The present invention discloses new and novel substituted anthracyclines with modified alkyl-aromatic ring substitutions on the C-3′ of the sugar moiety or modified or unmodified alkyl-aromatic ring substitutions at the C-4′ of the sugar moiety. It also discloses novel methods for the preparation of sugar substrates and methods for the preparation of anthracycline antibiotics. These anthracycline analogs show high cytotoxicity in vitro against several tumor cell lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the treatment of cancer. More particularly, it concerns novel compounds useful for chemotherapy, methods of synthesis of these compounds and methods of treatment employing these compounds. These novel drugs comprise two main classes of compounds; one bearing modified substituents at the C-3′ sugar moiety and the other bearing modifications at the C4′ sugar moiety. In addition, some of these analogs might also be modified at the aglycon and/or sugar moiety. These novel anthracycline analogs display high anti-tumor activity and can be used as potent drugs active against multi-drug resistant tumors. These compounds are related to other anti-tumor anthracyclines such as daunorubicin, idarubicin, epirubicin, and doxorubicin. The cytotoxic potency of these new compounds is significantly higher when compared to doxorubicin.
2. Description of Related Art
Resistance of tumor cells to the killing effects of chemotherapy is one of the central problems in the management of cancer. It is now apparent that at diagnosis many human tumors already contain cancer cells that are resistant to standard chemotherapeutic agents. Spontaneous mutation toward drug resistance is estimated to occur in one of every 106 to 107 cancer cells. This mutation rate appears to be independent of any selective pressure from drug therapy, although radiation therapy and chemotherapy may give rise to additional mutations and contribute to tumor progression within cancer cell populations (Goldie et al., 1979; Goldie et al., 1984; Nowell, 1986). The cancer cell burden at diagnosis is therefore of paramount importance because even tumors as small as 1 cm (109 cells) could contain as many as 100 to 1,000 drug-resistant cells prior to the start of therapy.
Selective killing of only the tumor cells sensitive to the drugs leads to an overgrowth of tumor cells that are resistant to the chemotherapy. Mechanisms of drug resistance include decreased drug accumulation (particularly in multi-drug resistance), accelerated metabolism of the drug and other alterations of drug metabolism, and an increase in the ability of the cell to repair drug-induced damage (Curt et al., 1984; and Kolate, 1986). The cells that overgrow the tumor population not only are resistant to the agents used but also tend to be resistant to other drugs, many of which have dissimilar mechanisms of action. This phenomenon, called pleiotropic drug resistance or multi-drug resistance (MDR), may account for much of the drug resistance that occurs in previously treated cancer patients. The development of drug resistance is one of the major obstacles in the management of cancer. One of the traditional ways to attempt to circumvent this problem of drug resistance has been combination chemotherapy.
Combination drug therapy is the basis for most chemotherapy employed to treat breast, lung, and ovarian cancers as well as Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, acute leukemias, and carcinoma of the testes. Combination chemotherapy uses the differing mechanisms of action and cytotoxic potentials of multiple drugs.
Although combination chemotherapy has been successful in many cases, the need still exists for new anti-cancer drugs. These new drugs could be such that they are useful in conjunction with standard combination chemotherapy, or these new drugs could attack drug resistant tumors by having the ability to kill cells of multiple resistance phenotypes.
A drug that exhibits the ability to overcome multiple drug resistance could be employed as a chemotherapeutic agent either alone or in combination with other drugs. The potential advantages of using such a drug in combination with chemotherapy would be the need to employ fewer toxic compounds in the combination, cost savings, and a synergistic effect leading to a treatment regime involving fewer treatments.
The commonly used chemotherapeutic agents are classified by their mode of action, origin, or structure,although some drugs do not fit clearly into any single group. The categories include alkylating agents, anti-metabolites, antibiotics, alkaloids, and miscellaneous agents (including hormones). Agents in the different categories have different sites of action.
Antibiotics are biologic products of bacteria or fungi. They do not share a single mechanism of action. The anthracyclines daunorubicin and doxorubicin (DOX) are some of the more commonly used chemotherapeutic antibiotics. The anthracyclines achieve their cytotoxic effect by several mechanisms, including inhibition of topoisomerase II; intercalation between DNA strands, thereby interfering with DNA and RNA synthesis; production of free radicals that react with and damage intracellular proteins and nucleic acids; chelation of divalent cations; and reaction with cell membranes. The wide range of potential sites of action may account for the broad efficacy as well as the toxicity of the anthracyclines (Young et al., 1985).
The anthracycline antibiotics are produced by the fungus Streptomyces peuceilius var. caesius. Although they differ only slightly in chemical structure, daunorubicin has been used primarily in the acute leukemias, whereas doxorubicin displays broader activity against human neoplasms, including a variety of solid tumors. The clinical value of both agents is limited by an unusual cardiomyopathy, the occurrence of which is related to the total dose of the drug; it is often irreversible. In a search for agents with high anti-tumor activity but reduced cardiac toxicity, anthracycline derivatives and related compounds have been prepared. Several of these have shown promise in the early stages of clinical study, and some, like epirubicin and idarubicin, are used as drugs. Epirubicin outsells doxorubicin in Europe and Japan, but it is not sold in the U.S.
The anthracycline antibiotics have tetracycline ring structures with an unusual sugar, daunosamine, attached by glycosidic linkage. Cytotoxic agents of this class all have quinone and hydroquinone moieties on adjacent rings that permit them to function as electron-accepting and donating agents. Although there are marked differences in the clinical use of daunorubicin and doxorubicin, their chemical structures differ only by a single hydroxyl group on C14. The chemical structures of daunorubicin and doxorubicin are shown in FIG. 1.
Doxorubicin's broad spectrum of activity against most hematological malignancies as well as carcinomas of the lung, breast, and ovary has made it a leading agent in the treatment of neoplastic disease (Arcamone,1981; Lown, 1988; Priebe, 1995). Since the discovery of daunorubicin and doxorubicin (FIG. 1), the mechanistic details of the anti-tumor activity of anthracycline antibiotics have been actively investigated (Priebe, 1995a; Priebe, 1995b; Booser, 1994).
Unfortunately, concomitant with its anti-tumor activity, DOX can produce adverse systemic effects, including acute myelosuppression, cumulative cardiotoxicity, and gastrointestinal toxicity (Young et al., 1985). At the cellular level, in both cultured mammalian cells and primary tumor cells, DOX can select for multiple mechanisms of drug resistance that decrease its chemotherapeutic efficacy. These mechanisms include P-gp-mediated MDR and MPR-rediated MDR, characterized by the energy-dependent transport of drugs from the cell (Bradley et al., 1988), and resistance conferred by decreased topoisomerase II activity, resulting in the decreased anthracycline-induced DNA strand scission (Danks et al., 1987; Pommier et al., 1986; Moscow et al., 1988).
Among the potential avenues of circumvention of systemic toxicity and cellular drug resistance of the natural anthracyclines is the development of semi-synthetic anthracycline analogues which demonstrate greater tumor-specific toxicity and less susceptibility to various forms of resistance.

Methods and compositions for the manufacture of C-3′ and C-4′ anthracycline antibiotics


The selective and differential perfusion method includes withdrawing blood through a cannula introduced into a patient's blood vessel. The temperature of such blood is controlled and flowed through an arterial cannula introduced into a selected arterial vessel of the patient for a sufficient time and at a sufficient flow rate to change the temperature of at least a portion of the patient's body. An aortic balloon catheter is introduced into the aorta of the patient to establish fluid communication through the catheter lumen between an external location and an aortic location which is disposed in a preferential flow relationship with a selected branch artery of the aorta leading to a selected region of the patient's body. A balloon mounted on the exterior of said aortic catheter is positioned at a balloon location spaced longitudinally from the aortic location and inflated to resist blood flow while a fluid is communicated through the catheter lumen between the external location and the aortic location. The aortic balloon catheter may further include a second lumen introduced into the aorta to establish a preferential flow relationship with a second branch artery leading to a second region of the patient's body and wherein the balloon location is disposed between the selected branch artery and the second branch artery.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a portable and modular cardiopulmonary bypass apparatus and more particularly it relates to a portable apparatus that can be used to effectively treat patients in suspected terminal states or clinical death. The invention also includes an associated aortic balloon catheter and an associated method.
2. Background of the Invention
The development of external cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) was initiated by one of the co-inventors herein, Dr. Peter Safar. This breakthrough revolutionized the then embryonic field of critical care medicine by allowing anyone anywhere to initiate life-saving procedures. Since its introduction, it has been taught worldwide and used innumerable times on victims of cardiac arrest. It is standard procedure worldwide in treating victims of heart arrest, asphyxiation or other lethal emergencies.
There are, however, limits to the application of standard CPCR because sternal compression cannot reliably produce enough blood flow to maintain viability of vital organs. Moreover, prolonged life support (PLS) after restoration of a heartbeat has its limits without the availability of artificial circulation and oxygenation.
This need led to the development of emergency cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CPB permits the control of flow, pressure, temperature and oxygenation of the blood. See Safar et al., "Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Emergency Resuscitation after Prolonged Cardiac Arrest", American Journal Of Emergency Medicine, 2:348, 1984.
It is known that periods of no-blood flow to the brain can seriously effect brain function. Therefore, the key element in resuscitation is to start life-saving procedures as quickly as possible after onset of cardiac arrest. This invention relates to a method for selectively and differentially perfusing regions of a patient's body by using an aortic balloon catheter during cardiopulmonary bypass operations to effectively treat patients undergoing various cardiopulmonary procedures. There is no disclosure concerning using this device at the scene of an accident or a heart attack.
Another advantage of CPB over CPCR is that CPB can be used in association with other techniques to prevent or correct derangements encountered in terminal states and clinical death such as rapid blood loss, blood gas derangements, temperature extremes and intoxication. CPB can be used in association with methods to purify blood and to provide hemoadsorption, plasma and blood cell apheresis. Other procedures that can be used in association with CPB are heating or cooling the blood and total body blood wash-out and blood replacement. Therefore, any CPB apparatus should be adapted to accommodate modules to accomplish these procedures.
Therefore, there is a need for methods to selectively and differentially perfuse regions of a patient's body using an aortic balloon catheter which is adapted to establish cardiopulmonary bypass of patients for the purpose of assisting medical personnel in performing various medical procedures on such patients who may be experiencing any or all of the above-described derangements. Further, such selective and differential perfusion methods should incorporate application of the procedures described below for selectively and differentially perfusing and withdrawing fluids respectively to and from such patients.

Portable and modular cardiopulmonary bypass apparatus and associated aortic balloon and associated method


Provided is a memory device formed using quantum devices and a method for manufacturing the same. A memory device comprises a substrate; a source region and a drain region formed in the substrate so as to be separated from each other by a predetermined interval; a memory cell which is formed on the surface of the substrate to connect the source region and the drain region, and has a plurality of nano-sized quantum dots filled with material for storing electrons; and a control gate which is formed on the memory cell and controls the number of electrons stored in the memory cell. It is possible to embody a highly efficient and highly integrated memory device by providing a memory device having nano-sized quantum dots and a method for manufacturing the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory device and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a memory device which is a single electron device and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A semiconductor memory device includes two fundamental components: a transistor used as a switch for obtaining current paths, when writing or reading information onto or from a capacitor, and a capacitor for keeping the stored electric charges.
It is necessary for a transistor to have a high transconductance (gm) characteristic so that a great deal of current flows in the transistor. Therefore, recent memory devices include Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) adapted as switching devices, since they have a high transconductance. The MOSFET is a transistor including two fundamental components, i.e., a gate electrode formed of doped polycrystalline silicon, and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed of doped crystalline silicon.
Recently, research has been carried out to try and reduce the size of a device to embody a highly integrated memory device. The smaller the size of a device, the more devices can be integrated in a unit volume, and the less time is required for transmitting signals between the devices. Accordingly, the miniaturization of devices is advantageous for high speed handling of a great amount of information.
However, the existing MOSFET generates a large amount of heat. If a lot of devices adapting the MOSFET are integrated in a small area, the devices may melt down or cause malfunctions.
To overcome the above problems, one of the next generational devices under development is a single electron device SED. A single electron device refers to a device using a Coulomb Blockade effect, i.e., a phenomenon in which an electron is blocked from tunneling into a dot by the classical Coulomb repulsive force of another electron which already exists inside the dot.
In general, the current-voltage characteristic of a tunnel junction having a size of less than 100 nm and a relatively high resistance does not follow ohm's law and a current generated by transmitting electrons under low voltage is reduced to almost 0. This phenomenon occurs when a transmitted electron interacts with an electric field charged with the electron by the electrostatic force. This phenomenon was published in a theory based on quantum mechanics by Likharev et al. in 1986 and observed in an artificial infinitesimal junction in 1987 for the first time.
Theoretically, the single electron device can operate with a single electron under a certain temperature. Here, the certain temperature refers to a temperature of which a thermal energy KBT lower than the electrostatic energy e2/C which is required with an electron in a junction inside a device; in other words, a temperature which meets the following equation.
                    T                          〈                      〈                                          ⅇ                2                                                              K                  B                                ×                C                                                                        [                  mathematic                                                              formula                                                              1                ]
Here, KB(=1.38×10−23 J/K) is the Boltzmann's constant. Capacitance C increases in proportion to the rise in temperature of a junction. Therefore it is possible to observe the Coulomb Blockade effect at any temperature, if only the size of the junction is reduced. It is notable that the size of the junction should be reduced to less than 10 nm×10 nm and the size of a quantum dot for storing an electrode should also be reduced to less than 10 nm. However, it is difficult to obtain a junction or a quantum dot of this size.

Memory device with quantum dot and method for manufacturing the same


A multilayer adhesive tape in which an interface separation between layers does not occur even at in extremely low temperature atmosphere is provided. The multilayer adhesive tape sequentially includes: a first outer adhesive layer; an intermediate adhesive layer; and a second outer adhesive layer, in which attaching force among the first outer adhesive layer, the intermediate adhesive layer, and the second outer adhesive layer is maintained after the multilayer adhesive tape is treated in liquefied nitrogen for 15 seconds.

Various members are attached to an electronic device by an adhesive agent. For example, various optical members such as a polarizing plate, a phase difference plate, an optical compensation film, a reflection sheet, a protection film, and a brightness-enhancing film may be attached to a liquid crystal display (LCD) by an adhesive tape. Recently, as the performance of devices using an adhesive tape has been improved, physical properties required for the adhesive tape have also become gradually tricky. Specifically, excellent durability according to a high temperature fluctuation and semi-permanent adhesive performance have also been required in some cases. Furthermore, reworkability in which the residue does not remain when an adhesive tape is removed for reconstruction is required in some cases. As described above, there is a need for continuous studies for an adhesive tape suitable for the improved requirements.


A method for initializing a magnetooptical recording medium having tracks onto which information is recorded are formed in parallel and having intermediate regions among the tracks. The method includes the steps of scanning a track by a laser beam while applying a magnetic field in a predetermined direction, thereby aligning magnetizing directions of the track; and scanning the intermediate region by the laser beam while applying a magnetic field in a predetermined direction, thereby aligning the magnetizing directions of the intermediate region. An apparatus to perform such a method is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of initializing a magnetooptical recording medium having tracks onto which information is recorded formed in parallel and having intermediate regions between the tracks, and to an apparatus for executing this method.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, a typical medium, which is used in a magnetooptical storing apparatus, has a construction as shown in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 22 denotes a substrate. A magnetic film 23 is formed on the surface of the substrate 22. As shown in the diagram, convex-shaped tracks (hereinafter, referred to as "lands") 21 on which information is recorded are formed on the medium. Two non-recording intermediate regions (hereinafter, referred to as "grooves") 20 are formed as concave portions (grooves) at positions adjacent to a land 21. Information is recorded by irradiating a spot-shaped laser beam LB onto a land while applying a bias magnetic field thereto.
Since the magnetizing directions of the magnetic film 23 formed upon manufacturing of the medium are random, the magnetizing directions of the magnetic layer must be once aligned into a predetermined direction and must be initialized. On the other hand, in the case of rewriting over the information recorded on the medium, it is also necessary to initialize prior to rerecording.
The initializing operation is executed in a manner such that the laser beam LB having an erasing power is irradiated onto a land 21 while applying a bias magnetic field in a direction opposite to the bias magnetic field applied upon recording, and a laser beam spot is formed and the land 21 is scanned by the beam spot. Upon scanning, automatic focusing (AF) and automatic tracking (AT) are executed so as to allow the beam spot of a proper size to be located onto the land and to always obtain a state as shown by a spot SP.sub.1.
Therefore, ideally, only the magnetizing directions of the land 21 are aligned in the predetermined direction by the erasing operation.
However, actually, even if the AF and AT are executed, a case occurs wherein the laser beam is partially deviated like a spot SP.sub.2 with respect to the groove 20. On the other hand, in the case of using a push-pull system a means for performing the AT, the laser beam to record, reproduce, and erase information is also used as a beam for the AT, so that the beam spot has a configuration so as to be always partially deviated like a spot SP.sub.3 with respect to the groove 20.
In the cases of the spots SP.sub.2 and SP.sub.3 as mentioned above, the laser beam is also irradiated onto a portion of the groove 20. However, the power of the beam which is irradiated onto the groove is so small that the initializing operation to align the magnetizing directions in a predetermined direction is not substantially executed for the groove, and the random magnetizations remain.
Upon recording of information, the laser beam LB having the recording power is irradiated onto the land 21 while applying the bias magnetic field in the direction applied opposite to the direction upon initialization, a beam spot is formed, the land 21 is scanned by the beam spot, and the laser beam is turned ON and OFF in accordance with the information to be recorded. Even in the case of the recording mode, the states of the spots SP.sub.2 and SP.sub.3 shown in the diagram are realized, since the power of the laser beam which is irradiated onto the groove 20 is also small, similar to the case in the erasing mode, so that the recording operation is not substantially executed for the groove, and the random magnetizations remain.
The information recorded on the medium is reproduced by detecting the reflected lights from the spot. However, it is virtually impossible to form the beam spot so as not to deviate from the land 21. Therefore, the reflected lights from the medium include those lights reflected from a portion of the land 21 and those lights reflected by a portion of the groove 20.
As mentioned above, since the magnetizing directions of the groove 20 are maintained random, the signal components due to the reflected lights from the portion of the groove 20 generate noise for the normal signal due to the reflected lights from the portion of the land 21.
Consequently, the conventional magnetooptical storing apparatus has a problem such that a reproducing error rate is somewhat high.

Method and apparatus for initializing intermediate region between tracks on magnetooptical recording medium


A system and method for a Graphic User Interface used as the human machine interface (HMI) for Industrial Automation (IA) systems. The system and method use a peer-to-peer session framework between a console with one or more physically connected displays within a control room environment and a companion device. One or more embodiments of the disclosure relate to control of a console, or first device, in a control room by means of a companion device, or second device, through a peer to peer session framework. The use of the second device may provide additional capabilities beyond the pre-purposed capability provided by a dedicated Operator keyboard of the console server.

In the related art within Industrial Automation (IA), there are various control room features for monitoring and controlling the industrial automation process. The control room environment may include at least one human interface station (HIS) server or console. Presently, the primary human machine interface (HMI) interaction device for the console used by the control room operator is a wired, dedicated Operator keyboard. An exemplary dedicated Operator keyboard has hardware inputs, including normal QWERTY keyboard keys and dedicated keys preprogrammed to execute particular functions.
Typically, the control room console has one or more on-screen navigation User Interfaces (UI) that are provided to enable an operator to browse and search for available window call requests. Such requests are typically provided in the form of organized lists with soft targets as the keys to execute the window call-up.
Also, the control room console may have multiple monitor displays for displaying information of interest. The displaying of information on these multiple displays is controlled by the same dedicated Operator keyboard. Additionally, the dedicated Operator keyboard may provide function keys that are operative to control the provision of predetermined functions on a specific display through preprogrammed settings. In the related art, navigation and operation of the multiple displays for a console are controlled by the one dedicated Operator keyboard.
FIG. 1A illustrates a related art dedicated Operator keyboard 1, annotated to identify the various keys, key clusters and conventional structures (power supply wire, speakers, switches, etc.) that are common in the art. In the related art, the hardware Operator keyboard 1 has fixed programmable function keys 2, numeric keypad 3, buzzer/alarm key 4, contain window key 5, window call keys 6, built-in speakers 7, IEC 9241-11 key pitch 8, model selection switch 9, USB power supply 10, control keys 11, and operation confirmation keys 12. The dedicated Operator keyboard 1 for a console provides pre-programmed keys for screen interaction and process control.
FIG. 1B is a screen shot showing an on-screen Browser Bar UI for an IA console. The UI includes a navigation and call-up 14, shown on the left-side of the display, and an on-screen Pan/Zoom Control UI 15, shown on the top right corner of the display. System information 13 is displayed as an image of a system schematic with various conventional symbols and abbreviations used to identify various structures and features of the system.

Proximity based cross-screen experience App framework for use between an industrial automation console server and smart mobile devices


Restorable paths in an information network are established in response to arriving traffic requests. Requests are received at a first node of the network for transmission of traffic to a second node of the network, and each request specifies a desired transmission bandwidth for an active and a backup path to be established between the nodes. Potential active links for an active path are identified in response to a given request, and potential backup links to form a backup path for restoring the active path, are also identified in response to the given request. An active and a backup path are then formulated for each given request from among the potential active links and the potential backup links that were identified in response to the given request.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for establishing transmission paths meeting a guaranteed bandwidth requirement in an information network, with backup or restoration in the event of an active path link failure.
2. Discussion of the Known Art
Emerging trends in backbone and transport networks require network providers to guarantee that backup paths meeting a certain guaranteed bandwidth will be deployed quickly in the event of active path failures.
For example, and without limitation, consider a Multi-Protocol Label Switched (MPLS) application. In MPLS, a data packet is "encapsulated" at an ingress node (e.g., a first network router), and is given an IP header label. The header label is used to forward the packet along a label-switched path (LSP) or "tunnel" to a destination node (e.g., a second network router). The tunnels may be regarded as virtual point-to-point links between two edge nodes (e.g., the first and the second routers) which may actually be separated by a number of links between successive nodes within a given network. See, e.g., L. L. Peterson, et al., Computer Networks, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers (2d ed. 2000), at 277-80.
Restoration mechanisms create backup paths for redirecting traffic in the event of an active path failure. The backup paths typically are set up simultaneously with the active paths. It therefore becomes necessary to define both an active path and a backup path to satisfy each request for a restorable, bandwidth-guaranteed LSP. The known restoration mechanisms operate in a static manner, i.e., sets of active and backup paths are defined under the assumption that future demands are known. This assumption has a drawback in that network resources are used potential future demands that can be routed. Accordingly, there is a need for a restoration mechanism that operates dynamically, wherein an active and an associated backup path are determined for each request as it arrives, and in such a manner as to use available network resources efficiently.

Routing of bandwidth guaranteed paths with restoration in an information network


Detection and location of electrical faults in a network of metal structures which can receive electric cables and allow return of current by the cables. The reflectometry-based method involves injecting a probe signal into a cable coupled to the structures and analyzing the signal reflected by the anomalies. A conductive element is provided for carrying the probe signal at a constant distance from each structure. In one aspect, an insulated conductive element is arranged inside the metal structure and is built into a longitudinal groove in a surface for receiving a longitudinal plastic holder wedged into the structure. The reflected signal from the conductive element is compared to a threshold above which an anomaly is detected, and the anomaly is located by topological correlation. The invention is useful for airplane raceways having a composite skin.

Defects in current return paths are a common type of anomaly, which are in general difficult to localize in electrical assemblies. Thus, in state-of-the-art airplanes with skins made of composites such as carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRCs), the skin can no longer provide the current return path between the passengers and power supplies or provide electromagnetic protection, which functions were in the past provided by the metal skin of the airplane.
To overcome the above, networks of electrical structures are used. These networks incorporate primary metal structural parts and specific conductors. In particular, U-shaped or I-shaped metal structures (or "raceways") are used to support cables along the length of the fuselage or cargo-hold ceiling of an airplane. These raceways consist of elements interconnected by metal braids, and are used both as screens to provide electromagnetic protection, and to support electrical cabling routed over large distances.
However, above all, these raceways provide a return current path for the currents carried by the cables, since they form a low-impedance current line with the cables that they contain. Under these conditions, it is essential to be able to detect the loss of a braid or the degradation of its electrical functions throughout the life cycle of the airplane.
Specifically, the cabling of modern airplanes can be several hundred kilometers in length and reliable diagnosis of the validity of the electrical network is something that is important, even vital.
This detection cannot generally be done with an ohmmeter because the raceways are connected to the ESN at many points—the loss or degradation of a braid is insignificant relative to the total resistance of the ESN. Individual testing of the braids is not possible for reasons of cost, due to their large number and inaccessibility.
Moreover, it has already been envisioned to use reflectometry, a diagnosis method based on the radar principle, to test for defects in electrical circuits. Reflectometry is a diagnosis method based on injecting a test signal into a medium to be diagnosed. Some of the energy of this signal, which propagates according to the propagation law of the medium in question, is reflected back toward the injection point when it encounters a discontinuity. The main advantage of this technique is that only a single circuit access point is required.
For example, patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,215,126 describes a mixed signal reflectometer in which a combined signal is generated comprising a superposition of a test signal injected at a single injection point, and reflections of this signal generated in the circuit. This reflectometer comprises a test signal generator, a detector configured to determine an autocorrelation of the combined signal, and an analyzer configured to evaluate a characteristic of the circuit depending on this autocorrelation.
This solution can be classed among the various known techniques for testing electrical cabling by reflectometry. These techniques comprise generating a test signal, detecting reflected signals, and analyzing these signals, like in the aforementioned apparatus. These techniques either function in the frequency domain (FDR) or in the time domain (TDR) depending on the nature of the injected signal: FDR uses a frequency-modulated sinusoidal signal, and TDR a modulated pulse signal.
Reflectometry may be used to test a network of raceways by coupling this network to electrical cabling composed of insulated cables and placed along the raceways. Each cable is then electrically connected at one of its ends to the associated raceway, and is equipped at its other end with a connector allowing it to be connected to a detecting and analyzing reflectometry device. A transmission line for transmitting the signal is thus created by the presence of cables associated with the ground plane formed by the raceway. Injecting a test signal into the cable via the connector results in a reflected signal, a timing diagram of intensity variations as a function of time.
In the graph obtained via an oscilloscope, using appropriate units, a first "positive" peak appears in the reflected signal, this first peak having a much larger amplitude than that of the other positive peaks: this first peak corresponds to the signal injected at the start of the line. The last "negative" peak (i.e. this peak is inverted relative to the first) corresponds to the signal reflected by the short circuit at the end of the line. Intermediate peaks, which appear between the first and last peaks are due to fluctuations in the impedance of the transmission line. The spectrum obtained is the reference signature of the raceway.
A raceway connection defect, for example disconnection or poor connection of a braid, generates an impedance break. The test signal will reflect from this break. This reflection results in a region of the graph deviating from the reference graph, a reflection peak forming in this region.
Such changes in the spectrum are detected, and the defects thus localized, during maintenance testing, by comparing the actual measurement and the reference signature recorded on delivery.
However, when the defects result in variations in the reflected signal with intensities that are equivalent to or about the same as those of the fluctuations in impedance, it becomes difficult to detect and localize this type of defect. However, the intensity of these fluctuations may be sufficiently large that certain defects go undetected, or become hard to detect.

Method and architecture for detecting inaccessible electrical anomalies by means of reflectometry


The invention involves a focusing flashlight, the flashlight includes the tail cover, housing body, and a reflector and a bulb holder installed in the housing body. Therein, the reflector and the bulb holder are connected to each other by the threads in order to adjust the position of the bulb. Between the reflector and the bulb holder, there is installed a lock device to fix the relative position of the reflector and the bulb holder. The focusing flashlight has a lot of advantages, for example, the focusing performance being reliable, the focusing performance after focusing being unaffected by the rotation of the front cover and the housing head, the structure being simple, and convenient.

The common flashlights can be classified into focusing flashlights and unfocusing flashlights depending on whether the flashlights can focus or not. The focusing flashlights generally perform the focusing by rotating the housing head or the front cover to allow the luminous point of the bulb and the focus of the parabolic reflector to coincide. However, this kind of focusing flashlight has a disadvantage that when the user rotates the housing head or the front cover unconsciously and the focus of the reflector mismatches with the lighting point of the bulb, the lights scatter, and a readjustment of focusing is needed. Unfocusing flashlights fix the relative positions of the reflector and the bulb. The bulbs of some unfocusing flashlights cannot be replaced whereas some others can be replaced. Even if the bulb can be replaced, the flashlight with the replaced bulb is not focused because the actual height of the filament in each bulb is somewhat variable.


A mobile device includes; a power line communication ( ) module that communicates data with an external device via a power line, receives a first preamble signal from the external device during a first preamble interval, receives a voltage signal as the data during a data reception interval following the first preamble interval, and demodulates the voltage signal to provide a demodulated voltage signal, a frequency/duty detector that detects a frequency and a duty of the first preamble signal, and a control circuit that performs signal a data determination operation on a demodulated voltage signal during a data period and using the first detected frequency and the first detected duty.

The inventive concept relates to mobile devices. More particularly, the inventive concept relates to mobile devices capable of providing power line communication and operating methods for same.
Mobile devices transmit and receive data using a variety of techniques. Power line communication is one technique. However, data transmission and reception by mobile devices using power line communication usually require the use of a phase locked loop (PLL) and corresponding data processing (e.g., phase locking or frequency locking) in order to synchronize the communication of data. Further, data degradation or outright data communication failure may occur during power line communication due to noise associated with the power line.
Accordingly, improvements in the stability of power line communication and the efficient of power line communication are needed.

Mobile device for performing power line communication and operating method thereof


The present invention provides an amplifier for a wireless transmitter. In one embodiment, the amplifier includes a signal separator for decomposing an input signal into constant envelope signals and amplifier circuits for amplifying the constant envelope signals. The amplifier also includes a combiner for combining the amplified constant envelope signals to form an output signal that is an amplified representation of the input signal. Linear correction circuits are used to apply gain, phase, and/or delay correction to the constant envelope signals. The corrections are determined based upon a feedback portion of the output signal. Pre-distortion circuits are used to apply a non-linear pre-distortion to the constant envelope signals. The non-linear pre-distortion is determined based upon the feedback portion of the output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to communication systems, and, more particularly, to wireless communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power consumption and power conversion by wireless communication transmitters have historically been poor. Linear amplifiers used in wireless communication networks were only a few percent efficient in the early 90's. More recently, wireless transmitters have implemented "less linear" amplifiers that use digital linearization techniques to achieve efficiencies in the 30-40% range. However, even these efficiencies are now thought to be insufficient. For example, service providers and world governments have increased pressure to decrease energy consumption and have set a target efficiency of more than 40% for future wireless transmitters. Achieving this goal would represent a revolutionary leap in efficiency for wireless transmitters, particularly in, but not limited to, the area of mobile telephony. One technique that could, in theory, achieve the target efficiencies is the so-called LINC transmitter/amplifier approach (LINC: LInear Amplification using Non linear Components).
The concept of LINC amplifiers and Chireix combiners was proposed in 1935 by H. Chireix. Analog circuits were used to construct the first implementations of a LINC amplifier. Although the theoretical foundations for the required signal processing are sound, real-world implementation of the mathematics of Chireix signal processing proved difficult and analog LINC amplifiers have to date failed to achieve the theoretical efficiencies. Using recent advantages in digital signal processing hardware, it is possible to apply the LINC methods to communication signals that conform to air interface standards such as CDMA, UMTS, LTE, OFDM, and combinations thereof. However, attempts to construct commercial implementations of a LINC amplifier for a wireless transmitter have also failed to achieve the theoretical maximum efficiencies. The failure of both the analog and digital approaches to achieve the theoretical efficiencies results, at least in part, from numerous path impairments in LINC systems. The impairments include, but are not limited to, group delay, gain, phase, flatness, and phase loading/pulling of the time varying load. Filtering has typically been used to reduce spurious emissions and current architectures rely on wideband filtering, which can reduce filter insertion losses in some cases.
FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates a conventional LINC amplifier 100 with a combiner 105 such as a Chireix combiner. An input signal 110 is provided to the amplifier 100, which includes a signal separator 115 that decomposes the input signal 110 into two constant envelope signals 120, 125. Each branch of the amplifier 100 includes a non-linear amplifying circuit 130, 135 that is used to amplify the corresponding constant envelope signals 120, 125. The amplified signals 120, 125 are then provided to the combiner 105, which combines the signals to form an amplified signal 140. In theory, the constant envelope signals 120, 125 are amplified by exactly the same gain and propagate through the two branches of the amplifier 120 with exactly the same delays and phase shifts. Consequently, when the constant envelope signals 120, 125 are combined at the combiner 105, they form an amplified signal 140 that is an exact amplified replica of the input signal 110. However, in practice each element in the LINC amplifier 100 introduces slightly different gains, delays, and/or phase shifts, which can significantly degrade the quality of the amplified signal 140.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show simulation results that illustrate the degradation in the reconstructed signal caused by a gain imbalance between two paths in a LINC amplifier. The vertical axis is in decibels and the horizontal axis is in megahertz. In the simulation shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the input signal represents a signal that is transmitted in a bandwidth of approximately 20 MHz that is centered in the figure. The wings of the signal represent noise outside of the transmission bandwidth. The noise level of the simulated input signal is approximately 80 dB below the signal in the transmission bandwidth, as shown in FIG. 2A. The simulation assumes a gain imbalance of 0.1 dB between the two paths of the LINC amplifier. In that case, the reconstructed signal shown in FIG. 2B has a noise floor that is only approximately 10 to 30 dB below the signal in the transmission bandwidth. Thus, the relatively small gain imbalance of 0.1 dB significantly degrades the quality of the reconstructed amplified signal.

High efficiency transmitter for wireless communication


Machines and methods for optimizing data storage among a plurality of data storage repositories are provided. The method comprises processing a data request submitted for storing data on one or more data storage mediums; determining whether duplicate copies of the data are to be maintained on more than one storage medium so that established quality of service requirements are met; and managing duplicate copies of the data on said one or more data storage mediums to meet the established quality of service requirements while servicing the data request.

In a data storage environment, more than one copy of the same data may be stored in different data repositories. Such redundancy is typically needed to support data mining and recovery (e.g., backup or archive services) or to promote system efficiency (e.g., the duplicate copies may be needed for the purpose of concurrent processing). Accordingly, the stability and the quality of service (QoS) in a system may be directly dependent on a structured data redundancy level.
On the other hand, maintaining the resources to support the storage and accessibility of redundant data is expensive. To control costs, optimization techniques such as deduplication are generally used to reduce the amount of redundant data. Duplicate data items may be reduced to single instances to save storage resources. Depending on QoS requirements and system implementation, however, several copies of the same data may need to be retained, despite of the desire to minimize duplication.
Thus, the challenge is to maintain the proper balance in storage optimization without affecting the QoS requirements. For example, where the QoS requirements for the same data across multiple computing platforms is not identical, the global application of a common deduplication technique will be counterproductive, and will adversely affect the QoS. As such, an optimization technique is needed that can support different data storage services across different platforms and help limit data storage costs, without compromising QoS for the provided services.

Optimizing data storage among a plurality of data storage repositories

International Business Machines Corporation


The ablator is made with synthetic resins reinforced so as to resist the mechanical stresses of flexion and abrasion. The resins are reinforced with metallic or non-metallic fibers totally incorporated in them, and are reinforced against wear due to abrasion by a modification in their surface molecular structure by means of a process of ionic implantation or similar procedures. Preferably, the synthetic resins used belong to the group of polyarylamides which exhibit better characteristics of mechanical resistance and of the duration of the sharpened edge of the ablator.

The same applicant has already submitted a patent application on the same matter in which part of the concepts of the present application were already contained (Swiss patent application no. 184/91-6).
Present ablators, which are principally used to remove tartar, bacterial plaque and radicular cement, are manufactured of metal, usually steel.

Hawe-Neos Dental Dr. von Weissenfluh S.A.


A process for the preparation of a melamine condensation product comprising the step of heating a starting material comprising melamine or a melamine salt in the presence of: (i) at least one organic acid, (ii) at least one ammonia or melamine salt of the organic acid, or (iii) a mixture of (i) and (ii), under reaction conditions effective for the formation of the melamine condensation product. The melamine condensation product with a residual condensation agent content of less than 1 wt. % is useful in a moldable polymer composition possessing flame-retardant properties.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for the reparation of a melamine condensation product, and ore particularly, to the preparation of a melamine condensation product that is free of halogens and imparts flame-retardancy.
2. Description of Related Art
Melamine forms melamine condensation products when heated under certain reaction conditions. Ammonia is evolved in the reaction. Similarly, melamine salts form condensation products when heated. Melamine condensation products include melem, melone, and melam, as well as salts thereof. Generally, melam (C.sub.6 H.sub.9 N.sub.11) forms upon heating melamine and/or melamine salts below 315.degree. C. and is a by-product of melamine synthesis. For purposes of the present invention, a melamine condensation product encompasses a product that results from self-condensation of melamine or a melamine salt with the evolution of ammonia. Hence, for example, a melamine condensation product is not the product from the condensation reaction between melamine and, for example, formaldehyde to yield amino resins.
Specific processes relating to the preparation of melam via condensation are described in, for example, V. A. Gal'perin et al., Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 7, No. 11, pp. 2431-2432 (Nov. 1971) and Gavrilova et al., Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 669-670 (March 1977). In laboratory scale experiments, melamine was converted to a salt of melam with use of a ZnCl.sub.2 condensation agent at a temperature between 290.degree. C. and 320.degree. C. Specifically, 3.3 grams of melamine was mixed with 1.7 grams of anhydrous zinc chloride and heated for 1 hour at a temperature of 290.degree. C. in an open tube. The open tube is a so-called stationary system. The product was washed with boiling methanol to remove residual zinc chloride. It was then washed with diluted hydrochloric acid to remove residual melamine. The zinc salt of melam thus obtained contained 87.2 wt. % of melam and 11.8 wt. % of zinc. In an additional treatment to prepare melam from the melam zinc salt, the zinc salt of melam was boiled for 5-7 minutes in a 1% solution of sodium hydroxide. Next, the solution was filtered off and cooled. The precipitate was washed with hot water and dried for 2 hours at a temperature of 170.degree. C. The yield of the product was 2.7 grams.
The percentages of zinc and chlorine in the melam product after this additional treatment were not reported in this reference. In later work, however, the melam product of this reaction was found to have a residual content of 3.5 wt. % of zinc and 1.6 wt. % of chloride. In other words, significant amounts of zinc chloride remain in the melam, even after attempts to remove it.
The presence of zinc and chloride impurities is a significant drawback. Both ions are difficult to wash out. Furthermore, washing zinc and chloride out of the product can result in a high degree of hydrolysis of the melam.
Alternatively, melamine can also be converted to a condensation product like melam on a laboratory scale (e.g. milligram or gram scale) in the presence of inorganic acids as condendation agents. Inorganic acids include HCl, HBr, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and mixtures thereof. The ammonia or melamine salts of these acids can also be used. However, there are drawbacks to these alternative small scale syntheses. These include, among others, a need for high reaction temperature, low yields, a high degree of melamine sublimation, formation of by-products, and halogen residues in the end product. These drawbacks render these alternatives unsuitable for commercial scale (e.g. kilogram- or tonnage-scale) production of a condensation product of melamine.

Polymer composition containing condensation product of melamine


Methods and an apparatus for performing synchronization in New Radio (NR) systems are disclosed. A frequency band may be determined and may correspond to a WTRU. On a condition that the operational frequency band is a lower frequency, a synchronization signal block (SSB) index may be implicitly. On a condition that the operational frequency band is a higher frequency, an SSB index may be determined based on a hybrid method which includes determining the SSB index using both an implicit and an explicit method. A configuration of actually transmitted SSBs may be determined using a multi-level two stage compressed indication where SSB groups are determined based on a coarse indicator and actually transmitted SSBs with the SSB groups are determined based on a fine indicator.

General requirements set out by ITU-R, NGMN and 3GPP, broadly classify the use cases for emerging 5G systems include Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) and Ultra Reliable and Low latency Communications (URLLC). Different use cases may focus on different requirements such as higher data rate, higher spectrum efficiency, low power and higher energy efficiency, lower latency and higher reliability. A wide range of spectrum bands ranging from 700 MHz to 80 GHz may be considered for a variety of deployment scenarios.
As carrier frequency increases, severe path loss can be experienced and may limit coverage. Transmission in millimeter wave systems may also suffer from non-line-of-sight losses such as diffraction loss, penetration loss, oxygen absorption loss, foliage loss or the like. During initial access, a base station and wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) may need to overcome these high path losses and discover each other.

Efficient utilization of SSBs in new radio systems


An infrared detector may include a substrate, a resonant unit spaced apart from the substrate, the resonant unit configured to generate heat by inducing resonance at a plurality of wavelengths of incident infrared light, a thermistor layer configured to support the resonant unit and be spaced apart from the resonant unit, the thermistor layer having a resistance value that varies according to the heat generated in the resonant unit, and a connection unit configured to support the thermistor layer such that the thermistor layer is spaced apart from the substrate and electrically connect the thermistor layer to the substrate.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to infrared detectors, and more particularly, to infrared detectors configured to absorb broadband infrared light.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to the black body radiation theory, an object radiates a broadband electromagnetic wave, the intensity of the radiation being maximized at a specific wavelength that varies depending on a temperature of the object. For example, an object at room temperature radiates infrared light whose intensity is maximized at a wavelength of about 10 μm.
A bolometer is a device for measuring radiant energy by using the black body radiant theory. The bolometer absorbs an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength of radiated infrared light (or terahertz) and measures the radiant energy by converting the electromagnetic wave to heat and detecting a temperature change due to the heat.
Recently, with the development of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology, infrared detectors having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of microbolometers have been developed. Such infrared detectors may be used in, for example, a thermal imaging camera for obtaining thermo images. In order to manufacture a thermal imaging camera having high resolution and high temperature accuracy, it may be desirable to reduce a size of a pixel. However, when the infrared detector uses a bolometer having a Salisbury screen structure, in which a ground plate is spaced apart from a thermal absorber by a distance of λ/4 (where, λ is a center wavelength of a wavelength band of infrared light to be detected), if a size of a screen within a pixel is reduced, incident energy on each pixel may decrease. By decreasing the incident energy provided to each pixel, an amount of temperature change may decrease and a signal-to-noise ratio may also decrease.
Surface plasmon is a type of electromagnetic wave generated due to charge density oscillation occurring at a surface of metal rather than internally as in a Salisbury screen. A bolometer utilizing a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon instead of the Salisbury screen structure has been recently proposed. A bolometer using a plasmonic absorber may overcome the limitations of the low absorbing rate and the low signal-to-noise ratio because of the LSPR.
However, since the plasmonic absorber has a relatively narrow bandwidth, it is difficult to obtain thermo images. Therefore, various methods of increasing a resonance bandwidth of the plasmonic absorber are proposed.


The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a specific pattern detecting unit which detects a background pattern representing additional information from inputted original document image data; an information detecting unit which extracts the additional information represented by the background pattern which is detected by the specific pattern detecting unit; an erase processing unit which erases a prescribed region of the original document image and outputs erase-processed document image data; a re-embedding background pattern generating unit which generates a re-embedding background pattern representing the additional information extracted by the information detecting unit; a background pattern composition processing unit which embeds the re-embedding background pattern into the erase-processed document image data and outputs re-embedded document image data; and a processor which controls the units mentioned above. The apparatus of the present invention is capable of embedding the background pattern again, which has once been lost through the erase function, so as to maintain a background pattern detection rate at a high level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program, and particularly relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program for processing a background pattern representing additional information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with widespread use of digitized image information and development of image information processing technique in recent years, an image processing apparatus has achieved a remarkable development. Such a development results in the image processing apparatus (so-called a MultiFunction Peripheral (MFP), a Scan Print Copy (SPC), or an All In One (AIO)) which is equipped with functions of devices such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and an image scanner by itself. The image processing apparatus of this type has already been commercialized and even now the market of this apparatus is still expanding.
With further improvement of quality in performance and spread of the image processing apparatuses, a copy (such as electronic data, printed matters) which is substantially same as an original document can be prepared more easily than ever before. Therefore, problematic incidents from a viewpoint of information management have been frequently reported. Such incidents involve problems of diffusion and loss of information, with which information copying using the image processing apparatus is assumed to be involved. In response to demands from the market, several prior arts are developed. Below, those prior arts are described.
JP 06-022119 A discloses an image processing apparatus which is capable of identifying the document which requires security protection. This image processing apparatus can embed additional information which is used to identify the document, and also can read out and extract the embedded additional information. When the image processing apparatus duplicates the document in which the additional document is embedded, the image processing apparatus can count up the total number of the copy of the document according to the extracted additional information and duplicates the document with embedding second additional information in the duplicate based on the extracted additional information.
The image processing apparatus of JP 06-022119 A having above mentioned configuration is capable of identifying correspondence between a copied material and a specific material, a person who has copied the material, and the like so that this provides an effect of preventing a document from being copied illegally.
JP 2004-274092 A also discloses an image processing apparatus which is capable of identifying the document which requires maintaining its confidentiality. The image processing apparatus detects a background pattern embedded in background parts of the image of the document, and compares the detected background pattern with a prescribed and stored output prohibition pattern, and prohibits the output of the image of the document when the comparison results in matching.
The image processing apparatus disclosed in JP 2004-274092 A can also provide an effect of preventing a document from being illegally copied.
Both of the two image processing apparatuses mentioned above controls the duplication of a document by embedding the pattern representing predetermined additional information into the document. Typically, this pattern is quietly embedded in a predetermined area of a document in a format where a user can hardly understand the meaning of the information which the pattern represents. The area into which the pattern is embedded may be an arbitrary part of the document. However, an area having a monotonous color tone and a faint color is suitable for the pattern to be detected. In many cases, the suitable area is a peripheral edge part of a document.
However, an image processing apparatus typically has erase functions as optional functions of the copy function such as frame erase, fold line erase (center erase), and out-of-the-document-boundary erase. When copying a document with those erase functions, the background pattern embedded in the peripheral edge part or the central part of the document is also simultaneously erased.
As described above, the background pattern can be embedded and detected even in the area other than the peripheral edge part and the central part of the document. However, a problematic deterioration of the detection rate of the background pattern occurs when the background pattern embedded in the area such as the peripheral edge part is lost by the erase function since the peripheral edge part is advantageous for the embedded background pattern to be detected.
Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


A wireless communication system using radio resources for transmission of backhaul data between one or more mobile stations and at least one network control node, a first backhaul transmission link (L_1) being used for transmission of backhaul data and at least one second backhaul transmission link (L_2) being used for transmission of backhaul data. The first backhaul transmission link (L_1) operates as a main backhaul transmission link and the second backhaul transmission link (L_2) operates as an auxiliary backhaul transmission link, and the second backhaul transmission link (L_2) uses at least a part of the radio resources for transmission of backhaul data when in operation.

Wireless communication systems, such as LTE, WCDMA and WiMAX use a mobile backhaul system for transfer of data between different edge network nodes or between edge network nodes and aggregating nodes higher up in the topological hierarchy of the system. The mobile backhaul is the transmission network connecting base stations to other base stations and other high level nodes in the system like e.g. controllers, gateways, core nodes, etc.
Known communication techniques for transfer of backhaul data is e.g. Ethernet, Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (PDH) and (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) SDH on copper, microwave or fiber. Alternative low cost techniques are e.g. WiFi, ADSL, and Free Space Optics. These low cost techniques are generally considered as unreliable meaning that their offered performance varies depending on external factors like weather conditions, line of sight blocking conditions and interference from external sources, etc.
The problem with unreliable backhauls is that neither capacity nor quality can be guaranteed over time. Therefore, unreliable backhauls are not accepted for mobile backhauling due to the lack of robustness. However, because of the growing interest in deployment of small (low cost) base stations, a need for a likewise low cost backhaul appears. Currently available low cost backhauls do not fulfill the reliability requirements for the mobile backhaul.

Method for transmission of backhaul data in wireless 238communication systems


A single crystal silicon ingot having a constant diameter portion that contains arsenic dopant atoms at a concentration which results in the silicon having a resistivity that is less than about 0.003 Ω·cm.

The present invention generally relates to the preparation of semiconductor grade single crystal silicon, which is used in the manufacture of electronic components. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for the controlled arsenic doping of single crystal silicon, prepared in accordance with the Czochralski method, in order to achieve low resistivity therein.
Single crystal silicon, which is the starting material for most processes for the fabrication of semiconductor electronic components, is commonly prepared by the so-called Czochralski ("Cz") method. In this method, polycrystalline silicon ("polysilicon") is charged to a crucible and melted, a seed crystal is brought into contact with the molten silicon, and a single crystal is grown by slow extraction. After formation of a neck is complete, the diameter of the crystal is enlarged by decreasing the pulling rate and/or the temperature field in the melt until the desired or target diameter is reached. The cylindrical main body of the crystal which has an approximately constant diameter is then grown by controlling the pull rate and the melt temperature while compensating for the decreasing melt level. Near the end of the growth process but before the crucible is emptied of molten silicon, the crystal diameter may be reduced gradually to form a conical opposite end. Typically, the opposite end is formed by increasing the crystal pull rate and heat supplied to the crucible. When the diameter becomes small enough, the crystal is then separated from the melt.
Arsenic is a desirable dopant for single crystal silicon grown by the Czochralski method because, due to the high solubility of arsenic in silicon (e.g., about 4% by weight, or about 2×1021 atoms per cm3, at about 1100° C.), low resistivities can generally be achieved. Conventionally, the silicon melt is doped by feeding arsenic onto the melt surface from a feed hopper located a few feet above the silicon melt level. However, this approach is not favorable because arsenic is highly volatile and readily vaporizes at temperatures higher than 617° C. Thus, when the arsenic contacts the silicon melt surface, which is at a temperature of about 1400° C., it immediately vaporizes and is lost to the gaseous environment in the crystal puller. Vaporization loss of arsenic vapors to the surrounding environment typically results in the generation of oxide particles (i.e., sub-oxides). These particles can fall into the melt and become incorporated into the growing crystal, which is unfavorable because they can act as heterogeneous nucleation sites and ultimately result in failure of the crystal pulling process (due to a loss of zero-dislocation crystal growth).
The sublimation of arsenic granules at the melt surface often causes a local temperature reduction of the surrounding silicon melt, which in turn results in the formation of "silicon boats" around/beneath the arsenic granules; that is, arsenic sublimation at the melt surface results in localized freezing of the melt surface, causing the formation of solid silicon particles which act as "boats," helping the arsenic granules to float on the melt surface. These silicon boats, along with the surface tension of the melt, thus prevent many of the arsenic granules that do reach the melt surface from sinking into the melt, thus increasing the time during which sublimation to the atmosphere can occur. The inability of the arsenic granules to sink into the melt therefore results in a significant loss of arsenic to the gaseous environment and further increases the concentration of contaminant particles in the growth chamber. In fact, typically only about 40% of the arsenic fed into a crystal pulling apparatus actually dissolves into the silicon melt before being lost to the environment. Thus, an extremely large amount of arsenic must be fed into a crystal pulling apparatus especially when attempting grown a low resistivity crystal.
In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that a need continues to exist in the semiconductor industry for a simple, cost effective approach to produce low resistivity, arsenic-doped single crystal silicon by the Czochralski method.

Single crystal silicon ingot having a high arsenic concentration


A method for forming a cold spot region on a discharge tube of a discharge lamp is disclosed. In the method, a discharge tube is formed, and a tubular extension is formed on at least one end of the discharge tube. The tubular extension has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the discharge tube end. The tubular extension is formed so that a free end of the tubular extension extends away from the end of the discharge tube. A reduced thickness portion is formed on the tubular extension. The reduced thickness portion is formed as a membrane.

This invention relates to a method for forming a cold spot region on a discharge tube of a discharge lamp. The invention further relates to a discharge lamp with a cold spot region, where the cold spot region is constituted by a tubular extension located at an end of the discharge tube.
A wide variety of low pressure discharge lamps are known in the art. The majority of such lamps are so-called compact fluorescent lamps. These lamps comprise a discharge tube. The internal surface of the discharge tube is covered by a luminescent material, usually referred to as phosphor, also commonly termed as light powder. The phosphor emits a visible light when excited by UV radiation. The UV radiation is generated by the interaction of a mercury gas fill in the discharge tube, and the electric discharge between two electrodes. For this purpose, certain low pressure discharge lamps contain small doses of mercury. In order to achieve maximum light output, it is required that the mercury vapour is adjusted and stabilised at a well-defined partial pressure. This is possible by forming a so-called cold spot or cold chamber on the discharge tube, and by selecting an appropriate temperature in the cold spot, which is the coldest location of the gas discharge tube during operation of the lamp. Excess mercury condenses in the cold spot, automatically regulating the partial pressure of the mercury. In this manner, the temperature of the cold spot influences the partial pressure of the mercury in the discharge tube, which in turn directly affects the light output of the lamp.
Generally, compact fluorescent lamps having mercury-filled discharge tubes are tuned to provide maximum ligth output with a cold spot temperature of 40–45° C. The cold spot region of the lamp is normally designed to be on a part of the discharge tube which is relatively far from the driving electronics of the lamp, which latter tend to generate excess heat. For example, it is customary to form a cold spot region on the top of the discharge tube. However, this results in compact fluorescent lamps which may loose up to 20% of their light output in the base-down position (i.e. when the lamp base is below the discharge tube), as compared with the base-up position, because the ascending heat from the electronics and the discharge tube heats the cold spot region of the lamp, and the temperature of the cold spot increases to unacceptable levels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,251 discloses a discharge lamp having a discharge tube bent to a special form. The discharge tube is provided with a long tubular extension at one of its ends. This extension serves as a cool region for the condensation of the mercury. The tubular extension is a remaining part of an exhaust tube, which latter is used to evacuate the discharge tube during manufacture. The exhaust tube is tipped off with a solid glass tip-off. It is explained in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,251 that the length of the exhaust tube is chosen to provides an optimum temperature of the cold spot.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,166 discloses an automatic tipping-off apparatus which is specially designed to perform the tipping-off of exhaust tubes of low pressure discharge lamps. Such an apparatus is capable of providing a hermetic sealing of the exhaust tube with an approximate wall thickness of 1 mm. This known apparatus is expressly designed with the aim of providing a uniform thickness of the tip portion of the exhaust tube. It is not taught or hinted that a non-uniform thickness of the exhaust tube could be advantageous.
It has been found that such known methods of providing a cold spot region are not satisfactory for compact fluorescent lamps which are designed to operate in a base-down position, and where the ends of the discharge tube are hidden within the lamp housing. Even with improved ventilation of the lamp housing, the wall thickness of the exhaust tube does not allow sufficient dissipation of the heat from the cold spot. Firstly, there are practical limits to the length of the exhaust tube, as a longer exhaust tube will tend to brake off during manufacture or other handling of the lamp. Secondly, even with a relatively long exhaust tube, the thermal load from the discharge volume is higher than the heat dissipation through the glass wall of the exhaust tube.
Therefore, there is a need for a discharge lamp with a more efficiently cooled cold spot region, which allows the operation of the lamp in a substantially arbitrary position, without any significant loss of the light output. There is also need for a method for manufacturing such a discharge lamp. It is sought to provide a method, which, beside providing the required efficiently cooled cold spot region, is relatively simple and which does not require expensive components and complicated manufacturing facilities, and which may be integrated into various types of existing production lines in a straightforward manner.

Method for forming cold spot region and discharge lamp with such cold spot region

Abstract: A discharge lamp is also disclosed, which comprises a discharge tube with a tubular extension located at an end of the discharge tube. The tubular extension has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the discharge tube end, and the tubular extension comprises a reduced thickness portion. The reduced thickness portion is a membrane, preferably formed of the material of the tubular extension.


Novel diamino acid derivative dual inhibitors of neutral endopeptidase and angiotensin converting enzyme of the formula ##STR1## wherein: Z is amino, lower alkylamino, di-(lower alkyl)amino R.sup.9 C(O)NH-- or an optionally substituted guanidino group;. R.sup.1 is hydrogen or R.sup.7 R.sup.8 N--; PA0 R.sup.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cyclolower alkyl, aryllower alkyl or heteroaryllower alkyl; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or cyclolower alkyl; or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, together with the carbon to which they are attached, comprise a 3-7 membered carboxyclic ring; PA0 R.sup.4 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl lower alkyl or heteroaryllower alkyl; PA0 R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydroxy, lower alkoxy, amino, aryllower alkoxy, lower alkylamino and di-(lower alkyl)amino; PA0 R.sup.7 is R.sup.9 C(O)-- or R.sup.10 SO.sub.2 --; and R.sup.8 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryllower alkyl or aryl; or R.sup.7 and R.sup.8, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, comprise a 5-7 membered ring; PA0 R.sup.9 is lower alkyl, aryllower alkyl, aryl, heteroaryllower alkyl, heteroaryl, lower alkoxy, aryllower alkoxy, amino, alkylamino or dialkylamino; PA0 R.sup.10 is lower alkyl, aryl lower alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl lower alkyl, amino, lower alkylamino, di-(lower alkyl)amino or heteroaryl; PA0 n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; and m is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; PA0 or a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt thereof, useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, are disclosed.

The present invention relates to .alpha.,.omega.-diamino acid derivatives which are dual inhibitors of neutral endopeptidase and angiotensin converting enzyme, useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.
Cardiovascular disorders which may be treated with compounds of the present invention include hypertension, congestive heart failure and renal insufficiency.
The renin-angiotensin system is a complex hormonal system comprised of a large molecular weight precursor, angiotensinogen, two processing enzymes, renin and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and a vasoactive mediator, angiotensin II (A II). The enzyme renin catalyzes the cleavage of angiotensinogen into the decapeptide angiotensin I (A I), which has minimal biological activity on its own and is converted into the active octapeptide A II by ACE. A II has multiple biological actions on the cardiovascular system, including vasoconstriction, activation of the sympathetic nervous system, stimulation of aldosterone production, antinatriuresis, stimulation of vascular growth and stimulation of cardiac growth. A II functions as a pressor hormone and is involved in the pathophysiology of several forms of hypertension.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a zinc-metalloprotease which converts A I to A II. Inhibitors of this enzyme, which have been widely studied, include the drugs captopril, enalapril, lisinopril and spirapril. Although a major mode of action of ACE inhibitors involves prevention of formation of the vasoconstrictor peptide A II, it has been reported in Hypertension, 16, 4 (1990) p. 363-370 that ACE cleaves a variety of peptide substrates, including the vasoactive peptides bradykinin and substance P. Prevention of the degradation of bradykinin by ACE inhibitors has been demonstrated, and the activity of the ACE inhibitors in some conditions has been reported in Circ. Res., 66, 1 (1990) p. 242-248 to be mediated by elevation of bradykinin levels rather than inhibition of A II formation.
Neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24 11; enkephalinase; atriopeptidase; NEP) is a zinc-containing metalloprotease which cleaves a variety of peptide substrates on the amino terminal side of aromatic amino acids. Substrates for this enzyme include, but are not limited to, atrial natriuretic factors (ANF), brain natriuretic peptide, met and leu enkephalin, bradykinin, neurokinin A, and substance P.
Inhibitors of NEP lower blood pressure and exert ANF-like effects such as diuresis and increased cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) excretion in some forms of experimental hypertension. The antihypertensive action of NEP inhibitors is mediated through ANF because antibodies to ANF will neutralize the reduction in blood pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,688 also established the antihypertensive action of NEP inhibitors and that co-administration of an ACE inhibitor and a NEP inhibitor results in a greater reduction of blood pressure than observed with either agent alone. The antihypertensive effect is best manifested under conditions in which the renin angiotensin system is suppressed, as reported by Sybertz et al in J. Parmacol. Exp. Ther., 250, 2 (1989) pp. 624-631 and in Hypertension, 15, 2 (1990) pp. 152-161. For example, NEP inhibitors reduce blood pressure effectively in the Desoxy-corticosterone salt (DOCA) hypertensive rat, a volume-dependent, renin-suppressed model of hypertension, but are less effective under conditions in which the renin-angiotensin system is activated, such as in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and in the two kidney Goldblatt hypertension model. Studies in the SHR and in the two-kidney Goldblatt hypertension model using a prodrug of the NEP inhibitor N-[2(S)-mercaptomethyl-3-(2-methylphenyl)propionyl]-methionine in combination with the ACE inhibitor spirapril demonstrated the greater efficacy of the combination compared to either drug alone. However, this interaction was inhibited in SHR which had been nephrectomized, a manipulation which markedly suppresses renin levels.
An explanation of this interactive effect of ACE inhibitors and NEP inhibitors on blood pressure is that suppression of the renin angiotensin system allows for full expression of the ANF-like antihypertensive effect of the NEP inhibitor. A II and ANF exert opposite effects on the cardiovascular system and it has been proposed by Johnston et al in Am. J. Med., 87, (Suppl 6) (1990) p. 24S-28S that these two hormonal systems act to counterbalance one another.
Compounds possessing dual activity as NEP-ACE inhibitors have been reported. European Patent Publication EP 0358398 discloses cycloalkyl-substituted glutaramides of the formula ##STR2## wherein: A completes a 5 or 6 membered carbocyclic ring; R.sup.1 is H or alkyl; R and R.sup.4 are H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, benzyl or an alternative biolabile ester-forming group; Y is a bond or an alkylene group; R.sup.2 is H, aryl, heterocyclyl, or a carboxamido, carbamoyl, sulfamoyl or sulfonamido group; and R.sup.3 is a group of the formula ##STR3## wherein the benzene ring of said group is optionally substituted;
European Patent Publication EP 0474553 discloses actinoin derivatives of the formula ##STR4## wherein R.sup.1 is sulfoxymethyl, carboxyl, carboxamido, hydroxyaminocarbonyl or alkoxycarbonyl; and R.sup.2 is hydroxy, alkoxy, hydroxyamino or sulfoxyamino;
European Patent Publication EP 0481522 discloses compounds of the formula ##STR5## wherein: A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 are independently H or --COOR.sub.4 ; provided that where A.sub.1 is H, A.sub.2 is --COOR.sub.4, and where A.sub.1 is --COOR.sub.4, A.sub.2 is H;
B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 are independently H, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, aryl or aryl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl); or, where B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 are attached to adjacent carbon atoms, B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 together with the carbons to which they are attached comprise a benzene or methylenedioxy ring; PA0 R.sub.2 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, --CH.sub.2 --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --O--CH.sub.3, aryl or aryl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl); PA0 R.sub.3 is H, acetyl, --CH.sub.2 --O--C(O)--CCH.sub.3, or benzoyl; PA0 R.sub.4 is H, --CH.sub.2 --O--C(O)--CCH.sub.3, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, diphenylmethyl, aryl or aryl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl); and PA0 n is 0 or 1; PA0 R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a group of the formula R.sup.7 R.sup.8 N--; PA0 R.sup.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cyclolower alkyl, aryllower alkyl or heteroaryllower alkyl; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or cyclolower alkyl; or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, together with the carbon to which they are attached, comprise a 3-7 membered carbocyclic ring; PA0 R.sup.4 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl lower alkyl or heteroaryllower alkyl; PA0 R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, lower alkoxy, amino, aryllower alkoxy, lower alkylamino and di(lower alkyl)amino; PA0 R.sup.7 is R.sup.9 C(O)-- or R.sup.10 SO.sub.2 --; and R.sup.8 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryllower alkyl or aryl; or R.sup.7 and R.sup.8, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, comprise a 5-7 membered ring; PA0 R.sup.9 is lower alkyl, aryllower alkyl, aryl, heteroaryllower alkyl, heteroaryl, lower alkoxy, aryllower alkoxy, amino, lower alkylamino or di-(lower alkyl)amino; PA0 R.sup.10 is lower alkyl, aryl lower alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl lower alkyl, amino, lower alkylamino, di-(lower alkyl)amino or heteroaryl; PA0 n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; PA0 m is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;
having activity as inhibitors of both neutral endopeptidase and angiotensin converting enzyme; and Gros, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88, (1991) pp 4210-4214, discloses dual inhibitors of ACE and NEP of the formula ##STR6## wherein R is H or CH.sub.3 C(O)--, R.sup.1 is H or benzyl, and R.sup.2 is H or methyl.

Diamino acid derivatives as antihypertensives


A composition for application to solid, keratinous surfaces comprising 0.01-80% of a thio-free keratinous protein cross-linking agent, 1-75% of a solvent, and 0.01-35% of a film former, and a method for strenghthening keratinous surfaces by applying the composition of the invention.

Consumers are constantly concerned about brittle, chipped, nails and dry, flyaway hair. Particularly for nails, there are many products which claim to strengthen nails and promote the growth of strong, healthy nails. For example, it is well known that formaldehyde and derivatives thereof are effective in strengthening nail keratin because such compounds are said to cross-link the proteins found in nail keratin. However, formaldehyde in particular, is generally considered undesireable for use on nails because it is known to be a sensitizer, particularly if used in the concentrations which are necessary to achieve appreciable nail hardening.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,000 teaches a method for treating human nails and hair with dimethylol thiourea, which is said to improve strength and elasticity. The patentee teaches that if compositions containing dimethylol thiourea are applied to nails or hair, these substrates are more resistant to cracking, splitting, laminating, or similar problems. While these compositions may work well, dimethylol thiourea contains sulfur, thus may have an unpleasant odor which consumers find unattractive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,553 also teaches compositions used to strengthen and revitalize brittle or damaged nails, which contain 2-benzylthio ethylamine, another sulfur containing compound. This compound also contains sulfur and may provide an odor which consumers find unattractive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,363 teaches a two part composition for strengthening nails. The first composition contains dimethylol ethylene thiourea and the second composition contains a polymerizable catalyst which contains an acid such as hydrochloric acid. The two compositions are mixed and applied to nails. This system is inconvenient because it requires the mixture of two separate compositions prior to use, which makes it more difficult for the consumer to use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,959 teaches nail strengthening compositions which contain a permeation/binding agent, a thio cross-linking agent, and a chelating agent.
There is a need for compositions which further strengthen solid keratinous surfaces and, particularly with respect to fingernails, provide improved hardness, strength, and elasticity to the nail surface.

Compositions for application to keratinous substrates and a method for strengthening such substrates


A drive train of a fluid flow power plant, in particular of a wind power plant or of a tidal power plant, includes a rotor hub that bears at least one rotor blade and a transmission that has a plurality of planetary stages. The transmission is configured to transmit a rotational movement of a rotor shaft connected to the rotor hub to a drive of a downstream generator in a stepped-up fashion. The rotor hub, the transmission, and the generator are arranged coaxially with respect to one another. The transmission is embodied as a power-split transmission with three planetary stages so as to form a suitable transmission ratio of a rotational movement of the rotor shaft on the drive of the generator in a compact fashion.

The disclosure relates to a drive train of a continuous-flow power plant, in particular a wind power plant or a tidal power plant, comprising a rotor hub which carries at least one rotor blade, and a gear mechanism which has a plurality of planetary stages and effects stepped-up transmission of a rotary movement of a rotor shaft connected to the rotor hub to a drive of a downstream generator, wherein the rotor hub, the gear mechanism and the generator are disposed coaxially with respect to one another.
EP 20 31 273 A1 has disclosed such a drive train of a wind power plant, in which a rotary motion of a rotor hub can be introduced into a gear mechanism by means of a rotor shaft connected to the rotor hub. Then, a rotary motion of the rotor shaft is stepped-up via the gear mechanism and transmitted to a generator shaft of a downstream generator, the gear mechanism for this purpose being composed of two successive planetary stages. In this case, a sun wheel of the first planetary stage is configured integrally with the rotor shaft, while a ring gear of the first planetary stage is fixed to a surrounding casing, so that a rotary motion of the sun wheel of the first planetary stage is stepped up and converted into a rotary motion of a planet carrier of the first stage, which at an axial extension simultaneously also forms a planet carrier of the second planetary stage. At the second planetary stage, the planet gears then mesh with a likewise stationary ring gear and a sun wheel coupled to the generator shaft. In this way, the overall effect is that the slow rotary motion of the rotor shaft can be converted into a rotary motion which is therefore suitable for operating the generator. The rotor hub, the gear mechanism and the generator are positioned coaxially to one another.
Starting from the prior art described above, the object of the present disclosure is that of providing a drive train of a continuous-flow power plant in which a suitable transmission of a rotary motion of a rotor shaft, via a gear mechanism, to a drive of a downstream generator can be provided in a compact way.


Sealing assemblies are illustrated for heaters, pumps, conduits, and the like for handling process fluids used in the semiconductor-processing industry. Clean, particle-free, nonreactive, non-trapping, ultra-pure, thermally tolerant, sealed systems are required to maintain process fluids with contaminant levels below parts per billion, or even trillion. A lip seal connects a tube, having a lip at each end, to a face of a creeping material. A creeping fluorocarbon sealing material may form the interface for reducing stress concentrations on the tube, and for providing a consistent reliable seal between the lip and the creeping face. A face seal between creeping faces may be effected by a creeping sealant there between. The faces may be loaded entirely by their own creeping structural materials. No flanges are required. In certain embodiments, retaining rings may be provided for preventing unrestrained creep of sealing assemblies. Heat soaking may accelerate primary creep and expanded fluorocarbon materials may provide creeping sealants having inherent dimensional stability in at least one dimension without relying on fillers or fibers of other materials.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to semiconductor processing technology and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for sealing joints, conduits, pumps, and heaters carrying ultra-pure fluids for processing operations.
2. The Background Art
Chemically clean environments maintained for handling pure de-ionized (DI) water, acids, chemicals, and the like, must be maintained free from contamination. Leakage into or out of a liquid must be eliminated. Moreover, leaching and chemical reaction between any contained fluid and the carrying conduits must be eliminated.
In particular, the semiconductor manufacturing industry relies on numerous processes. Many of these processes require transportation and heating of DI water, acids and other chemicals. Whereas other industries may require purities on the order of parts per million of contaminants, the semiconductor industry may require purities on the order of parts per trillion.
Several difficulties exist in current systems for heating, pumping, and carrying process fluids (e.g. acids, DI water, etc.). By clean or ultra-pure is meant that gases or liquids cannot enter or leave a conduit system to produce contaminants above permissible levels. To obtain and maintain a clean conduit system, traps are to be avoided. Traps may be small passageways, nooks, crannies, threads, or dead ends, where chemicals may break down over time to form contaminants. Likewise, particulate matter may accumulate in such traps.
Currently, a system is needed that is both durable and responsive for heating process fluids. For example, many immersion heaters exist in the prior art. Immersion heaters place a heating element, typically sheathed in a coating, directly into the process fluid. The heating element and process fluid are then contained within a conduit. A failure of a sheath may directly result in metallic or other contamination of the process fluid.
Contamination in a process fluid may destroy tens of thousands of dollars in value by introducing contaminants into a process. Temperature transients in immersion heaters may overheat a sheath. Temperature transients in radiant heaters may fracture a rigid conduit.
Material transitions between parts fitted together and made of the same material, and of parts fitted together and made from different materials are of substantial interest. Monolithic parts (e.g. long sections of continuous tubing) may be formed of a suitable material. However, fittings to connect other fluid couplings to such a monolithic part may create traps, introduce new materials, create problems in sealing, perpetuate leaks, or the like.
It is desired to provide heating without an immersion-heating element. It is also of interest to provide trap-free, leak-free, non-reactive, reliable, durable, and consistent transitions between ultra-pure, non-reactive parts, whether of the same or of different materials. In particular, it is desired to form a fluorocarbon part transitioning to another fluorocarbon part with a stable seal. Also desired is transition of a quartz, particularly a fused quartz, conduit transition to a fluorocarbon part.
Fluorocarbons have a substantial amount of creep or inelasticity inherent in their mechanical properties.
Elevated temperatures are required in semiconductor processing. Temperatures over 100.degree. C., especially those sustainable over 120.degree. C. may be required. In certain instances, temperatures as high as 180.degree. C. may be approached. Thus, it is desired to provide a chemically clean, particle-free, fully flushable, leak-free system for pumping, heating, carrying, and otherwise handling ultra-pure fluids at elevated temperatures. Durable seals having minimum of maintenance, reduced or eliminated maintenance while maintaining a clean, non-reacting environment, are needed. It is preferred that all heating, pumping, and carrying of process fluids include virtually no possibility of contact with any metals regardless of the ostensibly non-reactive natures of such metals, regardless of a catastrophic failure of any element of a transfer or conduit system.

Ultra-pure, non-reactive, elevated-temperature seal assembly