A method and system for placement of graphical objects on a page to optimize the occurrence of an event associated with such objects. The graphical objects might include, for instance, advertisements on a webpage, and the event would include a user clicking on that ad. The page includes positions for receipt of the object material. Data regarding the past performance of the objects is stored and updated as new data is received. A user requests a page from a server associated with system. The server uses the performance data to derive a prioritized arrangement of the objects on the page. The server performs a calculation regarding the likelihood that an event will occur for a given object, as displayed to a particular user. The objects are arranged according to this calculation and returned to the user on the requested page. The likelihood can also be multiplied by a weighting factor and the objects arranged according to this product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for optimizing the placement of graphical objects., e.g. advertisements (ads), topic tiles, or the like on a page, e.g. a webpage, so that an event associated with the objects is more likely to occur. Such an event would include the incidence of a user identifying, or clicking on the object with a pointing device.
2. Description of Related Art
The Internet provides a fast, inexpensive, and convenient medium for information providers to make information available to users on a website. Information in such websites might include, for example, sports scores, movie reviews, daily news, stock quotations, and the like. While password protected pay-sites exist on the internet, websites can generally be accessed at no cost to the user. This presents a problem regarding revenues returned in relation to providing a website full of information. Some website providers are funded to distribute various information to the public,. for example NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Agency) or other such public agencies. Still other providers utilize their website as a commercial means in itself to sell various products, such as books or compact discs. Regardless of such external funding, the generation of revenue from a website is proving to be increasingly important, as there are costs inherent in creating, providing, and maintaining a website. Moreover, as Internet traffic continues to increase, the opportunities for the generation of revenue in association with those contacted sites also tends to increase.
In response to such concerns, website providers are increasing the amount of advertising space on their webpages in order to generate more revenues. The advertisements (or ads) appear as banners, blocks, or tiles on various portions on the webpage. Typically, an advertisement serves as a click-through point to sources of more information about that particular advertiser or topic. In other words, the advertisement exists as a graphical object which has a link to other information. The user typically chooses or identifies the object by clicking on it with a computer pointing device. The identification of the object invokes the link, and hence is often referred to as "click-through."
As with newspapers and other such advertising mediums, factors such as the location and size of the ad on a webpage will affect the price charged. Ads appearing at the start of the webpage will usually command a higher price than ads appearing at the end. This is particularly true for ads which appear further down from the initial webpage screen (as limited by the size of the user's display device). Web browsers usually require the positive act of a user scrolling down a page in order to view an ad located further down from the top. A user who sifts through web pages based upon the initial material visible on the page often overlooks such lower placed ads. Ultimately, each advertiser wants to their ad to be seen, and to increase the amount of click-throughs, or viewing traffic, which visits its particular website or webpages as a result of a click-through on its ad.
Generally, most sites sell their advertising as a function of cost per thousand impressions, where an impression is counted as an instance of the ad appearing on a webpage. Ads can be randomly placed on a webpage, or advertisers might choose locations on the page. In the latter instance, advertisers might be required to spend considerable time, money, and resources deciding where to place their advertisements, with the hope and anticipation of their ad being noticed, read, and even acted upon by the user. For instance, ads directed to younger Internet users might be placed on websites related to young celebrities, pop culture, or modern music. The ad might need to be placed near the top of the webpage in order to attract attention to the ad. This might require a costly expenditure by the advertiser, and would carry with it no assurances that the ad will attract any significant click-through traffic. As a result, the advertiser might be dissuaded altogether from placing the ad on a particular website or webpage. For every such decision by an advertiser not to place an ad, the revenues for a website or webpage which depends upon such revenues will be adversely affected.
Yet another way of selling advertising on the Internet is by charging the advertiser a certain amount for each click-through that occurs on a particular ad (often referred to as cost-per-click, or CPC). Such pricing structures might ultimately attract more attention from advertisers because the advertiser will not be required to pay unless the ad actually attracts click-through traffic. However, this pricing scheme shifts the impetus for deciding optimum ad placement back to the website or webpage provider, as no revenue will be generated for the provider if the user never clicks upon an ad.
Accordingly, a method and system are needed in this field which will serve to increase the chance of an event occurring for an object which is presented on a page. In the Internet context, a method and system are needed which would increase the amount of click-through traffic on ads presented on a webpage, and thereby increase the revenue generated by a website provider which sells ads on that webpage.

Method and system for optimum placement of advertisements on a webpage


A device for beam shaping includes a heat dissipation body having an upper side with a planar section and a plurality of laser elements next to one another on the planar section of the upper side that respectively emit a ray bundle having a fast-axis divergence and, perpendicular thereto, a slow-axis divergence. A reflection element is arranged such that the ray bundles of the individual laser elements extend parallel to one another and at an elevation angle of greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to the planar section after exactly one reflection at the associated reflection element. The reflected ray bundles are stacked in the optical path downstream of the reflection elements in a first plane perpendicular to the beam direction and a connecting line, lying in the first plane, of the centers of the reflected ray bundles extends perpendicular to the direction of the slow axis.

By way of example, DE 197 80 124 B4 has disclosed such a device, wherein the upper side of the heat dissipation body has a stepped design such that the laser elements arranged next to one another respectively emit their ray bundles at different heights. These ray bundles are then deflected by 90° with deflection mirrors such that the individual ray bundles are situated directly over one another and form a common ray bundle. Here, the normal of the deflection mirror lies in the waveguide plane of the laser element, and so the emitted and reflected ray bundles also lie in this plane. As a result of the stepped embodiment of the upper side, the waveguide planes of the laser elements are, as it were, stacked over one another and the laser elements are not situated in a common plane.
A disadvantage of this design is, firstly, that the heat dissipation is very inhomogeneous as a result of the stepped design of the heat dissipation body. Temperature differences of between 1 and 4° C. and even more can by all means occur between steps. In the case of a temperature dependence of the wavelength of the laser radiation of approximately 0.4 nm per ° C. and a bandwidth of the emitted laser radiation of between 3 and 4 nm, this leads to a noticeable and undesirable displacement of the wavelength of the ray bundles.
Moreover, fabricating an upper side of the heat dissipation body with such steps is very complicated and only possible to an accuracy of approximately a few tens of μm.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,831 B1 has disclosed a device for beam shaping, in which the individual laser elements are arranged on a planar upper side of a heat dissipation body via wedge elements. The wedge elements are selected such that the incline of the upper side with respect to the horizontal is compensated for, and so the individual laser elements emit the ray bundles thereof in the horizontal direction.
The alignment by means of the wedge elements is complicated in this embodiment. The heat dissipation is also uneven in each individual laser element as a result of the wedge elements, and this is disadvantageous. Moreover, the heat dissipation is degraded as a result of the additional joints in the heat dissipation path.
DE 195 11 593 A1 (e.g. FIG. 4) has disclosed a device in which a deflection mirror arrangement is used to stack the ray bundles from a linear arrangement of laser elements over one another such that the envelope of the beam cross section is a rectangle. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that at least two reflections are required per laser element for this purpose. Furthermore, DE 195 11 593 A1 (FIG. 7) has disclosed a device in which a deflection mirror arrangement is used to stack the ray bundles from a linear arrangement of laser elements over one another. Only one reflection is required for this, but a disadvantage of this arrangement is that the envelope of the beam cross section is trapezoidal. This means that the connecting line of the centers of the ray bundles is not perpendicular to the slow-axis direction of the ray bundles. Coupling the radiation into an optical fiber is therefore connected with a loss of beam quality and/or coupling efficiency.


Text entry and information retrieval are combined in such a way as to automatically offer an author continuous retrieval of information potentially relevant to the text he is authoring. The author enters text in one portion of the user interface. Keywords are extracted from the text as the author enters them and are used as query words for an information retrieval mechanism to a document collection. Those queries return relevant information from the document collection in a second portion of the user interface. The user can then read or ignore the returned information or he can select the returned information to view the full context from which it came.

Authors benefit by researching and/or consulting other documents, including their own previous notes, when the documents are relevant to the one they are writing. Currently, the authoring process and the researching/consulting processes are separate operations involving separate tools and thought processes. The present invention combines authoring and researching/consulting in a novel way so as to dynamically offer, without deliberate action by the user, relevant notes and other documents as the user authors his own text.
Authoring text generally comprises multiple steps. The author must first decide on the subject of the text. Then any background or reference information must be located in order to be included or discussed in the text to be authored. Only then can the author begin the process of actually authoring the text, which process includes not only the more cognitive aspects of text generation but also the more mechanical aspects of spelling, grammar, layout and format. The authoring phase typically involves repeatedly referring to the previously obtained research or reference information and/or a post authoring process of reviewing the referenced information relative to the authored text in order to edit, augment or correct the text.
It is important to note that in the current text authoring process, obtaining relevant reference information is typically a pre-authoring step. Alternatively, the actual text generation process is temporarily halted while the author re-engages in the process of researching additional reference material. This researching step can range from the author searching various databases or other sources of information to the author merely locating and reviewing related material the author previously created. However, regardless of the actual sequence the typical author uses in generating text, the portion of the process dedicated to obtaining relevant material is typically a separate, dedicated process initiated and controlled or defined by the author.
Also, because researching potentially relevant information can generate considerable material, it can be difficult for an author to recall everything previously located. Furthermore, stopping to do research can be cognitively disruptive to the process of actually authoring text. What would be preferable, and what is provided by the system of the present invention, is to have relevant material merely brought to the author's attention as the author is creating the text. That way, the author can more directly focus on the text creation. Further, the author can be subtly reminded of additional reference material he may not have been aware of.
Further, while text authoring systems currently exist which automatically attempt to correct an author's spelling or grammar, it is believed that the present invention is the first system which automatically informs the user of potentially relevant material to the text being authored. Thus, other systems have provided real-time correction or input as to the mechanical authoring aspects, however no prior system is known which provides input of a cognitive substantive nature to the authoring process.

System for automatically retrieving information relevant to text being authored


A laminate material component made of a foam or honeycomb core and at least two cover layers bonded to the core, lying on opposite sides of it. At least one illumination device is embedded in the laminate material component. According to the invention, the illumination device is formed by light wave guides that are connected with a light source.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a laminate material component, in particular a side or overhead paneling element for a vehicle or an aircraft, made of a foam and/or honeycomb core. There are at least two cover layers bonded to the core, lying on opposite sides of it, and at least one means of illumination embedded in the core and/or a cover layer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the production of such a laminate material component.
2. The Prior Art
In passenger aircraft, the cabin lighting is frequently provided by fluorescent tubes that are disposed in the region of the side or overhead paneling elements, in a covered manner. In addition, individual means of lighting are usually also provided for every seat, and these can be combined with switch elements, safety elements such as an oxygen mask or the like, and display elements, in a service unit. Such a service unit is described, for example, in German Patent No. DE 199 26 782 A1.
In German Patent No. DE 196 10 138 C2, a reading lamp system for a passenger aircraft is proposed, in which a reading lamp is assigned to every passenger seat. The known system consists of a cold light lamp as the light source, to which a plurality of reading lamps is connected by means of decoupling optics, by way of several light wave guides.
Both the interior lighting of a passenger aircraft cabin by fluorescent tubes, and individual lighting of a passenger seat by a reading lamp are suitable only to a slight degree for producing lighting that is individual for the airlines, for example, which lighting can also serve for entertainment of the passengers or for creating a pleasant atmosphere in the aircraft cabin.

Laminate material component and method for its production


Embodiments described relate generally to chairs for outdoor use. For example, a chair is provided having elbow pockets/channels, a media compartment with collapsible shade and ventilation, a solar powered media charging station, and a mid-section/lumbar support device. In some embodiments, the chair is a folding chair. In at least some embodiments, the chair provides a selection of seated positions for the user. In various embodiments, the chair is a lounge chair, a folding lounge chair, a sand chair (seat height less than 9″), a folding sand chair, an elevated chair (seat height 16″ or higher), and a folding elevated chair.

Numerous chairs intended for outdoor use have been provided. Some outdoor chairs, such as portable folding chaise lounge chairs, are adapted to be used by people lying prone in a horizontal plane and trying to read.
While prior chairs have been directed to resolving such problems as reading in the horizontal prone position or providing shade to the user's head, there is no prior chair which attempts to solve the problems of reading, in the bright sun, and engaging in other activities such as watching kids, having conversations, and enjoying the scenery, especially while in a horizontal prone position. Further, the prior art chairs fail to create an inverted (below horizontal) prone position for use in a lounge chair for maximum comfort while reading, watching kids, having conversations, and enjoying the scenery in the prone position and which have elbow pockets for further lowering the user's upper body in the horizontal and inverted (below horizontal) prone positions. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to solving these problems.


Provided is semiconductor package, including a semiconductor chip; an upper structure over the semiconductor chip, the upper structure having a first thermal expansion coefficient; and a lower structure under the semiconductor chip, the lower structure having a second thermal expansion coefficient of less than or equal to the first thermal expansion coefficient.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a semiconductor package. For example, example embodiments relate to a semiconductor package including a logic chip.
2. Description of the Related Art
An area of a board on which a semiconductor package may be mounted may be reduced, and a package-on-package (POP) may include sequentially stacked semiconductor packages. The POP may be manufactured by arranging a semiconductor chip in a package substrate, and patterning an insulating layer and a conductive layer.


An axial flow fan device capable of reducing the stagnant flow at the root area of blades. These blades 18 are arranged so that they extend radially from a boss portion 14 so that they are circumferentially spaced along the circumference of the boss portion 14. Each of the blades 18 has an arc shaped cross section having a bending ratio value .alpha., that is a ratio of the bending height h of the arc shape to the length l of the chord of the arc shape. The value of the bending ratio rapidly increases from the middle portion of the blade to the root portion. The value of the bending ratio at the root portion is about 12%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an axial air flow fan suitably used for a water cooling system for a water cooled internal combustion engine.
2. Description of Related Art
High grade automobiles are now much in demand. Such vehicles usually employ an internal combustion engine having a larger cylinder volume and high output power, and in this case, a quality cooling system having an increased cooling ability is required. Therefore, the engine must have a cooling fan capable of increased performance. In order to obtain increased cooling performance, a high rotational fan speed is used and the fan must be operated for a longer time, which reduces fuel consumption efficiency of the engine and increases engine noise. In contrast to this, a reduction in a fuel consumption is required of many National or Regional governments such as CAFE and a demand for reduced noise is also required from the viewpoint of the environment. Thus, there is a strong demand to provide a fan with an improved construction capable of reducing noise without reducing the cooling performance.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No 63-13040 discloses a cooling fan housed in a shroud and provided with a blade having an end portion defining a plane having an increased pitch (mounting) angle with respect to that of the remaining portion of the blade, which is effective for decreasing the strength of a vortex of air generated at the blade end that faces the inner surface of the shroud, with a short distance therebetween. Such a reduction in the strength of the vortex is aimed at reducing the operational noise as well as increasing the cooling efficiency.
However, the inventor's test reveals that, in addition to a vortex at the blade end, a stagnant area having a very low speed is created at the root location of a blade, which also reduces the performance of the fan.

Fan device capable of reducing the stagnant flow at the root area of fan blades


An active optical assembly includes a paddle card, an optical-electrical module including an opto-electronic communication device electrically connected with the paddle card, a heat sink ring mounted to the paddle card, an optical cable subassembly inserted into the heat sink ring and optically coupling with the optical-electrical module, and a heat sink cover mounted to the heat sink ring. The heat sink cover, the heat sink ring, and the paddle card cooperate to enclose the optical-electrical module so as to transfer heat generated by the opto-electronic communication device to the heat sink ring and the heat sink cover for dissipation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active optical assembly, and more particularly to a heat sink structure that prevents heat generated by laser diode driver and receiver ICs from adversely affecting the performance of laser diodes and photodiodes.
2. Description of Related Arts
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0206326, published on Aug. 25, 2011, discloses an active optical assembly (e.g., a parallel optical transceiver module) comprising a paddle card or printed circuit board, a leadframe mounted on the printed circuit board, an optics holder having an optical subassembly and secured to the leadframe, and an optical-electronic module coupled between the optical subassembly and the printed circuit board. The optical-electronic module comprises a laser and a driver IC for converting electrical signal to optical signal, and a photodiode detector and a receiver IC for converting optical signal to electrical signal. The leadframe is split to provide two air gaps. One air gap is located between a laser and a driver IC, and another air gap is located between a photodiode detector and a receiver IC. These air gaps thermally isolate the photodiode detector and laser from their respective ICs, and thus help prevent heat generated by ICs from adversely affecting the performance of the laser and photodiode detector. Also disclosed is a communications system featuring a mid-plane mounting structure for mounting an array of such active optical assemblies. The communications system further comprises a heat sink device mounted on a printed circuit board of the mid-plane and operated to dissipate heat that is generated by ICs.
An improved active optical assembly is desired to offer advantages over the related art.

Active optical assembly having heat sink structure


A vehicle slide-up to increase interior space within a vehicle, the vehicle slide-up comprising: a vehicle roof with an aperture; a lift-up roof that covers the aperture; a support portion for raising and lowering the lift-up roof, the support portion comprising: an upper pair of rails and a lower pair of rails; a plurality of support mechanisms; and at least one lift mechanism; a plurality of slide-up walls, wherein a top portion of the plurality of slide-up walls is attached to an underside of the lift-up roof and a bottom portion of the plurality of slide-up walls is attached to a rim of the aperture; wherein the support portion is positioned outside of the plurality of slide-up walls. Wherein the lift-up roof is comprise of a first layer, a second layer, and a core; wherein the core is sandwiched between the first and second layers.

Slide-outs and slide-ups are used on vehicles, such as vans, camper vans, and Recreational Vehicles (RVs), to increase a vehicle's interior volume while maintaining a smaller exterior volume or profile when the vehicle is in motion. Increased interior volume provides additional capacity and comfort for an occupant. Smaller exterior volume and profiles can improve gas mileage, driving quality, and allow the vehicle to meet both vehicle manufacture specifications for weight distribution and government regulations.
Existing slide-up roof designs have the following drawbacks: small interior volumes, small lift capacities, lift mechanism that intrudes into the interior volume, poor stability, and required manual operation to lift the slide-up roof. Additionally, existing slide-up roofs suffer from multiple single points of failure and there is a need for a vehicle slide-up roof with improved structural integrity. There is also a need for a vehicle slide-up roof that provides an increased interior ceiling height and interior width when the vehicle is at rest, while retaining a lower height when the vehicle is in motion.


Processes for metal leaching/solvent extraction are described which comprise: (a) providing a first aqueous leach pulp which comprises a mixture of leached solids and an aqueous leach solution comprising a metal, a leaching agent and water; (b) subjecting the first aqueous leach pulp to a first solid-liquid separation to provide a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp, wherein the second aqueous leach pulp comprises the leached solids at a % solids level greater than the first pulp; (c) subjecting the first clarified aqueous leach solution to a first solvent extraction prior to any significant dilution, whereby a first aqueous raffinate is obtained; (d) subjecting the second aqueous leach pulp to a second solid-liquid separation with dilution via an aqueous stream to obtain a second clarified aqueous leach solution; and (e) subjecting the second clarified aqueous leach solution to a second solvent extraction whereby a second is aqueous raffinate is obtained.

Most metals are obtained by removing those metal values from the ores in which they are found in the ground. Once the ore has been mined, the metal must then be separated from the remainder of the ore. One method to separate the metal from the ore is known as leaching. In general, the first step in this process is contacting the mined ore with an aqueous is solution containing a leaching agent which extracts the metal from the ore into solution. For example, in copper leaching operations, such as, for example, in the agitation leaching of copper oxide ores, sulfuric acid in an aqueous solution is contacted with copper oxide minerals. During the leaching process, acid in the leach solution is consumed and copper is dissolved thereby increasing the copper content of the aqueous solution.
The aqueous leach solution containing the leached metal can then be treated via a known process referred to as solvent extraction wherein the aqueous leach solution is contacted with a nonaqueous solution containing a metal-specific extraction reagent. The metal-specific extraction reagent extracts the metal from the aqueous phase into the non-aqueous phase. During the solvent extraction process for copper and certain other metals, the leaching agent is regenerated in the aqueous phase. In the case where sulfuric acid is the leaching agent, sulfuric acid is regenerated in the aqueous phase when copper is extracted into the organic phase by the extraction reagent. Normally, for every ton of copper removed from the leach solution about 1.5 tons of sulfuric acid is generated in the leach solution.
Leaching agents are often recycled back to the leaching process to dissolve more metal and the more leaching agent that can be recycled the less that needs to be obtained from another source. In a standard agitation leaching process for copper, followed by solvent extraction, the leach solution is diluted to a lesser or greater extent with water in conjunction with the solid-liquid separation process needed to provide a clarified leach liquor and tailings. The diluted clarified leach solution is then transferred to one or more solvent extraction plants depending on the volume of leach solution and the capacity of each plant. The diluted leach solution undergoes solvent extraction wherein copper is removed from, and the sulfuric acid concentration is increased in, the aqueous phase. A portion of this copper-depleted, acid-containing aqueous phase, now called the raffinate, is then recycled back to the leaching process. The other portion is recycled back to the front of the solid-liquid separation process where it dilutes the leach solution exiting the agitation leaching process. Depending on the acid balance across the whole process some of this recycled aqueous phase may be partially neutralized.
The leach solution from an agitation leach process is normally diluted during the solid-liquid separation step in order to maximize the washing of the leached solids so that metal lost to the solids is minimized. During solvent extraction as the metal is extracted, acid concentration builds in the aqueous phase and the reaction becomes self-limiting in equilibrium. However, because of the initial dilution to maximize metal recovery from the leached solids, the amount of acid regenerated is lower in concentration than it would have been if the leach solution had not been diluted in the washing of the leached solids. Unfortunately, the lower the concentration of acid in the recycled raffinate, the more fresh acid that needs to be added and this increases the cost of the operation.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved processes for metal leaching and solvent extraction, wherein the recovery of leaching agents is improved without negatively affecting metal recovery.

Methods for improving the recovery of metal leaching agents


A low cost transdermal patch comprises water soluble microneedles and has good performance. A transdermal patch comprises a microneedle sheet, which comprises a plurality of water soluble microneedles, moisture permeable sheet, wherethrough water vapor passes, and a reinforcing film. The reinforcing film is adhered, by an adhesive layer having an adhesive strength less than that of an adhesive layer, onto an outer surface of the moisture permeable sheet, which is the side opposite the skin opposing surface. The reinforcing film includes a water vapor barrier sheet, which blocks the passage of water vapor through at least a first area, and a removable portion around the water vapor barrier sheet. The removable portion is configured such that it can be separated from and peeled off the water vapor barrier sheet.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transdermal patch comprising water soluble microneedles and to a method of manufacturing the same.
Background Information
Conventionally, one means of administering a drug or drugs noninvasively via the body surface of an organism, such as the skin or a mucous membrane, is to perform transdermal administration via a transdermal patch. Furthermore, to efficiently adsorb a drug or the like from a transdermal patch onto the body, a preparation called a microneedle sheet or a microneedle patch is being developed whereon the drug is adsorbed by minute needles having a high aspect ratio, which are referred to as so-called microneedles, and those minute needles are disposed in an array on a sheet.
Among such microneedles, there is one that is configured using a water soluble raw material such that it is dissolved by moisture existing within the skin, moisture given off by the skin, and the like. In addition, it is also possible to use moisture that exists in places other than the skin; for example, Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-194189) describes an example wherein a cosmetic liquid containing sheet is brought into contact with a transdermal patch from the side of the transdermal patch opposite that of the skin, and the moisture contained in the cosmetic liquid containing sheet is introduced to the microneedles.
A microneedle array in Patent Literature 1 is formed using an in vivo soluble substance, such as hyaluronic acid or a collagen, as a raw material. Here, an example is described wherein the microneedle array is formed using as a raw material a substance that dissolves in water in particular. Furthermore, to assemble the microneedle patch, an adhesive tape, which is made of polyethylene and from which the center portion has been cut out, is attached to the circumference of an elliptical substrate of the microneedle array of Patent Literature 1. This elliptical microneedle array has a long side that is approximately 30 mm and a short side that is approximately 20 mm.
In addition, Patent Literature 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-94414) describes a manufacturing method wherein a microneedle sheet is formed of a water soluble macromolecular substance, and a microneedle sheet solidified body is bonded to a support body sheet via an adhesive layer.

Transdermal patch manufacturing method and transdemal patch


A semiconductor device provides reduced size and increased performance, and includes a semiconductor layer having a surface layer including first and second semiconductor regions connected to first and second potentials, respectively; a third semiconductor region provided inside the first semiconductor region and connected to a third potential; a fourth semiconductor region provided inside the second semiconductor region and connected to the third potential; a plurality of a first element provided in each of the first, second, third, and fourth semiconductor regions; a first isolation region provided between and in contact with the first and second semiconductor regions, electrically connected to the semiconductor layer, and connected to a fourth potential; and a second isolation region which encloses the periphery of and maintains a withstand voltage of the first and second semiconductor regions. The third and fourth potentials are lower than the second potential, which is lower than the first potential.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device.
2. Background of the Related Art
To date, transformers and photocouplers, whose input side and output side are electrically isolated, have been in the public domain as semiconductor elements used in the gate drive of a switching element such as an IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) that configures a power converting bridge circuit in an industrial inverter. Also, high voltage ICs (HVIC), whose input side and output side are not electrically isolated, are being used in recent years, mainly in low power inverter applications, in order to reduce cost (for example, refer to T. Yamazaki and 6 others, "New High Voltage Integrated Circuits Using Self-Shielding Technique", Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs, 1999 (ISPSD '99), Toronto, May, 1999, Pages 333 to 336. (Non-patent Literature 1) and Japanese Patent No. 3,214,818 (Patent Literature 1).
For example, a high voltage IC wherein a low cost bulk substrate can be used, and which is fabricated by an IC process using self-isolation technology that does not require a special element isolation process, is disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1. A description will be given of the structure of a high voltage IC fabricated using a self-isolation IC process. FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing the planar structure of an existing high voltage IC. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the sectional structure along a cutting line AA-AA′ of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the high voltage IC of FIG. 7.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a high voltage IC 200 generally includes a high side drive circuit 210, a level shifter 214, and a control circuit 215. The high side drive circuit 210 includes a gate drive circuit, a level shift resistor, and the like. The high side drive circuit 210 is disposed in a high side drive circuit region 220. The periphery of the high side drive circuit region 220 is enclosed by a high withstand voltage isolation region 224. The high side drive circuit region 220 is electrically isolated by the high withstand voltage isolation region 224 from a low side region 225 in which a low side drive circuit (not shown) is disposed. The level shifter 214 is disposed in the high withstand voltage isolation region 224.
The periphery of the high withstand voltage isolation region 224 is enclosed by the low side region 225. The control circuit 215, which controls the high side drive circuit 210, is disposed in the low side region 225. The low side region 225 is a portion excluding the high side drive circuit region 220 and high withstand voltage isolation region 224. A gate drive circuit 211 configuring the high side drive circuit 210 is formed of a CMOS (complementary MOS) circuit wherein a high side p-channel MOSFET (insulated gate field-effect transistor, hereafter referred to as a PMOS) 212 and low side n-channel MOSFET (hereafter referred to as an NMOS) 213 are connected so as to complement each other.
A high voltage IC formed using a self-isolation IC process is such that the lateral PMOS 212 of the high side drive circuit 210 is formed in an n−-type diffusion region 202 selectively provided in a surface layer of a p-type bulk substrate 201. A p−-type diffusion region 203 is provided to a comparatively small depth inside the n−-type diffusion region 202, and the lateral NMOS 213 is formed in the p−-type diffusion region 203. The n−-type diffusion region 202 is connected to a VB terminal, which has the highest potential of the high side drive circuit 210. The p−-type diffusion region 203 is connected to a VS terminal, which has the lowest potential of the high side drive circuit 210. The difference in potential between the VB terminal and VS terminal is in the region of, for example, 9V to 24V, which is the power supply voltage of the high side drive circuit 210.
A p−-type region 204 is provided in the low side region 225 on the outside of the n−-type diffusion region 202 in a surface layer of the p-type bulk substrate 201. The p-type bulk substrate 201 and p−-type region 204 are connected to a GND terminal of ground potential (for example, 0V). An n−-type low concentration diffusion region 205 configuring the high withstand voltage isolation region 224 is provided between the n−-type diffusion region 202 and p−-type region 204. When the potential of the high side drive circuit region 220 rises to a high voltage 600V or more higher than that of the low side region 225, the n−-type low concentration diffusion region 205 is depleted owing to the p-n junction between the n−-type low concentration diffusion region 205 and p−-type region 204 being reverse biased, and the lateral direction (the direction parallel to the substrate main surface) withstand voltage is maintained.
As shown in FIG. 8, the high voltage IC 200 is connected to, for example, a power converting bridge circuit, and drives first and second MOSFETs 101 and 102 configuring one phase of the power converting bridge circuit. The first and second MOSFETs 101 and 102 are connected in series between a high voltage main power supply (positive electrode side) Vdc and the ground potential GND, which is the negative electrode side of the main power supply. The VS terminal is connected to a connection point 105 of the first MOSFET 101 and second MOSFET 102. The connection point 105 is an output point of the bridge circuit configured of the first and second MOSFETs 101 and 102. Reference signs 103 and 104 are FWDs (free wheeling diodes).
A description will be given of operations of the high voltage IC 200, taking as an example a case of driving the first MOSFET 101 on the high side of the power converting bridge circuit. The high side drive circuit 210, taking the potential of the connection point 105 to which the VS terminal is connected as a reference potential VS, operates at a potential between the reference potential VS and the power supply potential VB, which is the highest potential of the high side drive circuit 210. The control circuit 215, operating with the ground potential GND as a reference, generates a low side level on/off signal for turning the first MOSFET 101 on and off. The low side level on/off signal is converted into a high side level on/off signal by the level shifter 214, and transmitted to the high side drive circuit 210. The on/off signal input into the high side drive circuit 210 is input into the gate of the first MOSFET 101 via a NOT circuit and the subsequent gate drive circuit 211. The first MOSFET 101 is turned on and off in accordance with the on/off signal.
The first MOSFET 101 is turned on and off in accordance with the on/off signal from the control circuit 215 transmitted via the level shifter 214 in this way. The potential of the VS terminal fluctuates between 0V (GND) and several hundred volts (Vdc) while the high voltage IC 200 is operating. Signal transmission by the level shifter 214 is carried out by current being caused to flow into a level shift resistor 217 connected between the drain of the level shifter 214 and the VB terminal, and voltage drop in the level shift resistor 217 being detected. Therefore, the drain of the level shifter 214 and the component of the power supply potential VB of the high side drive circuit 210 have to be electrically isolated. A high voltage IC having a structure wherein the high withstand voltage isolation region and level shifter are integrated, and configured so that the drain of the level shifter 214 and the component of the power supply potential VB of the high side drive circuit 210 are electrically isolated, is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.
However, although a drive circuit in an integrated circuit is generally configured by combining a low breakdown voltage MOSFET with a guaranteed breakdown voltage in the region of 5V and an intermediate breakdown voltage MOSFET with a guaranteed breakdown voltage in the region of 24V, it is difficult to use a low breakdown voltage MOSFET for the high side drive circuit 210 in the existing high voltage IC 200. The reason for this is as follows. Voltage in the region of 9V to 24V (the power supply voltage VB of the high side drive circuit 210), which exceeds the guaranteed breakdown voltage of a low breakdown voltage MOSFET, is applied to the high side drive circuit region 220 in which the high side drive circuit 210 is formed. Therefore, in order to use a low breakdown voltage MOSFET for the high side drive circuit 210, a special circuit configuration is needed so that voltage exceeding the guaranteed breakdown voltage is not applied to the low breakdown voltage MOSFET.
As this kind of problem occurs, it is generally the case in existing high voltage ICs that the high side drive circuit is configured of only intermediate breakdown voltage MOSFETs, without using a low breakdown voltage MOSFET, even when a circuit portion that can be configured of a low breakdown voltage MOSFET exists. There is no description of a method whereby a low breakdown voltage MOSFET is used for the high side drive circuit in Non-Patent Literature 1 or Patent Literature 1 either. However, the higher the breakdown voltage of a MOSFET, the greater the drain-to-source distance of a MOSFET configuring the high side drive circuit, because of which the on-state resistance per unit area increases. Therefore, problems occur in that the current that can be caused to flow by the device decreases, operation becomes slower, the device size increases in order to increase the current, and the like. Therefore, a gate drive circuit configured of only intermediate breakdown voltage MOSFETs is inferior in terms of performance and size to a gate drive circuit configured of a low breakdown voltage MOSFET and an intermediate breakdown voltage MOSFET.
The invention, in order to resolve the problems of the heretofore described existing technology, has an object of providing a semiconductor device such that a reduction in size and an increase in performance can be realized.


Some embodiments include devices that contain bundles of CNTs. An undulating topography extends over the CNTs and within spaces between the CNTs. A global maximum lateral width is defined as the greatest lateral width of any of the spaces. A material is directly over the CNTs, with the material being a plurality of particles that have minimum cross-sectional equatorial widths exceeding the global maximum lateral width. Some embodiments include methods in which a plurality of crossed carbon nanotubes are formed over a semiconductor substrate. The CNTs form an undulating upper topography extending across the CNTs and within spaces between the CNTs. A global maximum lateral width is defined as the greatest lateral width of any of the spaces. A material is deposited over the CNTs, with the material being deposited as particles that have minimum cross-sectional equatorial widths exceeding the global maximum lateral width.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are of interest in utilization in various devices utilized in semiconductor constructions, including, for example, devices utilized in integrated circuitry (IC) and devices utilized in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Carbon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon, and are cylindrical molecules. The cylinders may have maximum widths (e.g., diameters if the cylinders are circular in cross-section) of less than 100 nanometers, less than 50 nanometers, or even less than 2 nanometers; and may have lengths that are tens, hundreds, thousands, or even millions of times greater than the maximum widths.
Among the properties that make CNTs of interest are high chemical stability, high thermal stability, small size, and conductive properties that may be tailored to be either metal-like or semiconductor-like.
Although CNTs have properties that may make them suitable for incorporation into semiconductor devices, there are also numerous problems and difficulties encountered in attempting to incorporate CNTs into semiconductor devices. For instance, conductive properties of CNTs may be significantly altered if metals, oxides or other contaminants comingle with the CNTs.
An active area of interest in integrated circuitry is in attempting to transition from single level cells (SLCs) to multilevel cells (MLCs). MLCs differ from SLCs in the amount of data that may be stored in the devices. Specifically, an SLC device has only two different states (which may be identified as states 0 and 1), and thus stores only a single data bit. In contrast, an MLC device has at least four different states (which may be identified as states 11, 01, 00, and 10 for a four-state device), and thus stores at least two data bits. Accordingly, at least twice as much information may be stored in an MLC as can be stored in an SLC.
An interesting property of CNTs is that if a plurality of CNTs are bundled together, and arranged so that the CNTs cross one another throughout the bundle (in other words, are askew with one another rather than parallel to one another), the bundle may have four or more distinguishable electrical states. Accordingly, CNTs show promise for utilization in MLC devices. However, it is difficult to form MLC devices comprising CNT bundles in that the electrical properties of the CNT bundles may be significantly altered if contaminants enter the bundles.
It would be desirable to develop new methods for incorporating CNTs into semiconductor devices, and to develop new devices comprising CNTs.

Methods of forming devices comprising carbon nanotubes


A non-aqueous electrolyte comprising a salt, a non-aqueous solvent, and a compound of Formula (I), (II), or (III), where E is —S(O)— or S(O)2—:

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are used widely as energy sources for portable electronics and hybrid electric vehicles. To realize the application of pure electric vehicles, LIBs with high energy density are crucial, and, thus, novel anode and cathode materials with high energy density are actively pursued. For example, new high capacity cathode materials with higher operating voltage, such as Li2FeSiO4 and LiNixMnyCozO2 have been actively studied.
However, it has been found that battery performance fades rapidly at higher and higher operating potentials due, at least in part, to the parasitic reactions between electrolytes and the cathode surface. Owing to its outstanding solid-electrolyte interface ("SEI") forming properties, the cyclic carbonate, ethylene carbonate ("EC"), has been an essential electrolyte solvent in conventional electrolyte systems. However, the high melting point (36° C.) of EC limits its application in low temperature applications. More importantly, the low anodic stability of EC leads to severe electrolyte decomposition in high-voltage lithium-ion cells. Other potential solvents such as propylene carbonate ("PC") have a lower melting point (−49° C.), but they fail to provide satisfactory passivation of graphite due to co-intercalation with lithium cation into the crystal structure of graphite that is typically used in the electrodes.

Non-aqueous electrolytes for electrochemical cells


A circuit breaker for locating an arc fault for a protected circuit includes separable contacts interrupting the protected circuit and an arc fault detector determining an arc fault in the protected circuit. An analog to digital converter circuit measures a value of peak arc current at the arc fault detector. Another analog to digital converter circuit provides a peak line-to-neutral voltage. A memory provides an arc voltage operatively associated with the value of peak current. A microprocessor determines a distance from the arc fault detector to the arc fault from the value of peak arc current, a wire resistance per unit length or a wire conductance per unit length, the peak line-to-neutral voltage and the arc voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic detectors for detecting faults and, more particularly, to circuit breakers for detecting or locating arc faults in an ac power system. The invention also relates to methods for locating arc faults in an ac power system.
2. Background Information
An aircraft electrical system typically consists of multiple 115 VAC 400 Hz three-phase voltage sources (e.g., one generator per engine, an auxiliary turbine power generator and a ground power external connection). The voltage sources or power supplies are all fed through main circuit cables to a power distribution center located behind the cockpit. At the power distribution center, main power is switched by a transfer circuit to a number of feeder circuits, in order that any feeder circuit may be fed from any voltage source. This allows for power continuity should an engine fail. Typically, two feeder circuits are employed, one for the left side and one for the right side of the aircraft.
Each feeder circuit typically has many individual branch circuits, each of which is associated with a corresponding load. A typical small aircraft has about 200 branch circuits, while larger aircraft may have about 400 to 600 branch circuits. Each branch circuit feeds a dedicated load through a single wire protected by a circuit breaker located in the power distribution center. The return current path is through the aircraft's metal frame rather than a separate neutral wire as is used in commercial and residential wiring. The individual branch circuit wires are grouped into cable bundles with typically more than 100 wires in a bundle. The bundles start at the power distribution center and are routed from front to back through the aircraft, often along the aircraft's outer skin between the skin and the insulation.
These wire or cable bundles are installed during the aircraft's construction. The locations of the wires in an aircraft make them very hard to see after the aircraft is built; hence, a wire fault is hard to locate.
Ac power generation and distribution systems for aerospace, industrial and residential applications have historically been designed and optimized to operate with voltage sources of a fixed amplitude and frequency. Examples of this include the 60 Hz system used for power generation and distribution in the United States, a similar 50 Hz system in Europe, and the 400 Hz power distribution systems which are standard on most aircraft. There is interest in developing variable frequency power generation and distribution systems for aircraft, with all electrical loads on board the aircraft being designed to operate over a range of ac source voltage frequencies (e.g., from about 200 Hz to about 800 Hz). See, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/135,591.
A known technique for arc fault protection in 60 Hz ac power systems detects the random step changes in ac current caused by the striking of an arc. When a time attenuated accumulation of the step changes reaches a selected value, an arc signal is generated. Aircraft electrical systems utilize small gauge wires which can be very long and, therefore, have substantial resistance. As a result, a load close to the generator can draw a normal current that far exceeds a fault current on the remote part of the wiring. Thus, a fault current may draw a couple of thousand amps if close to the generator but only perhaps 30 or 40 amps if in a remote section of the wiring.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/621,253 describes an arc fault detector suitable for aircraft ac electrical systems or other ac systems operating at higher frequencies, such as 400 Hz. The arc fault detector generates a cumulative sum of amounts by which the ac current in each most recent cyclic interval exceeds the current in the immediately preceding half cycle in absolute magnitude. An arc fault indication is generated when a time attenuated value of this cumulative sum reaches a selected level.
Wire faults arise from the occurrence of a wire insulation failure, which allows normally isolated conductors at different potentials to touch resulting in an arc fault. Two such conditions are shown by a 115 VAC wire-to-frame fault 1 between wire WA and airframe AF in FIG. 1, and a 200 VAC wire-to-wire (phase-to-phase) fault 2 between wires WA and WB in FIG. 2. No faults exist in wires WB and WC of FIG. 1 and in wire WC of FIG. 2.
The current waveshape of an arc fault is shown in FIG. 3. This shows a typical current waveform, which is observed when a carbon-steel blade cuts through a 16 AWG SPT-2 cord, with the available current being 100 A. Unlike overload and overcurrent faults, the current of an arc fault is sporadic. The conduction between conductors is through an electrical arc that tends to be unstable. The peak current is determined by the instantaneous line voltage of the voltage source minus the arc voltage divided by the wire impedance from the arc fault back to the voltage source.
When an arc fault occurs, it is very difficult to find because the wire bundles are typically inaccessible. Even if the wire bundle is viewable, the faulted wire itself may not be visible, since it may be inside the bundle.
A simple and reliable apparatus and method for locating a wiring fault is needed, in order that the fault can be located and repaired. For aircraft applications, this permits the aircraft to be returned to service as soon as possible.

Arc fault detector and method for locating an arc fault


A process for measuring a point comprising at least one spectrometer and a measuring transducer connected thereto for picking up, processing and forwarding measuring signals from the spectrometer, the spectrometer being arranged in an armature for introduction into a process or a process fluid and the data produced by the spectrometer is used to control a process. The armature comprises a housing for receiving the spectrometer and for securing the armature to a process container containing process fluid and a sensor holder with an inbuilt sensor, interacting with the spectrometer and which is guided in an axially displaceable manner in the armature, whereby the sensor holder protrudes into the process fluid in an extended state.

Spectroscopic investigations are performed in the framework of production processes of gases and liquids, for gaining information on the course of the production or the resulting material or the amount of the material which has resulted to this point in time, in order, for example, to be able to evaluate the already transpired conversion of two educts. It is known to take samples from the process, or from process fluids, as the case may be, and either place these directly in a spectroscopic apparatus in a suitable sample cuvette and then analyze, wherein then the analytical results are evaluated in a PC, or, alternatively, a sample can be drawn and this sample is then connected with a spectrometer by means of a optical waveguide, so that no direct filling of the liquid into the spectrometer need occur.
Problematic in both of these known procedures is the sample taking, since this involves a not insignificant time factor, i.e., on the one hand, time and personnel are needed for the sample taking, and, on the other hand, for continuous processes, there is always a delay between getting the results of the spectroscopy and the taking of the sample. I.e., a direct following of the process and, in the end, its control and regulation by means of spectroscopy is not possible with such off-line measurements.
Additionally, there is associated with the sample taking, along with the disadvantage of only discontinuous measurement, always the possibility of an endangering of health, since the person taking the sample can possibly come into contact with the fluid being taken as the sample. There is also the possibility of contaminating the production stream.
Particularly when measuring using optical waveguides, which couple the light into the liquid and then transmit back to the spectrometer, there is the additional disadvantage that such light guiding connections can not be realized over arbitrarily long distances and also are not usable for all spectral regions.

Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess-und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG


Disclosed is a method for generating a lower layer data block to be transmitted from a specific layer in a transmitting side to a receiving side in a mobile communication system. The method includes receiving an upper layer data block from an upper layer and generating a lower layer data block including at least part of the upper layer data block and a buffer status indicator indicating a status change of a data buffer associated with a group identifier corresponding to the upper layer data block. According to this data block generation method, states of buffers carrying upper layer data blocks are transmitted to a base station using minimum radio resources, thereby increasing system efficiency.

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a wireless access protocol responsible for data transmission in a radio link of a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) which is a third generation mobile communication system. Data link layer corresponding to the second layer (Layer 2: L2) of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model includes a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, and a Broadcast/Multicast Control (BMC) layer. The physical layer corresponds to the first layer (Layer 1: L1). Information exchange between protocol layers is performed through virtual access points that are referred to as "Service Access Points (SAPs)," which are represented by ovals in FIG. 1. Data units communicated between layers are given different names. These data units are referred to as "Service Data Units (SDUs)" and basic units that protocols use for transmitting data are referred to as "Protocol Data Units (PDUs)." In the following description of the invention, reference to data delivered between layers in the wireless access protocol structure indicates data blocks in specific units such as SDUs or PDUs as described above.
The MAC layer is a layer responsible for mapping between logical and transport channels. The MAC layer selects an appropriate transport channel for transmitting data received from the RLC layer and adds required control information to a header of a MAC PDU. Special functions performed by the MAC layer include a radio resource management function and a measurement function. The radio resource management function is not performed solely by the MAC layer. Instead, the radio resource management function serves to set operations of the MAC layer based on various MAC parameters received from a Radio Resource Control (RRC), which is located above the MAC layer, to control data transmission. Examples of the radio resource management function include a function to change mapping relations between logical and transport channels or to multiplex and transmit data through a scheduling function. The measurement function serves to measure the amount of traffic of a terminal and to report the measurement to an upper layer. The upper layer can change the configuration (or setting) of the MAC layer based on the measurement information obtained by the MAC layer of the terminal, thereby efficiently managing radio (or wireless) resources.
The RLC layer is located above the MAC layer and supports reliable data transmission. The RLC layer segments and concatenates RLC Service Data Units (SDUs) received from the above layer in order to construct data having a size suitable for a radio link.
An RLC layer at the receiving side supports data recombination in order to restore original RLC SDUs from the received RLC PDUs. Each RLC entity can operate in a Transparent Mode (TM), an Unacknowledged Mode (UM), or an Acknowledged Mode (AM) according to processing and transmission methods of RLC SDUs. When the RLC entity operates in the TM, it transfers an RLC SDU received from an upper entity or layer to the MAC layer without adding any header information to the RLC SDU. When the RLC entity operates in the UM, it segments/concatenates RLC SDUs to construct RLC PDUs and adds header information including a sequence number to each RLC PDU. However, in the UM, the RLC entity does not support data retransmission. When the RLC entity operates in the AM, it can use the RLC SDU segmentation/concatenation function to construct RLC PDUs and can perform retransmission when packet transmission has failed. Various parameters and variables such as a transmission window, a reception window, a timer, and a counter are used for the retransmission function in the AM.
The PDCP layer is used only in packet exchange regions and can compress and transmit IP packet headers so as to increase the transmission efficiency of packet data in wireless channels. The PDCP layer also manages sequence numbers in order to prevent data loss during Serving RNC (SRNC) relocation.
The BMC layer broadcasts cell broadcast messages received from a core network to multiple users through a common channel.
The physical layer, which is the first layer, provides an information transfer service to an upper layer using a physical channel. The physical layer is connected to the Media Access Control (MAC) layer located above the physical layer through a transport channel. Data is transferred between the MAC layer and the physical layer through the transport channel. Data is transferred between different physical layers (specifically, physical layers of transmitting and receiving sides) through a physical channel.
A Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, which is located at the bottom of the third layer, is defined only in the control plane and is responsible for controlling logical, transport, and physical channels in association with configuration, re-configuration, and release of Radio Bearers (RBs). RBs are services that the second layer provides for data communication between terminals and a network including a base station. The control plane is a hierarchy in which control information is transferred in the vertical structure of the wireless access protocol of FIG. 1 and the user plane is a hierarchy in which user data/information is transferred.
As shown in FIG. 1, an RLC PDU generated in the RLC layer is transferred to the MAC layer and is handled as a MAC SDU in the MAC layer. While a MAC SDU, which is an RLC PDU received from the RLC layer, undergoes various functions of the MAC layer, various header information required for data processing is added to the MAC SDU. The header information can be altered depending on mapping relations between logical and transport channels.
Logical channels provide transport passages required for data exchange between the MAC and the RLC layer. Each logical channel is classified into control and traffic channels according to the type of data transmitted therethrough. The control channel transmits data of the control plane and the traffic channel transmits user traffic data. A logical channel is a type of data stream carrying a specific type of information. Each logical channel is generally connected to one RLC entity. One or more logical channels of the same type can also be connected to an RLC entity. Transport channels provide passages for data communication between the physical and MAC layers. A data stream in a logical channel is embodied as a MAC PDU in the MAC layer.
FIG. 2 illustrates a method in which a terminal receives data in an E-UMTS system. In a communication system employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) as an example multi-carrier system, communication is performed using one or more frequency blocks that are allocated every specific time interval. More specifically, the transmitting and receiving sides mostly communicate control signals and data, except specific control signals or data, through a common physical channel such as a Physical Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH) that uses a common transport channel such as a Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH). Here, the transmitting and receiving sides may correspond respectively to a base station and a terminal, and vice versa. In the description of the invention, the term "transmitting side" refers to a base station and the term "receiving side" refers to a terminal for ease of explanation.
To accomplish the above communication, before the receiving side receives data of a common physical channel, the receiving side needs to receive control information regarding a receiving side(s) to which the data of the common physical channel is to be transmitted and regarding how the receiving side is to receive and decode the common physical channel. In the OFDM system, a channel for control information is first allocated to a basic processing interval (for example, a subframe period in FIG. 2) in the physical layer and a channel for data is then allocated to a next time interval. A Physical Downlink Control CHannel (PDCCH) in FIG. 2 corresponds to the control information channel and a Physical Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH) subsequent to the PDCCH corresponds to the data channel.
For example, let us assume that the PDCCH in the first subframe in FIG. 2 is CRC-masked with terminal identification information such as a Radio Network Temporary Identify (RNTI) and is then transmitted from a base station in a specific cell while the transmitted PDCCH includes information regarding data that is being transmitted using specific transport format information (for example, information regarding a modulation and coding method and a transport block size) through a specific radio resource such as a specific carrier set. In this case, upon receiving a PDCCH, each of a plurality of terminals in the specific cell checks whether or not the received PDCCH belongs to the terminal using terminal identification information such as an RNTI that the network has allocated to the terminal. If the received PDCCH belongs to the terminal, the terminal reads the specific radio resource information and the specific transport format information included in the PDCCH and receives a PDSCH in the same subframe.
In order to transmit data to the base station, the terminal needs to be allocated a radio resource for uplink transmission. To accomplish this, the terminal needs to request that the base station allocate a radio resource for data transmission. In the OFDM system, one or more terminals can use a single radio resource. If two or more terminals simultaneously transmit signals in uplink using the same radio resource, the base station cannot analyze the signals transmitted from the terminals. Therefore, the base station needs to perform scheduling such that only one terminal is permitted to use the radio resource in one radio resource processing unit.
To perform scheduling as described above, the base station may allocate radio resources to a terminal using the following methods before or while a call is connected between the base station and the terminal.
In the first method, the base station allocates radio resources to the terminal without being aware of how much uplink data the terminal has. However, this method causes waste of resources since radio resources are allocated to the terminal even when no data is transmitted from the terminal as the terminal has no uplink data for transmission.
In the second method, the terminal transmits information regarding a buffer associated directly with the amount of uplink data to the base station to allow the base station to know how much uplink data the terminal has and the base station then allocates uplink radio resources to the terminal based on the information.
The following are the cases where the terminal needs to transmit information regarding its buffer to the base station in the second method.
The first case is where the terminal has suddenly received data from an upper layer above the terminal before the terminal has not transmitted and received any data. In this case, since the terminal needs to be allocated radio resources for initial transmission, the terminal needs to send buffer information to the base station in order to request that the base station allocate radio resources to the terminal.
The second case is where the terminal actively transmits or receives data to or from the base station. In this case, the terminal transmits information regarding the amount of data in the terminal in order to allow the base station to determine the time until which the base station has to further allocate radio resources or to determine whether the base station is to increase or decrease the amount of radio resources allocated to the terminal afterwards. If the terminal does not transmit information regarding the amount of data in this case, the base station may stop allocating radio resources to the terminal since the base station has no updated information of the buffer of the terminal even though the terminal has data for transmission or the base station may continue allocating more radio resources than necessary, thereby reducing system efficiency.

Methods of generating data block in mobile communication system


A balloon catheter assembly is provided with an outer catheter, an inner catheter, an outer adapter, a balloon and a support sheath, and is configured such that the balloon resides entirely within a predetermined volume having an outer diameter substantially equal to or less than the outside diameter of the distal end of the outer catheter when the balloon is in a deflated configuration. Methods of using and steering the catheter assemblies are also provided.

Catheters are commonly used in medicine for delivery of fluids, therapeutics and implants as well as in sampling tissues and bodily fluids. Catheters can be constructed with balloons or other tools to dilate tissue, block fluid flow or isolate segments of the anatomy. A relatively common use for a catheter is the delivery of drugs to a target tissue using blood vessels as a means of access. When a balloon is used, the vascular compartment distal to the balloon is isolated from the vascular compartment proximal to the balloon and perfusion of diagnostic, therapeutic or embolic agents is localized and concentrated. Transvascular catheters, especially in the peripheral blood circulation, need to have a small axial diameter to allow access into small vessels.
One common use for a microcatheter is the delivery of embolic agents and anticancer drugs to a tumor.
According to the NIH, 30,640 people were diagnosed with primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) and 142,820 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the US in 2013. Seventy five percent of these will metastasize to the liver. Liver resection and transplant are the only curative means; however, only small numbers of patients are eligible. Systemic Chemotherapy for primary and metastatic tumors in the liver is ineffective, having a response rate of about 20% and a survival benefit of 10.7 months vs. 7.9 months over symptomatic care.
Trans-Arterial Embolization therapy is the transvascular injection of drug and/or embolic agents directly into, or in the vicinity of, the tumor vasculature using a microcatheter. Embolization therapy causes a shutdown of blood flow and, when drug or radioactivity is present, simultaneous release of high concentrations of drug or radioactivity. The technique is also noted for its very low level of toxicity. Chemoembolization was established as a standard of care for intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma in 2006.
Numerous studies have demonstrated transarterial embolization to be effective on a number of primary cancers and to have better performance than chemotherapy for both HCC and metastatic colorectal cancers in the liver; however, studies show inconsistent outcomes with reported tumor responses from 15% to 85%. Although anatomical and individual differences are clearly of significance in between-patient variation, clinical studies, each of which include a range of patients, show very different outcomes, indicating that procedural standardization is needed.
The present state-of-the-art embolization therapy for tumors in the liver relies on high volume "forward flow" from the hepatic artery that is flowing at about 6 ml/sec to deliver embolization agents into the tumor. As embolization progresses, the distal capillaries become occluded and the tumor can no longer accept this high flow rate, even though the tumor is only partially filled with embolic agents. Tumor embolization using high volume flow from the unrestricted hepatic artery causes: (1) rapid embolization of the distal portions of tumor capillaries, (2) rapid onset of high intra-tumor pressure, (3) reflux of blood and embolic agents from the tumor, (4) increased non-target flow into hepatoenteric arteries, and (5) poor filling and distribution of embolic agents in the tumor. This situation results in an uncontrollable number of particles or other embolic agents entering the tumor and high procedural variability.
Although standardization to an optimal protocol should improve reproducibility and overall outcomes, the procedure is presently without optimization or standardization. The current delivery catheters are unable to control many of the above mentioned variables, making standardization unlikely. There is a need for a delivery system that enables a measurable clinical endpoint, a known quantity of embolic agent delivered, and elimination of non-target embolization. This is a required first step if standardization is to be achieved.
As a requirement, a delivery catheter that would solve the aforementioned problems, must have a small radial diameter to allow access into small vessels that are typically in the vicinity of the tumor. Presently, balloons are bonded to the external surface of a catheter and necessarily increase its diameter. It would be a significant advantage to construct a balloon catheter whereby a balloon was positioned below the surface of the catheter when in its constrained configuration and return thereto following inflation and deflation. One method to accomplish this is to configure a circumferentially oriented pocket or pockets in a catheter whereby a balloon bonding surface is positioned below the surface of the catheter. The present disclosure is a device and method that achieves a low profile catheter by positioning the balloon bonding surfaces below the surface of a drug delivery catheter.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/128,977 describes a coaxial catheter whereby a balloon is bonded to an elongated outer tube to prevent the balloon from telescopingly buckling when the balloon is being pushed across a narrow passage. U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,157 describes a coaxial coronary angioplasty catheter whereby an anchor joint is configured to allow distal movement of the inner tube and to prevent proximal movement. U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,198 describes a catheter with a pair of spaced apart balloons that define an intra-balloon space. A lumen passes through the catheter and exits within the intra-balloon space allowing injection of drugs, emulsions, fluids and fluid/solid mixtures. A perfusion lumen or bypass extends from a location proximal to the proximal balloon and to the distal tip to allow shunting of blood past the inflated balloons. U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,198 describes a two balloon catheter that is designed for treating a solid tumor. The balloons are positioned to isolate the blood flow into the tumor and allow injection of a vaso-occlusive collagen material to block the tumor blood supply. Clifton et al. (1963) Cancer 16:444-452 describes a two balloon catheter for the treatment of lung carcinoma. The four lumen catheter includes a lumen for independent injection in the space between the balloons. Rousselot et al. (1965) JAMA 191:707-710 describes a balloon catheter device for delivering anticancer drugs into the liver. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,181; U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,189; U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,407; U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,285; U.S. Pat. No. 7,481,800; U.S. Pat. No. 7,645,259; U.S. Pat. No. 7,742,811; U.S. App. No. 2001/008451; U.S. App. No. 2001/0041862; U.S. App. No. 2003/008726; U.S. App. No. 2003/0114878; U.S. App. No. 2005/0267407; U.S. App. No. 2007/0137651; U.S. App. No. 2008/0208118; U.S. App. No. 2009/0182227 and U.S. App. No. 2010/0114021.
What is needed and is not provided in the prior art is a means of positioning of balloon bonding surfaces and attachment of a balloon below the surface of a catheter body and allow a low profile catheter that is useful in providing therapy within small blood vessels.

Balloon catheter and methods of fabrication and use


Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 expression and for diagnosis and treatment of disease associated with expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1, such as obesity and obesity-related conditions, are provided.

Triglycerides are one of the major energy storage molecules in eukaryotes. The absorption of triglycerides (also called triacylglycerols) from food is a very efficient process that occurs by a series of steps wherein the dietary triacylglycerols are hydrolyzed in the intestinal lumen and then resynthesized within enterocytes. The resynthesis of triacylglycerols can occur via the monoacylglycerol pathway, which commences with monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT) catalyzing the synthesis of diacylglycerol from monoacylglycerol and fatty acyl-CoA. An alternative synthesis of diacylglycerols is provided by the glycerol-phosphate pathway, which describes the coupling of two molecules of fatty acyl-CoA to glycerol-3-phosphate. In either case, diacylglycerol is then acylated with another molecule of fatty acyl-CoA in a reaction catalyzed by one of two diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzymes to form the triglyceride (Farese et al., Curr. Opin. Lipidol., 2000, 11, 229-234).
The reaction catalyzed by diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 is the final and only committed step in triglyceride synthesis. As such, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 is involved in intestinal fat absorption, lipoprotein assembly, regulating plasma triglyceride concentrations, and fat storage in adipocytes. Although identified in 1960, the genes encoding human and mouse diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (also called DGAT1, acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase, acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-related enzyme, ACAT related gene product, and ARGP1) were not cloned until 1998 (Cases et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 1998, 95, 13018-13023; Oelkers et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1998, 273, 26765-26771). U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,077 refers to an isolated nucleic acid encoding a human diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 is a microsomal membrane bound enzyme and has 39% nucleotide identity to the related acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (Oelkers et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1998, 273, 26765-26771). A splice variant of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 has also been cloned that contains a 77 nucleotide insert of unspliced intron with an in-frame stop codon, resulting in a truncated form of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 that terminates at Arg-387 deleting 101 residues from the C-terminus containing the putative active site (Cheng et al., Biochem. J., 2001, 359, 707-714).
Dysregulation of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 may play a role in the development of obesity. Upon differentiation of mouse 3T3-L1 cells into mature adipocytes, a 90 fold increase in diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 levels is observed. However, forced overexpression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 in mature adipocytes results in only a 2 fold increase in diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 levels. This leads to an increase in cellular triglyceride synthesis without a concomitant increase in triglyceride lipolysis, leading to the suggestion that manipulation of the steady state level of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 may offer a potential means to treat obesity (Yu et al., J. Biol. Chem., 2002, 277, 50876-50884).
Alterations in diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 expression may affect human body weight. In a random Turkish population, five polymorphisms in the human diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 promoter and 5′ non-coding sequence have been identified. One common variant, C79T, revealed reduced promoter activity for the 79T allele and is associated with a lower body mass index, higher plasma cholesterol HDL levels, and lower diastolic blood pressure in Turkish women (Ludwig et al., Clin. Genet., 2002, 62, 68-73).
Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 knockout mice exhibit interesting phenotypes which indicate that inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 may offer a strategy for treating obesity and obesity-associated insulin resistance. Mice lacking diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 are viable and can still synthesize triglycerides through other biological routes. However the mice are lean and resistant to diet-induce obesity (Smith et al., Nat. Genet., 2000, 25, 87-90), have decreased levels of tissue triglycerides, and increased sensitivity to insulin and leptin (Chen et al., J. Clin. Invest., 2002, 109, 1049-1055).
Currently, there are no known therapeutic agents which effectively inhibit the synthesis of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 and to date, investigative strategies aimed at modulating diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 function have involved naturally-occurring small molecule derivatives of roselipins and xanthohumols isolated from Gliocladium roseum and Humulus lupulus, respectively (Tabata et al., Phytochemistry, 1997, 46, 683-687; Tomoda et al., J. Antibiot. (Tokyo)., 1999, 52, 689-694).
Consequently, there remains a long felt need for additional agents capable of effectively inhibiting diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 function.

Modulation of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 expression


In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method for repairing a damaged metallic component using additive manufacturing techniques includes separating a damaged portion of the damaged metallic component from an undamaged portion of the damaged metallic component, measuring the undamaged portion to determine the dimensions of the removed damaged portion, fabricating a replacement portion using additive manufacturing techniques in accordance with the determined dimensions of the removed damaged portion, and joining the replacement portion with the undamaged portion of the damaged metallic component to form a repaired metallic component.

A gas turbine engine may be used to power aircraft or various other types of vehicles and systems. The engine typically includes a compressor that receives and compresses an incoming gas such as air; a combustion chamber in which the compressed gas is mixed with fuel and burned to produce exhaust gas; and one or more turbines that extract energy from the high-pressure, high-velocity exhaust gas exiting the combustion chamber.
Recently, additive manufacturing (AM) methods have emerged, including for example the use of direct metal laser sintering/fusion (DMLS)/(DMLF), selective laser sintering (SLS), and electron beam melting (EBM), to eliminate the need for tooling, which is expected to result in significant cost and cycle time reduction in the manufacture of gas turbine engines. EBM uses an electron beam and DMLF uses a laser to solidify a metal powder. Parts are built in small layers (a few mils) in additive steps to produce a completed part. Fine powdered alloys are sintered and melted into a final part. The mechanics of the DMLF and EBM build processes are very similar, except for the fact that the DMLF process uses a laser and the EBM process utilizes an electron beam. Both energy sources melt fine layers of powder and fuse that layer to the subsequent layer below directly below it.
Additive processes such as DMLS, SLS, and EBM offer the ability to manufacture complex geometries on a small scale from CAD-based models. These processes have the ability to create components made of various aerospace alloys, including titanium, cobalt, nickel-based superalloys. In addition to manufacturing aerospace components as noted above, this ability can also be utilized to repair parts with complex geometries where no other conventional process is successful. Static components such as turbine nozzles and vane segments, as well as heat exchangers and fuel control manifolds, all have complex geometries that can benefit from such a repair process.
In many cases, however, it is not possible to fit the entire component (which may have been originally cast or fabricated through non-AM means) into the working range of the AM equipment. Also, considering that certain materials made with AM require special post-processing operations such as hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and coating, it may not be possible or desired to subject the entire component to these operations during repair.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide improved methods for repairing components for use in gas turbine engines. Further, it is desirable to provide methods that allow gas turbine engine components, regardless of size or post-processing operations, to be repaired using additive manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Methods for the repair of gas turbine engine components using additive manufacturing techniques


An upper wheel fairing assembly for increasing the propulsive efficiency of a wheeled vehicle having wheels otherwise exposed to headwinds, comprising a deflector panel or skirt panel assembly mounted upstream in front of a rearward wheel set, ideally extending downward to not lower than the level of the axle, and arranged to deflect headwinds from impinging upon the high drag-inducing mechanically advantaged upper wheel surfaces downward onto the low drag-inducing mechanically disadvantaged lower wheel surfaces.

Field
The present embodiment relates to an apparatus for the reduction of aerodynamic drag on vehicles having wind-exposed wheels of a wheel assembly mounted underneath the vehicle body, such as on large commercial trucks.
Description of Prior Art
Inherently characteristic of rotating vehicle wheels, and particularly of spoked wheels, aerodynamic resistance, or parasitic drag, is an unwanted source of energy loss in propelling a vehicle. Parasitic drag on a wheel includes viscous drag components of form (or pressure) drag and frictional drag. Form drag on a wheel generally arises from the circular profile of a wheel moving though air at the velocity of the vehicle. The displacement of air around a moving object creates a difference in pressure between the forward and trailing surfaces, resulting in a drag force that is highly dependent on the relative wind speed acting thereon. Streamlining the wheel surfaces can reduce the pressure differential, reducing form drag.
Frictional drag forces also depend on the speed of wind impinging exposed surfaces, and arise from the contact of air moving over surfaces. Both of these types of drag forces arise generally in proportion to the square of the relative wind speed, per the drag equation. Streamlined design profiles are generally employed to reduce both of these components of drag force.
The unique geometry of a wheel used on a vehicle includes motion both in translation and in rotation; the entire circular outline of the wheel translates at the vehicle speed, and the wheel rotates about the axle at a rate consistent with the vehicle speed. Form drag forces arising from the moving outline are apparent, as the translational motion of the wheel rim must displace air immediately in front of the wheel (and replace air immediately behind it). These form drag forces arising across the entire vertical profile of the wheel are therefore generally related to the velocity of the vehicle.
As the forward profile of a wheel facing the direction of vehicle motion is generally symmetric in shape, and as the circular outline of a wheel rim moves forward at the speed of the vehicle, these form drag forces are often considered uniformly distributed across the entire forward facing profile of a moving wheel (although streamlined cycle rims can affect this distribution somewhat). This uniform distribution of pressure force is generally considered centered on the forward vertical wheel profile, and thereby in direct opposition to the propulsive force applied at the axle, as illustrated in FIG. 17.
However, as will be shown, frictional drag forces are not uniformly distributed with elevation on the wheel, as they are not uniformly related to the speed of the moving outline of the wheel rim. Instead, frictional drag forces on the wheel surfaces are highly variable and depend on their elevation above the ground. Frictional drag must be considered separate from form drag forces, and can be more significant sources of overall drag on the wheel and, as will be shown, thereby on the vehicle.
Vehicles having wind-exposed wheels are particularly sensitive to external headwinds reducing propulsive efficiency. Drag force on exposed wheels increases more rapidly on upper wheel surfaces than on vehicle frame surfaces, causing a non-linear relation from rising wind speeds between net drag forces on vehicle frame surfaces versus net drag forces on vehicle wheel surfaces.
Since upper wheel surfaces are moving against the wind at more than the vehicle speed, the upper wheel drag forces contribute more and more of the total vehicle drag as external headwinds rise. Thus, as external headwinds rise, a greater fraction of the net vehicle drag is shifted from vehicle frame surfaces to upper wheel surfaces.
Moreover, upper wheel drag forces must be overcome by a propulsive counterforce applied at the axle. Such propulsive counterforces suffer a mechanical disadvantage against the upper wheel drag forces, since each net force is applied about the same pivot point located at the bottom where the wheel is in stationary contact with the ground. This mechanical advantage that upper wheel drag forces have over propulsive counterforces further augments the effective vehicle drag that exposed upper wheels contribute under rising headwinds. As a result of these magnified effects of upper wheel drag on resisting vehicle propulsion, vehicle drag is more effectively reduced by reducing the aerodynamic pressure on the upper wheel surfaces while leaving the lower wheel surfaces exposed to impinging headwinds.
Furthermore, shielding the lower wheel surfaces can cause a net increase in vehicle drag, and a loss in propulsive efficiency. Not only does the propulsive counterforce applied at the axle have a mechanical advantage over the lower wheel drag forces, but shielding the lower wheel surfaces using a deflector attached to the vehicle body shifts the drag force from being applied at the lower wheel to an effective higher elevation at the axle, thereby negating any mechanical advantage of a propulsive counterforce applied at the axle has over the lower wheel drag force. As a result, aerodynamic trailer skirts in widespread use today are unnecessarily inefficient, since they generally extend below the level of the axle.
Nevertheless, extended height trailer skirts have been shown to improve propulsive efficiency, since they reduce the aerodynamic pressure on the upper wheel surfaces, which cause the vast majority of wheel drag and virtually all of the loss in vehicle propulsive efficiency due to wheel drag. However, the extended skirts shown in the art also impact the aerodynamic pressure on the lower wheel surfaces, where propulsive counterforces delivered at the axle have a mechanical advantage over lower wheel drag forces.
As mentioned, diverting wind from impinging the lower wheel surfaces actually increases overall vehicle drag, reducing propulsive efficiency. Deflecting wind from impinging these lower wheel surfaces transfers the aerodynamic pressure from these slower moving surfaces also suffering a mechanical disadvantage, to faster moving vehicle body surfaces having no mechanical advantage over propulsive counterforces, thereby increasing vehicle drag.
Nevertheless, numerous examples in the art demonstrate the current preference for aerodynamic skirts extending to below the level of the axle. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,471 B2, US 2006/0152038 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,178 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 8,303,025 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,502 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 8,322,778 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,464 B2, US 2010/0066123 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 8,342,595 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 8,251,436 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,720 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,990, U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,617, U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,953, U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,464 B2, US 2006/0252361 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,541 all make no mention of the differing relationships between upper wheel drag forces and lower wheel drag forces affecting vehicle propulsive efficiency. Most of these patents depict figures showing skirts extending well below the level of the axle. And an examination of leading trailer skirt manufacturers shows the prevalence for extended height skirts currently for sale and needed to meet California carbon emission requirements.
Furthermore, a recent in-depth wind tunnel study sponsored the US Department of Energy and conducted at a pre-eminent research institution of the United States government, Lawerence Livermore Laboratory was published Mar. 19, 2013, "Aerodynamic drag reduction of class 8 heavy vehicles: a full-scale wind tunnel study", Ortega, et. al, and concluded that trailer skirts are one of the most effective means to reduce drag on large tractor-trailer trucks. A large number of trailer skirt configurations were tested in this study, which employed traditional techniques for measuring total drag on the vehicle. Due to the nonlinear effects of upper wheel drag in rising headwinds, such techniques can produce inaccurate measurements of gains in propulsive efficiency for vehicles having wheels exposed to headwinds. Thus, as yet this important relationship of upper wheel drag more predominately affecting overall vehicle drag and especially over lower wheel drag which is often comparatively negligible and suffers a mechanical disadvantage against propulsive counterforces applied at the axle—has gone unrecognized.
And in the patent art cited above, several patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,953, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,541, US 2006/0252361 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,464 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 8,322,778 and others depict wind deflecting panels generally spanning the lateral width of the trailer, thereby inducing unnecessary drag by blocking air otherwise funneled between the wheels. Funneled air into the rear of the vehicle can reduce pressure drag on the vehicle. In the art, there are numerous other examples of devices attempting to enhance this vehicle drag reducing effect.
Finally, also in the cited art above, several patents such as US 2010/0066123 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 8,342,595 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,251,436 B2 depict wind deflecting panels in front of the wheels of the trailer extending to well below the level of the axle, thereby inducing unnecessary vehicle drag by transferring drag from the slower moving lower wheel surfaces having a mechanical disadvantage, to the faster moving vehicle body and frame. In the art, there are numerous other examples of devices attempting to enhance this wheel drag reducing effect.

Wheel fairing deflecting wind onto lower wheel