Medical devices and methods for removing a predetermined portion of soft tissue from a target tissue layer, thereby creating a channel between two side walls of the target tissue layer, are described. The medical device is a cutting tool comprising: an elongated round body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a uniform outer cross-section at a proximal side thereof; a cutting portion at a distal side of the elongated body, comprising at a distal end thereof a cutting edge of a first cross-section being smaller than said outer cross-section, and a distally and continuously decreasing outer cross-section; and a chamber extending along the longitudinal axis inside the cutting tool from said cutting portion, the chamber having dimensions enabling storing of the removed soft tissue portion inside the chamber thereby providing a validation to the channel creation.

Removing tissue from the body is solicited in various scenarios including for diagnosis or treatment purposes. For example, in biopsy procedure, a sufficiently small tissue specimen is acquired in order to undergo examination outside the body. Usually, the shape of the specimen or the cavity left at the site of the removed tissue have low or 10 no importance, the body heals from the injury leaving apparently no traces. In another example, tissue is removed in order to create paths for drainage of excessive liquids such as in Glaucoma condition (excessive intra ocular pressure).
Several surgical procedures are practiced to treat Glaucoma and/or elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Filtering surgeries are used to gain access to the inner layers of the eye in order to create a drainage channel from the anterior chamber to the external surface of the eye under the conjunctiva, allowing aqueous humor to seep into a bleb from which it is slowly absorbed. Filtering surgeries are divided into either penetrating or non-penetrating types depending upon whether an intraoperative entry into the anterior chamber occurs. Scar formation at the site of operation may block aqueous humor circulation. Surgical adjuvants may be used to facilitate healthy tissue regeneration and keep created drainage channels functional.
Trephination to create ab interno sclerostomies was reported by Brown et al (Brown R H, Lynch M G, Denham D B, et al. Internal sclerectomy with an automated trephine for advanced glaucoma. Ophthalmology 1988; 95:728-734), and by SHIHADEH et al (Wisam A. Shihadeh, M D, Robert Ritch, M D, Jeffrey M. Liebmann, M D. Rescue of failed filtering blebs with ab interno trephination. Cataract Refract Surg 2006; 32:918-922), as a way of performing filtering procedures, after failure of other procedures due to blocking, while maintaining the integrity of the overlying conjunctiva at the treated site.
General Description
The present invention provides a novel technique for removal of tissue from the body. The technique of the present invention is particularly effective and useful in the controlled removal of soft tissue, e.g. by creating a well-defined, timely-controlled channel inside tissue. The technique of the present invention also provides for verifying the channel's creation and its dimensions, without a need for using external verification techniques such as imaging, by retrieving and preserving the shape of the tissue removed. It should be noted that a "channel" as used herein means a pathway created in the tissue after removal of a corresponding tissue piece from the body. No parts, such as implant(s), are left in the body to create or maintain the integrity of the channel. Other expressions that are used interchangeably herein are "hole", "void" and "pathway". Specifically, the unique technique allows for controllably creating a channel in one or more adjacent target tissue layers being part of a multilayered tissue structure while preserving the one or more tissue layers covering/preceding and/or following the target tissue layer(s). Further, the unique technique provides the user with on-line feedback referring the success of the channel creating procedure by verifying the removed tissue volume and shape. The length and/or the diameter, of the removed tissue (e.g. having a cylindrical shape) matches/indicates about the length and/or diameter of the created channel. Minimizing the applied deformation on the removed tissue keeps it as close as possible to its original length and/or diameter, thereby providing improved and better real time feedback.
It is noted that the words "tissue layer" as used herein can mean a single tissue layer or a group of layers such as adjacent stacked layers (a multilayer) or a group of distinct layers. However, generally, the single tissue layer is the default meaning. Also, the "tissue layer" refers often to a tissue wall having a specific thickness and two sides (outer and inner, or proximal and distal) such that the channel/hole created therein extends between the two sides of the tissue wall.
For example, the channel may be a channel in the sclero-corneal junction of a subject's eye, which may be used to treat glaucoma by reducing intraocular pressure through providing fluid communication between the anterior chamber of the eye and the interface between the episclera and the conjunctiva tissues.
In the above-described literature (Brown et al and Shihadeh et al), the Ab interno trephination technique involve invasively introducing the surgical device into the anterior chamber of the eye through an incision made in the cornea opposite to the site of channel creation. This procedure is demanding, it depends heavily on the expertise of the surgeon and on the ability to accurately visualize the route of the surgical device inside the anterior chamber parallel to the iris into the filtration angle. It is also risky to vital organs such as the iris and lens as well as the angle structures that cannot be directly visualized unless an additional gonioscopic lens is used. This intraoperative gonioscopic lens is only rarely used even by glaucoma surgeons.
In contrast, the present invention provides a safe, minimally-invasive (Ab externo) and blazingly fast (in the order of seconds), highly-effective technique. As such, the present invention provides an opportunity for combined surgery by combining several surgical operations, for example combining treatment of high intraocular pressure according to the invention, together with cataract surgery, thus saving time and effort from both the surgeon and the patient.
Although, as described above, the present invention is advantageous in its Ab externo application, the device of the present invention can also be safely and effectively applied in Ab interno procedure, because as will be further detailed below, the device includes an outer part that functions as a protector that is configured to protect organs of the eye, including internal organs, such as the iris, when utilized in Ab interno configuration.
At different sites in the body, the target tissue in which the channel has to be made underlies or precedes other tissue(s). In such a situation, the challenge is even greater because harm to the surrounding tissue(s) or adjacent should be avoided. One example is creating a channel in the sclera while keeping the conjunctiva intact. The medical device of the present invention is configured, in the Ab externo application, to optimize the remote penetration through the outer, first, tissue (e.g., conjunctiva) followed by cutting inner, second, tissue (e.g., sclera) to form a channel, while the minimal force possible is applied, such that the hole created in the upper tissue (conjunctiva) heals almost immediately leaving no traces. On the other hand, in the Ab interno application, the device, while being actually inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye, its construction and way of action ensure that no harm is caused to other organs, including the outer conjunctiva, while it creates a channel in the scelra tissue from inside.
Further, the medical device of the present invention is configured for easy automatic or semi-automatic operation, relieving burden from surgeon and providing him continuous feedback over the whole surgical procedure. The technique of the present invention aids the surgeon in safe positioning of the device inside the tissue to be cut while still allowing him/her control over the channel's three-dimensional orientation.
Moreover, the device of the present invention may incorporate authentication or validation features by retaining form/specimen of tissue removed from the body during the channel creation. The shape of the cutting tool of the device also provides enhanced trapping of the removed tissue within the cutting tool and prevents or minimizes the chances of leaving the removed tissue within the tissue wall such as the eye wall.
The channel created by the technique of the present invention is advantageous, for example in comparison to other techniques that leave implant(s) inside the tissue so to insure the drainage of fluid, because nothing is left in the tissue, except for the created void/hole/channel extending between the two side walls of the specific target tissue layer or multilayer, as the case may be. In other words, the created channel is a hole through the tissue with no artificial tube/shunt left inside the target tissue at all. Therefore, the created channel can be dynamic acting as a pressure regulator, i.e. it can regulate its drainage capacity by changing its size based on the pressure acting on its both ends. When the pressure gradient increases the channel opens/increases its size accordingly, and when the pressure gradient decreases the channel closes/decreases its size accordingly.
The range of sizes of the channel can be controlled by the geometry and size of the device that creates the channel. In the specific example of creating a channel in the eye wall, to treat elevated TOP for example, the present invention is advantageous in achieving the channel creation and verification in the micro scale, as the desired dimensions of the drainage channel are typically about 0.1-0.2 mm in diameter and 1-1.5 mm in length, supposing a substantially cylindrical shape for the channel and the matching removed tissue. The present invention accomplishes the targets above in the micro level while overcoming the limitations of the currently available techniques. Inter alia, available techniques may be used to produce tools having tissue receiving cavities of up to about 0.5 mm length with the required above-mentioned diameter. However, this is not suitable for creating a substantially cylindrical channel within the eye wall that has a 1.5 mm length. The technique of the present invention enables creating cutting tools with micro-scale desired dimensions in diameter and length, thereby enabling to preserve the shape of the removed tissue to be used for verification of the channel creation.
Generally, the medical device of the present invention is configured to operate in three distinct phases, a positioning phase characterized by an essentially linear advancement of the device along its linear longitudinal axis through one or more tissue layers until reaching the target tissue and stabilizing there inside the target tissue by an anchoring/sticking portion of an outer part of the device, a channeling phase during which an inner rotatable cutting tool of the device is rotated around its linear longitudinal rotation axis and then advanced to project from the outer part of the device and progress inside the target tissue to cut tissue of the target tissue and create the channel with the desired dimensions (diameter, cross-section area, length . . . ), and a withdrawal phase in which the inner rotatable cutting tool is withdrawn from the target tissue into the outer part of the device and the whole device is retracted from the body. The withdrawal phase may be with or without rotation of the inner rotatable cutting tool depending, inter alia, on the tissue characteristics (kind, stiffness, region in the body), the time of operation and the desired channel shape. Typically, the outer part does not rotate during any of the phases and it only moves straight forwards and backwards on the linear longitudinal axis of the device. Generally, the outer part functions as a protective shaft, that protects the surrounding tissue during advancement of the device until reaching the target tissue, and as a stabilizing part such that its front (distal) portion is inserted/anchored/stuck in the target tissue to enable stable activation and performance of the inner rotatable cutting tool during the channeling phase.
Thus according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a medical device for removing a predetermined shape of soft tissue from a target tissue layer thereby leaving a matching channel with predetermined geometry and orientation between two side walls of the target tissue layer, the device comprises coaxial outer and inner elongated members extending along axis X;
said outer member comprises an open distal side and a first distal part configured for sticking to said target tissue layer (or multilayer), during forward axial movement;
said inner member comprises a second distal part configured to rotate and project distally through said open distal side to said predetermined shape of the soft tissue from the target tissue layer and create said channel formed as a hole through the target tissue layer or multilayer.
In some embodiments, the first distal part is configured for penetrating at least one other tissue layer preceding the target tissue layer during the forward axial movement.
In some embodiments, the first distal part comprises a tissue piercing tip at its distal end configured and operable to penetrate said at least one other tissue layer and said target tissue layers and a proximal portion at its proximal side configured and operable to penetrate said at least one other tissue layer and to stop at said target tissue layer, thereby sticking said outer member in the target tissue layer.
In some embodiments, said first distal part has a mid-portion between said tip and said proximal portion having a shape and an orientation that complement a shape and an orientation of said second tissue layer.
In some embodiments, the first distal part has a predefined length such that said tip does not exit distally from said target tissue layer.
In some embodiments, the proximal portion is a rim of said outer member, formed by cutting a section of wall of the outer member along said axis X.
In some embodiments, the inner member is fixedly attached to and housed within said outer member during said forward axial movement of the outer member.
In some embodiments, the outer member is manually moved during said forward axial movement until its said sticking in the second tissue layer.
In some embodiments, the inner member, while rotating, is manually moved along said axis X to create the channel.
In some embodiments, the device comprises a constant-force moving mechanism configured and operable to move said inner member, while rotating, along said axis X under a constant force. In some other embodiments, the device comprises a constant rate moving mechanism configured and operable to move said inner member, while rotating, along said axis X with a constant rate.
In some embodiments, the device comprises an electric motor configured and operable for axially moving and/or rotating said inner member.
In some embodiments, the device comprises a cavity for collecting tissue cut from said target tissue layer during creation of said channel. In some embodiments, the cavity is located within said inner member. In some embodiments, the cavity is located in a space between said inner and outer members.
In some embodiments, the second distal part of said inner member is open at its distal end and comprises a round cutting edge configured to attach to and cut soft tissue while rotating. The inner member may comprise a chamber for retaining a full shape of tissue cut from said second tissue layer during creation of said channel.
In some embodiments, the inner member comprises:                an elongated round body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a uniform outer diameter at a proximal side thereof,        a cutting portion at a distal side of the elongated body, comprising at a distal end thereof a round cutting edge of a first diameter being smaller than said outer diameter and a distally and continuously decreasing outer diameter, and        a cavity extending along the longitudinal axis inside the cutting tool from said cutting portion, the cavity having dimensions matching said soft tissue shape, wherein said tissue shape is cylindrical and has a length of about 1.5 mm and a diameter of between about 0.1 mm and about 0.2 mm.
In some embodiments, the inner member comprises:                an elongated round body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a uniform outer diameter at a proximal side thereof,        a cutting portion at a distal side of the elongated body, comprising at a distal end thereof a round cutting edge of a first diameter being smaller than said outer diameter and a distally and continuously decreasing outer diameter, and        a cavity extending along the longitudinal axis inside the cutting tool from said cutting portion, the cavity having a length of at least the length of the removed tissue,
wherein said cavity has a cavity diameter smaller than said first diameter at a distal end of the cavity and which increases continuously towards a proximal end of the cavity.
In some embodiments, the inner member comprises:                an elongated round body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a uniform outer diameter at a proximal side thereof,        a cutting portion at a distal side of the elongated body, comprising at a distal end thereof a round cutting edge of a first diameter being smaller than said outer diameter and a distally and continuously decreasing diameter, and        a cavity extending along the longitudinal axis inside the cutting tool from said cutting portion, the cavity having a length of at least the length of the removed tissue,
wherein said cavity has a constant cavity diameter being equal to said first diameter, and wherein said first diameter is between about 0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm.
In some embodiments, the inner member comprises a tissue trapper comprising a slit formed in a wall of the body of the inner member along at least part of said cavity. In some embodiments, the slit is formed by tangential cutting of the wall of the body of the inner member, said device thereby further comprising an outer cavity located between the inner and outer members. In some embodiments, the slit is formed by radial cutting of the wall of the inner member.
In some embodiments, the second distal part of said inner member is configured as a drill bit configured for removing soft tissue.
In some embodiments, the rotating of said second distal part comprises clockwise and anti-clockwise reciprocal movement.
In some embodiments, the tissue piercing tip is configured as a lancet.
In some embodiments, the first distal part of the outer member is formed by cutting the outer member in the direction of the axis X along a curved line chosen to provide smooth penetration, at a distal segment of the first distal part, with increasing resistance-to-progression force, at a proximal segment of the first distal part.
In some embodiments, the at least one other tissue layer comprises the conjunctiva and/or the tenon and said target tissue layer is the episclera and/or the sclera and/or the cornea of an eye.
In some embodiments, the predetermined geometry of the channel is selected to enable pressure regulation of a treated eye over a predetermined time period.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cutting tool for removing a portion of soft tissue from a target tissue layer in an eye while being rotated and progressed, thereby creating a channel between two side walls of the target tissue layer enabling fluid to pass through the channel, the cutting tool comprising:                an elongated round body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a uniform outer cross-section at a proximal side thereof,        a cutting portion at a distal side of the elongated body, comprising at a distal end thereof a cutting edge of a first cross-section being smaller than said outer cross-section, and a distally and continuously decreasing outer cross-section, and        a chamber extending along the longitudinal axis inside the cutting tool from said cutting portion, the chamber having dimensions enabling storing of the removed soft tissue portion inside the chamber thereby providing a validation to the channel creation.
In some embodiments, said chamber has a chamber cross-section smaller than said first cross-section at a distal end of the chamber and which increases continuously towards a proximal end of the chamber.
In some embodiments, said chamber has a constant chamber cross-section being equal to the first cross-section.
In some embodiments, said first cross-section is circular having a diameter between about 0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm.
In some embodiments, said removed soft tissue portion is substantially cylindrical with a cross-section having a diameter of between about 0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm.
In some embodiments, said removed soft tissue portion has a length of up to 1.5 mm.
In some embodiments, said chamber has a length of up to 1.5 mm.
In some embodiments, an inner surface of the chamber is coated with a friction-lowering composition.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for producing a cutting tool used in cutting soft tissue, the cutting tool comprising a distal cutting portion having at a distal end thereof a round cutting edge of a first diameter and a cavity extending for a predetermined length along a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool from said cutting portion and comprising a cavity diameter being either constant or increasing proximally along the predetermined length, the method comprising:                providing a tool comprising at a distal side thereof a hollow cylinder having uniform outer and inner diameters and extending along at least said predetermined length, wherein said inner diameter is larger than said first diameter,        shaping a distal portion of the hollow cylinder with a predetermined pattern such that both said inner and outer diameters decrease towards a distal end of the hollow cylinder and such that said first diameter is larger than said inner diameter and is smaller than said outer diameter at the distal end, and        removing a slice of the hollow cylinder along said distal portion, such that the inner diameter at the distal end is substantially equal to said first diameter and the inner diameter at a proximal end of the distal portion is substantially equal to said cavity diameter.
In some embodiments, said shaping of the distal portion is carried out by swaging and/or spinning technique(s).
In some embodiments, said shaping of the distal portion is carried out by tapering technique.
In some embodiments, said predetermined pattern is linear.
In some embodiments, said predetermined pattern is non-linear.
In some embodiments, said cavity diameter is equal to said first diameter.
In some embodiments, the method further comprising: sharpening said round cutting edge from an internal side of the cutting portion, thereby providing that the cavity diameter at a proximal end of the cutting portion being smaller than the first diameter. In some embodiments, said cavity diameter increases proximally.
In some embodiments, the method further comprising coating an inner surface of said cavity with a friction-lowering composition.
In some embodiments, said predetermined length is at least 1.5 mm.
In some embodiments, said cavity diameter at a proximal side of the cavity is between 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm.
In some embodiments, said uniform outer and inner diameters of the hollow cylinder are about 0.3 mm and 0.16 mm respectively.
In some embodiments, after shaping, said outer and inner diameters of the hollow cylinder at the distal end are about 0.27 mm and 0.13 mm respectively.
In some embodiments, said distal portion of the hollow cylinder has a length along the longitudinal axis of between about 1 mm to about 2 mm.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting tool for removing a predetermined shape of soft tissue while revolving and progressing, thereby leaving a matching channel between two walls of the soft tissue, the cutting tool being produced according to the method described above.
According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for removing a portion of soft tissue from a target tissue layer of the eye to enable drainage of excessive fluid from inside the eye, the method comprising:
providing a device comprising a soft-tissue cutting tool extending along an axis X, the cutting tool comprising an elongated proximal part attached to a proximal handle for gripping the device, a distal part having an open distal end and a distal cutting edge configured to attach to and cut the soft tissue portion, and a chamber extending inside the cutting tool from said open distal end to receive the cut soft tissue portion;
positioning the device at a first point with respect to the eye;
advancing the device along the axis X until contacting said target tissue layer;
rotating and distally progressing at least the distal part of the cutting tool into the target tissue layer to thereby cut and remove the soft tissue portion, extending between two side walls of the target tissue layer, by said distal part of the cutting tool, and storing the removed soft tissue portion in the cavity, thereby creating a channel of a predetermined geometry across the target tissue layer;
retracting at least the distal part proximally out of the target tissue layer; and
withdrawing the device out of the body substantially along the axis X, thereby leaving the created channel allowing the drainage of the excessive fluid therethrough.
In some embodiments, the method comprising repeating said positioning, rotating and progressing, and retracting steps for a plurality of times to create a respective plurality of channels at respective plurality of locations at said target tissue layer.
In some embodiments, said rotating and progressing are done manually.
In some embodiments, said rotating includes reciprocal clockwise and anticlockwise rotations.
In some embodiments, the method is done ab interno such that said advancing of the device is done inside the anterior chamber of the eye.

Device and method for creating a channel in soft tissue

TEL HASHOMER MEDICAL RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND S


In a discharge lamp lighting apparatus, a power supplied to a discharge lamp La through a DC-DC converter 1 and an inverter 2 is controlled depending on detection results of a lamp voltage detection unit 6 and a lamp current detection unit 7, and in an electrode heating period an alternation time of an output to the discharge lamp when starting actuation of the discharge lamp is set longer than an alternation time in a steady lighting period, and the alternation time in the electrode heating period is increased depending on lowering of a supply power or current to the discharge lamp. Thus, even when a lamp current is suddenly changed, the discharge lamp is prevented from going off at the time of polarity inversion without lowering a life.

FIG. 30 shows a conventional example 1 of a lighting apparatus disclosed in Document 1 (Japanese Patent Unexamined Laid-open Publication No. 9-73991). The conventional example 1 of the lighting apparatus comprises a DC power supply E, a lighting switch S, a DC-DC converter 1, a low-frequency inverter 2, an igniter 4, a discharge lamp La, and a control circuit 5. The control circuit 5 controls an output power so as to be a set value by detecting an output voltage and an output current of the DC-DC converter 1 as a lamp voltage and a lamp current of the discharge lamp La, calculating a lamp power from the detection results, and driving a switching element Q0 via a PWM drive unit 9 using an output power command value obtained based on the calculation result.
As shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, when the discharge lamp La is actuated to be turned on, there is provided a period for inverting an output polarity of an inverter 2 (referred to as "electrode heating period", hereinafter) at a frequency fd i.e., long inversion cycle) lower than an inversion frequency ft which is used at the time of a normal operation. The inversion frequency is set by an inversion frequency setting unit 10.
When the discharge lamp La is actuated to be turned on, if an OFF period before the discharge lamp is turned on is relatively long and an electrode temperature of the lamp is low, a lamp current detection value for the electrode heating period is great. Meanwhile, if the OFF period before the discharge lamp is turned on is short, since the electrode temperature at the time of start of lighting is higher as the OFF period is shorter, the lamp current detection value for the electrode heating period is small.
Thus, there is provided a control unit for varying an inversion cycle for the electrode heating period depending on the lamp current detection value. Thus, since the inversion cycle for the electrode heating period is increased as the lamp current detection value is smaller, the discharge lamp can be turned on in a state in which the electrode of the discharge lamp is sufficiently heated up. As a result, the discharge lamp is prevented from going off when the output polarity is inverted in the inverter circuit, so that the discharge lamp can be surely moved to a stable lighting state. In addition, according to the conventional example 1, the set value of the inversion cycle is varied only depending on the lamp current detection value or a lamp current accumulated value.
According to a conventional example 2 disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Laid-open Publication No. 2002-216982), a discharge lamp is prevented from going off by adjusting an inversion cycle for an electrode heating period, without using a lamp current detection value or a lamp current accumulated value as shown in the conventional example 1. In this conventional example 2, an accumulated value of a lamp voltage detection value, an inverse number of the lamp voltage detection value, a lamp current command value and an accumulated value of the lamp current command value are used for adjusting an inversion cycle.
Since the lamp current just after the discharge lamp is turned on is greatly fluctuated, there may be a case that the current value is not accurately detected in the conventional example 1. Thus, as means for solving the above problem, there is suggested a control in the conventional example 2 as described below. That is, in order to provide a stable lighting operation, there is set an open loop control period in which a switching element for controlling a power of the DC-DC converter is driven at a given frequency or on duty. Then, a lamp voltage and a lamp current for the open loop control period are used as initial values of the lamp voltage and the lamp current detection values at the time of the start of the electrode heating period. Thus, an accurate and stable adjustment for the inversion cycle can be achieved for the electrode heating period.
In this conventional example 2, the set value of the electrode heating period is varied only depending on the accumulated value of the lamp voltage detection value, the inverse number of the lamp voltage detection value, the lamp current command value and the accumulated value of the lamp current command value.

Discharge lamp lighting apparatus and lamp system using the lighting apparatus


A method and apparatus are described that may be used to provide decoupled rotation of structures about different pivot points. The apparatus may include one or more fixed blades mounted to a frame or substrate, one or more movable blades mounted to each structure to be moved, and flexures on which the structures are suspended. Separate movable blades may be provided for each degree of freedom. When voltage is applied between the fixed and movable blades, the electrostatic attraction generates a force attracting movable blades toward blades that are fixed relative to the moveable blades, causing a structure to rotate about the flexures. The angle of rotation that results may be related to the size, number and spacing of the blades, the stiffness of the flexures and the magnitude of the voltage difference applied to the blades. The blades are fabricated using deep silicon etching.

Prior parallel-plate actuators, such as the example illustrated in FIGS. 1A (top view), 1B (side view), and 1C (side view), are typically designed with gaps 13 that are significantly larger than the stroke range of the actuator. When a voltage is applied between two electrode plates 15 and 10, an attractive force is produced between the electrode plates that rotates plate 10. Because the maximum rotation is determined by the separation, or gap 13, between the two electrode plates 15 and 10, there must be a large separation in order to obtain a large deflection. The gap 13 needs to be much larger than absolutely necessary for the physical movement of electrode plates 15 and 10, because if the electrodes approach too closely to each other (e.g., less than about ⅓ of gap 13), a point of instability is reached where the electrodes 15 and 10 may snap together.
Because the force produced by a parallel-plate actuator is proportional to (voltage/gap)2, as gap 13 increases, the voltage must also go up with the square of the distance in order to achieve the same force. With the movement of the structure, electrode plates 15 and 10 do not remain parallel to each other and gap 13 between them decreases. Hence, the voltage required to move electrode plates 15 and 10 a given distance is high, nonlinear, and constantly changing. This may require more complex electronics to control the actuator that may be difficult and costly to build. Also, the use of a large gap may result in cross-talk between adjacent actuators in an array.
Moreover, on the extremely small scale of these actuators, problems are introduced by the need to run conductors for the voltages very close together. With higher voltages, interactions between conductors are hard to avoid and in extreme cases, arcing between conductors will occur, leading to damage to the device. Current parallel plate actuators having a useful range of movement typically require voltages of 300 volts or higher.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,988 entitled Compound Stage MEM Actuator Suspended For Multidimensional Motion discloses the use of interlocking comb fingers as X-Y axis actuators for nested stages of MEMs devices. The levitation force produced by comb fingers can also be use to generate torsional actuators. Nevertheless, the primary limitation of comb fingers is on the stroke range. The levitation force produced by comb drives is limited to approximately the same distance that the comb fingers are spaced. This typically makes deflections greater that 5 to 10 microns (μm) very difficult. Deflections greater than 50 μm may be needed, however, for mirror actuator applications, which may not be possible to achieve with the comb finger actuators.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electrostatic actuator for microelectromechanical systems and methods of fabrication


A thickener-rheology modifier system for use in hair care and skin care compositions comprising:                a) a hydrophobically modified, alkali-soluble copolymer thickener comprising an aqueous emulsion copolymer of:                    i) from about 5 to 70 weight percent of α, β ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer of the formula:

This invention relates to a thickener-rheology modifier system for personal care compositions and particularly for hair and skin care compositions comprising the combination of a hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble thickener and a polysaccharide hydrocolloid or gum-type thickener or polyalkylene glycol, preferably with a surfactant and more preferably with boric acid.
Polymeric water-soluble thickening agents are widely known and used in many aqueous systems including coating applications, household and personal care products. Carboxyl-containing copolymers produced by the addition or free-radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and that swell or solubilize to thicken aqueous media on neutralization are commonly referred to as alkali-swellable or alkali-soluble thickeners. Hydrophobically modified or associative alkali-soluble thickeners have been developed to provide enhanced thickening properties. A description of alkali-soluble thickeners (AST) and associative AST's can be found in an American Chemical Society article by G. D. Shay entitled "Alkali-Swellable and Alkali-Soluble Thickener Technology", 1989, pp. 457–493.
While different thickeners including associative alkali-soluble thickeners have been disclosed in various applications, there still is the desire to find a system which provides suitable thickening as well as other rheological properties needed for personal care applications. This invention provides a thickener-rheology modifier system which significantly improves the thickening properties of alkali-swellable thickeners and also improves rheology characteristics of gel textures and emulsions from brittle/cuttable to more flowable, shear thinning and makes the products aesthetically acceptable for personal care use.

Thickener-rheology modifier system for personal care compositions

Abstract: where R is H and R1 is H, C1–C4 alkyl, or —CH2COOX; R is —COOX and R1 is H or —CH2COOX; and R is CH3 and R1 is H, C1–C4 alkyl or —CH2COOX; and X is H or C1–C4 alkyl;                ii) from about 10 to 90 weight percent of a nonionic, copolymerizable, α, β ethylenically unsaturated monomer of the formula:CH2═CYZ

Abstract: where Y is H or CH3 and Z iswhere R is C1 to C4 alkyl; and                iii) from about 1 to 30 weight percent of a hydrophobically modified, α, β ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer of the formula:

Abstract: where R is an alkyl group of 6 to 22 carbon atoms or an alkaryl of 8 to 22 carbon atom, x is an average number of from about 6 to 200, y is an average number of from about 0 to 50 and A is residue of an unsaturated carboxylic acid having the formula:

Abstract: were R′ is H, —COOH or CH3 and R″ is H, CH3, —COOH or —CH2COOH; and                b) a polysaccharide hydrocolloid or gum or polyalkylene glycol.

Abstract: Preferably the thickener-rheology modifier system will contain a surfactant and more preferably will contain boric acid.

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation


A flip-flop circuit is constituted of two latch circuits of the same structure that are cascaded. The latch circuits each includes an inverter formed of a P channel transistor and an N channel transistor, an N channel transistor connected between a common node and a ground node, and two data input/output terminals. Two kinds of clock signals supplied to gates of N channel transistors are complementary to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and particularly to a latch circuit and a flip-flop circuit retaining data.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a structure of a conventional flip-flop circuit described in IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Electronics, vol. E78-C, No. 12, December 1995, pp. 1746-1753.
Referring to FIG. 9, the flip-flop circuit includes transmission gates TG1-TG8, inverter gates INV1-INV4, a first data input terminal DI, a second data input terminal DIB, a first clock input terminal CK, a second clock input terminal CKB, a first data output terminal DO, and a second data output terminal DOB. Each of the transmission gates TG1-TG8 is constructed of a set of P channel MOS transistor and N channel MOS transistor connected in parallel.
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a structure of each of the inverter gates INV1-INV4 shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 10, the inverter gate includes a supply voltage node VDD, a data input terminal IN, a data output terminal OUT, a P channel MOS transistor connected between supply voltage node VDD and data output terminal OUT and having its gate connected to data input terminal IN, a ground node, and an N channel MOS transistor connected between the ground node and data output terminal OUT and having its gate connected to data input terminal IN.
The inverter gate outputs, data at a high level (supply voltage) if data supplied to data input terminal IN is less than a logic threshold voltage of the inverter gate (generally an intermediate voltage between supply voltage and ground voltage), and data at a low level (ground voltage) if data supplied to data input terminal IN is more than the logic threshold voltage of the inverter gate, to data output terminal OUT.
An operation of the flip-flop circuit shown in FIG. 9 is next described referring to timing charts of FIGS. 11A-11C.
At time T1, a signal at the high level is applied to the first data input terminal DI, and a signal at the low level is applied to the second data input terminal DIB. Those signals applied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB are here supposed to be first data DATA1. At this time, when a signal at the high level and a signal at the low level are respectively supplied to the first and second clock input terminals CK and CKB, transmission gates TG1 and TG2 are turned off and transmission gates TG3-TG6 are turned on. Transmission gates TG7 and TG8 are turned off.
At time T2, if the signal supplied to the first clock input terminal CK goes down to the low level, and the signal supplied to the second clock input terminal CKB attains the high level, transmission gates TG1 and TG2 are turned on, an output from inverter gate INV2 is set to the low level by the high level signal supplied to the first data input terminal DI, and an output from inverter gate INV1 is set to the high level by the low level signal supplied to the second data input terminal DIB. At this time, transmission gates TG3-TG6 are turned off and transmission gates TG7 and TG8 are turned on.
At time T3, the signal supplied to the first data input terminal DI goes down to the low level, and the signal supplied to the second data input terminal DIB goes up to the high level. These signals are here supposed to be second data DATA2. Simultaneously, the signal supplied to the first clock input terminal CK attains the high level and the signal supplied to the second clock input terminal CKB goes down to the low level at time T3. Consequently, the second data DATA2 applied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB is separated from an internal circuit since transmission gates TG1 and TG2 are turned off. At this time, transmission gates TG3 and TG4 are turned on, the low level signal output from inverter gate INV2 is supplied to inverter gate INV1 via transmission gate TG4, and the high level signal output from inverter gate INV1 is supplied to inverter gate INV2 via transmission gate TG3. Consequently, the first data DATA1 supplied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB is retained by a closed loop latch circuit constituted of inverter gate INV1, transmission gate TG3, inverter gate INV2, and transmission gate TG4. Since transmission gates TG5 and TG6 are also turned on at this time, an output signal of inverter gate INV1 is supplied to inverter gate INV4 via transmission gate TG5, and an output signal of inverter gate INV2 is supplied to inverter gate INV3 via transmission gate TG6.
As a result, the first and second data output terminals DO and DOB output the first data DATA1 at time T3.
At time T4, when the signal supplied to the first clock input terminal CK goes down to the low level and the signal supplied to the second clock input terminal CKB attains the high level, transmission gates TG1 and TG2 are turned on. Consequently, transmission gates TG1 and TG2 set the output node of inverter gate INV1 to the low level, and the output node of inverter gate INV2 to the high level. The second data DATA2 is thus taken. At this time, transmission gates TG3-TG6 are turned off and transmission gates TG7 and TG8 are turned on. Accordingly, the first and second data output terminals DO and DOB continuously output the first data DATA1, while the first data DATA1 is retained by a closed loop latch circuit constituted of inverter gate INV3, transmission gate TG7, inverter gate INV4 and transmission gate TG8.
The flip-flop circuit shown in FIG. 9 has a function, as described above, of receiving data signals supplied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB in synchronism with clock signals applied to the first and second clock input terminals CK and CKB, temporarily retaining the data signals, and outputting the data signals from the first and second data output terminals with phase therebetween shifted.
According to the description above, the signal supplied to the first data input terminal DI changes its state from the high level to the low level, and the signal changing its state from the low level to the high level is supplied to the second data input terminal DIB to which an inverted signal of the signal applied to the first data input terminal DI is supplied (an operation from the time T1 to the time T5). However, the flip-flop circuit similarly operates from the time T5 to the time T7 regardless of change in signal level.
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional latch circuit. The flip-flop circuit shown in FIG. 9 is structured by serially connecting such latch circuits in two stages. As shown in FIG. 12, the latch circuit includes transmission gates TG1-TG4, inverter gates INV1 and INV2, a first data input terminal DI, a second data input terminal DIB, a first clock input terminal CK, a second clock input terminal CKB, a first data output terminal DO, and a second data output terminal DOB.
An operation of the latch circuit is described referring to timing charts of FIGS. 13A-13C. Referring to FIG. 13A, at time T1, a high level signal is supplied to the first data input terminal DI, and a low level signal is supplied to the second data input terminal DIB. The signals supplied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB are herein supposed to be first data DATA1. At this time, if a high level signal is supplied to the first clock input terminal CK and a low level signal is supplied to the second clock input terminal CKB, transmission gates TG1 and TG2 are turned off and transmission gates TG3 and TG4 are turned on.
Referring to FIG. 13B, at time T2, if the signal applied to the first clock input terminal CK goes down to the low level and the signal supplied to the second clock input terminal CKB goes up to the high level, transmission gates TG1 and TG2 are turned on, the high level signal applied to the first data input terminal DI allows an output node of inverter gate INV2 or the second data output terminal DOB to have voltage at the low level, and the low level signal supplied to the second data input terminal DIB allows an output node of inverter gate INV1 or the first data output terminal DO to have voltage at the high level. Accordingly, the first and second data output terminals DO and DOB output the first data DATA1 as shown in FIG. 13C. At this time, transmission gates TG3 and TG4 are turned off.
As shown in FIG. 13A, at time T3, the signal supplied to the first data input terminal DI goes down to the low level and the signal supplied to the second data input terminal DIB goes up to the high level. The signals applied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB are herein supposed to be second data DATA2. At time T3, as shown in FIG. 13B, the signal supplied to the first clock input terminal CK attains the high level and the signal supplied to the second clock input terminal CKB goes down to the low level. Consequently, the second data DATA2 supplied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB is separated from an internal circuit since transmission gates TG1 and T2 are turned off. At time T3, transmission gates TG3 and TG4 are turned on. Accordingly, a low level signal output from inverter gate INV2 is supplied to inverter gate INV1 via transmission gate TG4, and a high level signal output from inverter gate INV1 is supplied to inverter gate INV2 via transmission gate TG3. As a result, a closed loop latch circuit constituted of inverter gate INV1, transmission gate TG3, inverter gate INV2 and transmission gate TG4 latches the first data DATA1 supplied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB, while the first and second data output terminals DO and DOB continuously output the data.
At time T4, when the signal supplied to the first clock input terminal CK goes down to the low level and the signal supplied to the second clock input terminal CKB goes up to the high level, transmission gates TG1 and TG2 are turned on, the output node of inverter gate INV2 attains the high level, and the output node of inverter gate INV1 goes down to the low level.
Accordingly, a low level signal is output from the first data output terminal DO, and a high level signal is output from the second data output terminal DOB. In other words, the second data DATA2 is output.
The latch circuit has a function of, as described above, receiving data signals supplied to the first and second data input terminals DI and DIB synchronously with clock signals supplied to the first and second clock input terminals CK and CKB, and outputting the data signals from the first and second data output terminals DO and DOB with phase therebetween shifted. According to the description above, the signal supplied to the first data input terminal DI changes its state from the high level to the low level, and the signal changing its state from the low level to the high level is supplied to the second data input terminal DIB to which an inverted signal of the signal supplied to the first data input terminal DI is applied (time T1-time T4). However, the latch circuit similarly operates after time T4.
Both of the flip-flop circuit and the latch circuit described above have a function of receiving the data signals synchronously with the clock signals and outputting them with phase shifted. However, the phase between the data signals output from the latch circuit is shifted, compared with that of the flip-flop circuit, by 1/2 period of the clock signals.
FIG. 14 shows a structure of a circuit which buffers a clock signal or a data signal supplied to the flip-flop circuit shown in FIG. 9 or the latch circuit shown in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 14, the circuit includes a signal input terminal CIN, an inverter gate INV5 connected to signal input terminal CIN, a second output terminal CKOB connected to inverter gate INV5, an inverter gate INV6 connected to inverter gate INV5, and a first output terminal CKO connected to inverter gate INV6.
When a high level signal is applied to signal input terminal CIN, a high level signal is output from the first output terminal CKO via inverter gates INV5 and INV6, and a low level signal is output from the second output terminal CKOB via inverter gate INV5.
When a low level signal is input to signal input terminal CIN, a low level signal is output from the first output terminal CKO, and a high level signal is output from the second output terminal CKOB.
The circuit thus generates two signals complementary to each other based on one input signal. Signals generated by the buffer circuit are respectively supplied to the first data input terminal DI, the second data input terminal DIB, the first clock input terminal CK, and the second clock input terminal CKB of the flip-flop circuit shown in FIG. 9 or the latch circuit shown in FIG. 12. If the buffer circuit is used for the clock signals, the output terminals of the buffer circuit are connected to four P channel MOS transistors and four N channel MOS transistors of the flip-flop circuit, or the output terminals are connected to two P channel MOS transistors and two N channel MOS transistors of the latch circuit.
The flip-flop circuit shown in FIG. 9 has twelve (12) P channel MOS transistors and twelve (12) N channel MOS transistors, and the latch circuit shown in FIG. 12 has six (6) P channel MOS transistors and six (6) N channel MOS transistors. Therefore, a disadvantage thereof is a large occupied area of a circuit.
In addition, when the buffer circuit is used for the clock signals, two output terminals of the buffer circuit are connected to four P channel MOS transistors and four N channel MOS transistors of the flip-flop circuit, or connected to two P channel MOS transistors and two N channel MOS transistors of the latch circuit as described above. Problems in these cases are that a large load capacitance of the output terminal and a highly large power consumed by the buffer circuit used for the clock signals for charging and discharging of the load capacitance.

Latch circuit and flip-flop circuit reduced in power consumption


A variable optical attenuator includes an optical fiber on an incident side and an optical fiber on an emission side; a polarization rotator element that includes a liquid crystal layer and a pair of substrates that are arranged in such a manner that the liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the substrates; and a Savart plate that is arranged between the optical fibers and the polarization rotator element. In the polarization rotator element, rotation of a polarizing direction is controlled by controlling a birefringence characteristic of liquid crystal, which is controlled by controlling alignment of the liquid crystal layer.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable optical attenuator and an optical filter that includes the variable optical attenuator.
2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, large-capacity high-speed optical communications have been promoted. Accordingly, bandwidth extension is in increasing demand. To respond such demands, various optical devices have been developed and introduced. For example, a tunable filter technology such as a wavelength selection switch and a dynamic gain equalizer for Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) in optical communications is an important technology in a dynamic optical network.
To achieve a tunable filter with high resolution, a free-space optical system has been suggested, which includes a lens, a diffraction grating, and an optical device with pixelized optical elements formed in an array. In such a free-space optical system, a light beam incident from outside via an optical fiber on an incident side (hereinafter, "incident-side optical fiber") is branched to a predetermined optical element pixel of the optical device, and the light branched is reflected from the optical element pixel. The light reflected is then multiplexed to enter (be coupled to) an optical fiber on an emission side (hereinafter, "emission-side optical fiber"), and is then emitted to outside.
In the free-space optical system, an amount of light entering the emission-side optical fiber can be adjusted by the optical device. In this example, the optical device corresponds to a variable optical attenuator that adjusts an amount of attenuation of incident light so as to adjust the amount of light. For such variable optical attenuator, which is formed in an array, for example, a technology of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) has been developed and applied, such as MEMS of an analog tilt mirror scheme or of a diffraction type, and a digital micromirror device (DMD).
There is another type of a variable optical attenuator that uses a liquid crystal technology besides the technology of MEMS. Such variable optical attenuator is one of important options for achieving a tunable device that meets the demands for the dynamic optical network, because of such advantages as large birefringence of liquid crystal, easy integration with a standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit, and a high degree of maturity of liquid crystal technology derived from a technology for a liquid-crystal display.
Unlike the variable optical attenuator based on MEMS technology, the variable optical attenuator based on the liquid crystal technology does not require a movable component. In the MEMS, due to the movable component, such as a mirror, internal or external disturbances, such as friction, stiction (a phenomenon in which a movable component is attached to another component), vibration, and electrification are caused. Such troubles may be a factor of a failure in the variable optical attenuator. Therefore, there is a high possibility of failures in such variable optical attenuator based on the MEMS. On the other hand, in the variable optical attenuator based on the liquid crystal technology, the movable component is not required. Therefore, there is no possibility of failures due to such problems, and thus, the variable optical attenuator based on the liquid crystal technology has higher reliability.
Moreover, the variable optical attenuator based on the MEMS generally requires a higher driving voltage than that in the variable optical attenuator based on the liquid crystal technology. Furthermore, because of the movable component, a manufacturing process tends to be complex in the variable optical attenuator based on the MEMS. Compare to the variable optical attenuator based on the MEMS, the variable optical attenuator based on the liquid crystal technology requires a lower driving voltage and lower manufacturing cost. In addition, the variable optical attenuator based on the liquid crystal technology can be formed in a reduced size, and is suitable for integration with the standard CMOS circuit.
FIG. 28 is a schematic of a conventional variable optical attenuator that includes a liquid crystal element (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-13477). As shown in FIG. 28, an incident light L271 emitted through a fiber collimator 271 enters a polarized beam splitter 272 on an incident-side. The polarized beam splitter 272 is a polarizing and separating unit, and separates the incident light L271 into a p-polarized light beam and an s-polarized light beam. Both the p-polarized light beam and s-polarized light beam enter a liquid crystal element 276, which is a polarization rotator element.
The liquid crystal element 276 is formed with two pieces of 45-degree-twisted nematic liquid crystal cells (hereinafter, simply "liquid crystal cells") 274 and 275 that are laminated, and that are formed such that each of the liquid crystal cells 274 and 275 adjusts an applied voltage independently. In a process where the p-polarized light beam and the s-polarized light beam entering the liquid crystal element 276 pass through the liquid crystal cells 274 and 275, the amount of light emitted from the liquid crystal element 276 is adjusted.
The light beams emitted from the liquid crystal element 276 further enter a polarized beam splitter 273 on an emission side. The polarized beam splitter 273 is a polarized-light combining unit, in which the light beams are multiplexed. The light beams multiplexed are emitted as emitted light beams L272 and L273 from side surfaces 273a and 273b of the polarized beam splitter 273 via fiber collimators 278 and 279, respectively.
In the conventional variable optical attenuator described above, the polarized beam splitter 272 and the polarized beam splitter 273 are required to be provided separately on the incident side and the emission side. Therefore, the number of components increases, thereby making it difficult to reduce the size of the variable optical attenuator. Furthermore, such structure increases the manufacturing cost, and makes the manufacturing process complex.
In addition, in the process in which the p-polarized light beam and the s-polarized light beam pass through the polarized beam splitter 272 and the polarized beam splitter 273, a difference in optical path length occurs between the polarized beams. As a result, polarization mode dispersion (PMD) of the variable optical attenuator is deteriorated.
Moreover, if a polarization axis of each of the polarized beam splitter 272 and the polarized beam splitter 273 is not arranged at an appropriate angle with respect to a liquid crystal director of the liquid crystal element 276, polarization dependent loss (PDL) occurs.

Variable optical attenuator and optical filter


A process for fabricating a recessed field oxide area comprises providing a substrate having isolation stacks and first and second recesses having openings therein, the first recesses being wider than the second recesses. The recesses can have a depth in the approximate range of 200.ANG.-3000.ANG.. Next, the first and second recesses are lined with nitride, and the substrate is blanketed with a conformal material which bridges the openings of the second recesses but not the openings of the first recesses. The conformal material and the nitride is removed from horizontal surfaces of the isolation stacks, and essentially all of the conformal material is removed from the first recesses. At least a portion of the conformal material is left in the second recesses. Subsequent to the step of removing the conformal material, the substrate and the conformal material is oxidized to create field oxide areas at the first and second recesses.

As device dimensions decrease in size, and device density increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to build an efficient and reliable isolation process to separate active devices. The limits of the standard local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) process have motivated the search for new isolation schemes.
The conventional, non-recessed, LOCOS-type process will not be adequate much below 0.9 .mu.m active area-field pitch. This is the pitch which is suitable for the 16M DRAM, but is not suitable for the 64M DRAM generation.
Isolation for 256 Mb and greater density DRAMs, and 64 Mb and greater density SRAMs can not use standard LOCOS for isolation. Some of the problems with current isolation schemes are physical encroachment size, field oxide thinning effect, poor electrical isolation, and processes which are complicated and expensive.
One new isolation scheme is Poly Buffered LOCOS (PBL), which employs a thin polysilicon layer between the oxide and nitride films in the LOCOS stack.
PBL facilitates design rule shrinking and smaller cell size required for submicron and sub-half-micron device fabrication. This isolation scheme utilizes an oxide/poly/nitride sandwich to block oxidation of the active areas during field oxidation growth. The presence of the intermediate poly layer allows the oxide to be thinned and the nitride thickened without generating undue stress in the active areas in order to reduce encroachment during the field oxidation step.
One PBL method is referred to as ONO PBL because an oxide/nitride/oxide sandwich is used between the substrate and the polysilicon layer. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,892, issued Oct. 25, 1994, entitled "An Etch Stop Useful in Avoiding Substrate Pitting with Poly Buffered LOCOS," also assigned to Micron.
Another isolation scheme is known as recessed Poly Buffered LOCOS. See for example, Shimizu, et al. "A Poly-Buffer Recessed LOCOS Process for 256 Mbit DRAM Cells."
Generally, recessed PBL processes lead to two main problems. The first one is the formation of a sharp comer at the active area field edge which leads to a higher leakage under positive bias on the gate. The second problem is the formation of a groove or indentation in the shape of a ring around the active areas. This groove can later lead to the generation of a stringer around the active area after etching, thereby causing a short. For a solution to this problem see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,694, entitled "Advanced Process for Recessed Poly Buffered LOCOS," also assigned to Micron.

Method of trench isolation during the formation of a semiconductor device


The present disclosure provides a device. In an embodiment, a device for dispensing a fluid under pressure is provided and includes:                (A) a flexible container comprising four panels, each panel formed from a flexible multilayer film composed of one or more polymeric materials, the four panels forming                    (i) a body, and            (ii) a neck;                        (B) a fitment comprising a top portion and a base, the base composed of a polymeric material, the base sealed in the neck;        (C) a sleeve bag on valve assembly (SBoV) comprising                    (i) a valve housing,            (ii) a core tube attached to the valve housing,            (iii) a bag around the core tube, the bag attached to the valve housing,            (iv) a sleeve surrounding the bag and the core tube, and            (v) a valve seat;                        (D) the SBoV inserted through the fitment and located in the body; and        (E) the valve seat attached to the fitment.

The present disclosure is directed to a flexible container with a spray valve, and a flexible container with a propellant-free pressurized dispensing system in particular.
Flexible packaging is known to offer significant value and sustainability benefits to product manufacturers, retailers and consumers as compared to rigid, molded plastic packaging or metal containers. Flexible packaging provides many consumer conveniences and benefits, including extended shelf life, easy storage, microwavability and refillability. Flexible packaging has proven to require less energy for creation and creates fewer emissions during disposal.
Flexible packaging includes flexible containers with a gusseted body section. These gusseted flexible containers are currently produced using flexible films which are folded to form gussets and heat sealed in a perimeter shape. The gusseted body section opens to form a flexible container with a square cross section or a rectangular cross section. The gussets are terminated at the bottom of the container to form a substantially flat base, providing stability when the container is partially or wholly filled. The gussets are also terminated at the top of the container to form an open neck for receiving a rigid fitment and closure.
Known are bag-on-valve (BoV) dispensing systems that utilize an elastic sleeve disposed around a fluid-filled inner bag. Actuation of the valve triggers contraction of the elastic sleeve which expels the fluid contents from the bag without a propellant. A drawback of conventional BoV systems is the use of outer enclosures that are rigid, and typically made from rigid plastic, or metal.
A need exists for a flexible container that can spray deliver a fluid composition under pressure. A need further exists for a flexible container that can spray deliver a fluid composition under pressure and also reduce raw material and shipping costs, improve recyclability after product is depleted, and reduce waste volume and disposal costs.


A treatment system for removing metal ions from water. Contaminated water is first passed through a nanofiltration membrane system, and then through one or more columns having ion-extracting materials therein. The nanofiltration membrane system involves at least one and preferably multiple nanofiltration membrane units which are capable of removing metal ions from water. To remove any residual metal ions from the permeate generated by the nanofiltration membrane system, the permeate is passed through at least one and preferably multiple columns filled with porous polymer beads having metal ion extracting agents therein (e.g. biomass materials). As a result, highly purified water is produced. When saturated with ions, each bead-containing column is successively cleaned with acid solutions.

The present invention generally relates to water treatment systems, and more particularly to the use and operation of a water treatment system designed to effectively remove dissolved metallic wastes from water.
Industrial, mining, agricultural, and various natural processes often produce considerable amounts of waste water. This water is frequently contaminated with a variety of undesirable materials ranging from organic solvents to heavy metal ions. The removal of dissolved metals (e.g. metal ions) from water is of particular importance, especially with respect to ions of the following metals: group II(A) metals, transition metals (e.g. including but not limited to nickel, copper, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, iron, manganese, chromium, and silver), group III(A) metals (e.g. thallium), group IV(A) metals (e.g. lead), as well as various metalloids/semimetals within groups V(A) and VI(A) including but not limited to arsenic and selenium. These materials may present considerable environmental and toxicity problems. Thus, it is important that they be removed from waste water in an efficient manner and disposed of properly.
Many chemical and physical techniques have been developed for removing dissolved metals (e.g. metal ions) from water. For example, as described in Ying, Wei-Chi, et. al., "Precipitation Treatment of Spent Electroless Nickel Plating Baths", Journal of Hazardous Materials, 18:69-89 (1988), one procedure involves the precipitation of metal ions with caustic soda or lime. In the alternative, one recently-developed, highly efficient technique involves the use of polymer materials (preferably in the form of beads or other small units) having metal ion extracting agents therein. These materials are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 429,236 filed on Oct. 18, 1989 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,511. They specifically involve polymeric beads made of polysulfone, cellulose acetate, or other organic polymers having various metal ion extracting agents therein. Exemplary metal ion extracting agents include but are not limited to selected biomass materials (e.g. peat moss, yeast, algae, molds, xanthan gum, guar gum, alginates, and mixtures thereof). Other extracting agents include but are not limited to triisooctyl amine, di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid, trioctyl methylammonium chloride, 2-hydroxy-5-dodecylbenzophenone oxime, and di-2-4,4-trimethylpentyl phosphinic acid.
Exemplary bead materials are prepared by first dissolving high-density polysulfone in an organic solvent known in the art (e.g. dimethylformamide [DMF]). Next, the desired biomass materials or chemical extractants are mixed with the polysulfone-DMF mixture. To facilitate this procedure, the biomass/extractants may first be adsorbed onto activated carbon.
After this step, inert metal powders (e.g. magnetite) may be combined with the mixture to increase bead density and/or impart magnetic properties to the beads. Finally, the mixture is injected through a nozzle into water, whereby porous, spherical beads preferably ranging in size from about 1/64 to 1/4 inches in diameter are immediately produced. The beads have a relatively intricate internal pore structure, with the biomass/extractants being immobilized/entrained therein. It is preferred that the beads be fabricated from mixtures containing about 75-200 g of polysulfone per liter of solvent. It is also preferred that polar solvents be used to produce the beads, and other representative solvents which may be used include but are not limited to dimethyl sulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, and mixtures thereof. Other biomass materials of interest include penicillium mold and common duckweed (Lemna sp.).
The polymeric units (e.g. beads) described herein are highly efficient in removing dissolved metals (e.g. metal ions) from waste water. Specifically, dissolved metals in the waste water flow into the internal pore structures of the polymeric units where they are retained therein by the biomass materials/chemical extractants. However, in order to efficiently use the polymeric units for large scale water treatment purposes, they must be periodically "regenerated". Regeneration (e.g. cleaning) involves the removal of collected metals from the polymeric units so that they may be reused.
The present invention specifically provides an improved method for water treatment in which a rapid and efficient procedure is disclosed for removing metal ions from water using the foregoing polymer beads in combination with a unique and highly effective metal ion filtration system. This method greatly facilitates and improves the entire water treatment process and enables highly contaminated waste streams (e.g. waste water contaminated with dissolved metals) to be readily decontaminated. Accordingly, the present invention represents an advance in the art of water purification technology, as described in detail herein.

Multi-stage water treatment system and method for operating the same

Harrison Western Environmental Services, Inc.


An apparatus for controlling a vehicle provided with a steering apparatus is provided with: a first target controlled variable setting device for setting a first target controlled variable regarding the steering apparatus for track control which makes a track of the vehicle follow a target track; a controlling device for performing the track control by controlling the steering apparatus on the basis of the set first target controlled variable; a specifying device for specifying magnitude of a steering input and frequency in a period of performing the track control; and a determining device for determining whether or not the steering input is overriding on the basis of the specified magnitude and frequency.

This type of track control is disclosed, for example, in Patent Literature 1. A driving support apparatus for a vehicle which is disclosed in the Patent Literature 1 is configured to make the vehicle, which is provided with a steering torque assisting device and a steering angle varying device, follow a target driving route by using the steering torque assisting device and to suppress a change in vehicle behavior which occurs at the time of the following by using the steering angle varying device.
On the other hand, even in a period of performing this type of track control, a steering operation based on a driver's intention, so-called overriding, occurs irregularly on various scales. A change in steering angle which is caused by the overriding frequently interferes with a change in steering angle in the track control. Therefore, highly accurate detection of the overriding is desired in the vehicle in which this type of track control is performed. In this regard, a conventional apparatus including the apparatus disclosed in the Patent Literature 1 is configured to determine the presence or absence of the overriding on the basis of the magnitude of various steering inputs, such as a steering wheel angle, a steering wheel angular velocity, a steering torque, controlled variables corresponding thereto and the like.
Incidentally, as a technology for preventing the interference between driver steering and steering by an actuator, there is also proposed an apparatus which is configured to use a front-wheel steering device to control a low frequency component of a target yaw rate and to use a rear-wheel steering device to control a high frequency component corresponding to disturbance (e.g. refer to Patent Literature 2).
Moreover, Patent Literature 3 discloses a technology in which low-pass filtering is performed on a signal corresponding to the steering angle and a technology in which a dead zone is prepared for the steering wheel angle.
Moreover, Patent Literature 4 discloses a technology for changing characteristics of steering force, such as the dead zone, on the basis of a driver's private unique information.


The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a people distinguishing system (1) for in an image distinguishing human beings in a crowd. The people distinguishing system identifies (1001) one or more detected objects classified as human beings (2) in an image (3) derived from a thermal camera (10) adapted to capture a scene in an essentially forward-looking angle. The people distinguishing system further identifies at least a first grouping (4) of adjoining pixels in the image, not comprised in the one or more detected human beings, having an intensity within a predeterminable intensity range. Moreover, the people distinguishing system determines (1003) a grouping pixel area (40) of the at least first grouping in the image. Furthermore, the people distinguishing system determines (1004) for at least a first vertical position (yexpected) in the image, based on head size reference data (5), an expected pixel area (xexpected) of a human head at the at least first vertical position. The people distinguishing system further compares (1005) at least a portion of the grouping pixel area with the expected head pixel area for the at least first vertical position. Moreover, the people distinguishing system determines (1006) that the at least first grouping comprises at least a first overlapping human being (6), when at least a first comparison resulting from the comparing exceeds a predeterminable conformity threshold.

For various reasons, there may be a need for and/or an interest in attempting to count people appearing in an image. The image may be of any arbitrary scene of which a camera—such as a surveillance camera—has captured the image, for instance of people in a room, in an open area and/or in an open space.
Computer vision techniques, for instance, may provide estimates of number of people in an image. A moving window-like detector may be used to identify people in the image and count how many people there are, which may require well trained classifiers for detection that can extract low-level features. However, although these techniques may work well for detecting faces, they commonly do not perform well on crowded images where some of the target objects—here the human beings—not are clearly visible.

Distinguishing—in an image—human beings in a crowd

Abstract: The disclosure also relates to a people distinguishing system in accordance with the foregoing, a thermal camera comprising such people distinguishing system, and a respective corresponding computer program product and non-volatile computer readable storage medium.


The various inventions disclosed, described, and/or claimed herein relate to the field of methods for n-doping organic semiconductors with certain bis-metallosandwich compounds, the doped compositions produced, and the uses of the doped compositions in organic electronic devices. Metals can be manganese, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, or iridium. Stable and efficient doping can be achieved.

Production of components of electronic devices such as transistors, solar cells, light emitting diodes, and similar devices from inorganic semiconductors based on silicon, germanium, or gallium arsenide is very well known in the art, as is the use of dopants in the manufacture of such inorganic semiconductors. Atoms of "n-dopant" inorganic elements that are electrically neutral, but comprise one or more extra valence electrons as compared to the basic inorganic semiconductor material are typically doped directly into the inorganic semiconductor lattice as impurities. and thereby provide potentially current-carrying electrons into the delocalized conduction bands that occur in such "n-type" inorganic semiconductors. Technology for directly "doping" traditional inorganic semiconductors produces electronic semiconductors with very good electrical performance, but the production costs can be very high, and the rigid and expensive inorganic semiconductors are not suitable for some very desirable end use applications of high potential interest.
There has been much recent work directed toward developing large area and/or "printable" electronic components and devices based on organic semiconductors (organic small molecules, oligomers, or polymers) that can potentially be solution processed at much lower cost, perhaps on flexible substrates such as plastic or paper, so that many new potential circuits, electronic devices, or end-use applications can be developed.
There are important differences between the inorganic and organic semiconductors. For example, there are generally not completely delocalized "bands" or "conduction states" for electrons or holes in organic semiconductors that extend throughout the bulk solids. While hole and/or electrons can migrate within the conjugated π orbitals of unsaturated organic semiconductor molecules, macroscopic conduction of current is typically limited by quantum mechanical "hopping" of holes or electrons between neighboring but distinct organic molecules in the solid state.
Controlled chemical doping of organic semiconductor materials is known in the art as a technique to improve the electrical conductivity and/or electrical performance of some types of organic semiconducting materials and/or devices. See for example Walzer et al, Chem. Rev. 2007, 107, 1233-127, which describes both general principals of doping in organic semiconductors, and many specific applications in organic light emitting diodes ("OLEDs"), and organic photovoltaic cells ("OPV"). In n-type doping of organic semiconductors, the n-type dopants typically reductively donate electrons into the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals ("LUMO") of the organic semiconductor compounds, to form at least a few anions among the remaining undoped organic semiconductor molecules. and the n-dopant compound is oxidized to a cation in the process. In the presence of an electrical potential difference, the electrons injected into the LUMOs typically "hop" between the n-doped organic semiconductor molecules, to carry the electrical current.
It is believed in the art that two major functions of directly n-doping organic semiconductor compositions, are (i) increasing the density of "free" electron current carriers available for conduction, and/or (ii) preferential filling of deep trap states, a trap typically being associated with an impurity or a defect with a lower lying empty orbital than the semiconductor, or a flaw, i.e. static or dynamic disorder, in the solid state structure, thereby reducing the activation energy required for the "hopping" transport process of the electrons from organic molecule to organic molecule. Additionally, directly doping organic materials at electrode interfaces can reduce contact resistances by providing improved electron or hole tunneling through narrow interface depletion regions, and by manipulating the molecular energy level alignments at organic-organic hetero-junctions; these reductions can sometimes provide orders-of-magnitude increases in the conductivity of organic films. The positively charged cation derived from the n-dopant material may position itself within the semiconductor solid, and/or disrupt its solid state structure in many ways. If the cations derived from an n-dopant molecule are small (such as alkali metal cations), they will be less likely to disrupt the semiconductor's solid structure; however, they may undesirably migrate within the organic lattice and/or between different structures within a doped device, as well as acting as electrostatic traps for electrons on neighboring semiconductor molecules.
Moreover, as noted by Walzer et al, and many others of skill in the art, "In contrast to p-type doping, n-type molecular doping is intrinsically more difficult . . . . For efficient doping, the HOMO level of the dopant must be energetically above the LUMO level of the matrix material which makes such materials unstable against oxygen. With increasing LUMO energy, the difficulty to find suitable materials is increased." It has indeed proven difficult to identify stable and easily processable n-type dopant molecules that are sufficiently strong reducing agents as to be able to dope electrons into the high lying LUMOs of many organic semiconductors of interest. When sufficiently strong n-dopants have been identified, they have themselves often been chemically unstable, or unstable if exposed to air or water while being processed, or after processing. In many cases the n-doped semiconductors themselves are also unstable to oxidation by air and/or water.
Accordingly, there remains an unmet need in the art for much improved n-dopant materials, and methods for their use, and improved n-doped semiconductor compositions, in order to make improved and economically viable n-doped organic semiconductors devices comprising those n-doped organic semiconductors, for applications in organic field effect transistors, organic solar cells, and organic light emitting diodes. It is to that end that the various embodiments of the inventions described below are directed.
WO 2005/036667 and its US Equivalent US 2007/0278479 disclosed the use of certain highly reducing monomeric and electrochemically generated ruthenium terpyridine and chromium bipyridine complexes as reducing agents for fullerenes, and zinc phthalocyanine.
The cobaltocenium cation (structure shown below) has long been known in the chemical prior art as the cation of stable "18 electron" diamagnetic salts. It has also been known in the art that the cobaltocenium cation can be reduced by one electron, by very strong inorganic reducing agents such as alkali metals, to form a neutral and monomeric "19 electron" monomeric radical compound "cobaltocene" ("Co(C5H5)2"). Decamethylcobaltocene ("Co(C5Me5)2") and the corresponding decamethylcobaltocenium cation are also known in the chemical arts.

While such electrically neutral 19 electron cobaltocene compounds can be isolated, they are extremely reactive reductants towards potential oxidants such as oxygen and water, and therefore are difficult to make, handle, store, and use under ambient conditions, or in most industrial processes.
Domrachev et al (Russ. Chem. Bull. 43(8) 1305-1309, 1994) reported the use of neutral "19 electron" cobaltocene to reduce and/or n-dope C60 and/or C70 films, to induce the formation of at least some cobaltocenium fulleride salts in the doped fullerene films.
In recent years, cobaltocene and decamethylcobaltocene were also described as n-dopants for films of organic semiconductor compounds, such as copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and pentacene. See for example Chan et al, Chem. Phys. Lett. 43 1 (2006) 67-71; Chan et al, Organic Electronics 9(2008) 575-581, Chan et al, Appl. Phys. Lett 94, 2003306 (2009), Chan and Kahn, Appl. Phys. A (2009) 95 7-13.
U.S. Patent Publication 2007/029594 disclosed and claimed the use of a variety of organometallic compounds, having a wide range of reducing power, including numerous monomeric metallocenes and other sandwich compounds, as potential n-dopants for organic semiconductors. However, many of the monomeric sandwich compounds disclosed therein are not "19 electron" radical compounds, and are not sufficiently strong reducing agents to effectively n-dope many organic semiconductor compounds or compositions of interest which have relatively low electron affinities. That patent publication more specifically described a few monomeric 19 electron sandwich compounds, such as cobaltocene, decamethyl cobaltocene, and two substituted monomeric iron-based sandwich compounds (Fe(C5H5)(C6Me6), and (Fe(C5Me5)(C6Me6)). US 2007/029594 suggested that those monomeric 19 electron compounds were effective n-dopants, and that such 19 electron metallosandwich n-dopants were superior in some respects to previously known inorganic dopants such as lithium metal, because the larger metallosandwich cations produced by the disclosed doping processes were more resistant to undesirable mobility of the cations of the dopants within the semiconductor solids. US 2007/029594 did not however disclose or suggest methods of making and using dimeric or oligomeric metallocene compounds in its processes, or that dimeric or oligomeric bis-metallosandwich compounds would be effective n-dopants, or any other advantage of employing bis-metallosandwich compounds as n-dopants.
The literature does disclose a few attempts to reduce certain 18 electron metallosandwich cations to produce highly reducing 19 electron monomeric metallosandwich radicals, but with certain other 1 8 electron metallosandwich cations those attempts often result in dimerization of the 19 electron monomer, with the formation of a carbon-carbon bond between two 18 electron monomer fragments. For example, Gusev et al (J. Orgmet. Chem, 452, 219-222, 1993), which disclosed that an attempt to electrochemically reduce salts of the 18 electron rhodocenium cation, rather than producing a stable and neutral 19 electron rhodocene monomer, actually induced formation of a carbon-carbon bond between the rings of the rhodocene monomers, to form a reasonably chemically and air stable and isolated "rhodocene dimer," as shown below. Similar dimeric iron and iridium based metallocenes derived by reduction of [Fe(η5-C5H5)(η6-C6MenH6-n)]+ (n=0-5), [Fe(η5-C5Me5)(η6-C6H6)]+, [Ru(η5-C5H5)η6C6H6)]+ (R═H, Me), and [Ir(η5-C5R′5)(η5-C5R″5)]+ (R′, R″═H, Me) salts have also been subsequently reported by Gusev et al and others.
However, neither Gusev et al, nor prior art reports (see Gusev, et al, J. Organomet. Chem. 1997, 531, 95-100, Hamon, et al, Am. Chem. Soc. 1981, 103, 758-766, Murr et al, Inorg. Chem. 1979, 1 8, 1443-1446, and Fischer, et al, Organomet. Chem. 1966, 5, 559-567) suggested that such dimeric metallocene compounds, which comprise two 18 electron sandwich compounds linked by a carbon-carbon bond are useful as an n-dopant for organic semiconductors.
Applicants have discovered that some bis-metallosandwich compounds described in the prior art and other bis-metallosandwich compounds described below can unexpectedly serve as unexpectedly strong, yet reasonably air and/or water stable reducing agents and/or n-dopants for a variety of organic semiconductors. Moreover, use of Applicants' methods and/or the bis-metallosandwich n-dopants described below allow the use of solution processing to produce new and unexpectedly useful n-doped compositions and organic electronic devices comprising such n-doped compositions.

N-doping of organic semiconductors by bis-metallosandwich compounds


Implementations related to detecting control data are presented herein. A detector searches for control data in a first set of pre-determined control data, wherein a respective subset of the first set is assigned to a respective logical port and the respective subset is excluded from the first set when searching for the control data received from the respective logical port.

This invention relates to a detector to search for control data.
Communication between two or more stations may be based on communication protocols. Data that are exchanged between the stations may comprise user data (payload data) and control data. The user data comprise information which a user wants to transport. The control data comprise information which controls the communication of the user data. If user data and control data are interleaved, an end station or an intermediate station may need to be able to detect the control data in the received data and perform possible actions based on the information contained in the control data.


The method includes receiving first data from an in-memory computing module, the data including performance indicators, receiving second data from a enterprise resource planning database, predicting a target time per piece based on the first data and the second data, predicting a target cost per piece based on the first data and the second data, and setting an equipment speed based on the target time per piece and/or the target cost per piece.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for utilizing performance indicators and predictive analysis for setting manufacturing equipment parameters.
2. Related Art
Large quantities of data are typically collected in many types of manufacturing environments. For example, data is collected (e.g., in an enterprise resource planning (ERP)) system regarding product quality and costs. However, due to the nature of this data (e.g., quantity) systems have not been able to efficiently leverage this data in order to optimally set manufacturing equipment parameters in real-time manufacturing environments.

System, method and computer readable medium for using performance indicators and predictive analysis for setting manufacturing equipment parameters


A method for accessing plural cloud storages, an electronic apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium are disclosed herein. The method for accessing plural cloud storages includes steps of: providing a unified interface on the data processing system, the unified interface being configured for offering a unified interface format instruction to plural application programs to access each of the cloud storages; linking the unified interface with a plurality of configuration plug-ins, each of the configuration plug-ins comprises at least one distinct instruction for accessing a particular cloud storage; and converting a request with the unified interface format instruction from one of the application programs to one of the at least one distinct instruction according to the configuration plug-ins for accessing a destination cloud storage of the cloud storages.

1. Field of Invention
The present application relates to a method for accessing plural cloud storages. More particularly, the present application relates to a method or an application program interface for accessing plural cloud storages.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, electronic communication devices become common belongings to everyone in modern society. For example, electronic communication devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, smart phones and tablet computers are widespread in various applications.
Recently, electronic communication devices are popular because the devices have various functions (such as internet surfing, multimedia message transmitting, file sharing, document editing, photo shooting and paper reading). With the developments of on-line services over Internet, the electronic communication devices may integrate with many cloud services based on the communicative network.
Taking portable electronic devices for example, in order to maintain high portability, most of the portable electronic devices are regulated by limited sizes, limited weights and limited electricity capacities. Therefore, portable electronic devices may not be able to equip a hard-drive/memory with a large storage volume.

Method for accessing plural cloud storages, electronic apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium