A driving method for activating an optical self-compensated birefringence mode liquid crystal device is provided. The optical self-compensated birefringence mode liquid crystal device has plural pixel structures, plural substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the plural substrates. Each of said plural pixel structures comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a pixel electrode and a common electrode. The driving method comprising steps of: providing a space between said first electrode and said second electrode on one of plural substrate; providing a first potential difference between said first electrode and said second electrode to generate a first electric field; and performing an initialization process from a bend of said second electrode to transitioning an alignment state of said liquid crystal layer from a non-display alignment state to a display alignment state by said first electric field. Further, generate a second electric field by a second potential difference between said pixel electrode and said common electrode.

In recent years, studies on the optically compensated birefringence (OCB) cell that is to be used as a liquid crystal cell instead of a twisted nematic (TN) cell have been quickly increased. In the OCB mode liquid crystal device, the liquid crystal molecules therein are in splay state at the initial state. However, when a voltage is applied to the OCB mode liquid crystal device, the liquid crystal molecules therein will transit from the splay state to the bend state, and it is required to spend some time for the transition from the splay state to the bend state. In the bend state, the top and bottom liquid crystal molecules are always oriented symmetrically, and thus to compensate the birefringence of liquid crystal molecules so as to obtain the uniform viewing angle characteristic at all directions is more easily than that obtained with the orientation division method, and a high-speed response characteristic that is one order faster than that for the conventional TN cells may also be obtained accordingly.
FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively illustrate the liquid crystal molecules in splay state and bend state in the OCB mode liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 1A, in splay state, the liquid crystal molecules 104 are uniformly splayed between the glass substrates 100 and 102. However, when a voltage is applied to the glass substrates 100 and 102, the liquid crystal molecules 104 will be in bend state, as shown in FIG. 1B. In which, the transition time of the liquid crystal molecules 104 from the splay state to the bend state is one of the determinants for the OCB mode liquid crystal display device due to the fact that all the electro-optical properties of the OCB mode liquid crystal display device are operated when the liquid crystal molecules therein are in bend state.
However, some pixel structures have been disclosed, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,115,087, 6,226,058, 6,661,491 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,597,424, but, some of them are not suitable for OCB mode liquid crystal display devices and there still exist some demerits in the disclosed pixel structures. In addition, the conventional pixel structures usually have the demerits, for example, a space exists between the pixel electrode and the gate electrode, and the common electrode must be introduced and overlapped with the pixel electrode for a certain area so as to form a storage capacitor. However, the above two demerits will result in a small aperture and cause the conventional pixel structures incompatible with the three-level gate driving.
In addition, although some driving methods for a liquid crystal device have been disclosed, such as that Takayuki Konno et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 6,873,377) and Katsuji Hattori et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,009) have disclosed a driving method for an OCB mode liquid crystal display and Hajime Nakamura et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,646) have disclosed another driving method for a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT/LCD), there still exist some defects in the disclosed driving methods. For example, the driving method proposed by Katsuji Hattori et al. has a complicated signal input procedure and the applied system design always needs an alignment transition driving circuit, a switching control circuit and a switching circuit. In other words, the cost for the driving method of Katsuji Hattori et al. is always high and the relevant driving method is not so practical, especially for the trend of compactness. In addition, since the potential difference between the signal electrode and the common electrode is morn than 10 volts and that between the gate electrode and the signal electrode is also more than 10 volts in the driving method proposed by Hajime Nakamura, there might exist some problems about the poor uniformity and the slow transition time in driving method of the prior arts.
As above, since all the electro-optical properties of the OCB mode liquid crystal display device are operated only when the liquid crystal molecules therein are in bend state, the liquid crystal molecules in the OCB mode liquid crystal display devices need to be transformed from the splay state (non-display state) into the bend state (display state) before being used and there still exist some demerits in the conventional pixel structures and driving methods, new driving methods with shorter transition time and new pixel structures contributive to shorten the transition time for activating OCB mode liquid crystal display device are desired.

Pixel structure of liquid crystal device and driving method thereof


A three-piece fluid control valve configuration including a valve body, a ball control member and two tailpieces that connect the valve to a pipeline and also house the ball fluid seals. Respective bearing plates with trunnion bearings are guide pin mounted between the respective tailpieces and in supporting engagement with respective trunnions on the ball control member for rotatably supporting the ball. A shaft bearing supports a valve shaft having a splined drive end engaging splines in one of the ball trunnions. Bidirectional fluid flow is enabled with ball sealing members on each ball side, with the sealing member on each side replaceable by removing the tailpiece on that side.

Fluid control valves are often utilized for the on/off control of the flow of fluid or for precisely controlling or throttling the amount of fluid, such as in a gas or oil pipeline system in response to valve controllers and actuators. The precise control of fluid is desired in such systems in order to control the delivery of a precise amount of fluid, or in order to conserve the application and use of fluid additives which may be extremely dangerous or highly expensive. The control valve also must provide a reliable sealing shut-off of the fluid flow when the valve is placed in the shut-off position to prevent the undesired loss of fluid through leakage.
Presently available fluid flow control valves are rotary action control valves with a rotating ball control member mounted in a valve body passageway and are operated by a valve actuator such as a pneumatic piston or diaphragm actuator responding to the output of a valve positioner for throttling control of the valve and thereby to provide desirable accurate throttling control of the fluid flow stream. The rotating ball control member is mounted in a valve body passageway and suitable fluid sealing members are provided between the ball and the valve body.
In such present fluid control valves there is a certain amount of inherent lost motion between controlling movement of the valve operating member in responding to the valve positioner and the actual rotational movement of the ball control member. This lost movement leads to a diminished accuracy of throttling control. In some instances a tight connection is provided between the valve operating member and the ball control member in an attempt to reduce the lost motion between the ball and the operating member. However, in such valves the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the valve shaft tends to move the ball control member away from a reliable sealing position in the valve body passageway which inevitably leads to increased wearing of the fluid seals and reduced seal life.
Another problem in presently available fluid control valves is the inability to readily replace the seal members during normal valve maintenance operations. Typically, present throttling control valves must be substantially disassembled in order to replace the seal members which leads to increased maintenance expenses and increased downtime in the pipeline system.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide a fluid control valve having superior throttling control, which is unaffected by hydrostatic pressure on the valve shaft to increase fluid seal reliability, and wherein the fluid seals can be readily replaced with a minimum of valve component removal.

Throttling control in a fluid control valve


An apparatus for storing electrical energy comprising at least: a first multilayer section; a second multilayer section disposed above the first multilayer section; and a spacer layer disposed between the first and second multilayer sections and comprising a dielectric material, wherein each of the first and second multilayer sections comprising a pinned magnetic layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a free magnetic layer having a reversible magnetization direction, and an isolative layer disposed between the pinned and free magnetic layers, the pinned and free magnetic layers are substantially anti-ferromagnetically exchange coupled to each other through the isolative layer; and wherein the pinned magnetic layers of the first and second multilayer sections are electrically coupled in parallel with each other, and the free magnetic layers of the first and second multilayer sections are electrically coupled in parallel with each other.

Energy storage devices such as capacitors and batteries play a significant role in our life. The capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits. The batteries found a broad application in numerous portable devices to store an electrical energy. The energy storage devices substantially influence performance and the working time of electrical devices.
However, traditional energy storage parts have some problems. For example, the capacitors have a low capacitance and suffer from a current leakage decreasing overall performance. The batteries have the memory problem of being partially charged/discharged and decreasing overall performance.
A Giant Magnetoresistance Effect (GMR) is a quantum mechanical effect observed in multilayer structures with alternating thin magnetic and nonmagnetic layers. The GMR effect shows a significant change in electrical resistance between two ferromagnetic layers separated from each other by a thin layer of nonmagnetic conductive material. The resistance of a multilayer structure can exhibit several times increase when a mutual orientation of magnetization directions in the adjacent ferromagnetic layers is changing from parallel to anti-parallel. Even higher resistance difference between the parallel and anti-parallel orientations of magnetization directions can be observed when two magnetic layers are separated by a thin layer on dielectric or semiconductor material. The difference in the resistance between two states of the magnetization can reach a thousand percents. The mutual orientation of the magnetization directions in the magnetic layers can be controlled by an external magnetic field or by a spin-polarized current running through the multilayer structure in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the layers. Hence, the GMR effect can be used to reduce a current leakage in the energy storage devices such as capacitors.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need to develop a capacitor employing the GMR effect to store the electrical energy.


An integrated circuit back end capacitor structure includes a first dielectric layer on a substrate, a thin film bottom plate on the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and the bottom plate, and a thin film top plate disposed on the second dielectric layer. The thin film top plate and bottom plate are composed of thin film resistive layers, such as sichrome, which also are utilized to form back end thin film resistors having various properties. Interconnect conductors of a metallization layer contact the top and bottom plates through corresponding vias.

The present invention relates generally to practical "back end" thin film capacitor structures and methods, and also to integrating such back end thin film capacitors into processes and methods for making "back end" thin film resistors. (The term "back end" is used herein to describe integration of components, including thin film capacitors and back end thin film resistors, onto a partially fabricated integrated circuit structure after transistors and polycrystalline silicon structures have already been formed therein. So-called "front end" processes typically include steps performed at a temperatures of 600 to 700 degrees Centigrade, whereas at the present state-of-the-art, "back end" processes typically include only steps performed at temperatures less than roughly 450 degrees Centigrade.)
FIG. 1 shows a prior art structure in which various transistors have been formed, using conventional techniques, in a region 4 of a starting silicon substrate 1. A standard pre-metal dielectric layer 2 formed on silicon substrate 1 includes a first TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate) layer on silicon substrate 1, a BPTEOS (Boron-Phosphorus TEOS) layer on the first TEOS sublayer, and a second TEOS layer on the BPTEOS sublayer. A thin layer 3 of sichrome (SiCr), having a sheet resistance typically in the range from 30 to 2000 ohms per square (based on previously developed curves of TCR versus sheet resistance for the particular SiCr deposition process) has been deposited on the upper surface of pre-metal dielectric layer 2. A conventional photoresist deposition, etching, and cleaning process has been performed to define the shape of SiCr resistor 3. A standard TEOS barrier layer 5 is formed on the upper surfaces of pre-metal dielectric layer 2 and SiCr resistor layer 3. A thin layer 6 of nichrome (NiCr) having a sheet resistance, typically in the range of 30 to 2000 ohms per square has been deposited on the upper surface of TEOS barrier layer 5, and a layer 9 of TiW has been formed and patterned on nichrome layer 6. After performing a photoresist procedure to define the locations of contact openings, such as contact opening 7, to expose electrodes/terminals of various other elements such as transistors and diffused resistors (not shown) in region 4, such contact openings 7 have been etched through TEOS layer 5 and pre-metal dielectric layer 2 and a contact opening 10A has been etched through TEOS barrier layer 5 to expose a contact area of sichrome layer 3, as illustrated. Then a first metallization layer, referred to as the "Metal 1" layer, has been deposited on the exposed surface of the wafer and appropriately patterned to provide the structure including sections 12A, 12B and 12C as shown in FIG. 1.
Section 12A of Metal 1 layer fills contact opening 7, making good electrical contact to an electrode of a transistor or other element in region 4. Metal 1section 12A also fills a SiCr resistor via opening 10A to electrically contact SiCr resistor 3. Metal 1 section 12B extends over most of the area of sichrome resistor 3 to form the upper plate of a back end capacitor, the lower plate of which is formed by sichrome layer 3, with TEOS barrier layer 5 between them to form the capacitor dielectric. Metal 1 section 12B also contacts one end of nichrome resistor 6, the other end of which is contacted by Metal 1 section 12C, as shown. The TiW material 9 provides improved electrical contact to the NiCr.
Back end capacitors of the type shown in FIG. 1 typically require a large amount of chip area. For state-of-the-art "deep submicron" technologies having 45-90 nanometer line widths in which trench isolation and dummy devices, CMP (chemical mechanical polishing), dummy fill to avoid "dishing", and a particular periodicity of back end thin film resistor lines are required, such back end capacitors may need to be made larger as the line widths get smaller because the back end capacitors may need to be constructed of multiple unit capacitor cells in order to be compatible with the minimum line widths and required periodicity.
Design engineers have endeavored to develop optimized back-end thin film resistor structures having various sheet resistances and TCRs (temperature coefficients of resistance) in single integrated circuits by controlling the thermal cycles to control the sheet resistances and TCRs of multiple back end thin film resistors formed on successive oxide layers. "Poly-capacitors", including poly-oxide-metal and poly-oxide-poly capacitors are well-known in the art, but are not considered to be suitable as "back end" capacitors because they must be formed in conjunction with formation of the transistors and therefore "compete" with the transistors for unavailable chip area. (The term "poly" is used herein to refer to doped polycrystalline silicon.) Such poly capacitors have a number of shortcomings as a result of the characteristics of doped polycrystalline silicon layers, including relatively low capacitance per unit area because the oxide dielectric is usually relatively thick. Another shortcoming is that the voltage coefficients of poly capacitors may be variable as a function of the voltage between the capacitor plates.
In some cases it would be desirable to be able to provide back end capacitors in integrated circuits with already-formed integrated circuit substructures including transistors and/or other integrated circuit elements such as diffused resistors and/or polycrystalline silicon resistors. Also, it would be desirable to have a practical way of providing capacitors and resistors in integrated circuits which do not "compete" for chip area used for providing transistors, in contrast to use of conventional polycrystalline silicon resistors and capacitors which do compete for chip area used for providing transistors. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a relatively simple manufacturing process which allows the option of providing one or more different kinds of back end capacitor structures having different characteristics within a single integrated circuit.
There is an unmet need for an improved integrated circuit structure and method for integrating one or more different kinds of back end capacitor structures into integrated circuits with already-formed integrated circuit substructures including transistors and/or other integrated circuit elements such as diffused resistors and/or polycrystalline resistors.
There also is an unmet need for an improved integrated circuit structure and method for integrating back end capacitors into integrated circuits with already-formed integrated circuit substructures including transistors and/or other integrated circuit elements such as diffused resistors and/or polycrystalline resistors using the same manufacturing process utilized for integrating back end thin film resistors into such integrated circuits.
There also is an unmet need for a practical way of providing capacitors and/or resistors in integrated circuits which do not "compete" for available chip area in which transistors can be formed.

Back end thin film capacitor having both plates of thin film resistor material at single metallization layer


A transmitter and a receiver of a spread spectrum communication system for compensating carrier frequency offsets between the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter includes: a first multiplier for multiplying a pseudo noise signal and input data intended for transmission; a differential encoder for differentially encoding a signal outputted from the first multiplier; a modulator for modulating a signal outputted from the differential encoder; a second multiplier for multiplying the signal modulated by the modulator and a transmitting carrier and for outputting a spread spectrum signal; and an antenna for propagating the spread spectrum signal in the air. The receiver includes: a generator for generating a receiving carrier corresponding to a frequency offset signal; a first multiplier for multiplying a spread spectrum signal received from the transmitter and the receiving carrier and outputting the multiplied signal as a first low frequency signal; a second multiplier for multiplying the spread spectrum signal by a modified carrier in which the receiving carrier is modified by a given phase, and outputting the multiplied signal as a second low frequency signal; a differential detector for detecting a phase rotation amount between each complex digital signals; a correlator for correlating a pseudo noise code with the phase rotation detected by the differential detector; and a frequency offset measurer for measuring a frequency offset between the spread spectrum signal and the receiving carrier by using the signal from the correlator and outputting the frequency control signal for adjusting the receiving carrier signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spread spectrum communication system and, in particular, to a spread spectrum communication system for compensating an error of a carrier frequency.
The spread spectrum communication system according to the present invention is based on Korean Application No. 16472/1995, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, upon transmitting data in a spread spectrum communication system, a transmitter sequentially modulates the data, multiplies the modulated signal by a carrier generated from a local oscillator, converts the multiplied signal into a high frequency signal of a desirable band, and transmits the converted signal. Conversely, upon receiving the data in the spread spectrum communication system, a receiver multiplies a received signal by the carrier from a local oscillator, converts the multiplied signal into a signal of a band adequate for demodulation, and demodulates the converted signal by a demodulator.
At this point, in the case that the carrier of the spread spectrum communication system has no exact frequency value, a signal applied to the demodulator causes a frequency offset of as much as .DELTA.f due to errors or offsets between the carrier frequency of the transmitter and the carrier frequency of the receiver. Since such frequency offset negatively affects the operation of the receiver in accurately restoring or receiving the transmitted data, there is a need for minimizing the frequency offset.
An automatic frequency control circuits for measuring the frequency offset and automatically controlling the frequency of the received signal have previously been used in spread spectrum communication systems. In such use, most automatic frequency control circuits were designed to control the frequency of the signal having a phase shift per symbol in a range below 2.pi.. However, if the automatic frequency control circuits were used in a spread spectrum communication system in which the phase shift generated the frequency offset adjacent to 2.pi. or more than 2.pi., a problem existed in that the frequency offset of the received signal could not be removed.
To overcome the above problem, a high precision local oscillator may be used to limit the frequency offset, but a high precision local oscillator is generally expensive.
Therefore, a need exists for a spread spectrum communication system for limiting the effects of frequency offsets regardless of the type of the local oscillator used in the spread spectrum communication system.

Spread spectrum communication system for error compensation of carrier frequency


A laser processing method for ablating a transparent material is disclosed. A laser beam absorption layer is formed in a desired ablation portion beforehand by the implantation of an impurity or the increase of a defect density. The absorption layer obviates damage ascribable to thermal strain and, when use is made of a VUV (Vacuum Ultra Violet) beam, damage to portions other than an irradiated portion. This allows a simple apparatus to implement the ablation of a transparent film.

The present invention relates to a laser processing method for ablating a transparent material.
A wiring correcting device using a laser has contributed to the reduction of an LSI development procedure a great deal. To connect two wirings below an inter layer insulation film, the device forms via holes in the inter layer insulation film above the wirings by laser ablation and then connects the wirings by direct writing using a laser.
So long as the interlayer insulation film is formed of silicon nitride (SiN) or similar substance capable of absorbing a laser beam, a laser beam can implement desirable ablation with heat and damages an under wiring little. However, silicon dioxide (SiO2) or PSu (Phospho Silicate Glass) often used as an interlayer insulation film or a protection film is transparent for visible rays and therefore heated little itself even when irradiated by a laser beam lying in the visible range. In this case, ablation relies on a transmitted beam heating, underlying interconnections. However, this kind of processing is explosive and noticeably damages the under wiring.
To reduce the above damage to underlying interconnections ascribable to ablation, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-296623 teaches a method which applies a thermal stress to a portion to be ablated by laser irradiation beforehand. Also, a method which causes ablation to occur with a UV (Ultra Violet) beam or a visible beam while exciting the atoms and molecules of a transparent material or photochemically decomposing a transparent material with a VUV (Vacuum UV) beam is discussed in Applied Physics, A64, pp. 477-481, 1997.
However, the problem with the method taught in the above Laid-Open Publication No. 1-296623 is that the influence of thermal strain and therefore damage is not avoidable although the processing threshold value can be reduced. The VUV scheme disclosed in Applied Physics has a problem that two beam sources, one for VUV and the other for UV, are essential and complicate the construction of an apparatus while increasing the size and cost of the apparatus. Moreover, optics capable of accurately patterning a VUV beam is not available at the present stage of development, so that the VUV irradiation area extends to portions not needing processing and aggravates damage.
Technologies relating to the present invention are also disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2-278865, 3-71991, 3-154385, 4-182093, 4-305392, 5-104278, and 8-85819.


The present invention discloses a series of novel hindered spiro-ketal nitroxides prepared by the ketalization reaction of 1,3-propanediols with triacetoneamine followed by oxidation. These novel spiro-ketals have unexpected advantages in hydrocarbon and monomer solubility which is important in styrene processing and refinery stream inhibition. Further, the invention shows an unexpected advantage over commercially available nitroxides in hydrocarbon solubility, especially in styrene and hydrocarbons. This invention also shows that these novel spiro-nitroxides are capable of inhibiting vinyl and acrylate polymerizations using an effective inhibition concentration of the nitroxide of the present invention.

Hindered nitroxides based on triacetoneamine, 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine have been known and two Nitroxides, 4-oxo TEMPO and 4-Hydroxy TEMPO have been used commercially for many years. These 4-substituted 1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidines, generally produced in situ by oxidation of the parent amine, are used in polypropylene to prevent UV light degradation of the plastic. A good source of information of these uses is Oxidation Inhibition in Organic Materials, Volume II by Jan Pospisil and Peter P. Klemchuk, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., 1990). When used in oxygen free atmospheres, the nitroxide itself is necessary to inhibit spurious free radical reactions. Consequently the pure nitroxyl compounds have been synthesized and offered commercially to inhibit polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbon, styrene, vinyl and acrylic monomers during processing, distillation and storage. Hindered Nitroxides are also used as catalysts in selective oxidation of alcohols and experimentally for living polymerization.
4-Oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine also known as 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone or triacetoneamine, as produced commercially, is oxidized to produce 1-oxyl-4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, also known as 4-oxo TEMPO, a nitroxide with poor stability, even at ambient temperatures. This nitroxide has achieved limited use due to its poor stability even though its cost is low.
4-Hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine is produced commercially by hydrogenation of 4-oxo 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. 1-Oxyl-4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, also known as 4-Hydroxy TEMPO, is produced commercially by oxidation of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. It is used to prevent undesired free radical polymerization in styrene production and in refinery streams. This use is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,760 and in Soviet Patent No. 1,558,888. A brief review of this subject is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,276. Its use is limited because of its poor hydrocarbon solubility and poor stability in oxidizing media. In addition, the relationship of the vapor pressure vs. temperature described in the publication Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Alkynes Di-tert-alkyl Amines Di-tert-alkyl Nitroxyl (Aminoxyl) Radicals Polymerization Inhibitors G. Sosnovsky, M. Jawdosiuk, and J. M. Clumpner, Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, 55, 109 (2000) indicates a low volatility of this inhibitor, thus diminishing it role for potential use in the vapor phase.
2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine is made from 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine by the Wolff-Kishner reduction with hydrazine hydrate in ethylene or diethylene glycol. It is used to produce the nitroxide, 1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, also known as TEMPO. It is used primarily to prevent undesired free radical polymerization. It is also used experimentally for living polymerization and for selective oxidation. While this nitroxide has good thermal stability, it has limited use because of the toxicity of the amine and its high cost.
2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine based spiro-ketal nitroxides have been mentioned in the literature but their physical properties have not been described there is no commercial supply available. A recent description of spiro-ketal nitroxyl radicals appeared in German Patent 42 19 471 A1 "N-Oxyl Derivatives of 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine and Their Preparation" filed on Jun. 13, 1992. This patent relates to the preparation of nitroxyl radicals by catalytic oxidation of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine ketals obtained from the following alcohols and glycols: methanol, ethanol, propanol, isobutanol, and n-butanol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol), and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol (neopentyl glycol). The latter three glycols, when reacted with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine and then oxidized with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of catalytic amounts of divalent metals, such as magnesium or zinc, generate spiro-ketal nitroxides. The patent does not describe any physical properties or practical use of these nitroxyl radicals. U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,525 "4-Piperidone Ketal Derivatives, Their Preparation And Their Use As Stabilizers", filed Jan. 19, 1972 mentions a spiro-ketal nitroxide prepared from 1,3-propanediol and triacetoneamine, to form the ketal amine. No mention is made of the Nitroxide.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,366 (May 20, 1997) 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]dec-8-yloxy, the spiro-ketal nitroxide derived from the reaction of ethylene glycol with 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine followed by oxidation, was used to convert an alcohol to an aldehyde is disclosed.
In JP 04362632 A2 (Dec. 15, 1992) photochromic materials containing 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]dec-8-yloxy or 2-(hydroxymethyl)-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]dec-8-yloxy spiro-ketal nitroxides were shown to have improved light resistance, transparency and evenness.
Yoshikawa and Negishi in JP 11286634 A2 (Oct. 19, 1999) have used 2-(hydroxymethyl)-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]dec-8-yloxy and similar spiro-ketal nitroxides, in thermosetting polymeric coating compositions of superior light stability.
The spiro-ketal nitroxides resulting from commercially available 1,3-propanediol and 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol were not mentioned in any of the above prior art.
We have now found that by oxidizing the ketals produced from 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine and 1,3-propanediol or 2-monosubstituted 1,3-propanediols with hydrogen peroxide, unique spiro-ketal nitroxides result. These unique spiro-ketal nitroxides have unique and useful properties displaying excellent (a) high-temperature stability, b) good volatility, (c) oxidative stability, (d) hydrophobic character (e) solubility in hydrocarbons and monomers and (f) inhibition of free radical reactions. They have unexpected advantages, when compared with commercially available nitroxides, in solubility in hydrocarbons and monomers, especially ethylbenzene and styrene. In addition, their high thermal stability and volatility makes it possible to use them in the vapor phase at elevated temperature employed in the commercial production of monomers. These are critical properties in the two major commercial use areas for nitroxides, styrene processing and refinery inhibitors.
The Invention


In order to provide high speed and low power consumption, a semiconductor integrated circuit is constructed to utilize both CMOS elements and bipolar transistors. The bipolar transistors are used in the output portions to take advantage of their speed of operation to allow rapid charging and discharging of output lines. In the meantime, the principal operating portions of the circuit use CMOS elements of low power consumption. This arrangement is particularly advantageous in memory circuits.

A well-known type of semiconductor integrated circuit in which memory cells are integrated on a large scale (hereinbelow termed the "semiconductor memory") is the so-called RAM. The RAM (random access memory) is a device capable of storing information temporarily and reading it out when required. This type of memory is also called a "read/write memory".
Typically, a RAM includes memory cells which store information, an address circuit which externally selects a specified memory cell, and a timing circuit which controls the reading and writing of information.
In a RAM, a plurality of memory cells are arranged in the shape of a matrix. The operation of selecting a desired memory cell from among the plurality of memory cells is performed by selecting an intersection point in the matrix. The access time is therefore constant irrespective of the position (addresses) of the selected memory cells within the matrix.
RAMs are broadly classified into two sorts; bipolar RAMs and MOSRAMs.
The bipolar RAM has the following merits:
(1) As compared with the MOSRAM, it operates faster. PA1 (2) The operation of the memory cell is of the static type, and the controls of timings, etc. are simple. PA1 (3) As compared with the MOSRAM, it exhibits a higher power consumption (especially when it does not operate). PA1 (4) As compared with the MOSRAM, it requires a more complicated manufacturing process and is more difficult to attain a high density of integration.
On the other hand, the bipolar RAM has the following demerits:
Bipolar RAMs are presently generally classified into the two types of the TTL type and the ECL type, depending upon differences in input/output levels. The access time (reading time) of the bipolar RAM of TTL interface falls within a range of 30-60 (nsec.), while the access time of the bipolar RAM of ECL interface falls within a range of 4-35 (nsec.).
Accordingly, bipolar RAMs are applied to various memory systems where high speed operations are required.
Meanwhile, when compared with the bipolar RAM, the MOSRAM is simpler in structure and in the manufacturing process. It is also more advantageous in terms of power consumption, storage density and price. Therefore, it is used in fields which do not require high speed operations.
MOSRAMs are classified into the dynamic type and the static type.
The dynamic type MOSRAM has its memory cell composed of a comparatively small number of transistors, namely, 1-3 transistors per bit (1-3 transistors/bit). With an identical chip area, therefore, the bit density becomes higher than that of the static type MOSRAM to be described later.
In the dynamic MOSRAM, information is stored as charges in a capacitance within the memory cell. Since the charges stored in the capacitance are discharged due to a leakage current, etc., the information of the memory cell needs to be read out within a predetermined period of time and to be rewritten again (i.e., refreshed).
On the other hand, in the static MOSRAM, a flip-flop circuit which is usually composed of 6 elements is used as the memory cell. For this reason, the refresh which is required in the dynamic MOSRAM is not necessary.
The access time of the dynamic MOSRAM falls within a range of 100-300 (nsec.), while the access time of the static MOSRAM falls within a range of 30-200 (nsec.). Thus, it can be seen that the access time of the MOSRAM is a larger value when compared with that of the bipolar RAM.
Meanwhile, owing to improvements in photolithographic technology, reduction in the element dimensions of MISFETs within a semiconductor integrated circuit has been promoted. In IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuit, Vol. SC-17, No. 5, pp. 793-797, issued in October 1982, there is contained a static MOSRAM of 64 kbits which employs wafer processing techniques based on design rules of 2 (.mu.m) and which exhibits an access time of 65 (nsec.), an operating power consumption of 200 (mW) and a stand-by power consumption of 10 (.mu.W).
Meanwhile, as an example of the bipolar RAM of the ECL type, an ECL type bipolar RAM of 4 kbits which exhibits an access time of 15 (nsec.) and a power consumption of 800 (mW) is manufactured and sold by Hitachi, Ltd. under the product name "HM100474-15".
As explained above, there has been a definite technical trend to enlarge the storage capacity of semiconductor memories which has taken place in the increments of 1 kbit, 4 kbits, 16 kbits, 64 kbits, 256 kbits, 1 Mbit, . . . , quite independently of the features of the bipolar RAM of high speed and high power consumption and the features of the MOSRAM of low speed and low power consumption.
At the present time, when the power consumption of the semiconductor memory and the present-day photolithographic techniques determining the element dimensions of bipolar transistors are taken into consideration, the storage capacity of the bipolar RAM will be limited to 16 kbits.
Meanwhile, with the enlargement of the storage capacity of the semiconductor memory (particularly, at and above 64 kbits), the area of a semiconductor chip increases, and the signal line of the address circuit of the RAM is arranged over a long distance on the semiconductor chip of large area. When the length of the signal line of the address circuit lengthens, naturally the stray capacitance of the signal line increases, and also the equivalent distributed resistance of the signal line increases. When, for the purpose of microminiaturization, the wiring width of the signal line of the address circuit is established as 2 (.mu.m) or less by improving photolithography, the equivalent distributed resistance of the signal line increases more. In addition, since the fan-out of each circuit enlarges with the increase of the storage capacity, a load capacitance attributed to the gate capacitance of a MOSFET at the succeeding stage becomes high. Accordingly, in the 64-kbit MOSRAM which employs the photolithography of 2 (.mu.m) and whose address circuit is entirely constructed of CMOSFETs, the access time of addresses will be limited to 30 (nsec.).
The present invention has been made by the inventors in developing a semiconductor memory which has an access time equivalent to that of an ECL type bipolar RAM and a power consumption equivalent to that of a static MOSRAM.


A heater control system, parts therefor, and methods of making them are disclosed. The heater control system includes a fuel control unit having a thermocouple operated unit in the housing thereof, which has an opening therein leading to the thermocouple operated unit. The tip or end of the thermocouple device is secured in the opening for operative connection to the thermocouple operated unit. The thermocouple device has a unique securing structure which permits the end thereof to be axially moved from outside the housing to a certain desired axial position within the opening and cooperates with a unique securing structure on the housing to secure the end of the thermocouple device in the certain desired axial position.

A heater control system including a control unit enclosing a housing having a thermocouple operated unit therein is known. An opening in the housing leading to a thermocouple operated unit, and a thermocouple having an end or tip which is secured into the opening for operational connection to the thermocouple operated unit are also known. Positioning the end of the thermocouple in a certain axial position in the opening relative to the housing, in which the housing includes a securing device, the end of the thermocouple has a securing device cooperating with the housing securing device to secure the end and the housing together in a desired axial position, and the thermocouple securing device includes an externally threaded nut-like fitting threaded into a threaded section of the housing opening are all known. For example, see Katchka et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,662 and Caparone et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,708.

Heater control system and methods of making


A data processor that reads and writes data from/on a storage medium. The storage medium has stored thereon a first data stream being represented by a video signal that has been encoded by a first encoding process. The data processor includes: a controller, which acquires first playlist information to manage playback of the first data stream; a stream generating section for generating a second data stream by encoding the video signal by a second encoding process, which is different from the first encoding process; and a management section for producing second playlist information based on the second data stream and the first playlist information so as to manage an order in which the second data stream is played back.

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of functional blocks for a conventional player 800. The player 800 plays back a moving picture stream (such as a video stream, an audio stream or a stream in which video and audio streams are multiplexed) stored on a DVD-RAM disc 810. Specifically, the player 800 carries out the process of playing back the moving picture stream as follows. First, the stream data of the moving picture stream is read out as a read signal from the DVD-RAM disc 810 by way of a pickup 807 and a playback section 804. A series of readout processing is carried out on a read location specified by a playback control section 805 and a read signal generated. Then, the read signal is decoded by a moving picture stream decoding section 803 into a video signal and an audio signal, which are supplied to a video signal output section 801 and an audio signal output section 802, respectively.
The player 800 has a playlist playback function for playing back moving picture streams in a predetermined order in accordance with playlist information. As used herein, the "playlist information" is information defining the order in which part or all of at least one moving picture stream should be played back. When the user specifies an arbitrary location or range, the playlist information is produced by a recorder. The playlist playback function can be used when the playlist information is stored on the DVD-RAM disc 810. Thus, this is a function taking advantage of the random accessibility of DVD-RAM discs.
FIGS. 2(a) through 2(c) show exemplary playback orders as defined by the playlist information. FIG. 2(a) shows a partial playback range specified for a single moving picture stream. Only this playback range of the moving picture stream is played back. FIG. 2(b) shows playback ranges and playback order for a plurality of moving picture streams. These playback ranges are played back one by one in the order as represented by the "playback order". FIG. 2(c) shows a range in which a video stream and an audio stream are played back synchronously with each other. If a given moving picture stream includes both a video stream and an audio stream, then the playback range of the audio stream can be specified arbitrarily with respect to an arbitrary range of the video stream. Thus, a so-called "after-recording" function is realized. In the playlist information, transition effects during video switching and text to be presented during the playback of a moving picture stream can also be defined.
A camcorder is known as an apparatus for generating a moving picture stream and playlist information and storing them on a DVD-RAM disc. Recently, some camcorders can store data on multiple storage media such as a DVD-RAM disc and a semiconductor memory card (which will be simply referred to herein as a "semiconductor memory"). Such camcorders can store a moving picture stream and/or playlist information, still picture data and so on not only on a DVD-RAM disc but also in a semiconductor memory as well. The user can easily exchange data between the camcorder and an external unit such as a PC by removing the semiconductor memory from the camcorder. Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 11-75198, for example, a camcorder that can store the same video as multiple moving picture streams at different data rates is also known.
Camcorders are often designed with much attention paid to their portability and handiness during video recording sessions. Accordingly, those camcorders are far from being handy for a user who is compiling a playlist. Particularly in making a complicated playlist, the user must do very difficult operations. For example, to increase their portability, a lot of camcorders have either no monitor at all or just a monitor of a small size, if any, although such a monitor would allow the user to check the video just captured. For that reason, their visibility is much lower than PC monitor's or TV screen's. Also, to increase the handiness during video recording sessions, the number and arrangement of camcorder operating switches are optimized for the video recording purposes. Thus, their handiness is poor in specifying a playback location, video transition effects and so on.
Furthermore, the playlist information is defined for each single moving picture stream. Accordingly, even if the same video were stored as multiple moving picture streams with different data rates, the user still had to make playlists for those moving picture streams separately, which is very troublesome for him or her.


A cable retainer (10) for a cable (12) having a longitudinal axis (11) and a given diameter has a first elongated body half (14) arrayed along the longitudinal axis (11) and having a first surface (18) and a second, oppositely disposed surface (20), the second oppositely disposed surface (20) having a first cable receiving section (22) therein with a depth at least one half of the given diameter. A second elongated body half (30) is arrayed along the longitudinal axis (11) and has a first area (34) and a second, oppositely disposed area (36) with a second cable receiving section (38) therein. A guide system (37) is provided for orienting the first elongated body half and the second elongated body half A fastener (40) is formed on the second elongated body half (30) and a receptor (42) for the fastener (40) is formed on the first elongated body half (14). A plurality of cable-engaging projections (44) is formed in each of the first cable receiving section (22) and the second cable receiving section (38), the cable engaging projections (44) in the first cable-receiving section (22) being longitudinally displaced from the projections (44) in the second cable receiving section (38), whereby an inserted cable (12) is rendered axially and rotationally stable.

Cable locators known in the art usually comprise a soft molded component having a base with a cable locator integrally formed as a part thereof. After proper positioning, the cable locator was attached to a cable by winding tape around the base. This procedure required elaborate jigging stations if the cable employing the cable locators was to be used, for example, as the antenna cable for an automobile. An alternate system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,262, wherein a cable locator utilizes a two-part connector that includes a base for receiving a cable and a cover for locking the base to the cable. This system had numerous advantages over the taping system, particularly in the speed of applying the locator; however, it has been found that system did not adequately restrain the cable from rotational or longitudinal movement and it was relatively expensive to produce.


A method and system are provided for tracking ST shift data. The system includes an implantable medical device having an input configured to receive cardiac signals. Each cardiac signal has an associated heart rate and includes a segment of interest. The implantable medical device further includes a processor configured to determine segment variations of the segment of interest in the cardiac signals. The processor determines a heart rate associated with each of the segment variations with each heart rate falling within a corresponding heart rate range. The implantable medical device also includes a memory configured to store a group of histograms for a corresponding group of heart rate ranges. The histograms store distributions for the segment variations within corresponding heart rate ranges.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain generally to implantable medical devices, and more particularly to implantable medical devices that track ST segment shifts utilizing histograms.
An implantable medical device is implanted in a patient to monitor, among other things, electrical activity of a heart and to deliver appropriate electrical and/or drug therapy, as required. Implantable medical devices ("IMDs") include, for example, pacemakers, cardioverters, defibrillators, implantable cardioverter defibrillators ("ICD"), and the like. The electrical therapy produced by an IMD may include, for example, pacing pulses, cardioverting pulses, and/or defibrillator pulses to reverse arrhythmias (e.g., tachycardias and bradycardias) or to stimulate the contraction of cardiac tissue (e.g., cardiac pacing) to return the heart to a normal sinus rhythm.
Cardiac ischemia is a condition whereby heart tissue does not receive adequate amounts of oxygen and is usually caused by a blockage of an artery leading to heart tissue. Ischemia arises during angina, acute myocardial infarction, coronary angioplasty, and any other condition that compromises blood flow to a region of tissue. When blockage of an artery is sufficiently severe, the cardiac ischemia becomes an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) also referred to as a myocardial infarction (MI) or a heart attack.
Many patients at risk of cardiac ischemia have pacemakers, ICDs or other medical devices implanted therein. Electrocardiograms (ECG) acquired from these devices are useful for diagnosing ischemia and locating damaged areas within the heart. ECGs are composed of various waves and segments that represent the heart depolarizing and repolarizing. An ST segment (STS) represents the portion of the cardiac signal between ventricular depolarization and ventricular repolarization.
Techniques have been developed for detecting cardiac ischemia using implanted medical devices. Some conventional IEGM-based ischemia detection techniques seek to detect ischemia by identifying changes in the elevation of the STS from the baseline of the IEGM that occur during cardiac ischemia. Elevation of the STS in an IEGM (e.g., an acute voltage shift in the STS of an IEGM) may result when there are abnormalities in the polarizations of cardiac tissue during an acute myocardial infraction (MI). Deviation of the STS from a baseline is a result of injury to cardiac muscle, changes in the synchronization of ventricular muscle depolarization, drug or electrolyte influences, or the like.
STS variations or deviations, for example, voltage shifts in the STS of an intracardiac electrogram in an ICD or pacemaker can be recorded and stored in different formats for analysis. For example, STS variations can be stored as STS histograms that may be used to assess and evaluate the existence, exacerbation and alleviation of myocardial ischemia. The STS variation histograms may include a plurality of different bins representing events or values corresponding to the STS variation data. The bins store data that can be used to track the occurrence of the events or data. For example, event or data counts may be stored in each of the bins corresponding to a particular event or data value (or range of data values). The bins may correspond, for example, to incrementally changing variances of the mean of the STSs.
However, conventional implantable devices do not allow tracking of a patient's STS variations for heart rate ranges over different periods of times, for example, using STS histograms. These conventional implantable devices typically store raw STS and other cardiac data. The amount of collected raw data increases rapidly. However, the storage capacity of these implantable medical devices may be limited and not allow much raw data to be collected over a certain time period. For example, the memory within these implantable devices may not be able to store the total amount of collected raw data over a period of time (e.g., a period of interest), thereby resulting in some of the data being deleted. Accordingly, conventional devices may not provide sufficient information over a sufficient time period of time to allow for proper analysis of STS information to determine ischemic conditions and the like. Thus, a need remains for tracking in implantable medical devices STS variations for heart rate ranges over different periods of time using STS histograms.

System and method for tracking ST shift data utilizing histograms


A first output buffer circuit with independent transparent latch and tristate output capabilities includes input translators that directly drive a pair of main pull-up and pull-down output transistors. The input translators are tristatable in response to latch control signals and latching elements on side branches of the signal paths leading from the translator outputs to the output transistor gates hold the last voltage value on those signal paths at the time the translators are disabled. The main current paths through the output transistors include isolation transistors in series with the output transistors and responsive to feedback control from the buffer output. These feedback paths include logic gates responsive to output enable control signals that can shut off isolation transistors and hence put the buffer output in a high impedance state. Since neither the latch or output enable control, nor the latch elements themselves, are signal delaying components in the main signal path from the buffer input to the buffer output, throughput speed is not adversely affected.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,349,243 to Houghton et al. and 5,381,059 to Douglas disclose output buffers that include tristate predriver circuitry controlling the buffers' output transistors. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,076, Park et al. disclose a tristate data output buffer having a preset circuit, responsive to an output enable signal, for setting the buffer's output node to an intermediate voltage level in advance of a data output operation, thereby minimizing the required voltage swing at the output during a transition and thus reducing the current impulses that cause noise. None of these output buffers have any latching capability.
In conventional buffer circuits, it is very difficult to provide both transparent latching and a tristate output in the same circuit, with independent operation, while maintaining high speed. In tristate buffers, in addition to logic HIGH and LOW output voltage levels, a third high impedance state can be asserted, if desired. Such buffers generally employ logic gates in the signal path leading to the main output driver transistors, and responsive to an output enable control signal, to shut off both output transistors whenever the high impedance state is required. A transparent latch element transmits its input to its output whenever a latch enable control signal is asserted, thereby allowing the output value to change whenever the input changes, but when the control signal goes low, the latch element then stores and outputs the value that the input last had when the control signal changed, ignoring any subsequent changes at the latch's input until the control signal is reasserted. Such a latch element could be implemented, for example, by a pair of cross-coupled inverters with a pass gate provided on the latch's input side. Buffer circuits that include latches typically locate one or more of a latch's components directly in the buffer's signal path. Logic gates or latch components in the signal path tend to slow signal propagation to the buffer's output, even when the buffer is not tristated or latched. In order to maintain high speed operation, prior devices are generally either tristate output buffers with no latching capability at all, as in the aforementioned patents, or are limited to providing latching operation only when the output is tristated, i.e. in a high impedance state.
Thus, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,317, Lee discloses a buffer circuit serving as a data line driver for a memory. The circuit includes a helper flip-flop section connected to I/O lines from the memory array. The I/O lines are allowed to develop a differential potential prior to clocking the flip-flop with a strobing enable signal. While enabled, the flip-flop uses positive feedback to pull the true and complement output signals towards opposite supply potentials, thus amplifying the differential input signal received from the I/O lines. The large differential output potential provided by the flip-flop drives the input of a buffer section of the circuit. The buffer, in turn, drives complementary data lines. The output of the flip-flop also drives a data latch to hold the data between read operations. The latch is strobed by the same enable signal that controls the flip-flop and buffer sections, so that the latch is set or reset when one of the data lines driven by the buffer transitions low.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,349,243 and 5,396,108, McClure discloses latch-controlled output drivers that include latch circuits connected to the gates of the drivers' pull-up and pull-down output transistors. In the '108 patent, the output can be tristated by disabling the pass gate inputs to the latches and by activating an enable/disable control circuit that turns both output transistors off. A third latch continues to receive input signals so that at the end of a tristate disable period, the pair of latches controlling the output transistors can be restored to the last valid input state. The latches cannot be made transparent independent of the tristate output driver stage.
An object of the present invention is to provide a high speed buffer circuit with independent tristate and transparent latch capabilities.

Tristate buffer circuit with transparent latching capability


The linear type fire-extinguisher is modified to be fabricated from a synthetic polymeric resin, rupturable upon combustion to release a contained fire-extinguisher.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus and more particularly to a linear type distribution extinguisher.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Extinguishing open flames within a confined space such as a room in a building, an engine compartment in a vehicle, aircraft interiors, enclosed fuel storage areas, electric control boxes, storage containers, hazardous material storage facilities and the like has always posed problems of speed in extinguishing and clean-up requirements after the flame is extinguished. The first problem is related to placement of a fire extinguishing composition at the flame site, in sufficient quantity to extinguish a flame rapidly and on demand. The second problem is related to the nature of the fire extinguisher composition and its residues after flame extinction.
The present invention utilizes a known fire-extinguisher composition selected to minimize the second problem, i.e, clean-up of toxic and non-toxic residues of the extinguisher composition. However, the placement of the fire extinguishing composition at the required site, in a defined space is carried out using the apparatus of the present invention. A "defined space" as used herein is not limited to a closed, enclosed area but includes an open area defined by dimensions, such as for example a sanitation landfill area. The apparatus of the invention can be used in both the "flooding" and the "streaming" methods of application.
Burstable thermoplastic tubes containing pressurized liquids have been used as sensors to activate mechanical apparatus by depressurization of the liquid. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,433 describes such a sensor which will burst and depressurize when the contained liquid boils. The boiling occurs upon exposure to elevated ambient temperature, bursting the tube container. Representative of the contained liquids mentioned in the patent are the Halons such as Halon 1211 and Halon 1301. Halon 1211 and Halon 1301 are brominated hydrocarbons which were once widely used as fire extinguishers until recognized for their potential for destroying ozone in the upper stratosphere, when released into the environment. This impact on the environment has been of great concern.
Subsequently, some 90 countries participated in a treaty to phase out use of the ozone-destroying bromofluorocarbons such as those widely used in commercial applications, including as fire extinguishers. Thus, the Halons are no longer considered as fire extinguishing compositions. In addition, the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,433 never contemplated using the Halon liquid in quantities necessary for flame extinction.
The term "flame temperature" as used herein means the temperature of a selected flame, to be protected against and extinguished upon eruption. the exact temperature of a given flame will, of course, depend on the nature of the fuel source for the flame and the availability of oxygen for combustion at the flame site. For example, flame produced by ignition of phosphorus will differ in temperature from the flame produced by combustion of a hydrocarbon. Those skilled in the art are aware of the differences in flame temperature depending on the flame source and are also aware of the flame temperatures necessary to soften synthetic polymeric resin tubular components to a point where rupture of a given container under pressure occurs. In general, a flame temperature will be within a range of from about 30.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C. depending on the flame source.


A method of stimulating angiogenesis in a mammal by administering to a mammal a haptoglobin in an amount effective to stimulate angiogenesis, and a pharmaceutical composition containing a haptoglobin and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels sprout from existing capillaries. This process plays an important role in such widely divergent biological conditions as embryonic development, tumor growth, wound healing, and chronic inflammatory diseases (Folkman et al., Science, 235, 442-447 (1987)).
Angiogenesis has received a great deal of attention recently because of the potential for manipulation to achieve therapeutic effects. For example, angiogenic processes may aid in the healing of wounds and fractures, the vascularizing of synthetic skin grafts, and the enhancement of collateral circulation where there has been vascular occlusion or stenosis.
Angiogenesis is also important for its detrimental effects in certain biological functions. For example, it is well known that tumor vascularization substantially contributes to the progression of cancer. Angiogenesis also plays an important role in diabetic retinopathy, Kaposi sarcoma, pannus formation in rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases. The control of the angiogenic process, therefore, may be useful in new treatments for a variety of serious diseases.
Endothelial cells line the walls of blood vessels, and capillaries are comprised almost entirely of endothelial cells. The angiogenic process comprises a cascade of events, including protease secretion by endothelial cells, degradation of the basement membrane, migration through the surrounding matrix, proliferation, alignment, differentiation into tube-like structures, and synthesis of a new basement membrane (Furcht et al., Lab. Invest., 55, 505-509 (1986); Liotta et al., Cell, 64, 327-336 (1991)).
Several angiogenic agents with different properties and mechanisms of action are well known in the art. For example, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha and beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), platelet-derived growth factor (PGDF), vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), and angiogenin are potent and well-characterized angiogenic agents. However, the therapeutic applicability of some of these compounds, especially as systemic agents, is limited by their potent pleiotropic effects on various cell types. There remains a need, therefore, for an angiogenic agent with more general applicability.

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


A roller assembly for a Venetian blind includes a rotating rod which has a rectangular axial hole formed therethrough. A portion of a pull cord is wound on the rotating rod so as to move slats vertically. A movable member of a rectangular cross-section is engaged in the rotating rod and has a threaded axial hole formed therethrough. An elongated driving member has a shaft section of a rectangular cross-section engaged within the rectangular axial hole of the rotating rod, a driven wheel section secured to the shaft section, and a circular axial hole formed through the shaft section and the driven wheel section. A lift cord is disposed on the driven wheel section. A guide unit is mounted securely on a window frame and includes a threaded horizontal rod extending through the circular axial hole of the driving member and through the threaded hole of the movable member. Accordingly, when the lift cord is pulled, the driving member rotates the rotating rod so as to move the movable member on the threaded horizontal rod of the guide unit, thereby rotating and moving the rotating rod on the guide unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a roller assembly for a Venetian blind, more particularly to a roller assembly which has a rotating rod unit and an elongated driving member that rotates the rotating rod unit so as to raise or lower the slats.
2. Description of the Related Art
This invention is an improvement of a roller assembly for a Venetian blind which was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,927 by applicant. The roller assembly includes a driving means in which a thin straight shaft can be rotated so as to raise or lower the slats. Because the shaft is too thin, the shaft is easily deformed when the roller assembly is used for a long time, thereby causing difficulty in activating the slats.


A semiconductor memory includes a refresh timer and an arbiter for determining the order of precedence between an access operation and a refresh operation, in order to automatically perform refresh operations inside the memory. A detecting circuit operates in a test mode and outputs a detection signal indicating that the refresh operation is yet to be performed, when a new internal refresh request occurs before the refresh operation is performed. For example, the detection signal is output when the interval of access requests is short and no refresh operation can be inserted between the access operations. That is, in the semiconductor memory in which refresh operations are performed automatically, it is possible to evaluate the minimum interval of supplying access requests. As a result, the evaluation time can be reduced with a reduction in the development period of the semiconductor memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for testing a semiconductor memory which requires periodic refresh operations to retain data written in its memory cells. In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for testing a semiconductor memory which performs refresh operations automatically inside itself without requiring refresh commands from the exterior.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, mobile devices such as a cellular phone have been sophisticated in service facilities, with ever-increasing amounts of data to be handled. Then, work memories to be mounted on the mobile devices require larger capacities accordingly.
Conventionally, the work memories of the mobile devices have used SRAMs which are easy to configure a system with. SRAMs are, however, greater than DRAMs in the number of devices for constituting each single bit of cell, and thus are disadvantageous for larger capacities. On this account, semiconductor memories which have DRAM memory cells and perform refresh operations on the memory cells automatically inside to operate as SRAMs have been developed (pseudo SRAMs).
In the semiconductor memories of this type, the refresh operation time for performing a single refresh operation is included in the read cycle time or write cycle time. Specifically, the first half of a cycle time is allocated for the refresh operation time. The actual read operation or write operation is performed in the second half of the cycle time. Thus, the systems (users) on which the semiconductor memories are mounted need not be aware of the refresh operations in the semiconductor memories. That is, the users can use these semiconductor memories as SRAMs.
Moreover, in the semiconductor memories of this type, the refresh operation time is rendered shorter than the read operation time for the sake of reduced cycle times, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 7-58589. Specifically, the time for selecting word lines in refresh operation is shorter than the time for selecting the word lines in read operation.
As mentioned above, pseudo SRAMs perform refresh operations automatically without being recognized from the exterior. Meanwhile, data retained in the memory cells might be corrupted if refresh operations are performed improperly. It is therefore necessary to evaluate that refresh operations are performed properly. In particular, detailed evaluations are required of the circuit operation when a conflict occurs between a request for a read operation or write operation which is supplied from the exterior and a request for a refresh operation which occurs inside the chip.

Semiconductor memory having test function for refresh operation


To enable a user to perform, by using an ontology, an information search utilizing a meaning given to information on a network by Semantic Web without being required to perform complicated operations for forming an inquiry sentence in conformity with the ontology.

To obtain desired information existing on a network such as the Internet by accessing a server constructed on the network from a personal computer or a portable information terminal (hereinafter referred to simply as "information terminal"), the process of temporarily accessing a search site, which is an information search system on the network, and making a search for the information existing on the network by using the search engine is ordinarily performed. In the search site, natural language processing is ordinarily performed on information provided on the network to extract words as search keywords (hereinafter referred to simply as "keyword"), frequency information on the keywords and so on to construct a database. The search engine performs a search for information by searching the database and examining matching with an input keyword. The search engine also computes a score indicating the relation between the information found by the search in the database and the keyword by referring, for example, to the frequency information, and outputs search results ordered according to the obtained score.
Various devices have been made for search engines of this kind to perform information searches with efficiency. In recent years, information search methods utilizing an ontology used in Semantic Web techniques for handling semantics with a computer have also been proposed. The ontology is a knowledge notation method defined as a specification of a conceptualization or the like and used for semantic description of Semantic Web. On a system, it is implemented as a classification system and an inference rule set for example.
By using the ontology, a search based on a meaning can be introduced into a search in a database. That is, an information search is performed by considering a meaning attached to information on a network by means of the ontology. In this manner, the meaning of a keyword can be set as a search condition and only information in which words are used with the same meaning as that attached to the input keyword in formation containing the same words as those in the keyword can be searched for. Therefore, implementation of a method which enables a user to speedily obtain really necessary information for the user is expected.
For the conventional information search system, a method utilizing an ontology used in Semantic Web techniques has been proposed as a means for performing an information search with efficiency, as mentioned above.
However, even if a Semantic Web technique enables information on a network to have a meaning, there is a need to attach information for use of the ontology as a search condition as well as a keyword in order to search for information based on this meaning. That is, in a case where only keywords are input, only the keywords can be used as search conditions if a search is made without attaching information for use of the ontology. The search in this case is the same as ordinary search using only keywords without using the ontology.
For example, it is conceivable that in a case where a user searches for "Fujisawa de nichiyobi ni aiteiru haisha (a dental clinic open on Sunday in Fujisawa)" is searched for, he or she ordinarily inputs single words such as "haisha (dental clinic)", "Fujisawa" and "nichiyo (Sunday)" as keywords. However, when a search is made by using only these keywords, full use of a meaning given to information on a network by Semantic Web cannot be made even if the meaning of each single word can be determined, because the relations between the single words are impaired.
On the other hand, it is necessary to describe an inquiry sentence in accordance with an ontology description language description form used on the network in order to give information for utilization of the ontology as a search condition. Thus, the user making the search is required to perform complicated operations.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system which adds information for utilization of an ontology to search conditions without requiring a user to perform any complicated operations and thereby enables an information search making full use of meanings attached to information on a network by a Segmantic Web, and a method for such an information search.

Information search system, information search supporting system, and method and program for information search

Abstract: In a stage before a search engine for performing an information search by using an ontology is provided an information search supporting system having a morpheme analysis section, a syntactic and semantic analysis section, and a conversion execution section which converts a natural language sentence on which syntactic analysis and semantic analysis have been performed into an inquiry sentence described in an ontology description language by referring to a case frame ontology dictionary in which are stored information indicating to which property in an ontology does the relationship among a predicate, a subject and an object in the natural language sentence correspond and the case frame of the natural language sentence in the property. A natural language sentence is input and an inquiry sentence described in the ontology language is formed on the basis of the results of syntactic analysis and semantic analysis on the natural language sentence and is provided to the search engine.

International Business Machines Corporation


A scent dispersing boot is provided having a vertically aligned pocket attached to the upper, wherein the pocket is biased in an open position and apertured to allow air to circulate. A wick is impregnated with a game-attracting scent and inserted in the pocket. The pocket is particularly suited for use with spike wicks, having a head and a leg, wherein the leg is dipped in a liquid, game-attracting scent and inserted in the pocket with the leg of the wick extending from the bottom of the pocket.

Various devices have been disclosed for use by hunters to disperse a scent into the environment, for attracting wild game. Generally, the devices may form an integral part of a boot, be attachable to a boot or the hunter's leg, or be dragged behind a hunter while walking.
Foster—U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,502 discloses a hunting boot with a pocket located above the heel, for holding a pad impregnated with a scent. The pocket is ventilated and flexes while the hunter walks, thereby communicating the scent to the air. Rackiewicz et al.—U.S. Pat. No. 8,151,492 disclose a hunting boot having an integrated scent-carrying vented compartment. The compartment includes a mesh flap that folds down to insert a scented material.
A scented material may be temporarily affixed to a hunter's boot by various means. Fore—U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,667 discloses an absorbent portion sandwiched between first and second flexible strips. The composite contains a liquid scent in a sealed, brittle container. The brittle container is crushed to release the liquid, and an adhesive on the strip attaches the device to a hunter's footwear. Cuerrier—U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,804 discloses a scent dispenser that fits under the sole of a hunter's boot and is held in place by a strap. Floyd—U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,477 discloses a strap having an absorbent portion for absorbing a liquid game scent. The strap may be attached to a hunter's foot and held in place, for example, by Velcro.
Price et al.—U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,832 disclose a leg mounted scent dispenser. The dispenser may be a canister with a drip valve or pump that discharges a small amount of liquid each time the boot lands. Another scent dispenser attachable to a hunter's boot is shown in Turpin—Des. 386,256.
An example of a scent dispersing device that is intended to be dragged behind by a hunter while walking is disclosed in Wilcox—U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,439.
Despite the myriad devices disclosed for use by hunters to disperse a game-attracting scent, shortcomings remain. The built-in pockets for boots that are intended to hold a scent impregnated absorbent material are typically complex in design and represent increased manufacturing cost. The built-in pockets tend to have a relatively small capacity for the absorbent material, and the absorbent material is pressed tightly against the boot, which limits air circulation. The devices are not able to accommodate commonly used absorbent material for game scents, such as spike wicks.
Devices that incorporate a built-in or pre-manufactured absorbent material are limited in that they do not accommodate a variety of wicks and/or scents. If the used absorbent material cannot be exchanged with fresh material, the device has a limited life and must be replaced regularly.
On the other hand, devices that attach to the sole of the hunter's boot or are dragged behind the hunter can easily become waterlogged, coated with mud, tangled with underbrush or otherwise rendered ineffective. Devices that incorporate a vessel filled with a liquid scent are bulky and heavy, and can interfere with a hunter's stride.


Biomedical devices with stable peptide coatings are provided. The coatings are formed by incorporating at least one latent reactive component into the reactive mixture, forming a medical device from said reactive mixture and reacting said medical device with a coating effective amount of a coating peptide to bond said coating to the surface by ester or amide linkages.

Devices for use in and on the human body are well known. The chemical composition of the surfaces of such devices plays a pivotal role in dictating the overall efficacy of the devices. Coatings have been used to enhance desirable properties in these devices. In one example, many devices, including catheters, stents, lenses, and implants require biologically non-fouling surfaces, meaning that bacteria, proteins, lipids, and cells will not adhere to the surface. Coatings could impart these features to the medical devices. In a further example, coating such devices with an antimicrobial surface, may reduce infections associated with microbes, and would be advantageous.
A wide variety of methods have been developed to coat device surfaces to provide them with the desired characteristics. However, the need still exists for a simple, efficient process that will provide stable coatings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Biomedical devices with peptide containing coatings


A TFT backplane and a micro-LED display are provided A metal light shielding layer is placed at the lower surface of the substrate and the position of the metal light shield layer is corresponding to the active layer. This reduces the size of the side frame, which is used when assembling multiple displays in a large-size micro LED display application. This could meet the demand of large-size micro-LED display. In addition, this could further reduce the steps of depositing and patterning a conventional shield metal layer in a convention process of manufacturing the TFT. Therefore, the manufacturing steps of the TFT backplane are simplified and thus the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Micro-LED technique, namely the LED minimizing and matrix technique, represents a high-density micro-sized LED matrix integrated in a chip. For example, each pixel of the LED display panel can be addressable and be individually lightened. The distance between the pixels can be reduced to the nanometer level instead of micron level. Furthermore, an important application of the micro-LED is a super large size display.
Currently, the backplane of the micro-LED display is made by top gate LTPS TFTs. However, the LTPS TFTs could only be manufactured in 6th generation production line (where the glass size is 1.5 meter*1.85 meter). The glass size is comparably small and may face some difficulties if a super large size display is required.
Further, in a large size micro-LED application, an assembly technique is often used to combine multiple display panels together. However, the edge area of an ordinary display panel is used for electrical lines to connect to driving chips and often has a dimension between 3 to 50 mms. Therefore, when multiple display panels are assembled, there will be black lines between the display panels and thus the visual effect is affected.
Therefore, the side frame should be narrowed to reduce the manufacturing steps for manufacturing the TFT backplane. This becomes a technical issue in the micro-LED display field.

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A towelette assembly includes a flexible towelette and a barrier material. The towelette is pre-moistened with a first fluid, and includes a cavity, an external surface, and an opposite internal surface. The cavity is defined at least partially within the towelette by the internal surface. The barrier material is positioned at least partially within the cavity. The barrier material encapsulates a second fluid within the cavity such that the barrier material is between the towelette inner surface and the second fluid. The barrier material is substantially impervious to the first and second fluids.

This invention relates generally to towelette assemblies, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for promoting hygiene.
During childhood, most children are taught that washing their hands before eating is a healthy hygiene habit. Such habits are generally reiterated through adulthood. Moreover, as the number of contagious diseases and viruses has increased, disease consciousness of people in many careers has been heightened. For example, employees involved in food preparation and/or health care, are constantly reminded to practice good hygiene to facilitate reducing the risk of exposure to germs frequently encountered in their day-to-day activities.
In addition to frequently washing their hands, to further minimize their exposure to germs, many health care providers also frequently wipe their hands with towelettes that are pre-moistened with a germicidal solution, such as an alcohol/chlorhexidine solution. Known towelettes are generally packaged either in a single-use, sealed package, or are packaged in a dispenser that includes a large number of towelettes that are pulled from an opening formed in the dispenser. Known towelettes are constructed from an absorbent material that is folded into a towelette containing fluid. More specifically, at least some known single-use towelettes are stored in a sealed envelope. To facilitate reducing the evaporation of, and/or contamination to, the fluid within the towelette, at least some known envelopes are fabricated from a material that is impervious to the fluid, such as aluminum foil, lined with a thermoplastic liner.
The use of alcohol/chlorhexidine solutions is well known in the art as a broad spectrum germicidal composition that provides rapid bactericidal action and has a persistent antimicrobial effect. Moreover, such towelettes are often used in personal care applications, including, but not limited to, wiping a baby's skin after a diaper change, cleansing the skin, removing cosmetics, and/or other medical applications. However, over time, frequent use of towelettes pre-moistened with alcohol/chlorhexidine solutions may undesirably cause the user's skin to dry out and/or chafe.

Methods and apparatus for promoting hygiene


The transmission includes a first shaft, a second shaft, a third shaft, and a fourth shaft. These shafts are parallel to each other. A first gear couples to the first shaft. A second gear couples to or idles around the first shaft when a first clutch is switched. A third gear meshes with the first gear and couples to the second shaft. A fourth gear couples to or idles around the second shaft when a second clutch is switched. A sixth gear meshes with the first gear and couples to the third shaft. A seventh gear couples to or idles around the third shaft when a fourth clutch is switched. A ninth gear meshes with the second gear, the fourth gear, and the seventh gear, and couples to the fourth shaft.

Disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 is a transmission designed for use in a tractor or other work machine such as an agricultural machine or a construction machine. The transmission includes a first shaft, a second shaft, and a third shaft. Disposed on the first shaft are three gears connected and disconnected by three clutches and one gear coupling to the first shaft. Disposed on the second shaft are three gears connected and disconnected by two clutches and one gear coupling to the second shaft. Disposed on the third shaft are three gears coupling to the third shaft. The gears disposed on the individual shafts constantly mesh with each other, and gear ratios are selected by switching the clutches.


Computer-implemented systems and methods for estimating confidence intervals for output generated from a computer simulation program that simulates a physical stochastic process. A plurality of statistical tests is performed upon the physical stochastic simulated output so that a confidence interval can be determined.

Steady-state computer simulations can provide insight into how physical stochastic processes operate. Any insight gained through such computer simulations is valuable because stochastic processes abound within commercial industries (e.g., assessment of long-run average performance measures associated with operating an automotive assembly line) as well as other industries (e.g., financial industries with the ever varying fluctuations of stock and bond prices). Complicated statistical issues can arise when attempting to analyze stochastic output that has been generated from a steady-state simulation. As an illustration, a difficulty can arise as to how to provide statistically valid confidence intervals for the steady-state mean (or other statistic) of the simulation's output.

Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining steady-state confidence intervals


Position information is formed on a recording surface of a recording medium. The position information is constructed from first line segments, which are parallel to each other, and a second line segment, which crosses the first line segments. On the basis of a distance between (i) an intersection of one of the first line segment and a scan line and (ii) an intersection of another of the first line segments and the scan line, the intersection and an intersection of the second line segment and the scan line are measured or calculated. By this, a position of a head is recognized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium having a recording surface to record information thereon and having a position recognition structure for recognizing a position on the recording surface, a position recognition apparatus for recognizing the position on the recording surface, and a position recognition method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As large-capacity recording media used for various apparatuses, such as a computer, a player and a recorder for music and video or the like, and a car navigation apparatus, there are a compact disc, a DVD, a hard disc and the like. With respect to any one of the recording media, it is possible to record a huge amount of information onto a recording surface formed on the disc at high density.
In such large-capacity recording media, it is required to accurately recognize a recording position of the information on the recording surface. It is also required to set a rule about the recording position and arrangement of the information, and it is required to record and read the information highly accurately according to the rule.
In response to the requirement, for example, in a currently used DVD-RAM, a land-groove method is adopted as its recording method. Namely, on the recording surface, grooves are formed in the circumferential direction. The information is recorded onto the grooves and onto the lands (i.e. a place between the grooves). By this, the information is defined by the grooves, and arranged and recorded in the circumferential direction of the disc. The lines of the information arranged in the circumferential direction of the disc in this manner correspond to tracks. Moreover, each track is divided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the disc. The divisional small areas correspond to sectors. In each of the sectors, address pits having a bumpy shape are formed. Moreover, a wobble having a predetermined cycle is formed on the groove, which is formed on the recording surface, and on the basis of the cycle of the wobble, it is possible to estimate a position of the address pit.
In the DVD-RAM having the recording method as described above, it is possible to accurately recognize the record position of the information, and it is possible to record and read the information highly accurately. This is because the groove formed on the recording surface is an absolute (or immovable) standard for the position recognition.

Recording medium having position recognition structure, and position recognition apparatus and method


The present invention relates to a quilting machine, or stitcher, further including a centrally located swiveling tablet mount for securing a tablet that is used in the quilting process. The mount is positioned such that a user may access the mount from either side of, or the rear or front of the stitcher. The mount is one capable of swiveling so that the user does not have to move the tablet between front and rear mounts of the stitcher or buy separate tablets for a front and rear mount.

The present invention relates to sewing. In particular, the invention relates to particular styles of sewing that incorporate decorative stitching such as quilting. A quilt is a type of blanket typically having three layers: a decorative top layer, a middle layer of insulating material, and a backing layer. "Quilting" refers to the technique of joining these layers by stitches or ties.
Traditional quilting was done by hand and was very labor intensive. The invention of the sewing machine changed that. Quilting evolved from production of functional blankets by specialized artisans into a popular hobby enjoyed by many.
Modern quilts are typically made using a long-armed sewing machine, or stitcher, attached to a frame. The frame supports and holds the workpiece in place while the sewing machine moves along the frame with respect to the workpiece. A typical quilting apparatus illustrating the relationship between the workpiece, frame, and sewing machine is shown in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2013/0190916.
A common way to quilt today is to use what is known as pantograph patterns. Pantographs are a way to "trace" a pre-printed stitch pattern with the machine in order to stitch that pattern onto the fabric. This allows very consistent work to be completed with a much lower skill level required versus traditional hand-guided stitching alone.
Such a method is normally accomplished by mounting a paper pattern on the rear of the table. A laser pointer is mounted to the stitcher head. The operator sets up the needle/thread at the front of the machine, and then uses handles provided at the rear of the machine head to control the head during stitching from the rear of the table. By "tracing" the paper pattern with the laser dot, the operator is able to reproduce the patterns from the paper template to the fabric being sewn. A user interface such as a tablet computer may be used to control certain aspects of the stitcher, for example controlling whether a needle is in the "up" or "down" position, stitching mode, etc.
While the normal user location is at the front of the machine, an additional user interface is sometimes needed at the rear as well when a quilter is quilting using the pantograph method. For some systems, this is accomplished by placing two, redundant user interface devices at the front and rear of the machine. Some systems accomplish this by making the front user interface device removable with a mount or dock at the rear of the machine.
Placing two redundant user interfaces at both the front and rear of the machine can generate extra, unnecessary expense. Both the user interfaces and the mounts used to hold them can be quite expensive. In the scenario where a user must remove and mount the user interface back and forth between the front and rear of the machine, an operator wastes time and effort.