The present invention is directed to a power semiconductor device in which a control circuit controls a power switching element, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface; a capacitor disposed on the front surface side of the semiconductor substrate and being comprised of a stacked structure of a first conductive layer, an insulation film and a second conductive layer; and a bonding pad which is disposed on the front surface side to the capacitor and to which a bonding wire being connected, wherein the bonding pad are arranged overlapping the capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power semiconductor device in which a control circuit controls a power switching element, and more particularly, to a power semiconductor device having a capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 8A and 8B are a schematic drawing of a conventional power semiconductor device generally denoted at 600. FIG. 8A is a top view of bonding pad portions, and FIG. 8B is a cross sectional view taken along the direction VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 8A. The power semiconductor device 600 includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and a control circuit (not shown) which controls the same.
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the power semiconductor device 600 includes a die pad 51 of alumina or the like. A semiconductor chip 53 is fixed on the die pad 51 by a bonding material 52 such as a solder. The semiconductor chip 53 includes the control circuit, the IGBT which is a power switching element, and the like. A bonding pad 54 of aluminum or the like is disposed on the top surface of the semiconductor chip 53 and connected to a bonding wire 55 of aluminum or the like.
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view expanding the bonding pad 54 and a surrounding area. The semiconductor chip 53 shown in FIG. 8B includes a silicon substrate 56, and on the silicon substrate 56, the bonding pad 54 is disposed via a silicon oxide film 57 and the bonding wire 55 is connected on this (JP, 2000-058765, A).


The present invention discloses an image-taking apparatus which can be easily assembled. An image-taking apparatus has an image-pickup unit and an exterior member which is made of a metal and in which the image-pickup unit is inserted and contained. Here, the image-pickup unit has a projecting portion on an end face in a direction in which the image-pickup unit is inserted into the exterior member, the projecting portion projecting from the end face. The exterior member is produced by drawing and has a second opening portion in a face locating opposite to a first opening which is formed by drawing. The projecting portion projects out of the second opening portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exterior member of an image-taking apparatus, and in particular, to an image-taking apparatus having a metal exterior member formed by drawing.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional image-taking apparatuses such as digital still cameras and video cameras are composed of an image-pickup unit composed of a plurality of units such as an image-pickup lens unit, an illuminating unit, and a battery housing unit, and a exterior member which protects the image-pickup unit.
With a recent decrease in the size of image-taking apparatuses, an exterior member is often used which is obtained by drawing a thin metal plate.
The casing material of the recent image-taking apparatus is divided into a plurality of areas for an operation of assembling the exterior member with the image-pickup unit. To combine the divided exterior members together, it is necessary to provide an auxiliary member inside each exterior member.
Further, after the pluralities of exterior members have been assembled with the image-pickup unit, there may be a fine step in the combined part between two exterior members. Furthermore, if the combined part is located around an operation member operated by a user, a sufficient rigidity cannot be obtained by using only the exterior members.
To solve this problem, it is contemplated that an exterior member which is formed by drawing and which is thin but is integrally machined is applied to the image-taking apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.H8(1996)-55613.
However, the image-pickup unit is provided with a plurality of projecting portions such as operation buttons and a lens placed in a front surface of an illuminating unit which project from the surface of the exterior member. In this case, an operation of securing the projecting portions from the inside of the integrated exterior member is difficult.
Then, if the image-pickup unit having the projecting portions projecting from an outer surface of the exterior member is inserted into the integrated exterior member, the projecting portions may interfere with the exterior member. It is thus difficult to insert the image-pickup unit into the exterior member.

Camera with drawn exterior member having drawn opening for receiving camera electronic assembly and opposing opening for receiving camera electronic assembly projection


The present invention transfers AC electric power to mutually series connected resistive impedance components, inductive impedance or capacitive impedance to divide the voltage of the power source, whereby the divided power of each impedance is rectified by the rectifier device to be the uni-directional DV power for driving the unidirectional light emitting diode.

(a) Field of the Invention
The unidirectional light emitting diode drive circuit in bi-directional divided power impedance is disclosed by that an AC power or a periodically alternated polarity power is used as the power source to supply to the resistive impedance components, or inductive impedance components, or capacitive impedance components in mutual series connection, whereby the power source voltage is divided. Thereof, it is characterized in that the said divided power is further rectified by a rectifier device to supply unidirectional DC power output to drive an uni-directional conducting light emitting diode, or to drive at least two rectifier devices which are respectively parallel connected across the two ends of the first impedance and the second impedance while the AC powers of the first impedance and second impedance are respectively converted to DC power output through the said rectifier devices, thereby to drive the unidirectional conducting light emitting diodes individually.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The conventional light emitting diode drive circuit using AC or DC power source is usually series connected with current limit resistors as the impedance to limit the current to the light emitting diode, whereof the voltage drop of the series connected resistive impedance always result in waste of power and accumulation of heat which are the imperfections.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Uni-directional light emitting diode drvie circuit in bi-directional divided power impedance


An arrester includes a switch and a lightning detection breaker connected to the switch. The lightning detection breaker includes a metal conducting terminal electrically connected to an earth return, a DC power supply terminal, a ground terminal and an output terminal. When the power supply is under a lightning strike, a potential difference of both the DC power supply terminal and the ground terminal of the lightning detection breaker will go up to several thousands of volts. However, a voltage of the metal conducting terminal will not go up because the metal conducting terminal is electrically connected to the earth return. The switch will automatically become open circuit by the lightning detection breaker, and therefore an electronic device connected to the arrester is protected from damage done by the lightning.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrester and, in particular, to an arrester having a compact size and good heat dissipation capability.
2. Description of Related Art
A general power line mostly is mounted at the outdoor. Under a lightning strike, the power line will produce a high voltage of up to several thousand volts. If such a high voltage goes through the power line and enters buildings, it is easy to damage electrical appliances connected to the power line.
A conventional arrester uses an isolation transformer for lightning isolation. The high voltage due to lightning is isolated on the primary side of the isolation transformer, preventing the circuit on the secondary side of the isolation transformer from being damaged by the lightning occurring on the primary side.
The above-described isolation transformer has a problem of large volume. For electronic products used in a limited space, the isolation transformer would occupy quite a large portion of the space. When the isolation transformer is connected to AC power, the isolation transformer produces heat due to the impedance of its internal circuit. For the above-mentioned electronic products that use arresters having the isolation transformer, problems such as limited space, heat dissipation and size all pose a challenge in circuit designs and circuit board layouts.


In an apparatus for fabricating a carbon coating, an object such as a magnetic recording medium is disposed on a side of an electrode connected to a high-frequency power supply. Ultrasonic vibrations are supplied to the object. Discharge is generated between the electrode connected to the high-frequency power supply and a grounded electrode to fabricate a carbon coating on the surface of the object. Also, an electrode interval is set to 6 mm or less, pressure between the electrodes is set to 15 Torr to 100 Torr, whereby high-density plasma is generated to form an ion sheath on an anode side. Therefore, a coating is fabricated on the surface of the object by bombardment of ions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for fabricating a hard carbon coating to be prepared as a surface protective film for a magnetic tape, an optical magnetic disc or the like, and a method of manufacturing such a hard carbon coating. Further, the present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic disc medium having high durability and high recording density and excellent in productivity on a polymeric substrate material, and more particularly to an apparatus for manufacturing a protective film having functions of wear resistance and lubricating ability, which is industrially applied to an image equipment, an information equipment field and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, there has been known a technique by which a diamond-shaped carbon coating is formed. The diamond-shaped carbon coating has a diamond structure and is also called a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film. Hereinafter, this carbon coating is referred to as "hard carbon coating".
The hard carbon coating is coated on a surface of resin or a polymeric film and can be used as a wear-resistant layer or a protective layer. When manufacturing the hard carbon coating, a film forming apparatus such as a plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is used. In the film forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, a pair of electrodes 112 and 114 are disposed within a vacuum vessel 111. One electrode 112 is connected to a high-frequency power source 115 (generally, 13.56 MHz) whereas the other electrode 114 is grounded. An object or a substrate 113 on which a film is to be formed is disposed on the electrode 112 side to which a high-frequency power (voltage) is supplied. Also, although not shown, a supply system, an exhaust system for a reactive gas, and a matching device for supplying voltage are provided.
In the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 2, electrons are charged onto the substrate 113 and the electrode 112 (electrode opposed to the grounded electrode 114) connected to the high-frequency power source 115. Therefore, H+-ions and H-radicals contributing to heightened quality of the film by action of self-bias collide with the object 113, thereby to prepare the carbon coating having the diamond structure.
The hard carbon coating thus prepared can be used as the protective film of the magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape or an optical magnetic disc, etc. Since these magnetic recording media are made of magnetic material, it is necessary to protect the media from being mixed with a foreign matter or being damaged. For example, a DC bias is applied in addition to high-frequency discharge, whereby a carbon coating in which pin-holes of 102 to 105 per mm2 are formed is prepared on a surface of the magnetic recording medium.
However, according to the experiments of the inventors, it has been ascertained that the hard carbon coating having the pin-holes therein lacks long-term reliability as a protective film because moisture is infiltrated into the pin-holes. Also, it has been ascertained that improvements in hardness and adhesion of the hard carbon coating and the prevention of generation of the pin-holes are not always performed together.
Recently, there is a tendency to heighten the density of the magnetic recording medium. As a conventional magnetic recording medium, there has been known a coating type in which γ-Fe2O3 powders, CrO powders, pure iron powders or the like which are used for an audio or video tape material are coated on a polymeric substrate material together with an abrasive material and a binder. Further, a high performance magnetic recording medium on which a metal magnetic material has been vapor-deposited is used.
Furthermore, there has been known a technique by which a coating mainly containing carbon (also called a carbon film, a DLC or a hard carbon film) is formed on a surface of these magnetic recording medium, thereby to obtain a surface protection, a wear resistance or a lubricating ability. In general, the coating mainly containing carbon is fabricated by the CVD method typical of the plasma CVD method.
In the typical plasma CVD method, a substrate is located on a high-frequency voltage supply electrode (cathode) side, and a self-bias formed in the vicinity of the cathode allows a high-hard film to be fabricated. In general, a carbon film with a high hardness cannot be fabricated on a grounded electrode (anode) side.
When a coating mainly containing carbon is formed using the plasma CVD method of the parallel plate type, an organic resin substrate constituting an object of the magnetic recording medium must be located on a cathode electrode side. The magnetic recording medium for high-density recording is generally obtained by vapor-depositing the metal magnetic material. Therefore, if such an object is in contact with the cathode electrode, the object constitutes a part of the electrode, and therefore a high-frequency electric field is leaked as a result of which discharge occurs in an undesired region. There is a high possibility that the organic resin film constituting the object is damaged by such discharge, causing a problem on the stability and reliability of production.
Furthermore, fabricating the hard carbon film which is a protective film at the same time as the roll to roll type magnetic layer fabricating process is impossible because the carbon film forming speed is low.

Apparatus for fabricating coating and method of fabricating the coating

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd


A first machine (e.g., server VM) authenticates an untrusted second machine (e.g., new client VM) as a condition to performing or allowing a protected operation. Authentication information is written to a library using one mechanism, and then read from the library using another mechanism. One of the mechanisms is an untrusted mechanism employing the untrusted second machine, while the other is a trusted mechanism performed by the first machine either alone or in combination with a trusted management component that has privileged access to the library. If a written and read value match, it can be inferred that the second machine is authentic, because the trusted management component has accessed an existing library that is also separately accessed by the second machine.

In the computer field it is known to employ authentication techniques to establish trust or confidence as a condition to allowing access to protected operations. One simple but well known authentication technique uses passwords that are handled confidentially and supposedly known to only a user and a computer system to which the user is to be authenticated. During authentication, the user presents the password, and the computer system checks the presented password against a password that is stored in association with an identifier of the user. If the values match, authentication has occurred and access to protected operation(s) is granted. Many other forms of authentication are known, usable in a variety of types of systems and operating circumstances.
One particular type of computer system employs so-called "virtualization" techniques in which physical host computer hardware executes instances of "virtual machines". A virtual machine is a software construct that presents a machine-like interface to a guest operating system and application program(s) executing in the context of the virtual machine, isolated from similar programs executing in the context of other virtual machines executing on the host computer hardware. One aspect of virtualization technology is the ability to very quickly and flexibly deploy new virtual machines as needed to accommodate changes in a system's workload. As an example, virtual machines can be used to deploy client type machines usable by a set of users in an organization. A new client machine is brought into service by instantiating a new client virtual machine on the existing host computer hardware. The new client virtual machine may be created as a clone of a standardized "template" client virtual machine defined in the system.
It should be appreciated that systems employing virtualization technology, especially those having a client-server structure and a continuously changing population of client virtual machines (VMs), may require an existing server VM to authenticate a new client VM before permitting the new client VM to fully join the system and receive services provided in the system. For example, it may be necessary that the server VM trust that the new client VM is located on the same virtual sub-network as the server VM before the client VM can gain access to services offered by the server VM. However, incoming connection requests which appear to be coming from the same virtual network may in fact be "spoofed" requests from inauthentic client VMs. The server VM may not be able to rely solely on the information contained in a connection request to arrive at a desired level of trust in a new client VM.
There is, therefore, a need for an authentication technique to deal with the above problem of "spoofed" requests from inauthentic client VMs.

Computer system employing dual-band authentication


An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of the present invention determines whether or not a lean request has occurred, based on a comparison between a value correlating with an output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor disposed downstream of the catalyst (downstream air-fuel ratio sensor output correlating value) and a predetermined lean request determining value, and determines whether or not a rich request has occurred, based on a comparison between the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor output correlating value and a predetermined rich request determining value. Further, the air-fuel ratio control apparatus calculates a total amount of oxygen (released oxygen amount) released from the catalyst in the rich request occurring period, and calculates an integrated value (present stored oxygen amount) of oxygen stored in the catalyst after a start of the lean request occurring period which follows the rich request occurring period. The apparatus changes the rich request determining value in such a manner that a point in time at which it is determined that the rich request has occurred comes much earlier as the present stored oxygen amount comes closer to the released oxygen amount.

Conventionally, a three-way catalyst (catalytic unit for purifying an exhaust gas) is disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in order to purify the exhaust gas discharged from the engine. As is well known, the three-way catalyst has an "oxygen storage function" for storing oxygen flowing into the three-way catalyst and releasing the stored oxygen.
Hereinafter, the three-way catalyst is simply referred to as a "catalyst", the gas flowing into the catalyst is referred to as a "catalyst inflow gas", and the gas flowing out from the catalyst is referred to as a "catalyst outflow gas." Further, an air-fuel ratio smaller than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is referred to as a "rich air-fuel ratio", an air-fuel ratio larger than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is referred to as a "lean air-fuel ratio", and an air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine is referred to as an "air-fuel ratio of the engine."
One of conventional air-fuel ratio control apparatuses (hereinafter, referred to as a "conventional apparatus") comprises a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor. The downstream air-fuel ratio sensor is disposed downstream of the catalyst in the exhaust passage of the engine. The conventional apparatus controls the air-fuel ratio of the engine (and thus, an air-fuel ratio of the catalyst inflow gas) in such a manner that an output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor coincides with a value corresponding to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (refer to, for example, Patent Literature No. 1)
More specifically, the conventional apparatus controls the air-fuel ratio of the engine in such a manner that the air-fuel ratio of the catalyst inflow gas becomes the lean air-fuel ratio when the output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor becomes a value corresponding to the rich air-fuel ratio. In other words, when the output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor has become the value corresponding to the rich air-fuel ratio, the conventional apparatus determines that a status/condition of the catalyst has become an "oxygen shortage state (rich state)", and therefore, determines that a lean request has occurred, so that it controls the air-fuel ratio of the engine to be the lean air-fuel ratio.
Further, the conventional apparatus controls the air-fuel ratio of the engine in such a manner that the air-fuel ratio of the catalyst inflow gas becomes the rich air-fuel ratio when the output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor becomes a value corresponding to the lean air-fuel ratio. In other words, when the output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor has become the value corresponding to the lean air-fuel ratio, the conventional apparatus determines that the status/condition of the catalyst has become an "oxygen excessive state (lean state)", and therefore, determines that a rich request has occurred, so that it controls the air-fuel ratio of the engine to be the rich air-fuel ratio. Accordingly, the apparatus can shorten a period in which the state of the catalyst is either "the oxygen shortage state or the oxygen excessive state", and thus, can shorten a period in which an emission is unfavorable.

Air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine


An inventive loudspeaker includes a diaphragm, a first excitation means for generating structure-borne sound in the diaphragm, and a second excitation means, different from the first one, for setting the diaphragm into a longitudinal vibrational motion in a direction perpendicular to the extension of the diaphragm. In accordance with the invention, the problem of insufficient bass reproduction and/or of the magnitude conflicting with invisible integration or installation is solved in that a second exciter system is introduced, which uniformly moves the diaphragm, or the plate serving as the diaphragm, forward and backward in addition to the bending waves of the structure-borne sound. The sound reproduction therefore is possible across the entire audio-frequency range without impeding the goal of invisible integration or installation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to loudspeakers, and in particular to flat-panel loudspeakers or flat-panel sound transducers.
2. Description of Prior Art
The tendency which is evident in home entertainment products towards ever smaller and ever more compact components also applies to loudspeaker technology. The trend even goes as far as suggesting that loudspeakers should not only be small, but also "invisible" to the listener, i.e. hidden from the listener's eyes. The possibility of invisible installation is very useful particularly for multi-channel playback, such as surround, and for wave-field synthesis (WFS). The number of individual channels and thus loudspeakers required herefore rapidly amounts to more than 50 items. However, since such playback systems are also to be developed and offered for home use, and since it must be assumed that the customer, for space reasons, does not wish to fit 50 conventional loudspeakers into his/her living room for, e.g., a WFS system, alternative loudspeakers will have to be employed.
The aim is to design loudspeakers such that they may be integrated with other pieces of equipment or furniture, so that in this manner, they may be distributed across the rooms in an inconspicuous manner. For example, there have already been loudspeakers that act as picture frames, as monitors or even as doors of wardrobes at the same time.
Cone loudspeakers are not suitable for technical implementation of these "hidden" loudspeakers, since cone loudspeakers are not flat enough due to their diaphragm shape. A loudspeaker whose diaphragm is flat as a plate to start with and whose electroacoustic excitation system is as small as possible in terms of dimensions is more suitable. This principle, i.e. the use of a plate as a diaphragm in connection with the use of an excitation system, has already been employed in DE 465189, published in 1929, and its supplements DE 484409 and 484872 for acoustic shop-window advertising. Then, a window pane of a shop window served as a diaphragm which was excited by means of an attached electrodynamic excitation system so as to reproduce sound.
The functional mechanism underlying this principle is that an electrical signal applied to the electrodynamic excitation system is transformed to a mechanical audio-frequency vibration. At an excitation point, where the excitation system is present at or fixed to the diaphragm, this mechanical vibration is transferred to the plate serving as the diaphragm, whereby structure-borne sound is produced in the plate. It is in particular that portion of structure-borne sound which propagates in the diaphragm by means of bending waves that provides for the generation of air-borne sound.
With this loudspeaker principle, the generation of air-borne sound consequently is effected via the indirect way of structure-borne sound. Unlike with cone loudspeakers, the longitudinal mechanical vibrational motions of the vibrational pulses of the excitation system are not taken over by the diaphragm and immediately translated into air-borne sound, but structure-borne sound is initially created in the diaphragm, which—in particular, the ending-wave portion of same—subsequently excites the surrounding air to form longitudinal waves, or compressional waves, i.e. sound. The transformation of structure-borne sound to air-borne sound here acts like a filter in the chain of signals. As a result, only that portion of the signal to be reproduced which may propagate as structure-borne sound in the plate and may subsequently be radiated off into space is reproduced as air-borne sound.
Since, as has already been mentioned, that portion of structure-borne sound that propagates in the form of the bending wave makes the largest contribution to generating air-borne sound by means of a plate diaphragm, the properties of the bending wave, in particular its excitation and propagation, have a decisive impact on the design of a flat-panel loudspeaker in accordance with the bending-wave principle. If these properties are taken into consideration, this results in the fact that for broad-band sound reproduction, low-weight and large-size diaphragm plates are required. The plate size required, however, conflicts with the aim of invisible integration of the loudspeaker into the surroundings of the listener. As an example, the reproduction of the frequency range below about 200 Hz is of poor quality with relatively large plates. The reason for this is that a plate resonates only in its eigenmodes with its associated natural frequencies, and that the mode densities, i.e. the number of modes per frequency range, is decisive for sound reproduction. However, sufficient mode density has not been achieved so far below 200 Hz.
Thus, there is a need for a loudspeaker which is amenable, on the one hand, to invisible integration, i.e. which may be implemented to be flat and small, and which, on the other hand, enables satisfactory sound reproduction not only in the medium- and high-tone ranges, but also in the low-tone, or bass, range.
DE 19541197 A1 describes a cone loudspeaker having an electrodynamic vibration system, a cone-shaped diaphragm, a surround and a basket where the diaphragm is suspended above the surround. When a sound signal is applied to the vibration system, the diaphragm performs an upward movement along the center line. The diaphragm is provided with a layer of a piezoelectrical material which is also connected to the sound-signal source and experiences changes of extension in the process. Depending on whether the layer is connected to a further layer or is a bimorphous arrangement of two longitudinally and/or radially vibrating plates which are oppositely poled and glued to one another, the layer acts as a thickness vibrator or as a bending vibrator.
DE 19960082 A1 describes a loudspeaker having a plate diaphragm driven by a vibration drive at its back. During the vibration the plate diaphragm performs an upward movement.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


A method and system for inputting, verifying, and communicating order data associated with a patient that may include an order for a patient to take a plurality of medications at various times of the day. The system includes an array of a medication sorting devices configured to communicate with a tracking system for receiving an order and dispensing a plurality of medicaments into a plurality of aligned pouches associated with the order information. The tracking system includes an optimization engine for selecting a medication sorting device to process each order to process a high volume of orders. An inspection assembly that is configured to analyze the plurality of medications within the medication pouches to detect and compare with the order information. The plurality of pouches may be arranged into a dispense package to dispense each pouch as arranged by the order information including medication type, dosage, and time.

Individuals may be subject to being prescribed or otherwise taking a variety of medications and supplements. These "medicaments" may each have unique requirements especially regarding the type, concentration, amount, and dosing schedule. A user that is consuming these medicaments is usually required to maintain their own dosing schedule either with the assistance of separator containers or on their own ability.
As such, various services have become available to users that take a variety of medications or supplements. These services are designed to identify the type and quantity of medicaments, sort the medicaments, and individually package medicaments in a dispensing container subject to the dosing schedules of the individual. One such service is provided by ExactCare Pharmacy of Valley View, Ohio.
ExactCare Pharmacy provides a service that organizes medicaments into individualized packages convenience for a user. The medicaments are organized by quantity, amount, and dosing schedule and arranged in a dispensing container. However, as this service has become more desirable, the provider is required to increase the amount and number of dispensing containers produced. The scalability of increased production may be subject to variables, which if mismanaged, may cause delays due to the nature of quickly organizing a variety of medicaments, script validations, changes in patient orders, non-routine requests, refill authorizations, and a variety of other elements that may be considered to properly execute a high volume medicament packaging service.
Inefficiencies are undesirable from a productivity perspective. Therefore, there is a need for a method and system that is configured to optimize the production of sorting and packaging medicaments into dispensing containers to produce a high volume of individually customizable dispensing packages.

Medication sorting and packaging system and method


A wireless headset system includes a headset and a programming device. The programming device can be in the headset or in a base that is connectable to the headset. The headset has programmable device and a transceiver. The base has a programming device. The programming device programs the programmable device in the headset to control the transceiver to communicate directly with any cordless telephone base station, allowing hands free use of the telephone.

Headsets offer the convenience of hands free telephone conversation. Many cordless handsets and cellular telephones include a headset jack for connection of a wired headset. Wired headsets require the user to carry the handset around.
"Bluetooth" is a short range wireless standard. Some cellular telephone are Bluetooth enabled. Such cellular telephones call use a wireless Bluetooth headset. The few available Bluetooth enabled cordless telephones are expensive. Generally, the Bluetooth headsets currently available, based on the Bluetooth standard, have a range of only about 10 meters.
Known wireless headsets for cordless telephones do not communicate directly with the base station of the cordless telephone. These headsets require a separate base portion that connects by wire to the telephone handset or base station. These headsets require a transceiver in both the base portion and the headset, are relatively expensive, and generally inconvenient to use.

Programmable wireless headset system for cordless telephone


A lens barrel includes: a barrel body; a diaphragm pivotally held in the barrel body; a diaphragm operating member that changes the diameter of the diaphragm; an operation arm that can pivot in the barrel body and fits in the diaphragm operating member, the operation arm, when pivoted, changing the diameter of the diaphragm via the diaphragm operating member; and a light-blocking plate that prevents unwanted light from entering the barrel body and has a passage portion through which the operation arm passes and an engagement portion that an engaging piece protruding from the diaphragm operating member engages, the light-blocking plate, along with the diaphragm operating member, pivotally supported, wherein the passage portion has an opening having a width that is substantially the same as the width of the operation arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens barrel that houses a zoom lens or any other lens, and particularly to a lens barrel with a light-blocking plate that prevents flare and ghost images in the lens barrel.
2. Description of the Related Art
To prevent flare and ghost images resulting from unwanted light having entered a barrel, a lens barrel with a light-blocking plate that moves in the barrel as a zoom lens moves has been used. A lens barrel of this type includes a movable lens group and a movable light-blocking plate that move in the optical axis direction, and prevents flare and ghost images from being produced by moving the movable light-blocking plate to a predetermined position according to the position to which the movable lens group has moved (JP-A-06-201966 and JP-A-09-33781, for example).
Another example of the lens barrel that has been proposed includes a movable light-blocking plate having a variable-diameter opening and can prevent flare and ghost images from being produced when a movable lens group moves between a wide-angle position and a telescopic position by adjusting the diameter of the opening in the light-blocking plate while changing the position of the light-blocking plate relative to the movable lens group (JP-A-04-133011 and JP-A-07-294814, for example).
In general, a movable light-blocking plate of this type, in which the diameter of the opening can be changed, is configured in the lens barrel to have a plurality of light-blocking blades supported in such a way that they partially overlaps with each other and can pivot in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. An operation mechanism for pivoting the plurality of light-blocking blades is formed in the lens barrel, and is driven manually by a user or automatically by a microcomputer or any other suitable component disposed in an imaging apparatus or the lens barrel.
Consider now a configuration in which the diameter of the opening in the movable light-blocking plate is automatically changed. When the operation mechanism and a drive source that provides a driving force to the operation mechanism are incorporated in the lens barrel, the lens barrel increases in size and weight. When the lens barrel increases in size and weight, the balance of the image apparatus as a whole deteriorates, and the portability of the lens barrel used as an interchangeable lens is impaired. The operation mechanism and the drive source are therefore desirably provided in a camera body to achieve a compact, lightweight lens barrel.
On the other hand, to change the diameter of the opening formed by the light-blocking blades from the camera body side, an operation member for pivoting the light-blocking blades should extend into the lens barrel, and the light-blocking blades may not be disposed in the region where the operation member pivots, possibly resulting in insufficient blockage of unwanted light.


A touch window includes a cover substrate including a first area for the display of a screen image and a second area at an edge of the first area, a sensing electrode to sense a touch position in the first area, a printing layer in the second area, an instruction icon in the second area with a step difference from the printing layer, and an instruction sensing electrode to recognize a touch position of the instruction icon. The instruction sensing electrode includes a first instruction sensing electrode, and a second instruction sensing electrode to form a capacitor with the first instruction sensing electrode. The first instruction sensing electrode includes a first sub-electrode and a second sub-electrode spaced apart from the first sub-electrode while forming a space part therebetween, and the first and second sub-electrodes are connected with each other at an outer portion of the instruction icon.

1. Field
The disclosure relates to a touch window.
2. Background
A touch panel is installed on a display surface of an image display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), and an electro-luminescence device (ELD), so that a user inputs predetermined information into a computer by pressing the touch panel while viewing the image display device.
The touch panel has a bonding structure including various layers. In general, the touch panel has a structure in which a transparent window provided at the uppermost layer is bonded to a sensing electrode layer (ITO) having a single layer structure or a multi-layer structure, which is provided under the transparent window, through an adhesive material (OCA).
An additional instruction icon is formed on the touch panel for user convenience. When a sensing electrode is formed on the instruction icon, the quality of the sensing electrode may be degraded due to the step difference from the instruction icon. In other words, the sensing electrode on the instruction icon may be disconnected.


An ion source chamber for ion implantation system includes a housing that at least partially bounds an ionization region through which high energy electrons move from a cathode to ionize gas molecules injected into an interior of the housing; a liner section defining one or more interior walls of the housing interior, wherein each liner section includes a interiorly facing surface exposed to the ionization region during operation the ion implantation system; a cathode shield disposed about the cathode; a repeller spaced apart from the cathode; a plate including a source aperture for discharging ions from the ion source chamber; wherein at least one of the repeller, the liner section, the cathode shield; the plate, or an insert in the plate defining the source aperture comprise silicon carbide, wherein the silicon carbide is a non-stoichiometric sintered material having excess carbon.

The present disclosure generally relates to ion implantation systems, and more particularly, to a reduced trace metal contamination ion source of the type typically used in ion implantation systems, which exhibits improved corrosion resistance within the arc chamber of the ion source.
Ion implantation systems or ion implanters are widely used to dope semiconductors with impurities in integrated circuit manufacturing, as well as in the manufacture of flat panel displays. In such systems, an ion source ionizes a desired dopant element, which is extracted from the source in the form of an ion beam of desired energy. The ion beam is then directed at the surface of the workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, in order to implant the workpiece with the dopant element. The ions of the beam penetrate the surface of the workpiece to form a region of desired conductivity, such as in the fabrication of transistor devices in the wafer. The implantation process is typically performed in a high vacuum process chamber, which prevents dispersion of the ion beam by collisions with residual gas molecules and minimizes the risk of contamination of the workpiece by airborne particles. A typical ion implanter includes an ion source for generating the ion beam, a beamline including a mass analysis magnet for mass resolving the ion beam, and a target chamber containing the semiconductor wafer or other substrate or workpiece to be implanted by the ion beam, although flat panel display implanters typically do not include a mass analysis apparatus. For high energy implantation systems, an acceleration apparatus may be provided between the mass analysis magnet and the target chamber for accelerating the ions to high energies.
Conventional ion sources include a plasma confinement chamber having an inlet aperture for introducing a gas to be ionized into plasma and an exit aperture opening through which the plasma is extracted to form the ion beam. One example of a dopant gas is phosphine. When phosphine is exposed to an energy source, such as energetic electrons or radio frequency (RF) energy, the phosphine can disassociate to form positively charged phosphorous (P+) ions for doping the workpiece, as well as disassociated hydrogen ions. Typically, phosphine is introduced into the plasma confinement chamber and then exposed to the electron source to produce both phosphorous ions and hydrogen ions. The plasma comprises ions desirable for implantation into a workpiece, as well as undesirable ions which are a by-product of the dissociation and ionization processes. The phosphorous ions and the hydrogen ions are then extracted through the exit opening into the ion beam using an extraction apparatus including energized extraction electrodes. Examples of other typical dopant elements of which the source gas is comprised include phosphorous (P), arsenic (As), or Boron (B), and many others.
The dosage and energy of the implanted ions are varied according to the implantation desired for a given application. Ion dosage controls the concentration of implanted ions for a given semiconductor material. Typically, high current implanters are used for high dose implants, while medium current implanters are used for lower dosage applications. Ion energy is used to control junction depth in semiconductor devices, where the energy levels of the ions in the beam determine the degree of depth of the implanted ions. The continuing trend toward smaller and smaller semiconductor devices requires a beamline construction which serves to deliver high beam currents at low energies. The high beam current provides the necessary dosage levels, while the low energy permits shallow implants. In addition, the continuing trend toward higher device complexity requires careful control over the uniformity of implantation beams being scanned across the workpiece.
The ionization process in the ion source is achieved by excitation of electrons, which then collide with ionizable materials within the ion source chamber. This excitation has previously been accomplished using heated cathodes or RF excitation antennas. A cathode is heated so as to emit electrons which are then accelerated to sufficient energy for the ionization process, whereas an RF antenna generates electric fields that accelerate plasma electrons to sufficient energy for sustaining the ionization process. The antenna may be exposed within the plasma confinement chamber of the ion source, or may be located outside of the plasma chamber, separated by a dielectric window. The antenna is energized by an RF alternating current which induces a time varying magnetic field within the plasma confinement chamber. This magnetic field in turn induces an electric field in a region occupied by naturally occurring free electrons within the source chamber. These free electrons accelerate due to the induced electric field and collide with ionizable materials within the ion source chamber, resulting in plasma currents within the ion chamber, which are generally parallel to and opposite in direction to the electric currents in the antenna. Ions can then be extracted from the plasma chamber by one or more energizable extraction electrodes located proximate a small exit opening, so as to provide a small cross-section (relative to the size of the workpiece) ion beam.
Batch ion implanters include a spinning disk support for moving multiple silicon wafers through the ion beam. The ion beam impacts the wafer surface as the support rotates the wafers through the ion beam.
Serial implanters treat one wafer at a time. The wafers are supported in a cassette and are withdrawn one at time and placed on a support. The wafer is then oriented in an implantation orientation so that the ion beam strikes the single wafer. These serial implanters use beam shaping electronics to deflect the beam from its initial trajectory and often are used in conjunction with coordinated wafer support movements to selectively dope or treat the entire wafer surface.
Ion sources that generate the ion beams used in existing implanters are typically so called arc ion sources and can include heated filament cathodes for creating ions that are shaped into an appropriate ion beam for wafer treatment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,006 to Sferlazzo et al concerns an ion source having a cathode supported by a base and positioned with respect to a gas confinement chamber for ejecting ionizing electrons into the gas confinement chamber. The cathode of the '006 patent is a tubular conductive body and endcap that partially extends into the gas confinement chamber. A filament is supported within the tubular body and emits electrons that heat the endcap through electron bombardment. The heated endcap then thermionically emits the ionizing electrons into the gas confinement chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,890 to Cloutier et al also discloses an arc ion source for use in an ion implanter. The ion source includes a gas confinement chamber having conductive chamber walls that bound a gas ionization zone. The gas confinement chamber includes an exit opening to allow ions to exit the chamber. A base positions the gas confinement chamber relative to structure for forming an ion beam from ions exiting the gas confinement chamber.
Current materials defining the ion source chamber are typically formed of refractory metals and/or graphite, wherein the more commonly used refractory metals include tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, and the like. Corrosion of these materials can occur when ionizing fluorine-based compounds such as BF3, GeF4, SiF4, B2F4 and/or oxygen-based compounds such as CO and CO2, which can dramatically shorten the lifetimes of these materials as well as deleteriously introduce impurities during ion implantation. For example, ionization of fluorine containing compounds can produce F−, which can react with exposed surfaces containing the currently employed refractory metal of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, graphite, and the like. For example, MoFx, WFx, TaFx, and the like can be formed upon exposure to F− ions, wherein x is an integer of 1 to 6 in most instances. These materials are corrosive by themselves and the presence of these corrosive materials within the chamber can further propagate a halogen cycle where the deposition of these materials within the ion source chamber may occur, which significantly shortens operating lifetimes of these components. When ionizing oxygen-based compounds such as CO and CO2, the formation of the corresponding refractory oxide can also cause erosion of the ion source components within the ion source chamber including but not limited to the cathode, liners, cathode shield (i.e., cathode repeller), repeller (i.e., anti-cathode), source aperture slit (i.e., ion source optics plate), and the like, thereby shortening operating lifetimes and requiring replacement.
In addition to the corrosive problems noted above that affect operating lifetimes, the refractory metal fluoride and/or refractory metal oxides that are generated upon exposure to ionized fluorine and/or oxygen species are oftentimes volatile by themselves. Unfortunately, these volatile compounds can be transported along with the desired dopant ions to the substrate being processed, which directly affects device performance and yield.
Therefore, a need exists to for improved ion source chamber components in ion implantation systems, wherein the improvement provides equivalent or better performance to the currently utilized materials such as, for example, the tungsten-, molybdenum-, and like refractory-based materials, yet are generally inert during processing so as to provide extended operating lifetimes without generating volatile compounds affecting device performance and yield.

Reduced trace metals contamination ion source for an ion implantation system


A data recovery method for a read assembly of a magnetic memory device. The magnetic memory device has a moving magnetic medium, such as a disk, and a transducer spaced from the disk by a normal gap distance. The read assembly includes a variable gain amplifier and a control computer that controls the read and write operations of the magnetic memory device. The data recovery method uses the control computer to adjust the gain of the amplifier when an error is detected in a read signal. The method tests to see if the error is due to a variance from the normal gap distance by the head that is caused by either an thermal asperity of the disk surface or by a change in temperature of the moving magnetic medium. If a variance is found, the amplifier gain is adjusted and the data is reread. If there is no error the data is provided to an output interface.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to magnetic memory devices and, more particularly, to recovery of data when there is an error during a read operation.
2. Description of Prior Art
A magnetic memory device, such as a disk drive or a tape drive, typically has a magnetic head or transducer and a magnetic medium formatted into multiple data tracks. The magnetic medium is moved past a station where the transducer is located. The transducer is positioned to write or read data to or from addressable locations contained along the tracks.
The magnetic memory device also includes a read/write signal processing section that processes a read signal produced by the transducer before handing it over to a computer or other device that requested the data. The signal processing section includes a preamplifier for amplifying the read signal.
The signal to noise ratio (SNR) is a significant determinant of the read back performance of the magnetic memory device. For a given memory capacity design, a minimum SNR is usually required to meet the device""s soft error rate target. A high amplitude output signal from the head can saturate the preamplifier to produce a distorted signal that increases noise, thereby resulting in a degraded SNR. If the amplitude of output signal from the head is too low for the voltage gain amplifier in the channel:, the SNR can also be degraded. Both of these conditions can lead to higher bit error rate. It is known that, due to bit crowding, the amplitude of the read signal varies with track location. For example, when the head is positioned above an inner track on a magnetic disk medium, the amplitude is low. When it is positioned above an outer track, the amplitude is high.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,964 deals with this situation by varying the gain of the preamplifier according to track position. A computer provides a gain value for each position of the transducer to the preamplifier. The gain value selects the value of a resistor that determines gain of the preamplifier. Thus, the gain is reduced for a high amplitude signal and is increased for a low amplitude signal. The gain is also adjusted based on the ambient temperature in which the magnetic memory device is situated. The temperature measurement is not needed when the ambient temperature is controlled to a constant temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,548 discloses a procedure that uses read channel noise to calibrate amplifier gain and discrimination thresholds in the read/write signal processing circuitry of a magnetic memory device. The calibration procedure achieves a final threshold value that ensures that the read signal must exceed a predetermined signal to noise ratio before the read signal is accepted as valid. The calibration procedure is performed before searching for a head alignment reference signal on the magnetic medium.
Neither of the aforementioned patents addresses recovery of errors caused by variations in spacing or gap between the head and the disk surface due to debris, asperity of the disk surface or due to temperature and pressure change in the hard disk drive.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that recovers the data of a read signal that is in error due to variations in head to disk gap caused by disk surface asperity or hard disk drive temperature/pressure change and to thermal asperity events.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of recovering the data of a read signal that is in error due to variations in head to disk gap caused by disk surface asperity or hard disk drive temperature/pressure change and to thermal asperity events.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a memory medium that stores a program that controls the signal processing section of a read/write channel to recover the data of a read signal that is in error due to variations in head to disk gap caused by disk surface asperity or hard disk drive temperature/pressure change and to thermal asperity events.
A method for recovering data according to the present invention is operative during a read operation of a magnetic memory device when an error is detected. The magnetic memory device has a moving magnetic medium upon which data is stored at addressable locations, a transducer for reading the data to produce a read signal and an adjustable gain amplifier for amplifying the read signal. The transducer is spaced from the moving medium by a normal gap distance.
The data recovery method of the present invention involves producing a first read signal by reading a first data from one of the addressable locations. Next, the first read signal is examined for an error. If an error is detected, the method tests for a variation from the normal gap distance. If a variation is found, the amplifier gain is adjusted dependent upon the variation. Next, the first data is reread to produce a second read signal. It is then determined if the second read signal is error free. If the second read signal is error free, the first data is recovered from the second read signal and provided to an output of the magnetic memory device.
The variation from the normal gap distance can be caused by an asperity of the magnetic medium surface, such as an accumulation of debris or a roughness or unevenness. In such case, the variation is a decrease from the normal gap distance that results in a higher amplitude read signal that saturates the amplifier. For this situation, the amplifier gain is decreased.
The variation from the normal gap distance can be caused by a change in disk temperature from a reference temperature, such as the medium temperature at the time of manufacture, and the moving medium. If the temperature increases, the gap decreases and the amplifier gain is decreased. If the temperature decreases, the gap increases and the amplifier gain is increased.
The data recovery apparatus and memory medium of the present invention involve the procedure described above for the data recovery method.

Data recovery apparatus, method and memory medium for a magnetic memory read/write channel

International Business Machines Corporation


An imposing apparatus determines at least one pair of line components included in positioning marks based on the positional relationship between particular line components in a page region, and estimates marking positions for the positioning marks based on the shape of the pair of line components. The imposing apparatus acquires the marking positions as positional information of a page box in association with the page region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imposing apparatus, an imposing method, and a storage medium storing a program for setting, for each page region, a page box that specifies the boundaries of a page.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the computer to plate (CTP) technology for directly producing printing plates from electronic data without the need for the generation of any intermediate products has been in widespread use in the printing and platemaking fields. There have been an increasing number of cases where a designer creates contents using an information processing terminal and then provides the created contents as electronic data to a printing company. Portable document format (PDF) version 1.3, which represents a type of page description data, for example, defines five types of "page box" as a parameter that defines the boundaries of pages in order to assist in a prepress production workflow (see PDF reference, second edition, Adobe Portable Document Format Version 1.3, first edition, first print, published Sep. 25, 2001, Authors: AdobeSystems, ISBN 4-89471-338-1, pages 452-454). An operator who belongs to the printing company can use "page box" in carrying out an electronic imposition process.

Imposing apparatus, imposing method, and non-transitory storage medium


An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube utilizes a unitary type sensor having a channel for receiving the tube. The channel has a tube loading section. A signal emitting member is positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member is positioned on an opposite side of the tube. A first air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting and signal receiving members.

The present invention relates to an air in-line sensor for use in a medical device and, more particularly, to an air in-line sensor designed to detect air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube.
An infusion system for delivering a drug or other liquid into a patient often includes an infusion device that operates to deliver the liquid at an adjustable rate or dosage. Prior art infusion devices include an air detector using an ultrasonic or an optical sensor for detecting air bubbles in the liquid flowing through a tube. The air detector is loaded in a part of the tube.
Two types of the air detectors are known. More specifically, in the separate type as shown in FIG. 1, a signal emitting member 1 and a signal receiving member 2 of the detector are separate components in such a structure. The signal emitting member 1 is mounted on a stationary unit 3 of a pumping station, while the signal receiving member 2 is carried by a movable unit 4, such as a door. When the door 4 is closed, a channel 5 is defined between an upper surface of signal emitting member 1 of stationary unit 3 and a lower surface of signal receiving member 2 of movable unit 4, into which a tube 6 is accommodated. Accordingly, when movable unit 4 is closed while tube 6 is loaded into an upper recess 7 defined in signal emitting member 1 of stationary unit 3, tube 6 is deformed into a flattened configuration within channel 6 to provide an enlarged surface area in contact with signal emitting and receiving members 1 and 2. receiving members 1 and 2 are embedded in opposing walls of groove 8. The unitary type is mainly used for detecting relatively short air bubbles and therefore the length of tube-receiving groove 8 is relatively short, exerting less resistance in contact between the groove and the tube. Accordingly, the tube may be fitted into groove 8 by pushing with one""s fingers.
In the above-described separate type, it is difficult to maintain a constant, specific distance between the signal emitting and receiving members so as to stabilize the performance of the detector, because the separate type sensor system has more tolerances than a unitary type system. When more tolerances are involved, distance control between the signal emitting and receiving members becomes more difficult.
Nuisance alarms result when a pump alarm is activated when air is not present in the line. As a result, air sensors are often deactivated in the pump""s configuration. Accordingly, the pump would not be able to detect the presence of air in the line. Moreover, nondetection of actual air in the tubing line occurs in many prior art infusion devices because the ultrasonic signal is not fully transmitted through the tube. For example, an ultrasonic signal may work its way around the bottom of the channel and trick the pump mechanism into believing that liquid is in the line when, in fact, air is in the line. This nondetection or xe2x80x9cshort circuitxe2x80x9d is undesirable.
Some unitary type air sensors have included a pocket underneath the channel to block the ultrasonic signal, and thus, prevent the ultrasonic signal from circumventing the correct path through the tubing set. However, these pockets can allow dirt and cleaning solutions to build up, which prevents the sensor from working properly. If the pocket became filled with liquid, the ultrasonic signal may travel around the channel even when air is present in the tubing line.
Moreover, some unitary type air sensor systems do not maintain optimal contact between the tube and the channel. For example, if a flat closure member surface is utilized to push the tube into a V-shaped, upper section of the channel, the tube may become dislodged from the channel by rotational or rolling displacement of the tube. Additionally, the tube may flatten or collapse disproportionately, causing poor coupling between the tube and the channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,392, owned by Assignee of the present invention, discloses an air detector for use in infusion pumps (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The air detector utilizes a unitary type sensor for detecting air bubbles in the tube. The upper section of the groove has a first side wall which tapers upwardly and outwardly from the tube fixing section and a second side wall is perpendicular to the base of the groove along the length of the tube fixing section. When the door is closed after the tube is loaded in the groove, the tube abutting member forces the tube against the second side wall and into final position.
The present invention is provided to solve these and other problems.
The present invention provides an air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the sensor has a channel for receiving the tube having a tube loading section. The sensor further has a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube. A first air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.
According to another aspect of the invention, the sensor has a first lead-in section defined by an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel. The first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the sensor has a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section. The second lead-in section is defined by an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, and the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the sensor has a second air baffle positioned between the signal emitting and the signal receiving members.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, an air in-line sensor is provided for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube. The sensor has a channel for receiving the tube having a tube loading section. Preferably, the tube has a first lead-in section. The tube loader has a stationary section and a movable section hingedly connected to the stationary section. The movable section has a blade having a radius of curvature for positioning the tube in the tube loading section. Preferably, a signal emitting member is positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member is positioned on an opposite side of the tube.
According to a further aspect of the invention, an air in-line sensor system is disclosed for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube located in a pumping mechanism. The tube extends from a supply bag of the therapeutic solution to a patient through the system. The system has a channel for receiving the tube having a first lead-in section, and a tube loading section. A signal emitting member is positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member is positioned on an opposite side of the tube. A first air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member. Moreover, the tube loader has a stationary section and a movable section hingedly connected to the stationary section. The movable section has a blade having a radius of curvature for positioning the tube in the tube loading section.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for loading a tube into a channel of a medical pump. Preferably, the channel is provided having a first lead-in section and a tube loading section. The channel is also provided having a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube. A tube loader is provided having a stationary section and a movable section. The movable section has a blade having a radius of curvature. The tube is positioned proximate the channel. The blade is placed in contact with the tube, and the blade is then moved until the tube is positioned within the tube loading section.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

Air in-line sensor for ambulatory drug infusion pump


An aqueous binder dispersion that includes at least one copolymer (P) containing carboxylic acid and/or carboxylate groups. The copolymer (P) includes structural units of carboxyl-free (meth)acrylic esters with a cycloaliphatic structure, and at least 25 mol % of the carboxylic acid groups of the copolymer (P) in the dispersion being present in triethanolamine-neutralized form. The aqueous binder can be used in aqueous coating materials, which can be used to coat a substrate.

From the prior art it is known to use dispersions based on copolymers in water-thinnable paints and coating materials. Where the aim is for a high quality level, with respect to, for example, the resistance of the films to solvents or chemicals, the dispersions are equipped with crosslinkable functional groups and prior to application are mixed with a crosslinker, for example with a polyfunctional isocyanate. Aqueous two-component polyurethane coatings, including dispersions based on copolymers containing groups that are crosslinkable with isocyanates, and including polyfunctional isocyanates, are increasingly being used for such profiles of requirements, on the basis of their high quality level.
EP-A 557 844 describes aqueous two-component polyurethane coatings based on hydrophilic polyisocyanates and hydroxy-functional emulsion copolymers which are practically free of carboxylate groups and are stabilized by means of external emulsifiers. Owing to the high molecular weights of the polymers and the enduring hydrophilicity when external emulsifiers are used, such coating systems, for certain applications, have disadvantages in water resistance, pigment wetting, and, in particular, in the optical qualities of the film.
EP-A 358 979, DE-A 42 262 70 and EP-A 1 024 184 describe aqueous two-component polyurethane reactive systems based on vinyl polymer secondary dispersions and polyisocyanate crosslinkers which already have a good level of properties. The vinyl polymers in the systems serve as emulsifiers for the polyisocyanates and so prevent the unwanted reaction between NCO and water. For certain applications, however, improvements in the solids content, in the resistance properties, particularly the water resistance, in film hardness, and in respect to the optical qualities of the film are desirable.
DE-A 44 35 950, DE-A 44 07 415, and DE-A 44 39 669 describe not only solventborne but also aqueous coating materials, in which the drying and also the chemical resistance and/or weather resistance of the coatings can be improved by additionally using cycloaliphatic monomers. For many applications, however, a further improvement in film hardness and—in the case of waterborne coating materials—in particular in the optical qualities of the film (gloss, haze) is desirable.
Disadvantages in the optical qualities of the film, such as low gloss, appreciable haze, levelling problems, for example, are observed in particular when increased use is made of what are referred to as "hardening monomers", i.e. those monomers, which in the form of a homopolymer, have a glass transition temperature (Tg) of more than 0° C. Examples of "hardening" monomers are styrene, methyl methacrylate, n-, iso- or tert-butyl methacrylate, and cycloaliphatic (meth)acrylic esters. The cause of these deficiencies in the optical qualities of the film is the difficult or poor incorporability or dispersability of the polyisocyanate crosslinkers in the polyol dispersion, leading to a more heterogeneous distribution of the crosslinker in the binder.
It was an object of the present invention to provide aqueous binders and the coatings resulting therefrom, featuring improved film hardness and optical qualities, which do not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

Aqueous binder dispersions as coating compositions


A pin-limited device includes a pattern-recognition circuit that detects a predetermined signal pattern transmitted on a supply pin of the device. The predetermined signal pattern is generated within the acceptable operating voltage range of the IC device (e.g., between the minimum and maximum acceptable system voltage levels utilized to control the internal circuitry of the device). Accordingly, the pin-limited IC device continues to operate within specifications while the predetermined signal pattern is transmitted on the selected power supply pin or pins. A test mode circuit generates a switch control signal in response to the predetermined signal pattern to connect an output pin of the device, for example, to an internal node of the device. The pattern recognition circuit sets a latch when the predetermined signal pattern is detected, and the latch is reset when the device is powered down then powered up.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a temperature sensing device 10, which is an example of a pin-limited IC device. Temperature sensing device 10 is housed in a standard three-pin IC package including power/ground pins 11 and 12, and output 13 that extend from a package substrate 14. An IC chip 15, which is fabricated using known photolithographic (e.g., CMOS) fabrication techniques, is mounted on the package substrate 14 such that external nodes of IC chip 15 are electrically connected to pins 11, 12 and 13. A protective cover 16 is mounted on package substrate 14 over IC chip extending from a package substrate. Temperature sensing device 10 is thus a fully packaged device that is included in (e.g. soldered to) a host system (not shown), for example, by way of a printed circuit board. During operation, temperature sensing device 10 receives a high voltage supply from the host system on voltage supply pin 11, and a low voltage supply on ground pin 12 during normal operation. Temperature sensing device 10 asserts a (e.g., high) output signal on output pin 13 when temperature sensing device 10 (and, hence, the host system) is exposed to a predetermined temperature (e.g., 65° C.). While temperature sensing device 10 remains below the predetermined temperature, the output signal generated on output pin 13 remains de-asserted (e.g., low).
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functional components of temperature sensing device 10. Temperature sensing device 10 generally includes a sensor circuit 20 that generates a sensor signal VSENSOR on an internal node A whose voltage level is determined by a sensed temperature, a reference generator (e.g., bandgap) circuit 22 for generating a predetermined reference signal VREF on an internal node B representing the predetermined temperature, a comparator 24 for comparing the temperature and reference signals, for generating an appropriate output signal VOUT on output pin 13. Comparator 24 generates a low output signal VOUT when, for example, the voltage level of sensor signal VSENSOR is less than reference signal VREF, and generates a high output signal VOUT when the voltage level of sensor signal VSENSOR is greater than reference signal VREF.
Like all ICs, it is desirable for a manufacturer to test temperature sensing device devices in order to verify that they operate as intended prior to assembly in a host system. One conventional temperature sensing device testing procedure involves placing the temperature sensing device devices in a temperature-controlled apparatus, and measuring the devices' responses to various ambient temperatures. A problem with this approach is that the use of temperature-controlled apparatus is time consuming and expensive, and does not facilitate access to internal nodes of the temperature sensing device, which may be necessary to troubleshoot and identify the source of design or fabrication errors. A second conventional testing procedure avoids the problems associated with the use of temperature-controlled apparatus by simulating the test temperatures using appropriate voltage signals applied to selected internal nodes of the temperature sensor, and/or by reading signals generated at internal nodes (e.g., nodes A and B) in response to applied stimuli. By accessing an internal node, one can electrically mimic temperature cycling and thus test the part quickly and efficiently at a single temperature, possibly room temperature. However, in general, accessing the internal nodes of a pin-limited IC device requires suspending normal operation, and putting the device into a test mode in which signals may be passed to or read from selected internal nodes (e.g., sensor signal VSENSOR from node A, or reference voltage VREF from node B; see FIG. 7) from one of the external pins. Because the power supply pins (e.g., power supply pin 11 and ground pin 12) are required to power temperature sensing device 10 during both normal and test mode operations, the only external pin that can be utilized to pass signals to or from selected internal nodes is output pin 13. Moreover, the mechanism for entering the test mode is preferably performed by applying a signal to one or more existing external pins, which for the reasons provided above typically requires the use of output pin 13. However, the signal used to switch temperature sensing device 10 into the test mode must be selected such that the signal is not accidentally applied to output pin 13 during normal operation (or else the temperature sensing device 10 may inadvertently enter the test mode and fail to perform as expected). For devices having a multitude of pins, one can easily inject a signal into a dedicated pin that causes an internal signal to be routed out on another pin. Therefore, for pin-limited devices such as 3-pin temperature sensing device 10, the task of entering a test mode becomes non-trivial.
What is needed is a method for testing pin-limited IC devices that avoids the need for the addition of extra pins. In particular, what is needed is a test mode control circuit that is enabled in response to a signal applied to the external pins of a pin-limited IC device that would not occur during normal operation of the device.


Disclosed are compositions, which are stabilized against degradation and yellowing during exposure to ultraviolet light by the presence of certain nitroxyl, hydroxyl amine and hydroxyl amine salt additives, a method of stabilizing the compositions by the addition of said additives, to the use of such compositions as media in electroactive devices such as electrochromic and electrophoteric devices, and the electroactive devices comprised of these media.

A major problem which limits the usefulness and useful lifetime of materials exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is degradation associated with such exposure. This degradation results from decomposition and other chemical reactions of the materials initiated by absorption of ultraviolet light. Among the undesired consequences of these chemical reactions can be discoloration of the material. Among the materials that are particularly affected by UV induced discoloration are solvents that comprise the media of functional devices such as electroactive devices, including electrochromic and electrophoretic devices.
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/171,176 filed Jun. 30, 2005, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, discloses media useful in electroactive stabilized with UV absorbers and certain N—H, N—OR and N-Alkyl hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS).
Electrochromic devices are well known, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,902,108 and 6,178,034. Such devices undergo a change in electromagnetic radiation transmission upon application of an electrical stimulus and have found use in a number of commercial applications. For example, they may be employed in glazings, e.g., energy efficient and privacy windows for architectural or automotive use, automotive rearview mirrors, displays, filters, eyewear, antidazzle and fog penetrating devices, and other applications where variable light transmission is desired. In many of these applications the device is routinely exposed to harmful environmental conditions, including exposure to UV light as from the sun.
Electrochromic devices are typically associated with a noticible change in color. Changes in other optical properties, such as in the degree of clarity and opacity and absorption in the IR, are also characteristics of such devices. The compositions of the present invention can also be employed as part of other electroactive devices associated with similar activity such as liquid crystal and suspended particle devices, including, as examples, electronic paper and privacy windows.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,614,578; 5,770,114; 6,207,083 and 6,045,724, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, disclose solvent containing media for electrochromic devices which protect the device by absorbing UV light either through an intrisic property of the solvent or by the addition of UV absorbing additives (UVAs), e.g., benzotriazoles, benzophenones, cyanoacrylates and others.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,305 claims compositions with certain cyanoacrylate UVAs in specified electrochromic solutions due to the greater solubility than similar solutions containing certain benzotriazoles, benzophenones, and/or oxanilides.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,614,578 and 5,770,114 disclose media for electrochromic devices containing benzotriazole UVAs that are substituted with groups to provide improved solubility.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,406, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, discloses a multi-layered electrochromic glazing assembly, at least one layer of which comprises an additive for absorbing, blocking, and/or screening ultraviolet radiation. Said additive may be in one of the polymeric layers of the invention or in the electrochromic medium itself.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,143,209; 6,327,069; 6,404,532 and 6,545,793, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, describe electrochromic devices comprising a solvent and optionally UV absorbers including benzophenones, cyanoacrylates, salicylates and benzotriazoles.
Even with the addition of UV absorbing additives, discoloration of the media upon exposure to UV light remains a problem. In addition to UVA's, other stabilizing additives, including hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), have been used in electrochromic media, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,178,034 and 5,239,406, and U.S. Pat Appl Pub. 2002/0141032.
Electrophoretic devices are also well known, particularly those comprised of suspended particles, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,772,103; 6,753,844 and 6,753,999 which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. They can be commercially employed in many of the same applications as electrochromic devices, e.g., glazings and displays and are subject to similar photodegradation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,217, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, discloses electrophoretic light valve compositions stabilized with UV light absorbers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,326, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, teaches the stabilization of pulp or paper with dialkylhydroxylamines or substituted dialkylhydroxylamines or their salts.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/512,528 filed Apr. 24, 2003 and Ser. No. 10/970,112 filed Oct. 21, 2004, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, teach stabilization of body care products, household products, textiles and fabrics with hindered nitroxyls, sterically hindered hydroxylamines and hydroxylamine salts and with dialkylhydroxylamines or substituted dialkylhydroxylamines or their salts.
It has been found that certain nitrones, hydroxylamines and hydroxylamine salts are effective preventing the yellowing of solutions containing UVAs found in electroactive devices.


A heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes that define refrigerant passages extending vertically from a lower end to an upper end. A bottom header is in fluid communication with the passage at the lower end of the tube, and a top header is in fluid communication with the passage at the upper end of the tube. A plurality of plates extends rearwardly from the tubes to a distal edge. Adjacent plates extending from adjacent tubes are closed off at the distal edges by a connector, and adjacent plates extending from the same tube have a rear opening between the distal edges for receiving air into the assembly. A plurality of orifices is disposed along the plates to allow air from the rear opening to flow downstream between the tubes. A water tank and wicking material are provided for wetting the plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to conditioning air and, more specifically, to conditioning air more efficiently using the principles of evaporative cooling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to cool air by flowing the air over an evaporator comprising a set of tubes carrying a refrigerant. The heat is transferred from the air to the refrigerant to cool the air. The refrigerant then passes through a compressor and is compressed into a superheated vapor. The heat must be rejected out of the refrigerant before it can be used to cool additional air. Typically, the heat is rejected into the atmosphere by transferring to ambient air flowing over a condenser comprising a set of tubes carrying the superheated refrigerant vapor. As the refrigerant cools, it condenses back into a liquid. These tubes are referred to as condensing tubes. However, since this system requires energy, continuing attempts have been made to increase the cooling efficiency and reduce the energy required. One such example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,101 to Levitin et al., which teaches evaporating water from a series of rods upstream of a condenser. When the air passes over the rods, heat is transferred to the water, causing it to evaporate and thereby reducing the temperature of the airstream. The air entering the condenser is cooler and therefore able to receive more heat from the superheated refrigerant, which reduces the energy consumption of the air conditioner. However, the assembly of Levitin is bulky and requires the use of extra components, such as the rods.

High efficiency evaporatively cooled condenser


A system for computer graphic determination and display of a patient's anatomy, as from CT or MR scanning, and stored along with associated equipment in an object field including the patient's anatomy. A first digitizing camera structure produces a signal representative of its field-of-view which defines coordinates of index points in its field-of-view. A second digitizing camera structure produces similar output for an offset field-of-view. The two camera positions are defined with respect to the patient's anatomy so that the fields-of-view of the cameras include both the patient's anatomy and the equipment, but are taken from different directions. Index markers are for fixing points in the fields of view and accordingly locate equipment relative to said patient anatomy. The index markers are provided by variety of structures including, light sources in various forms as reflectors, diodes, and laser scanner structures to provide a visible grid, mesh or cloud of points.

The concept of frameless stereotaxy is now emerging in the field of neurosurgery. Frameless stereotaxy involves quantitative determination of anatomical positions on a human body, say for example a human head, based on image data taken from a CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or other well-known slice scanning techniques. The data from such image scans may be entered into a computer to generate a three dimensional graphic representation of the human head. This is of great value to surgeons, as they may visualize where they will be operating relative to this data field. Surgeons may thus, plan their operations quantitatively prior to actually performing them, based on an anatomy visualization represented by the image data.
To date, the use of stereotactic head frames for fixing and orienting a head is commonplace. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,977 issued on Sep. 2, 1986, to Brown and entitled: System Using Computed Tomography As For Selective Body Treatment. Such stereotactic head frames utilize a head fixation device, typically with some form of an index means, that may be visualized in scan slices or image data. Thus, the anatomical image data can be defined relative to the head frame.
Arcuate mounts or probe carriers may be fixed to frames to hold and guide a probe based on the anatomical image data. If use of the head holder and carrier can be limited, patient discomfort can be greatly reduced.
The headholder and localizer still may be used for general neurosurgery where only approximate target positioning is needed. For example, a space pointer may be directed over the anatomy and its position may be quantified relative to the stereotactic image data. The space pointer, analogous to a pencil, might be pointed to a specific location on the anatomy such that the location and the direction of the pointer, subsequently appear, real time, on the computer graphics display of the anatomical data. Such an apparatus has been proposed, using an articulated space pointer with a mechanical linkage. In that regard, see an article entitled "An Articulated Neurosurgical Navigation System Using MRI and CT Images," IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Volume 35, No. 2, February 1988 (Kosugi et al), incorporated by reference herein. It would be convenient and effective if the space pointer could be mechanically decoupled or minimally mechanically coupled.
One objective of the present system is to provide a camera apparatus (optical) to visualize a surgical field and relate it via a computer graphics system to stored image data of the patient's anatomy. The relationship between the camera data and the image data is processed to quantitatively represent and indicate surgical instruments such as probes, microscopes, or space pointers in relation to the anatomy image.
Another objective of the present invention is to optically couple a space pointer or other equipment item to accomplish the same objectives as the robotic arm mechanically coupled space pointer, e.g. give ongoing positional correspondence between a location in a patient's brain and the tomographic image. The optical coupling frees the surgeon from sterility questions, provides an obstruction-free device, and avoids the encumbrances of a bulky mechanical instrument.
According to a method of "frameless" stereotaxy as described above, a camera system or navigator consists of a set of cameras viewing a surgical field, in relation to a patient's anatomy. Equipment or anatomy, e.g. probes, a microscope, or other surgical devices may be viewed and tracked by the cameras within the surgical field, and the position of these devices may be quantitatively determined. Various registration, mapping, transformation, or merging schemes may combine the image scan data of the patient's anatomy with camera system data. Various examples are shown and described involving index reference points on anatomy or equipment that may be used to correlate to the image scan data. Natural landmarks, contours, surfaces, or other reference marks are disclosed for combining image scan data of the anatomy with real time physical anatomy or equipment position data.
Other illustrative examples are disclosed for registration between the image scan data (e.g. stored data) and anatomy and equipment data (e.g. real time). The examples given may apply to the field of "frameless" stereotaxy, wherein a head frame or head clamp is placed on the patient's head after the image scanning is done. It may also apply to frame-based stereotaxy, where a head clamp or head frame is placed on the patient's head prior to image scanning. The methods and apparatus and the examples given herein may be used in a variety of fields, including interventive stereotaxy, stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy, or general image processing to relate image data to an apparatus means or surgical or diagnostic equipment environment.

System and method for stereotactic registration of image scan data


A method of configuring a mobile device includes providing for a mobile computing device a plurality of device profiles that each define a manner in which the mobile computing device interacts with a user, operating the mobile computing device using a first profile of the plurality of device profiles, automatically, and without user input, identifying by the mobile computing device that the mobile computing device has changed states, in response to the determining, presenting a user of the mobile computing device with a list of device profiles available to the mobile computing device and a selectable control for selecting one of the profiles in the list, receiving, from the user, an instruction to switch to a second profile of the device profiles in the list that is separate and distinct form the first profile, and configuring the mobile computing device to operate according to the second profile.

People spend hours at a time with their electronic devices—computers, telephones, music players, and the like. People may prefer devices that are intuitive to use and whose interactions best meet their expectations regarding how machines should work. They interact with electronics through inputs and outputs from the devices, where the outputs generally are provided audibly and/or on a flat graphical display screen, and the inputs may occur via touch screens, joysticks, mice, 4-directional keypads (DPads), and other such input mechanisms.
Various mechanisms can be used to customize a mobile device, such as a smartphone, for a particular user or a particular situation. For example, a user may select a wallpaper to be displayed as a background for his or her telephone. Similarly, a user can select a theme that affects the look of icons on the device, colors for objects displayed on the device, and sounds that are played by the device upon the occurrence of certain events.


The present invention relates to a ramp system. The ramp system includes a riser component that includes a first side and a second side that meets the first side. The second side and first side form an angle that is less than 90.degree.. The ramp system also includes an adjuster component positionable within the riser component. The adjuster component lifts one end of the first side so that an angle that the second side makes with the horizontal is increased when compared to an angle made between the second side and the horizontal without the adjuster component.

The present invention relates to a system for elevating ramps and other structures and to a method for making a ramp system.
With the advent of sporting activities, such as skateboarding and in-line skating, accessories to these sports, such as ramps, have become increasingly desirable and popular. Because of the nature of these sporting activities, it is most desirable that ramps be lightweight, portable, sturdy, properly weighted and capable of accommodating several heights. Incorporating each of these features in a single ramp device has posed a formidable challenge to sport equipment manufacturers.
The Romeo patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,514, issuing Aug. 25, 1981, describes a ramp with rectangular plates placed in juxtaposition to one another. The rectangular plates are interconnected by an elongated hinge capable of forming triangularly inclining surfaces. The ramp also has an apertured stick that is adjustably attachable to projections on the plates to vary the angles of the inclining surfaces for placement on the ground.
The Slessinger patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,916, issuing Dec. 19, 1978, describes a ramp for use with skateboards. The ramp includes an elongated ramp section having its lower extremity juxtaposed to a supporting surface and an upper extremity disposed above and in spacial relationship with the supporting surface. A suspensory frame for the elongated ramp section and an adjustment system on the frame was present on the ramp for adjusting component portions of the frame with respect to each other.
Movable connections between the upper and lower extremities of the ramp member and frame can be manipulated to raise or lower the ramp member with respect to the supporting surface when the components of the ramp are adjusted to raise or lower the ramp member.