An exercise apparatus having right and left foot pedals with a forward end thereof pivotally supported by right and left swing arms and a rearward end thereof pivotally supported by right and left lift arms. In an alternative embodiment, a lift cable is used. A swing control member interconnects the swing arms to provide a dependent action with the rearward movement of one pedal causing the forward movement of the other, and an interconnect member interconnects the rearward end portions of the pedals to provide a dependent action with the downward movement of the rearward end of one pedal causing the rearward end of the other pedal to move upward. The swing control member and the interconnect member are operatively disconnected such that while the forward and rearward movement of the right and left pedals have dependent action and the downward and upward movement of the right and left pedals have dependent action, the forward and rearward movements and the downward and upward movements are independent of each other. A resistance device resists rearward movement of the right and left pedals.

A variety of exercise apparatus exists which allow the user to exercise by simulating a striding motion. Some of these devices also allow a stepping motion. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,443 illustrates a striding exerciser having right and left foot pedals, each fixedly attached to a lower end of a corresponding one of right and left swing arms. The swing arms each have an upper end pivotally attached to a frame. The user stands on the right and left pedals and exercises by swinging his legs back and forth to simulate striding. Each of the pedals is able to move rearward and forward along a manufacturer defined arcuate path about the pivot axis of the upper end of the swing arm which carries the pedal. A cable interconnects the right and left swing arms such that when one pedal moves rearward the other is moved forward, and vice versa, to provide a dependent reciprocal swinging action. The exerciser allows the user to use a stride length when exercising that is natural to the user, but the motion of the foot pedals and thus the user's foot thereon is constrained to a reciprocating motion along the simple arcuate path with no significant variation in pedal angle simulating stride height (heel lift) possible. To experience a change in foot angle during a stride which has a heel lift more natural to a striding motion, a user must lift his foot at least partially off the pedal or rock his foot on the pedal.
A similar striding exerciser shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,924 which utilizes right and left swing arms which pivot independent of each other. Again, the foot pedals are constrained to move along a simple arcuate path with no significant variation in stride height.
A different style design for a striding exerciser is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,242,343; 5,383,829; 5,518,473 and 5,562,574. In these exercisers the right and left foot pedals are carried on a corresponding one of right and left foot links, each foot link having one end attached to a corresponding one of right and left bell cranks of a fly wheel. The other end of each foot link is guided by a corresponding one of right and left tracks or suspended by a corresponding one of right and left swing arms. With this arrangement, an ovate, open foot path is possible such that when exercising on the apparatus the user experiences a stride that has both a stride length and a stride height. A limited degree of adjustability is provided in at least one disclosed embodiment to adjust the incline of the foot pedals prior to commencing an exercise by use of connector pins and a plurality of pin receiver holes, with the adjustment being made before the exercise begins. However, with these exercisers, the stride length and stride height of the user is determined entirely by the construction of the exerciser with no variability for the natural stride length or height of a particular user. Further, there is no ability to vary the stride length or height while an exercise is in progress in response to the user naturally or by choice changing his stride length or height. Users of varying sizes and with different natural stride lengths and heights must all move their feet along the same manufacturer defined ovate path.
A striding exerciser which permits the user to stride using his natural stride length and stride height is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,299,993 and 5,499,596. In the disclosed exerciser, the right and left pedals are each supported on a corresponding one of right and left articulated linkage assemblies. Each linkage assembly includes a generally vertical arm having an upper end pivotally attached to a frame and a lower end pivotally attached to a forward end of a generally horizontal arm comprising a pair of arm members in four bar arrangement. The free rearward end of the generally horizontal arm supports one of the foot pedals. The exerciser uses rollers below each horizontal arm to support the arm from below and limit downward travel thereof when the user's weight is applied to the pedal carried by the arm. The right and left linkage assemblies operate independent of each other and allow the user to move his feet with a natural stride length and stride height while exercising without being constrained to a fixed manufacturer defined pedal path. The exerciser, however, has a less than desirable construction and operation. Further, in one disclosed embodiment, the vertical arms are coupled to a crank assembly which undesirably constrains the user to a fixed stride length which may not simulate the natural stride length of the user.
It will, therefore, be appreciated that there has been a need for a striding exerciser which can be used for striding exercises such as walking, jogging and running, and stepping in place exercises which accommodates the natural stride length and stride height of the user, and does not constrain the user to a fixed stride length or height which may not match the user. The exerciser should allow the user to change the stride length and height being used during the progress of an exercise without requiring the user to adjust equipment settings. Such a striding exerciser should provide a strong and durable construction and operate with an exercise feel which is more desirable to users than presently available striding exercisers. The present invention fulfills these needs and further provides other related advantages.

StairMaster Sports/Medical Products, Inc.


An organic thin film transistor array substrate including a substrate divided into an LCD region and an OTFT region; a first dielectric layer formed on the substrate in the LCD region and having a first uneven portion; an organic semiconducting layer formed on the substrate in the OTFT region; a gate, source, and drain formed in the OTFT region, wherein the source and drain are in contact with the organic semiconducting layer to form a channel between the source and drain; and a pixel electrode formed on the first uneven portion of the first dielectric layer in the LCD region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic thin film transistor array substrate, and more particularly to an organic thin film transistor array substrate in which the dielectric layer underlying the pixel electrode has an uneven structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, organic semiconducting material has drawn many researchers' attention and has proven to be one of the most popular candidates in fabrication of thin film transistors (TFTs) and various electronic and optoelectronic devices. Organic semiconducting material is easy to fabricate, increasing the chance of its future application in flexible displays.
An organic thin film transistor (OTFT) is a TFT that uses an organic layer to serve as the active layer and has been used to drive liquid crystal displays (LCDs). In recent years, in order to simplify the process and decrease production cost, some researchers have developed integration technology that fabricates the LCD and OTFT monolithically (i.e., on the same substrate).
For example, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,235 discloses an integrated device of LCD and bottom-gate OTFT, in which two organic layers are used in the OTFT structure.
Mitshubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha in U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,333 discloses a bottom-gate OTFT structure combined with a transmissive or reflective type LCD. For the reflective LCD, the reflector sheet is simply a mirror surface; therefore, the display effect (reflectivity and contrast) is inferior.
Hitachi, Ltd. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,988 B1 uses a bottom-gate OTFT combined with an LCD. A patterned insulating layer is used to make the overlying deposited organic semiconducting layer have a pattern, thus separating into a channel region and a non-channel region. Thus, current leakage and crosstalk between devices decreases.
For the above-mentioned reflective or transflective LCD driven by OTFT, the display effect requires improvement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Organic thin film transistor array substrate and liquid crystal display including the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


According to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, a method of removing a waste part of a substrate is provided. The method includes: using a laser to partially drill the substrate to define the waste part; and applying megasonic vibration to the substrate to remove the waste part from the substrate.

In a conventional bio-test chip with micro-fluidic structures, two substrates are bonded together to form a micro channel in between. On top of that, some holes are drilled on one of the substrates for letting fluids flow into and out of the micro channel for a bio-test, such as a blood test.

Method of removing waste of substrate and waste removing device thereof

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


Current source converters and control methods are presented for high dynamic performance by implementing a DC link current control loop parallel to one or more motor control loops, with a DC link current control command value for operating the current source rectifier being derived at least partially independent of the motor control command values, wherein certain implementations drive the current source rectifier to its maximum rated value, or the DC current command value can be set above an amount required by the current source inverter using a gain factor which can be fixed or can itself be adjusted based on one or more motor control error values for balancing as-needed dynamic performance and efficiency.

Power conversion systems convert input electrical power from one form to another for driving a load. Current source converter (CSC) type drives typically include a current source rectifier (CSR) to selectively switch AC input power to create a DC link current that is fed to a current source inverter (CSI) to provide single or multi-phase AC output current for driving a motor load at a controlled speed and/or applications torque. Current source converters are often used for medium voltage applications (e.g., 2.3-13.8 kV) and provide certain advantages such as stability and direct output current control. However, certain applications require thyristors or other current source rectifier switches capable of withstanding high switching voltages, and the switching losses associated with the CSR switches generally increase with switching frequency. For medium voltage drives, a typical CSR switching frequency is about 500 Hz. In addition, current source converters often employ large DC link chokes having relatively long time constants. Accordingly, the dynamic performance of the current source rectifier is typically limited to about 200 Hz or less. In motor drive applications, moreover, the switching operation of the rectifier and current source inverter often employ multiple control loops, including a control loop for regulating the DC link current, as well as one or more motor control loops for regulating motor speed, torque, rotor flux, etc. Conventional multi-loop control approaches provide an inner DC link current control loop, with one or more outer loops for controlling the motor operating parameters. However, motor drive applications are increasingly requiring faster dynamic response to load changes, and/or speed or torque setpoint step changes, and the dynamic response of multiple-loop nested control architectures is limited by the dynamic limitations of the inner DC link current control loop. Accordingly, a need remains for improved current source converters and control techniques to provide higher dynamic operation in current source converters.

High dynamic control apparatus for current source converter


A power generation body includes a first member, a second member, and a packaging body. The first member includes a first insulating film that forms a first surface. The second member includes a second insulating film that forms a second film that opposes the first surface and comes into contact with the first surface. The packaging body hermetically seals the first member and the second member. The first member and the second member are configured such that a real contact surface area between the first surface and the second surface changes according to pressure applied to the first member and the second member, and one of the first insulating film and the second insulating film is positively charged and the other is negatively charged due to the real contact surface area changing.

JP 2018-191454A discloses a frictional-charging power generation body. According to the power generation body of JP 2018-191454 (hereinafter called "Patent Literature 1"), a real contact surface area between a first insulating film and a second insulating film that oppose each other and are in contact with each other changes due to pressure applied to the power generation body, and the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are charged to mutually opposite polarities.
JP 2016-088473A (hereinafter called "Patent Literature 2") discloses a tire assembly in which a power generation body is incorporated in a tire. The power generation body generates a voltage due to deformation of the tire. The power generation body includes a fixing portion that keeps the opposition distance between a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure at a predetermined interval. An electronic apparatus is embedded inside of the fixing portion. Accordingly, the electronic apparatus is protected from the environment inside of the tire.
JP 2018-191454A and JP 2016-088473A are examples of related art.

THE SCHOOL CORPORATION KANSAI UNIVERSITY


A voltage adjusting apparatus includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, a switch module, and a feedback module. The PWM controller outputs control signals. The switch module receives the control signals, and outputs working voltages accordingly. The feedback module includes a jumper, a first resistor, a second resistor, and a third resistor. If the first terminal and the second terminal of the jumper are electrically coupled together, the third resistor is cut off from the feedback module by the jumper, the first resistor and the second resistor are electrically coupled in the feedback module, and the switch module outputs a first working voltage accordingly. If the second terminal and the third terminal of the jumper are electrically coupled together, the first resistor, the second resistor, and the third resistor are all electrically coupled in the feedback module, the switch module outputs a second working voltage accordingly.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) usually have slots for inserting memory chips. Power supplies provided to the memory chips include 1.5 volts, 1.35 volts, and 1.25 volts DC voltages. A conventional PCB only provides a single DC voltage, which cannot meet the requirements when multiple memory chips are installed on the same PCB.

HON FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD.


An IGBT has an emitter region, a top body region that is formed below the emitter region, a floating region that is formed below the top body region, a bottom body region that is formed below the floating region, a trench, a gate insulating film that covers an inner face of the trench, and a gate electrode that is arranged inside the trench. When a distribution of a concentration of p-type impurities in the top body region and the floating region, which are located below the emitter region, is viewed along a thickness direction of a semiconductor substrate, the concentration of the p-type impurities decreases as a downward distance increases from an upper end of the top body region that is located below the emitter region, and assumes a local minimum value at a predetermined depth in the floating region.

In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-103326 (JP-2010-103326 A) (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1), there is disclosed an IGBT that has a top body region, a floating region, and a bottom body region. In manufacturing this IGBT, after a trench gate electrode is formed, p-type impurities are implanted in such a manner as to stop within a depth range of the top body region, n-type impurities are implanted in such a manner as to stop within a depth range of the floating region, and p-type impurities are implanted in such a manner as to stop within a depth range of the bottom body region. Thus, the top body region, the floating region, and the bottom body region are formed.

IGBT and method of manufacturing the same


A radiation image conversion panel containing a substrate having thereon a phosphor layer, wherein the phosphor layer is formed with a vapor deposition method, and an adhesion force of the phosphor layer with the substrate is greater than a breaking strength of the phosphor layer.

Radiation images such as X-ray images have been widely employed in the medical field for diagnosis of diseases. As a method of obtaining the X-ray images, the so called radiographic method has been widely utilized, wherein a phosphor layer (or a fluorescent screen) is exposed to X-rays, having passed through a medical patient, that is a subject, to emit visible light, which exposes a silver halide photosensitive material (hereinafter also referred to simply as a photosensitive material) in the same manner as in usual picture-taking, and thereafter a visible silver image is produced via development processing.
Recently, however, instead of an image forming method using a photosensitive material incorporating a silver halide, a new method for directly capturing images from a phosphor layer has been proposed.
This method includes a method of imaging via fluorescence detection, wherein radioactive rays, having passed through a subject, is absorbed in a phosphor, followed by stimulating this phosphor, for example, via light or heat energy so as to emit radiation energy, accumulated in the phosphor via the above absorption, as fluorescence.
Specifically, a radiation image conversion method using a stimulable phosphor (hereinafter also referred to simply as a phosphor) is known (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).
This method is one which employs a radiation image conversion panel containing a stimulable phosphor as follows: the stimulable phosphor layer of this radiation image conversion panel is irradiated with radioactive rays having been passed through a subject, resulting in accumulation of radiation energy corresponding to the radiation transmittance density of each portion of the subject; thereafter, the stimulable phosphor is stimulated via an electromagnetic wave (or an exciting light) such as visible or infrared light in chronological order to emit the radiation energy, having been accumulated in the stimulable phosphor, as stimulated emission light; and signals based on the intensity of the emission light are converted into electrical signals, for example, via photoelectric conversion, whereby the electrical signals are reproduced as a visible image on a recording material such as a silver halide photosensitive material or a display device such as a CRT.
The above reproduction method of a radiation image exhibits the advantage of obtaining a radiation image showing great detail information at a far lower exposure dose, compared to conventional radiographic methods employing a radiographic film in combination with an intensifying screen.
Since a radiation image conversion panel employing the stimulable phosphor accumulates radiation image information, followed by emitting the accumulated energy via scanning exciting light, another accumulation of a new radiation image may be conducted after the scanning, resulting in repetitive use of the conversion panel. Namely, while one radiographic film is consumed for each image in a conventional radiographic method, a radiation image conversion panel may be repeatedly utilized via this radiation image conversion method, resulting in advantages in resource conservation and economic efficiency.
Further, in recent years, a radiation image conversion panel exhibiting higher sharpness has been demanded. As a method of enhancing sharpness, various attempts to enhance sensitivity and sharpness have been investigated, for example, by controlling the form itself of the formed stimulable phosphor.
As one of these attempts, a method employing a radiation image conversion panel incorporating a stimulable phosphor layer, structured of elongated columnar crystals, has been proposed, wherein the elongated columnar crystals are formed on a substrate via a vapor growth method (also called a vapor deposition method) so that the crystal axis of the columnar crystals is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the normal direction of the substrate (refer to Patent Document 3).
Recently, a radiation image conversion panel incorporating a stimulable phosphor has been proposed, wherein an alkali halide such as CsBr is utilized as a phosphor host (or matrix) and Eu is utilized as an activator, resulting in high X-ray conversion efficiency, which has not been conventionally realized.
However, in radiation image conversion panels used under a variety of conditions, adhesion between the substrate and the phosphor layer is one of the critical characteristics. To enhance the adhesion, there has been disclosed a method of placing a resinous sublayer containing a cross-linking agent between the substrate and the phosphor layer (Patent Documents 4-6). In cases in which only a resinous sublayer is placed, when forming the stimulable phosphor layer on the resinous sublayer of high surface roughness via the vapor growth method, poor adhesion to the substrate occurs and accordingly the crystal structure of the phosphor layer is unevenly formed, resulting in a tendency to cause varying sharpness and uneven graininess in imaging via a radiation image conversion panel. Further, temporal stability of the characteristics is likely to decrease because the film thickness of the resinous sublayer is too high.
(Patent Document 1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,527
(Patent Document 2) Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection (hereinafter referred to as JP-A) No. 55-12144
(Patent Document 3) JP-A No. 2-58000
(Patent Document 4) U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,580
(Patent Document 5) JP-A No. 2005-91222 (Patent Document 6) JP-A No. 2006-125854

Radiation image conversion panel, production method of the same, and X-ray image capturing system


A method for preparing granules containing pesticidal or herbicidal biological organisms which can be stored for prolonged periods and conveniently dispensed is provided. Compositions are provided which comprise granules containing entomopathogenic nematodes. Methods for controlling insects, comprising applying the composition to a plant or field is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods and compositions for storing and distributing pesticidal or herbicidal biological organisms, in particular entomopathogenic nematodes, for use as agricultural pest control agents. More specifically, the invention concerns new methods for producing granules and for formulating nematodes into such granules for prolonged storage and convenient application.
2. Background Art
The desirability of using entomopathogenic nematodes in compositions to control pests in agricultural contexts has been clearly recognized (Gaugler et al., ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODE IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, CRC Press, 1990). The general classification "nematodes" includes roundworms of astounding variety ranging in size from ultramicroscopic to worms of several feet in length. In many cases, these organisms are parasitic, and their mechanisms of parasitism and their targets are as varied as their size range. While many species of nematode are themselves plant pathogens and an agricultural nuisance, a relatively benevolent group of nematodes which infect insect pests have a useful function. In particular, control of insect infestation of plants has been attempted using the "infective juvenile" (IJ) stage of these entomopathogenic nematodes. In this form, the infective juvenile enters the host insect through the alimentary canal or spiracles, emerges from its protective sheath, and penetrates into the host insect's hemocoel. There, the nematode releases symbiotic bacteria which induce septicemia that kills the host, rendering the host corpse suitable for nematode foraging and reproduction. Several generations may be spent within the insect host until food consumption and overpopulation trigger production of another IJ stage generation. The new IJs must then find fresh hosts.
In the IJ stage, the nematodes do not eat, but depend upon internal food stores; however, they do require oxygen, and, unless induced into a cryptobiotic desiccated state, require the presence of water. A major problem associated with the use of IJ nematodes as pesticides resides in the necessity to maintain the IJs in a viable state for extended time periods. The IJs cannot be kept viable simply by harvesting them from, for example, an artificial culture, and placing them in a container. The majority of the IJs so prepared will die within hours. Attempts to overcome this problem have included inducing a "cryptobiotic" state by dehydration or other means which reduce the metabolism to the point where the IJ essentially becomes inert. It is known that nematodes in the soil may exist in such a cryptobiotic state under dry climatic conditions; however, the statistics of this process are not favorable to preserving large numbers of IJs. Alternative drying means which result in a cryptobiotic state with some degree of efficiency are described, for example, in European Patent Publication No. 256,873.
In an alternative approach, the IJs are stored on various moist, high surface area materials. For example, Finney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,545, describes a method and package for storage and shipment of nematodes which comprises essentially a water-retaining foam sandwich. While the container is stated to be "suitable for storing nematodes", only nematode eggs were tested. Notably, only one particular foam was found to be successful in maintaining the viability of the eggs, even when storage was at temperatures as low as -5.degree. C.
Yukawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,275 describes a packaging system for nematode storage and transport, wherein nematodes are homogeneously mixed with materials described as adsorbents (e.g., activated charcoal) and stored as a suspension under conditions which prevent microbial growth.
Nelsen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,883, describes a formulation in which the IJs are encapsulated in an alginate gel obtained by adding calcium ions to a sodium alginate suspension of the nematodes. In these preparations, capsules of 0.5-5 mm in diameter are formed and are said to improve the storageability of the IJs. The use of alginate gels and other encapsulating materials to encapsulate living tissue or cells (though not specifically IJs) has an extensive literature. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,409,331; 4,407,957; 4,391,909; 4,352,883; 4,663,286; 4,778,749; 4,798,786; 4,803,168; 4,806,355; 4,647,536; and 4,814,274. All of these documents describe methods to encapsulate living cells or tissues in various polymeric capsules. The purpose of the capsules in each case is to preserve the viability of the living tissue and, also, to facilitate the use of such tissue in its intended application.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/313,594, filed Feb. 21, 1989, abandoned, assigned to the same assignee and incorporated herein by reference, describes a packaging method for IJs in a reversibly cross-linked matrix which is embedded in a supporting screen. The screen containing the sheet matrix is simply placed in the location of end use, and application of water and an active decross-linking agent liberates the embedded nematodes from the film.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,744 (Dec. 15, 1992), commonly assigned with the present application, discloses a more convenient and effective manner of preserving viability of IJ nematodes by immobilizing them in a pseudoplastic gel which can be dispensed in the field by applying a suitable shear force. While embedded in the matrix, the nematodes are immobilized, resulting in reduced metabolism and improved viability. However, upon liquefaction of the supporting medium, the nematodes can be readily dispensed in the desired location.
Bedding, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,427 discloses a range of product types obtained by mixing IJs with an absorbent material (clay) to remove excess surface moisture and to produce partial desiccation. Homogeneous blends as well as non-homogeneous blends of nematodes and absorbents are described, such as a sandwich consisting of a layer of nematodes between two layers of clay. Granules are not disclosed. These products lack the convenience of either water dispersible or directly applied granules. The clay layers are said to be about two centimeters thick, which would appear to serve as a powerful barrier to oxygen diffusion, thus raising questions about adequate oxygenation of the nematodes using this formulation.
Other work discloses methods of producing starch granules containing various biocontrol agents, such as bacteria; nematodes were not specified (U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,377).
Capinera et al., J. Agric. Entomol. (1987) 4:337) described a pellet nematode formulation which pellets contained alfalfa meal, wheat flour and other components.
Connick et al. (1991) Biological Control 1:281-287, disclosed entrapment of mycoherbicidal fungi in a pasta-like wheat flour dough. The dough, used for weed control, was air-dried and ground into granules which were sized by sieving.
Connick et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/560,792 (filed Jul. 9, 1990, licensed to the U.S. Agricultural Research Service), describes an extruded or formed granular product in which nematodes are uniformly distributed throughout a wheat gluten matrix. The formulation also included a filler and humectant to enhance nematode survival. Granules are then dried to low moisture to prevent nematode migration and to reduce risk of microbial contamination. Dried granules are very difficult to dissolve; only partial dissolution was achieved, even after submerging of granules in water for 48 hours. Reported nematode survival rates were relatively low. Further, it appears that this product is limited to direct soil application and cannot be used in spray applications.
In many of the above disclosed formulations, the nematodes or other organisms are homogeneously distributed throughout the composition. This is a source of problems, as discussed below, which the present invention has overcome.
A serious problem in the art not yet successfully overcome is that of nematode migration from the formulated preparations currently on the market. For example, nematodes migrate freely from Connick's `pasta` granules (Connick et al., supra) unless they are dried sufficiently to inactivate the nematodes. Nematodes that migrate to a surface do not typically survive for long. Once at the surface, nematodes will often assume an adaptive behavior known as "nictation", which is the standing upon one end and actively waving their bodies in the air. Nictation dramatically increases metabolic rate, as measured by oxygen consumption, thereby decreasing the length of time that the initial fixed amount of energy reserves will last before depletion. Furthermore, drying of nematodes becomes a significant problem once they are directly exposed to air. With many of the commercially valuable nematodes such as Steinernema carpocapsae, air drying leads to death. Further still, nematodes will migrate from the surface of the product and onto, and potentially out of, the packaging in which they were originally contained. Nematodes that leave the safety of their formulated product rapidly succumb to fatal dehydration. The present invention is directed in part to such problems in the art.
Disclosure of the Invention
The invention provides compositions and methods for their production, which compositions are granules encasing biological organisms useful as herbicides or pesticides, in particular beneficial infective juvenile nematodes. The composition and packaging means therefor are useful for storage, shipping, and dispensing. The methods and formulations provided offer convenience and effectiveness and are suitable for large-scale production, long term storage, and distribution of nematode preparations.
The present invention is directed to a storage composition of pesticidal or herbicidal viable biological organisms comprising a granule formed from a powder or mixture of powders having encased therein a soft core containing a quantity of viable biological organisms.
The organisms are preferably maintained in a partially desiccated state, thereby reducing metabolic activity and extending survival in storage. The degree of desiccation can be controlled by appropriate selection of the dry powder composition and the processing mathods.
In the above composition, the powder is preferably selected from the group consisting of a silica, a diatomaceous earth, hydroxyethyl cellulose, a clay, a pregelled clay, a lignosulfonate, a modified starch, a pregelatinized starch, a superabsorbent and a combination of one or more thereof.
The above composition may further contain one or more of an antibacterial agent, an antifungal agent, a humectant, a stabilizing agent, a viscosifier, a wetting agent or other surfactant, and an ultraviolet light-absorbing agent, all of which agents are not toxic to the biological organisms.
In a preferred embodiment, the biological organisms of the composition are beneficial nematodes, most preferably entomopathogenic nematodes. Preferably the nematodes are infective juvenile nematodes. Preferred entomopathogenic nematodes are of the family Steinernematidae or Heterorhabditidae. In another embodiment, the nematode is a molluskicidal nematode of the family Phasmarhabditidae.
Where the organisms are nematodes, the suspension contains nematodes at a concentration of preferably about 10.sup.5 to about 2.times.10.sup.6 per gram of suspension, more preferably about 8.times.10.sup.5 to 10.sup.6 per gram.
The present invention is also directed to a method for preparing a storage composition of pesticidal or herbicidal viable biological organisms, comprising contacting individual drops or droplets of an aqueous suspension containing the organisms with a powder such that the powder completely surrounds each of the drops, wherein moisture within the drops is drawn into the powder causing the powder to form a solidified casing surrounding the drops containing the organism.
The organisms are preferably beneficial nematodes, more preferably infective juvenile entomopathogenic nematodes, preferably of the family Steinernematidae or Heterorhabditidae.
In the above method, the suspension preferably contains nematodes at a concentration of about 10.sup.5 to about 2.times.10.sup.6 per gram of suspension, more preferably at a concentration of about 8.times.10.sup.5 to 10.sup.6 per gram.
In the above methods, the contacting may be performed by manually applying the drops to the powder. The powder is preferably in motion, either rotational or vibrational at the time of the contacting. In another embodiment, the contacting is performed by spraying droplets of the suspension into a falling curtain of powder. The curtain may fall onto a rotating or vibrating surface on which surface consolidation of granules takes place. In another embodiment, the contacting is performed by applying droplets to a powder suspended in an air-suspended fluidized bed or counter-current fluidized bed apparatus.
In the above methods, the powder is preferably selected from the group consisting of a silica, a clay, a pregelled clay, a diatomaceous earth, a hydroxyethyl cellulose, a lignosulfonate, a modified starch, a pregelatinized starch, a superabsorbent and a combination of one or more thereof.
The present invention is further directed to a method of controlling pests, preferably insects, comprising applying a composition as described above to a plant or field to control the pests. The applying may be performed prior to signs of pest infestation to prevent the infestation or after such infestation. In this method, the nematodes are preferably of the family Steinernematidae, Heterorhabditidae or Phasmarhabditidae.
In the method of controlling pests, the composition may be applied as granules to soil or dissolved in water and applied as a liquid, preferably as a spray to soil or to plants.

Granular formulation of biological entities with improved storage stability


A handheld machine tool having an output shaft on which a tool holding fixture is developed, which has a multi-faced inner receptacle and a multi-faced outer receptacle, the multi-faced inner receptacle to connect to a tool insert, which can be locked using a locking device assigned to the tool holding fixture; the locking device having a locking sleeve which is displaceable for unlocking the tool insert against a spring force applied by an associated spring element in an axial direction facing away from the handheld machine tool, from a locking to an unlocking position, the locking sleeve has an operating element and a holding element connected to each other via a threaded connection, the holding element driven by the associated spring element in the direction of the locking position of the locking sleeve and the operating element enables displacement of the locking sleeve from the locking to the unlocking position.

European Patent No EP 2 039 449 A1, describes a handheld machine tool developed as a rotary blow screwdriver, which has a tool holding fixture provided with a multi-faced inner receptacle and a multi-faced outer receptacle, the multi-faced inner receptacle being able to be connected to a tool insert having an outer multi-faced coupling, such as a screwdriver bit, and the multi-faced outer receptacle being able to be connected to a tool insert having an inner multi-faced coupling, such as a socket wrench. To fix a screwdriver bit in the multi-faced inner receptacle, a locking device is provided in which a locking sleeve, using an associated compression spring, is prestressed in an axial direction facing away from the screwdriver bit and, for unlocking as well as for taking out the screwdriver bit, has to be pushed against the force of this spring axially in the direction of the screwdriver bit, from a locking position into an unlocking position.
This may have a disadvantage that handling the handheld machine tool is cumbersome and difficult, since the locking sleeve in the axial direction has only a comparatively short length and a comparatively low diameter, and is thus difficult to grasp and hold during a displacement from the locking position to the unlocking position. This leads to a forfeiture of convenience in the use of such handheld machine tools.


An apparatus for and a method are provided for managing data by dividing file identifier descriptors (FIDs) included in metadata of a universal disk format (UDF) file system, and arranging them. The apparatus for managing data includes an input unit that receives a command for generating data in a file system environment, a controller that determines a data type corresponding to the command, a data generator that generates the data by referring to the command, and a metadata updater that arranges an FID with respect to the generated data according to the data type.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to managing data, and more particularly, to managing data by dividing file identifier descriptors (FIDs) included in metadata of universal disk format (UDF) file system and arranging them.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an operating system (OS) uses a file system in order to manage data. The file system is an essential component having a logical structure for the management of data. For example, the format command in Microsoft Windows is a process of creating the file system and initializing it. That is, a user cannot store or delete files until a file system has been created.
Different OSs use different file systems. For example, file allocation table (FAT) and new technology file system (NTFS) are used in the Windows operating system, and the Unix file system (UFS), extended 2 (EXT2), extended 3 (EXT3), and journaling file system (JFS) are used in Unix, Linux and variants thereof. Each file system provides extra functions such as data coding and data compression.
The file system organizes and stores files, and is divided into a data area where real data (e.g., a file or a directory) is stored, and an information area where information on the data stored in the data area is stored. That is, the information on the property, access permission, access time, size, and location of the data is stored in the information area.
In contrast, the UDF is a file system standard for an optical medium, which was developed by OSTA. UDF is used in place of a conventional ISO 9660 file systems, which are not suitable for optical media such as digital versatile discs (DVDs) and compact disc rewritables (CD-RWs), and has functions to read the data of one file at a time without wasting overhead, and to partially or completely delete the file on the CD-RW medium using a new technique called packet writing.
A UDF system is divided into a data area where data is stored and a data entry area where information on the data stored in the data area is stored. Here, the data includes files and directories. The data area of the file stores a real file, whereas the data area of the directory stores information on the file and subdirectory.
The data area of the directory storing the information on the file and subdirectory is called a directory area and information on the file and subdirectory included in a corresponding directory is recorded in the form of an FID therein. The FID includes the name of the file or subdirectory and information on a save location thereof.
Metadata refers to a data entry area of the file in the case of the file, and the sum of the data entry area and the directory area in the case of the directory and FIG. 1 illustrates metadata 100 of a related art directory.
Referring to FIG. 1, the data entry areas 11, 13, and 15 of the directory and the directory areas 12, 14, and 16 are arranged. FIDs 111, 112, 113, 114, 121, 122, 123, 131, and 132 are respectively arranged in the directory areas 12, 14, and 16.
Here, when searching for a file "FILE—6" 131 along a path "DIR—1/DIR—2/FILE—6", a device executes a search by referring to the metadata 100 in the order the FIDs included therein were created.
That is, the device respectively searches for "FILE—1" 111, "FILE—2" 112, and "DIR—1" 113 arranged in a directory area 12 of a root directory 110. Then, the device respectively searches for "FILE—4" 121, "FILE—5" 122, and "DIR—2" 123 arranged in a directory area 14 of a directory "DIR—1" 120.
Specifically, the device searches for the files "FILE—1" 111 and "FILE—2" 112 in order to search for the directory "DIR—1" 113 in the directory area 12 of the root directory 100, thereby wasting computer resources and increasing the search time. This is particularly disadvantageous for the UDF file system storing a large number of files and directories.
Therefore, a new method that can reduce the waste of computer resources and the search time in the UDF file system is needed.


Methods for forming platinum-iridium films, particularly in the manufacture of a semiconductor device, and devices (e.g., capacitors, integrated circuit devices, and memory cells) containing such films.

Films of metals and metal oxides, particularly the heavier elements of Group VIII, are becoming important for a variety of electronic and electrochemical applications. For example, high quality RuO2 thin films deposited on silicon wafers have recently gained interest for use in ferroelectric memories. Many of the Group VIII metal films are generally unreactive toward metal oxides, resistant to diffusion of oxygen and silicon, and are good conductors. Oxides of certain of these metals also possess these properties, although perhaps to a different extent.
Thus, films of Group VIII metals and metal oxides, particularly the second and third row metals (e.g., Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt) have suitable properties for a variety of uses in integrated circuits. For example, they can be used in integrated circuits for electrical contacts. They are particularly suitable for use as barrier layers between the dielectric material and the silicon substrate in memory devices, such as ferroelectric memories. Furthermore, they may even be suitable as the plate (i.e., electrode) itself in capacitors. Iridium oxide is of particular interest as a barrier layer because it is very conductive (30–60 μΩ-cm) and is inherently a good oxidation barrier.
Capacitors are the basic charge storage devices in random access memory devices, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, static random access memory (SRAM) devices, and now ferroelectric memory (FE RAM) devices. They consist of two conductors, such as parallel metal or polysilicon plates, which act as the electrodes (i.e., the storage node electrode and the cell plate capacitor electrode), insulated from each other by a dielectric material (a ferroelectric dielectric material for FE RAMs). It is important for device integrity that oxygen and/or silicon not diffuse into or out of the dielectric material. This is particularly true for ferroelectric RAMs because the stoichiometry and purity of the ferroelectric material greatly affect charge storage and fatigue properties.
The electrodes in a DRAM cell capacitor must protect the dielectric layer from interaction with surrounding materials, including interlayer dielectrics (e.g., BPSG), and from the harsh thermal processing encountered in subsequent steps of DRAM process flow. In order to function well as a bottom electrode, the electrode layer or layer stack acts as an effective barrier to the diffusion of oxygen and silicon. Oxidation of the underlying silicon will result in decreased series capacitance, thus degrading the cell capacitor. Platinum is one of the candidates for use as an electrode material for high dielectric capacitors.
Platinum, alone, however, is relatively permeable to oxygen. One solution is to combine (e.g., alloy) the platinum with rhodium to enhance the barrier properties of the layer. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) of a Pt—Rh alloy has been shown by H. D. Bhatt et. al., "Novel high temperature multi-layer electrode barrier structure for high-density ferroelectric memories," Applied Physics Letters, 71, pp. 719–21 (1997), to provide an improvement over pure Pt for electrode applications. Also, physical vapor deposition (PVD) of a Pt—Ir alloy has been shown in JP 09162372.
Many storage cell capacitors are formed using high aspect ratio openings. PVD deposition (e.g., sputtering) does not deliver a layer which is sufficiently conformal for formation of an electrode within such a small high aspect ratio opening.
Thus, there is a continuing need for methods and materials for the deposition of metal-containing films, such as iridium- and platinum-containing films, which can function as barrier layers, for example, in integrated circuits, particularly in random access memory devices.

Devices containing platinum-iridium films and methods of preparing such films and devices


A water mixing apparatus mixing hot and cold water includes a housing that includes top wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends downwardly from the top wall. A bottom wall is removably attached to a bottom edge of the peripheral wall for selectively opening or closing the housing. An inlet is fluidly coupled to and extends through the peripheral wall. A nozzle portion of the inlet extends away from the peripheral wall. The nozzle portion is adapted for removably coupling with a water supply. The inlet is angled such that the inlet is directed away from a central area of the housing. A pour spout is fluidly coupled to the top wall. Water may enter the housing through the inlet such that the stirring assembly blends the water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to water mixing devices and more particularly pertains to a new water mixing device for mixing hot and cold water so that it dispenses from a shower or other spout in a more uniform manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of water mixing devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,456 describes a single lever mixing faucet. Another type of water mixing device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,246 having an electronic valve assembly for selectively mixing hot and cold water.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that better mixes water so that the temperature is uniform across the stream of water as it exits a spout.


Systems and methods provide for a solution for encryption by dynamically opening multiple channels between the client and the server, where the channels include both secured (e.g., SSL/TLS and etc.) channels and non-secured channels. Non-sensitive information can be over non-secured channels, and sensitive information can be sent via the secured channels. The system can recognize whether the information is sensitive or not via the use of tags on a page or frame that delineate which information is sensitive. For instance, on a form, tags can mark off the areas of the form that may contain sensitive information, such as social security numbers, names, addresses, financial information and other private information. All the data within the tags can be considered sensitive and so be communicated to the server via a secure channel while other data can be transmitted through unsecured channels.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS—also often referred to as SSL) are security technologies for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. These links ensure that data passed between the web server and the browsers remains private and integral. However, SSL and TLS layers impact the communications performance. During the handshake protocol the secure link is established between the client and the server with an asymmetric cipher to establish cipher settings and a shared key for a session are exchanged. This handshake is computationally intense however, and consumes a significant amount of a processor resources, especially for lightweight mobile devices and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.


A disposable cuvette is molded of rigid transparent plastic resin that is impervious to liquids to be handled within it. The cuvette has a rectangular cross section. Identical side walls extend between upper and lower ends of each cuvette, the upper end being open for reception of liquids and the lower end being closed. Recessed optical surface areas at the lower end are perpendicular to one another for optical testing of the cuvette contents. An elongated cartridge holds a stack of abutting cuvettes to facilitate their handling.

Automated analyzers have been developed for biochemical analysis of patient samples, such as whole blood, serum, urine, plasma and cerebral spinal fluid. Most such equipment available today is complicated to operate, large and high in cost.
The operation of such equipment is technically complicated. It typically requires specialized operators to be always available, with commensurate personnel expenses being encountered. It is usually designed for use by large laboratories serving a wide geographic area or by a large medical facility. These existing analyzers carry out tests in a defined sequence of operations designed for efficient, high volume usage.
Such large scale capacity is not always required, particularly in smaller medical clinics where large volumes of blood samples are not encountered on a daily basis. The present chemical analyzer was developed to meet the practical needs of smaller medical settings. It is designed as a desk-top unit that can be operated without specialized laboratory training. Its capacity is adequate for meeting typical clinical applications. As an example, it can produce a maximum of 164 test results per hour for routine, single reagent chemistries. To provide a representative wide number of reagents, the analyzer can handle forty reagent containers of two different sizes. Its capacity can be effectively doubled by using two of the chemistry instruments in tandem, both being controlled by a common workstation.
The compact nature of the analyzer can be partially attributed to the fact that a single probe arm and pipette service all of the functional liquid-handling components included within it. The common pipette is used for transferring samples and reagents, as well as for diluting liquids as needed by particular test requirements.
To obtain large volumes of tests, conventional laboratory analyzers are programmed to conduct test procedures in a fixed sequence of events. While predetermined test sequences are practical in high volume chemical analyzer applications, there is a need for more flexible operation when scaling such test procedures to meet the needs of smaller medical facilities.
The present invention provides testing flexibility by permitting random access to each cuvette on a test turntable and to each container (cups, wells and reagent bottles) on a sample/reagent tray. It is unnecessary for the instrument to sequence through any predetermined processing steps. The controlling software can tailor the required steps to the test currently requisitioned. This permits a greater number of tests to be conducted while using a minimum number of containers, cuvettes and reagent bottles. The software controls the sequencing of tests based upon predetermined priority schedules, rather than defined test sequences dictated by the nature of the tests being conducted.
Increased versatility is also provided in the present chemical analyzer by providing the capability of inserting pre-loaded reagents within cuvettes. The pre-loaded cuvettes are fed to a dispensing magazine that directs them to the turntable. Random access can be provided to a plurality of stacks of incoming cuvettes. Some can be preloaded and some can be empty. This provides the capability of random access to prepackaged chemistry involving powdered or solid reagents to supplement the liquid reagents available on the sample/reagent tray.
Disposable cuvettes are provided automatically within the analyzer by a cuvette dispenser. Reloading of the cuvettes into a dispensing magazine included in the chemistry instrument is physically organized to meet the supply needs of the instrument with minimum cuvette handling by the operator.
A reaction turntable can handle a maximum of 48 cuvettes at any given time. Both absorbance and fluorescence polarization tests can be carried out on samples within selected cuvettes through use of a single optical system.
Further details about the system will be clear from the following description.

Cuvette and cuvette cartridge for a chemical analyzer


A method for passively detecting the presence of radar signal emitters, in which an ESM unit receives radar signals with a number of antennas, each antenna covering a sector of the surrounding terrain. In order to conserve bandwidth, a technique is used, in which receiving channel is slit into a number of sub-bands. Each sub-band is converted to an IF channel. The individual IF channels are combined into a common IF channel in an adder. This process is repeated once more in order to bring the signals down to baseband, where they are digitized and processed to find the direction to and the identity of the emitter source. A number of ESM units are connected to a control center. In the control center the position of the radar emitter is determined by triangulation. In addition, the identity of the emitter is determined by comparison with known emitter signatures stored in a database.

Such systems include a receiver covering the pertinent radar frequencies. The receiver needs to cover a wide radar frequency band (typical 2-18 GHz) with 360° of angular coverage. At the same time, the system must perform thorough analysis of each received pulse in order to identify radar emitters. The system should be man-portable in field, and should be able to operate with battery power. Multiple systems should be able to find emitter position (both bearing and range).
Three main solutions are known:
Wide Bandwidth Crystal Receiver
A crystal receiver may be used to cover the entire bandwidth. This receiver detects the signal envelope, and coarse pulse parameters may be measured. At least four such receivers are needed to achieve an angular coverage of 360°.
The wide bandwidth crystal receiver is capable to perform coarse pulse analysis only. Important pulse parameters such as carrier frequency and frequency or phase modulation are lost. Thus emitter characterization is coarse at best. In a scenario with multiple emitters, the use of two or more ESM-receivers at different locations to position the target emitter may fail since emitters received in one receiver may be associated with a different emitter received in other receivers.
Parallel Receivers
Multiple receivers are used to cover the entire bandwidth. With current technology, approximately 20 parallel receivers may be used to divide the entire bandwidth into sub-GHz channels, which in turn may be processed with current digital processors. In order to cover 360°, at least 4 such receiver packs with the antennas pointing in different directions are needed to perform direction finding.
The parallel receiver solution performs high quality pulse measurement, and may therefore be used for emitter characterization. Determining emitter position may be performed when two or more receivers at different locations are used, since each pulse and each emitter may be identified. On the other hand, this solution requires massive parallelism in both radio hardware and processing hardware. The result is high weight and very high power consumption rendering this concept useless for man-portable operation.
Scanning Receivers
In order to perform detailed pulse analysis, a single narrowband receiver may be used for each antenna direction. The receiver is used to scan the entire frequency bandwidth sequentially. Detailed pulse analysis may be performed within the narrow instantaneous bandwidth.
The scanning receiver may be built as a compact unit with low power consumption, and may also provide detailed pulse measurement. The problem with this receiver configuration is the low probability of intercept due to low instantaneous bandwidth. Radars operating with single scan policy will most probably not be detected.

Method for detecting the presence of radar signal emitters, an electronic support measures unit and a system for determining the position and identity of said emitters


Communication systems in which a fixed size information block is transmitted to one or multiple receivers, such as the long term evolution (LTE) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Projection (3GPP), may benefit from a structure, in which a downlink control information (DCI) format, or more generally the fixed sized information block, can be extended by a small number of bits and still be backwards compatible with older terminals, which do not need the extra bits or may not even be aware of this extension. A method for providing this extension can include preparing a first codeword for transmission. The method can also include preparing a second codeword for transmission. The second codeword can have a code rate that is configured to be less than the code rate of the first codeword. The method can further include initiating simultaneous transmission of the first codeword and the second codeword.

1. Field
Communication systems in which a fixed size information block is transmitted to one or multiple receivers, such as the long term evolution (LTE) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Projection (3GPP), may benefit from a structure, in which a downlink control information (DCI) format, or more generally the fixed sized information block, can be extended by a small number of bits and still be backwards compatible with older terminals, which do not need the extra bits or may not even be aware of this extension.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the long term evolution (LTE) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Projection (3GPP) there are several downlink control information (DCI) formats available optimized for different transmission schemes. A new major feature in the system often requires a new DCI format even though only often a single (new) additional bit will be needed, as such. The standardization effort for a new DCI format is big, requiring extensive discussions in several meetings as well as considerations on the number of blind decodings needed, and is therefore typically not standardized unless deemed absolutely necessary. Moreover, different new DCI formats as such might be needed for different features and/or combination of features, increasing the total amount of possible DCI formats to specify, implement, and test for.
Relatively minor new features in wireless telecommunication systems are often handled with existing downlink control information (DCI) formats by reinterpreting bits, or by making some implicit assumptions regarding some other behaviors. The reuse of DCI formats for new features is limited, because the number of bits in DCI format is limited.
Conventionally, in systems like LTE, there is no structure, in which the DCI format, or more generally the fixed sized information block, can be extended by a small number of bits and still be backwards compatible with older terminals, which do not need the extra bits or may not even be aware of this extension.

Flexible extension of an information block


A is a process for removing water from an alkanesulfonic acid such as methanesulfonic acid or ethanesulfonic acid by mixing an azeotropic excess of a phenolic compound with water and the alkanesulfonic acid, then boiling off substantially all of the water, and leaving as a remnant substantially all the alkanesulfonic acid and some of the phenol. This process is particularly useful for recycling an alkanesulfonic acid for a reaction which requires the phenolic compound as one of the reagents. One such reaction is the alkanesulfonic acid catalyzed condensation reaction of a phenolic compound with an .alpha.haloketone to form a chlorinated intermediate of a dihydroxy-.alpha.-alkylstilbene such as 4,4'-dihydroxy-.alpha.-alkylstilbene (DHAMS).

This invention relates to a process for removing water from a non-volatile acid. More particularly, this invention relates to removing water from an alkanesulfonic acid.
Lower-alkanesulfonic acids, particularly methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and ethanesulfonic acid, have been found to be particularly useful reagents in the condensation reaction of phenol and chloroacetone to form 4,4'-dihydroxy-.alpha.-methylstilbene (DHAMS). Although MSA is more expensive than sulfuric acid, waste stream levels are substantially reduced when MSA is used; unlike sulfuric acid, the combination of phenol and MSA forms a homogeneous mixture below the temperature at which the condensation reaction is typically performed (about -15.degree. C.), thereby substantially reducing the requirement for waste-generating ancillary solvents. In view of the comparatively high cost of MSA, it would be desirable to find an economical means of dehydrating and recycling this reagent.
Methods for recovering acids are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,124,729 by Castner et al. discloses a reduced pressure, falling film evaporative method of removing water from water-containing acids. U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,388 by Mottern et al. discloses a flash distillation method for removing water from aqueous acids such as sulfuric acid and MSA. More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,047 by Malzahn and U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,846 by Constock et al. disclose reduced pressure, falling film evaporative methods for removing water from lower-alkanesulfonic acids.
It would be desirable to remove water from non-volatile acids, particularly MSA, under less rigorous conditions than those disclosed in the processes of the prior art. It would further be desirable to provide a method for the recovery and reuse of MSA in a process for preparing DHAMS.


A check valve having a reduced or zero pressure drop and more particularly such a valve in combination with a spray nozzle. The check valve includes a sealed gas chamber which has within it a closed-cell foam element which insures that some gas remains in the chamber even if the primary seal fails. The new valve/nozzle combination allows valve operating pressure to be set very close to nozzle operation pressure which allows the nozzle to achieve full spray more quickly at start-up and a more immediate cessation of flow at shut off.

In prior spraying applications, when nozzles have been used without a check valve, the result at start up has been that fluid at first drips or dribbles from the nozzle, and then flows in an increasing stream which develops into a spray as full pump pressure develops. Only then is the desired spray pattern achieved. At shut down, a similar sequence occurs except in reverse order. Thus, when the pump stops the spray pattern deteriorates into a small fluid stream which issues from the nozzle for a short period and that stream reverts to a dribble as the pressure approaches zero. The presence of such streams or dribbles is, at the very least, wasteful of the fluid intended to be sprayed and often objectionable or even dangerous. For example, in the operation of oil burners, when fuel enters the combustion chamber in anything other than the desired spray pattern, the fuel is difficult to ignite, incomplete combustion occurs after ignition, undesired combustion products are produced and fuel is wasted. Another example is in agricultural spraying operations where insecticides, herbicides, disinfectants and other chemicals are used for a variety of purposes. Here, in addition to wastefulness, other potential problems include skin or foliage burns, eye irritation or injury and dangerous accumulation of chemicals on surfaces.
More recently, a variety of efforts have been made to improve these start up and shut down shortcomings by the use of check valves in combination with spray nozzles. In a typical prior check valve significant pressure drop occurs as a valve opens because applied pressure on the back of the movable valve member partially cancels supply pressure on the front. There are several potential problems caused by the pressure drop through such a typical check valve. It is necessary to increase system pressure to compensate for reduced flow due to the pressure required to hold the valve open. Failure of a typical check valve could result in a higher than specified pressure and flow condition. Removal of a check valve from a system without a system pressure adjustment could also result in a higher than specified pressure and flow condition. The operating or opening pressure of the typical check valve in a nozzle is usually significantly lower than the nozzle operating pressure in order to minimize pump capacity or pressure requirements. This lower check valve pressure reduces the effectiveness of the valve in controlling complete spray formation at start up and complete flow stoppage at shut down. Thus, for example, it may be necessary to supply 135 psi of pump pressure to hold such a valve open and to maintain 100 psi in the spray nozzle of a domestic oil burner. Thus the pressure drop is 35 psi. In this instance, since fluid flow through the nozzle does not begin until the pressure reaches 35 psi, the time interval to reach full pressure and full spray is somewhat reduced as compared to a nozzle without a valve and the time that the nozzle produces a drip or drizzle or small stream or undeveloped spray pattern is also reduced to a degree. While these check valve/nozzle combinations have achieved some reduction in the time interval required to reach full pressure and full spray, there is still an objectionable time lapse from the beginning of flow to the development of a full spray pattern. Conversely, when the pump is turned off, there is a reduced but still significant time before flow ceases entirely. Thus, unless a much larger pump is used, the same problems as recited above with simple nozzles still exist in valve/nozzle combinations except to a lesser degree.


A three-wheeled stroller has a kickstand movable between a retracted position and a deployed position. When deployed, the kickstand has a pair of downwardly extending legs on either side of the front wheel to help prevent a tipping condition when an occupant enters or exits the stroller. Either a foot-operated actuator or a hand-operated actuator may be used to remotely operate the kickstand. In the case of a foot-operated actuator, stepping on a foot-operated brake bar can both operate the kickstand and immobilize one or more rear wheels to brake the stroller.

Three-wheel strollers, often referred to as "jogging strollers", have a triangular wheel arrangement including a single front wheel and two rear wheels. When viewed from either the front or rear, the front wheel is midway between the rear wheels. At the front of the stroller, the carriage narrows to a forward portion onto which an occupant may climb while entering the stroller. As illustrated in FIG. 1, if an occupant applies to the front frame cover 102 above the front wheel, a large downward force F that is off-center relative to the front wheel 104, a tipping moment may be created, causing the stroller to tip over, as depicted by the arrow 106. This tipping is exaggerated when the front wheel is rotated perpendicular to the centerline of the jogger.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,802 discloses a single wheel baby stroller having a manually operated kickstand.


A workpiece separating device for separating workpieces from support sheets includes a lifting unit and a positioning assembly supporting the support sheets with the workpieces adhered. The lifting unit includes a lifting cylinder and two pins raised and lowered by the lifting cylinder. The two pins are raised by the lifting cylinder to push the workpieces, thereby separating the workpieces from the support sheets in turn. A method for separating workpieces from support sheets using the present device is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to devices for separating workpieces (e.g., foam) from support materials.
2. Description of Related Art
Foam is widely used in the manufacturing of electronic devices. Before being assembled, foam is adhered on support materials, such as paper boards. During assembly, the foam having a relatively large size, can be effectively separated from the support materials using vacuum grip devices. However, it is difficult to separate the foam with small sizes, 4.8 mm×4.8 mm for example, from support materials using vacuum grip devices alone.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.


A porous immobilized ion-exchange material is provided. Also provided is an electrodeionization device incorporating the material. A method for subjecting a fluid to electrodeionization, is provided utilizing porous immobilized ion-exchange material. A salient feature of the material is that it can be regenerated in situ.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrodeionization and more particularly, the invention relates to an electrodeionization substrate and a device for treating fluids via electrodeionization.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior to their ultimate use, feed streams must often be pretreated to remove unwanted ionic contaminants. Typical clean-up processes include the use of ion-exchange resins and electrodialysis. In ion-exchange, after the targeted ions are removed from a feed solution, the ion-exchange resins are exhausted and have to be regenerated by acids, bases, or salts. Thus the process produces an equivalent or higher amount of waste salt stream from the regeneration process.
Electrodialysis is an electrically driven ion-exchange membrane based process where by using a stack of alternating cation, anion, or bipolar membranes, ions are re-moved from a feed solution and purified and concentrated in a product or concentrate solution. Since the transport of the ions are done by electric power, electrodialysis processes do not consume equivalent quantities of acids, bases, or salts and do not produce a salt waste stream. When the ion concentration in the feed stream is low, i.e. below 0.5 to 1%, electrodialysis processes become unattractive because the low ionic conductivity in the dilute feed stream leads to very low flux and high energy consumption.
Electrodeionization (EDI), also known as xe2x80x9celectrochemical ion-exchangexe2x80x9d, at is an advanced ion-exchange technology that combines the advantages of ion-exchange and electrodialysis. In electrodeionization processes, ion-exchange resins are sequestered in dilute feed compartments to increase the ionic conductivity, so that even with an ionically dilute feed, a stable operation with higher flux and lower energy consumption than electrodialysis, becomes possible. The electric power also splits the water (H2O) to H+ and OHxe2x88x92 ions and the resins are thus regenerated while the ions are removed.
EDI technology is increasingly being used to make deionized water for boiler feed and high purity industrial water applications. There are also many other potential uses of such technology for deionization of organic process streams in the food processing and chemical industries. These uses will not need the removal of ions to low parts per million or parts per billion levels as is required for high purity water production. However, these process streams will have multiple types of ions, other contaminants and potential foulants, and high concentrations of organics, which cannot be lost from the feedstream. Thus, the EDI devices for these applications must be easily dissembled for frequent cleaning. Also, process economics require that there is virtually no leakage between the product feed and the salt concentrate that is removed.
Many configurations and devices have been patented for electrodeionization. Almost all of them have cation and anion exchange membranes flanking loose ion-exchange resins or beads. In order to prevent the escape of these beads, a wide variety of and confining/sealing methods are employed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,451 a very complex configuration of a spacer element is described wherein the cation and anion membranes are bonded by special adhesives to the spacer element to form a pocket. The anion and cation exchange resin beads are confined within these complex pockets. A very complex assembly of the spacers and membrane resin pockets are then put together to reduce leakage between the dilute and the concentrate compartments.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,071 the membranes are compartmentalized via evenly spaced ribs to which the membranes are bonded with loose ion exchange resins filling these pockets. A complex assembly of these compartments are put together to prevent leakage between the dilute and the concentrate compartments.
Patents also exist (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,747,929 and 5,681,438) describing complex spacer construction configurations incorporating attached membranes and loose ion exchange resins interspersed between.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,924 describes a method for making a non-porous ion exchange membrane using an ion exchange resin, and binders such as polyethylene of linear low density or high density are described. These non-porous membranes are then described in an electrodeionization assembly with loose ion exchange resins in compartmentalized pockets that are similar to the previously described patents.
Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,467 describes an apparatus that creates an ion exchange material from mono-filaments of cation and anion exchange material by radiation grafting and this ion exchange material can then be assembled between ion exchange membranes to make an electrodeionization apparatus.
EDI devices typically are utilized as a final polishing step for already ultra-pure water. As such, fouling of the rather complex compartmentalization and flow channels of EDI systems is relatively rare. Indeed, such systems are usually sealed upon manufacture inasmuch as the need for disassembly to facilitate cleaning is nil. Most of the current configurations develop small leaks from the dilute/feed compartments to the concentrate compartments. Whereas this is not a significant economic penalty for the production of ultra-pure water, such leaks cannot be tolerated for use with organic feedstreams where such losses from the feed would be uneconomical.
In light of the foregoing, none of the current ED devices provide for having simple assembly and disassembly to facilitate cleaning and reuse. Also, none of the current EDI devices provide for virtually leak-free conditions between the feed compartment and the concentrate compartment. Such optimal characteristics are required for EDI devices used to treat process streams high in organic material content, such as corn syrups, glycerol and others.
Ion exchange beads that are commonly used for EDI applications consist of strongly acidic containing sulfonic acid groups, or strongly basic containing quatemary ammonium groups. Other resins such as those with weakly acidic (carboxylic acid) or weakly basic (amines) groups are also used when required. These beads are cross-linked polymers usually styrenexe2x80x94divinyl benzene or acrylates. The resins can be gel type or macro-reticular type. Usually equivalent mixtures of cationic and anionic resins are used in the EDI compartments. For specialized applications one type of resin or adsorbent beads mixed with ion-exchange resins may be used.
The complexity of the current EDI devices primarily come from the need to confine the loose ion exchange or other adsorbent beads between the membranes while keeping very close contact amongst these beads and between the beads and the membranes. In one case that gets away from the beads (previously cited U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,467) a complex radiation grafting process with mono-filament of ion-exchange material is disclosed.
A need exists in the art for a porous immobilized ion-exchange material. The material should be readily adaptable to current EDI stack configurations. Also, a need exists for an EDI device incorporating porous immobilized ion-exchange material whereby the device minimizes leakage of feed and also minimizes contamination of feed with any concentrate waste stream formed. The material and device should not have ion-exchange particle leakage even at high flow rates, and the material should be regenerable in situ. The material also should be produced with common substrates.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a porous ion-exchange material and a device incorporating the material which overcomes many of the disadvantages of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a porous but immobilized ion-exchange material. A feature of the invention is that standard ion-exchange particles are combined with a binder material to immobilize them while also maintaining the molecular characteristics (such as porosity and internal surface area) of the particles. An advantage of the invention is conferring a high degree of ionic conductivity between individual particles of the standard material while also allowing high throughput of the treated liquid stream.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an economical method for subjecting feed streams to electrodeionization. A feature of the invention is the utilization of a porous, immobilized ion-exchange material which provides ion-conductivities higher than the feed stream. An advantage of the invention is the ability for the material to regenerate in situ.
Briefly, the invention provides a porous immobilized ion-exchange material comprising ion-exchange resins having cation-exchange moieties and anion-exchange moieties; and a means for immobilizing the moieties relative to each other while conferring ion-conductivity and liquid permeability to the material.
Also provided is an electrodeionization device comprising a cation-exchange membrane; an anion-exchange membrane juxtaposed co-planarly to said cation exchange membrane; porous ion-exchange material positioned intermediate said cation-exchange membrane and said anion exchange membrane to form a compartment, whereby the material comprises anion-exchange entities and cation exchange entities immobilized relative to each other via a binder which comprises at least 20 weight percent of said material; and a means for applying an electrical potential to said compartment, wherein the entities are embedded in thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of low linear density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, and combinations thereof. In one example, binder is present in a weight ratio to the entities of 1:3.
The invention also provides for a method for subjecting a fluid to electrodeionization, the method comprising supplying a porous, ion-exchange material wherein the material comprises anion exchange entities and cation exchange entities immobilized relative to each other; applying an electrical potential across the material; contacting the fluid to the substrate so as to facilitate removal of ionic contaminants from the fluid; and simultaneous with the step containing the fluid to the substrate regenerating the resin, in situ.

Electrodeionization substrate, and device for electrodeionization treatment


Methods and systems for enabling components of a computer graphics rasterization pipeline to be arbitrarily ordered are described. Various embodiments can permit a programmer to specify the order that the individual components of the rasterization pipeline are to be employed to process pixel or texel data. Various embodiments can also allow the temporary result of previous stages to be used in later stages for blending.

Computer graphics systems typically utilize instructions, implemented via a graphics program on a computer system, to specify calculations and operations needed to produce two-dimensional or three-dimensional displays. Exemplary graphics systems that include APIs that are commercially available for rendering three-dimensional graphs include Direct3D, available from Microsoft Corporation, of Redmond, Wash., and OpenGL by Silicon Graphics, Inc., of Mountain View, Calif.
Computer graphics systems can be envisioned as a pipeline through which data pass, where the data are used to define an image that is to be produced and displayed. At various points along the pipeline, various calculations and operations that are specified by a graphics designer are used to operate upon and modify the data.
In the initial stages of the pipeline, the desired image is described by the application using geometric shapes such as lines and polygons, referred to in the art as "geometric primitives." The derivation of the vertices for an image and the manipulation of the vertices to provide animation entail performing numerous geometric calculations in order to eventually project the three-dimensional world being synthesized to a position in the two-dimensional world of the display screen.
Primitives are constructed out of "fragments." These fragments have attributes calculated, such as color and depth. In order to enhance the quality of the image, effects such as lighting, fog, and shading are added, and anti-aliasing and blending functions are used to give the image a more realistic appearance. The processes pertaining to per fragment calculation of colors, depth, texturing, lighting, etc., are collectively known as "rasterization".
The fragments and their associated attributes are stored in a frame buffer. Once rasterization of the entire frame has been completed, pixel color values can then be read from the frame buffer and used to draw images on the computer screen.
To assist in understanding a typical computer graphics system, consider FIG. 1 which illustrates, generally at 100, a system that can implement a computer graphics process. System 100 comprises a graphics front end 102, a geometry engine 104, a rasterization engine 106, and a frame buffer 108. System 100 can typically be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or combinations thereof, and is also referred to as a "rendering pipeline".
Graphics front end 102 comprises, in this example, an application, primitive data generation stage 102a and display list generation stage 102b. The graphics front end generates geographic primitive data consumed by the subsequent pipeline stage(s). Geographic primitive data is typically loaded from a computer system's memory and saved in a display list in the display list stage 102b. All geometric primitives are eventually described by vertices or points.
Geometry engine 104 comprises, in this example, high order surface (HOS) tessellation 104a, and per-vertex operations stage 104b. In stage 104a, primitive data is converted into simple rasterizer-supported primitives (typically triangles) that represent the surfaces that are to be graphically displayed. Some vertex data (for example, spatial coordinates) are transformed by four-by-four floating point matrices to project the spatial coordinates from a position in the three-dimensional world to a position on the display screen. In addition, certain other advanced features can also be performed by this stage. Texturing coordinates may be generated and transformed. Lighting calculations can be performed using the vertex, the surface normal, material properties, and other light information to produce a color value. Perspective division, which is used to make distant objects appear smaller than closer objects in the display, can also occur in per-vertex operations stage 104b.
Rasterization engine 106 is configured to perform so-called rasterization of the re-assembled rasterizer-supported primitives. It comprises the following stages: triangle/point assembly 106a, setup 106b, parametric evaluation 106c, depth and stencil operations stage 106d, per-fragment operations stage 106e, and the blend and raster operations (ROP) stage 106f.
Rasterization refers to the conversion of vertex data connected as rasterizer-supported primitives into "fragments." Each fragment corresponds to a single element (e.g., a "pixel" or "sub-pixel") in the graphics display, and typically includes data defining color, transparency, depth, and texture(s). Thus, for a single fragment, there are typically multiple pieces of data defining that fragment. To perform its functions, triangle/point assembly stage 106a fetches different vertex components, such as one or multiple texture component(s), a color component, a depth component, and an alpha blending component (which typically represents transparency).
Setup stage 106b converts the vertex data into parametric function coefficients that can then be evaluated on a fragment coordinate (either pixel or sub-pixel) by fragment coordinate basis. Parametric evaluation stage 106c evaluates the parametric functions for all the fragments which lie within the given rasterizable primitive, while conforming to rasterizable primitive inclusion rules and contained within the frame buffer extents.
Depth and stencil operations stage 106d perform depth operations on the projected fragment depth and application specified fragment stencil operations. These operations apply to both the comparison function on the depth and stencil values, how the depth and stencil values should be updated in the depth/stencil buffer and whether the fragment should terminate or continue processing. In the idealized rasterization pipeline these operations take place just before frame buffer write-back (after blend and ROP stage 106f), but commonly these operations are valid before the per-fragment operations stage 106e, which enables early termination of many fragments and corresponding performance optimizations/improvements.
Per-fragment operations stage 106e typically performs additional operations that may be enabled to enhance the detail or lighting effects of the fragments, such as texturing, bump mapping, per-fragment lighting, fogging, and other like operations. Near the end of the rasterization pipeline is the blend and raster operation (ROP) stage 106f, which implements blending for transparency effects and traditional 2D blit raster operations. After completion of these operations, the processing of the fragment is complete and it is typically written to frame buffer 110 and potentially to the depth/stencil buffer 108. Thus, there are typically multiple pieces of data defining each pixel.
Now consider FIG. 2 which is a further embellishment of certain component in rasterization engine 106 In this example, rasterization engine 106 comprises, among other elements, a texture component 200, a specular component 202, a fog component 204 and an alpha blending component 206, each of which is configured to process fragment or pixel data to achieve a desired effect.
Specifically, texture component 200 implements texturing techniques and processes the pixel data to effect how the surface of an object or image appears. This can be done, for example, by using a one- or a two-dimensional image to mathematically modify the pixel data to achieve a desired effect. Specular component 202 implements specular lighting techniques and processes the pixel data to incorporate specular lighting effects. Fog component 204 processes the pixel data and implements a rendering technique that is used to simulate atmospheric effects such as haze, fog, and smog by fading object colors to a background color based on distance from the viewer. Fog also aids in the perception of distance from the viewer, giving a depth cue. Alpha blending component 206 implements techniques that process the pixel data to affect the opacity or transparency of the ultimately rendered pixel.
Typically, with respect to components 200-206, there is a whole menu of operations that can be performed by each individual component, and the system can select from this menu of operations and process the pixel data accordingly.
In the past, graphics systems have provided individual components, such as components 200-206, in a graphics pipeline in a fixed static order, the effect of which is to define the order in which the pixel data is processed. That is, the order in which the pixel data is processed in these systems and by these components is fixed and typically does not vary. For example, assume that all of the components are enabled for a particular amount of pixel data that is to be processed. In accordance with these past systems, the pixel data would first processed by the texture component to have a texture applied. After application of the texture, the pixel data would processed by the specular component to have specular lighting effects applied. Next, the pixel data would be processed by the fog component to have fog effects applied. Lastly, the pixel data would be processed by the alpha blending component to have a transparency/opacity effect applied. As an aside, having the alpha blending component as the last component in the pipeline is also a convenient architecture design choice for designers who can then mitigate the effects of a read after write hazard. That is, typically the alpha blending component requires a read operation from the frame buffer. After the alpha component operates on the pixel data, it is then typically written back to the frame buffer. The longer the pipeline is between the read and the write operations, the more likely it is for a read after write hazard to occur.
Systems such as the one described above, that impose a fixed order on the individual components of a rasterization pipeline, can result in rendered objects that do not accurately or correctly appear as they might in real life. For example, in some instances, a more realistic rendered image might be presented to a user if the pixel data associated with an object were able to be processed by the alpha blending component, and then the texture component. Yet, current systems do not allow this to occur. Additionally, having this fixed order of components in the rasterization pipeline can adversely affect the efficiency with which multi-pass algorithms operate on the pixel data.
Accordingly, this invention arose out of concerns associated with providing improved graphics systems and methods.

Methods and systems for rendering computer graphics


The present invention provides a system and method for electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing. The system includes a circuit that has a switch coupled to an input/output (I/O) circuit of a device under test (DUT), a charge source coupled to the switch, and a control circuit coupled to the switch, wherein the control circuit turns on the switch to discharge an ESD current from the charge source to the I/O circuit, and wherein the circuit is integrated into the DUT. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the system provides on-chip ESD testing of a DUT without requiring expensive and specialized test equipment.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a well-known problem. ESD is a fast discharge of current that can damage semiconductor chips or devices. The degree of damage to a device by an ESD event is determined by the device's ability to dissipate the energy of the discharge or ability to withstand the current levels involved. Some devices may be more readily damaged by discharges occurring within automated equipment, while others may be more prone to damage from handling by personnel.
If ESD damage renders a device completely nonfunctional, the device is simply discarded. However, ESD damage may be mild enough such that the ESD damage results in intermittent failures. Intermittent failures are typically more problematic, because such damage may not become apparent until the device is already in the field. Also, the performance of a damaged device may be compromised before the device actually malfunctions. Hence, it is important to identify devices that are sensitive or susceptible to ESD and to determine their level of sensitivity.
Well-known test procedures, which are used to characterize, determine, and classify the sensitivity of components to ESD, are based on the three main models of ESD events: human body model (HBM), machine model (MM), and charged device model (CDM). HBM is one of the most common causes of ESD damage. HBM simulates a direct transfer of electrostatic charge through a significant series resistor from a human body or from a charged material to the device. For example, when one walks across a floor, an electrostatic charge accumulates on the body. Simple contact of a finger to the leads of a device allows the body to discharge, possibly causing damage to the device.
MM simulates a discharge similar to an HBM event but the electrostatic charge originates from a charged conductive object, such as a metallic tool or fixture. For example, a rapid discharge may originate from a charged board assembly or from the charged cables of an automatic tester.
CDM simulates a discharge from a charged device. For example, a device may become charged from sliding down the feeder in an automated assembler. The charge from the device may then get rapidly transferred to another conductor, during which the device may be damaged. While the duration of the discharge is very short (e.g. less than one nanosecond), the peak current can reach several tens of amperes.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional device under test (DUT) 50. The DUT 50 is coupled to a current source 52. The different types of ESD events require specific current levels, or ranges of current levels, for optimal ESD simulation and testing. For example, CDM ESD testing requires that the current source 52 be capable of sourcing a high current (e.g. 5 A) and sourcing the high current quickly (e.g. 1 ns).
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the conventional DUT 50 of FIG. 1 coupled to a conventional ESD tester 60. The ESD tester 60 includes a voltage source 62, a transmission line 64, and a switch 66. In operation, the voltage source 62 provides charge to the transmission line 64, which uses storage of resonant energy to generate a high current. When the switch 66 turns on, an ESD current (i.e. an electrostatic discharge) is transferred from the transmission line 64 to the DUT 50.
The combination of the voltage source 62, the transmission line 64, and the switch 66 may also be referred to as a transmission line pulser.
A problem with conventional ESD testers is that they require specialized test equipment comprising a high-voltage power source and resonant energy storage elements. Conventional ESD testers are also very expensive (e.g. $200 K to $1 M, or more).
Furthermore, comprehensive ESD testing of all the pins individually on a chip is impractical, because the ESD test and functional test require separate and specialized equipment. For example, a DUT first undergoes ESD testing on an ESD tester. If the DUT passes ESD testing, the DUT is then functionally tested on a functional tester. As a result, the testing conditions do not correlate well with actual (i.e. non-simulated) ESD events.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved system and method for ESD testing. The present invention addresses such a need.