The invention relates to a combination of compounds and a process using such combination useful for reducing or preventing coke formation in thermal cracking furnaces such as ethylene steam crackers. The combination is comprised of one or more compound of the formula R—Sx—R′ and one or more compound selected from the following group: R1R2CS3; R1R2C═CR3R4; RSH; R1SxR2; R1R2CH2; R1R2R3R4(C4S); and R1R2R3R4R5R6Si2O.

In the production of olefins, ethylene in particular, a typical hydrocarbon stream like ethane, propane, butane, naphtha and gas oil, is pyrolyzed at high temperatures in a thermal furnace. The product is a mixture of olefins which are separated downstream. In the production of ethylene, typically water is co-injected with the hydrocarbon feed to act as a heat transfer medium and as a promoter of coke gasification. Typically, a minor but technologically important byproduct of hydrocarbon steam cracking is coke. Steam from the water co-injected reacts with the coke to convert it partially to carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Because of the accumulative nature, coke deposits build up on the reactor walls thus increasing both the tube temperatures and the pressure drop across the tube. This requires shutting down the process for decoking. This periodic shutdown results in an estimated $2 billion in lost ethylene production per year. In addition there is a direct relationship between the amount of coking and the yield of the olefin, indicating that the coke is formed at the expense of product olefin.
It is common practice in commercial ethylene production to co-inject along with the hydrocarbons, small amounts of sulfur containing compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), dimethyl sulfide (DMS) or dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) to minimize coke formation. It has been proposed that the sulfur passivates the active metal surface known to be a catalyst for coke formation. In addition, the sulfur compounds are known to reduce the formation of carbon monoxide (CO), formed by the reaction of hydrocarbons or coke with steam, again by passivating the catalytic action of the metal surface and by catalyzing the water gas shift reaction which converts the CO to carbon dioxide (CO2). Minimizing the amount of CO formed is essential for the proper functioning of downstream reduction operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,087 discloses that pretreating cracking tubes with compositions containing tin (Sn) compounds, antimony (Sb) and germanium (Ge) reduces the rate of coke formation, during the thermal cracking of hydrocarbons.
Combinations of Sn, Sb and Si are disclosed to do the same in U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,234.
Mixtures of chromium and antimony compounds, chromium and tin compositions, and antimony and chromium compositions have also been claimed to reduce coke formation, as measured by a time weighted CO selectivity index (U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,196).
Several phosphorous and sulfur compound combinations are disclosed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,943) with Sn and Sb compounds (U.S. Pats. Nos. 4,551,227; 5,565,087 and 5,616,236), for decreasing the coke formed in hydrocarbon pyrolysis furnaces.
In general, U.S. Pats. Nos. 4,507,196; 4,511,405; 4,552,643; 4,613,372; 4,666,583; 4,686,201; 4,687,567; 4,804,487; and 5,015,358, teach that the metals Sn, Ti, Sb, Ga, Ge, Si, In, Al, Cu, P, and Cr, their inorganic and organic derivatives, individually or as mixtures will function as antifoulants for the reduction of coke during hydrocarbon pyrolysis.
Phosphoric acid and phosphorous acid mono and di-esters or their amine salts, when mixed with the feed to be cracked, for example, ethane, showed a significant increase in run lengths compared to an operation performed without the additives (U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,540).
Pretreating furnace tubes at high temperature with aromatic compounds such as substituted benzenes, naphthalenes and phenanthrenes, prior to introduction of the cracking feed has been shown to reduce catalytic coke formation (U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,438). Cracking a heavy hydrocarbon, preferably a higher olefin stream prior to bringing on the lower hydrocarbons, has been shown to reduce coking (U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,480). In both cases, a thin layer of catalytically inactive coke formed on the tube surface is claimed to inhibit the propagation of coke formation.
Several patents disclose the use of various Si compounds to lay down a ceramic layer on metal tubes and thus reduce the coke formed in pyrolysis. Compounds such as siloxanes, silanes and silazanes have been used to deposit a silica layer on the metal alloy tubes (U.S. Pats. Nos. 5,424,095; 5,413,813; and 5,208,069). Silicates have been independently claimed to do the same in patent GB 1552284. In almost all of the examples the coke minimization is of catalytic coke, formed mainly during the early stages of pyrolysis. A patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,192), teaches the use of a silicon compound and a sulfur compound as a mixture that contains Si/S ratio of 1/1 to 5/1 to mitigate coke formation.
Another approach to reduce coking is to passivate the active metal surface of pyrolysis tubes by forming a surface alloy, comprising metals/oxides of metals that are known to not catalyze coke formation. High Temperature Alloys (HTA) are a group of austenitic stainless steels used in industrial processes operating at elevated temperatures above 650° C. These typically contain 118-38% Cr, 18-48% Ni, with the balance being Fe and alloying additives. Iron and nickel are known catalysts for the formation of filamentous carbon during ethylene production and hydrocarbon pyrolysis in general. An oxide layer of chromium or aluminum on the other hand are known to be inhibitors of catalytic coke formation and thus are used to protect these alloys. Protection using these oxides have to be carefully engineered so that physical characteristics and properties of the HTA, such as creep resistance, are not compromised and the oxide layer is stable to harsh conditions typically encountered in hydrocarbon pyrolysis. CoatAlloy™ is a surface coating technology for the inside of HTA tubes for use in an ethylene furnace. Cr—Ti—Si and Al—Ti—Si formulated products are coated on a base alloy surface and heat treated to form either a diffusion protective layer only or a diffusion layer and a enrichment pool layer next to it. In both cases, oxidizing gases are passed to activate the layers by formation of alumina and/or chromia along with titania and silica. The treated tubes have been claimed to significantly reduce catalytic coke formation, minimize carburization of the base alloy tubes, exhibit improved erosion resistance and thermal shock resistance (U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,260). The ethane gas stream used to test the effectiveness of the coating contained 25-30 PPM of sulfur. A combination of sulfur containing compounds such as an alkyl mercaptan- or alkyl disulfide and a nitrogen containing compound such as hydroxylamine, hydrazine or amine oxide are disclosed as useful in pretreating or minimizing coke formation in thermal furnaces (U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,232).
Reduction of coking rates on both quartz and Incoloy surfaces by the use of low concentrations of hexachloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6) in the steam used for ethane cracking, have been reported (Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol: 37, 3, 901, 1998). Coke formation rates were reduced although the apparent activation energies increased. The reduced effectiveness of the additive at higher temperatures suggests that the primary impact of the additive was on the surface coke formation process.
The typical previous approaches have involved either metal passivation techniques with various additives like sulfur, silicon, phosphorous, etc., or the use of special alloys which reduce coking. These are surface treatments. The use of phosphorus containing compounds has become problematic due to adverse affects on downstream operations. Similarly, the use of amines and derivatives thereof has become problematic due to the formation of NOx and its impact on downstream operations.
The objective of the present invention was to develop improved technology for reducing the formation of coke in commercial thermal cracking furnaces. Reduced coke levels will translate into higher ethylene yields, longer radiant furnace tube life and reduced downtime for decoking of the unit which allows increased total production.

Compositions to mitigate coke formation in steam cracking of hydrocarbons


According to some embodiments, it may be determined that a first field in a first table is to be linked to a second field in a second table. A computer processor may then automatically create a new entry in a linked field table, the new entry including a linked field identifier, a source value, a source link referring to the second field in the second table, and a link counter containing a value indicating that one field refers to the second field in the second table. The first field in the first table may then be updated to refer to the new entry in the linked field table.

An enterprise may store information in fields of one or more tables or databases. For example, a table might include thousands of rows, with each row being associated with a different employee. Moreover, each row might be associated with a number of fields, or columns, each storing a value. For example, a field in a table might store a telephone number for the associated employee. In some cases, it may be appropriate for one or more fields to be "linked" to another field. For example, a first field might be linked to a second field, referred to as a "source" field, such that when the second field is subsequently updated (e.g., when an employee's telephone number is changed), that update will be automatically reflected in the first field.
Consider, for example, FIG. 1 which provides an illustration 100 of a way of linking fields in tables and/or databases. In particular, a first table 110 includes a linked entry ("ID_101") that refers to a particular source field in a second table 120 (associated with entry "ID_202"). FIG. 1 may be considered a basic or "naïve" implementation of linked fields that simply adds the identifier associated with the source value (including the name of the second table 120) in the value of linked field of the first table 110. Such an approach is similar to a typical memory reference.
Although the implementation illustrated in FIG. 1 is simple, note that each linked field in the first table 110 refers to the source field of the second table 120 using the table name, row identifier, and field name. Therefore, if any of these parameters change, the accurate reference to the source value may be lost. To avoid such a result, the system may need to examine all of the linked fields in the first table 110 and determine whether or not each field needs to be updated. Thus, the system may need to keep track of all the linked fields and associated source fields, which can impose significant overhead in many situations. Moreover, when there is a chain of links (e.g., the second table 120 points to yet another table not illustrated in FIG. 1), the system may need several Structured Query Language ("SQL") queries to access a single field.
FIG. 2 is an illustration 200 of another way of linking fields in tables. In this example, the system implements linked fields by creating a copy of the source value in a second table 220 at every linked field value in a first table 210. This approach may require the system to track all source fields associated linked fields for any update. As a result, a huge overhead may be imposed for every update of a source field in the second table 220 (although the complexity of fetching a value of a linked field may be limited).
Accordingly, methods and mechanisms to efficiently, accurately, and/or automatically support linked fields in tables and/or databases may be provided in accordance with some embodiments described herein.


A binocular telescope mountable on a headgear, which comprises two optical systems, one for each of the user, each system constituting at least an objective lens and an eyelens. The telescope is pivotably attached to the headgear. When the headgear is in position on the user's head, the objective lenses and the eyelenses can be swiveled out of the way to facilitate free and unaided vision, and returned to the position of telescope-aided vision.

The present invention relates to a binocular telescope for short, to a binocular, mountable on a headgear such as a visored cap or a helmet; more particularly to binoculars thus mounted that can be folded out of the way to facilitate free and unaided vision.
Binoculars are widely used in theater, opera and concert performances; in spectator sports, biking, bird-watching and the like. More prolonged use, however, is liable to cause both eye strain because of the unsteadiness of the image caused by hand-held binoculars and physical discomfort due to muscular fatigue of the raised arms.
It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome the above difficulties and to provide a binocular that can be used without the need for support by one's arms and hands, yet is removable from before one's eyes by a flip of one's hands and is as easily returned to the viewing position.


A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.

The exemplary embodiments described herein relate generally to semiconductor devices and methods for the fabrication thereof and, more specifically, to methods for reducing adhesive debonding forces between semiconductor layers and substrates in post-bonding processes.
Optoelectronic devices such as solar cells may incorporate flexible semiconductor layers produced by spalling techniques. In these spalling techniques, a stressor layer is generally used to exfoliate a thin, device-quality, semiconductor layer from a parent semiconductor substrate. This process can be repeated multiple times, limited only by the thickness of the substrate. The thin semiconductor layers (which may be flexible) can be difficult to handle and process.
In some cases, spalling may involve the temporary bonding of a flexible semiconductor layer to a (preferably rigid) low-cost handle substrate and subsequent separation of the flexible semiconductor layer from the handle substrate using ultraviolet (UV) releasable tape or polyimide releasable tape. In such spalling techniques, the bonding method should be compatible with semiconductor layer/handle substrate processing at temperatures as high as 200 to 400 degrees C. The bonding temperature is limited by the maximum temperature which can be handled by the tape (maximum temperature of about 90 degrees C. for UV tape and about 200 degrees C. for polyimide tape) contacting the stressor layer used for spalling.
Bonding using an epoxy adhesive is one type of bonding method. However, post-bonding processes at temperatures higher than the curing temperature of the epoxy may lead to both blister formation and adhesion failure between the impermeable flexible film and the epoxy, an effect attributed to epoxy outgassing.

Methods to reduce debonding forces on flexible semiconductor films disposed on vapor-releasing adhesives

International Business Machines Corporation


A spraying head for the humidification of intake air of a piston engine has a body and channels for supplying a spraying medium from an inlet to nozzles. A shutting/regulating mechanism respectively shuts off/regulates the channels.

The present invention relates to a spraying head as defined in the preamble of claim 1, especially for the humidification of the intake air of a piston engine, said spraying head comprising a body and a channel for the supply of a spraying medium from an inlet to at least one nozzle.
The exhaust gases of piston engines, in particular diesel engines, contain many kinds of noxious combustion products. At the high combustion temperatures, the combustion process in the cylinders of a piston engine produces nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are emitted together with the exhaust gases into the atmosphere. Because of the harmful environmental effects of nitrogen oxide emissions, efforts are undertaken to minimize their production.
As is known, adding water to the combustion process reduces the generation of nitrogen oxides. This phenomenon is based on the cooling effect of water. In practice, the introduction of water into the combustion process is often implemented by injecting water into the intake air. These arrangements are advantageous in respect of efficiency of the engine. The maximum amount of water introduced into the combustion space of the engine may be that amount which will remain in gaseous form in the intake air pressure and temperature conditions.
The object of the invention is to achieve a completely new type of spraying head that allows the intake air to be humidified in a desired manner in different engine load conditions.
Spraying head of the invention is characterized in that the spraying head is provided with at least two channels, each one which forms a separate passage to at least one nozzle.
The spraying head of the invention is additionally characterized by what is stated in claims 2–10.
The solution of the invention has numerous significant advantages. By forming several liquid feed channels in the spraying head, it will be easy to control the amount and/or quality of water to be supplied through the spraying head. By providing the spraying head with nozzles having different properties, the characteristics of the water mist to be injected can be varied in a desired manner by opening and closing the medium channels leading to different nozzles in the spraying head. Installing the spraying head as a complete module is easy as compared with mounting several separate nozzles. In addition, the aiming direction of the nozzles of the spraying head and the distances between them can be easily adjusted to the designed settings. Moreover, the spraying head can be securely mounted in the air intake duct. Using the spraying head of the invention, diverse adjustment possibilities and, when necessary, a good water distribution through the air intake duct are achieved.


A printed circuit board includes a wiring pattern formed on an insulating board according to a predetermined electric circuit, and a cover member covering a portion of the wiring pattern used as a contact, the cover member being formed of an electrically conductive and non-solderable material. Due to the presence of the covering member, the wiring pattern portion is not covered with solder when the printed circuit board is subjected to dip soldering to attach various electric components to the printed circuit board. Since the covering member is electrically conductive, the wiring pattern portion can readily be used as a contact when the dip soldering is completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board having a predetermined wiring pattern corresponding to a desired electric circuit formed by printing, photo-etching, etc. on a board of insulating material, such as a phenolic resin, for supporting thereon various electric components attached by soldering to the printed circuit board via terminal holes provided at predetermined portions of the wiring pattern.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Printed circuit boards are an essential part to make up an electric product. To the printed circuit board, various electric components are attached by soldering. In most cases, the soldering is achieved by using the dip soldering in which all the electric components are soldered at one time to the printed circuit board, with terminals or leads of each electric component stably received in terminal holes in the printed circuit board.
In recent years, downsizing and structural simplification have been a strong desire against products in various fields of art including a device having a printed circuit board.
In the case of the printed circuit board, the downsizing and structural simplification have been achieved by forming a switch assembly using a portion of the wiring pattern forming an electric circuit.
FIGS. 3A through 3C are cross-sectional views showing various forms of conventional switch assemblies each formed by using a portion of a printed circuit board.
The switch assembly shown in FIG. 3A is composed of a copper foil surface 2 constituting a portion of the wiring pattern formed on a printed circuit board 1, a movable contact 3 fixed to the printed circuit board 1 so that an end 3a of the movable contact 3 is selectively engageable with the copper foil surface 2, a slidable actuator 4 movable in the direction of the arrow A for bringing together the end 3a of the movable contact 3 and the copper foil surface 2, and a frame 5 slidably holding thereon the actuator 4.
The switch assembly illustrated in FIG. 3B comprises two copper foil surfaces 6 and 7 constituting a portion of the wiring pattern formed on a printed circuit board 1, a movable contact 8 having two end portions 8a and 8b selectively engageable with the copper foil surfaces 6 and 7, respectively, a pushbutton actuator 9 firmly supporting thereon the movable contact 8 and movable in the direction of arrow B for bringing the end portions 8a, 8b of the movable contact 8 into contact with the copper foil surfaces 6, 7, and a frame 5 movably holding thereon the pushbutton actuator 9.
Similarly, the switch assembly shown in FIG. 3C includes two copper foil surfaces 6 and 7 constituting a portion of the wiring pattern formed on a printed circuit board 1, a movable contact 8 having two end portions 8a and 8b selectively engageable with the copper foil surfaces 6 and 7, respectively, a slidable actuator 10 firmly supporting thereon the movable contact 8 and movable in the direction of arrow C for bringing the end portions 8a, 8b of the movable contact 8 into contact with the copper foil surfaces 6, 7, and a frame 5 slidably holding therein the slidable actuator 10.
Though not shown, each of the conventional switch assemblies also includes a mechanism for holding the actuator 4, 9 or 10 in an operating position in which the movable contact 3 or 8 is in contact with a mating fixed contact consisting of the copper foil surface 2 or surfaces 6 and 7.
In making the switch assembly shown in FIG. 3A, the movable contact 3 must be attached to the printed circuit board 1 after electric components (not shown) are attached by dip soldering to the printed circuit board 1. Accordingly, the production efficiency of this switch assembly is relatively low. In the switch assemblies shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the movable contact 8 is attached to the actuator 9 or 10. This construction obviates the need for an additional processing operation subsequent to the dip soldering, such as done in the case of the switch assembly shown in FIG. 3A. The switch assemblies shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C can, therefore, be produced efficiently. Due to this high production efficiency, these switch assemblies are used frequently.
However, the copper foil surface 2, 6 or 7, serving as a fixed contact relative to the movable contact 3 or 8 of the conventional switch assembly, is coated with a solder when the dip soldering is performed to attach the electric components to the printed circuit board 1.
It is known that the amount of solder deposited by dip soldering on predetermined portions of a wiring pattern is not uniform but rather changes largely though it may vary depending on the size of the portions to be soldered. Experiments made by the present applicants have proved that for portions of a printed circuit board to be used as contacts of switch assemblies, the thickness of solder deposited on such portions varies in the range of about 1 mm.
In order to take up this variation of solder thickness, it is necessary to enlarge the stroke of the movable actuator 4, 9 or 10, which enlargement of the stroke, however, will increase the overall size of a device in which the printed circuit board is incorporated.
In addition, even when the stroke of the actuator 4, 9 or 10 is enlarged as described above, a drawback still remains in that if the variation of solder thickness is excessively large, the movable contact 3 or 8, as it is moved by the actuator 4, 9 or 10, may be deformed or otherwise damaged due to abutment with the soldered portions.
In order to reduce the variation of solder thickness, there has recently been proposed an improved process in which the copper foil surface 2, 6 or 7 serving as a fixed contact on the printed circuit board 1 is in the form of a fork in plan view, as shown in FIG. 4, and the dip soldering is performed as advancing in the longitudinal direction of strips of the bifurcated copper foil surface 2, 6 or 7, as indicated by the arrows D and E shown in FIG. 4.
According to the improved process, the variation of solder thickness can be reduced to 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The improved process using the bifurcated copper foil surface 2, 6 or 7 is, however, still unsatisfactory in that because the variation of solder thickness is not reduced to zero, the foregoing problems resulting from the variation of solder thickness still remain unsolved.
As a basic solution for the variation-induced problems, a copper foil surface serving as a contact is covered with a masking material such as a paper tape or a silicone film before the dip soldering is performed. Subsequent to the dip soldering, the masking material is removed.
This solution is effective because the copper foil surface serving as a contact is not subjected to the dip soldering and hence is not coated with solder. Accordingly, the problems caused by the variation in thickness of solder on the copper foil surface do not take place any more.
However, due to the use of the masking material, the foregoing solution needs additional processing operations including application and removal of the masking material and inspection of the presence of the masking material. With this additional processing operations, the production cost of a printed circuit board is increased.


A backlight assembly includes a receiving container, a reflecting member, a light source, and a diffusion plate. The receiving container includes a bottom plate and a sidewall upwardly protruded from sides of the bottom plate. The sidewall has at least one recess. The reflecting member includes a reflecting part and a fixing part extended from end portions of the reflecting part to be inserted into the at least one recess. The light source is disposed above the reflecting member to generate light. The diffusion plate is disposed above the light source to diffuse the light. As a result, the manufacturing process for fabricating the reflecting member may be simplified and a size of the backlight assembly may be decreased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having the backlight assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a backlight assembly to allow simplification of the manufacturing process and a decrease in the size of the backlight assembly and an LCD device having the backlight assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
An LCD device displays images using optical characteristics (i.e. anisotropy of refractivity) and electrical characteristics (i.e. anisotropy of dielectric constant) of liquid crystal. The LCD device has advantageous characteristics such as thinner thickness, lower driving voltage, lower power consumption, etc., than other types of display devices such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) device, a plasma display panel (PDP) device, etc.
The LCD device is non-emissive type display device, which requires a light source to supply light to an LCD panel of the LCD device.
The backlight assembly is classified either as an edge illumination type or a direct illumination type based on the location of the light source. In other words, in the edge illumination type, the backlight assembly includes a light guiding plate and one or two light sources adjacent to a side surface of the light guiding plate so that the light generated from the light sources is guided into the LCD panel of the LCD device. In the direct illumination type, the backlight assembly includes a plurality of light sources under the LCD panel and a diffusion plate disposed between the LCD panel and the light sources so that the light generated from the light sources is diffused and irradiated into the LCD panel. In general, a small screen LCD device has the edge illumination type backlight assembly with thin thickness and a large screen LCD device has the direct illumination type backlight assembly with high luminance.
When the LCD device has the direct illumination type backlight assembly, a reflecting plate is attached to a receiving container using a double-sided tape Manufacturing process becomes, therefore, complicated and the reflecting plate has an irregular surface. In addition, a size of the receiving container is increased.

Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display device having the same


An apparatus comprises active word lines extending within a semiconductive material, passing word lines extending adjacent to the active word lines within the semiconductive material, isolation regions adjacent to the passing word lines, and a band offset material adjacent to the passing word lines and the isolation regions. The semiconductive material exhibits a first bandgap and the band offset material exhibits a second, different bandgap. Related methods and systems are also described.

Conventional volatile memory cells, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, may include a memory storage element and a transistor. The memory storage element may, for example, include a capacitor (e.g., sometimes referred to as a "cell capacitor" or a "storage capacitor") configured to store a logical state (e.g., a binary vale of either a "0" or a "1") defined by the stored charge in the capacitor. The transistor may be referred to in the art as an "access transistor." The transistor conventionally includes a channel region between a pair of source/drain regions and further includes a gate configured to electrically connect the source/drain regions to one another through the channel region. The channel region conventionally includes a semiconductor material, such as silicon.
To charge, discharge, read, or recharge the capacitor, the transistor may be selectively turned to an "on" state, in which current flows between the source region and the drain region through the channel region of the transistor. Application of a voltage greater than a threshold voltage (Vt) to the gate induces an inversion layer in the channel region, inducing a current flow between the drain region and the source region. The transistor may be selectively turned to an "off" state, in which the flow of current is substantially stopped.
In the off state, it is desirable for the capacitor associated with the transistor to retain a stored charge, without change (e.g., leakage thereof), through the transistor. However, conventional volatile memory cells may exhibit discharges of current over time and a resulting loss in stored charge. Therefore, even in the "off" state where the source region and the drain region of the associated transistor are electrically isolated (e.g., when an inversion layer is not present in the channel region) and the memory cell is unselected (e.g., not selected), current may leak from the capacitor through the transistor. This off-state current is referred to in the art as sub-threshold leakage current. The undesirable leakage of charge from the capacitor requires the capacitor to be constantly refreshed (e.g., recharged) to maintain the logic state of the memory cell. However, refreshing the charge on the capacitor increases the power consumption of the electronic device associated with the memory cell.
In addition to maintaining a low refresh rate, it is desirable to reduce an amount that an unselected memory cell is disturbed when a voltage is applied to a passing word line (e.g., a word line that is not electrically coupled to the unselected memory cell, but located proximate (e.g., adjacent) to the unselected memory cell). In some instances, application of a voltage to a word line adjacent an unselected memory cell may induce leakage of current or charge from the capacitor associated with the unselected memory cell through the drain of the unselected memory cell. The leakage may increase a required refresh rate of the unselected memory cell and affect performance of the electronic device. For example, when a row (e.g., a word line) is repeatedly activated and refreshed, noise may be injected into the adjacent row (e.g., a victim row), such that data corruption may occur in one or more memory cells in the victim row. The repeated activation and refreshing of the row are referred to as a so-called "row hammer" effect. A so-called "row hammer event" occurs when a refresh command is executed to refresh word lines that are adjacent to a hammered word line. A particular word line is "hammered" when it is accessed via memory access operations, such as an active command, in a manner that potentially leads to data errors in adjacent word lines. Leakage and parasitic currents caused by the hammering of a row may cause data corruption in a non-accessed physically adjacent row (e.g., the victim row).

Apparatuses including passing word lines comprising a band offset material, and related methods and systems


Disclosed is graphene. More particularly, disclosed are a method for manufacturing graphene to grow graphene with high quality and graphene manufactured by the same. The method includes preparing a thermal-expansion compensation substrate, forming a metal layer on the thermal-expansion compensation substrate, and forming graphene on the metal layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to graphene and more particularly, to a method for manufacturing graphene to grow graphene with high quality and graphene manufactured by the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Substances containing carbon atoms include fullerene, carbon nanotube, graphene and graphite. Of these, graphene is a single atom layer whose structure is a two-dimensional planar array of carbon atoms.
In particular, graphene has considerably stable and superior electrical, mechanical and chemical properties as well as excellent conductivity and thus more rapidly carries electrons than silicone and enables application of higher electrical current than copper, which has been actively researched since it was demonstrated through experimentation based on discovery of a method of separating graphene from graphite in 2004.
Such graphene attracts much attention as a base material for electronic circuits because it may be produced over large areas and has electrical, mechanical, chemical stability as well as excellent conductivity.
In addition, electrical properties of graphene may change according to crystal direction of graphene with a predetermined thickness. For this reason, electrical properties are expressed in a direction selected by a user and devices can be thus easily designed. Accordingly, graphene is effectively used for carbon-based electronic or electromagnetic devices.
As such, graphene may be formed on a metal layer which is a catalyst substrate. In this regard, graphene has a negative thermal expansion coefficient, while a metal has a positive thermal expansion coefficient. Accordingly, the difference in thermal expansion coefficient may cause formation of wrinkles in graphene during manufacture of the graphene.

Method for manufacturing graphene and graphene manufactured by the same


A bias voltage generator circuit capable of keeping a constant electric current consumption (I0) and supplying bias voltages (V1, V2) respectively kept at constant values relative to its source voltage (VDD) and GND potential even when VDD fluctuates. The circuit includes: three p-channel transistors connected in a current mirror, each having a source connected to source voltage; and four n-channel transistors, each having a source connected to GND. Bias voltages V1 and V2 are in a relation such that they control each other. Concretely, the V1 potential starting to rise causes the V2 potential to start to decrease, and the V1 potential starting to decrease causes the V2 potential to start to rise. The circuit has the property of making the circuit current fixed regardless of VDD. Even when VDD fluctuates, I0 is constant and V1 and V2 each produce a fixed potential.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bias voltage generator circuit for an amplifier. More specifically, it relates to a bias voltage generator circuit capable of keeping a bias voltage constant.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, what has been known as a circuit arrangement for keeping a circuit current constant with a fixed bias voltage even when a source voltage fluctuates is an arrangement including: a first p-channel field effect having a source connected to a power source; a first n-channel field effect transistor having a drain connected to a drain of the first p-channel field effect transistor; a second p-channel field effect transistor having a source connected to the power source and a gate connected to a gate of the first p-channel field effect transistor and the drain thereof; and a second n-channel field effect transistor having a drain connected to a gate of the first n-channel field effect transistor and through a resistor to a drain of the second p-channel field effect transistor, the second n-channel field effect transistor having a gate connected to the drain of the second p-channel field effect transistor. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, there has been known an arrangement including: a first p-channel field effect transistor MP1000 having a source connected to a power source; a first n-channel field effect transistor MN1000 having a gate and a drain, both connected to a drain of the first p-channel field effect transistor; a second p-channel field effect transistor MP2000 having a source connected to the power source and a drain connected to a gate of the first p-channel field effect transistor MP1000; and a second n-channel field effect transistor MN2000 having a drain connected to a gate of the second p-channel field effect transistor MP2000 and through a resistor R1000 to the drain of the second p-channel field effect transistor MP2000, the second n-channel field effect transistor MN2000 having a gate connected to the gate of the first n-channel field effect transistor MN1000. (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-64-42717.)
This type of circuit commonly has a tendency to depend on the size and characteristics of transistors in setting voltage and flatness. Even with the above conventional example, the flatness is increased, but there is still a tendency to depend on a source voltage under the actual characteristics of transistors. Therefore, there has been a problem such that an increase in source voltage increases the bias voltage and the circuit current. The invention has as its object to provide a bias voltage generator circuit, which can solve such conventional problem and keep a constant electric current consumption and supply a bias voltage kept at a constant value relative to its source voltage and a voltage kept at a constant value relative to the ground (GND) potential even when the source voltage fluctuates.


An apparatus for managing configuration of an element. The apparatus includes a computer that connects with the element to receive data from the element, and a server in the computer that includes the data in one or more web pages.

Maintaining a fleet of aircraft involves stringent testing and maintenance of hardware and software components of each aircraft. Records of the aircraft components are kept so that maintenance mechanics may determine what versions of hardware and/or software are in use on a given aircraft at a particular time. Such recordkeeping typically has been performed by the mechanics, who record aircraft configuration information on paper when maintenance is performed.

Configuration management apparatus and related methods


A passenger seat includes a first seat element and at least one second seat chamber element that are movable relative to each other, and which can be stood on a base of a transport means and has at least one optical transmission unit having a light input element, at least one light output element and at least one light guide path that runs from the light input element to the light output element and along which light is conducted. The optical transmission unit is provided for contact-free transmission of light in at least one operating state at at least one location of the light guide path that differs from a location of a light input into the light input element and from a location of light output from the light output element.

The invention is based on a passenger seat which has a first seat element and at least a second seat element which are movable relative to one another, and which passenger seat can be stood on a floor of a means of transportation and has at least one optical transmission unit.
Such a passenger seat which has a transmission unit for transmitting light from the first seat element to the second seat element is already known.


An electrical connector (1) comprises; a housing (2), a card receiving mouth (3), electrical contacts (4), prong receiving sockets (26) on the housing, (2) card guide arms (5, 6), a prong (25) on each of the guide arms (5, 6) for locking engagement with any one of the sockets (26), and a mounting bracket (64) engaging a ground plane (74) on a memory card (73) and being shunted to a ground plane on a circuit board (9).

A known electrical connector, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,161, comprises, a card connector having card guide grooves for guiding a card. The card contains an electronic memory which can be accessed electronically by plugging the card into electrical contacts in the electrical connector.
The electrical contacts are spaced apart from one another to isolate one contact from another, and to prevent electrical inductance and capacitance influences among the contacts. When spacing between the contacts is inadequate to avoid electrical influences among the contacts, it would be desirable to couple the contacts with a ground referencing plane. One reason to do so is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,727, to Douglas W. Glover and Richard F. Granitz, wherein, a conductive plate is positioned along a row of signal conductors in a connector to provide a low impedance return path referenced to ground electrical potential. In providing a conductive ground referencing plane in a connector for a card reader, it is desired that the connector retain a capacity to connect with cards which are already in widespread use, and also have the capacity to connect with new, improved cards that require the connector to have an increased ground to signal ratio.

Grounding shroud for an electrical connector


In an emergency medicine patient, accurate measurement of change or lack thereof from non-shock, non-ischemic, non-inflammation, non-tissue injury, non-immune dysfunction conditions is important and is provided, as practical, real-time approaches for accurately characterizing a patient's condition, using Raman (3) and/or fluorescence (30) spectroscopy with a high degree of accuracy. Measurement times are on the order of seconds. High-accuracy measurement is achieved with Raman spectroscopy interrogation of tissue. Simultaneous interrogation by NADH fluorescence spectroscopy may he used. Measurements may be non-invasive to minimally invasive. Preclinical (ultra-early) states of shock can be detected (5), severity can be determined, effectiveness of various treatments can be determined.

Shock is a complex entity, which traditionally has been defined as a state in which the metabolic demands of tissues are not matched by sufficient delivery of metabolic substrates, with the major substrate being oxygen. This mismatch commonly results from altered states of organ perfusion such as hemorrhage. Shock additionally involves complex inflammatory and immune mediated events which result from, and may further exacerbate, this initial metabolic mismatch. Many of these events play an important role in the development of subsequent multiorgan dysfunction, failure and death, with this latter mode responsible for over 60% of trauma deaths. Haljamae, H., "Cellular metabolic consequences of altered perfusion," in Gutierres, G., Vincent, J., eds., "Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Tissue oxygen utilization (Springer Verlag, 1991), pp. 71–86. Despite the complexities of the inflammatory and immune components of trauma and hemorrhage, there is little debate on linking the severity of these events to the severity of initial perfusion deficits and tissue hypoxia. It is therefore essential to recognize and correct perfusion deficits at their earliest possible time. Although this seems intuitive, up to 80% of trauma patients on close monitoring continue to demonstrate evidence of tissue hypoxia secondary to perfusion deficits after what was considered to be complete resuscitation. Abou-Khalil, B., Scalea, T. M., Trooskin, S. Z., Henry, S. M., Hitchcock, R., "Hemodynamic responses to shock in young trauma patients; need for invasive monitoring," Crit. Care Med., 22:633–639 (1994).
Traditional clinical signs of tissue perfusion such as capillary refill, mental status, heart rate, pulse pressure and systemic blood pressure are very gross indicators of tissue perfusion and can only be considered to be of historic interest except at extreme values. Porter, J., Ivatury, R., "In search of optimal end points of resuscitation in trauma patients," J. Trauma, 44:908–914 (1998). Current markers of tissue perfusion include systemic lactate and base deficit measurements; transcutaneous and subcutaneous gas measurements, gastric and sublingual tonometry and spectroscopic techniques such as NIR absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence quenching, and orthogonal polarization spectral imaging. While these techniques have respective advantages, each is plagued by the relative singularity of its measure, lack of tissue specificity, inability to quantitate, or inability to easily apply or adapt for field use. Identification of any other useful markers is an important objective, and the search continues for further markers of shock states and the like. Effectively measuring and working with both known markers as well as markers being discovered would be highly beneficial to emergency medicine but is not provided in conventional technology. Information about biochemistry in shock states and disease states has not yet fully found its way and been used in practical applications. Rather, currently emergency medicine is left to rely on physical examination not much advanced by conventional, relatively limited spectroscopic measurement technology.
That is, much still turns on observation of simple vital signs. Yet, the diagnosis of shock and its severity can be difficult, and cannot be accomplished with certainty, from simple vital signs. A physical exam, including vital signs, is inadequate in detecting states of uncompensated shock. Ward, K. R., Ivatury, R. R., Barbee, R. W., "Endpoints of resuscitation for the victim of trauma," J. Intensive Care Med., 16:55–75 (2001). Dysoxia can be present despite normal vital signs. Ward et al., id.; Abou-Khalil, B., Scalea, T. M., Trooskin, S. Z., Henry, S. M., Hitchock, R., "Hemodynamic response to shock in young trauma patients: need for invasive monitoring," Crit Care Med. 22(4):633–9 (1994); Scalea, T. M., Maltz, S., Yelon, J., Trooskin, S. Z., Duncan, A. O, Scalafani, S. J., "Resuscitation of multiple trauma and head injury: role of crystalloid fluids and inotropes," Crit Care Med. 22(10):1610–5 (1994); Ivatury, R. R., Simon, R. J., Havriliak, D., Garcia, C., Greebarg, J., Stahl, W. M., "Gastric mucosal pH and oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption indices in the assessment of adequacy of resuscitation after trauma: a prospsective, randomized study," J. Trauma, 39(1):128–34; discussion 34–6 (1995).
In addition, resuscitation of victims of uncompensated shock back to "normal" vital signs is inadequate as a resuscitation endpoint. Unrecognized continued accumulation of additional oxygen debt is still possible and may contribute to later development of multisystem organ failure and death. Shoemaker, W. C., Appel, P. L., Kram, H. B., "Tissue oxygen debt as a determinant of lethal and nonlethal postoperative organ failure," Crit. Care Med., 16(11):1117–20 (1988).
Adding, to a physical exam, global measures of oxygen transport still does not ensure detection of early shock states or provide adequate information to act as sole end-points of resuscitation once shock is recognized and therapy instituted. For an outline of all of the current major technologies that have been used to detect the presence of shock and to guide its treatment, see Ward, Ivatury et al., supra. For various reasons, all have been problematic.
To better understand the difficulties in detecting shock states it is helpful to examine the biphasic relationship between oxygen delivery (DO2) and consumption (VO2) to understand the potential inadequacies of currently available monitoring systems. FIG. 1 demonstrates that VO2 can remain constant over a wide range of DO2. This is possible because cells have the ability to increase their extraction of oxygen (OER) in the face of decreased delivery. This is generally reflected by lower hemoglobin oxygen saturations in blood leaving the organ system (SvO2), which may change before it is apparent in the physical exam. Scalea, T. M., Hartnett, R. W., Duncan, A. O., Atrweh, N. A., Phillips, T. F., Sclafani, S. J., et al., "Central venous oxygen saturation: a useful clinical tool in trauma patients," J. Trauma, 30(12):1539–43 (1990); McKinley, B. A., Marvin R. G., Cocanour, C. S., Moore, F. A., "Tissue hemoglobin O2 saturation during resuscitation of traumatic shock monitored using near infrared spectrometry," J. Trauma, 48(4):637–42 (2000). However, there is a point at which OER cannot keep pace with reductions in delivery. At this point VO2 of the cell or organ falls (critical oxygen delivery: DO2crit) and cells become dysoxic. This results in an increase in the oxidation-reduction (redox) value of the cell, effectively blocking the flow of electrons through the NADH-cytochrome a, a3 cascade in the mitochondria which prevents the formation of ATP. Cytochrome a,a3 (cytochrome oxidase) is the terminal electron acceptor in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Dysoxia can be recognized by the accumulation of a number of metabolic products such as lactate and intracellular reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). NADH offers one of the main sources of energy transfer from the TCA cycle to the respiratory chain in the mitochondria. NADH is situated on the high-energy site of the respiratory chain and during tissue dysoxia it accumulates because less NADH is oxidized to NAD+. The redox state of the mitochondria (NADH/NAD+) therefore reflects the mitochondrial energy state, which in turn is determined by the balance of oxygen availability in the cell and the metabolic rate of the cell. Siegemund, M., van Bommel, J., Ince, C., "Assessment of regional tissue oxygenation," Intensive Care Med., 25(10):1044–60 (1999). Conventional monitoring and measuring used in emergency medicine do not adequately take into account such biochemistry of shock states and the like. Knowing the biochemistry of shock states and the like but not being able to measure and monitor pertinent information thereto has been a frustrating, unresolved problem in emergency medicine.
Conventionally, a primary means of assessing tissue perfusion is through infrared (IR) or near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Human skin and tissue are semi-transparent to wavelengths in this range. However, problems with IR technology arise because water strongly absorbs IR radiation. While NIR absorption spectroscopy does not suffer from water absorption as does classical IR, and NIR absorption spectroscopy is useful for the relative quantification of several specific chromophores such as hemoglobin, myoglobin, and cytochrome oxidase. Nakamoto, K., Czernuszewicz, W. S., "Infrared Spectroscopy," in: Methods in Enzymology, 226:259–289 (1993); Piantadisu, C., Parsons, W., Griebel, "Application of NIR Spectroscopy to problems of tissue oxygenation," in Gutierres, G., Vincent, J., eds., Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Tissue oxygen utilization (Springer Verlag, 1991) pp. 41–44. Other recent work reports the ability of using NIR absorption shift of hemoglobin to measure pH. However, disadvantageously, NIR signals are so broad as to not be well-suited to quantification of overlapping species. Examples of NIR absorption spectroscopy signals being too broad to lend themselves to quantification of overlapping species include the spectra for oxy and deoxy hemoglobin and cytochrome oxidase (see FIG. 2). Owen-Reece, H., Smith, M., Elwell, C. E., Goldstone, J. C., "Near infrared spectroscopy," Br J Anaesth, 82(3): 418–26 (1999). FIG. 2 is a graph of typical broad signals of oxy and deoxy hemoglobin and cytochrome oxidase obtained by NIR absorption spectroscopy. (In FIG. 2, the HbO2 and Hb signals also would include those from myoglobin.)
Conventional NADH-fluorescence techniques are more specific and quantitative than classical NIR absorption spectra but can only measure a single marker. The technique has relied on use of excitation wavelengths in the carcinogenic UV region and has not been reduced to clinical practice. Conventional noninvasive or minimally invasive measures of tissue perfusion include transcutaneous and tonometric (gastric or sublingual) monitoring of various gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. The major limitations of these devices are that they are limited to monitoring those specific gases and cannot provide additional information that, if provided, could be useful in diagnosis and stratification of patients. Methods such as tonometry can be cumbersome due to its invasive nature. These methods are also prone to deviations through changes either in minute ventilation or inspired oxygen concentration. Transcutaneous gas monitoring, gastric tonometry, and even sublingual tonometry are one-dimensional and are prone to non-flow related changes caused by hypo or hyper ventilation. Also, with the exception of sublingual tonometry, application of these methods in the field is problematic. Weil, M., Nakagawa, Y., Tang, W., et al., "Sublingual capnometry: A new noninvasive measurement for diagnosis and quantification of severity of circulatory shock," Crit. Care Med., 27:1225–1229 (1999).
Another concern associated with measurement of shock states, and balanced with other factors relating to measurement, is invasiveness. NIR absorption spectroscopy is being aggressively studied to use signals from these chromophores to noninvasively monitor oxygen transport at the tissue level. McKinley et al., supra. Perhaps the best-known use of this technology is in the monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics. The basis for this is that the majority of blood volume in an organ is venous and thus the tissue hemoglobin saturation should reflect the state of oxygen consumption of the tissue. Again, broad overlap of signals in addition to needing to know the pathlength of light presents challenges in quantification and differentiation of signals. For example it is difficult to distinguish hemoglobin and myoglobin making NIR use in hemorrhage problematic since myoglobin has a p50 of only 5 mmHg. Gayeski, T. E., Honig, C. R., "Direct measurement of intracellular O2 gradients; role of convection and myoglobin," Adv Exp Med Biol, 159:613–21 (1983). Because soft tissue and bone are translucent to NIR light, NIR can penetrate to significant depths, a feature with both advantages and disadvantages. Monitoring the redox state of cytochrome oxidase is also difficult unless baseline absorptions are known. There is also significant overlap between the cytochrome oxidase and hemoglobin signals. Despite this, NIR measurements of tissue saturation (StO2) are being marketed.
Although some manufacturers of NIR absorption spectroscopy equipment claim to differentiate between the two species of oxygen hemoglobin and myoglobin, no work to this effect exists in the medical literature. In fact, evidence exists that a major portion of the NIR absorption spectroscopy signal reported from hemoglobin actually originates from myoglobin.
Another problem for NIR is that in terms of use on hollow organ systems such as the stomach, data from NIR absorption spectroscopy would likely include signals from non-stomach organs and thus not reflect data from the mucosal surface of the stomach.
Surface NADH fluorescence has been used to detect cellular dysoxia in a number of organ systems. Siegemund et al., supra. The traditional technique uses unique excitation light sources and detection filters to take advantage of the fact that NADH will fluoresce (emit light at 460 nm) when excited at a wavelength of 360 nm (near-UV). This technique has been used in video microscopy/fluorometry experiments. Van der Laan, L., Coremans, A., Ince, C., Bruining, H. A., "NADH videofluorimetry to monitor the energy state of skeletal muscle in vivo," J. Surg. Res., 74(2):155–60 (1998). However, such conventional methods do not necessarily provide optimum resolution.
Adverse effects of certain compounds (such as vasopressin and norepinephrine) on oxygen transport and the immune/inflammatory response are now beginning to be appreciated with manipulation of their actions being studied as therapeutic strategies. Kincaid, E. H., Miller, P. R., Meredith, J. W., Chang, M. C., "Enalaprilat improves gut perfusion in critically injured patients," Shock, 9(2):79–83 (1998); Catania, R. A., Chaudry, I. H., "Immunological consequences of trauma and shock," Ann. Acad. Med. Singapore, 28(1):120–32 (1999). However, satisfactory measurement of such compounds in vivo without invasive probing has not yet been provided.
Thus, current technology includes pulmonary artery catheters, repetitive measures of lactate and base deficit, splanchnic tonometry, sublingual tonometry, NIR absorption spectroscopy, transcutaneous gas monitoring, phosphorescence quenching and fluorescence technology (indwelling blood gas/pH catheters). No such technology is without a substantial disadvantage. Civilian prehospital emergency medical services systems, emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, intensive care physicians, cardiologists, anethesiologists, and military medical personnel continue to be plagued by the insensitivity of the physical exam, lack of readily available physiologic and metabolic markers to judge the presence and severity of shock states, and lack of real-time relevant measurement approaches. In addition, it has been difficult to use singular measures to guide treatment or predict outcome. These problems are greatly magnified as the scale of the wounded population increases (such as on the battlefield and the various pre-definitive echelons of care provided to wounded soldiers or in a natural disaster). To the inventors' knowledge, currently no conventional techniques are available for real-time monitoring of a broad range of potentially valuable emergency medicine markers of shock, tissue ischemia, tissue injury, tissue inflammation, or tissue immune dysfunction.


A container 2 for flat panels comprising: a lower end holding shock absorber member 30 resiliently holding a lower end of said flat panel 34 contained in the container 2; an upper end holding shock absorber member 50 resiliently holding an upper end of the flat panel; a side shock absorber member 42 comprised of a resilient member and provided with parallel guide grooves 44 for slidably guiding a side end of the flat panel 34; and a side spacer 40 for attaching said side shock absorber member 42 on an inner wall surface of said container 2 so that a distance between said side shock absorber member 42 and said inner wall is adjustable. The lower end holding shock absorber member 30 is designed to be adjustable in height with a bottom spacer 35.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container for flat panels and, more particularly, to a container for taking custody of or transporting flat panels used for parts of flat display devices and the like in good condition without being damaged or destroyed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In flat display devices such as liquid crystal display devices and plasma display devices, electrodes or separating walls are formed on glass substrates by means of screen printing and the like, and the glass substrates are transported to another factory to assemble or re-process them during a process of producing these substrates. In this case, a container is required for taking custody of and transporting the glass substrates without destroying them or contaminating the surfaces.
The conventional container, however, did not permit transporting flat panels such as glass substrates used for flat display devices without destroying the panels and contaminating the surfaces thereof.
Further, since an opening portion of the conventional container is formed on the top portion of the container, working operation is required to take the flat panels in and out from the top portion of the container. A working operation of such kind, that does not destroy the flat panels, is difficult.


A method for attempting to fragment or comminute an object in a body using ultrasound includes producing a burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) waveform by a therapy transducer. The BWL waveform is configured to fragment or comminute the object. The BWL waveform includes a first burst of continuous ultrasound cycles and a second burst of continuous ultrasound cycles. A burst frequency corresponds to a frequency of repeating the bursts of the BWL waveform. The method also includes determining a cycle frequency f of the continuous ultrasound cycles within the first burst and the second burst based on a target fragment size D, where the cycle frequency is:f(MHz)=0.47/D(mm).

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Kidney stone disease generally involves minerals and salts in urine forming into crystals. In some instances, these crystals may cluster in the subject's body and accumulate into larger, rigid crystals or solid composites often referred to as kidney stones. In some instances, relatively smaller kidney stones may be able to pass out of the subject's body with urine, possibly unnoticed by the subject. However, relatively large kidney stones may block, stretch, and/or irritate the kidney and ureter, which connects the kidney to the bladder. Passing these larger kidney stones through the ureter may cause excruciating pain to the subject. In some instances, passing stones may contribute to urinary tract infections. Further, in some instances, obstruction by stones may contribute to the development of chronic kidney disease.
The prevalence of kidney stone disease is increasing. Studies have shown an increasing prevalence of this disease. Further, additional studies have indicated that approximately half of newly diagnosed subjects will have a recurrent stone within five to ten years of detecting a first kidney stone. In particular, recurrent stones may develop due to continuous stone crystallization over time or possibly growth of residual stone fragments after treatments.
Various treatments for kidney stone disease may require procedures underneath the skin of a subject. In some instances, these procedures may involve treating kidney stone disease in a subject without breaking the skin of the subject. During such treatments, it is important to perform such procedures in a calculated and efficient manner to prevent growth of residual stone fragments after such treatments.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Noninvasive fragmentation of urinary tract stones with focused ultrasound

University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization


A transparent memory array has a processor and a plurality of memory banks, each memory bank being directly connected to the processor. The memory array has improved throughput performance in part because it can function without precharge signals, row address latch signals, and column address latch signals, among others. The transparent memory array further comprises a plurality of row address decoders, each having a row address input bus and a row address output bus. One row address decoder's input bus is connected to the processor, while its output bus is connected to a first memory bank. The memory array is also comprised of a plurality of column address decoders, each having a column address input bus and a column address output bus. One column address decoder's input bus is connected the processor, while its output bus connected to the first memory bank.

The speed at which integrated circuit components function has increased rapidly in the past several years. For example, today's processors now function at speeds greater than one gigahertz, a vast improvement over processors available only a few years ago. Improvements are likely to increase processing speeds even further in the near future.
Memory component manufacturers, in an attempt to compliment the faster processors, have decreased memory device access times. Access time refers to the amount of time needed to complete a read or write operation within the memory device. By decreasing access time, the throughput of a memory device (i.e., the amount of data transferred within a given period) can be increased. For example, synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) was designed to overcome limitations inherent in previous memory devices. SDRAM utilizes an external clocking signal to match the timing of the memory operations with the operations of the other components of the integrated circuit, thereby decreasing device latency and improving throughput.
Initially, SDRAM was contained within a memory card. The memory card was comprised of several memory arrays, which contained one or more memory banks. Each memory bank was further comprised of a multitude of individual memory cells, arranged in rows and columns, which contained the information stored within the SDRAM.
During a write operation, a processor issued commands to an appropriate memory controller. The commands included address information and control signals (such as read or write signals, among others) The memory controller decoded the address signals to produce a row address strobe (RAS) signal and a column address strobe (CAS) signal, among others. A multiplexer, connected to the memory controller, routed the RAS signal and the CAS signal to the correct memory array (or memory bank within an array). The RAS signal was received by a row address decoder, which activated the appropriate row within a memory bank. Likewise, the CAS signal was received by a column address decoder, which activated a sense amplifier connected to the appropriate column within the memory bank. Thus, the RAS and CAS signals were used to select and to activate an individual memory cell (or cells) within the memory bank. After the selected memory cell was activated, data was transferred from a data bus to the cell.
During a read operation, the processor issued commands to the appropriate memory controller. As discussed above in conjunction with the write operation, a RAS signal and a CAS signal were produced to select and to activate the memory cell (or cells) within the memory bank. After the row and column address decoders activated the selected memory cell (or cells), data was transferred from the cell to the data bus.
In most applications, the memory card was placed within a memory slot; connected to, but external to, the integrated circuit. A multitude of traces connected the memory slot, and hence the memory card, to the integrated circuit. The memory card contained contact pins to connect the memory controllers to the traces. Due to space limitations, however, the memory card contained a finite number of contact pins. Thus, to overcome the space limitations, several arrays within the memory card (or memory banks within the arrays) were multiplexed to share a common controller. With this architecture, only a single array (or bank) within the group of memory arrays (or banks) could be accessed at a given time by the shared controller.
Connecting the arrays (or banks) with a multiplexer necessitated the use of additional control signals, such as precharge and latch signals among others. A precharge signal was used to raise the voltage level of a bank's row (or column) before the row (or column) was accessed by a write or read operation. The precharge ensures that a state change will occur during the write or read operation which can be sensed by the memory array's sense amplifier. Application of a precharge signal decreased the memory device's throughput because another row (or column) could not be accessed until the precharge level was reached.
A latch signal "locks" the signal being sent to the memory bank, such as RAS and CAS signals for example, for a specified period of time. One purpose of the latch signal was to stabilize the memory bank while data was written to or retrieved from the memory cell. Again, throughput was decreased because a specific amount of time, usually governed by the physical characteristics of the memory bank, had to pass before a different signal (such as a command signal, address signal, data signal, etc.) could be applied or sensed.
The delays caused by the precharge and latch signals, among others, is called latency. For example, if a RAS signal is applied to select a specific row within a memory bank, the amount of time that must pass before another signal can be applied, such as a CAS signal, is called the RAS latency. Likewise, if a CAS signal is applied to select a specific column within a memory bank, the amount of time that must pass before another signal can be applied is called the CAS latency. The greater the latency, the smaller the throughput.
In addition to the inherent space limitations, externally mounted SDRAM suffered from propagation delays. Propagation delay refers to the additional amount of time required by a signal to travel through a trace, or electrical conductor, caused by the resistance, or impedance, of the trace. As a general rule, a signal traveling through a longer trace will have a greater propagational delay than a signal traveling through a shorter trace made from the same material. The traces between external memory cards and the integrated circuits are relatively long compared to other traces within the integrated circuit. Therefore, signals traveling between the external memory cards and the integrated circuit have greater propagational delays than other signals within the integrated circuit.
Manufactures have attempted to overcome some of the problems associated with externally mounted SDRAM by embedding the SDRAM directly within the integrated circuit. Such embedded technology is also referred to as a system in package ("SIP") environment. For example, current embedded SDRAM has proven to be faster than external SDRAM because shorter traces can be used, thereby reducing the propagational delay. However, current embedded SDRAM technology continues to utilize multiplexed memory arrays (or banks). Thus, the current embedded SDRAM continues to suffer from throughput limitations inherent in multiplexed memory arrays (and banks).
Therefore, there exists a need for a device and a method that overcomes the throughput limitations inherent in external SDRAM. Furthermore, there exists a need to overcome the throughput limitations inherent in current embedded SDRAM.

Transparent SDRAM in an embedded environment


A transfer box with a housing, an input shaft, a first output shaft extending coaxially relative to said input shaft, and a second output shaft extending parallel to said two shafts, as well as with a differential gear assembly arranged between said shafts, wherein the input shaft carries a cross member with a plurality of radial bearing arms for the differential gears, wherein a first side gear is connected in a rotationally fast way to the first output shaft and wherein a second side gear is rotatably supported on the input shaft and drives the second output shaft, wherein the differential gears are spur gears and the side gears crown gears and wherein the teeth of the differential gears engage the teeth of the side gears.

In vehicles with two permanently driven axles, transfer boxes of said type, on the one hand, serve to drive a rear axle through a first output shaft and, on the other hand, they serve to drive a front axle through a second output shaft which, as a rule, is offset relative to and extends parallel relative to the input shaft. The torque can be uniformly distributed between the output shafts by the differential gear assembly or a biased torque load can be applied to one of the output shafts.
The torque distribution in transfer boxes of this type is commonly effected by planetary gear differential assemblies for dividing the torque between the front axle and the rear axle; they are characterised by a large number of parts, complicated assembly procedures and by this high costs, more particularly if they are provided in the form of double planetary differentials to achieve a uniform torque distribution.


To form a magnet coil, the coil bobbin has L-shaped terminal pins embedded in an end portion of the bobbin with the short legs of the terminal pins extending axially and the long legs extending radially therefrom. This enables wrapping the ends of the wire being wound on the bobbin on the short legs and forming a molten connection by soldering or welding of the ends to the end faces of these short legs.

The present invention is directed to a magnet coil with terminal pins projecting radially beyond the contour of the coil body and to a method for manufacturing the coil.
Magnet coils are particularly suited for utilization in the automotive field, for example as sensor coils or as valve coils for ABS systems.
Known magnet coils comprise terminal pins anchored in the end region of the coil bobbin and axially projecting therefrom. These known terminal pins can be angled-off or bent L-shaped, wherein the short legs form end regions arranged radially relative to the coil body formed by the bobbin on the coil side and to which the winding wire is soldered. The short L legs must thereby still be long enough that they project adequately far beyond the contour of the coil body in order to enable an immersion soldering process without damage to the coil parts.
A new coil configuration with radial terminal pins that is now strived for gives rise to various problems in view of the integration in an automated winding process and the final fastening of the winding wire ends at the coil side end regions. A wrapping and tinning over a significant part of the radial terminal pins, which can be several centimeters long under certain conditions, would involve a stressing of the terminal pins and an undesirable, high temperature stress of the plastic material of the insulating body. A welded connection would even be precluded from the very outset, since the welding bead at the end face of the terminal pins must be melted off, whereas the winding wire is meaningfully wrapped at the other end of the terminal pins in the proximity of the coil body or bobbin.

Magnet coil with radial terminal pins and the method for manufacturing the coil


A kit for connecting a wiper blade and multiple types of wiper arms, the kit including a container and a set of connectors located within an interior of the container. The set of connectors includes a first connector having a structure to receive and be connected to at least two different wiper arms that are part of a first class of wiper arms. The set of connectors includes a second connector having a structure to receive and be connected to at least two different wiper arms that are part of a second class of wiper arms. The set of connectors includes a third connector having a structure to receive and be connected to at least two different wiper arms that are part of a third class of wiper arms, wherein the first class, the second class and the third class are different from one another.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a connector for attachment of a windshield wiper blade with multiple types of windshield wiper arms. The present invention also relates to a kit that includes the above mentioned connector.
2. Background Information
Automobiles use a variety of wiper arms to move a wiper blade. Since wiper blades need to be replaced periodically, a potential buyer of a wiper blade often has difficulty in identifying a wiper blade displayed in a store that can be attached to the wiper arm or his or her automobile. In the past, this situation was addressed by supplying multiple connectors in either separate packages or with the wiper blade itself so that the consumer could match the appropriate connector with the wiper arm of the consumer's automobile. Often it is hard for the consumer to easily ascertain which connector is to be attached to the wiper arm in question. Furthermore, the connectors often come as multiple pieces which can be easy to lose. In addition, there may be situations where the connectors purchased are not appropriate for attachment to the consumer's wiper arm.

Connectors and connector kit for attachment of a windshield wiper blade to multiple types of windshield wiper arms


A service station system for cleaning printheads, particularly inkjet printheads is provided. The service station includes a body having a seal attached thereto and at least one pressure operated sprayer attached to the body within an area demarcated by the seal. Each sprayer includes a bent cap, which enables spraying a cleaning agent at a predetermined spray angle. The sprayers are positioned so that substantially all of the nozzle plate will be wetted by the cleaning agent when the seal, the body and the nozzle plate are positioned to form an enclosed volume. The service station also includes a pressure release valve to keep the pressure within the enclosed volume at atmospheric level during spraying.

The present invention relates generally to a system for cleaning printheads and more particularly to a service station and method for cleaning inkjet printheads.
Inkjet printheads are widely used and well known in the art. One type of inkjet printhead is based on drop-on-demand systems that use either piezoelectric or thermal printhead technologies.
In high-resolution drop-on-demand inkjet printing, very small ink droplets are ejected through tiny apertures in a nozzle plate. Contaminants, such as dust particles and paper fibers, tend to accumulate in the vicinity of these apertures, interfering with the ejection of the ink droplets. In addition, modem ink formulations contain, among other components, pigments, resins, and fast drying accelerators When the printer is not in use, these components, particularly pigments, have a tendency to dry out, blocking the nozzle apertures of the printhead. In addition, they can become so hard that they scratch the face of the nozzle plate, degrading inkjet accuracy.
In order to avoid accumulation of ink residues, dust and print fibers when the printhead is not in use, service stations are installed in printing machines. These stations periodically clean the nozzle plate of the printheads, removing contaminants and residues.
Many types of service stations are known in the art. Usually, during periods of non-use, the service stations cap the system, sealing the nozzles from contamination and drying. Some capping systems also facilitate priming of the printhead by drawing a vacuum on the printhead. During maintenance, many service stations cause ejection of a number of ink drops through each of the nozzle apertures of the printhead. The droplet ejection process is known as spitting and the ejected ink is collected in a spittoon that is part of the service station.
Most service stations use an elastomeric wiper that wipes the nozzle plate and removes ink residues, paper dust and other debris that have collected during use. An example of such a service station is disclosed in PCT Patent Publication WO 9615908. In ""908, the cleaning and sealing station has among other features, a wiper, a sealing cap, and a suction element for withdrawing excess ink.
Other approaches or refinements to maintaining a clean nozzle surface on inkjet printheads are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,786,830 and 5,815,176. The former teaches a station which uses a wiper with an adaptive wiping speed while the latter describes the use of a multi-finned wiping system.
The present invention describes a method for cleaning the nozzle plate of printheads by using at least one sprayer to spray a liquid cleaning agent onto a nozzle plate prior to wiping. The sprayed agent improves the efficiency of cleaning in several ways. It thins any liquid ink left on the nozzle plate and dissolves solid pigment residue stuck to the plate. It decreases the drying rate of fast drying inks and acts as a lubricant for the wiper, generally preventing scratches.
The present invention teaches a service station system for cleaning a printhead that includes a translational means for bringing the service station into proximity with the printhead. It also includes a cleaning agent means for distributing a cleaning agent over a printing face of the printhead when the service station is in proximity with the printhead. Finally, the system includes a wiper for wiping the cleaning agent off the printing face.
The translational means can either translate the service station with respect to the printhead or vice versa. Similarly, the translational means can translate the printhead with respect to the wiper or vice versa.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning agent means for distributing a cleaning agent is at least one sprayer.
In one embodiment the service station system can be used with an inkjet printhead.
The service station system uses cleaning agents, where the agents remove at least one of the following materials from a group consisting of ink, ink components, dust particles, and paper fibers.
The present invention also teaches a method for cleaning a printhead including the step of distributing a cleaning agent over a printing face of the printhead.
In one embodiment the present invention teaches a method for cleaning a printhead where the method includes spraying a printing face of a printhead with a cleaning agent.
In another embodiment, the invention teaches a method which includes the steps of bringing a service station into proximity with a printhead, spraying a printing face of a printhead with a cleaning agent; and lowering the service station to a level where a wiper of the service station wipes the printing face.
In yet another embodiment, the method for cleaning a printhead further includes the steps of pressing the service station to the printhead and effecting a vacuum. The vacuum causes ink to be discharged from nozzles in the printhead. Finally the method may also include the step of suctioning off the ink that has been discharged. The steps of pressing and suctioning are effected generally prior to the spraying step.


Two plastic cover sheets, each of which would produce warping upon lamination by heat and pressure, are loosely affixed to a presentation folder paper core sheet to provide a plastic envelope. Graphic indicia bearing insert sheets can be laminated between both sides of the core sheet and the plastic cover sheets to provide an attractive display of the graphic indicia. Manufacturing costs are saved since anti-warpage backing sheets need not be face laminated to substantial areas of the folder sheet. Also, the plastic envelope sold to the user before lamination is not bowed in contrast to the prior art envelope. A security folder which is difficult to compromise, using carbonless paper, is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to the field of laminated plastic display devices and includes presentation folders for use in marketing goods and services.
A common type of presentation folder is made of rectangular paper stock having a thickness of about ten mils. A centrally positioned vertical fold separates a left half portion from a right half portion, at least one portion having a pouch formed at the bottom of the folder for containing sales literature and the like. Customized graphic indicia such as a company logo and a description of the literature within the folder and other information is sometimes printed on the cover of the folder by a print shop. Sending the folder to an outside print shop can result in detrimental delays and furthermore is costly, particularly if only small numbers of folders are to be printed.
We thus designed a presentation folder whereby a thin sheet of such customized graphic indicia, which can be quickly and economically produced by a desk top publishing PC program, is heat laminated to the front face of the folder. An economical structured transparent plastic polyester sheet is provided and is tack welded to the paper folder and a heat activatable polyethylene adhesive upon the polyester, faces the front of the paper folder. The user thereafter inserts the indicia bearing display sheet between the transparent polyester plastic sheet and the folder sheet and the three items are laminated together by heat and pressure.
As explained in detail in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,843, issued to Roger Kuhns et al., and assigned to Avant Incorporated of West Concord Mass., the transparent plastic cover sheet which was intentionally stressed during manufacture to strengthen it, became unstressed and shrank after lamination, and the result was a severely warped or bowed product which was unacceptable from an aesthetic point of view. The solution to this problem, also described in the patent, of warpage or bowing of large heat activatable plastic sheets when laminated by the user to the front covers of the folders, involved laminating a backing sheet to substantial portions of the inside face of the folder opposite the front face before shipment to the user, and as a result, the user receives a bowed intermediate product, which however becomes unbowed upon the final lamination of the finished product by the user.

Low manufacturing cost presentation or security folder


Systems, devices, and methods for continuous-time digital signal processing and signal representation are disclosed. This includes a continuous-time analog-to-digital converter that is configured to receive an analog signal and convert it to a continuous-time digital signal without using a clock or any type of sampling. This A/D conversion can include a per-level representation and a per-edge representation of the analog signal to produce a digital signal. The digital signal can then be processed in a continuous-time signal processor. The continuous time signal representation and processing can have benefits such a providing filters in high frequency applications where sampling is not practical.

Converting analog signals into digital signals is typically done using discrete-time sampling in an analog to digital converter. This involves measuring the signal at regular, discrete time intervals. There are a number of disadvantages in using discrete-time digital signals. For example, in conventional discrete-time digital signal processors (DSP), the clock signal that triggers the sampling runs at a frequency that is at least twice the highest frequency of interest in a signal. This clock has to run continually at that frequency even if there is no signal or there is no high-frequency component that needs to be processed, and this can result in a significant waste of power.
In addition, conventional DSPs suffer from aliasing and quantization error. Aliasing occurs because the input signal mixes with the clock frequency, resulting in distortion that is present when the signal is reconstructed from the samples. Quantization error is produced by the inaccuracies inherent in turning the continuous amplitude range of an analog input signal into the discrete levels of a digitized signal, and these errors can be spread across all frequencies in a conventional DSP. Techniques such as dithering and non-uniform sampling may reduce or modify one or both of these undesired effects, but residual aliasing and/or quantization noise typically remains even after applying such techniques.

THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK


A zoom lens having a high zoom ratio and also a small size is proposed. The zoom lens has a front group of lenses and a rear group of lenses. The front group of lenses has a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens. The first lens is a meniscus negative lens. The second lens is a biconcave lens negative lens. The third lens is a positive lens. The rear group of lenses has a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, and a seventh lens. The fourth lens is a positive lens. The fifth lens is a biconvex lens. The sixth lens is a meniscus negative lens. The seventh lens is a meniscus negative lens. The fourth and seventh lenses are aspheric lenses made of plastic material. The proposed zoom lens can meet the requirement of miniaturized size and also maintain the image quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens and, more particularly, to a solid-state two-group type retrofocus zoom lens that can be used in small image capturing devices such as camcorders and digital still cameras.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, the trend in image capturing devices has been for miniaturization. Because zoom lenses are key components of the image capturing devices, the trend has also been for small size, lightweight, and cheap lenses.
In the prior art, the design of the two-group type zoom lens used in a camera can generally be classified into two categories. The first is the telephoto type, which is a two-group type lens having a front group with a positive diopter and a rear group with a negative diopter. The air gap between the two groups is used to change the focal length. The telephoto type zoom lens is characterized by a shorter rear focal length by moving forwards the rear principal plane of the lens.
The second is the retrofocus type, which is a two-group type lens having a front group with a negative diopter and a rear group with a positive diopter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,473 disclosed a retrofocus zoom lens with a zoom ratio that cannot exceed 2 but only reaches 1.8, thus being not able to meet the requirement of the high zoom ratio of recent image capturing devices. Retrofocus zoom lenses are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,629 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,820, respectively. Because the size of a zoom lens strongly depends on the image sensor size, the ratio of the total track of the zoom system to the image sensor size is a key miniaturization parameter for the size of a zoom lens. This ratio should be made as small as possible. However, this ratio is about 10 in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,629, and it is even larger than 16 in U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,820. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,1759,473, this ratio also reaches 14.


A door lock includes a bracket fixed to a door. A linking rod is slideably mounted to the bracket and includes a slot. A draw member includes a first end pivotably connected to the bracket and a second end operably connected to a retractor. The draw member further includes a guide slot. A pin slideably extends through the slot and the guide slot such that the movement of the linking rod causes pivotal movement of the draw member, which in turn, urges the retractor to move a latch bolt from an extended position to a retracted position. A follower is coupled to the pin to move therewith. An adjusting member is in threading connection with the follower and rotatable to move the follower and the pin relative to the linking rod to adjust a position of the second end of the draw member relative to the retractor.

The present invention relates to a driving mechanism for a door lock and, more particularly, to an adjustable driving mechanism for a panic door lock.
A typical panic door lock mounted to a panic door includes a press bar mounted to a side of the panic door and a lock body inside the panic door. The lock body includes a latch bolt movable between an extended, latching position and a retracted, unlatching position and a retractor for moving the latch bolt from the extended position to the retracted position. A driving mechanism is operably connected between the latch bolt and the press bar. The driving mechanism includes a draw member abutting the retractor. When the press bar is pressed, the draw bar urges the retractor to move, causing retraction of the latch bolt. However, in a case that the driving mechanism is installed in a position such that a spacing exists between the draw member and the retractor, the draw member travel idly through the spacing without moving the retractor when the press bar is pressed. As a result, the latch bolt can not move to its fully retracted, unlatching position, adversely affecting operation of the door and requiring troublesome reinstallation of the driving mechanism.
A need exists for an adjustable driving mechanism for a panic door lock such that the position of the draw member relative to the retractor can be adjusted to avoid troublesome reinstallation of the driving mechanism.

Adjustable driving mechanism for panic door lock