Semiconductor devices having one or more vias filled with an electrically conductive material are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first side, a plurality of circuit elements proximate to the first side, and a second side opposite the first side. A via can extend between the first and second sides, and a conductive material in the via can extend beyond the second side of the substrate to define a projecting portion of the conductive material. The semiconductor device can have a tall conductive pillar formed over the second side and surrounding the projecting portion of the conductive material, and a short conductive pad formed over the first side and electrically coupled to the conductive material in the via.

In semiconductor processing, through-silicon vias (TSVs) are often used to provide electrical connection between adjacent semiconductor dies. Fabrication of TSVs involves etching deep holes into a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and filling the resulting holes with a conductive fill such as copper. Often, conductive pillars are then formed to be electrically coupled to the conductive fill of the TSVs at the front side of the substrate, and the substrate is thinned from its back side until the conductive fill is exposed. Under-bump metallization (UBM) features are then formed over the exposed conductive material of the TSVs at the back side of the substrate.
More particularly, FIGS. 1A-1G are cross-sectional views illustrating various stages in a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device 100 in accordance with the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1A, the semiconductor device 100 includes a substrate 102 having a front side 107, a back side 109 opposite the front side, and a plurality of circuit elements 104 (e.g., wires, traces, interconnects, transistors, etc.) in and/or on the front side 107. For example, metal traces can be formed on the front side 107 of the substrate 102, while integrated circuit elements can be located in the substrate 102 beneath the metal traces. FIG. 1A further shows the semiconductor device 100 after TSVs 106 have been formed in the substrate 102. In particular, the TSVs extend from the front side 107 into the substrate 102 but are not yet accessible at the back side 109. The TSVs 106 can be formed using well known processes in the art. For example, the TSVs can be fabricated by forming holes in the substrate 102 and filling the holes with a conductive material 105.
FIG. 1A further shows the semiconductor device 100 after conductive pillars 108 have been formed on the front side 107 of the substrate 102 to be electrically coupled to the conductive material 105 of corresponding ones of the TSVs 106. The conductive pillars 108 are relatively tall structures having a height above the front side 107 of the substrate 102 of between about 10-100 μm (e.g., between about 35-60 μm). The conductive pillars 108 can be fabricated by a suitable electroplating or electroless plating process, as is well known in the art. In other embodiments, other deposition techniques (e.g., sputter deposition) can be used in lieu of electroplating or electroless plating.
FIG. 1B shows the semiconductor device 100 after the substrate 102 has been attached to a carrier 110 (e.g., a silicon carrier) via an adhesive layer 112. The carrier 110 can be used to provide additional stability throughout intermediate processing steps on the back side 109 of the substrate 102, and can later be removed along with the adhesive layer 112. As shown in FIG. 1B, the adhesive layer 112 has a thickness that is greater than the height of the conductive pillars 108 and can therefore be formed to entirely surround the conductive pillars 108. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 112 can have a thickness of between about 10-100 μm (e.g., between about 35-60 μm). As illustrated in FIG. 1B, forces exerted on the carrier 110 by the relatively thick adhesive layer 112 can cause the carrier 110 to warp. In particular, adhesive forces imparted by the adhesive layer 112 can cause the carrier 110 to warp such that a back side 119 of the carrier 110 is substantially not coplanar. Before further processing steps can be carried out on the back side 109 of the substrate 102, the carrier 110 must be planarized to, for example, permit accurate handling and alignment of the carrier 110 (and the semiconductor device 100 attached thereto) during subsequent processing stages. Accordingly, FIG. 1C illustrates the carrier 110 and the semiconductor device 100 after the back side 119 of the carrier 110 has been planarized to be generally coplanar.
FIG. 1D shows the semiconductor device 100 after the back side 109 of the substrate 102 has been thinned to expose the conductive material 105 of the TSVs 106 through the back side 109 of the substrate 102. The substrate 102 can be thinned using, for example, a suitable backgrinding process known in the art. As shown in FIG. 1D, after thinning the substrate 102, a portion of the conductive material 105 of the TSVs 106 may project beyond the back side 109 of the substrate 102.
FIG. 1E shows the semiconductor device 100 after a dielectric layer 114 has been deposited over the back side 109 of the substrate 102 and over the exposed portions of the conductive material 105 of the TSVs 106. The dielectric layer 114 may comprise SiOx material (e.g., silicon dioxide), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), other oxide materials, etc. As shown in FIG. 1F, the dielectric layer 114 and/or the exposed portions of the conductive material 105 of the TSVs 106 are subsequently thinned to co-planarize the exposed portions of the conductive material 105 and the dielectric layer 114. Therefore, after thinning, the conductive material 105 of the TSVs 106 and the dielectric layer 114 together define a planar back side 115 of the semiconductor device 100. Thinning is typically achieved using a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process.
FIG. 1G shows the semiconductor device 100 after UBM features 116 have been formed on the back side 115 of the semiconductor device 100 to be electrically coupled to the conductive material 105 of corresponding ones of the TSVs 106. The UBM features 116 are relatively short features compared to the conductive pillars 108, having a height above the back side 115 of the semiconductor device 100 of between about 1-10 μm (e.g., between about 1-5 μm). The conductive pillars 108 can be fabricated by a suitable electroplating or electroless plating process, as is well known in the art. In other embodiments, other deposition techniques (e.g., sputter deposition) can be used in lieu of electroplating or electroless plating. FIG. 1G further illustrates the semiconductor device 100 (i) after the carrier 110 and the adhesive layer 112 (FIG. 1F) have been removed and (ii) after depositing solder balls or solder bumps 118 onto the conductive pillars 108. For example, a stenciling machine can deposit discrete blocks of solder paste onto the conductive pillars 108 and the solder paste can then be reflowed to form the solder balls 118 on the conductive pillars 108.
Notably, one drawback of the prior art process illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1A-1G is that after removing the carrier 110, the carrier 110 cannot be reused in subsequent processing stages (e.g., during the fabrication of another semiconductor device 100). In particular, because the carrier 110 must be planarized (FIG. 1C) to account for warpage caused by the adhesive layer 112 (FIG. 1B), the carrier 110 is unsuitable for use in many additional semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Pillar-last methods for forming semiconductor devices


The invention is related to a system and method for determining a physiological condition. The system includes a processor configured to receive, from a first sensor, skin temperature measurements during a first period of time, wherein the first sensor is detachably and thermally coupleable to a user's skin, receive from a second sensor, measurements of ambient temperature during the first period of time, adjust the skin temperature measurements received from the first sensor using the ambient temperature measurements received from the second sensor to reduce ambient influence, receive one or more stored temperature measurements measured for at least a second time period, calculate representative temperature information for the first period of time based on the adjust skin temperature measurements from the first period of time and stored temperature measurements and display the representative temperature information.

Body temperature is a valuable indicator of numerous physiological conditions. Therefore, measuring body temperature is one of the available tools for assessing physiological conditions. However, accurate measurements of core body temperatures or good approximation of core body temperatures are usually available only at a clinical facility or a research center, most common are rectal or esophageal temperature sensors. A recent research showed that measuring a temperature of the body skin below the armpit for a time period of at least 12 minutes, when the arm is tightly closed to the side of the body, is the best approximation to the core body temperature (i.e., the temperature of the inner organs of the body) than other standard temperature measuring methods tested in that research.
Accurate measurements of the body temperature can identify and helps to diagnose and/or prevent several physiological conditions. Taking multiple temperature measurements over a long period of time using traditional thermometers is complicated and inaccurate. Furthermore, each human being has its own typical body temperature variation and patterns.
Thus, there is a need to monitor body temperature automatically for long periods of time and to study typical body temperature patterns for each individual, to allow detecting deviations from the typical/normal patterns that may indicate a change in the physiological condition of that individual.

System and method for determining physiological conditions based on variations in body temperature


An adaptive array antenna is disclosed which permits the circuit scale to be reduced by omitting a down-converter, an AD converter, and interconnects for them while controlling the directivity well. In one aspect, the array antenna comprises phase shift-amplitude control modules which accept signals received by antenna elements via an analog-to-digital converter. The value of any one of phase-amplitude change modules is set to 1. The values of the other phase-amplitude change modules are set to 0. Thus, the signal from any one antenna element is accepted. This sequence of operations is repeated as many times as there are antenna elements, whereby signals received by all the antenna elements can be accepted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adaptive array antenna system and to a method of controlling the directivity of the antenna system and, more particularly, to an adaptive array antenna system of simplified construction and to a method of controlling the directivity of this antenna system.
2. Description of the Related Art
With respect to an adaptive array antenna including an array of antenna elements, the directivity can be modified dynamically according to variations in electromagnetic circumstances. Such adaptive array antennas are employed in base stations for cellular phones.
The fundamental structure of an adaptive array antenna having analog phase-amplitude change modules (load) is shown in FIG. 7. In this figure, the frequencies of signals received by antenna elements AN1, AN2, . . . , ANM are lowered to given values by downconverters DC1, DC2, . . . , DCM, respectively. Furthermore, the analog signals are converted into digital signals by AD converters ADC1, ADC2, . . . , ADCM, respectively, and supplied to a phase shift-amplitude calculation module 902 of a phase shift-amplitude control module 900. For example, the phase-shift amplitude control module 900 may be made of a digital signal processor (DSP). The phase-shift amplitude calculation module 902 performs given computation while referring to a reference signal outputted from a reference signal output module 904. The results of the computation are supplied to phase-amplitude change module PAR1, PAR2, . . . , PARM via phase-amplitude determination module PAD1, PAD2, . . . , PADM, respectively. In the phase-amplitude change module PAR1, PAR2, . . . , PARM, the phases and amplitudes of the signals received by the antenna elements AN1, AN2, . . . , ANM are varied. The modified signals are added up by a combiner 910. The sum signal from the combiner 910 is converted into a signal of a given frequency by a downconverter DC, converted into a digital signal by an AD converter ADC, and supplied to a demodulator 912.
FIG. 8 shows an example of digitized version of DBF (digital beam-forming) of a phase shift-amplitude control module 950. This beam-forming module accepts signals from antenna elements directly and obtains desired directivity by digital signal processing. As shown in FIG. 8, the phase shift-amplitude control module 950 includes phase-amplitude determination module QAD1, QAD2, . . . , QADM, phase-amplitude change module QAR1, QAR2, . . . , QARM, and a combiner 952 which have been all digitized, together with the phase shift-amplitude calculation module 902 and reference signal output module 904. The sum output from the combiner 952 is supplied to a demodulator 912.
As described so far, in the adaptive array antenna, signals received from the antenna elements are entered to the phase shift-amplitude control module, in order to control the phases and amplitudes of electromagnetic waves received by the antenna elements. However, to permit the signals to be entered to the phase shift-amplitude control module from the antenna elements, the same numbers of downconverters and AD converters as the antenna elements are required. This increases the circuit scale.
A known technique for reducing the circuit scale by omitting such downconverters and AD converters is an "adaptive array antenna" described in JP-A-2001-160708 described below. This controls the amount of phase shift based on a partial differential coefficient relative to the amount of phase shift of an evaluation function by resetting the amount of phase shift of one of plural phase shifting modules to a value obtained by increasing the presently set amount of phase shift by a given angle of 90°, then resetting the presently set amount of phase shift to a value obtained by reducing the presently set amount of phase shift by the given angle, detecting variations in intensity of the combined reception signal by a signal intensity detection module, and finding the partial differential coefficient relative to the amount of phase shift of the evaluation function using only the variations in intensity of the detected reception signal.
According to the technique of JP-A-2001-160708, the found partial differential value of phase is optimized, for example, based on a method of steepest descent. This eliminates downconverters and AD converters which would have been heretofore mounted on individual antenna elements. Furthermore, interconnect lines for them are not present. Consequently, the circuit can be simplified and made smaller in size.
However, in the known technique as described above, input signals from the individual antenna elements are not directly obtained. Rather, phase control is provided by finding a partial differential coefficient regarding the amount of phase shift without using the input signals. Therefore, the presently adopted algorithm that is used to perform calculations using the input signals cannot be used intact. In particular, it is difficult to utilize a method other than the gradient method as a method of optimizing antenna characteristics. That is, there is the inconvenience that it is impossible to perform complex manipulations such as selecting an optimization method according to the electromagnetic circumstances or it is difficult to adopt a novel algorithm for the array antenna.

Adaptive array antenna system and method of controlling directivity thereof


Antibody fragments (Fabs and scFvs) specific to the Met receptor are disclosed. Compositions and kits including these Fabs and scFvs, and drug and imaging conjugates of these Fabs and scFvs also are disclosed. The novel Fabs and scFvs can be internalized into the interior of a cell. Methods include using the novel Met Fabs and scFvs for diagnosing, prognosing, and treating cancer, and for evaluating chemotherapeutic response.

c-Met is a receptor protein tyrosine kinase of the same family as epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. This transmembrane protein acts as the cell surface membrane receptor in which the extracellular domain (ECD) binds hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF, also abbreviated HGF herein). c-Met, used interchangeably with "Met", is a disulfide-linked heterodimer with α (Mr 45,000) and β (Mr 145,000) subunits. The α chain is located outside the cell membrane, whereas the β chain consists of an extracellular domain, a single transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic moiety in which the receptor tyrosine kinase domain resides (Birchmeier, C., et al. (2003) Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 4, 915-925). c-Met dimerizes after binding ligand to form the active kinase. The intracellular tyrosine kinase domain activates a complex cascade of biochemical reactions. The c-Met receptor kinase regulates cellular proliferation, migration, differentiation and branching morphogenesis during development and homeostasis.
c-Met is also expressed on the cell surface of a variety of human primary solid tumors and in their metastases (http://www.vai.org/met/). In its activated state, the c-Met receptor controls growth, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells through multiple signal transduction pathways. In some cancer cell lines, loss of c-Met expression through silencing promotes apoptosis, demonstrating that c-Met is necessary for survival. Met activity increases through mutations in the kinase or juxtamembrane domains, through overexpression, or through binding to HGF. In addition to increased c-Met expression, elevated HGF/SF concentrations in the tumor microenvironment have also been associated with adverse outcome. For example hypoxic tumor stromal cells in pancreatic cancer increase HGF secretion and accelerate pancreatic cancer progression.
c-Met is one of the most frequently genetically altered or otherwise dysregulated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) in advanced human cancers and thus represents an attractive treatment target. Kinase activating c-Met mutations are observed in sporadic renal, lung, head and neck, hepatocellular carcinoma, non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), gastric cancer and melanoma. Furthermore, amplification of the c-Met locus has been detected in gastric, metastatic colorectal and esophageal adenocarcinoma, additional c-Met-related diseases. Activation of c-Met in cancer cells induces the secretion of angiogenic factors, such as VEGFA and IL-8 and inhibits synthesis of thrombospondin-1, an anti-angiogenic factor. In addition, c-Met activation in endothelial cells causes angiogenesis. While the cytotoxic effects of inhibiting Met activity may only occur in cancers with activated c-Met, the antiangiogenic effect may exist more frequently. Any disease associated with Met expression is referred to herein as a "Met-related disease".
The magnitude of c-Met expression predicts the aggressiveness of a number of cancer types (http://www.vai.org/met/). Accurate detection and quantification of c-Met protein expression are needed to identify cancers that are likely responsive to c-Met inhibitors and the development of such molecular diagnostics lags significantly behind the drug development.
Antibody molecules and their derivatives have tremendous potential for use in a variety of research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. To provide targeting specificity, it is useful to develop a targeted cancer therapeutic by generating a ligand that specifically binds to a receptor which is tumor specific or sufficiently over-expressed in the tumor (Scheffer, et al. (2002) Br J Cancer, 86:954-962; Gura, T. (2002) Nature, 417: 584-586; Popkov, M., et al. (2005) Cancer Res. 65: 972-81; Wilson, I. A. et al. (1994). Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 4, 857-867; Weiner, L. et al. (2005) Nature Biotech 23, 556-557). Antibodies have proven to be important targeting ligands for cell surface receptors. Recent progress in the manipulation of antibody subunits using molecular techniques, plus the ability to reproducibly select an antibody, an antibody fragment, or a peptide, allows the generation of useful binding subunits, while avoiding many of the problems that have often been associated with these molecules.
All antibodies are immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules made up of two heavy (H) and two light (L) chains. Each H and L chain are linked by a disulfide bridge which is just N-terminal of a "hinge" region. Pairs of two chains, disulfide linked, include the same basic unit of four polypeptide chains: two light chains (L) and two heavy chains (H). Both the heavy chains and light chains have intra-chain disulfide bridges, which create polypeptide loops or domains, of about 110 amino acids. These domains are referred to as VH (variable domain of the H chain), VL (variable domain of the L chain), CH1, CH2, CH3 (constant domains of the H chain), and CL (constant domain of the L chain). An Fab fragment was originally defined as is a papain digestion product of an intact antibody made of the N-terminal "half" of the H-chain which is now defined as VH-CH1 and all of the L-chain which is now defined as VL-CL. The Fab fragment contains the antigen binding site defined by the VH and VL domains of the H and L chains, respectively. Hence, the antigen binding site of any antibody (or antigen binding fragment thereof) is made up of the V domains (VH and VL) that interact physically with one another. When physically associated, these domains together are also referred to as an Fv fragment, while recombinant forms of these domains in the form of a single chain are referred to as single chain Fv fragments (scFv).
The term "CDR" refers to the complementarity determining region or hypervariable region amino acid residues of an antibody which are responsible for antigen-binding. Framework or "FR" amino acid residues are those variable domain residues other than and bracketing the CDR regions. The variable (V) domain of an Ig chain includes hypervariable (HV) regions which are also known as complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) because they are important in "determining" the structure of the antibody combining site that is complementary the epitope bound. Each H and L chain V region has three HVs or CDRs. The segments on either side of each HV region which are relatively invariant are termed "framework regions" (FRs). Thus, the order of these regions in a V domain (from the N-terminus) is as follows: FR1-HV1-FR2-HV2-FR3-HV3-FR4. For example, the three HV regions are roughly from residues 28-35, 49-59 and 92-103, respectively. The framework regions form the β-sheets that provide the structural framework of the domain, with the HV sequences corresponding to three loops at one edge of each sheet that are juxtaposed in the folded protein. The HV loops from the VH and VL domains are brought together, creating a single HV site at the tip of the Fab fragment which forms the antigen binding site. (See, for example, Janeway, C. A., Jr. et al., IMMUNOBIOLOGY, 2n ed., Garland Publishing Inc., New York, 1996, chapter 3).
One antigen validated for raising antibodies is c-Met. Mouse mAbs against human c-Met and against human HGF/SF have been generated (Ohashi, K., et al. (2000) Nat. Med. 6, 327-331; Cao, B., et al. (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 7443-7448; Nguyen, T. H., et al. (2003) Cancer Gene Ther. 10, 840-849), and some of them showed strong affinities both in vitro and in animal models. However, clinical problems resulting from the formation of human antimurine antibodies and other pharmacodynamic effects have hampered their efficacy in the human body.
The mechanism by which antibodies produce therapeutic outcomes include antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-mediated cytotoxicity, and the blocking of signal pathways that promote uncontrolled cell proliferation, e.g., with a neutralizing antibody (Von Mehren M, et al. Annu Rev Med 54:343-69 (2003)).
Antibodies are good delivery vehicles for targeting agents for treatment or in vivo diagnosis. Antibodies can be conjugated to a compound (e.g., a nucleic acid, chemotherapy compound, toxin, or radionuclide) to direct such compound to cancer cells by recognizing the specific tumor marker on the cell surface. Antibody-conjugated drug, consisting of antibodies coupled to toxins or chemicals, are extremely useful tools in the elimination of specific cell populations in vitro and in vivo for research and therapeutic applications. The antibody is used to target the drug to a specific cell population, which is distinguished by its cell-surface antigen (Groner, B., et al. (2004), Current Molecular Medicine 4, 539-547; Watkins N A, et al. (2003) Blood. 102:718-24; Rousselet N, et al. (2004) Cancer Res. 64: 146-51). This can be done by conjugating chemotherapeutic drugs, radionuclides, or immunoliposomes for nanoscale delivery, and by directly fusing the antibody to an immunotoxin or cytokines using recombinant technology (Wu A M, et al. Nature Biotech 23:1137-46 (2005); Mamot C, et al. Cancer Res 65:11631-38 (2005)). An antibody-conjugated drug delivery system can direct toxic compounds to penetrate the targeted malignant tissue or cells specifically, thus decreasing the toxicity of drug to normal cells nearby and elsewhere, and increase the therapeutic effect by enhancing the accumulated dose of the drug in the targeted tissue. Antibody conjugates eliminate damage that otherwise would be caused to normal cells if such compounds were delivered to a patient by traditional chemotherapy regimens (Schrama D, et al. (2006) Nature Reviews of Drug Discovery 5: 147-159).
Beside the conjugation of chemotherapeutics, radionuclides or toxins, antibody conjugates have been developed in many fields, including the antibody-cytokine fusion protein for immune modulation treatment, antibody-ligand fusion protein for apoptosis induction, and the antibody directed enzyme pro-drug targeting (ADEPT).
Conjugation also increases the solubility of some compounds in physiological solutions, enhancing the stability of the compounds, and preventing the conjugated drug from being pumped out of cells by the multidrug resistance associated p-glycoprotein transmembrane pump (Guillemard V, et al. Cancer Res 61: 694-9 (2001); Guillemard H, et al. Oncogene 23:3613-21 (2004)).
When using an antibody for drug delivery, internalization of the antibody is generally desired since it allows some compounds to be delivered intracellularly, for example after release, from the antibody. For the purpose of chemoimmunoconjugation, an antibody that can be endocytosed by a cell is essential since an internalized antibody can lead the conjugated molecules into the cells to accumulate. Some linkers of the conjugation also need to be internalized to release the compounds by the lysosome (Schrama D, et al. (2006) Nature Reviews of Drug Discovery 5: 147-159).
An antibody conjugated to a detectable label such as a radionuclide provides a method for early diagnosis of a malignancy, when a cell surface protein is overexpressed or mutated so that it is distinguishable by an antibody from the unmutated form. Established methods for radiolabeling mAbs in suitable quantity and of appropriate quantity for scintigraphy are available, feasible, relatively inexpensive, and adaptable to virtually any mAb regardless of its epitopic specificity. New radiolabeling methods are continually emerging, and many laboratories are evaluating a wide range of antibody derivatives—from full-length chimeric and humanized molecules, to monomeric and multimeric antibody fragments, to immunoconjugates—as potentially superior imaging and therapeutic agents, with improved targeting selectivity and more favorable biological turnover kinetics (Program and Abstracts, Ninth Conference on Cancer Therapy with Antibodies and Immunoconjugates. 2002. Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals 17:465-494).
Moreover, the reagents, supplies, and equipment required to perform radioimmunoscintigraphy in experimental animals and in humans are commonplace. For decades decommissioned or refurbished clinical gamma cameras have proven satisfactory for animal imaging applications, and they continue to do so. Modified or custom-built gamma cameras adapted for small animal imaging are becoming more widely available.
The major advantage of scintigraphy as a molecular imaging modality (not limited to imaging with antibodies) is that the acquired images are inherently quantitative. The physics of gamma radiation and the mathematical analysis of nuclear images, including corrections for photon attenuation and other artifacts, are well understood. In animal models, as well as in human studies, one can noninvasively and accurately measure net accumulation and some kinetic parameters of radiopharmaceutical interactions with target lesions, and the concurrent collection of even a small set of biological samples (e.g., blood and excreta) for direct counting combined with quantitative analysis of diagnostic images enables one to make useful dosimetry estimates for therapeutic purposes.
Many different radiopharmaceuticals are available for imaging neoplasms. They range from classical agents such as sodium iodide (Na131I, thallium chloride (201TlCl), and gallium citrate (67Ga-citrate) to highly selective positron-emitting reporter gene detection systems (Vallabhajosula S (2001) Nuclear Oncology; I Khalkhali et al., eds. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa. pp. 31-62; Iyer M et al. (2001) J Nucl Med 42, 96-105). Radiolabeled molecules that bind to specific cell surface components provide one successful approach to tumor imaging and therapy. Examples are OCTREOSCAN® for imaging and potentially treating neuroendocrine neoplasms, CEASCAN® and ONCOSCINT® for imaging colorectal and ovarian cancers, and BEXXAR® and ZEVALIN® for detecting and treating certain lymphomas.
Relatively smaller antibody fragments have higher penetrating speed into the solid tumor tissue (Holliger P, et al. Nature Biotechnology 23: 1126-36 (2005)), plus, if they are xenogeneic to the host, they have fewer foreign epitopes that can be recognized by the recipient's immune system. To avoid such immunogenic effects of xenoantibodies, most antibodies in clinical trials or use are human antibodies or at least chimeric (and humanized) antibodies so that they comprise a human constant regions linked to the original, xenogeneic (typically murine) variable regions.
Not all antibodies are suitable for creating a therapeutic drug, and large numbers of antibodies may need to be screened. This is a time-consuming and expensive process if each potential candidate must be conjugated to the drug and purified (Hudson P J, et al. (2003) Nat Med. 9:129-34; Kohls, M. et al., (2000) Biotechniques, 28: 162-165.
Since the 1970s, rodent antibodies have been widely applied for medical purposes, and mainly for in vitro diagnosis (Kohler G, et al (1975 Nature 256:495-497). The first therapeutic murine mAbs clinical study was performed in the early 1980s, but failed due to human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA), short serum half-lives, and low efficacy of interaction with human immune effector cells (Reichert J M, et al (2005) Nature Biotechnology 23:1073-1078). However, completely human antibody fragments can be used to minimize the regions of non-human origin and thereby increase clinical tolerance. (Liu, Y., et al (2004) Int J Cancer 108, 549-557; Adams, G., et (2001) Cancer Res. 61: 4750-4755; Souriau, C. et al. (2004) Growth Factor, 22(3):185-194; Lui, V. W. et al (2002) Anticancer Res. 22, 1-11).
Human antibodies are desired for treatment and in vivo diagnosis of patients in order to prevent the HAMA response that could eliminate non-human antibodies and thus decrease the effect of the non-human antibodies after the first use. The development of recombinant technologies make it possible to generate a chimeric antibody (combining the variable region of a mouse and the constant region of human) or a fully human antibody for clinical use. Currently, three kinds of technologies have been developed to make a fully human antibody: a fully human antibody raised by a transgenic mouse (Jakobovits A (1995) Curr Opin Biotechnol 6: 561-566), humanization of a murine antibody (Jones P T, et al (1986) Nature 321: 522-525), and panning of recombinant human antibody libraries.
There are numerous reports of human antibodies successfully raised from combinatorial libraries that are representative of the natural immune response (Huls, G. et (2001) Intl Cancer Res. 50, 163-171; Huls, G A, et al (1999) Nat Biotechnol. 17:276-81; Begent R H, et al. (1996) Nat Med. 2:979-984; Liu, B., et al. (2004) Cancer Res. 64: 704-710; Scheffer G L, et al. (2002) Br J Cancar, 86:954-962; Hudson P J, et al. (2003) Nat Med. 9:129-34).
Using phages to display non-immunized libraries consisting of large numbers of IgG fragments, Fab fragments or scFvs for specific antigens have been recovered. But the antibodies fragments from these libraries often have weak affinities (in the range of 10−6 M). Phage display of antibody combinatorial libraries not only creates the direct physical linkage between genotype and phenotype that exists for B lymphocytes, but can also mimic in vitro many of the in vivo processes which result in the production of high-affinity Abs (Huls, G, et al. (2001) Intl Cancer Res. 50, 163-171; Huls G A, et al. (1999) Nat Biotechnol. 17:276-81).
Because c-Met is overexpressed in solid tumors, c-Met is an ideal target for antibody-directed drug delivery and for tumor imaging. To achieve this aim, a human anti-Met antibody, antibody Fab fragment, or scFv fragment is desired.


A setting server connected to a network for use in communication service outputs, to a user terminal provided on a user side, an interface on-screen image for inputting the communication parameters. The setting server accepts an input of user communication parameters from the interface on-screen image. The setting server connects to a communication apparatus on the side of a service provider that provides the communication service. Further, the setting server sets the user communication parameters to the communication apparatus.

The present invention relates to a communication parameters setting technique in a communication service where it is required to set, for each user, communication parameters corresponding to quality condition, and use of a line.
In xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) service, the quality of a line is influenced by a distance between each end user and a station (hereinafter referred to as an "accommodation station") that accommodates a DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) or an amount of noise due to radio waves therebetween. Also, in the xDSL service described above, speeding-up of the effective speed of the line and stabilization of the quality of the line are in correlation with each other. That is, in the xDSL service, an increase of the line effective speed lowers the line quality and an improvement of the line quality reduces the line effective speed. Here, the demands of the end user on the line varies in various ways depending on use of application which the end user uses. Accordingly, in order to provide each end user with an optimum line quality, it is required to set communication parameters for each end user on a DSLAM side in great detail.
In the communication parameters setting described above, when large noise occurs on the used communication line, it is required to stabilize the line quality. In order to stabilize the line quality, when a fluctuation amount of the noise between the end user and the accommodation station is large, for instance, a noise margin value that is a DSLAM communication parameter is increased. Also, the line of which the noise fluctuation amount is small (the line of which quality is stabilized) sets, the communication parameters performed so that the noise margin value is decreased and the line speed is increased.
However, a fluctuation width of the noise varies depending on the used line. In addition, the noise fluctuation width also varies depending on time zone. Therefore, it is not easy for a communication service provider to set optimum communication parameters for each end user.
Therefore, the conventional communication parameters setting is performed through the following procedure. First, the communication service provider sets the uniform communication parameters for every end user when the line is put into service. Following this, on receiving a complaint from the end user about the line quality, an expert, such as an operator, at the communication service provider changes the communication parameters setting for the end user.
Aside from this, there is also a case where a line log of each end user within a specified passing time from the start of service is checked, and a setting change is automatically made to the line to which a line disconnection frequently occurs.
As described above, in the conventional communication service, at the time of start of service, a line is provided for the end user under a uniform setting. Therefore, communication parameters corresponding to each line are not set, so it is hard to say that favorable line quality is necessarily provided to every end user (see (1) in FIG. 10). In this case, the end user makes a complaint to a contact center (client service center) of the communication service provider using means such as a telephone (see (2) in FIG. 10) and so on. Then, in accordance with the complaint from the end user, the operator (expert) at the communication service provider manually makes a change to the communication parameters setting of the line that the end user uses.
Also, even when the change of the communication parameters setting is made in accordance with the complaint from the end user in this manner, the setting is not necessarily an optimum setting for the end user. Accordingly, there is a case where the end user makes a complaint to the communication service provider repeatedly before he/she obtains an optimum communication parameters setting. In addition, there is also a case where even when the end user temporarily obtains an optimum setting through the communication parameters setting change, the optimum communication parameters setting varies due to an environmental change in the region of the end user. An example of the environmental change of the line described above includes a change in installation situation of a peripheral ISDN line. Accordingly, it is not easy for each end user to always obtain an optimum setting at the time of use of the xDSL service. Also, this incurs lowering of the level of end user satisfaction with the xDSL service (see (3) in FIG. 10). Further, at the communication service provider, manpower is required to address client complaints, which incurs an increase in cost such as labor cost (see (4) in FIG. 10) and so on.
Also, in the case where the line log of each end user within a specified passing time from the start of service is checked, and a setting change is automatically made to each line to which a line disconnection frequently occurs, a considerable time is taken from recognition of a problem by the end user to the setting change. Also, in such a case, the problem of the communication parameters is found with reference to the line log, so there is no case of setting appropriate communication parameters for each user.
Further, in the case of rate of deterioration in the line quality in a certain period of around several days, there occurs a problem in that the line speed is reduced more than necessary in order to enhance the line quality.
It should be noted here that as an example of conventional and general service where a user request with respect to the communication service is accepted at the communication service provider, there is service where an application for a change of the contents of a contract to use the communication service is accepted on a Web site (see "NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE EAST CORPORATION, "FLET'S ADSL change application" (online), NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE EAST CORPORATION, (search was conducted on Dec. 20, 2002) Internet URL:http://www.ntt-east.co.jp/cgi-bin/flets/alter/adsl/adrnwl1.cgi", for instance).

Communication parameter setting method, setting server, and setting program


A mild hydrocracking catalyst contains amorphous matrix, zeolite, at least one metal compound selected from Group VIB and at least one metal compound selected from Group VIII. The catalyst is characterized in that the incorporated REUHP zeolite has dual pore distribution at <20 .ANG. and around 200 .ANG. and 3-10 percent by weight lanthanum, cerium, or mixed rare earth oxide. The amorphous matrix is .gamma.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in which 80% total pore volume is contributed by pores having a diameter larger than 50 .ANG. and 60% total pore volume is contributed by pores having a diameter in the range of 50-100 .ANG.. A phosphorus promoter may be incorporated into the catalyst of this invention. The atom ratio of VIII/(VIII+VIB) in the catalyst is in the range of 0.2-0.8. The catalyst of this invention is especially suitable for one-stage once-through mild hydrocracking of heavy oil boiling above 350.degree. C. The tail oil boiling above 350.degree. C. is a high-quality feedstock for steam cracking.

Mild hydrocracking is a hydrocracking process for converting heavy oil fraction to light products, controlled a conversion level within the range of 20-50% for the fraction boiling above 350.degree. C. (or above 370.degree. C.). The typical technological parameters are as follows:
pressure, MPa: 3.5-10.4
space velocity, hr.sup.-1 : 0.3-1.0
H.sub.2 /oil volume ratio, Nm.sup.3 /m.sup.3 : 300-1000
temperature, .degree.C.: 360-430
Comparing with high pressure hydrocracking, mild hydrocracking shows advantages in lower investment and operating cost, lower operating pressure, and especially lower (50%) hydrogen consumption. Currently, the mild hydrocracking technology is mostly used for increasing the yield of middle distillates (132.degree.-350.degree. C. fraction), while its tail oil (>350.degree. or 370.degree. C. fraction) is used as the feedstock for FCC or as fuel oil, occasionally, is also used as the feedstock for steam cracking. Several European refineries have revamped their high pressure hydrocracking units for mild hydrocracking operation to provide feedstocks for steam cracking. The HC-K catalyst and the HC-16 hydrocracking catalyst are used in FPP process, developed by Union/Lummos in the United states. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,738,767, 4,689,314, 4,600,703, and 4,396,500 disclose processes for preparing mild hydrocracking catalysts by impregnating .gamma.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or SiO.sub.2 -Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 with the solution of Mo Ni-P or Mo-Si-P (Si stands for an organic silicon compound). Meanwhile, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,600,498, 4,309,277, and 3,853,747 describe that the zeolites having weak acidity are used as acidic components in hydrocracking catalysts. Zeolite Y hydrothermally stabilized by Ni or Co is used for this purpose in U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,747. EP 0320247 describes the use of a hydrophobic zeolite (LZ-10) having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mole ratio of 3.5-4.0, surface area of 500-700 m.sup.2 /g, unit cell size of 24.25-24.35 .ANG., vapor adsorption capacity of less than 8% at 250.degree. C. and vapor partial pressure 4.6 mmHg: the zeolite and amorphous SiO.sub.2 -Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 are dispersed in Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 matrix to form catalyst support, then the support is impregnated with a Mo-Ni-P solution or W-Ni solution to prepare mild hydrocracking catalyst. A catalyst company in France files a patent (CN 85103645) in China which discloses a hydrocracking catalyst for producing middle distillate using a zeolite having medium acidity, a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mole ratio of 12-40, a crystallinity of, preferably, 60%, a corresponding surface area of 550 m.sup.2 /g, and 3-15% of its pore volume contributed by pores having a diameter in the range of 20-80 .ANG. (pore diameter of rest pores is less than 20 .ANG., no pores has a diameter larger than 80 .ANG.). The prior art mentioned above are mainly devoted to increase the production of middle distillates. However, the utilization of tail oil is not paid too much attention.

Mild hydrocracking catlyst and the process therefor


An insert for paper processors with containers for liquids which are arranged in a working direction one behind the other, whereby each insert includes a rotary endless conveyor belt as means of transportation for photographic material. The conveyor belt extends beyond the width of carrier rollers which are arranged in pairs on the input side and on the output side of the insert, whereby the pair of carrier rollers on the output side constitutes a first squeeze station, since one of these carrier rollers works as a squeeze roller. In addition to the first squeeze station, there is provided a second squeeze station which is adjacent to the first squeeze station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insert for photographic material processors, in particular for film or photographic paper.
2. The Prior Art
An insert of this kind, known from German Patent No. 2,609,463, is used for developing films or, in general, for developing photographic materials, such as photographic paper.
In this case, it is usual to transport the photographic material successively through several individual tanks in which there are different liquid chemicals. For complete development, the photographic material must be transmitted and transported from one individual tank into the following tank. To transmit the photographic material from one individual tank to the following, conveying the photographic material with conveyor belts from one tank into the other one has already been attempted. However, in this case, there is the danger that a chemical liquid of a certain kind might be transmitted from one individual tank into the following one. This can also happen through a passing conveying belt, such as that through which the photographic material must be transmitted. This contaminates the individual tanks, in a negative way, during a continuous process.
To reduce the transmission of chemical liquids from one individual tank to the following individual tank, the insert known from German Patent No. 2,609,463 provides using one single endless conveyor belt for this insert. This endless conveyor belt extends beyond the full width of the conveyor rolls, which are arranged in pairs at the input and at the output side of the insert. The lower roll at the output side works as a squeeze roll.
This known solution means that liquid will be squeezed out of the film material along its full width at the output side of each individual tank. Because the rolls that are arranged in pairs at the output side of the insert form a squeezing station (the lower situated roll works as a squeeze roll), the photographic or film material can be of different widths.
The known insert already provides a certain improvement. However, in practice, it has been shown that despite the presence of the squeezing station, totally satisfactory development cannot always be ensured. This is due to the fact that despite the presence of the squeezing station, small quantities of the chemical liquid of one individual tank still manage to get into the subsequent individual tank. Consequently, the film material cannot fully absorb the other liquid chemical contained by the next individual tank.


A document holder comprising a slotted open-ended sleeve dimensioned to permit facile insertion and removal of a medial length of rolled document thereinto and therefrom through its slot, and to retain the document in a rolled configuration of predetermined diameter convenient for storage. The document holder may also be provided with a substantially flat exterior labeling surface to facilitate labeling of the document in rolled condition for ready filing and retrieval from storage.

This invention relates to a holding device designed to retain documents in a rolled configuration, and more particularly, to a drawing or document holder which facilitates the storage and labeling of blueprints and other large drawings.
Many types of normally flat documents, such as blueprints, drawings, paintings, maps, posters, certificates, photographs and the like, are typically maintained in rolled configuration for storage purposes. Particularly where the documents are of relatively large size, such as blueprints, and may require storage together with numerous other sets of such documents, the various means conventionally employed for retaining the documents in rolled condition all have certain drawbacks. Simple rubber bands can often be cumbersome to apply and remove, tend to cause tears in the edges of the document, and are not conducive for facilitating either uniformity of roll diameter or labeling of the documents in rolled condition. While fully encasing storage tubes may overcome most of these problems, the added bulkiness and cost are generally not justified. Furthermore, removal of documents from the confines of such tubes is often impeded by the document becoming unwound within the tube.


The present invention discloses a patterned transparent conductive film based on the random grid, wherein the surface of the conductive film can be divided into a conductive region and an insulating region, with the conductive region having the grid made of metal. The grid of the conductive region, composed of the grid line of the conductive region, is a random grid having an irregular shape, and can avoid periodic shielding generated by the opaque metal grid lines and the periodic pixel unit of LCD. The patterned transparent conductive film provided by the present invention is composed of the irregular random grid, and therefore will not generate the Moire stripe. Besides, finally by naked eyes observation, the conductive region and the insulating region have exactly the same or close transmittance, and therefore will not generate the grayscale contrast.

The transparent conductive film is a film having good electrical conductivity, and a high visible light transmittance. The transparent conductive film has been widely used in flat panel displays, photovoltaic devices, touch panels and electromagnetic shielding, and other fields, having a very broad market space.
ITO has dominated the market of the transparent conductive film. However, in most practical applications such as a touch screen, production processes including exposure, development, etching, cleaning, and so on, need to be carried out to make the transparent conductive film patterned, i.e. a fixed conductive region and an insulating region are formed on the surface of the substrate based on the patterned design. In comparison, forming a metal grid directly on a specified region of the substrate by means of the printing method can eliminate the need for a patterned process, and has such advantages as low pollution and low cost. The grid line is made of a metal having good electrical conductivity and which is impenetrable to light, with the line width below resolution of the human eye; a region without lines is a light transmitting region. The surface square resistance and light transmittance of the transparent conductive film can be controlled within a certain range by changing width and grid shape of the lines.
Japanese companies, Dai Nippon Printing, Fuji Film and Gunze, and German company, PolyIC all use the printing method and obtain the patterned transparent conductive film having excellent properties. Wherein the graph obtained by PolyIC has a resolution of 15 um, a surface square resistance of 0.4-1 Ω/sq, and a light transmittance greater than 80%.
The above metal grid film is generally designed according to graphs, with the metal grid of a regular shape laid in the conductive region; however, the insulating region is blank.
In the prior art of preparing the patterned transparent conductive film, compared with the traditional ITO film, forming the metal grid directly in the specified region of the flexible substrate material by means of a printing method or a silver salt method can eliminate the need for a patterned process, and has such advantages as low pollution and low cost. However, the existing metal grid is mostly a grid of a regular shape, and may produce obvious Moire stripe in application. Besides, the conductive region of the film has the metal grid, while the insulating region does not, and this transmittance difference may make users vaguely see the graphs in the conductive region, thus affecting the overall appearance.
Therefore, the prior art has the following defects:
The Moire stripe phenomenon: the conductive region of the film is a grid having an irregular shape, and attaching this transparent conductive film to the surface of LCD may cause obvious Moire stripe, which influences the visual effect. This is because the LCD pixel unit is a rectangular unit having an irregular shape, and between the pixels are black lines that have a regular shape and a periodic distribution. However, the periodic opaque lines of the conductive film may form a periodic shelter with the black lines of LCD, which further macroscopically appear to be the Moire stripe phenomenon. In addition, due to the same principle, the significant Moire stripe can also be produced through lamination of two pieces of the regular grid conductive film. This phenomenon undoubtedly severely restricts application of the patterned transparent conductive film based on the metal grid.
Transmittance difference: The conductive region of the film has the metal grid, whose transmittance will be attenuated following the shading ratio of the grid lines; while the insulating region does not have the grid lines, and therefore the transmittance of this region is certainly greater than that of the conductive region. When applied to the display field, this transmittance difference may make users vaguely see the graphs in the conductive region, thus affecting the overall appearance.

Patterned transparent conductive film based on random grid


A display system having a holding member which includes a stopping member and a retaining groove. The display system further comprises a display panel having a lip that may securely attach the display panel to the holding member.

This invention relates generally to a display device and more specifically to a display system having a display panel that can securely engage a display shelf.
Display systems have been developed in the past to exhibit a wide variety of advertising in merchandise outlets such as supermarkets and the like. In-store merchandising systems have often included C-channels on steel merchandise shelves that accommodate either labels or sign holders. The varying sizes of the C-channels result in the labels and sign holders becoming displaced or not fitting properly. To overcome this problem and effectively secure the labels or sign holders, it is often necessary to force the label into the C-channel or glue the label to the channel. This results in problems when the labels have to be removed from the channel once labels are no longer required.
Prior art display systems have been devised to address the aforenoted problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,833 issued on Dec. 12, 1995 to Ostrovsky, relates to a clip-on label holder and cover. The clip-on label holder may be inserted into a price ticket channel member of a shelf. The cover comprises an elongate clear plastic strip, having a clear plastic display panel and an integral clip.
Harnois et al. is the owner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,066 which issued on May 30, 1995. This patent relates to a card holder extrusion mounted on a conventional card holder located in front of a shelf.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,793 issued to Gebka et al. on Feb. 6, 1996. This patent relates to an extruded plastic price channel which can be fitted into a C-channel at the front of a merchandise shelf to provide a mounting for merchandise labelling.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,307 was issued on Oct. 17, 1995 to Gebka. This patent relates to a ribbed plastic price channel for use on a product display shelf to receive product labels. The ribbed plastic price channel has a high friction coating on the ribs to reduce the tendency for an inserted label to slide along the channel and out a position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,182 was issued on Feb. 26, 1991 to Fast. A sign holder is disclosed for use in attaching label cards or other signs in prominent positions. The sign holder may project from a front edge of supermarket and like product display shelves.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,064 was issued on Dec. 10, 1985 to Thompson. This patent relates to a plastic display card holder for receiving and gripping a card for display purposes and comprises of interconnected spaced-apart parallel wall portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,418 was issued on May 24, 1983 to Alley. This patent relates to a shelf display and is constructed for vertical elastic mounting of a product information member between upper and lower shelves.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,818 was issued on Jun. 24, 1980 to Butcher. This patent relates to a display device for displaying two similar articles on a store shelf. The display device has a base portion which includes a flat sheet adapted to overlie a shelf which is generally horizontal. A flexible sign holder is connected to the front of the flat sheet and extends forwardly and downwardly therefrom for containing pricing information.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,698 was issued on Nov. 4, 1997 to Bevins. This patent relates to a plastic sign holder and is designed to fit into C-channels of different heights along front edges of respective merchandise display shelves. The holder is a plastic sheet with downwardly folded flaps of different heights at the top and bottom edges. The flaps are adapted to the heights of the respective channels so that the holder can be reversed for selective use in either channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,739 was issued on Jul. 13, 1982 to Greenberger. This patent relates to a display device which is adapted for use in conjunction with conventional shelf moldings. The sign includes a first portion which snaps within the molding and a second portion which extends therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,803 was issued on Dec. 27, 1994 to Kump. This patent relates to a holder for planar or sheet material includes a first panel, a second panel and a hinge along which an edge of the first panel is secured to an edge of the second panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,813 was issued on Nov. 10, 1987 to Fast. This patent relates to a multipurpose display card holder that is formed from a rectangular blank of plastic sheet. The blank is divided by three transverse crease lines into four contiguous panels namely a base forming panel at one end of the blank, a first card holder panel adjacent the base forming panel, a bridging panel adjacent the first card holder panel and a second card holder panel adjacent the bridging panel at the other end of the blank.
Thus a display system which provides an easy and secure way of attaching and detaching a display panel to a merchandise display shelf without the need for a C-channel or fasteners is desirable.
An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved display system.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display system comprising of a holding means having at least two panels, a stopping member and a retaining grove. The display system may further comprise of a display means having a locking member wherein the locking member fits securely into the retaining groove, and the stopping member prevents the display means from being dislodged.
Preferably, the holding means may be further defined by three panels, wherein the three panels are oriented into a Z-shape. The holding means may also be defined with two panels, a front panel and a back panel that are associated with one another so that the display means may fit securely between the two panels.
Conveniently, the stopping member may be further defined as an angled rib and the display means may be defined as a folded display panel having a front edge and a back edge. Preferably the locking member may be a lip located on the back edge of the folded display panel.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for removably mounting a display system having a Z-shaped holding means which may have a stopping member and retaining groove and a display means which may have a locking member. The method requires attaching the Z-shaped holding means to a display shelf, and then attaching the display means to the Z-shaped member wherein the locking member snaps into the retaining groove and the stopping member holds the display means in an attached position.


A package is provided for an integrated circuit comprising a combined heat dissipating and electromagnetic shielding structure. Conveniently, the heat dissipation and shielding structure is a laminated composite structure including layers of several materials having complementary characteristics to provide high magnetic permeability, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. For example, a sandwich structure of layers of copper/Kovar.TM./copper is effective in dissipating heat and reducing electromagnetic emission from ASICs for telecommunications applications, each dissipating in excess of 2 Watts. Preferably a substrate of the package includes a conductive die attach pad which may be grounded to bring a ground plane close to the integrated circuit. The composite electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipation structure is grounded to improve attenuation of radiated electromagnetic emission from the chip. The electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipation structure is applicable for packages for individual IC chips and for multi-chip modules.

Conventionally, an integrated circuit package provides for electrical connections from an integrated circuit chip to external conductors and for protection of the chip from the external environment. Additionally, management of electromagnetic emission and thermal dissipation are increasingly important considerations in the development of improved packaging for integrated circuit chips.
Large integrated circuits, for example, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) used in telecommunications and other applications, may dissipate powers in excess of several Watts. Consequently, it may be necessary to provide an integrated circuit package with a heat sink. Conventionally a heat sink for a packaged integrated circuit may be provided by mounting the chip in thermal contact with a slug of thermally conductive metal or alloy having an exposed surface for dissipation of heat. Where greater heat dissipation is required, a heat sink may be provided with fins extending laterally of the package, to increase the exposed surface area for heat dissipation. However, the latter structure, of course, adds considerably to the size of the package.
To prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) from unwanted radiated emissions generated by integrated circuits in electronic equipment, electromagnetic shielding of electronic systems may be required to meet various regulatory standards. Addition of shielding to meet increasingly stringent international regulations and standards for controlling electromagnetic interference (EMI), e.g. FCC requirements, may add significant cost to a system.
Typically, materials having characteristics suitable for application as a heat sink, i.e. good thermal conductivity, do not also have the characteristics required for electromagnetic shielding. With the continued drive towards reducing the dimensions of integrated circuit packages, conventional packaging techniques are severely challenged in providing both effective heat dissipation or control of electromagnetic interference in a readily manufacturable and reliable package.
The present invention seeks to provide an integrated circuit package with improved thermal management and control of electromagnetic interference.

Integrated circuit package and assembly thereof for thermal and EMI management


A vehicle side air bag assembly (16) includes a resilient bolster (17) that is located on or adjacent one lateral side of a vehicle seat back. The bolster (17) includes a frame (22) supporting a foam pad (30) within a trim (32) having a release seam (34). Deployment of an air bag module(36) the bolster (17) is controlled by an air bag guide (42) which has a pair of flexible panels (44, 46). One flexible panel (44) has an outer extremity including a first connection (50) to the bolster and the other flexible panel (46) has an outer extremity including a second connection (54) to the trim cover in a spaced relationship from the first connection.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vehicle seat side air bag assembly for providing vehicle occupant protection.
2. Background Art
Vehicles have previously included seat side air bag assemblies mounted on a vehicle seat back or on a vehicle adjacent a seat back to provide vehicle occupant protection. Such side air bag assemblies conventionally include a resilient bolster having a frame, a foam pad mounted by the frame, and a trim cover that covers the foam pad and has an air bag release seam through which an air bag upon deployment Is projected outwardly to provide occupant protection. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,610 Higashiura et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,673 Hasegawa et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,232 Kalandek et al. Different constructions have been utilized to permit passage of the air bag past foam seat padding when inflated by an inflator for movement from within the seat component outwardly through the trim cover release seam. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,151 Wu discloses a seat pad having a slot through which the air bag moves from an air bag module to the release seam and also discloses a cloth sleeve that extends entirely about the associated air bag module and to the release seam. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,934 Harrell et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,838 Dick, Jr. et al., both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, disclose air bag modules wherein the air bag module is located closely adjacent to the release seam to facilitate the air bag deployment. Other references noted by an investigation conducted in connection with the present invention include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,030 Hill et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,582 Nakano; U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,063 Harrell; U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,466 Komatsu; U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,122 Wu et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,580 Lachat et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,078 Lutz et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,528 Suezawa et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,744 Melia; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,496 Bossecker et al.; and United States Patent Application Publications: US 2002/0130537 Lotspih; US2 005/0006933 Bargheer et al.; and US 2006/0066078 Hofmann.


A rear projection screen is described, which comprises an optically transparent plate, a first surface of which is provided with a structure of juxtaposed cylindrical lenses which extend in a first direction and a second, opposite surface intended to be directed towards an audience space is provided with strips of a light-absorbing material. These strips also extend in the first direction. On the second surface the plate comprises diffusing means which are formed by a single element by means of a hologram, which element diffuses the light simultaneously in the first direction at a first angle and in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, at a second angle, the first and the second angle being different from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rear projection screen comprising an optically transparent plate having a first surface which is provided with a structure of juxtaposed cylindrical lenses extending in a first direction and, arranged opposite thereto, a second surface which is intended to be directed towards an audience space and is provided with first, light-absorbing strips also extending in the first direction, said plate comprising diffusing means on the second surface.
The invention also relates to an image projection device comprising such a rear projection screen and to a method of manufacturing such a screen.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
When projecting an image in an audience space, the aim is to give the image formed on a projection screen a homogeneous and large brightness in a limited part of the audience space, viz. only in the space where the audience is present. In this way the available radiation energy can be optimally utilized for the image observed by the audience. The part where the audience is present is, however, a relatively limited part and has different dimensions in the vertical and horizontal directions. In the horizontal direction the viewing angle should be as large as possible, whereas the vertical viewing angle is generally much smaller. To realise the different viewing angles, the image projection screen may be provided with means which ensure a horizontal spread and means which ensure a vertical spread of the light.
A rear projection screen of the type described in the opening paragraph is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,032. The projection screen described in this Patent has a structure of juxtaposed cylindrical lenses extending in the vertical direction on the surface facing the projector. The cylindrical lenses focus the signal light from the projector into focal lines on the surface directed towards the audience space. The surface directed towards the audience space is provided with first strips of light-absorbing material outside the focal lines formed by the lens structure and ensures the spread of light in the horizontal direction. Since the signal light is concentrated by the cylindrical lenses in the spaces between the light-absorbing strips, this light is thus substantially not subjected to absorption by the strips, while a large part of the ambient light in the audience space is absorbed by these strips and is thus suppressed. An image having a considerably high contrast can be realised in this way.
The surface directed towards the audience space is roughened in the areas between the strips of light-absorbing material in order to diffuse the incident light from the lens structure into the audience space. This is realised by providing a large number of scratches or microgrooves parallel to each other. Dependent on the orientation of the longitudinal axes of the grooves, there is diffusion in the horizontal and the vertical direction so that the spread in the horizontal direction is ensured by the combination of the lens structure and the grooves, while the spread in the vertical direction is ensured by the grooves only. However, U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,032 explicitly prefers orientation of the grooves in such a way that light is predominantly diffused in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the lens structure diffuses light, notably in the vertical direction.
A drawback of the known projection screen is that two separate elements are required for the desired spread of light in the horizontal and vertical directions, which elements must diffuse light through different angles if a screen is desired whose diffusion has a given asymmetry
Since the grooves are provided by means of sandblasting in the known screen, it is further relatively difficult to accurately adjust the diffusion angle of the grooves. In fact, the diffusion angle is determined by the orientation of the plate to be sandblasted with respect to the jet with which sandblasting is carried out. Moreover, the vertical direction, i.e. the direction in which the grooves diffuse, is exactly that direction in which it is most important to control the diffusion so as to obtain an optimum radiation distribution in the audience space.
It is to be noted that diffusers in the form of spherical particles are known which ensure diffusion of light simultaneously in the horizontal and vertical directions. However, this has the drawback that the diffusion is circularly symmetrical so that extra measures will still have to be taken when a different viewing angle in the vertical and horizontal direction is desired.


This invention provides for a chamber and system designed for use in assaying drug effects on heart rate. The chamber consists of a series of wells. Cardiac myocytes disaggregated from neonatal animals are plated onto the bottom of each well and grown under standard tissue culture conditions. When drugs are to be assayed, the cells in each well are loaded with a calcium sensitive dye and the beating rate in each is monitored with a photodiode. A drug is added in graded concentrations to each well, and equilibrated and effects on rate are observed. This construct permits use of a cell based bioassay for the study of drugs or agents that may alter cardiac rate. This invention can be used in high throughput screening of drugs to evaluate/predict their effects on cardiac rate and rhythm.

The present invention relates to a high throughput biological heart rate monitor that is molecularly determined.
Throughout this application, various publications are referenced to by numbers. Full citations for these publications may be found at the end of the specification immediately preceding the claims. The disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to those skilled therein as of the date of the invention described and claimed herein.
The pacemaker current, If, is present in both automatic (1) and non-automatic (2–6) regions of the heart. Further, the threshold voltage of activation varies widely among cardiac regions, being least negative in the sinus node (e.g. in rabbit sinus node it is −40 mV (7)) and most negative in the ventricle (−108 mV or more negative, depending on species (5,8,9). Interestingly, the current activates at less negative voltages in the newborn ventricle (approximately −70 mV in rat (8,10)) and the diseased adult ventricle (approximately −70 mV threshold in aged hypertensive rat (11), −55 mV in failing human ventricle (12)). The molecular and cellular bases for the regional variability of activation voltages in the normal adult heart and the regulation of ventricular activation voltage by development and disease remain to be determined, but such understanding is critical to any future therapeutic application of the expressed current in myocardium. There is a need for a reliable, high-throughput, cell based assay of drugs affecting cardiac pacemaker current (If) and/or rate. Currently, only low throughput screens involving isolated tissue, intact animal or cell-culture systems exist. The isolated tissue and intact animal system are relatively expensive and can do at best 10's of data points in a day. The cell-culture systems incorporate cells that do not beat regularly and are not uniquely based on the normal cardiac pacemaker current. Although throughput is higher, it is generally in the range of 10's of points a day. In contrast, the present invention is based on the function of the normal pacemaker current and is potentially able to screen as many as 10,000 to 100,000 compounds per month.

High throughput biological heart rate monitor that is molecularly determined

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York

Research Foundation of State University of New York


The present invention relates to a composition and method for forming a high thermal conductivity polybenzoxazine-based material. The composition comprises at least one benzoxazine resin and a filler material which includes particles of boron nitride in an amount sufficient to establish a thermal conductivity of between about 3 W/mK and 37 W/mK in the polybenzoxazine-based material.

Molding compositions are useful in the electronics industry to encapsulate electrical components so as to protect them from electrical and environmental damage. However if the thermal conductivity of the composition is too low the encapsulant may itself be detrimental in that it may act as a heat barrier and cause the temperature of the electrical components to rise above the temperature reliability specifications for the components. This will shorten the useful life of the encapsulated electrical components particularly for components such as semiconductors. The heat dissipation problem in microelectronics is becoming increasingly important as the demands for denser and faster circuits intensify. Polymer compounds with high thermal conductivity are also useful for other products such as computer cases, battery cases, electronic controller housings and for other encasements where heat removal is an important consideration.
Conventional molding compositions include epoxy based polymers filled with fused or crystalline silica. Silica is the predominant filler presently used in thermal molding compounds due to its low cost, low thermal expansion, and low electrical conductivity. However, both types of silica are poor thermal conductors independent of the polymer in which the silica is filled. Other filler materials have also been investigated including ceramic fillers such as aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride and boron nitride. To date the maximum thermal conductivity for commercially available materials remains substantially below about 5 W/mK independent of filler material and/or epoxy resin formulation. In fact most commercially available molding compounds presently used in plastic microelectronic packaging typically have thermal conductivity values around 0.7 W/mK. Higher thermal conductivities have been reported in the literature such as for example in the 1988 IEEE by Bujard entitled Thermal Conductivity of Boron Nitride filled Epoxy Resins: Temperature Dependence and Influence of Sample Preparation in which a formulation of alumina loaded bisphenol-F epoxy resin is reported having a thermal conductivity of up to 4.5 W/mK.
Boron nitride is a known substitute for fused silica (SiO.sub.2) to provide low thermal expansion and high electrical resistivity. Boron nitride as well as aluminum nitride and aluminum oxide should theoretically provide a thermal conductivity higher than fused silica at high loading concentrations. However, to date the highest loading attainable for a boron nitride filler in an epoxy resin has been between about 65 to 75 wt. % and then only when additives and/or modifiers are included to improve the flow characteristics of the compound. Additives and modifiers increase cost and may affect other properties such as strength. In this regard boron nitride epoxy formulations have been reported with thermal conductivities in the range of 5 W/mK and up to 13 W/mK using additives to increase the ease of processing.

Composition for forming high thermal conductivity polybenzoxazine-based material and method


A steering system in a vehicle includes a plurality of subsystems provided with a control unit. The control unit includes a storage unit storing steer angle information regarding a steer angle of one of a steering mechanism and a steered mechanism when the steering mechanism or the steered mechanism stops, an abnormality determiner determining abnormality of the motor rotation detection value and the detection circuit in the plurality of subsystems at a start time of a motor based on a comparison of at least two parameters, and a steer angle calculator calculating the steer angle based on the parameters having been determined by the abnormality determiner as not abnormal.

The related art discloses a technique related to diagnosis of a steer angle detection unit in a steering system that performs power steering by using a motor. In this technique, when a clutch device is in a connected state at an ignition OFF time of a vehicle, a steering angle involving a rotation of a steering wheel and a turning angle involving a tire orientation, which includes the way a tire is oriented, respectively detected by the steer angle detection unit are stored. Then, the steer angle detection unit may be considered as abnormal if the steering angle and the turning angle detected at a next start time (e.g., ignition ON time) of the vehicle does not match with a relationship between the steering angle and the turning angle stored at a previous start time.
In order to perform power steering by using a motor, calculation accuracy of a steer angle including a steering angle of a steering wheel and a turning angle of a front wheel, for example, needs to be guaranteed for matching of the steering angle with the turning angle.
On the other hand, when it is determined that an angle sensor is abnormal and the steer angle (i.e., either the steering angle or the turning angle) cannot be calculated, there is a concern that the motor control is hindered. That is, a redundant configuration is required for the calculation of the steer angle (i.e., for the calculation of the steering angle and/or the turning angle).


A mechanical interlock for securing a cover to a housing may include a cover latch coupled to a wall of a housing, and a spring biasing the cover latch in a first direction and coupled between the wall of the housing and the cover latch. The mechanical interlock may further include an arm coupled to the cover latch at a first end of the arm, and an electrical socket aperture defined within the wall of the housing juxtaposed to a second end of the arm. When the cover latch is returned to the first position via the spring after the cover is removed from the housing, the arm permits for the electrical cord to interface with the electrical socket.

Computing devices have become ubiquitous throughout the world for use in a large portion of an individual's life. The various components of a computing device may be contained within a housing that keeps contaminants out of contact with the components, helps ensure that the components are not damaged by a user, and helps ensure that a user is not hurt by the electrical components by, for example, electrical shock or other energy hazard.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention relates to a turbomachine rotor balancing system comprising a balancing flange (52) provided with through-passageways (78), the system further comprising balance weights (54) each mounted fixedly on the flange (52) by means of a first and a second screw/nut assembly (56a, 56b) having a first and a second screw (84, 84) passing through a first and a second passageway (78, 78). According to the invention, said first screw is pressing against a first tangential end side (116) of the first through-passageway, and at a distance from a second tangential end side, and the second screw is pressing against a second tangential end side (118) of the second through-passageway, and at a distance from the first tangential end side.

The present invention relates in a general manner to a turbomachine rotor balancing system and to a turbomachine module comprising at least one such balancing system.
The invention also relates to a turbomachine fitted with at least one such module, the turbomachine preferably taking the form of a turbojet for an aircraft.


An image size conversion apparatus and an image size conversion method are provided. The image size conversion apparatus includes an area detector which detects an interested area having a certain image distinguished over a general image from an input image, a scale ratio adjustor which adjusts a scale ratio for the interested area detected by the area detector, and a scaler to perform scaling for the input image according to the adjusted scale ratio. Accordingly, the scale ratio can be adjusted according to features of the input image so that an image without distortion can be displayed on a screen.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to adaptive image size conversion, and more particularly, to adaptive image size conversion which adjusts an image size conversion rate according to features of image data to display the converted image on a screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an image display device such as a television includes an image size conversion function such as 4:3 mode, 16:9 mode, panorama mode, enlargement 1 mode and enlargement 2 mode, and a user can adjust necessary modes to display the converted images on a screen.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of a conventional image size conversion apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional image size conversion apparatus includes a location detector 10, a scale ratio adjustor 12 and a scaler 14.
The location detector 10 detects information on a location of the present pixel in an input frame or field (Fn). The scale ratio adjustor 12 adjusts the scale ratio referring to the location information detected by the location detector 10. In detail, the scale ratio adjustor 12 adjusts the scale ratio to convert a size of the present pixel according to set modes. The scaler 14 changes the size of the frame or field (Fn) that is input according to the adjusted scale ratio.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of setting the scale ratio of a conventional image size conversion apparatus, and FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of image size conversion results of a conventional image size conversion apparatus.
The scale ratio of FIG. 2 is exemplified as a panorama. The panorama refers to a screen in which a central area A containing main characters or main scenes is not enlarged but only side areas B and C are enlarged, to naturally show an image generated by 4:3 ratio on a 16:9 screen. If an image is enlarged to a panorama size, a face area 22 or a letter area 24 included in the enlarged image is displayed on a screen 20 as distorted as shown FIGS. 3A and 3B.
Recently, lots of additional information is displayed on an image display device such as a television, using graphics or letters as well as an image. The graphics and letters may have an influence on readability if the scale ratio is not constant as the panorama of FIG. 2 when the image size is changed.
In detail, in case of letters transmitted through a ticker that moves at a constant speed and direction, the enlargement ratios between letters displayed on the central area A and the side areas B and C are different so that a user has a difficulty in reading letters.
Additionally, since human eyes can sensitively recognize a skin tone such as a face, the distortion is more significantly displayed in comparison with a general image if the face is displayed not on the central area A but on the side areas B and C. In case of graphics, since a luminance or a color is significantly changed, the distortion is more greatly displayed in comparison with a general image.

Adaptive image size conversion apparatus and method thereof


A rotor-regulation system includes a rotor comprising a plurality of blades, a mechanically driven hydraulic pump, a rotor drive shaft operable to drive the rotor and the mechanically driven hydraulic pump, and a throttling valve coupled to the mechanically driven hydraulic pump and operable to modulate rotation of the rotor.

This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light and not as admissions of prior art.
Rotor indexing of rotorcraft is a term used to describe turning of rotor blades to a predetermined azimuthal position. Rotor indexing is not uncommon in rotorcraft on the ground, such as, for example, the Bell V-22 OSPREY VTOL rotorcraft, in which rotor indexing is part of a rotor-blade fold and wing-stow sequence.
However, rotor indexing while the rotorcraft is in wing-borne flight presents particular challenges. For example, early attempts at in-flight indexing used a system in which a peg was dropped in a hole of a rotor system to stop and position the rotor. This approach generated high-impact loads to the rotor system that could cause structural issues such as fatigue and limited component life.

Method and system for regulation of speed and position of a rotor in wing-borne flight


A pair of batting gloves comprises a dominant hand glove and an off hand glove wherein the dominant hand glove includes padding which covers the entire length of the thumb, the knuckles of the fingers, the center of the back of the dominant hand, and the juncture between the thumb and forefinger. The off hand glove lacks the web pad which covers the juncture between the thumb and forefinger and the thumb tip is exposed to provide a better grip on the bat.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a modified batting glove which includes extra padding to protect a batter's hands.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Objectives of the Invention
Batting gloves are well known and understood in the art. Unfortunately, conventional batting gloves provide little protection for the batter's hands. Fast balls striking a batter's hands may inflict serious injury. While experienced batters may move out of the way of misthrown balls, individuals learning to bat may not realize that the ball has been misthrown and thus not move their hands resulting in injury as the ball strikes their hands. Even the greatest batters in the world may be subject to injury, especially because they must face the greatest pitchers in the world who sometimes throw inside and at the hands in an unexpected manner.
Thus, with the above concern in mind,. it is an objective of the present invention to provide gloves similar to a modern ski glove, although made with a more rigid and jointed foam, rather than a soft one-piece foam, which protect the hands of a batter as he learns to bat.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a pair of gloves, one of which includes padding over the webbing between the thumb and forefinger of the dominant hand.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a pair of gloves with padding covering the fingers that has been molded to allow easy finger motility.
These and other objectives and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing figures.


A hearing aid comprising a case (1) and a horn (2) connectable to the case. The hearing aid also includes an acoustic input aperture and an acoustic output aperture (4). The horn (2) is rotatably supported in the case (1), and a detachable lid (3) is released by rotating the horn (2) from an operational hearing-aid position into a servicing position. In this manner, the lid (3) is simply removed from and/or inserted into the horn. The lid covers as well as forms the acoustic input aperture.

A person wears a hearing aid to improve his/her impaired hearing. Acoustic signals from the environment are received through an input aperture in the hearing-aid case into the hearing aid proper, wherein the signals are processed according to the said impairment. The processed signal is then fed through a so-called acoustic duct and through an output aperture into the inner ear. Such hearing aids, when used daily, will soil and the soiling will partly affect the acoustic behavior of the elements of acoustic-wave carriers. As a result of the change in the acoustic behavior, the actual function of the hearing aid can be implemented only in a restricted way.
Accordingly, proposals have been advanced to fit the acoustic input and output apertures with a protective element to prevent soiling penetration. Reference is made in this regard to the European patent document 0,847,227 A. When the protective elements are soiled to some extent, they must be replaced by new ones to restore the hearing-aid function to its optimal condition.
However, as regards the known hearing aids, exchanging the protective elements is fairly laborious and complex. Frequently, substantial hearing-aid parts, such as a full horn, must be replaced because the lids are bonded to this horn.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a hearing aid that has simple and reliably replaceable protective elements.
The present invention is directed toward a hearing aid that allows simple and reliable exchange of protective elements.
The present invention offers several advantages. The horn is rotatably supported inside the hearing-aid case. The lid is freed, by rotating the horn from a hearing-aid operational position into a hearing-aid servicing position. The lid, which covers and forms an acoustic input aperture, can be exchanged in a simple and rapid manner. Advantageously, the lid is in the shape of a wedge, partly interrupted by a guide slot, and preferably is made of an open-pore material.


Techniques for determining a location-based on-chip variation factor for an integrated circuit device are provided. A first on-chip variation factor is computed for at least one of two or more signal paths of the integrated circuit device. The first on-chip variation factor is a function of a timing delay. A second on-chip variation factor is also computed for the integrated circuit device. The second on-chip variation factor is a function of a physical layout of the integrated circuit device. The first on-chip variation factor and the second on-chip variation factor are combined for the at least one of the two or more signal paths to determine a location-based on-chip variation factor for the at least one of the two or more signal paths.

Signal speeds associated with integrated circuit devices may be subject to both inter-chip variation and on-chip variation. Inter-chip variation, or differing speeds among integrated circuit devices in a system, has been a noted concern in the integrated circuit industry. As a result, various techniques have been developed for determining and compensating for inter-chip variation. However, on-chip variation (OCV), or differing signal path speeds in an individual integrated circuit device, is a relatively new concern for application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) vendors and fabricators.
In order to determine OCV of signal paths of an integrated circuit device, simulated timing delays of the signal paths may be modeled with the use of a timing analysis tool. OCV typically results from both cell and wire delays of the integrated circuit device, however, an integrated circuit device may produce wire delays that are less than 1% of the critical path delay. This percentage of the critical path delay may be determined by a simple script running over timing path reports. Thus, OCV determination techniques may ignore the portion of OCV that is attributable to wire delay.
In modeling signal path delays, ASIC vendors and fabricators typically provide "worst-case fast" and "worst-case slow" simulated timing delay models. For example, cells in a signal path will never be faster than the worst-case fast model, or slower than the worst-case slow model. The determined OCV factor may be added to a signal path of the integrated circuit device in various ways, which are known to those skilled in the art.
As the size and complexity of an integrated circuit device increases, the resulting magnitude of OCV also increases. For example, a 20×20 millimeter chip with 5000 cell rows has an increased chance of having cells in the integrated circuit device operating at different speeds. A larger chip also has an increased chance of its signal paths being affected by process, voltage, temperature (PVT) factors, which may vary across the surface of an integrated circuit device.
Process variation may be caused by the optical proximity effect, which occurs during optical lithography and results in systematic line width variations across the chip. Process variation may also be caused by aberrations in the optical system of the wafer stepper. Process variation also has two main effects: variation in the effective gate length, and variations in wire resistivity and geometry. These effects thereby result in changes in the speed of a signal path. Regarding voltage variation across a chip surface, static voltage drop (IR drop) is commonly modeled in the industry, for example, using a software program known as Astro-Rail™, commercially available from Synopsis, Inc., California, USA. However, voltage and process variation are complex, and remain a domain for specialists in the integrated circuit industry. See, for example, D. Chinnery et al., "Closing the Gap between ASIC and Custom," Kluwer, 2002. Furthermore, real data about the size of PVT factors is often proprietary, hard to come by, or both.
Commonly, in order to determine an OCV factor for each signal path, the timing analysis tool is run at a single worst case PVT point. However, due to the fact that PVT factors vary across the integrated circuit device, using an OCV factor computed from a single PVT point is unduly pessimistic, and can significantly increase project time, and thus development costs. Much of the delay resulting in OCV depends on the distances between the cells involved; for example, there is less of a delay if the cells are close together, more if they are far apart. Assuming a worst case variation of PVT factors for purposes of fabrication, as described above, may lead to signal path delays large enough to seriously disrupt an ASIC project schedule.
Thus, a need exists for improved techniques for determining an OCV factor that takes into account the effects of varying PVT factors across the surface of the integrated circuit device.

Methods and apparatus for determining location-based on-chip variation factor