go undetected by a network administrator for some time due to the lack of automated fault detection and reporting in many systems and/or the need for a complete communications failure before a communications problem is reviewed to identify the source of the failure.
It would be desirable if methods and apparatus could be developed which could be used to detect faults, identify system issues which can negatively impact performance, recognize conditions or settings, or automatically remediate the cause of a failure, fault, or an anomaly and also take remedial or preventive action on one or more such conditions in an automated manner. e.g., without the need for the user of a UE reporting a communications failure or even before the user of the UE is adversely impacted to such a level that the user suffers noticeable communications problems. Ideally the detection of faults or other conditions which can negatively affect communications performance and the taking of automated remedial action would occur in at least some but not necessarily all embodiments before a user contacts an information technology (IT) department and opens a ticket (request for corrective action) against the system.
It would be desirable if in some but not necessarily all embodiment it was possible to identify communications faults in a wireless system including an AP in real-time, predict them before users are adversely impacted, and/or take automated remedial action to correct the root cause of faults without requiring a user of a UE to actively report the faults or communications failures while interacting with an AP.

Methods and apparatus for facilitating fault detection and/or predictive fault detection


A bottle carrier of the type employing tabs surrounding bottle neck openings to support the underside of bottle flanges. The carrier is comprised of an inner clip member and an outer shroud, each having aligned bottle neck openings and tabs. The outer shroud incorporates side panels which fold around adjacent bottles and are adhered to the inner face of the end panels. The side panels are moved into place by the pulling action of gusset panels as the latter are folded into position at the inner face of the end panels. The outermost bottle support tabs are of greater height than the innermost tabs to accommodate bowing of the carrier during lifting, and the other tabs have angled edges adapted to contact the bottle flanges when the carrier is lifted. The inner clip includes short flaps underlying the side and end flaps of the outer shroud.

Beverage bottles are conventionally formed with a flange or shoulder that projects out from the neck. An economical carrier designed to support such bottles employs so-called starburst support tabs spaced about bottle neck openings in a carrier support panel. When the panel is pushed down over bottles aligned with the neck openings, the tabs are pivoted up by the bottle until they snap into place with their edges engaging the underside of the bottle shoulders. A handle, usually in the form of finger holes in the panel, enables a person to grasp and lift the carrier and its supported bottles.
While this basic design is functional with relatively lightweight bottles, it must be strengthened to enable it to resist tearing or excessive downward bowing when subjected to the more severe lifting and carrying stresses encountered when dealing with large bottles, such as two-liter bottles. A further problem aside from the ability to support large heavy bottles is the difficulty in designing a carrier containing four bottles. The weight and size of the bottles causes them to rotate when lifted by the carrier handle, giving the person carrying them the feeling that the bottles are swinging. In addition, the usual finger holes used for lifting the package are too small to allow the fingers to obtain the secure and comfortable grip desired when lifting a heavy load. The elongated handle panels which have been provided in some carriers designed to support large beverage bottles are not desirable since they extend above the tops of the bottles, interfering with the ability to stack the carriers.
It is an object of the invention to provide a bottle support carrier which is capable of supporting severe loads, such as loads caused by lifting four large heavy beverage bottles, without tearing the carrier and without rotation of the bottles. Additional objects are to provide a carrier of this type which is economical to produce, simple to apply and capable of utilizing a strong comfortable handle in the top panel.


A friction disc assembly having an annular structural core (40) and at least one friction lining disc (30). The annular structural core (40) is made from a strength-optimized carbon carbon composite and the friction lining discs (30) from a friction-optimized carbon carbon composite. Each friction lining disc (30) is provided with a mounting surface (31) and a wear surface (32). The structural core (40) includes at least one mounting surface (41). The mounting surfaces (31,41) may include corresponding sinusoidally-shaped wave patterns for increasing the surface area of a contact zone between the friction lining discs (30) and a reusable structural core (40).

Aircraft brakes typically include a plurality of stator discs and rotor discs which are compressed together during the braking operation of an aircraft. The stator discs and rotor discs are normally arranged in alternating fashion in order to form a brake disc stack
The stationary, stator discs of the disc stack are arranged in a non-rotating position surrounding an aircraft wheel or shaft. The rotating, rotor discs are secured to an outer periphery of the aircraft wheel or shaft and are normally free to rotate with the aircraft wheel when the brake is not in use.
A brake housing may include a plurality of pressure piston actuators that are arranged to provide the compressive, braking force that forces the stator discs and rotor discs of the aircraft brake's disc stack together. Brake adjustors may be employed within the brake to provide adjustment of the relative positions of the brake discs as these frictional components become worn during brake usage.
Carbon brake discs for the aforementioned aircraft braking systems are well known in the background art. Carbon brake discs offer substantial advantages relating to thermal properties and wear over other brake discs of the background art. The carbon—carbon composite materials are expected to perform at least three different functions in an aircraft brake: structural, frictional and heat absorption, e.g. serve as a heat sink. However, it is difficult to simultaneously optimize all three requirements.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,712,427 and 3,800,392 describe refurbishable, carbon and/or graphite brake discs having removable wear face plates. As carbon or graphite brake discs become damaged or worn, the entire assembly of brake discs may have to be replaced in order to ensure the structural integrity of the brake system and/or to maintain the original dimensions of the brake stack.
The brake discs may be machined to incorporate an annular core plate with relatively thin wear plates of carbon based friction materials forming the frictional contact surfaces of the core plates. These wear plates are either bonded or mechanically secured to the annular core plates through well-known means such as rivets, or screws. Accordingly, these types of removable wear faces offer cheaper alternative methods to refurbish and repair brake disc wear faces.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,558,186 and 5,779,006 to Hyde et al., describe friction discs having renewable wear faces for facilitating cost effective, refurbishment and replacement of stator and rotor discs. These friction disc assemblies include an annular structural carrier including a plurality of recessed regions having walls and torque drive notches spaced around the circumference of the carrier.
A friction lining having a flat wear face and a obverse face including raised areas for matingly engaging the walls of recessed regions of the carrier is also provided in the disc assembly. Hyde et al. describe that the depth of the recessed regions may even be less than the corresponding height of the raised areas of the friction lining. For example, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,186 show a carrier including a plurality of recessed regions in the form of windows devoid of any material.
However, as seen in these aforementioned examples of the background art, the desired transfer of forces between the friction lining and carrier can require complex manufacturing steps. For instance, the corresponding, mating components of the brake disc assemblies may necessitate several machining steps to create the radial, circumferential and tangentially oriented components that form the assembly.
Therefore, there is a need for a simple, aircraft brake disc assembly with separate friction and core parts where the torque is transferred directly from the friction component to the core. That way the core could be optimized for strength and the friction parts can be optimized for friction/wear performance.

Composite friction disc with structural core and refurbishable lining elements


The engine can improve a leading air suction efficiency, has a simple structure and a low cost. Accordingly, in a stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine provided with an exhaust port (22) and a scavenging port (21) which are connected to a cylinder chamber (10), a leading air suction port (24) not connected to the cylinder chamber and a crank chamber (11), an air-fuel mixture suction port (23) connected to the crank chamber, a scavenging flow passage (20) connecting between the scavenging port and the crank chamber, and a piston groove (25) connecting between the leading air suction port and the scavenging port and not connecting between the air-fuel mixture suction port and the scavenging port at a time of a suction stroke, and disposed in an outer peripheral portion of the piston (4), the leading air suction port is positioned at an opposite side to the air-fuel mixture suction port with respect to an axis of the cylinder (3).

The present invention relates to a stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine, and more particularly to a piston valve type stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine which separately sucks an air-fuel mixture and leading air for scavenging.
Conventionally, as an example of a piston valve type stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine having a piston groove for connecting a leading air sucking port and a scavenging port in an outer peripheral portion of a piston, there has been known a structure which is disclosed in International Laid-Open WO 98/57053.
FIGS. 12 and 13 show one structural embodiment of the stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine described in WO 98/57053. A piston 4 is provided so as to be slidably and in a sealing manner inserted within a cylinder 3. The piston 4 is connected to a crank 5 within a crank chamber 11 via a connecting, rod 6. A space portion, in which a capacity above the piston 4 within the cylinder 3 changes, forms a cylinder chamber 10. Two scavenging flow passages 20 and 20, communicating the cylinder chamber 10 with the crank chamber 11, are provided on opposite side surfaces of the cylinder 3. The respective scavenging flow passages 20 and 20 are open as scavenging ports 21 and 21 to the cylinder chamber 10. An exhaust port is provided in a side of the cylinder 3 adjacent a top dead center side of the piston 4 at a position above the scavenging ports 21 and 21 in an axial direction of the cylinder 3. Further, an air-fuel mixture suction port 23 and leading air suction ports 24 and 24, disposed adjacent opposite sides of the air-fuel mixture port 23, are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 3. A through hole 31 is provided in a lower portion of the piston 4. Piston grooves 25 and 25, respectively communicating the leading air suction ports 24 and 24 with the scavenging ports 21 and 21 in correspondence to a vertical motion of the piston 4, are provided in right and left outer peripheral surfaces with respect to the through hole 31.
As shown in FIG. 14, in order to prevent the leading air suction ports 24 and 24 and the air-fuel mixture suction port 23 from communicating with each other throughout all of the strokes of the piston 4, the interval between the two leading air suction ports 24 and 24, that is, the interval K between the piston grooves 25 and 25, is set to be larger than the width M of the air-fuel mixture suction port 23.
In the stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine having the structure mentioned above, when the piston 4 moves upwardly from a bottom dead center, the pressure of the crank chamber 11 starts reducing and the pressure of the cylinder chamber 10 starts increasing, so that each scavenging port 21 and the exhaust port 22 are sequentially closed. Further, at this time, as shown in FIG. 14, the leading air suction ports 24 and 24 are in a state of being connected to the scavenging flow passages 20 and 20 via the piston grooves 25 and 25 and the scavenging ports 21 and 21 at a position close to and below the top dead center, and the air-fuel mixture suction port 23 is opened so as to become in a state of being connected to the crank chamber 11 via the through hole 31. Accordingly, the air is sucked within the crank chamber 11 from the leading air suction ports 24 and 24 via the scavenging flow passages 20 and 20. At this time, inner portions of the scavenging flow passages 20 and 20 become in a state of being full of the air.
When the piston further moves upwardly and the piston 4 reaches a point close to the top dead center, the air-fuel mixture within the cylinder chamber 10 is ignited and exploded, whereby the piston 4 starts moving downwardly. Accordingly, the pressure of the crank chamber 11 starts increasing, the piston grooves 25 and 25 become in a state of being shut off from the leading air suction ports 24 and 24 and the scavenging ports 21 and 21, and the air-fuel mixture suction port 23 becomes in a state of being closed by the piston 4, so that the pressure within the crank chamber 11 increases.
In the middle of the downward movement of the piston 4, the exhaust port 22 and the scavenging ports 21 and 21 become sequentially in a state of being opened to the cylinder chamber 10, and combustion gas is at first discharged from the exhaust port 22. Next, the air stored within the scavenging flow passages 20 and 20 is injected into the cylinder chamber 10 from the scavenging ports 21 and 21 due to the increased pressure within the crank chamber 11. Accordingly, the combustion gas left within the cylinder chamber 10 is expelled via the exhaust port 22 and a muffler (not shown) into atmospheric air. Next, the air-fuel mixture within the crank chamber 11 is charged into the cylinder chamber 10 via the scavenging flow passages 20 and 20 and the scavenging ports 21 and 21.
Further, the piston 4 starts moving upwardly from the bottom dead center, whereby the pressure within the crank chamber 11 starts reducing, and each scavenging port 21 and the exhaust port 22 are sequentially closed, so that the cycle mentioned above is again repeated.
Further, conventionally, an air control valve for adjusting an air supply amount is provided in an upstream side of the leading air suction port. As one embodiment thereof, there has been known Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-4518.
FIG. 15 shows one structural embodiment of a stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-4518, and FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view along a line 16xe2x80x9416 in FIG. 15. The same reference numerals are attached to the same elements as those in FIG. 12, a description thereof will be omitted, and a description will be given only of different parts. A carburetor 50, having a suction air throttle valve 51, is provided in the air-fuel mixture suction port 23, which is open to the crank chamber 11. A two-forked branch pipe 61, attached to an air supply pipe 60 and branched into two air supply passages 62 and 62, is attached to the cylinder 3. The air supply passages 62 and 62 of the branch pipe 61 are communicated with the scavenging ports 21 and 21, which are open to the cylinder chamber 10. Check valves 65 and 65 are respectively provided in the air supply passages 62 and 62. An air control valve 63, having a butterfly type variable valve 64, is provided in the air supply pipe 60. The variable valve 64 is structured such as to be connected to the suction air throttle valve 51 of the carburetor 50 by a rod 52 so as to interlock therewith. An exhaust port 22 is provided on a surface of the cylinder 3 opposite from the air supply pipe 60.
In the structure mentioned above, when the piston 4 starts moving upwardly from the bottom dead center, the air is supplied to the scavenging ports 21 and 21 from the air supply pipe 60 via the air supply passages 62 and 62 of the branch pipe 61. Then, the amount of air is adjusted by the air control valve 63. The air control valve 63 is operated interlocking with the suction air throttle valve 51 in the carburetor 50 and is set so that 0 or a small amount of air is supplied at a time when the engine is under idling or under a low load operation, and an amount of air corresponding to an operation condition is supplied at the other operation times.
However, in the structure disclosed in WO 98/57053 mentioned above, the following problems are generated.
In order to increase a suction efficiency of the air-fuel mixture, it is necessary to form the air-fuel mixture suction port 23 to be equal to or more than a predetermined area. Further, in the same manner, in order to increase a suction efficiency and a scavenging efficiency of the leading air, it is necessary to form the scavenging ports 21 and 21 and the piston grooves 25 and 25 to be equal to or more than a predetermined area. Accordingly, although a detailed description is not given in WO 98/57053, the air-fuel mixture suction port 23, the scavenging ports 21 and 21, and the piston grooves 25 and 25 actually occupy a very large area, as shown in FIG. 17.
Further, in order to control so that the air supplied from the leading air suction ports 24 and 24 and the air-fuel mixture supplied from the air-fuel mixture suction port 23 do not mix, it is necessary to set the interval K between the two leading air suction ports 24 and 24 to be larger than the width M of the air-fuel mixture suction port 23. Accordingly, a width N of the leading air suction ports 24 and 24, positioned so as to be constrained between the air-fuel mixture suction port 23 and the scavenging ports 21 and 21, is reduced. Accordingly, the area of the leading air suction ports 24 and 24 is reduced, and there is generated a problem that a suction efficiency of the leading air is deteriorated.
Further, in the structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-4518, the following problem is generated. Since the air supply pipe 60 having the air control valve 63 is attached to the cylinder 3 via the branch pipe 61, the number of the parts is increased, the structure is complex, and a placing space is large. Accordingly, in the case that a product is constituted by using the engine, it becomes hard to assemble the entire structure in a compact manner, so that there are problems that a general purpose property is deteriorated and the cost is increased.
As a means for solving the problems mentioned above which are generated by WO 98/57053, there can be considered a structure in which the air-fuel 1 mixture suction port 23 and the two leading air suction ports 24 and 24 are provided at positions shifted with respect to each other a predetermined distance in an axial direction of the cylinder 3, and the interval between the two leading air suction ports 24 and 24 is set to be smaller than the width of the air-fuel mixture suction port 23. FIG. 18 is a side elevational schematic view of the cylinder 3 which describes an embodiment structured in the manner mentioned above. In FIG. 18, the interval R between the two leading air suction ports 24 and 24 is set to be smaller than the width S of the air-fuel mixture suction port 23. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the width T of each of the leading air suction ports 24 and 24, and it is possible to set an area thereof to be sufficiently large.
However, in this structure, in all of the strokes of the piston 4, it is necessary to prevent a connection of the piston groove 25 to the air-fuel mixture suction port 23. Accordingly, it is necessary to increase a length L2 of the piston 4 at a degree of shifting the air-fuel mixture suction port 23 and the two leading air suction ports 24 and 24 with respect to each other in the axial direction of the cylinder 3. Accordingly, since the engine itself becomes large, there are problems that the weight is increased, an occupied space is increased and the cost is increased.
The present invention is made by paying attention to the problems mentioned above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine which can improve a leading air suction efficiency, can make a piston compact, has a simple structure, has a reduced number of parts, has a small placing space, and has a low cost.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine comprising an exhaust port and a scavenging port which are connected to a cylinder chamber of an engine, a leading air suction port which is not connected to the cylinder chamber and a crank chamber during all strokes of a piston, an air-fuel mixture suction port which is connected to the crank chamber, a scavenging flow passage which connects the scavenging port and the crank chamber, and a piston groove connecting between the leading air suction port and the scavenging port and for not connecting between the air-fuel mixture suction port and the scavenging port at a time of a suction stroke; and provided in an outer peripheral portion of the piston; and wherein the leading air suction port, the air-fuel mixture suction port, and the scavenging port are opened and closed due to a vertical motion of the piston, and
wherein the leading air suction port and the air-fuel mixture suction port are positioned on opposite sides of an axis of the cylinder.
In accordance with the structure mentioned above, since the position of the leading air suction port is set to be opposite to that of the air-fuel mixture suction port, it is possible to sufficiently secure an opening area of the leading air suction port even when the length of the piston is short. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine which has an improved leading air suction efficiency, which is compact and light, which has a small placing space, and which has a low cost.
Further, the two-stroke cycle engine is structured such that the piston groove is not connected to the exhaust port at a top dead center, and an upper edge of the piston groove is positioned in a side of a cylinder head, in a direction of the cylinder axis, higher than a lower edge of the exhaust port and existent within a range not overlapping in the direction of the cylinder axis with a width portion, in a piston peripheral direction, of the exhaust port.
In accordance with the structure mentioned above, it is possible to increase the size of the piston groove in the cylinder axial direction. Accordingly, it is possible to increase a connecting time between the leading air suction port and the scavenging port at a time of the suction stroke so as to suck a lot of leading air. Therefore, since it is possible to increase a leading air suction efficiency even when reducing the length of the piston, it is possible to obtain the stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine which is compact and which has an improved performance.
Further, the structure may be made such that the twostroke cycle engine further comprises an air control valve arranged close to the leading air suction port for adjusting a suction air amount.
In accordance with the structure mentioned above, since the air control valve is provided close to the leading air suction port, the placing space is reduced, and a compact product structure can be obtained, so that a stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine excellent in a general purpose property can be obtained.
Further, the two-stroke cycle may be structured such that a valve body of the air control valve is integrally formed with the cylinder.
In accordance with the structure mentioned above, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, to make the structure simple, to make the structure light and compact, and to reduce a cost.

Stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine


The invention provides novel strains Agrobacterium tumefaciens KKP 2039p and Paracoccus alcaliphilus KKP 2040p, the plasmid pSinA and its functional derivative, method for producing bacterial strains capable of chemolithotrophic arsenite oxidation and novel bacterial strains produced by this method. The invention also relates to the composition, comprising the novel bacterial strain or the plasmid pSinA and the use of these novel strains, as well as the method of bioaugmentation of an arsenic contaminated environment, particularly the method for the removal of arsenic from waters.

Arsenic is among the elements which are widely distributed in the Earth's crust, where it is present in trace amounts, mainly in the soil and minerals. Under the influence of natural processes and human activities, arsenic is also released to waters and air. The presence of arsenic compounds in drinking water sources poses a threat to human and animal health. The most dramatic effects of the influence of arsenic are observed in Bangladesh and in Western Bengali in India, where, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 50 million inhabitants are exposed to the consumption of drinking water contaminated with this toxic element.
Biological removal of arsenic from contaminated areas seems to be a necessary complement to many traditional, chemical methods of remediation. The use of such methods as coagulation or filtration is associated with the removal of not only arsenic, but also other elements present in the treated environment. Current studies on biological systems for arsenic removal, mainly focus on the use of the potential of microorganisms and plants (Kostal et al., 2004, Tripathi et al., 2007).
Effective purification of an arsenic-contaminated waters is associated with the removal of both inorganic forms of arsenic (As III and As V). While arsenates can be efficiently and selectively precipitated on strong adsorbents (Pattanayak et al., 2000), in the case of arsenites there is no possibility of using selective oxidants without side effects to the environment. Microbial oxidation of As (III) becomes therefore an alternative to chemical oxidation. Lievermont et al. (2003) proposed an efficient, low input, two-step technology for arsenic removal from waters with the use of Herminiimonas arsenicoxidans ULPAs1 bacteria. The authors have demonstrated that the strain ULPAs1, immobilised on alginate deposit, can efficiently oxidise even 100 mg/L of As (III) and may be applied in technologies for the removal of arsenic, where initial oxidation of contaminated waters is required.
The known applications of arsenite-oxidising bacteria in bioremediation processes are so far limited to laboratory studies and ex situ methods. The known ways of bioremediation of areas contaminated with arsenic by in situ methods do not fulfill their functions, because bacteria introduced into the "new" environment are not able to survive in the new conditions. This is mainly due to the existence of physico-chemical conditions other than laboratory and to the interspecific competition with the indigenous microflora. The proposed solution to this problem is the biostimulation of indigenous microflora or the use of genetically modified organisms.
Yang et al. (2010) relates to a lab constructed vector, derivative of the plasmid pBBR1MCS-5, carrying genes for the large and small subunits of arsenite oxidase. This vector contains the gene for resistance to gentamicin and its use requires an application of selection pressure of gentamicin at concentration of 60 mg/L. Because of this, an introduction of bacteria harbouring such plasmid into the environment carries the risk of dissemination of genes for gentamicin resistance, and also involves the risk of instability of such strains in the environment. The vector of Yang et al. (2010) is used for constructing strains useful in bioremediation of arsenic, but it only works when introduced into strains originally capable of arsenite oxidation, and it only increases the efficiency of the already existing process. This vector does not cause the acquisition of a new ability, which is the possibility of catalysing the oxidation reaction of As (III) to As (V).
The proposed use of genetically modified organisms involves the introduction of foreign genes carried by them, such as marker genes for antibiotic resistance or encoding the green fluorescent protein (Gfp) into the natural environment, which is unacceptable for social reasons and undesirable for environmental reasons, as well as causing the loss of plasmids in case of the absence of selection pressure for the chosen markers in the natural environment.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.

Bacterial strains, plasmids, method of producing bacterial strains capable of chemolithotrophic arsenites oxidation and uses thereof


A movable barrier drive case (300) and a clamp (301) wherein the clamp can be configured and arranged to securely and non-temporarily attached the movable barrier drive case to a mounting channel (100). The movable barrier drive case can be configured and arranged to attach securely and non-temporarily to a movable barrier drive assembly. By these teachings, this movable barrier drive case can further comprise an installation safety latch (402) that is configured and arranged to securely and only temporarily maintain a selected disposition of the movable barrier drive case with respect to the mounting channel during installation of the movable barrier drive case. So configured, the installation safety latch can serve to maintain the movable barrier drive case in an installer's selected position with respect to the mounting channel during installation prior to using the clamp to non-temporarily attach the movable barrier drive case to the mounting channel.

Movable barriers of various kinds are known in the art. These include, but are not limited to, a wide variety of segmented and one-piece garage doors, rolling shutters, pivoting guard arms, sliding gates, and so forth. In many cases, a movable barrier drive serves as a motive force to cause selective movement of such a barrier between open and closed positions.
Various such movable barrier drives are known in the art. In many cases, such a drive couples to the movable barrier via a drive linkage of choice, such as a chain, a belt, or the like. To operate correctly, of course, such a drive linkage should be suitably taut. This can often mean being neither too loose nor too tight. As installation settings can vary one to the other, properly adjusting this tension often comprises an installation detail that cannot be fully attended to in a factory setting.
In many cases, and particularly where price is a significant concern, achieving a proper adjustment of the drive linkage can comprise achieving a proper placement of the movable drive itself with respect to the movable barrier. Often, however, the installation setting itself renders such placement challenging. For example, it will often be the case that a movable barrier drive must ultimately be securely and non-temporarily attached to a wall or ceiling to complete the installation. It can be necessary, however, to first seek to test, set, and/or adjust the drive linkage prior to making this secure and non-temporary affixment.
This can mean holding the movable barrier drive in the anticipated installation location prior to making the secure and non-temporary attachment. In many cases, this can be difficult to safely and readily achieve by the installer. This can mean, for example, attempting to simply hold the drive in the test position while simultaneously manipulating the drive linkage to assess the corresponding achieved tautness. Such an approach can be fatiguing, prone to error, and even presents some risk of damage to the drive should the installer lose their grip and allow the drive to fall.
As another approach, the installer can simply install the drive in a given location and then test the drive linkage for tautness. Upon determining that the drive linkage is either too loose or too tight, the installer can then uninstall the drive and try a different position. This can be repeated until the installer achieves success. Such an approach can again be fatiguing and again presents some opportunities for the drive to drop and become damaged.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Movable barrier drive case installation safety latch method and apparatus


A microwave oven provided, in its chamber, with a rotating tray designed to receive items or products subjected to a processing operation, includes, as a rotating tray, a tray which, during this processing operation, puts these items or products into motion along a non-circular path in this processing chamber. A mechanism for rotating the tray along the non-circular path is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microwave oven with a rotating tray.
A microwave oven usually has a compartment used as a processing chamber and a compartment designed, to house a magnetron system for the production of microwaves. The microwaves produced by the production system are conveyed by a waveguide to the processing chamber where d food item or food product, subjected to a process Of cooking, heating or defreezing, is placed. If this food item or food product remains immobile within this chamber during this processing operation, the microwaves,, in their standing wave mode in this chamber, cause the mass of this food item or food product to be processed non-uniformly. In other words, in the mass of this food item or food product, there are zones that are more cooked or well heated or well defrozen alternating with zones that are less cooked, still cold or badly thawed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several methods have been proposed to make this processing uniform in the mass of this food item. In one of the known approaches, a device for stirring the microwaves is mounted in the oven, at the output of a waveguide, in order to obtain a complex standing wave mode of microwaves in the processing chamber. This approach improves the result obtained but the processing is still far from being uniform throughout the mass of the item or product subjected to this processing stage. Another known approach provides for a rotating tray within the processing chamber of the oven. This rotating tray has a fixed, concentric axis of rotation and is designed to receive an item or product subjected to a processing operation. During this processing operation, the rotating tray with a concentric axis of rotation enables continuous changing of the position of the item or product in the chamber by exposing it to the microwaves. The result obtained shows that, in the mass of the item or product subjected to this processing operation, there are concentric zones that are well cooked or well heated or properly defrozen alternating with concentric zones that are less well cooked or still cold or badly thawed. These zones are all concentric with the fixed axis of rotation of the rotating tray.


A method of custom fitting a golf club or like implements having a shaft and a club head at a lower end thereof. The method utilizes the centerline of the shaft to determine the proper lie angle and true playing length for the shaft. A pointing device is attached to the shaft such that a projected point thereof is aligned with the centerline of the shaft to extend the centerline to the sole of the club head. The club head is placed on a universal setup mat with the club face aligned with the baseline thereof and the projected point on a target line where the sweet spot of the club head should hit a ball. A lie angle protractor on the mat is folded upward so the lie angle can be read from the protractor. The method also determines the proper grip size for the handle of the shaft.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to golf clubs that are utilized in the game of golf and to similarly configured game playing implements. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of sizing game implements having a shaft with a head at a lower end thereof, such as golf clubs and similarly configured game implements. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such methods that provide for custom fitting of a golf club or like game implement to an individual's anatomical size and playing technique and which allows for acquiring the fitting process of the game implement via the Internet, fax, through the mail or like communication methods.
B. Background
Golf is a popular game played worldwide by millions of amateurs and professionals. The object of the game is to complete a golf course in as few strokes as possible. Shooting lower scores is a result of consistently, shot after shot, striking the golf ball at the "sweet spot" of the club face toward the intended target with the appropriate distance. The sweet spot is located on the club head face directly forward of the head's center of gravity. Failure to hit the golf ball exactly at this sweet spot is likely to result in errant or misdirected travel of the golf ball (e.g., slicing or hooking of the ball) with improper distance. Generally, the further away from the sweet spot that the golf ball is struck, the more misdirected and shorter its travel will be in comparison to the intended target. Proper swing technique alone will not ensure striking the golf ball on the sweet spot or a low score for a particular hole or course. However, when proper swing technique is matched with golf clubs that are custom fit to that particular technique then the possibility of striking the golf ball on the sweet spot and scoring lower is greatly increased.
Properly custom fitted golf equipment will allow for a consistent return of the club face through impact with the golf ball swing after swing. Whereas improperly sized golf equipment can provide just the opposite condition, sending the golf ball off line with improper distance ultimately leading to more strokes per hole and higher total scores.
Presently, in order to obtain custom fitted golf clubs a golfer must go to an on-course golf pro shop or an off-course golf retail store. There are several drawbacks in regard to being custom fitted for golf clubs at these establishments.
The rules of golf allow for tremendous diversity in club head size, design and shaft attachment positions (especially for putter heads). For putters you can have heel shafted, center shafted, toe shafted and all positions in between. This shaft attachment location diversity alters the lie angle and playing length readings between club head models. Which is to say you can not fit with one particular model of club (for example a heel shafted putter) and expect those fitting numbers to be applicable in building a different model of club (for example a center or toe shafted putter). In fact with the current methods of custom fitting, an on-course golf pro shop or an off-course golf retail store would have to stock at least one of every model golf club by every manufacturer to properly custom fit an individual for a specific model, which does not even address having all of the lie angles and different lengths per model. This fitting inventory would be far too costly and impractical and would have to be updated each time a manufacturer released a new club design. On-course golf pro shops and off-course golf retail stores usually only carry a few of the most popular models (in terms of sales) by the most popular manufacturers. So it is highly possible to not find an on-course golf pro shop or an off-course golf retail store with the specific club model that one would like to be fit for and purchase.
Assuming an individual has researched and found an on-course golf pro shop or an off-course golf retail store that has the specific model desired in stock, usually a fitting appointment must be scheduled based on the availability of the fitter. Then the individual must travel to that place of business for the fitting (travel time and fuel costs) and the fitting itself may require paying a fee.
Assuming the conditions presented above are met, the quality and precision of the fitting is still dependant upon the knowledge, experience, skill and insight of the fitter. Additionally, if an individual decides to purchase a new model the next year from a different manufacturer that is dissimilar from his or her current club, the custom fitting process must start over.
Many of the same considerations that are required to properly fit a golf club to a golfer also apply to fitting similar game implements to a player who utilizes that implement while playing that sport. For instance, hockey players of all levels prefer to utilize a hockey stick, which also comprises a shaft with a club head at a lower end thereof, that is custom fitted to their anatomy and manner of swinging the hockey stick. Other sports may also utilize similarly configured game implements that are also, preferably and beneficially, fitted to the individual player of the game that uses that implement.
Therefore, what is needed is an improved method of custom fitting golf clubs and similarly configured game playing implements. The preferred method of custom fitting should allow the use of any golf club or similarly configured game playing implement (or any linear item having a centerline that can represent the above) as a fitting club and allow those fitting specifications to be transferable and usable for fitting and assembly of any other golf club or similarly configured game playing implement. The preferred method of custom fitting golf clubs or similarly configured game playing implements should eliminate the need to schedule an appointment with a fitter, travel to the place of fitting and pay any fitting fees. The preferred method of custom fitting golf clubs or similarly configured game playing implements should allow the individual to custom fit his or her self at his or her location and time of choosing utilizing his or her existing golf clubs or similarly configured game playing implements. The preferred method of custom fitting golf clubs or similarly configured game playing implements should be readily adaptable for distribution via the internet, fax, mail and or other forms of communication that do not require face-to-face interaction.

Method of custom fitting a golf club or like game implement


In a method for manufacturing a micromechanical device having a region for forming an integrated circuit, at first a first layer is produced on a deeper-lying part in the substrate. Subsequently, a membrane layer is produced on the first layer and at least one channel completely penetrating the membrane layer is introduced in the membrane layer. After that, a region of the first layer below the membrane layer is removed to form a cavity. Finally, the channel is sealed and a planar surface is formed.

In surface micromechanics, there is a possibility, when manufacturing integrated sensor elements, to produce cavities for such devices along with other electrical devices in an integrated circuit. Thus, the process steps for manufacturing the micromechanics components (micromechanics process steps) are partly of considerable influence for the characteristics of the electrical devices processed. One consequence frequently resulting is a limitation in the degrees of freedom in the process management for manufacturing and sealing cavities in these devices. The result is that disadvantages in the characteristics of the micromechanical devices partly have to be put up with. An example of such a limitation or a disadvantage in the characteristics of such a micromechanical device is that it might be of particular importance, in particular in modern processes and devices, for the doping profiles provided not to be shifted.
At present, two-chip solutions are predominantly used to solve these problems, one chip containing the micromechanical structures and a second chip containing evaluating electronics for processing the signals obtained from the first chip. The two devices are processed separately. A mutual process influencing in the form of process influences of the respective other manufacturing processes can be avoided here. The disadvantage of this solution, however, is considerable additional cost resulting from the separate process management and the separate chips. In addition, additional package expenditure results from the separate processing of the two chips, which increases the setup space of the finished device on the one hand and the manufacturing cost on the other hand. Furthermore, certain applications which are, for example, dependent on evaluating particularly small signals cannot be realized by this concept since the respective signals, for example, must be transported via bond wires via which it is particularly easy for disturbance signals to couple in the sensor.
Another solution will be described and discussed in greater detail referring to the schematic setup shown in FIG. 2 and the scanning electron microscope image shown in FIG. 3. The cavity structures here are processed after manufacturing the electrical devices. Mutual process influences in this case result in partly complicated readjusting of the electronical devices.
A cavity can be exposed by etching by a plate provided with holes which may, for example, consist of polysilicon (poly Si), silicon oxide (Si oxide) or silicon nitrite (Si nitrite). FIG. 2a shows this intermediate state of an integrated sensor element in a schematic manner. A sacrificial layer 810 which in the finished device acts as a spacing for the membrane layer 820 which in FIG. 2a is also referred to as a lid is applied on a substrate 800. The membrane layer 820 has a plurality of holes 830. A cavity 840 has been exposed by etching through the holes 830. Thus, FIG. 2a shows a cavity 840 exposed by etching comprising a lid 820 provided with holes. Subsequently, as is shown in FIG. 2b, a sealing layer 850 is applied on the membrane layer 820 and the sacrificial layer 810, wherein the sealing layer has not completely sealed the holes 830 in the membrane layer. A highly doped silicate glass, such as, for example, borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) or phosphosilicate glass (PSG), is frequently used as a sealing layer material. FIG. 2b is a schematic representation of the device after BPSG deposition. In a subsequent process step, the device is heated, whereupon the sealing layer 850 becomes viscous and seals the holes 830, as is schematically shown in FIG. 2c. FIG. 2c is a schematic representation of the device after BPSG reflow. Apart from the basic illustration shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of a cross-section of a corresponding device including a cavity produced in this manner. In the device shown in FIG. 3, the cavity structure has been sealed by BPSG. Reference numerals used in FIG. 2 are also used for corresponding structures of FIG. 3. This manufacturing concept is, for example, described in the patent document DE 10022266 A1.
After exposing by etching the cavity 840 through the plate provided with holes or membrane layer 820, this plate or the holes 830 of the membrane layer 820 are sealed by a highly doped silicate glass, such as, for example, PSG or BPSG. Sealing by a highly doped silicate glass is possible here since this material becomes viscous at high temperatures, in the case of BPSG usually starting at around 700° C., and behaves like a well-wetting liquid. Its surface tension compensates unevenness in the topology and seals small apertures, in the present case the holes 830, in a gas-tight manner. This process step is also referred to as "reflow".
Highly doped silicate glass which, in principle, is suitable for sealing a cavity, however, can only be used after manufacturing the electrical devices, the so-called basic process, since the highly doped silicate glass entails a very high contamination danger for the (processed) device. Even this cavity manufacturing process, comprising the sub-step of reflow which is performed after the basic process, usually influences the integrated circuit contained on the wafer and/or the electrical devices processed so that the characteristics, such as, for example, resistances, capacitances or other electrical, mechanical, optical, acoustic or different physical quantities, thereof may be altered in an unpredictable manner, which is a considerable disadvantage of this manufacturing process.
Gas-tight sealing by depositing an undoped oxide is also possible in principle, however only under very difficult conditions, since growth lines will always form here in the deposition process. In addition, undoped oxides do not exhibit a flow behavior at high temperatures, so that apertures or holes can consequently only be sealed by relatively large layer thicknesses since a hole must grow to be sealed already during deposition. Sealing apertures or holes afterwards by reflow is not possible in this case.

Micromechanical device and method for manufacturing a micromechanical device


A process for forming a light guide plate with a reflection film includes: (a) providing a light guide plate (30), which has a light input surface (303) with light incident portions (3032), a bottom surface (304), a light output surface (301), and side surfaces (302); (b) attaching protection film (32) on the light incident portions and the light output surface; (c) providing a reflection solution; (d) dipping the light guide plate in the reflection solution; (e) removing the light guide plate from the reflection solution, and solidifying a portion of the reflection solution remaining on the light guide plate to thereby form a reflection film; and (f) removing the protection film to expose the light incident portions and the light output surface. Because the reflection film is directly attached to the light guide plate, there is no gap and no attendant leakage of light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light guide plate typically used in a liquid crystal display (LCD), and particularly to a light guide plate with a reflective means and a process for making the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A light guide plate is one of the key optical members used in a plane light source of an LCD. Usually, the function of the light guide plate is to receive light beams from certain light sources or the ambient environment, and to emit the received light beams uniformly in a certain direction. The light guide plate functions as a kind of light channel, and should collect light beams efficiently, minimize any propagation loss of the light beams, and emit the light beams uniformly.
Accordingly, a typical light guide plate includes a light receiving portion for collecting light beams and a light emitting portion for emitting the light beams. The body of the light guide plate is made of a highly light transmissive material. Other portions or surfaces of the light guide plate do not need to receive light or emit light, and internal or external reflective means must be used thereat to prevent light beams from improperly entering or emitting from the light guide plate.
Referring to FIG. 3, a conventional plane light source comprises a light guide plate 10 and a pair of light sources 11 adjacent to the light guide plate 10. The light guide plate 10 has a light incidence surface 103, a bottom surface 104, a light emitting surface 101 opposite to the bottom surface 104, and three non-incident side surfaces 102. The light incidence surface 103 has a pair of light incident portions 1031 corresponding to the light sources 11, and a non-incident portion 1032.
Referring also to FIG. 4, three reflection means are used in the plane light source. A reflection plate 106 is disposed under the bottom surface 104, a reflection member 105 is disposed to cover the non-incident portion 1032, and a reflection frame 21 is disposed around the non-incident side surfaces 102.
However, tolerances inherent in the manufacturing process and inaccurate assembly generally result in a gap 22 being formed between the light guide plate 10 and the reflection frame 21. In operation of the plane light source, leakage of light beams takes place at the gap 22. That is, some light beams do not emit from the light emitting surface 101 but instead are lost at the gap 22. This leakage reduces the transmittance of the plane light source.
Moreover, the need for three different reflection means complicates the production process. The three reflection means are a significant expense that adds to the cost of the plane light source.
It is desired to provide a light guide plate with reflection means which overcomes the above-described problems.

Light guide plate with a reflective means and process for forming the same


The specification describes a gettering technique for bonded wafers. The handle wafer is provided with a phosphorus predeposition to getter impurities from the handle wafer. The surface to be bonded of the handle wafer is then polished to prepare the wafer for bonding. During polishing the top side phosphorus layer is removed, thereby eliminating the potential for updiffusion of phosphorus from the gettering layer into the device regions of the device layer. The phosphorus gettering layer on the backside of the handle wafer is retained for additional gettering during the bonding operation and during subsequent processing of the device wafer.

High voltage and high power semiconductor integrated circuit devices require unusual isolation structures to provide effective electrical isolation between adjacent devices in the semiconductor substrate. A common technique is to form buried oxide tubs around a silicon substrate region. The typical fabrication method is to etch deep trenches in a single crystal silicon substrate, oxidize the silicon in the trenches, and deposit a thick layer of polysilicon over the etched silicon surface. The polysilicon layer serves as the substrate or "handle" for the wafer during subsequent processing to form the integrated circuit. The bottom surface of the single crystal silicon wafer is polished away to reveal the oxide trenches thus leaving isolated islands of single crystal silicon in the polysilicon handle wafer.
More recently, techniques have become available for hydrophilic bonding of silicon wafers. Using this technique, an isolating layer is formed on the surface of one of the silicon wafers and that surface is bonded to another silicon wafer, thus forming a two wafer "sandwich" with an isolating layer there between. Isolation trenches are then formed through the thickness of the device wafer with the trenches essentially encircling and isolating silicon regions of the device wafer. In an implementation of the well known dielectric isolation technique, the isolation layer is an oxide layer, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,758. An alternative approach is to use a junction isolation layer, i.e. a heavily doped layer, as the isolation layer. In this approach the bond for the bonded wafer is silicon to silicon which is easily implemented using hydrophilic bonding. In both cases the surfaces being bonded are highly polished.
In bonded wafer technology in general, the gettering of impurities has been a manufacturing and performance issue. Impurities that originate from the interface are a source of contamination in the finished device. It is also predictable that a substantial source of device contamination results from impurities present during the wafer bonding operation, and in particular, impurities that originate from the handle wafer. Backside gettering as generally used in semiconductor technology is ineffective with bonded wafers due to the thickness of the bonded structure and the presence of the barrier at the bonded wafer interface. Thus, as described in the patent referenced above, front side gettering from gettering layers formed in the side trenches on the device side of the bonded wafer is typically the method of choice. However, it is evident that the front side gettering approach of the patent cited above is ineffective for gettering impurities at this early stage of wafer production.
It would beneficial to remove the handle wafer as a source of contamination and to getter impurities from the wafers being bonded at an early stage in the manufacturing operation, i.e. before the bonded interface is formed.


An orchestrator executes an end-to-end process across applications. An message broker exchanges information among the orchestrator and the processes of the applications. Adapters perform protocol and interface translations for information communicated between the message broker and the respective applications.

An enterprise may employ multiple applications to perform various tasks. The tasks can be performed by various applications, and in some cases multiple applications can perform overlapping tasks. As an example, the tasks can include tasks associated with information technology (IT) management, such as management of development and production of program code, management of a portfolio of products or services, support management, IT service management, cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS) service management and so forth. IT management performs management with respect to components of an IT environment, where the components can include computers, storage devices, communication nodes, machine-readable instructions, and so forth. Various aspects of IT management can be modeled by an Information Technology Infrastructure (ITIL) (that provides a set of best practices for IT management), a Business Process Framework (eTOM) from the TM Forum, and so forth. With advancements in IT management technology, new IT management processes have been introduced, such as self-service IT, IT as a service provider, DevOps and autonomous IT, and so forth.

Execution of end-to-end processes across applications

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert light into an electric charge; a floating diffusion region configured to convert the electric charge into a voltage; a transfer transistor configured to transfer the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the floating diffusion region; and a transfer transistor driving circuit configured to control a gate potential of the transfer transistor, wherein the transfer transistor driving circuit controls the gate potential so as to be changed in at least two changing rates during a period of transition from the ON state to the OFF state of the transfer transistor, and the second changing rate out of the two changing rates is higher than the first changing rate.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging apparatus, a driving method for the same, and an imaging system.
Description of the Related Art
The solid-state imaging apparatus transfers an optical signal charge to a floating diffusion (FD) region from a photoelectric conversion unit, by a transfer transistor. In order to suppress an image lag and a random noise occurring at the time, a solid-state imaging apparatus is disclosed (see U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,792, for instance) which keeps a predetermined level of a gate voltage during a period of transition from the ON state to the OFF state of a transfer transistor and controls a transition rate from the ON state to the OFF state.
In the above described solid-state imaging apparatus, it takes time for the transfer transistor to be shifted from the ON state to the OFF state, and as a result, a charge transfer period is increased.

Solid-state imaging apparatus changing a gate voltage of a transfer transistor, driving method for the same, and imaging system


The invention provides a method for purifying a crude naphthalenedicarboxylic acid comprising the steps of mixing a crude naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and a water/alcohol solvent to esterify a part of the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, thereby dissolving a naphthalenedicarboxylic ester into the solvent, and then contacting the resulting reaction mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to hydrogenate impurities which are contained in the crude naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and which are capable of being hydrogenated, thereby dissolving and removing hydrogenation products into the water/alcohol solvent. A mixture of a naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and a naphthalenedicarboxylic ester with reduced impurity contents, or a high-purity naphthalenedicarboxylic acid can be obtained.

A naphthalenedicarboxylic acid can be prepared by, for example, oxidizing a dialkylnaphthalene in the presence of cobalt, manganese and bromine. The crude naphthalenedicarboxylic acid obtained by this process, however, contains impurities, e.g., trimellitic acid and aldehydes, as well as cobalt, manganese and bromine derived from the catalyst. When such a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid is used as a starting material to prepare polyethylene naphthalate, coloring of the resulting polyethylene naphthalate or staining of a mold in the molding process may take place. Therefore, the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid obtained above needs to be purified prior to use.
As a method for purifying a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, JP-A-1-110650 discloses a process for preparing purified bis(2-hydroxyethyl) 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, which process comprises reacting an impure 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid with at least 2 mol of ethylene glycol based on 1 mol of the 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid in the presence of catalytic quantities of a tertiary amine and a titanium-containing compound to prepare bis(2-hydroxyethyl) 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, crystallizing the bis(2-hydroxyethyl) 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, and recovering the purified bis(2-hydroxyethyl) 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate.
JP-A-5-508870 discloses a process for preparing a purified dimethyl naphthalenedicarboxylate, which process comprises reacting 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid with methanol in an appropriate reaction region to prepare a reaction mixture containing dissolved dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate and monomethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, cooling the reaction mixture to a temperature of not higher than about 40.degree. C. to crystallize main parts of the dissolved dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate and monomethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, partitionating the crystallized dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate and monomethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate from the reaction mixture mother liquor, heating the partitionated dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate and monomethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate in a recrystallization solvent to a temperature high enough to dissolve at least a part of the dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate and substantially all of the monomethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, recrystallizing the dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate dissoloved in the recrystallization solvent at such a temperature that the dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate is recrystallized while the main parts of the monomethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate are retained in the recrystallization mother liquor, and partitionating the recrystallized dimethyl-2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate from the recrystallization mother liquor.
Further, JP-A-7-173100 discloses a process for preparing a high-purity 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, which process comprises dissolving crude crystals of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid containing impurities in water in supercritical or subcritical state, cooling the resulting solution at a temperature of not higher than 300.degree. C. to precipitate crystals, and separating the crystals from the mother liquor at a temperature of 100.degree. to 300.degree. C.
In the circumstances, it is desired to develop a method for purifying a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, wherein impurity contents can be further reduced by easier procedures.
The present invention has been made under such circumstances as described above, and it is an object of the invention to provide a method for purifying a crude naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, which method enables to obtain a mixture of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and a naphthalenedicarboxylic ester with reduced impurity contents, or a high-purity naphthalenedicarboxylic acid.

Method for purifying crude naphthalenedicarboxylic acid


A process for the decomposition of biomass-material includes subjecting a lignocellulose-containing biomass-material to comminution, subjecting the comminuted lignocellulose-containing biomass-material to a sifting to separate from the comminuted lignocellulose-containing biomass-material a fraction of small-particles, and subjecting the remaining comminuted lignocellulose-containing biomass-material to a pretreatment. Before, during, or after the pretreatment, small particles can be added to the remaining comminuted lignocellulose-containing biomass-material. Optionally, the small particles can be added continuously during the pretreatment. The addition of small particles decreases friction of the remaining comminuted lignocellulose-containing biomass-material results in decreased process time, energy savings, and reduced production costs.

Due to limited resources of mineral oil and demands to reduce CO2 emissions the chemical industry seeks more sustainable production routes for the manufacture of commodity chemicals such as liquid fuels and base chemicals. Part of that strategy focuses on the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into versatile chemicals or fuels such as ethanol. Lignocellulosic biomass contains cellulose (˜25-40% w/w d.s.), hemicellulose (˜15-25% w/w d.s.) and lignin (˜15-30% w/w d.s.) as major components and minor amounts of other carbohydrates, waxes, proteins and inorganic compounds. Among forms of plant biomass, lignocellulosic biomass derived from any forestry and agricultural waste streams, such as wood residues and cereal straw are particularly well suited for conversion to commodity chemicals and fuels because of their availability, low cost and environmentally sound production. Additionally, life cycle analyses of production processes utilising lignocellulosic feedstocks indicate reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to processes based on other feedstocks.
Various process options that describe the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol and other base chemicals have been described (Pejo et al., 2008). To realize these processes on an industrial scale it is particularly desirable to transfer the maximal amount of energy, carbon and mass content contained in the renewable feedstock to the end products. At present none of the described conversion processes have realised this to the full extent.
Exemplary unit operations for the biotechnological conversion of lignocellulosic material (e.g. straw) to value-adding products (e.g. ethanol) are: mechanical de-sizing and/or physicochemical pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation and product recovery.
Regarding industrial scale cellulosic ethanol production, one key barrier is still the expenditure for cost and thus a low-energy process and efficient biomass conversion are of major importance.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is the provision of an improved highly efficient process for the decomposition of lignocellulose-containing biomass-material.

Process for the decomposition of biomass material


A spectrally selective optical coupler is disclosed, comprising a first and a second waveguide; an external resonator defined by at least a first and a second mirror; and a respective deflecting portion in each of said waveguides for coupling light between the waveguide and the external resonator. The waveguides are arranged between the mirrors adjacent to each other in a plane that is generally parallel to said mirrors; and the external resonator is designed such that a resonant mode within the external resonator overlaps the deflecting portion in the first and the second waveguide. The inventive coupler solves some limiting geometrical problems encountered in the prior art. A lateral extension of a mode in the external resonator overlapping both waveguides is obtained using a curved resonator mirror or refractive elements or portions within the resonator.

Optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs) is typically considered to be a generic term for devices that have the functionality of selecting a subset of optical channels from an incoming optical fiber, or other optical transport medium, and dropping the light carrying these channels into a second optical fiber, and adding a subset of channels from a third optical fiber to an output fiber carrying the undropped optical channels from the incoming fiber. In other words, OADMs are used for adding, dropping and exchanging optical channels in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems. In WDM networks, each optical channel is designated a different wavelength, referred to as a wavelength channel. The introduction of OADMs in optical networks enables new and more efficient network architectures and provides for protection switching and dynamic provisioning.
In modern OADMs for use in optical communication networks, wavelength selective optical coupling between optical waveguides, particularly between optical fibers, is a key functionality.
In addition, wavelength selective optical couplers have proven to be useful outside the field of telecommunications, for example in applications such as spectroscopy, metrology and sensor interrogation systems.
A subclass of OADMs of particular interest is the reconfigurable OADM (ROADM). In ROADMs, there is a functionality that enables tuning or selection of the wavelength channel(s) to be dropped or added. The use of ROADMs provide operators of WDM networks greater network dynamics and the possibility of optimizing and adapting the network to the current traffic situation.
Despite the apparent advantages of ROADMs in network design, these devices have not yet become widely used. One main reason may be the cost currently associated with the construction and implementation of such devices, but there are also other issues. A good ROADM should exhibit low loss, particularly for those channels that are not dropped, the so-called express channels. It should also be able to operate over the entire relevant wavelength band, such as the C-band; have low channel cross-talk; be of a sufficiently small size; have low energy consumption, etc.
One additional criterion for ROADMs which may be important from a network operability point of view is that the ROADM should be "hitless". The feature of being hitless means that when changing the channel(s) to be dropped or added, all traffic carrying wavelength channels not involved in this change are left undistorted. Most often, this is considered from a power distortion point of view, but phase distortion, which may cause anomalous dispersion, can be equally detrimental.
The prior art has proposed a plethora of implementations that accomplish ROADM functionality.
The possibly most straightforward implementation proposed is to use a combination of two or more tunable three-port filters. A three-port filter (in the drop configuration) selects one or several wavelengths from a broadband, multi-wavelength signal entering at port 1 of the filter and passes the or each selected wavelength to filter port 3. Any remaining wavelengths from the broadband signal entering at port 1 leave the filter at port 2. In the add configuration, the same type of filter may be used, but the channels to be added are then fed into port 3, the express channels are fed into port 2, and the combined, multiplexed wavelength channels (expressed and added) leave the filter at port 1.
A three-port filter may be implemented, for example, using thin film interference filters (TTFs) together with fiber connected mirco-optics. A TTF is typically designed to reflect all wavelengths except a narrow wavelength range, which may be matched to the channel width of the wavelength channels at interest. By using a geometry wherein the angle of incidence of the beams hitting the TTF in not normal to the major plane of the interference filter, it is possible to separate the incoming light from the reflected light and thereby attain a three-port design. To make these three-port filters tunable, some mechanical means may be used for rotating the interference filter and thereby adjust the pass wavelength. However, TTF-based ROADMs are associated with several drawbacks. For example, the loss suffered by the express channels is relatively high and the tuning mechanisms are sensitive to vibrations. It has also proven to be very complicated and costly to provide for hitless tuning in TTF-based ROADMs.
Another implementation of a three-port filter is based on the use of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in combination with optical circulators. Whereas a TTF-based filter is a band pass filter, the FBG-based filter is a band stop filter. To accomplish a wavelength drop, the incoming broadband signal is connected to port 1 of an optical circulator, and port 2 thereof is connected to one or several FBGs. The FBGs reflect wavelengths for the channels to be dropped, which return to port 2 of the circulator and leave the circulator at port 3. The express channels pass through the FBG(s). The add operation is accomplished by appending a second optical circulator after the FBGs. By adding wavelength channels at port 3 of this second circulator, they will be reflected by the FBGs and combine with the express channels passing through the same FBGs, and eventually leave the second circulator at port 2 thereof. In order to make the FBG-based filters tunable, use is typically made of a stretching or compressing mechanical force leading to a change of the stop band wavelengths. One major drawback of FBG-based three-port filters is that the optical circulators introduce significant loss. The circulators are also associated with a high cost. It has also proven to be problematic to make the FBGs tunable over the entire wavelength range of interest, and to make the filters hitless during tuning.
Another, quite different, approach uses a combination of array waveguide gratings (AWGs) together with 2×2 switches. A first AWG demultiplexes the incoming broadband optical signal into separate, wavelength specific waveguides. Each wavelength channel is then fed into an input port of a 2×2 switch that determines whether the wavelength channel is to be dropped or not if a wavelength channel is dropped, new information at the same wavelength may be added at the other input port of the 2×2 switch. Finally, a second AWG operates to recombine all wavelength channels, express and added, into an output fiber. One major drawback associated with this approach is that the demultiplexing/multiplexing operations introduce significant loss. Moreover, the required components are typically costly.
Yet another approach proposed in the prior art is the so-called broadcast-and-select method. In one version, a coupler is used for splitting the incoming broadband signal into two waveguides carrying the same information. One of the two signals is fed through a band pass filter, transmitting one or more channels to be dropped. The light in the second waveguide is fed through one or more wavelength blockers that block the same wavelengths that are dropped in the other waveguide. The add operation is then performed in a similar manner using a combination of filters and couplers. In order for this approach to provide a ROADM, the filters need to be tunable at least half a channel spacing. The loss suffered in a device according to this approach is significant, and typically amplifiers need to be introduced. The large number of components involved also make this an expensive and bulky approach.
In EP 1 535 096, there is disclosed a wavelength selective optical coupler based on resonant coupling of light from a waveguide, typically an optical fiber. In that device, portions of a first and a second optical fiber are provided with deflecting means, typically a tilted FBG. The deflecting means directs some of the light propagating in the fiber into a narrow lobe protruding out of the fiber in a direction being close to orthogonal to the propagation direction of light within the fiber. The two fibers are placed adjacent and parallel to each other in the plane of the protruding lobes of deflected light, and with the deflecting portions arranged such that an overlap between the protruding lobes is obtained. Further, the device comprises an external resonator formed by two highly reflecting mirrors outside the two fibers, the external resonator being arranged such that the resonator modes are essentially in the same geometrical plane as the lobes from the deflecting portions. The working principle of this coupler is as follows. The tilted FBG deflects some (typically a few percent of the light) of the broadband light propagating in the first fiber into the external resonator. Light of a wavelength that is in resonance with the external resonator will, after one round trip in the resonator, interfere constructively with subsequently deflected light of the same wavelength. Thus, a resonantly enhanced coupling of such wavelength is achieved, and substantially all light of that wavelength will couple to the resonator mode. Since the resonator mode overlaps with the deflecting portion of the second fiber, light of the resonant mode will be coupled into this second fiber. Under certain conditions, most of the light in the resonant mode will in fact be coupled to the second fiber. By adjusting the separation between the mirrors of the external resonator, it is possible to tune the wavelength to be coupled to the second fiber.
The separation between two wavelengths that fulfill the resonance condition is called the free spectral range (FSR) and is determined by the separation between the mirrors of the resonator. In order to be able to select only one wavelength at the time using the resonant coupler of EP 1 535 096, the FSR must be larger than the bandwidth of the broadband signal involved in the coupling. In a typical WDM system, the width of a wavelength band is in the order of 40 nm. To accomplish an FSR of about 40 nm, the separation between the mirrors of the resonator needs to be about 20 μm. In order for two fibers to fit into such resonator, the diameter of each fiber must be less than about 10 μm. Hence, it is clear that the small separation required between the mirrors of the external resonator leads to quite some challenges from a manufacturing standpoint.