X-ray portal imaging detectors have multiple layers, such as multiple layers of phosphor screens and/or detectors. Some x-rays that pass through one layer are detected or converted into light energies in a different layer. For example, one phosphor screen is provided in front and another behind that panel detector circuitry. Light generated in each of the phosphor screens is detected by the same detector circuitry. As another example, multiple layers of phosphor screens and associated detector circuits are provided. Some x-rays passing through one layer may be detected in a different layer. High energy x-rays associated with Megavoltage sources as well as lower or higher energy x-rays may be detected.

The present invention relates to x-ray imaging. In particular, x-rays for diagnosis or therapy are detected.
Image guided radiation therapy uses portal imaging. The treatment x-rays create a portal image. Typical therapeutic x-rays are high energy, such as generated by a 6-25 Megavoltage source. Such high energy x-rays are not optimum for imaging. The high energy photons have a high rate of penetration. The high rate of penetration reduces the number of photons detected. Due to the poor quantum efficiency, a low signal or contrast to noise ratio is provided.
Flat panel detectors are typically used in portal imaging. High energy x-ray photons interact with a phosphor screen to generate photons and energies visible to the detector, such as visible light. Flat panel detectors detect the converted energies. To increase detection efficiency, a build-up plate of copper or other material is usually placed between the source of the x-rays and the phosphor screen. The build-up plate converts some of the x-ray photons into secondary electrons. The secondary electrons interact with the phosphor screen to generate additional light. Even with a build-up plate, a high percentage (e.g. about 99%) of the high energy x-ray photons pass through the flat panel detector without being detected. A greater efficiency is provided by increasing the thickness of the phosphor screen. A thicker phosphor screen provides more opportunity for the high energy x-rays to interact with the phosphor screen to generate additional light photons. However, a thicker phosphor screen reduces the spatial frequency response. Interactions spaced further away from the detection circuitry in the phosphor screen are mere widely disbursed, reducing the modulation transfer function.

Multi-layer detector and method for imaging


A lightweight, weatherproof, protective enclosure for flat panel displays comprising a containing element in the form of an open, shallow rectangular prism with a regular network of shallow reinforcing depressions formed in its outer surface and a substantially transparent planar viewing element hingedly connected to the containing element such that when the viewing element is closed over, and sealed to, the containing element the protective enclosure forms a lightweight, monocoque structure with enhanced structural rigidity.

Flat panel displays, including flat panel televisions, computer displays, and displays used for digital signage have become far less expensive in recent years leading to the deployment of such devices in a multitude of unconventional physical locations, including exterior locations where they are exposed to the elements. For example, it is not unusual for flat panel televisions be deployed in residential applications in the backyard near the family grill or overlooking the pool.
Unsurprisingly, products have been constructed to enclose these devices and shield them from the elements. Unfortunately, most have the same shortcomings, to wit: 1) They are made primarily of metal, metal and plastic, or even wood; and, 2) They are heavy, thus requiring that that they be mounted directly to a wall or other structure capable of bearing their weight and thus prohibiting their use with the standard ceiling and wall mounting systems commonly used to mount flat-panel displays today; and, 3) Because of the weight and complexity they are expensive.
To address these shortcomings, products constructed of lightweight plastic material have been developed. While such enclosures may be suitable for small flat-panel displays, when "scaled" to enclose the larger flat-panel displays now commonly available, such simple enclosures do not possess sufficient structural rigidity to adequately protect the flat-panel display. The principal difficulty arises because the use of readily available prefabricated light plastic material results in a relatively flimsy enclosure that deforms and warps easily, thus compromising the weatherproof nature of the enclosure. Moreover, because one large side of the enclosure must be constructed of some transparent material, such as polycarbonate, any warping of the enclosure also affects the optical clarity of the polycarbonate, thus distorting the image generated by the enclosed display. By using thicker, heavier plastic, such devices can be made with increased structural rigidity, but consequently such devices are heavier and more expensive to manufacture and mount.
Numerous alternative approaches have been disclosed. For example, products have been constructed that seek to increase the structural rigidity of the case by completely encasing the flat-panel display in a semi-permanently sealed box made of interlocking polycarbonate or plastic panels or the like. Such a device is disclosed by U.S. App. 2012/0120625. While certainly rigid, these devices are by no means lightweight. Other inventions disclose other types of semi-permanently sealed devices. Specifically, U.S. App. 2012/0039042 and U.S. App. 2012/0092818 both disclose devices in which the viewing element is adhesively sealed to the containing element and the flat-panel display is sealed within. While the inventions disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 8,081,267 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,102,483 do not permanently seal the device within, they offer no easy means of ingress for maintenance or adjustment of the enclosed flat-panel display. These sealed devices are thus unsuitable for ordinary consumer and home use. To provide an improved means for ingress and access, U.S. App. 2009/0231807 discloses a device that has a flip-up front panel for accessing the flat-panel display within. Unfortunately, this device is constructed of a multitude of parts and is quite heavy thus making it impractical if not mounted directly to a wall. Today, flat-panel displays are mounted in a wide variety of locations, both directly attached to walls and "free-standing" hanging from ceiling mounts and wall mounts. Finally, all of the above inventions contain numerous constituent parts and are costly to manufacture.
Accordingly, one goal of the present invention is to provide a device to enclose and protect a flat-panel display that is both simple to manufacture, inexpensive, and lightweight and yet rigidly constructed such that it does not easily warp or deform. A second goal of the present invention is to provide a hinged transparent viewing panel thus providing a convenient means of accessing the interior of the enclosure to mount, adjust, and maintain the flat panel display mounted within. A third goal of the present invention is to ensure that the requisite transparent viewing pane remains planar and that the requisite elastomeric seal between the transparent viewing panel and the body of the device is continuously and evenly compressed between the viewing pane and the body of the device thus ensuring that the enclosed flat-panel display is completely protected from the elements.

All-weather enclosure for flat panel displays


A method of making a stacked die package (39) includes placing a first flip chip die (16) on a base carrier (12) and electrically connecting the first flip chip die (16) to the base carrier (12). A second flip chip die (18) is attached back-to-back to the first flip chip die (16) and electrically connected to the base carrier (12) with a plurality of insulated wires (20). A mold compound (36) is formed over the first and second dice and one surface of the base carrier.

The present invention relates to the packaging of integrated circuits (ICs) and more particularly to a method of making a stacked die package.
Stacked die packages are characterised by having two or more dice stacked within a single package. The stacking of two or more dice within a single package increases the functional integration of the package, without increasing its footprint. At present, dice in a stacked die package are typically either wirebond dice alone, or a combination of wirebond dice and a flip chip die. Most known methods of forming stacked flip chip packages are complicated and costly. Another drawback of existing methods is inflexibility in the sequence in which the dice are stacked. For example, some methods require dice of varying sizes be stacked from the largest at the bottom to the smallest on the top.
However, because of the advantages associated with the use of flip chip interconnections, semiconductor device manufacturers are currently developing methods of stacking multiple flip chip dice in a single package. It would be desirable to have a simple and inexpensive method of making a stacked package formed with only flip chip dice.


A method is provided for queuing packets. A packet may be received and its flow identified. It may then be determined whether a flow queue has been assigned to the identified flow. The identified flow may be dynamically assigning to an available flow queue when it is determined that a flow queue has not been assigned to the identified flow. The packet may be enqueued into the available flow queue.

A. Field of the Invention
Concepts described herein relate generally to network traffic flow, and more particularly, to per-flow queuing of network traffic to support enhanced quality of service requirements.
B. Description of Related Art
In an increasingly networked world, more and more traffic, such as data, voice, and video, is transmitted over public and proprietary networks. When routing traffic through the network, it is desirable to be able to assign different types of traffic different priorities as the traffic traverses the network. Some applications require stringent limits on end-to-end traffic delay while other applications require minimal bandwidth guarantees. For example, because streaming video and voice data, when it is delayed, can result in a noticeable degradation in quality to the end-user, it may be desirable to assign this type of traffic a higher priority than other traffic.
In Internet Protocol (IP) packet-based networks, each packet may include a header section, a portion of which may be used to indicate the traffic class or "flow" to which the packet is assigned. A router at the edge of a network may set the flow for a packet. Routers in the core of the network may identify a flow to which traffic belongs and handle the flow accordingly. More specifically, a router may allocate network resources (such as bandwidth) to certain flows within the router based on predetermined bandwidth allocation policies. Typically, within the router, packets of different flow queues that are routed to the same output port share the link resources of the output port. When the incoming traffic data rate exceeds the output port link capacity, the packets may be buffered and the bandwidth allocation policies applied.
One known set of techniques for allocating bandwidth are flow-based scheduling techniques, such as the so-called Flow-Based Fair Queuing (FBFQ) technique that ensures delay and/or bandwidth guarantees for particular flows. In these techniques, a flow associated with each received packet is used to determine how often the traffic belonging to the flow should be served based on certain pre-defined rules.
One problem with known flow-based bandwidth allocation techniques is that they are insufficiently scalable because of high memory space requirement. Conventional network devices that support flow-based quality of service (QoS) today typically set a ceiling for the number of flow queues that may be supported in the system. Once this ceiling has been reached, the system cannot handle any additional flows. A flow queue is released when the system ensures that the flow is terminated or is no longer active.
There is a need in the art to implement more flexible flow-based bandwidth allocation techniques that support an increased number of flows.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions and methods include expression cassettes and transformed plants and provide for downregulation of cytokinin oxidase in a plant.

Expression of heterologous DNA sequences in a plant host is dependent upon the presence of an operably-linked promoter that is functional within the plant host. Choice of the promoter sequence will determine when and where within the plant the heterologous DNA sequence is expressed. Where continuous expression is desired throughout the cells of a plant, constitutive promoters are utilized. In contrast, where gene expression in response to a stimulus is desired, inducible promoters are the regulatory elements of choice. Where expression in specific tissues or organs is desired, tissue-preferred promoters are used. That is, these promoters can drive expression in specific tissues or organs. Additional regulatory sequences upstream and/or downstream from the core promoter sequence can be included in expression cassettes of transformation vectors to bring about varying levels of expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a transgenic plant. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,018.
Regulatory sequences may also be useful in controlling temporal and/or spatial expression of endogenous DNA. For example, specialized tissues are involved in fertilization and seed development. Identification of promoters which are active in these seed tissues is of interest.
In grain crops of agronomic importance, seed formation is the ultimate goal of plant development. Seeds are harvested for use in food, feed, and industrial products. The quantities and proportions of protein, oil, and starch components in those seeds determine their utility and value.
The timing of seed development is critical. Environmental conditions at any point prior to fertilization through seed maturation may affect the quality and quantity of seed produced. In particular, the first 10 to 12 days after pollination (the lag phase) are critical in maize seed development. Several developmental events during the lag phase are important determinants of the fate of subsequent seed growth and development. (Cheikh, N. et al., Plant Physiology 106:45-51 (1994)) Therefore, a means to influence plant development, particularly in response to stress during this phase of growth, is of interest. Identification of a promoter sequence active in tissues of developing seeds exposed to abiotic stresses would be useful.
Specialized plant tissues are central to seed development. Following fertilization, developing seeds become sinks for carbon translocated via the phloem from sites of photosynthesis. However, developing cereal seeds have no direct vascular connections with the plant; instead, a short-distance transport mechanism operates to move the assimilates from the vascular tissues to the endosperm and embryo. For example, in maize, photosynthate enters the seed via the pedicel; in wheat, via the nucellar projection and the aleurone layer. It is possible that this short-distance assimilate pathway between the phloem and the endosperm can operate to regulate the rate of sucrose transport into the grain. (Bewley, J. D., and M. Black. Seeds: Physiology of Development and Germination. N.Y., Plenum Press, 1985. pp. 38-39) Therefore, a promoter active in gene expression within these specialized tissues, such as the pedicel, may have significant effects on grain development.
During rapid seed growth, sucrose is unloaded passively from the phloem into the apoplast of the pedicel parenchyma and inverted to hexose sugars by a cell-wall-bound acid invertase. The hydrolysis of sucrose in the apoplast maintains a favorable gradient for continued unloading from the phloem and provides hexoses that are taken up by the basal endosperm cells. It has been shown that seeds induced to abort, in vitro, have only low levels of invertase activity in the pedicel. (Hanft, J. M. et al. (1986) Plant Physiol. 81:503-510)
Water stress to the plant around anthesis often results in seed abortion or restricted development. Studies suggest that sucrose continues to unload from the phloem at low ovary water potential, but it accumulates in the symplasm and apoplasm of the pedicel because of low invertase activity. (Zinselmeier, C., et al., (1995) Plant Physiol. 107:385-391) This conclusion is supported by the findings of Miller and Chourey (Plant Cell 4: 297-305 (1992)), who showed that developmental failure of miniature-1 seeds of maize was linked to lack of invertase activity in the pedicel tissue during the early stages of seed development.
Other specialized plant tissues are also closely involved in the critical processes of fertilization and seed development. For example, in maize, the carpels, which make up the ovary wall, become the pericarp, a tough, protective outer seed covering. The scutellum, along with the endosperm, is involved in translocation of assimilates to the developing embryo. The aleurone, the surface layer of endosperm cells, develops to serve as a source of enzymes necessary in germination. (Kiesselbach, T. A. The Structure and Reproduction of Corn. N.Y., Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1999)
To achieve yield stability in high-density plantings, under drought conditions, or in other adverse environments, modification of carbohydrate metabolism during early ear and kernel development may be desirable. Effective control of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism is dependent on identification and use of a promoter with high levels of tissue and temporal specificity. Specifically desired expression targets include pedicel, pericarp, and nucellus tissue during a period 14 days before pollination to 14 days after pollination.
In light of the important contributions of these specialized seed tissues to proper grain development, identification of a promoter sequence affecting gene expression in these tissues would be useful. Further, it would be desirable to identify a promoter sequence active in these specific tissues at appropriate, critical times. Even more desirable would be the identification of a promoter sequence active in these specific tissues at appropriate, critical times, which is not negatively affected by environmental stress to the plant.
The maize Glb1 gene encodes globulin-1, a major embryo storage protein. (Kriz, A. L., et al. (1986) Plant Physiol. 82:1069-1075) Glb1 is expressed in the developing maize seed during embryo development. (Belanger, F. C., et al. (1989) Plant Physiol. 91:636-643) The promoter region of Glb1 has been identified, cloned, and introduced into tobacco plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. (Liu, S., et al. (1996) Plant Cell Reports 16:158-162) The transformed plants demonstrate that the Glb1 promoter has desirable temporal and tissue specificity. However, the Glb1 promoter is positively regulated by abscisic acid (ABA). (Kriz, A. L., et al. (1990) Plant Physiol. 92:538-542; Paiva, R., et al., (1994) Planta 192:332-339) Levels of the plant hormone ABA are known to fluctuate under conditions of cold or desiccation. (Himmelbach, A., et al. (1998) Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 353:1439-1444) Thus, the activity of the Glb1 promoter can be differentially affected by environmental stress.
A maize cytokinin oxidase gene has been isolated and sequenced (GenBank entry AF044603). Cytokinin oxidase inactivates cytokinins, members of a class of plant hormones important in the control of cell division and in regulation of plant growth and structure. Elevated cytokinin levels are associated with the development of seeds in higher plants; exogenous cytokinin application has been shown to directly correlate with increased kernel yield in maize. Thus, control of the level of cytokinin oxidase has been suggested as a tool in improving grain yield. Manipulation of cytokinin oxidase activity has also been proposed as a means to achieve greater disease resistance or other improved plant characteristics. (See WO 99/06571, herein incorporated by reference.)
However, a novel and heretofore undescribed utility of the isolated cytokinin oxidase gene is as a source of a promoter sequence with spatial and temporal specificity and which may be induced by cytokinins. A full-length promoter sequence of the isolated maize cytokinin oxidase gene, and functional fragments and variants thereof, and the use of such sequences with heterologous nucleotide sequences of interest, are described in the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the notation "ckx1-2" in reference to the subject promoter includes SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, and any functional fragments or variants thereof.


A spinal cross-connector comprises an elongated member, a first connector and a second connector. The first connector and the second connector are configured to receive spinal rods and adaptable to directly attach with pedicle screws. The first connector includes a first collet head, a first clamp and a first locking means. The second connector includes a second collet head, a second clamp and a second locking mans. The first locking means is configured to tighten over a first collet head and engage with the first connector. Similarly, the second locking means is configured to tighten over a second collet head and engage with the second connector. The engagement of the first locking means with the first connector and the second locking means with the second connector locks the spinal cross-connector.

Various spinal fixation devices have been developed in the art. The spinal fixation rods are spinal fixation devices configured to fix adjacent vertebrae of a spine relative to each other. The spinal fixation rods are used in orthopedic surgeries to repair spinal abnormalities. The spinal rods are configured to attach with the vertebrae using anchoring devices like pedicle screws, bolts and hooks. Patients experience extreme and debilitating pain because of spinal column disorders like, spondylolisthesis and scoliosis. A treatment technique called spinal fixation effectively treats these disorders utilizing spinal fixation rods that mechanically immobilize areas of the spine causing the eventual fusion of the treated vertebrae.
After prolonged use, the spinal fixation rods may twist and may cause the rods to bend. To resist the twisting movements, a number of spinal cross-connectors are inserted between the spinal fixation rods. However, existing cross-connectors suffer from a number of limitations. For example, conventional cross-connectors require extra coupling devices for support. Theses coupling devices cause stress to the cross-connectors that will cause fixation devices to bend.


An acousto-optical baby toy includes a cantilever control unit, an acousto-optical unit connected with the cantilever control unit, and a support unit connected with the cantilever control unit. The acousto-optical baby toy further comprises a remote controller connected with the circuit board of the cantilever control unit in a wireless manner. Thus, the acousto-optical baby toy presents the sound and image messages of the baby cot in a wireless manner so that the parents can operate the acousto-optical baby toy in a remote control manner to watch the instant condition of the baby placed in the baby cot. In addition, the acousto-optical baby toy indicates the environmental messages, functions as a night lamp, has an interactive acousto-optical effect and provides a vibrating function, thereby facilitating the parents taking care of the baby in the baby cot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a baby toy for a baby cot and, more particularly, to an acousto-optical baby toy with a remote control monitoring function.
2. Description of the Related Art
A baby cot or playpen is used to place a baby so that the baby can stay or play in the baby cot or playpen safely. A conventional motorized rocking baby bed is started automatically in an acoustically controlled manner to provide an amusement effect to the baby. However, the conventional motorized baby bed is operated by acoustic messages and does not have a remote control monitoring function, so that when the parents leave the baby bed, they cannot exactly watch and understand the instant condition of the baby placed in the baby bed in a remote control monitoring manner, thereby causing inconvenience to the parents when taking care of the baby.

Acousto-optical baby toy with a remote control monitoring function


Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a material property transition within a wellbore. In some embodiments, a method includes determining a material transition profile for each of a plurality of test points within a linear measurement path including, for each test point, determining an acoustic response for a first location within the linear measurement path, and determining an acoustic response for a second location within the linear measurement path. The test point is between the first and second locations. The method further includes generating a material transition profile for the test point based, at least in part, on a difference between the acoustic response at the first location and the acoustic response at the second location.

The disclosure generally relates to downhole acoustic measurements and to systems and method for applying comparative acoustic response processing to determine material properties including material discontinuities such as may be caused by channels within wellbore cement layers.
Well development, completion, and termination operations often include evaluating wellbore structural features such as the annular cement sheath between a borehole wall and a metallic wellbore casing. Evaluation of the cement sheath in terms of bonding within the borehole and the casing may be helpful in determining quality of well zonal isolation that is important to ensure sufficient downhole pressure seals to prevent leakage of formation fluids from downhole to surface or into adjacent formations. Wellbore structural evaluation may be performed following cementing and/or during the production life of a well and/or before and in preparation for plug and abandonment. For example, cement bond logging (CBL) is a technique in which an acoustic measurement tool, such as an ultrasonic measurement tool, is utilized to collect acoustic measurement data that may be interpreted to determine bonding particularly between the casing and cement. The cement bond quality is frequently compromised by the presence of void channels within the cement layer. Such channels may percolate through long axial distances along a wellbore changing azimuthal orientation at different axial positions.
Following cementing of a new well and prior to production, an acoustic measurement tool may be deployed such as via wireline into a cased and cemented borehole prior. Such acoustic measurement tools and techniques are relatively effective prior to deployment or otherwise in the absence of additional tubing such as production tubing that diminish acoustic signal transmission. However, withdrawing downhole tubing from a cased borehole to perform acoustic testing is a large scale and expensive procedure.
A completed wellbore typically includes two or more concentrically layered metallic tubulars such as the outer casing and additional inner casings and production strings. The multiple concentric layers present substantial complexity in obtaining sufficiently precise and accurate final results from processing acoustic signatures that incorporate multivariate factors such as annular thickness and uniformity, material variations, and acoustic signal source variation.

Through tubing acoustic measurements to determine material discontinuities


The present invention provides novel bicyclic lactams derivatives, and analogues thereof, of Formula (I):

Thromboembolic diseases remain the leading cause of death in developed countries despite the availability of anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin®), heparin, low molecular weight heparins (LMWH), and synthetic pentasaccharides and antiplatelet agents such as aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix®). The oral anticoagulant warfarin, inhibits the post-translational maturation of coagulation factors VII, IX, X and prothrombin, and has proven effective in both venous and arterial thrombosis. However, its usage is limited due to its narrow therapeutic index, slow onset of therapeutic effect, numerous dietary and drug interactions, and a need for monitoring and dose adjustment. Thus discovering and developing safe and efficacious oral anticoagulants for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of thromboembolic disorders has become increasingly important.
One approach is to inhibit thrombin generation by targeting the inhibition of coagulation factor VIIa (FVIIa). Factor VII is a plasma serine protease involved in the initiation of the coagulation cascade. It is present in human blood at a concentration of approximately 500 ng/mL, with about 1% of the total amount in the proteolytically active form factor VIIa (Morrissey, J. H. et al. Blood 1993, 81, 734-744). Factor VIIa binds with high affinity to its cofactor, tissue factor, in the presence of calcium ions to form a complex with enhanced proteolytic activity (Carson, S. D. and Brozna, J. P. Blood Coag. Fibrinol. 1993, 4, 281-292). Tissue factor is normally expressed in cells surrounding the vasculature, and is exposed to factor VIIa in blood by vessel injury or atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Once formed, the tissue factor/factor VIIa complex initiates blood coagulation by proteolytic cleavage of factor X to factor Xa, factor IX to factor IXa and autoactivation of additional factor VII to VIIa. Factor Xa, generated either directly by tissue factor/factor VIIa or indirectly through action of factor IXa, catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. Thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin, which polymerizes to form the structural framework of a blood clot, and activates platelets, which are a key cellular component of coagulation (Hoffman, M. Blood Reviews 2003, 17, S1-S5). In addition, there is evidence that tissue factor is present in blood, likely in an encrypted, form that is de-encrypted during clot formation. (Giesen, P. L. A. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 1999, 96, 2311-2315; Himber, J. et al. J. Thromb. Haemost. 2003, 7, 889-895). The tissue factor/factor VIIa complex derived from blood borne tissue factor may play an important role in propagation of the coagulation cascade (clot growth) and in thrombus formation in the absence of vessel wall injury (i.e., stasis induced deep vein thrombosis or sepsis). The source of blood borne tissue factor is an area of active research (Morrissey, J. H. J. Thromb. Haemost. 2003, 1, 878-880). Therefore, factor VIIa plays a key role in propagating this amplification loop and is thus an attractive target for antithrombotic therapy.

Bicyclic lactam factor VIIa inhibitors useful as anticoagulants

Abstract: or a stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof, wherein the variables A, B, C, W, Y, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, R8, and R9 are as defined herein. These compounds are selective inhibitors of factor VIIa which can be used as medicaments.


The present invention is directed to an optical fiber (12,14) connector (10) comprising a longitudinally extending body (16), said body (16) comprising a first end (18) and a second end (20), and said body having a conduit (22) extending from said first end (18) to said second end (20), and said body (16) comprising a plurality of finger projections (24,26) that extend longitudinally at each end of said first (18) and second ends (20), the connector assembly (10) including a first collar circumferentially coupled to said first end (18) of said connector (10) and a second collar (36) circumferentially coupled to said second end (20) of said connector (10), the connector assembly (10) comprises a connector housing of four portions (38), which, when assembled, define a connector chamber for receiving and retaining a connector (10) as aforesaid.

In the field of photonics, optical fibers are used for the transmission of optical signals as well as for the linking of optical switches, waveguide grating devices, optical amplifiers, modules and the like. Optical transmission systems relying on photonics have been taking on greater importance, as optical signals are capable of carrying far larger amounts of information as compared to typical copper wire communication systems. For example, with the technology of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and Demultiplexing it is possible to transmit multiple wavelengths in a single fiber, providing data capacities of 40 Gigabits per second and greater.
Optical networks which require DWDM equipment and other such devices demand multiple amounts of splicers and connectors. Splicing and connecting play a significant role in network cost and performance. Although mechanical splicing of optical fibers may be sufficient where there is no requirement for frequent connection and disconnection, connectors will be used in applications where flexibility for routing or reconfiguration is necessary or for connection of an end use device, such as a computer or other electronic device to a fiber or to other such devices. Current technologies for connectors or for splicing are time consuming and expensive, since they are difficult to miniaturize and to manipulate.
As poor connection between the ends of two optical fibers will lead to signal distortion and loss of strength, a number of approaches have been proposed for proper optical fiber connection which will provide a good signal conduction. One such approach is set out in our U.S. patent application No. 60/358,392, filed Feb. 22, 2002, titled "A Connector for Optic Fibers". This application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In our aforesaid application, we propose a connector for connecting the ends of two optical fibers by abutment, wherein the connector is divided into a plurality of fingers that extend longitudinally at each end and a fiber conduit extending from the first end to the second end. Such a connector is manufactured of a shape memory material such as polymer or a metal alloy. In general, such materials when deformed from a rest condition by any suitable means, such as by the application of heat, will then be biased to return to a rest condition when the cause of deformation is removed. As set out in our aforementioned application, an example of such a material is any material that deforms within its elastic limit under mechanical deformation. Another example would be any material that expands suitably due to a temperature increase, and then returns to its initial rest condition when the temperature is reduced to the initial temperature
An example of such an above material would be a shape memory alloy (SMA). Examples concerning activation of the shape memory element in a SMA include D. E. Muntges et. al., Proceedings of SPIE volume 4327 (2001), pages 193-200 and Byong-Ho Park et. al., Proceedings of SPIE volume 4327 (2001), pages 79-87. Miniaturized components, of SMA may be manufactured by laser radiation processing. See for example H. Haferkamp et. al., Laser Zentrum Hannover e.v., Hannover, Germany. All of the above references are incorporated herein by reference.
To connect the ends of two optical fibers using our connector, the connector must be first deformed in any, suitable way, such as by heat or the application of a compressive force along its longitudinal access. For example, the connector may be heated to a sufficient temperature so that the conduit through the connector for passage of the optical fiber ends is enlarged, sufficiently to permit passage of the ends of the optical fibers. In this condition, the ends of the optical fibers are inserted into the conduit. An optical gel may also be applied, which would be substantially of the same index of refraction as the optical fibers to assure uniform optical properties across the connection between the fibers.
Once the optical fibers ends are fully inserted into the connector, and the respective ends abut, the connector may then be cooled and allowed to return to an initial size. On cooling, the connector will then tend to exert a controlled compressive force on the optic fibers strong enough to retain the optic fibers in an abutment position but small enough not to damage the optic fibers by compression.
SMA technology is particularly suited to optical fiber connection, as it offers mechanical precision in the order of +/−0.01 micron, which is 400 times more precise than current connector technology.
Use of such an optical fiber connector as described above is however not totally satisfactory as during the step of cooling the connector to allow it to return to its rest condition, there may be a tendency for the connector to push the ends of the optical fibers apart slightly. This makes it necessary during the operation of connecting optical fiber ends to include an additional step of restraining the optical fibers in a fixed position during the step where the connector returns to its original size, to prevent the optic fibers from being moved apart on the cooling of the connector. Accordingly, some form of fixed clamping is required, of the sheath that typically covers and protects an optical fiber or bundle of such fibers to prevent axial movement of the optic fibers being connected.
Such a step is cumbersome to the easy and quick connection of optical fibers using an aforesaid connector. This typically requires the use of certain operational skill by a technician that is carrying out the operation and is a hindrance to the quick and easy connection of optical fibers, to be used in any context where fibers are to be connected, including and in particular, in the context of a "last mile" connection where incoming fibers from an optical network are to be connected to an end use device, such as in a home, office, workplace and like environment.
An example of a detachable/demountable connector for coupling optical fibers is described in EP 373 340 to Rott et al. In order to connect the fibers, the end portion of each fiber is fitted into a connector element that has a bush that encloses three short rods of circular cross section. The connector element is also comprised of a cage and a clamp. These rods form a centralizing device for the end of the wave-guide. Each half of the coupling has an outer bush that receives the inner bush of each connector element. The coupling aligns the fibers with one another. Furthermore, the transition from the "connection stage" to the "connected stage" is achieved by axial interlocking. However, this connector is cumbersome and difficult to use and does not allow for easy connection of optical fibers being connected since it comprises multiple pieces, such as a bush, a cage and a clamp.
Accordingly, although a SMA connector as described in our U.S. patent application No. 60/358,392 provides an improved means for connecting optical fibers, there is a continuing need for an optical fiber connector assembly that is simple and quick to install and use, and to maintain good signal conduction between optical fibers, and to be used in any context where fibers of an optical network are to be connected, including, and in particular for a connection to be made and provided at the end use location.


The present invention separates MTF into a plus frequency region and a minus frequency region and uses the plus frequency region and the minus frequency region to thereby enable an effectively usable frequency region to be doubled in effect. Digital information to be recorded on an optical disk medium is recorded as independent signals of, respectively, a light beam reflected or diffracted forward and a light beam reflected or diffracted backward with respect to a direction of traveling of a track on the optical disk medium. At the time of producing an optical disk medium, digital information is divided into two pieces, a complex modulating signal is generated by changing a plus frequency component and a minus frequency component according to the pieces of the divided digital information, and a laser beam is modulated on the basis of the complex modulating signal. At the time of reproducing the optical disk medium, part of the digital information is decoded from a light beam reflected or diffracted forward with respect to a direction of traveling of a track, and another part of the digital information is decoded from a light beam reflected or diffracted backward.

On a conventional optical disk typified by the CD and the DVD, information is recorded by forming optically detectable pits or marks on the medium, and the information is reproduced by detecting the pits or marks by optical means.
The pits or marks recorded on the conventional optical disk are read as an electric signal by an optical pickup, the waveform of the pits or marks is judged to be binary information of 1 or 0 by a judging circuit, and then the result is outputted.
Specifically, a repeated waveform referred to as an "eye pattern" is detected from the optical pickup, and then the waveform is compared with a predetermined threshold value, thereby decoded as binary information and restored to original digital information.
In such a conventional reproducing method, an upper limit of fineness (spatial frequency) of a detectable signal is determined by wavelength of a laser beam and a numerical aperture (NA) of an objective lens used in reproduction.
Specifically, as a recorded signal becomes finer, amplitude of the reproduced signal is decreased, and when an upper limit of spatial frequency is reached, the recorded signal cannot be detected at all. Such change in spatial frequency characteristics is generally referred to as MTF (Modulation Transfer Function).
As an example, FIG. 11 shows MTF characteristics of an optical pickup used for DVD. The axis of ordinates in FIG. 11 indicates amplitude (gain) of a reproduced signal, and the axis of abscissas indicates spatial frequency.
As is clear from FIG. 11, in the case of DVD, detection is possible up to a spatial frequency of about 1700 lines per millimeter.
In the conventional optical disk recording method, an upper limit value of MTF as described above limits fineness recordable on an optical disk. As a result, recording density of an optical disk is fixed.
Hence, optical disk high-density recording proposed thus far raises such a limit of MTF in many cases. Specifically, optical disk high-density recording proposed thus far further shortens the wavelength of a laser or increases the NA.
As a result of these, it is possible to further raise the frequency limit of MTF, and thus increase recording density.
However, the wavelength of a laser has a limit of about 400 nm, and when the wavelength is made shorter than the limit, the light does not pass through a plastic substrate.
In addition, increasing the NA requires reducing a space between a surface of the optical disk and the objective lens. Data reading therefore becomes unreliable when there is dust on the surface of the disk or the like.
Multilevel recording has also been proposed which records information as multilevel information rather than as a binary value of 1 or 0.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 61-94244, for example, an increase in recording capacity is made possible by irradiating an identical spot on a recording medium having a recording layer in which a hole is formed by light irradiation with a varied number of beams according to information contents, thus forming holes of different depths and thereby recording multilevel information.
That is, the invention realizes multilevel recording by changing the number of beam spots applied to the same spot and thereby changing the depth of the hole stepwise.
An information recording apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-31329 modulates power of a light beam to a plurality of levels, phase-changes a phase change recording medium to a plurality of stages, and thus records information as a multistage, or multilevel signal.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4-38088, multilevel information is recorded by changing a coordination environment in a metallic-complex. When an octahedral coordination is used as a typical example, the invention enables multilevel recording of up to six levels using up to six changes.
However, when multilevel recording (multistage recording) as described above is applied, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a medium needs to be improved.
In addition, a direct-current component of a recording signal cannot be eliminated in multilevel recording. Therefore, it is known that when overall level of a reproduced signal is raised or lowered, the signal is decoded into information different from the original information and thus error rate is drastically deteriorated.
The MTF shown in FIG. 11 has the axis of abscissas as frequency. Frequency used in handling an electric signal assumes a plus value at all times.
However, as for optical resolution, there are a plus spatial frequency and a minus spatial frequency. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, not only a plus spatial frequency region but also a minus spatial frequency region is actually present. Describing the plus and minus spatial frequency regions as light diffraction, the plus and minus spatial frequency regions correspond to light diffracted forward and light diffracted backward with respect to rotation of a disk.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an optical disk medium and an apparatus and a method for optical disk recording/reproduction that separate the MTF shown in FIG. 11 into a plus frequency region and a minus frequency region and use the plus frequency region and the minus frequency region to enable an effectively usable frequency region to be doubled in effect and thus enable recording density to be increased.
That is, the present invention can increase the density without the need for an increased NA of an objective lens and a shorter wavelength and without substantially changing an optical pickup and optical disk manufacturing technology currently in use. Also, the present invention enables high-density recording at a lower SNR as compared with multilevel recording.

Optical disc medium, optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus and method


The invention relates to oxadiazolones and to their physiologically acceptable salts and physiologically functional derivatives showing peroxisome proliferator activator receptor (PPAR) delta agonist activity comprising compounds of formula I,

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are transducer proteins belonging to the steroid/thyroid/retinoid receptor superfamily. The PPARs were originally identified as orphan receptors without known ligands, but were known for their ability to mediate the pleiotropic effects of fatty acid peroxisome proliferators. These receptors function as ligand-regulated transcription factors that control the expression of target genes by binding to their responsive DNA sequences as heterodimers with RXR. The target genes encode enzymes involved in a number of metabolic and cell growth/cell proliferation/cell differentiation inductions. These then provide targets for the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of metabolic and central nervous system disorders, among others.
PPAR agonists are well known and have been described in the prior art, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,995 to De La Brouse-Elwood et. al.; WO 03/043997 to Johnston et. al. and WO 01/00603 and WO 02/092590 to Keil et. al.). Compounds comprising an oxadiazolone feature as inhibitors of factor Xa were disclosed in DE 101 12 768 A1 and oxodiazolones have also been described as oral hypoglycemic agents in WO 96/13264.
The present invention then, comprises compounds which provide therapeutic variable moderation of lipid and/or carbohydrate metabolism and are thus suitable for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases such as type-2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and the diverse disease states that are a result thereof. Another purpose of the invention is to treat neurodegenerative diseases and/or demyelinating disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems and/or neurological diseases involving inflammation of the central nervous system and/or other peripheral neuropathies.

Oxadiazolones and derivatives thereof as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) delta agonists

Abstract: in which the R1-R7 substituents as well as the U, V, W, X Y and z radicals are as defined herein, and their physiologically acceptable salts and processes for their preparation. The compounds are suitable for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders of fatty acid metabolism and glucose utilization disorders as well as of disorders in which insulin resistance is involved; neurodegenerative diseases and/or demyelinating disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems and/or neurological diseases involving neuro-inflammatory processes and/or other peripheral neuropathies.


A standing pipe faucet is formed from a faucet body shaped out of a hollow pillar, a separate body with a corresponding hole connecting it to the faucet body, and a slantwise threaded hole connecting water mixing valve to the assembly. A tube connects an outlet pipe through the hole groove. The tube has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of hole groove, and a length shorter than that of the hole groove. The tube corresponding to the threaded hole has a slantwise blocking groove. After the tube is inserted into the hole groove, a bolt is screwed in the threaded hole, generating a backward push between the bolt and the threaded hole, which fixes the outlet pipe and faucet body together. After the chamber has a water outlet through the tube, the whole assembly is completely assembled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application claims priority of the corresponding Republic of China patent application no. 096217574, which was filed on Oct. 19, 2007 by the Intellectual Property Office under the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China.
The present invention relates to a standing pipe faucet assembly, comprised of a faucet body and a separate body. The separate body contains a lateral hole groove through the side, and a chamber in its upper portion that holds a slantwise threaded hole attached to a mixing valve. A bolt screwed into the slantwise threaded hole will generate a backward push against a tube that is connected to the rear end of an outlet pipe inserted into the separate body's lateral hole groove. As the bolt penetrates deeper into the tube, it pushes the tube back further and fixes the outlet pipe and the faucet body together. A water outlet through the tube at the rear end of the outlet pipe completes the assembly. The assembly eliminates the need for the traditional welding fixation technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, in the manufacture of a standing pipe faucet assembly, the faucet body assembly includes a solid copper pillar and a separate body. The solid copper pillar is used for turning the structure of a chamber to accommodate a water mixing valve, and a separate body contains a hot and cold inlet water pipe. In addition, a water outlet pipe is connected laterally to the separate body through a drill hole. Finally, the water mixing valve is installed in the faucet body; the top of the valve includes a handle for controlling the ratio of cold and hot water as well as the flow rate.
The quality of a faucet body manufactured by a solid copper pillar is better than those manufactured by a traditional sand casting process, but the international copper price is very high, thus increasing the overall material cost. Furthermore, a large quantity of waste materials are produced during the manufacturing of the copper pillar, adding to the overall material cost. Such a standing pipe faucet does not comply with the cost-effective requirements of the industry and requires improvements.
The inventors of U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,064 B1 have provided a standing pipe faucet assembly in which a faucet body is slightly shaped by using a copper pipe assembled together with a separate body. A chamber is placed at the bottom portion of the separate body, where a water mixing valve is installed. A lateral hole groove on the lower portion of the separate body lines up with a through hole and outlet pipe on the faucet body. An inlet pipe interconnects the water mixing valve and an outlet pipe passing through the lateral hole groove.
Since the faucet body of the foregoing standing pipe faucet assembly is slightly shaped by using the copper pipe, it does not have enough thickness to place related structures, such as threads, to connect the outlet pipe. Therefore, the faucet body and the outlet pipe need to be welded together, creating an unappealing welding mark, and thus decreasing the overall aesthetic quality of the standing pipe faucet assembly. Moreover, the welding quality is dependent on techniques and experiences of the workers, whose work will not maintain the same quality every time welding is performed. Such a standing pipe faucet is an imperfect design and requires improvements.


A piezoresistive sensor includes a piezoresistive region to which first conductivity type impurity has been introduced, the piezoresistive region being formed in a semiconductor layer; a protection region to which second conductivity type impurity has been introduced, the protection region covering a top of a region in which the piezoresistive region is formed, the protection region being formed in the semiconductor layer; and contact regions to which the first conductivity type impurities have been introduced, the contact regions being connected to the piezoresistive region, the contact regions being formed so as to reach a surface of the semiconductor layer except a region in which the protection region is formed, in which the following inequality holds: impurity concentration of the piezoresistive region<impurity concentration of the protection region<impurity concentrations of the contact regions.

A pressure sensor that outputs a pressure value based on, for example, the amount of deflection (that is, the displacement) of a pressurized diaphragm is widely used for industrial use such as semiconductor equipment. One of this type of pressure sensor is a piezoresistive sensor that detects the displacement of a diaphragm as a stress using piezoresistive effects and outputs a pressure value based on the detected stress. Such a piezoresistive sensor that uses piezoresistive effects has a device structure in which, generally, a piezoresistive region to which p-type impurities have been introduced is formed in a diaphragm formed on an n-type semiconductor substrate.
In addition, PTL 1 discloses a technique that forms, on the piezoresistive region described above, a protection region including a region to which n-type impurities have been introduced and covers the top of the piezoresistive region. A piezoresistive sensor (semiconductor pressure sensor) having such a device structure is insusceptible to the effect of contaminants such as sodium ions attached to the inside or surface of an insulating protection film (for example, silicon dioxide) provided on the surface of a semiconductor substrate and can achieve highly accurate and highly sensitive sensor operating characteristics by stabilizing the piezoresistive region.


The invention provides an electro-optical device that displays high quality images regardless of temperature circumstances of the surroundings. The electro-optical device can be encased in a mounting case which accommodates a liquid crystal panel in which projection light is incident on an image display region from a light source. The mounting case can include a plate arranged so as to face one surface of the liquid crystal panel, a cover arranged so as to cover the plate and the liquid crystal panel, an adhesive for attaching the plate to the liquid crystal panel, and adhesive pockets provided in at least one of the plate and the cover, for accommodating the adhesive.

1. Technical Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting case for accommodating an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal panel, which is used as a light valve for a projection display apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector, an electro-optical device encased in a mounting case, in which the electro-optical device is accommodated or encased, and a projection display apparatus comprising the electro-optical device encased in the mounting case.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, when a liquid crystal panel is used as a light valve of a liquid crystal projector, the liquid crystal panel is not provided in an exposed state on a console, etc., constituting the liquid crystal projector, but it is accommodated or encased in a suitable mounting case, and then the mounting case including the liquid crystal panel is provided on the console. This is because the liquid crystal panel can easily be fixed to the console, etc. by suitably providing screw holes or the like in the mounting case.
In the liquid crystal projector, the light emitted from a light source is projected onto the liquid crystal panel encased in the mounting case as focused light. Light passing through the liquid crystal panel is enlarged and projected on a screen to display images. In such a liquid crystal projector, since the enlarged projection is generally predetermined, relatively intense light emitted from a light source, such as a metal halide lamp, is used.
However, in this construction, first, there is a problem in that the temperature of the liquid-crystal-panel encasing mounting case, and particularly of the liquid crystal panel rises. The rise in temperature causes a rise in temperature of the liquid crystal interposed between a pair of transparent substrates in the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the characteristics of the liquid crystal are deteriorated. In addition, when the light emitted from the source light is uneven, the liquid crystal panel is partially heated, and then variations in the transmittance are generated at so-called hot spots. Thus, the quality of projected images deteriorates.
The technique for preventing the rise in temperature of the liquid crystal panel includes, for example, one disclosed in the International Publication Number WO98/36313, etc. In this patent, disclosed is a technique to prevent the rise in temperature of the liquid crystal panel by providing a heat radiating sheet between a liquid crystal panel and a heat radiating plate in a liquid crystal display module which includes the liquid crystal panel, a case (correspond to a mounting case in this specification) holding and accommodating the liquid crystal panel therein and provided with the heat radiating plate.
In addition, in order to solve the above problems, other approaches, such as an approach of providing a light shielding film on a substrate positioned at the side of the liquid crystal panel on which light is incident and an approach of forming the mounting case, in which the liquid crystal panel is held or accommodated, using a light reflective material, have been known.

Electro-optical device encased in mounting case, projection display apparatus, and mounting case


Polymeric structures produced with a controlled number and distribution of small, closed cells. The polymeric structures are characterized by an opaque, whitening appearance attributed, at least in part, to the distribution of closed cells and thus, at least in part, to light scattering resulting from the distribution of small, closed cells or voids. The light scattering thus provides an enhanced whitening effect. The whitening effect may be uniform or non-uniform along the length and width of the structure.

Porous, cellular material can be generally described as having either closed cells, in which the cells or pores are not interconnected, or open cells, in which the cells or pores are interconnected and may extend to the surface of the material in which they are formed and display the structure and appearance of open pits. The cellular fibers of the present invention predominantly contain the closed type of cells.
In the past, cell formation has been used in thermoplastic sheet materials using practices as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,665; U.S. Pat. No. 2,751,627; U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,665; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,986 the teachings of which are all incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. However, the technology embodied in these patents which addresses cell formation in thermoplastic sheet materials and methods to reduce out-diffusion of an impregnating gas to increase nucleation is not believed to be adaptable to forming fibers.
In the past, cell formation has been achieved in fibers by dispersing blowing agents into the molten polymer prior to extrusion. A wide variety of agents has been used including air, nitrogen, chlorinated fluorocarbons, and other gases, as well as volatile materials that are gaseous at molten polymer temperatures, such as methylene chloride and other halogenated hydrocarbons, materials that decompose to form gas products (such as azides), and materials that react to form gaseous products, such as acids and carbonates. The blowing agent may be added to the precursor resin or dispersed into the molten polymer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,603 and divisionally related U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,594 (both incorporated by reference herein) are directed to processes and fibers with variable cells formed using a silicon blowing agent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,472 (incorporated by reference) describes a process to produce fibers with closed cells that requires the introduction of a fluorocarbon blowing agent into a molten polymer. While it is possible to achieve a percentage of closed cells using a blowing agent in a fiber extrusion process, experience indicates that the process yields a material with an undesirably high closed cell length to diameter ratio (greater than 500 and up to 2,000). Moreover, such processes may produce undesired levels of open cells.
In actual practice there are two primary drawbacks to the process of simultaneously extruding and foaming fibers to generate a cellular structure. First, such practices give rise to enhanced manufacturing difficulty due to the complexity of the process. Second, such practices generally provide poor uniformity. In particular, when extruding foamed fibers it is extremely difficult to extrude small uniform fibers without breaking the filaments. The polymer filaments have lower tenacity making it difficult to draw them properly. The lower tenacity also makes it more difficult to properly texture the yarn, so it loses body and texture that is needed in the final fabric. Further, during yarn formation it is difficult to spin foamed fiber at the same rate and quality as non-foamed fiber. In addition, many of the additives used to improve production rate, such as silicon oil or polydimethylsiloxane are undesirable in the final fabric. Such additives can have such adverse effects as creating uneven dyeings, leaving deposits on the processing machinery, and increasing the flammability of the fabric. It is also believed to be difficult to controllably vary the level of opacity at different zones along the length of the fiber when foaming and extrusion are carried out simultaneously. The ability to provide such controlled variation may be desirable for some applications.
As regards the above-referenced problem of poor uniformity, it is not possible to control the shape, size and distribution of the cells during simultaneous foaming and extrusion. In particular, the closed cells of fibers formed from simultaneous extrusion and foaming have undesirably high length to diameter (L/D) ratios. More specifically, in such prior art fibers the cells nucleate coming out of the extrusion head and the L/D (length to diameter ratio) increases as the fiber is drawn down to the desired denier. Although the cells have a large volume, the number of cells per unit length is consequently small. Conversely, greater light scattering corresponding to enhanced opacity (which is desirable to enhance whiteness) is achieved by a larger number of cells per unit length and, therefore, a larger surface area.

Method of forming light dispersing fiber and fiber formed thereby


A method of operating a wafer processing system includes etching a batch of wafers. The method also includes transferring at least a portion of the batch of wafers to a first front opening universal pod (FOUP). The method further includes purging an interior of the first FOUP with an inert gas. The method additionally includes transporting the first FOUP from a first loading port to a second loading port. The method also includes monitoring an elapsed time from the purging. The method further includes performing a second purging of the interior of the first FOUP if the elapsed time exceeds a threshold time. The method additionally includes cleaning the batch of wafers.

Processing wafers used to form semiconductor devices includes several etching and cleaning processes to form features of the semiconductor device on the wafers. The etching processes involve removal of material either directly from the wafers or from layer formed on the wafers. The etching processes leave behind residual material which is removed during the cleaning processes. In an interval between an etching process and a cleaning process, moisture from a surrounding atmosphere reacts with the residual materials and forms compounds which cause damage to the wafers or the layers on the wafers, in some instances. For example, in an etching process using tetrafluoromethane (CF4) as the etchant, the residual material may include cryptohalite ((NH4)2SiF6). Cryptohalite reacts with moisture in the form of water vapor to produce ammonia (NH3) and hydrofluoric acid (HF). The ammonia and hydrofluoric acid will remove material from the wafer and layers formed on the wafer, in some instances.
In order to reduce the impact of the residual materials, the wafers are transferred from the etching process to an intermediate process which uses nitrogen gas to reduce the moisture content around the etched wafers. The lower moisture content decreases the chance of reactions between the residual material and the moisture creating damaging compounds. However, the time required to transfer the wafers to the intermediate process increases the production time for creating the semiconductor device. In some instances, a time between the intermediate process and the cleaning process is sufficiently long to allow the moisture content in the atmosphere around the wafers to increase to a point where damaging compounds are formed on a surface of the wafers resulting in damage to the wafers and potentially rendering the wafers unusable.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


As current densities through wiring in integrated circuits increases, so too do failures due to electromigration. Such failure almost always occur in vias located at the ends of long lines. The present invention solves this problem by introducing, as part of the wiring, local back-diffusion sources that serve to increase back pressure on the metallic ions that makes up the wire, thereby reversing the trend towards electromigration. These sources are located close to the vias in question and may take the form of discrete local areas where the wiring is wider or they may be introduced in the form of dummy vias.

The invention relates to the general field of integrated circuits with particular reference to electromigration in connections of the dual damascene type.
Electromigration (EM) has long been a problem for the semiconductor industry. Briefly stated, as electrons pass through a conductor they tend to drag the metallic ions of the conductor along with them through electrostatic attraction. This results in a slight concentration gradient in the direction of electron flow which in turn sets up an opposing diffusion gradient, or so-called back pressure, that tends to move ions towards regions of lower density. If current flows for long enough at a sufficiently high current density, the xe2x80x98electron windxe2x80x99 effect dominates and vacancies form which eventually lead to voids and, finally, open circuits.
Referring now to FIG. 1, we illustrate the above observations by showing a cross-section of a standard dual damascene section of wiring such as would typically be found in an integrated circuit. Trench 10 has been formed in dielectric layer 14 and then just filled (by first overfilling and then planarizing) with metal 11. Vias 12 extend downwards from near the ends of the trench to the next lowest level of wiring 13. In this example, electrons normally flowed from left to right so movement of metal ions was in the direction shown by arrow 17. As discussed above this resulted in a diffusion gradient, or back pressure, in the direction of arrow 16.
Experience has shown that failure due to EM always occurred in the via (area 15 in FIG. 1, for example) at, or close to, the sites of current direction change. Additionally it was observed that no failures occurred when the connectors (wiring) were short (distance between vias less than about 50 microns). Also noted was that the failures were always associated with the topmost level of wiring. This latter observation was not unexpected since the topmost wiring level is known to carry the highest currents. FIG. 2 is a plan view looking down onto trench 10.
As expected, EM is more prevalent the lighter the ion involved. Thus, light metals such as aluminum or titanium exhibit EM effects much sooner than do heavier metals such as tungsten or tantalum. A number of solutions to the EM problem have been developed by the prior art, particularly for aluminum. Most notable of these has been the addition of a few percent of copper to the aluminum. Such a solution, while effective with respect to reducing EM, comes at the price of increasing the resistance of the connector. Thus, there exists a need for an approach that reduces EM without increasing the resistivity of the wiring material.
A routine search of the prior art was performed with the following references of interest being found:
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,030, Cronin is concerned with interconnect EM which is reduced by increasing the area over which contact is made to studs emerging from the chip""s edge. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,831, Fu is also concerned with interconnect EM and effectively eliminates hot spots (areas of high current density) by using multiple parallel vias (not dummy vias). Adjustable series resistors are included which ensure equal current flow through each via.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,519, Klein et al. line their vias with a metal that is known to exhibit high resistance to EM. This lining acts as a reservoir that fills in any voids in the main body of the via as soon as they form
U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,080 (Usui) shows a method to evaluate EM in lines using a void while in U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,945, Aji et al. show a system for EM verification.
It has been an object of the present invention to provide, for an integrated circuit, wiring that is not subject to failures due to electromigration.
Another object has been to provide, for an integrated circuit, wiring that is not subject to failure inside a connecting via due to electromigration.
A further object has been to provide, for an integrated circuit, damascene wiring that is not subject to failure inside a connecting via due to electromigration.
A still further object has been to provide, for an integrated circuit, top level damascene wiring that is not subject to failure inside a connecting via due to electromigration.
Yet another object has been to provide, for an integrated circuit, very long top level damascene wiring that is not subject to failure inside a connecting via due to electromigration.
These objects have been achieved by introducing, as part of the wiring, local back-diffusion sources that serve to increase back pressure on the metal that makes up the wire, thereby reversing the trend towards electromigration. These sources are located close to the vias (inside which most electromigration failures are mainly found) and may take the form of discrete local areas where the wiring is wider or they may be introduced as dummy vias.

Reduction of electromigration in dual damascene connector

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company


A plasma display panel is provided. The plasma display panel includes a front glass substrate, a transparent electrode formed on the front glass substrate, a black layer formed on an upper part of the transparent electrode, and a bus electrode formed on an upper part of the black layer. The width of the bus electrode is less than the width of the black layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This document relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a plasma display apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
Out of display apparatuses, a plasma display apparatus generally comprises a plasma display panel and a driver for driving the plasma display panel.
The plasma display panel comprises a front panel and a rear panel which are made of soda-lime glass. Barrier ribs formed between the front panel and the rear panel form discharge cells. Each of the discharge cells is filled with an inert gas such as a He—Xe gas mixture, a He—Ne gas mixture. When the inert gas is discharged by a high frequency voltage, vacuum ultraviolet rays are generated. Vacuum ultraviolet rays excites a phosphors formed between the barrier ribs to display an image on the plasma display panel.
The front panel comprises a transparent electrode and a bus electrode. A black layer is formed between the transparent electrode and the bus electrode. The black layer is formed of an electrically conductive material such as ruthenium oxide, lead oxide, carbon series. The black layer and a black matrix formed between maintenance electrode pairs improve the contrast between the discharge cells.
Since Ag forming the bus electrode does not transmit light generated by the discharge and reflects light generated from the outside of the plasma display panel, the contrast is degraded.
The black layer capable of improving the contrast is interposed between the transparent electrode and the bus electrode to overcome the above-described problem.
The black layer performs a light blocking function for reducing reflectivity by absorbing external light generated from the outside of a front glass substrate of the front panel, and improves color purity and the contrast of the front glass substrate.
However, since the width of the related art black layer is approximately equal to the width of the bus electrode, edge curl is easily generated in an edge of the bus electrode. A poor contact occurs where the bus electrode contacts the black layer. It is difficult to uniformly accumulate wall charges within the discharge cell. Further, the black layer insufficiently performs the light blocking function and insufficiently improves the color purity and the contrast.

Plasma display panel with enhanced bus electrode alignment


Certain embodiments are directed to methods of treating a metabolic disease in a subject using a fully implantable electrical stimulation system to provide or administer a therapy. In certain aspects a stimulation lead is implanted proximally to a stomach acupoint, the stimulation lead being coupled to an implantable signal generator; and stimulating the acupoints using the signal generator to treat the metabolic disease.

In the United States, a majority of the population is overweight or obese. People who are overweight or obese are generally more prone to ailments such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
To lose weight and combat the conditions associated with excess weight, many individuals partake in numerous methods and/or procedures to lose weight. For example, individuals attempt diets, undertake exercise routines or regimens, purchase and use weight reduction equipment or weight reduction drugs, and the like.
Acupuncture has long been used to treat anxiety, back pain, high blood pressure, and osteoarthritis. People are now turning to acupuncture as a treatment for weight loss. Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese art of inserting fine needles under the surface of the skin into specific locations on the body to treat ailments and the like.
Typically, acupuncture involves the insertion of flexible, filiform needles into the skin of a patient at specific regions known as acupoints and at depths sufficient to penetrate certain tissues, musculature or the like. Subsequent manipulation of the needle ends that protrude from the skin (e.g., by manual twisting or vibration) stimulates the subcutaneous tissue and/or intramuscular sensory nerves of the patient.
Electroacupuncture is one variation of traditional acupuncture in which needles are temporarily inserted at specific acupoints along the body and then attached with clips to a device that generates electric pulses. The introduction of a mild current through the needles acts as a stimulus on the tissue and/or nerves in the vicinity of the needle.
Although electroacupuncture using implantable electrodes and an external pulse generator for acute treatment is known, there remains a need for a chronic or permanent means of providing stimulation to the acupoints or meridians.

Chronic electroaccupuncture using implanted electrodes

THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM


A Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and regions, with implant regions and covered regions, in the semiconductor substrate. A hardmask covers a first covered region and a second covered. The first implant region having a first concentration of ions, and at least one second implant region having a second concentration that is less than the first concentration. First and second FETs are formed on the regions. The first and second FETs have a voltage threshold mismatch with respect to one another based on the first region and the at least one second region.

The present invention relates generally to the field of security infrastructure and more particularly to a semiconductor device including enhanced variability and physical unclonable functionality (PUF).
Electronics may use integrated circuits (IC) using, for example, a substrate and additives to form a solid-state electronic device. Device variability during manufacture may hinder proper function, however, such manufacture variability may be utilized to enforce security information technology physically on an IC.
An integrated circuit (IC) is an electronic circuit which can be formed using silicon as a substrate and by adding impurities to form solid-state electronic devices, such as transistors, diodes, and resistors. Commonly known as a "chip," an integrated circuit is generally encased in hard plastic, forming a "package." Often, many such packages are electrically coupled so that the chips therein form an electronic circuit to perform certain functions.
During the IC manufacture process, radiation is focused through the mask and at certain desired intensity of the radiation. This intensity of the radiation is commonly referred to as "dosing" or "doping." The focus and the doping of the radiation have to be precisely controlled to achieve the desired shape and electrical characteristics on the wafer.
Security of internet related circuitry and applications is needed to protect information within a networked, cloud, or internet environment. Various methods of securing data have been used, for example, Physical Unclonable Function (PUF). PUF is a physical encoding onto a chips in order to avoid cloning. Typically, a PUF is a function that is embodied in a physical structure and is easy to evaluate but hard to predict. Applications of PUF include challenge-response authentication, where access depends on providing correct responses to challenges, and the challenge-response pairs are generated by a PUF.

Inducing device variation for security applications


Disclosed is a technology for preventing a legitimate terminal's user from being damaged due to the fraudulent usage of a cloned terminal. A mobile communication terminal transmits authentication information containing terminal usage time information to a wireless network according to a voice call connection procedure, and performs a voice call release process upon receiving an authentication failure message from the wireless network in response to the authentication information.

This application claims the priorities of Korean Patent Application Nos. 2004-69248 and 2004-69249, filed on Aug. 31, 2004, No. 2004-70917, filed on Sep. 6, 2004, Nos. 2004-78446 and 2004-78448, filed on Oct. 1, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication technology and, more particularly, to a technology for preventing a legitimate mobile terminal's user from being damaged due to the fraudulent usage of a cloned mobile terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with the development of mobile communication technologies and the improvement of the performance and function of mobile communication system, mobile communication terminals have been able to receive wireless application protocol (WAP) or Web service over the Internet. That is, the mobile communication terminals can download, store and reproduce multimedia content, such as color pictures, animation, moving images, music, text, and games, as well as voice or text data. At present, mobile carriers offer multimedia content services by constructing communication modules to support communication protocols for Internet connections between mobile communication terminals and WAP or Web servers and networks to support high-speed and large-capacity packet switching systems.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conventional call connection service system. A call connection service system 100 comprises an interim standard 95 (IS-95)/code division multiple access 2000 (CDMA2000) 1x wireless network 110 for processing voice and text messages, and a high data rate (HDR) wireless network 120 for processing high-volume data packets at a high data rate. A hybrid terminal 200 is a mobile communication terminal designed to allow a user to use voice and high-speed data communication services by combining IS-95 or CDMA2000 1x and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized).
The IS-95/1x wireless network 110 includes an IS-95/1x base transceiver station (BTS) 111 for transforming signal formats to be suitable for wireless and wireline links for a base station which establishes a radio path with the hybrid terminal 200 in an IS-95/1x manner; a base station controller (BSC) 112 for collecting and managing information on the operation of the BTS 111; a mobile switching center (MSC) 113, connected to the BSC 112 and a network such as public switched telephone network (PSTN) or Internet, for offering a circuit switching service to a mobile communication subscriber; an authentication center (AuC) 115 for storing a mobile identification number (MIN) and an electronic serial number (ESN) as subscriber authentication information, determining whether or not a corresponding terminal has been registered on the basis of the subscriber authentication information, and performing an authentication process of the corresponding terminal according to the determined result; and an interworking function (IWF) 116 for connecting the mobile communication network to the Internet.
The HDR wireless network 120 includes an HDR access point 121 serving as an access point for establishing a direct radio path with the hybrid terminal 200 to perform high-speed data communication and controlling operations of transmitting/receiving data to/from the hybrid terminal 200; a packet control function (PCF) 123 for exchanging data packet information between the HDR access point 121 and a packet data serving node (PDSN) 124; the PSDN 124, connected to the BSC 112 through the PCF unit 123, for controlling the overall high-speed data communication between the mobile communication network and the Internet; a home agent (HA) 125, connected to the PSDN 124, for performing mobile Internet Protocol (IP) authentication for a packet service; and a wireless data service authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server 126 for verifying that a user is a valid subscriber, determining what services are available for the user, and tracking usage for billing.
A predefined authentication algorithm and a unique authentication value are given to the AuC 115 and a mobile communication terminal 200. The authentication value includes a random number (RAND) received from the MSC, an authentication key, a terminal ESN, a subscriber MIN, and shared secret data (SSD). The mobile communication terminal 200 generates authentication request data using the above-mentioned authentication value and authentication algorithm, and transmits the authentication request data and call history count data to the MSC 113.
The AuC 115 performs an authentication operation upon receiving the authentication request data, the call history count data, and RAND data from the MSC 113. In more detail, the AuC 115 enters an authentication key, a terminal ESN, a subscriber MIN, and SSD, which are stored therein, and RAND received from the MSC 113 into an authentication algorithm, generates authentication response data, and compares the authentication response data with the authentication request data received from the MSC 113. In addition, the AuC 115 compares call history count data of a corresponding terminal, which is stored therein, with call history count data received from the MSC 113. When the stored call history count data of the corresponding terminal is identical to the call history count data received from the MSC 113, the AuC 115 determines the corresponding terminal to be a legitimate mobile communication terminal and permits a voice call to be established. Otherwise, if the stored call history count data of the corresponding terminal is different from the call history count data received from the MSC 113, the AuC 115 determines the corresponding terminal to be a cloned terminal, transmits a lock order message indicating authentication failure to the corresponding terminal through the BTS and blocks a voice call connection of the corresponding terminal.
However, as mobile communication terminals have come into wide use, there is increasing the number of cloned terminals in which a legitimate terminal's authentication key, subscriber MIN, terminal ESN, and call history count data are cloned by a fraudulent user. Accordingly, a user using the legitimate terminal may be excessively charged for the fraudulent usage of the cloned terminal.
In addition, since the lock order message received over a wireless network is transmitted to both legitimate and cloned terminals, a call connection to the legitimate terminal, as well as the cloned terminal, currently conducting an authentication process with the wireless network or having already been authenticated is discontinued.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a conventional system and terminal has been configured to update SSD. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a process of updating the SSD in a conventional call connection service system. Here, the wireless network includes a BTS, a BSC, an MSC, and an AuC.
The SSD update process is initiated by transmitting an SSD update message and a random number (RAND_SSD) from the wireless network to the terminal (step S301). The terminal initializes stored SSD, performs a primary authentication process using the initialized SSD, the RAND_SSD, an authentication key, a terminal ESN, a subscriber MIN, and an authentication algorithm, and generates new SSD (SSD_A_NEW) (step S401). The terminal generates a random number (RANDBS) using a random number generation function stored therein (step S402), and transmits the generated random number (RANDBS) to the wireless network (step S403). The terminal performs a secondary authentication process using the generated random number (RANDBS), SSD (SSD_A_NEW), an authentication key, a terminal ESN, a subscriber MIN, and an authentication algorithm, and generates new authentication information (step S404).
The wireless network transmits the SSD update message and the random number (RAND_SSD) to the terminal, initializes the stored SSD of a corresponding terminal, performs a primary authentication process using the initialized SSD, the transmitted random number (RAND_SSD), an authentication key, a terminal ESN, a subscriber MIN, and an authentication algorithm, and generates new SSD (SSD_A_NEW) (step S302). The wireless network performs a secondary authentication process using the random number (RANDBS), the SSD (SSD_A_NEW), the authentication key, the terminal ESN, the subscriber MIN, and the authentication algorithm, which are transmitted from the terminal, and generates new authentication information (step S303). In this case, since the wireless network and the terminal use the same authentication algorithm, the new SSD (SSD_A_NEW) and the authentication information generated in the wireless network are identical to those generated in the terminal. The wireless network transmits the generated authentication information to the terminal (step S304).
The terminal compares the authentication information received from the wireless network with the authentication information generated in step 404 (step 405). If the authentication information received from the wireless network is identical to the authentication information generated in step S404, the terminal transmits SSD update success information to the wireless network (step S406).
However, the conventional call connection service system has a disadvantage in that a fraudulent user using the cloned terminal, in which a legitimate terminal's authentication key, subscriber MIN, and terminal ESN are cloned, may acquire a new SSD by performing an SSD update process with the wireless network.
In the meantime, the conventional data call service system cannot detect whether or not the cloned terminal having the cloned subscriber MIN and terminal MSN attempts to make a wireless data call and thus unable to prevent the cloned terminal from making a wireless data call.

Mobile communication terminal, wireless data service authentication server, system for automatically blocking voice call connection, and method of processing various messages in mobile communication terminal


A control system of an automotive vehicle including a vehicle height control apparatus for adjusting height of the vehicle under control of fluid under pressure supplied from a first fluid pump and a brake control apparatus for regulating braking forces applied to a set of road wheels of the vehicle under control of fluid under pressure supplied from a second fluid pump, wherein a single source of driving force in the form of an electric motor is adapted in common to the first and second control apparatuses to drive both the first and second fluid pumps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system of an automotive vehicle, and more particularly to a control system of an automotive vehicle which includes a first control apparatus for adjusting height of the vehicle under control of fluid under pressure supplied from a first fluid pump and a second control apparatus for regulating braking forces applied to a set of road wheels under control of fluid under pressure supplied from a second fluid pump.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, there has been developed an automatic control system for controlling posture and movement conditions of an automotive vehicle to enhance running stability, controllability and riding comfort of the vehicle. Such an automatic control system includes various kinds of control apparatuses each of which is provided with an electric motor as a source of driving force. As a result, the number of electric motors and their associated parts increase, resulting in difficulty in installation of the control apparatuses, an increase of the vehicle weight, and deterioration of productivity of the vehicle.