A surgical clip having first and second separate pieces for ligating a vessel therebetween, an applicator for applying the clip to the vessel, and a method of use thereof. The surgical clip comprises a first tube having a longitudinal slot formed through the outer wall thereof and communicating with a passage extending therethrough for receiving a second tube into the passage of the first tube and circumferentially ligating a vessel positioned in a second channel transverse to and communicating with the first passage. Tangs or projections extend from the outer wall of the first tube about the longitudinal slot thereof and into the passage of the first tube for engaging the walls about a slot in the second tube and securably positioning the second tube in the passage of the first tube. An applicator includes a main housing having a vessel channel for positioning the first tube therein. The vessel channel also includes vessel access openings for transversely positioning a vessel through openings in the first tube outer wall. An insertion mechanism carrying a plurality of second piece tubes slides over the inserted vessel and first tube and securably positions a second tube in the passage of the first piece tube for circumferentially ligating the vessel positioned therebetween.

Several different types of one-piece surgical clips are known for ligating vessels and ducts. One type utilizes a V-shape for pinching the vessel closed between the straight legs of the one-piece clip. A problem with this V-shaped configuration is that as the legs of the clip are brought together, the vessel is commonly pushed either partially or completely out from between the free ends of the legs. In addition, vessels and ducts of the human body are inherently slippery and very elastic, which compounds the problem of open-ended clips being unable to completely ligate or clamp a vessel shut. To combat these problems, physicians typically strip or dissect tissue from a vessel to be ligated for circumferential exposure. Even then, the physician must push the open-ended clip against the vessel and away from his line of sight. Knowing this, physicians typically place additional ligating clips in an effort to ensure that a vessel or duct is completely clamped shut. A problem with this approach is that many needless clips are utilized and that the length of an exposed vessel or duct can be limited for the placement of these additional clips. Another problem is that loose or detached clips must be retrieved, which is time consuming, particularly in an endoscopic procedure. One solution to this problem has been to utilize a modified V-shaped configuration in which a knee-bend is formed in each of the legs. This modified V-shaped configuration allows the bent legs to be closed in a parallel manner. However, vessels still slip or slide out of these modified V-shaped ligating clips during application to a vessel or duct.
Another type of one-piece surgical clip employs a generally U-shaped configuration and also closes in a parallel manner similar to the modified V-shaped clip. However, the position of the kink formed in the U-shaped bend during closure of the clip must be carefully controlled to maintain the relative position of the legs. Otherwise, the U-shaped clip becomes V-shaped with all the aforementioned problems of vessel slippage.
Although the U-shaped clip and the knee bend in each of the legs of the modified V-shaped clip are intended to reduce vessel slippage out the open end, vessels are still very wet and slippery and tend to slide out of these open-ended clips. To further reduce vessel slippage out of the U-shaped and modified V-shaped clips, serrations or indentations have been formed on the inside of the legs for gripping and holding the vessel during closure of the clip. In spite of these multiple improvements to reduce slippage of the vessel out the open end, the vessel is often not completely clamped shut by the clip, thus requiring placement of additional ligating clips.
Another modification to the U-shaped or modified V-shaped one-piece clip is the use of a hook and catch at the ends of the legs. This hook and catch combination provides closure around the entire circumference of the vessel, thus reducing the problem of vessel slippage out the open end of the clip. However, this hook and catch combination often does not close around oversized vessels and is susceptible to reopening due to lateral or up-and-down movement of the clip legs. When the hook and catch disengages, the vessel can slide, once again, out the open end of the clip. In an attempt to correct this disengagement problem, several one-piece hook and catch clips include one or more lateral stops. The lateral stops reduce lateral or up-and-down movement of the hook and catch in opposite directions.
A separate two-piece clip is used to bridge an incision in fascia tissue, but not to ligate a vessel or duct. The fascia clip includes an elongated base and a flexible strap that is passed through separate openings at the opposite ends of the base. The base is sized to bridge over the incision. The strap has a pointed distal end for passage through the opening at one end of the base, through the fascia tissue, and under the incision. An applicator holding the fascia tissue in position directs the distal end of the strap once again through the fascia tissue on the other side of the incision and through the opening at the opposite end of the clip base. An enlarged head at one end of the strap prevents passage through one opening of the strap, while teeth at the other end of the strap engage the opening at the opposite end of the strap. Although suited for bridging an incision in fascia tissue, this two-piece fascia clip is not suitable for duct or vessel ligation due to the construction of the required clip applicator. In addition, this two-piece fascia clip is unsuitable for minimally invasive procedures, which typically utilize a hollow 10 mm access sheath.

Two part surgical ligating clip, applicator and method of use


Tracking of memory block relocation when write occur to memory blocks. After detecting a write operation to be performed on a particular target memory block, it is identified whether the write operation is due to a relocation of data from another memory block. Depending at least in part on this result, the modified data may not need to be included in a subsequent incremental backup. If appropriate, relocation data is included instead. This may potentially reduce the size of the incremental backup, especially in cases in which there were many memory block movements since the last backup, as is the case with defragmentation.

Computing technology has transformed the way we work and play. Business, residences, and other enterprises have come to rely on computing systems to manage their key operational data. Often, the data itself is many times more valuable to an enterprise than the computing hardware that stores the data. Accordingly, in this information age, many enterprises have taken precautions to protect their data.
One way of protecting data is to introduce storage redundancy. For example, a primary computing system maintains and operates upon the active data. Meanwhile, a backup computing system maintains a copy of the data as the active data existed at a previous instant in time. The backup copy of the data is periodically updated. More frequent updates tend to increase the freshness of the data at the backup computing system.
In order provide such a backup copy to the backup computing system, resources associated with the channel between the primary and backup computing systems are used. For example, when the primary and backup computing systems are located across a network, network bandwidth and other resources are consumed. Even if the primary and backup computing systems are located on the same machine, disk access time and processing resources are expended.
In order to reduce the channel resources expended in order to transfer the backup copy, incremental backup technology is employed. Initially, a full backup is performed such that the backed up memory blocks on the backup computing system have the same content as the corresponding primary memory blocks on the primary computing system. Moving forward from the time of the last backup, the primary computing system may continue to operate on the primary data. As this happens, the content of certain memory blocks (e.g., disk sectors or clusters) on the primary computing system may change due to writes to such memory blocks. During a subsequent incremental backup operation, only the content for the associated primary memory blocks that have changed since the time of the last backup operation are transferred to the backup computing system.
The use of incremental backup technology can significantly reduce the channel resources used to perform the backup in many situations. After all, an incremental backup captures only the changed memory blocks that are still in use by the file system. However, if a disk defragmenter runs after the full backup is taken, then a large number of memory blocks change as the data is rearranged. In the worst case, where most sectors are rearranged, the subsequent incremental backup can approach the same size as the initial full backup, even though none of the internal file data has changed.

Relocation tracking during write operation


Systems and methods for remotely monitoring and detecting faults in power distribution systems. In one embodiment, a remote fault monitoring system comprises a plurality of remote fault detection devices distributed on a power distribution network, and a monitoring station. Each remote detect device includes a first electrical parameter measurement circuit electrically or electromagnetically coupled to a neutral power distribution circuit conductor, and a second electrical parameter measurement circuit electrically or electromagnetically coupled to a power distribution circuit ground conductor. The monitoring station receives measurements transmitted by the remote fault detection devices and determines from the measurements whether a fault intermediate a pair of adjacent remote fault detection devices has occurred.

Power distribution circuits typically used by electric utilities can experience various faults that disrupt service to consumers of electricity. Causes of such faults include electrical insulation breakdown or mechanical failures. Most commonly, faults are manifested as short circuits from line to ground, but line to line short circuits and open circuit faults can also occur. When these events occur, safety devices, such as circuit breakers, can be automatically actuated to shut down the distribution circuit. It is important for the utility and its customers to have the problem located and repaired as quickly as possible so that electrical service can be restored with minimal down time. In practice, because power transmission or distribution circuits extend over large distances, repair crews must patrol the entire line section. Locating faults is thus presently time consuming and expensive due to the lost revenue and the cost of lengthy troubleshooting.
Systems known in the art for localizing power line faults include stand-alone (independently-functioning) fault detection devices deployed on distribution feeders that emit light or audible alarm signal when they detect an abnormally high current magnitude. This approach, however, does not eliminate the need for repair crews to examine long stretches of power line as part of troubleshooting a line fault. There are also other devices known in the art that can be equipped with contact outputs for use with a supervisory control and supervision (SCADA) system, but no integrated system approach exists to date for localizing faults potentially occurring over a long stretch of power line.
Other systems known in the art rely on a variety of techniques for identifying and localizing power line faults. These techniques include methods of wave modeling, impedance evaluation, signal injection, and multi-phase analysis techniques. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,917 discloses a double-ended distance-to-fault location system using time-synchronized positive- or negative-sequence voltage and current measurements from both ends of an overhead transmission line to determine the exact distance to a fault with respect to either end. U.S. Pat. No. 6,924,647 discloses a fault location method and device, wherein the method includes the step of measuring the apparent impedances of impedance relays at line terminals at each end. U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,543 discloses a fault type selection system for identifying faults in an electric power system. The fault identification system includes a first logic circuit which is responsive to conventional protective elements which recognize the presence of low resistance single line-to-ground faults for the A, B, and C phases on a power transmission line. Other systems and methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,428,549; 6,415,244; 6,477,475; 6,756,786; 6,822,457; and 6,917,888. All of the aforementioned patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Another problem experienced by utilities involves a reverse electromotive force (EMF) generated by certain loads in a power outage. Motorized equipment and appliances (air conditioners, for example) that are loads on a broken distribution circuit can, following a fault, generate an EMF in the broken circuit section that appears as a flow of power from the load in a direction opposite the ordinary flow of power during normal system operation. For example, in the case of a line fault affecting one of three phases of a power distribution circuit, a three-phase motor powered by the remaining two phases will continue running, and may well operate as a power generator producing a reverse EMF back onto the wire of the faulty phase. Measuring line current magnitude, alone, near the fault point, is therefore sometimes insufficient to distinguish between an actual fault and a momentary imbalance of the distribution circuit.
Other drawbacks associated with conventional current measuring devices include the hazards associated with installing these kinds of devices on high voltage power lines. Therefore, a need remains in the industry for an efficient and effective fault monitoring system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A cattle stanchion has a frame supporting animal restraint mechanism which includes an enclosed latching and release mechanism and an enclosed lockout means capable of operating in various positions. The frame is comprised of relatively thin welded section materials providing strength and rigidity while retaining light weight. The animal restraint mechanism is comprised of a support bar attached to the frame and a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the support bar. The enclosed latching and release mechanism is mounted on the top of the frame and cooperates with the rocker arm to perform the cattle stanchion's free feed, self-catch, single release, and group release functions. The stanchion's lock-out function is performed by the lock-out means.

This invention relates to a latching and release mechanism for cattle stanchions, more particularly to such stanchions that are self-latching, self, or group, releasing and/or locking in either an open or closed position and it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus of this nature.
Cattle stanchions for holding and releasing cows during milking, feeding, and/or veterinary treating are well-known and exist in many varieties. The goal in improvements of these devices and their systems is to make an apparatus that is relatively easy to maintain and operate, and that permits the cattle to trap themselves. Also, an operator must be able to release the cattle individually or as a group.
For prior art devices of this nature, see patents to Albers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,592, Albers U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,592, Anderson U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,387, and particularly to Anderson U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,265. In each of the Albers patents there is disclosed a fixed stanchion arrangement involving a fixed stanchion and a release stanchion which includes latching or locking mechanism carried on its upper end.
The Anderson U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,592 provides an improved self-catch or latch stanchion operated in part by gravity and in which the opening and closing operating mechanism is independent of the latch/release mechanism. Also, a manual release mechanism is provided so that a cow may be released under the circumstances where the cow has fallen and needs to be released separately. Also see the following U.S. Pat. No. 737,884 (Thompson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,813 (Albers), U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,566 (Albers), U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,592 (Albers Sr.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,815 (Albers, Sr.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,897 (Albers, Sr.), U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,604 (Neilsen et al), U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,105 (Hatfield), U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,813 (DaSilveira).


Computer-implemented processes for making refractory metal pots, including: cutting an a refractory metal ingot into a first workpiece; subjecting the first workpiece to multiple upset forgings, annealings in a vacuum or inert gas to a temperature sufficiently high to cause at least partial recrystallization, forging-backs, and rollings to form a plate; wherein the forged, annealed workpiece undergoes a reduction in thickness after at least one rolling pass and is turned between at least one pass, to form the plate; and deep drawing the plate to form a pot; wherein dimensions of at least one workpiece or plate suitable for processing into a pot are pre-determined with a computer-implemented finite element modeling assessment method.

Historically, the tooling for the fabrication of metal pots by deep drawing is developed by trial and error. Usually, it takes several iterations and experiments. For expensive materials such as refractory metals, e.g. tantalum, the cost of material consumed in such experiments can be prohibitively high. Also, ordinary methods produce pots having poor grain structure. Conventionally prepared metal pots are made of standard grade ingot-derived plates. These plates are known for their coarse and non-uniform grains, as well as for non-uniform crystallographic texture, particularly for tantalum and niobium. Unfortunately, these plates are unsuitable for use as components in sputtering targets.
For the foregoing reasons, it would be desired to develop better methods for making pots with properties suitable for use as sputtering targets, and being more cost-effective in both development and production.


The equipment for desalination of water by reverse osmosis comprises: a pump 1 for drawing the water to be salinated, a high pressure pump 25, a cylindrical block 8 housing two pistons 3, 4 connected to one another by a shaft 5 and disposed, freely slidable and liquid-tight, within respective cylinders 6, 7 being part of the same block (8) and separated from one another by a central plate 9, the latter being liquid-tight; the equipment further comprises an exchange valve 14 controlled by the position of said pistons 3, 4, as well as a cylinder or, in general, one or more containers, possibly arranged in series, in parallel or in series/parallel 15, containing one or more reverse osmosis membranes (16).

The present invention relates to equipment for desalination of water by reverse osmosis which allows energy recovery through various solutions and related variants.
It is known that the filtration of a liquid by reverse osmosis requires the use of high pressures and that the conventional equipment used therefore, producing high pressures by means of a high pressure pump and a throttle valve, has low energy efficiency.
The main object of the present invention is to provide equipment for desalination of water by reverse osmosis whereby an energy saving is achieved.
In a first solution, the high pressure needed for the reverse osmosis process is achieved through a device able to hydraulically amplify the pressure provided by low pressure pumps.
Therefore, this equipment doesn""t need the high pressure pumps of a conventional reverse osmosis system, but can make use of low pressure pumps, suitably connected to a pressure amplifier (described hereinbelow) as well as to the reverse osmosis membranes.
The energy saving is thus achieved through the considerable reduction of the system feeding pressure, which is amplified by a passive amplifying device.
In a second solution, the high pressure needed for the reverse osmosis pressure is achieved through a conventional high pressure pump.
However, the flow rate of this pump is not equal to the total flow rate of the water to be treated, as in the conventional systems, but is only equal to the flow rate of fresh water produced by the system.
This is achieved through a hydraulic device (described hereinbelow) which forms a closed circuit between the inlet and the outlet of the reverse osmosis membrane, allowing a fresh water production equal to the flow rate provided by the high pressure pump.
The energy saving is thus achieved through the considerable reduction of the flow rate of the high pressure pump for feeding the system.
The present invention also involves various switching systems or the cycle reversal valve as well as arrangements for further increasing the working flexibility of the system.

Equipment for desalination of water by reverse osmosis with energy recovery


In a solenoid portion of a solenoid valve, a fixed core for axially attracting a plunger due to magnetic force generated by a magnetic coil is divided into two. One is a cylindrical yoke having an opening at an axial end and a bottom at the other axial end. The other one is a cylindrical stator core having a flange protruding radially outwardly at an axial end thereof. The bottom of the yoke is provided with a thick body portion having a center recess. The inner surface of the opening of the yoke is fitted to an outer surface of the flange and the inner surface of the recess of the thick body portion is fitted to an outer surface of the stator core. Accordingly, constructions of molding dies for manufacturing the yoke and the stator core are simple. Further, only limited surfaces of the yoke and the stator core, which are fitted to each other, need accurate dimensions so that magnetic gap is minimized.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-284633 filed on Sep. 20, 2000, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator having a coil bobbin, a magnetic coil, a yoke, a fixed core and a moving core, which is a solenoid valve applicable, in particular, to a hydraulic control apparatus of an automatic transmission for vehicles.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, in an electromagnetic actuator for driving a spool accommodated to move axially in a housing that is provided in a hydraulic system circuit of an automatic transmission for a vehicle, as shown in FIG. 9, a solenoid portion 100 is composed of a stator core 101, a coil bobbin 102 fixed to a radial outer circumference of the stator core 101, a magnetic coil (solenoid coil) 103 wound on the coil bobbin 102, a moving core housed inside the stator core 101 and a yoke 105 positioned on an outer circumferential side of the magnetic coil 103. The moving core 104 is attracted axially in the stator core 101 by magnetic force exerted on energizing the magnetic coil 103.
The coil bobbin 102 and the magnetic coil 103 constitute a coil assembly 106. The stator core 101, which is arranged on inner circumferential side of the coil assembly 106, has first and second flanges 111 and 112 between which the coil assembly 106 is axially sandwiched. The coil bobbin 102 has first and second flange portions 121 and 122 between which the magnetic coil 103 is wound. The yoke 105 is shaped as a cylinder having a bottom wall 151 at an axial end thereof.
According to the conventional solenoid portion 100, the stator core 101 is manufactured by plastic working (cold forging) in use of separable molding dies whose constructions are complicated since the stator core 101 is provided at axial opposite ends thereof with the first and second flanges 111 and 112. Accordingly, the conventional stator core 101, whose manufacturing is not easy from a standpoint of its construction, has a drawback that the manufacturing cost is higher. Further, in the conventional solenoid portion 100, each dimensional accuracy of an inner diameter of the yoke 105 and an outer diameter of the stator core 101 over a whole axial length thereof is required when the stator 101 is assembled to the yoke 105 because it is important for securing better product performance to minimize a magnetic gap between the outer circumference of the stator core 101 and the inner circumference of the yoke 105, resulting in lower working efficiency and less manufacturing productivity.
In view of the above-described problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electromagnetic actuator having first and second magnetic elements to be manufactured without using dividable complicated molding dies so that the manufacturing cost of the electromagnetic actuator is lower.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide the electromagnetic actuator in which a magnetic gap between the first and second magnetic element is minimized so that product performance of the actuator is improved.
To accomplish the above-described object, the electromagnetic actuator has a magnetic coil for generating magnetic force when energized, a cylindrical resin molding member having first and second flange portions between which the magnetic coil is wound, a moving core positioned at a radial inside of the resin molding member and axially movable due to the magnetic force generated on energizing the magnetic coil and first and second magnetic element to be magnetized by the magnetic force generated on energizing the magnetic coil.
With the electromagnetic actuator, the first magnetic element is positioned at a radial outside of the magnetic coil and provided at an inner circumference of an axial end thereof with a first protruding portion extending radially inward. The second magnetic element is disposed between a radial outside of the moving core and a radial inside of the magnetic coil and provided at an outer circumference of an axial end thereof on a side opposite to the axial end of the first magnetic element with a second protruding portion extending radially outward. The first and second flange portions are axially sandwiched between and supported by the first and second protruding portions.
It is preferable that the first magnetic element is provided at the other axial end thereof with an opening whose inner circumference is fitted to an outer circumference of the second protruding portion and the first protruding portion is provided in a center thereof with an inner recess whose inner circumference is fitted to an outer circumference of the second magnetic element. Accordingly, to minimize the magnetic gap, only limited surfaces of the first and second magnetic elements, which are fitted to each other for assembly, need accurate dimensions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an electromagnetic actuator whose parts and components are assembled from the same side, resulting in improving assemble efficiency and manufacturing productivity.
To achieve the object, in an electromagnetic actuator having a magnetic coil, a yoke, a moving core and a fixed core, while the yoke made of magnetic material is formed in shape of a cylinder having a bottom at an axial end and an opening at the other axial end, the moving and fixed cores both made of magnetic material are formed in a given shape, respectively. Then, the moving core is assembled to the yoke by axially moving and inserting the moving core into an inside of the yoke from the opening of the yoke toward the bottom thereof. On the other hand, after forming a primary resin part having first and second flange portions on an outer circumference of the fixed core by integral resin molding and, then, winding the magnetic coil on the primary resin part between the first and second flange portions, a secondary resin part is formed over an outer circumference of the magnetic coil by integral resin molding. Accordingly, a coil assembly, in which the magnetic coil and the primary and secondary resin parts are integrated with the fixed core, is completed. Then, the coil assembly is assembled to the yoke by axially moving and inserting the coil assembly into a space between an inner circumference of the yoke and an outer circumference of the moving core from the opening of the yoke toward the bottom thereof.


Accurate temperature measurement during manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible is enabled. The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible including: a mold for forming a silica powder layer by supplying silica powder therein; an are discharge unit having carbon electrodes and a power supply unit and for heating and fusing the silica powder layer by arc discharge; and a temperature measurement unit for measuring temperature of a fused portion in the mold, wherein the temperature measurement unit is an radiation thermometer for measuring temperature by detecting radiation energy of a wavelength of 4.8 to 5.2 μm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible, and in particular relates to a technique suitable for controlling the inner surface property of a vitreous silica crucible used for pulling a silicon single crystal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A silicon single crystal has been manufactured by the Czochralski method (the CZ method) using a vitreous silica crucible. In this method, polycrystalline silicon raw material is melted and retained in the vitreous silica crucible, a seed crystal of silicon single crystal is dipped into the silicon melt, and the seed crystal is gradually pulled while rotating it, to produce a silicon single crystal by use of the seed crystal as a core.
The vitreous silica crucible used in this method has two-layer structure including an outer layer containing a number of bubbles and a transparent inner layer. It is known that the property of the crucible inner surface which contacts silicon melt while pulling a single crystal influences the property of the obtained silicon single crystal, and thus influences the yield of silicon wafers which are the final products.
Thus, there is known a vitreous silica crucible having structure of an inner layer made of synthetic vitreous silica and an outer layer made of natural vitreous silica.
For example, when silicon is melted in a vitreous silica crucible and a single crystal is pulled therefrom, melt surface vibration occurs and thus seeding of a seed crystal becomes difficult. In this case, the melt surface vibration prevents pulling of a silicon single crystal or prevents single crystallization. The problem of the melt surface vibration becomes more eminent as the diameter of the silicon crystal increases. Thus, it has been further demanded to improve the inner surface property of the vitreous silica crucible. JP-A-2002-154894 discloses one method of coping with this problem.
Furthermore, in order to obtain a wafer having a diameter of 300 mm or more, i.e. approx. 450 mm, it has been demanded to increase the diameter of a silicon single crystal. This demand elongates the time for pulling a single crystal, and thus elongates the time during which the crucible inner surface contacts silicon melt of 1400 deg. C. or more. This causes the following problem.
When the time for pulling is elongated, the contact time of the crucible inner surface with silicon melt is also elongated. In this case, the crucible inner surface reacts with silicon melt, to cause crystallization in the surface or a shallow layer from the surface of the crucible inner surface. The reaction causes ring-shaped brown cristobalite (hereinafter, the ring-shaped cristobalite is referred to as "brown ring"). A cristobalite layer is not formed in the inside of the brown ring, or if any, the cristobalite layer is a thin layer. The brown ring increases the area as the increase of the operation time, and the adjacent brown rings merge and grow. Finally, the center of the brown ring is corroded to expose irregular vitreous silica corroded surface.
When tiny pieces of vitreous silica detaches from the vitreous silica corroded surface, dislocation is more likely to occur in the silicon single crystal, and thus deteriorates the single crystallization yield. In particular, in order to grow a silicon single crystal for manufacturing a wafer having a diameter of 300 mm, it is necessary to continue the operation of the CZ method for 100 hours or more, and thus the vitreous silica corroded surface is more likely to appear.
It is considered that the aforementioned brown ring is generated from a core which is a tiny scratch on the vitreous silica surface, a crystalline residual portion which is an unfused portion of material silica powder, or a defect of vitreous silica structure. It is considered that the number of the brown rings can be reduced by maintaining a good surface state of vitreous silica, or reducing the crystalline residual portion by fusing silica powder at higher temperature and for a longer time in the vitreous silica crucible manufacturing process. Furthermore, as described in JP-B-2811290 and JP-B-2933404, amorphous synthetic silica powder can be used as material silica powder for forming the inner surface.
Synthetic vitreous silica made of amorphous synthetic silica powder contains impurities in an extremely small amount, and thus the use of synthetic silica powder can reduce the number of brown rings. However, the crucible having an inner layer of synthetic vitreous silica has a drawback in that melt surface vibration is more likely to occur when polysilicon is melted in the crucible having an inner layer of synthetic vitreous silica than a crucible having an inner layer made of natural vitreous silica. The vibration is in particular observed from a seeding process to a shoulder formation process, and at initial stage of pulling a first half of the body of a single crystal. Therefore, the melt surface vibration necessitated longer time for seeding, disturbed crystallization, and necessitated meltback, which led to drop in the productivity.
Furthermore, JP-A-2001-89171 discloses, in the embodiment, an apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible by the rotating mold method carried out by arc fusing. This document describes that the apparatus is provided with a means to prevent mix-in of carbon, and thus it is possible to manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible having an inner surface with reduced impurities. Furthermore, JP-B-3926167 discloses, in the embodiment, an apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible, which is provided with an are fusing apparatus having a radiation thermometer disposed above the arc electrodes.

Method for manufacturing vitreous silica crucible


Disclosed is a surface foreign substance detector for a transparent or translucent film. The surface foreign substance detector for a transparent or translucent film according to the present invention comprises: an optical unit; an optical housing accommodating the optical unit therein; a light emission unit emitting light to the film; and a film holder providing a loading surface such that the film can be loaded thereon and made of a light-absorbing material capable of absorbing light or reflecting the light at a predetermined ratio or less. According to the present invention, the holder supporter is manufactured by using a material capable of generating a predetermined electrostatic force or more between the holder supporter and the foreign substances floating in a surrounding space to prevent foreign substances floating or scattered in a surrounding work space from being moved to the film side, thereby improving detection reliability.

In general, as the industry becomes more advanced, a need to control particles such as dust has been increased in production sites as well as in official environments. In order to prevent adverse effects of the particles on a product by keeping the production site clean at all times, a clean room has been introduced.
Such a clean room is a space in which contamination control is performed by controlling a concentration of airborne particles within a specified cleanliness level limit and refers to a space which is controlled and managed even in environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, room pressure, illuminance, noise, vibration, etc. Currently, the clean room is being introduced and operated in various industries such as semiconductors, LCD displays, flights, pharmaceuticals, hospitals, and foods.
In particular, in a high-tech industry including nano-scale and high-precise processes such as a semiconductor manufacturing process and an LCD display manufacturing process, since minute environmental conditions at sites where products are manufactured may also greatly affect the quality of the products, the cleanliness required in the clean room is gradually increasing. For example, in the semiconductor manufacturing process, pattern defects caused by depositing particles oscillated from an automated device or the like on a wafer surface have been pointed out as a major cause of yield reduction of the products.
As such, when particles are present at the site of manufacturing the products, the particles may be moved to the products during the manufacturing process to cause fatal product defects. These particles are accumulated in ceilings, walls, floors, production and measurement facilities, and various tools in the site of manufacturing the products and also attached to the surface of worker's clothing. In addition, surface particles which have been accumulated on the surface of a worker, an object, or adjacent portions thereof by causing movement of airflow according to movement of robots, workers, products and the imbalance of spatial temperature to contaminate the products, resulting in product defects.
Further, a test film for detecting surface particles in a clean room has been developed to more easily and accurately detect foreign substances, and the present applicant has developed a foreign substance detector that allows an inspector to accurately and reliably detect the foreign substances using such a test film and proposed the foreign substance detector.
Currently, a device such as a foreign substance inspecting device for a flat panel display device has been developed and applied instead of films such as the test film. However, there is a problem in that the device is difficult to have sufficient reliability in accuracy for detecting the foreign substances, and the inspection results are changed by working environment requirements around the inspection site.
In addition, as the prior art related thereto, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1042143 (registered on Jun. 10, 2011) is disclosed.

Surface foreign substance detector for transparent or translucent film


A radiation-emitting and/or radiation-receiving semiconductor component comprising a radiation-emitting and/or radiation-receiving semiconductor chip, a molded plastic part which is transparent to an electromagnetic radiation to be emitted and/or received by the semiconductor component and by which the semiconductor chip is at least partially overmolded, and external electrical leads that are electrically connected to electrical contact areas of the semiconductor chip. The molded plastic part is made of a reaction-curing silicone molding compound. A method of making such a semiconductor component is also specified.

Such semiconductor components are known for example from WO 01/50540. In the component described in that document, a semiconductor chip is mounted on a leadframe. The semiconductor chip and subregions of the leadframe are encapsulated by a transfer-molded plastic body. External electrical leads of the leadframe protrude from the molded plastic body. The molded plastic body is made for example of an epoxy resin and may contain an inorganic or organic conversion agent as well as fillers.
Another type of optoelectronic component is described for example in WO 99/07023. In that case, a leadframe with the semiconductor chip on it is overmolded by a housing base body comprising a reflector-type recess. The semiconductor chip is disposed in the recess. After the semiconductor chip has been mounted, the recess is filled with a radiation-transparent or, frequently, transparent potting compound at least to a sufficient extent to encapsulate the semiconductor chip and any bonding wires from the chip to the leadframe. A known potting compound for such types of construction is, for example, transparent epoxy casting resin. Similar constructions are known for example from WO 98/12757.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,924 B1 describes a surface-mountable LED package wherein a rigid plastic body in which the semiconductor chip is disposed and electrically connected to external electrical leads of a leadframe is filled with a soft, radiation-transparent encapsulant, for example silicone. A lens cap is placed on the plastic body. This lens cap on the one hand gives the encapsulant a defined shape, and on the other hand keeps it from leaking out of the housing base body. Due to the comparatively large number of package components, this type of LED package requires comparatively high production expenditure.

Radiation-emitting and/or radiation-receiving semiconductor component and method for the production thereof


The present disclosure relates an evacuation management system, EMS, (40, 52, 60, 00, 200) operative to provide real-time evacuation information for evacuation of a building, triggered by alarm notification (S202). Based on determined (S214) precise real-time positions of personal ultra-wide band, UWB, devices, as determined by UWB real-time localization system, RTLS, a controller determines (S210) evacuation plans being personal UWB device specific in real-time. Based on individual evacuation plans and input from building facilities, real-time guidance information is defined (S208) and sent to each personal UWB device, providing guidance to person carrying said personal UWB device, in what direction to move (S212), to reach a safe area. Based on localization signals the UWB RTLSA then calculates updated positions of the personal UWB devices and sends to the evacuation management system. It is an advantage that trapped or injured people can be found, even in low visibility areas.

Evacuation systems that are installed in offices and other buildings are based on emergency buttons initiating an alarm and emergency signs showing an evacuation route from a specific location. Emergency signs are typically off-line, i.e. not connected to any network, and can show the direction of a pre-defined evacuation route.
KR2012031787A presents recording location of service men in a secure area. A security and management system within a smart building capable of monitoring access to people in real time by using a real time locating system.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,751,265B2 presents location-based information for emergency management, capable of notifying people in an emergency area.
KR20140114477A discloses a method for providing emergency management service by using machine-to-machine communication. This involves providing digital network resource of an integrated service from wearable-type terminal to server when a user is in emergency; to monitor health values with a wearable terminal having machine-to-machine communication capability.
There are several studies discussing properties and design of the optimal evacuation strategies and the movement of people or pedestrians in various building layouts.
Prior-art connected techniques also focus on notifying and monitoring the health of people when being inside or near to an emergency, but to the best of our knowledge, fail to give up-to-date information to these people to help them to get out of the dangerous area.
There is a demand for a technique with which individual-specific evacuation plans can be defined, taking into account real-time progression of the emergency.

Real-time managing evacuation of a building


A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for reporting global errors in a logical partitioned data processing system having a plurality of partitions running different types operating systems. Responsive to detecting a global error, a unique identifier is assigned to the global error. The unique identifier is sent to a service focal point. The unique identifier also is sent to the partitions. Error information from the partitions is reported to the focal point. The partitions send error information to the focal point in association with the unique identifier. The focal point identifies error information sent from the partitions for the global error using the unique identifier.

1. Technical Field
The present invention related generally to an improved data processing system and in particular, to a method and apparatus for processing data. Still, more particularly, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for reporting global errors on a logical partitioned data processing system having different types of operating systems.
2. Description of Related Art
A logical partitioned (LPAR) functionality within a data processing system (platform) allows multiple copies of a single operating system (OS) or multiple heterogeneous operating systems to be simultaneously run on a single data processing system platform. A partition, within which an operating system image runs, is assigned a non-overlapping subset of the platform's resources. These platform allocable resources include one or more architecturally distinct processors with their interrupt management area, regions of system memory, and input/output (I/O) adapter bus slots. The partition's resources are represented by the platform's firmware to the OS image.
Each distinct OS or image of an OS running within the platform is protected from each other such that software errors on one logical partition cannot affect the correct operation of any of the other partitions. This is provided by allocating a disjoint set of platform resources to be directly managed by each OS image and by providing mechanisms for ensuring that the various images cannot control any resources that have not been allocated to it. Furthermore, software errors in the control of an operating system's allocated resources are prevented from affecting the resources of any other image. Thus, each image of the OS (or each different OS) directly controls a distinct set of allocable resources within the platform.
With respect to hardware resources in a LPAR system, these resources are disjointly shared among various partitions, themselves disjoint, each one seeming to be a stand-alone computer. These resources may include, for example, input/output (I/O) adapters, processors, and hard disk drives. Each partition within the LPAR system may be booted and shutdown over and over without having to power-cycle the whole system.
In a logical partitioned data processing system, a class of errors, called "local errors", are only reported to the assigned or owning partition's operating system. Failures of I/O adapters assigned to a single partition's operating system are examples of local errors. Global errors are a second class of errors that may occur in a logical partitioned data processing system. These types of errors are reported to each of the operating systems in the partitions because these types of errors can potentially affect each partition's operation. Global errors occur when failures in resources shared by multiple partitions occur. Power supply, memory, fan, host bridge, and processor failures are examples of global errors.
Reporting of global errors allows for repair actions. In current logical partitioned data processing system, different operating systems may run on different partitions. For example, AIX, OS/400 and LINUX may each run in a different partition in a logical partitioned data processing system. Servicing such a system can be difficult because of the different reporting processes employed by the different operating systems running on the partitions.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for reporting global errors in a logical partitioned data processing system in which different types of operating systems are present in the partitions.

Method and apparatus for reporting global errors on heterogeneous partitioned systems

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for improving bonding and sealing in a well, comprising providing a wellbore, providing a pipe, coating an outside surface of the pipe with an adhesive thermoplastic resin, running the coated pipe into the wellbore, and causing the temperature of said wellbore to increase to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of said adhesive thermoplastic resin.

The practice of cementing wells to provide isolation between exposed formations along a wellbore has been used in the drilling industry for a century. It is estimated over a billion sacks of cement have been used for this purpose. The process of primary and remedial cementing has been extensively studied over the past six decades and many improvements have been made which increase the effectiveness of the process in order to achieve zonal isolation. However, there are several fundamental limitations in the current state of the art of cementing wells that limit success in providing the most effective zonal isolation.
One limitation is that it is difficult to completely remove or displace all the drilling fluid (or other fluid) in the wellbore with cement slurry when placing the cement during the primary cementing process. Another limitation is that the cement does not bond (or adhere) satisfactorily to casing surfaces and drilling fluid filter cake or residue. Furthermore, changes in the stress state of the wellbore during completion of drilling and throughout the productive life of the well can damage the cement bond/seal to cement and formation. These changes in the stress state of the wellbore may be the result of thermal changes (temperature) or pressure changes (for example, displacing a heavy fluid in the casing with a lighter fluid during completion of the well or additional deepening of the well, or changes in formation pressures or changes in annular pressures).
It is known in the art to include additives to prevent fluid loss in cement compositions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,965 discloses an improvement in a cementing process for preventing fluid migration between the casing and cement in a situation where a casing is suspended within a well and a slurry of cement is flowed into the space between the casing and the borehole wall and allowed to harden, comprising: surrounding at least one portion of the outer surface of the casing with a self-supporting sheath of an elastomeric foam comprising alternately arranged layers of a closed cell polyurethane foam and a closed cell polyethylene foam which, together, are capable of remaining resilient and retaining the structural integrity of the sheath after compression by the hydrostatic pressure of a slurry of cement; inflowing the cement slurry into the borehole around the casing and sheath; and allowing the cement to harden with the resilient tendency toward expansion of the elastomeric foam ensuring good adhesion of the sheath to both the casing and cement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,131 discloses a liquid fluid loss control additive for an aqueous well cement composition, said additive including an organophilic clay suspending agent present in an amount in the range of from 0.5 to about 8 percent by weight of said liquid hydrocarbon, a surfactant present in said additive in an amount in the range of from about 0.5 to about 8 percent by weight, and at least one hydrophilic polymer present in an amount in the range of from about 40 to about 150 percent by weight of said liquid hydrocarbon.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,195 discloses an improved cementious composition which can include drilling fluid as a component and methods of cementing wells utilizing such compositions, said cementious composition including a drilling fluid present in an amount up to about 70% by volume, and a hardenable resinous material selected from the group consisting of vernonia oil, epoxidized linseed oil or soy oil, an acrylic resinous material, an epoxy resinous material, a phenolic resinous material and mixtures of said resinous materials present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 50% by weight of said cementious material or materials; and water present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 20% to about 175% by weight of said cementious material.
In the current state of the art there are limitations on the effectiveness of cement slurries and drilling fluids that result in less than desirable adherence of cement to casing surfaces and drilling fluid cake or residue. Many of these problems could be effectively addressed by cementious compositions characterized by improved ductility and by cement slurries and drilling fluid formulations that afford better bonding, sealing and adhesion.


A vehicle body structure includes a storage box installed in a location within the vehicle that is originally arranged and configured to receive a rear passenger's seat. The storage box has an upper opening and a cargo cavity that extends downwardly from the upper opening below an upper surface of the vehicle floor. A storage cover overlies the upper opening of the storage box. The storage cover has first and second lids. The first lid is arranged to move between a closed position covering a forward area of the cargo cavity and an open position exposing the forward area of the cargo cavity to the side access opening. The second lid is arranged to move between a closed position covering a rearward area of the cargo cavity and an open position exposing the rearward area of the cargo cavity to the rear access opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle body structure that includes a storage box. More specifically, the present invention relates to a storage box that is installed in an area within the vehicle body structure that is arranged and configured to receive a passenger seat.
2. Background Information
Most vehicles have one or two rows of seats with a storage compartment or storage area in the rear portion of the vehicle behind the last row of passenger seats. In some vehicles, such as station wagons, sport utility vehicles and vans, the storage area behind the last row of seats is a large open area. Depending on the construction of the vehicle, some vehicles have in floor storage to provide hidden cargo storage spaces that can accommodate a variety of cargo loads.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,304 to Hotary et al. discloses a rear cargo storage assembly that includes a small storage compartment within the rear floor portion of a vehicle covered by two removable lid portions. The two lid portions lay flat in a horizontal orientation to cover the small storage compartment but can be lifted up and arranged in a vertical orientation so that grocery bags and/or other cargo can be supported therebetween.
However, in recent years, many vehicles have been produced that are larger and have an optional third row of passenger seats. Thus, the storage compartments such as the ones disclosed in the above mentioned patent do not taken advantage of those areas of the vehicle typically used for installing passenger seats, when the additional row of passenger seats are not installed. One reason for this omission is that the portion of the floor of a vehicle body structure that is formed for receiving a seat those areas of the vehicle typically used for installing passenger seats has seat mounts such that storage is not possible when the row of seats are installed. Moreover, this floor portion of the vehicle body structure is not always flat and continuous. In other words, if the last row of passenger seats has been removed, the uneven surfaces of the floor are unsuitable for cargo without modification.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved vehicle body structure that utilizes uneven surfaces within the vehicle such that those surfaces become usable level cargo spaces. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


A location tracking apparatus and method of tracking are disclosed. The location tracking apparatus includes a tip configured to move on a surface, a tracking instrument, and a frictionless sensor associated with the tip. The tip is configured to undergo a displacement within a limited range when the tip is pushed to the surface, or when the tip is moved away from the surface, so that the tip maintains contact with the surface while moving on the surface. The tracking instrument is configured to generate location data. The frictionless sensor is configured to generate displacement data.

In image-guided surgery systems, patient registration procedures are used at initial steps of the surgery for detecting both the location of a medical instrument as well as the position of a target under surgery. These procedures may be performed with a tracking instrument. During these types of procedures, the tracking instrument is configured to record location data of a medical instrument during surgery. The results are registered on images of the tissues under surgery. The tracking instrument may touch the tissue surface to record the location data and the reliability and precision of the recorded data may depend on the level of tissue surface deformation caused by the tracking instrument. However, the tissue surface deformation may invalidate the recorded data and the registration results.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for a location tracking instrument that is associated with minimal deformation on a target surface. There is also a need in the art for a location tracking instrument that maintains contact with a surface during a location tracking procedure without producing significant deformations on the surface.


A method comprising: (a) enzymatically processing an O-acetylhomoserine (OAHS) fermentation liquor to produce L-methionine and an acetate source; (b) separating at least a portion of said L-methionine from at least a fraction of said acetate source to form separated L-methionine and a residual liquor comprising an acetate-source; and (c) recovering at least a portion of said acetate source from said residual liquor as recovered acetate.

Methionine and cysteine are sulfur-containing proteinogenic amino acids. Methionine is an essential amino acid for monogastrics and finds a variety of applications in the food and medical industries. For example, methionine is used as an additive in animal feed and foods and as an ingredient in parenteral nutrient solutions and medicines.
Physiologically, methionine can be a precursor for choline (lecithin) and creatine and is used as a starting material for the synthesis of cysteine and taurine. Typically, chemically synthesized DL-methionine has been used in the market for additives for animal feed.
L-methionine has been produced by direct fermentation. However the low solubility of L-methionine can cause formation of crystals during direct fermentation to produce L-methionine. These crystals make it difficult to agitate the culture medium and may decrease fermentation yield. The sulfur required to produce L-methionine by direct fermentation can also adversely affect bacterial growth.
WO 2008/013432 describes a two-step process for producing L-methionine which includes the fermentative production of an L-methionine precursor (e.g., O-acetylhomoserine (OAHS) or O-succinyl homoserine (OSHS)) followed by the enzymatic conversion of the precursor to L-methionine.
When OAHS is the precursor, methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) and OAHS react to produce acetate and methionine. When OSHS is the precursor, CH3SH and OSHS react to produce succinate and methionine.
The CH3S-residue of methyl mercaptan is substituted with succinate or acetate residue of OSHS or OAHS to produce methionine. Methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) can be added in different forms during the reaction.

Methods for production of L-methionine and related products


A semiconductor integrated circuit has a sense amplifier which senses and outputs data read out from memory cells connected to word lines and bit lines, and a read-out control circuit which has a standby state consuming minimum necessary power and a read state reading out the memory cells, and controls read-out of the memory cells, wherein the read-out control circuit includes, a bit line switching circuit which switches whether or not to transmit a potential on the bit line to an input terminal of the sense amplifier, and a first switching control circuit which controls the bit line switching circuit to prevent the potential on the bit line from being transmitted to the input terminal of the sense amplifier during a period of the standby state and a predetermined period after the standby state is released.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit that can be set to a standby state to reduce power consumption.
2. Related Art
Due to advances in integrated-circuit technology, memory-embedded system LYSIs have spread in which a memory and other various kinds of circuits are embedded in the same semiconductor chip. In particular, in recent years, system LSIs with a built-in electrically rewritable flash memory have been widely used.
In addition to a memory, a sense amplifier for reading out data from the memory is provided in system LSI. The sense amplifier senses a potential difference between a bit-line potential and a potential of the reference bit line.
Some of memory-embedded system LSIs of this kind are enabled to be set to a standby state (refer to "Semiconductor MOS Memory and Usage Thereof" by Yasoji Suzuki, 1st copy/1st edition, published by "Nikkan Kogyo Newspaper Co., Ltd., Aug. 30, 1990). When being set to the standby state, the system LSI suspends its internal operation, whereby the power consumption can be reduced.
However, in this kind of conventional system LSIs having the standby state, it has been a problem that, immediately after the LSI is released from the standby state, a penetrating current flows by way of the bit line and the reference bit line from the power source to the ground, whereby power consumption increases.
In a system LSI with a built-in flash memory, when a penetrating current flows, the electric potential of the bit line fluctuates; therefore, a soft error may occur in which erroneous data is written in a floating gate of the flash memory.

Semiconductor integrated circuit with power-reducing standby state


An efficient process for the preparation of styrylbenzoxazoles and derivatives thereof comprises reacting a methylbenzoxazole with an aromatic aldehyde in the presence of strong base at low temperature, followed by warming. The condensation products are inhibitors of H.sup.+ K.sup.+ -ATPase, and are also useful as penultimate compounds in the preparation of inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase.

The present invention concerns the condensation of methylbenzoxazole derivatives with aromatic aldehyde derivatives in the presence of strong base at low temperature, followed by warming, to give compounds of formula III. ##STR1##
Related compounds are medicinally important enzyme inhibitors, most notably H.sup.+ K.sup.+ -ATPase inhibitors to reduce gastric acid secretion. Simple hydrogenation of pyridinones of III yields compounds which possess HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity.
The synthesis of formula III compounds (hereinafter "styrylbenzoxazoles") occurs via condensation of aromatic aldehydes with methylbenzoxazoles, perhaps by deprotonation of methylbenzoxazole prior to condensation with the aldehyde. In the prior art, related condensations were accomplished under extreme experimental conditions. For example, condensation of benzaldehyde with 2-methylbenzoxazole using potassium methoxide as the catalyst required refluxing of the reaction for 7 hours. This condensation was also achieved using boric acid as the catalyst when the reaction was incubated at about 200.degree. C. when zinc chloride or acetic anhydride was used as the catalyst. In addition to being unsuitable for large scale preparation of products, these condensations afford low to moderate yields of product.
Lokande and Rangnekar developed a more convenient method for the synthesis of styrylbenzoxazoles via condensation of aryl aldehydes with methylbenzoxazole [Ind. J. Chem. 25B, 485 (1986)]. This method employs the use of phase-transfer catalysis by aqueous sodium hydroxide and affords milder reaction conditions, shorter reaction periods and higher yields of styryl product than the previous methodology. This method has features which make it impractical for large scale preparations of styryl products. First, the process is performed in the absence of solvent, and its reaction mixtures are not useful for large scale synthesis. Secondly, the use of phase transfer catalysis affords products of higher impurity than is pharmacologically acceptable. Removal of impurities is expensive and laborious.
More recently, the deprotonation of methylbenzoxazole was accomplished using butyllithium as the catalyst at a temperature of -100.degree. C. [Epifani, E. et al. Tetrah. Lett. 28, 6385 (1987)]. In addition to being operationally difficult on a large scale, the process results in recovery of only the intermediate alcohol adduct. An extra elimination step is required to achieve the desired olefin product. Use of butyllithium methodology is also described in EPO 462800 (e.g. Example 4, Step G).
The existing methodology for the condensation of aldehydes and benzoxazoles has several disadvantages. In addition to requiring operationally difficult temperatures, these methods afford low or modest yields of the olefin product. The prior methods also yield impurities which are expensive to remove. Thus a new direct route to the synthesis of.styrylbenzoxazoles of acceptable pharmacological purity would be superior to existing methodology.
The present invention has several advantages over the prior art for making medicinally important compounds. The invention affords greater yields of styrylbenzoxazole products than prior methods. For example, Dryanska and Ivanov report a yield of 72-78% styrylbenzoxazole [Synthesis 37 (1976)]. They report even lower yields in phase transfer catalysis [Tetrah. Lett. 3519 (1975)]. Applicants report a yield of about 95% with the process of the present invention. Another advantage of the present invention is a process that readily affords aromatic aldehydes bearing protons. The novel process of the invention also provides a rapid entry into highly pure styrylbenzoxazoles, while circumventing problematic multistep sequences as required when butyllithium is used as the catalyst in condensation. In addition, the process of the new invention allows conditions which are amendable to large scale production, and obviates the need for additional steps to eliminate impurities. The invention is therefore a more economical, operationally practical, and efficient process for the construction of styrylbenzoxazoles than previous processes. The styrylbenzoxazole compounds useful as intermediates in the preparation of inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase. The invention may also provide a direct route to the synthesis of (aryloxy) alkylamines which possess gastric antisecretory activity and are thus useful as drugs in the treatment of ulcers.

Facile condensation of methylbenzoxazoles with aromatic aldehydes


A layered brake backing plate is provided made of stampings in which a softer, lighter metal core, such as aluminum, is sandwiched between skins of harder metal stampings, such as steel, to make a lightweight composite brake backing plate. The harder stampings are textured with integrally raised piercing barbs. By rolling or pressing, the barbs are made to embed in the core, locking the layers together.

Modern vehicle brake systems allow for slowing or stopping movement of the vehicle in a controlled manner. A typical automobile or light truck brake system includes a disc brake assembly. The brake assemblies are actuated by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure generated when an operator of the vehicle depresses a brake pedal. These structures are well known in the art.
Each brake pad is made up of a relatively thick, substantially planar metallic body, or "backing plate", to which is attached a friction material or pad of a moulded composite material. Adhesives, rivets, and integral moulding into holes or other retention features in or on the backing plate may be used to secure the friction material to the plate.
Backing plates for brake pads are typically made of a single piece of solid steel. The backing plate distributes the forces across the friction pad. It has been believed that a single-piece backing plate is necessary to provide the strength and rigidity required. However, such plates are relatively heavy especially for large and/or fast vehicles. This has been a recognized problem in the art. There have been attempts to address the weight issue by making a slightly thinner backing plate that is "thickened" in local areas (typically edge perimeter) by embossing. However, the resulting plates are still quite heavy.
It would be desirable to provide a lighter weight alternative, taking advantage of other materials' beneficial properties, while maintaining strength and rigidity.


A filter circuit that secures the steepness from a pass range to an attenuation range while maintaining a wide-band transmission characteristic and a filter device including this filter circuit are formed. A filter circuit includes a first filter and a second filter. The first filter is a filter including an LC circuit in which a first frequency band is a pass band and a frequency band not higher than the first frequency band is an attenuation band. The second filter is a filter that attenuates a second frequency band within the first frequency band by using an attenuation pole produced by a resonance or an antiresonance of an acoustic wave resonator. Further, the first filter is placed closer to an antenna terminal than the second filter.

The present disclosure relates to a filter circuit to be connected to an antenna and a filter device including this filter circuit. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-136686 discloses a band pass filter that achieves both the steepness of a notch filter formed of acoustic wave resonators and a wide-band transmission characteristic of a LC filter by cascade-connecting a low pass filter using acoustic wave resonators and a high pass filter using acoustic wave resonators.
Specifically, an example is described in which, in a cascade connection circuit of an HPF formed of an LC circuit and an LPF formed of an LC circuit, series-connected capacitors of the HPF and shunt-connected capacitors of the LPF are each replaced with an acoustic wave resonator, antiresonances of the series resonators and resonances of the shunt resonators attenuate both GNSS band and 2.4 GHz wireless LAN frequency band, and LC resonance circuits between the resonators attenuate LB band in LTE bands and a distant 5 GHz band.


A method of making N-channel and P-channel IGFETs is disclosed. The method includes, in sequence, the steps of partially doping a first source and a first drain in a first active region of a semiconductor substrate, applying a first tube anneal while a second active region of the semiconductor substrate is devoid of source/drain doping, partially doping a second source and a second drain in the second active region, applying a second tube anneal, fully doping the first source and the first drain, applying a first rapid thermal anneal, fully doping the second source and the second drain, and applying a second rapid thermal anneal. Advantageously, the first and second tube anneals provide control over the channel junction locations, and the first and second rapid thermal anneals provide rapid drive-in for subsequent source/drain doping spaced from the channel junctions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit manufacturing, and more particularly to insulated-gate field-effect transistors.
2. Description of Related Art
An insulated-gate field-effect transistor (IGFET), such as a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), uses a gate to control an underlying surface channel joining a source and a drain. The channel, source and drain are located in a semiconductor substrate, with the source and drain being doped oppositely to the channel and the substrate. The gate is separated from the semiconductor substrate by a thin insulating layer such as a gate oxide. The operation of the IGFET involves application of an input voltage to the gate, which sets up a transverse electric field in the channel in order to modulate the longitudinal conductance of the channel.
In typical IGFET processing, the source and drain are formed by introducing dopants of second conductivity type (P or N) into a semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type (N or P) using a patterned gate as a mask. This self-aligning procedure tends to improve packing density and reduce parasitic overlap capacitances between the gate and the source and drain.
Polysilicon (also called polycrystalline silicon, poly-Si or poly) thin films have many important uses in IGFET technology. One of the key innovations is the use of heavily doped polysilicon in place of aluminum as the gate. Since polysilicon has the same high melting point as a silicon substrate, typically a blanket polysilicon layer is deposited prior to source and drain formation, and the polysilicon is anisotropically etched to provide a gate which provides a mask during formation of the source and drain by ion implantation. Thereafter, a drive-in step is applied to repair crystalline damage and to drive-in and activate the implanted dopant.
Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits typically include adjacent N-channel (NMOS) and P-channel (PMOS) devices. Since CMOS inverter circuits use very little power, CMOS is particularly useful in very large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits where even small power dissipation in each transistor becomes a problem when thousands or millions of transistors are integrated on a chip. CMOS processes typically use N-well and P-well masks early in the processing sequence to define N-type and P-type active regions. CMOS processes also typically include a single masking step for forming gates over the active regions, separate masking steps for implanting lightly doped N-type source/drain regions into the P-type active region and lightly doped P-type source/drain regions into the N-type active region, formation of oxide spacers adjacent to the gates, and then separate masking steps for implanting heavily doped N-type source/drain regions into the P-type active region and heavily doped P-type source/drain regions into the N-type active region.
The diffusion characteristics of various dopants in semiconductor substrates is a complex phenomena which depends, in part, on dopant concentration, substrate (background) doping, junction depth, temperature, and the atmosphere. Unfortunately, at a given high temperature, boron tends to diffuse into the semiconductor substrate at a far greater rate than arsenic or phosphorus. For instance, at 1000.degree. C., boron generally diffuses into silicon at least ten times faster than arsenic or phosphorus. This is partly due to the fact that the activation energy of boron (and consequently the height of the energy barrier that boron must overcome to move within the silicon lattice) is lower than that of arsenic or phosphorus. Unfortunately, the effective channel length of the N-channel device may be significantly greater than that of the P-channel device due to the rapid boron
diffusion. Moreover, it becomes difficult to accurately control the channel junction locations for both the N-channel and P-channel devices.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved method of making N-channel and P-channel devices in which the channel junction locations are relatively well controlled.

Method of making N-channel and P-channel devices using two tube anneals and two rapid thermal anneals


Disclosed is an encrustation and bacterial-resistant coating for use on medical devices and in other medical-related applications. The coating includes a reaction product formed by the covalent linkage of a hydrophilic polyurethane prepolymer and aminopolycarboxylic acid. A urease inhibitor and/or an antibacterial agent may also be added to the coating.

This invention relates to medical devices that are resistant to bacterial growth or encrustation such as a) urinary catheters and more particularly to urinary catheters constructed of a material which enables the urinary catheters to inhibit urease and to prevent calcium and magnesium phosphate deposits on the catheters and b) contact lenses, more particularly to extended wear lenses coated with a suitable material to enable the lenses to resist the adherence of microorganisms.
Urinary Catheters: Catheters are used in urological surgery and when other methods of managing urinary incontinence fail. These catheters are generally made from a nontoxic, non-irritating material which is flexible but which will withstand collapse. Ideally they should resist colonization by bacteria and encrustation by mineral deposits.
The most common materials used for the catheters are latex, plastic or silicone. All biomaterials, including the most recently tested polyurethane, polyurethane-carbon and silicone-carbon, become encrusted with mineral deposits to varying extents. The degree of encrustation formation on biomaterials exposed to urine is dependent upon the biomaterial, the length of urinary exposure, the presence of infection and the solute content of urine. Several independent studies (e.g. Hukins et al., 1989) of the scraped encrusted material have identified - two major salts, namely apatite Ca.sub.5 (PO.sub.4).sub.3 (OH) and struvite Mg NH.sub.4 PO.sub.4 6H.sub.2 O. A very small amount of brushite CaHPO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O has also been identified. Apatite is precipitated from urine under alkaline conditions (pH=9.2) along with struvite. Brushite with a K.sub.sp of the order of 10.sup.-5 is not stable above pH=7; but is precipitated below 6.5.
The pH increase of urine occurs due to urease producing bacteria, that infect the urine. Urease catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea at an enormous rate (10.sup.14 times as fast as the spontaneous hydrolysis of urea which is not observable in neutral solution) producing ammonia, which in turn precipitates calcium phosphates.
Microbial heterogeneity and structural complexity of the biofilms observed on infected catheter materials by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveal a variety of microflora. It appears that the adherent microcolonies of bacteria are much less susceptible than their planktonic counterparts to antibiotics because the extensive anionic matrix surrounding the cell appears to comprise an ion exchange barrier between charged antibiotic molecules and their cellular targets. Antibiotics should be reserved for symptomatic, febrile infections; otherwise their use produces a change in bacterial flora with the potential for producing resistance.
Bacteriurea in a catheterized patient indicates the urinary tract has become colonized or infected. Administration of anti-bacterials such as nitrofurantoin, methenamine, and naldixic acid are used in practice. Most of these are not very effective in alkaline urine, and to achieve a high concentration in urine, the patient has to be given enormous doses.
Catheter associated bacteriurea results from ascending bacterial colonization within glycocalyx enclosed biofilm on the inside and/or outside surfaces of the catheter and drainage systems. Urinary tract catheters made from a biomaterial that inhibits bacterial adherence and thus retards upstream colonization of bacteria may reduce acquired urinary tract infection (UTI). While hydrophilic surfaces show reduced protein adhesion, antibacterial surfaces offer better protection. Either a controlled release or an antibacterial immobilized on the surface should offer continuous protection against bacterial colonization. A silver oxide catheter is described in a publication by Shaeffer, A. J., Story, K. O., Johnson, S. M. in "Effect of silver oxide/Trichloroisocyanuric Acid Antimicrobial Urinary Drainage System on Catheter Associated Bactiurea", J. Urol., 39, 60 (1988). A recent clinical study on silver catheters reported by Johnson, J. R., Roberts, P. L., Olsen, R. J., Moyer, K. A., and Stanni, W. E. in "Silver Oxide Coated Catheters", J. Infect. Diseases, 162, 1145 (1990) ) indicated the prevention of UTI among women not receiving antimicrobials.
The other problem associated with catheters left in place for long periods of time is the encrustation due to the formation of calcium hydroxyapatite and struvite. Long-term urethral catheterization is frequently necessary for patients with intractable urinary incontinence or retention. This procedure is employed in as many as 16-28% of patients in various chronic care facilities. More than 50% could suffer from blockage of their catheters. This can cause incontinence due to urinary bypassing of the catheter or acute pain and discomfort associated with urinary infection. This is particularly distressing for patients being cared for in the community where professional help is not immediately available. In addition, the coarse irregular surface may result in pain and physical trauma when the catheter is removed increasing the risk of infection.
Removal of deposits by acidic solution (citric acid-magnesium oxide) has been shown to dissolve encrustation in vitro and is now used extensively in practice. Frequent irrigation could result in the damage of the mucus in the bladder.
The patent literature abounds with patents on indwelling urinary catheter systems aimed at preventing urinary tract infection. These are mechanical devices with appropriate valve fittings to keep the drainage open at the same time preventing ascending infection. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,449 issued to Richard Davis and 4,878,901 issued to Hans Ernst Sachse are two typical examples. However, these do not have any prevention methods for encrustation. In general, mechanical systems are complicated and do not provide adequate protection from infection. U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,948 issued to Kernes et al., discloses the use of a funnel shaped insert at the end of the urinary catheter that serves as a reservoir to antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial agent is simply mixed with the ethylene/vinyl acetate polymer during the fabrication of the funnel. The catheter surface itself does not carry any antimicrobial nor is it capable of preventing encrustation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,554 issued to Jacob Glassman discloses a design that provides for irrigation of the catheter tube. Frequent irrigation, however, could result in the damage of the mucus in the bladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,104 issued to Sakamoto et al., teaches the use of polymers carrying multicarboxyl, amino or sulfonic acid group capable of binding antibiotics through ion exchange. The ion exchange groups are chemically introduced into the molecules of the inside and outside wall of the urethral catheter by hydrolysis of certain functionalities that are present in the polymer that is coated on the surface of the catheter. Cationic antibiotics such as polymyxins or soap preparations such as benzalkonium chloride or benzethionium chloride, cyclohexidine or povidine-iodine remain on the surface due to the electrostatic binding.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,256 issued to Luther et al., teaches the use of an intravascular catheter comprising a cannula for insertion into a vascular system of a patient. This catheter is coated with a hydrophilic polyurethane-polyene composition for binding antithrombogenic materials and cationic polymyxin antibiotics. Luther et al., show that the absorption of the polymyxins into the hydrophilic polyurethane can be controlled by varying the initial concentrations. The authors describe this as a time release intravascular catheter. The present invention differs from that of Luther et al., by virtue of the immobilization of polymyxin through a binding action with the dianionic diaminopropanol tetraacetic acid (DPTA) groups.
Contact Lenses: Infective ulcerative keratitis is one of the most severe hazards of hydrogel extended wear soft contact lenses (SCLs). The extent of bacterial adherence varies with the nature of the base materials, protein deposits and surface charges. While the mechanism of adhesion and colonization of bacteria on SCLs is not well understood, the influence of adsorbed proteins has been implicated. Recently it was reported ("Pseudomonas attachment to low-water and high-water and non-ionic, new and rabbit worn soft contact lenses", Brussel et al, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 32, 657, 1991) that both new and worn SCLs can bind amounts of p. aeruginosa that could potentially produce bacterial keratitis.
SCLs in the eye are readily coated with tear proteins, mucus and lipids (Tripathy et al., "Lens Spoilage in Contact Lenses", in The CLAO guide to basic and applied clinical practice", Dabecies O. H. Jr. (Ed), Grune and Stratton Inc., Orlando Fla., 1984). P. aeruginosa is the responsible microorganism in up to two thirds of the reported cases of extended wear SCL associated infectious keratitis. The extended wear contact lens induces corneal hypoxia, microtrauma and tear film destruction that weaken corneal defense.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a catheter for use in urological surgery or for managing urinary incontinence which inhibits the build up of encrustation on the surface of the catheter.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a catheter for use in urological surgery or for managing urinary incontinence which causes a lower risk of infection than known catheters.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a coating for contact lenses, particularly of the extended wear type, which inhibits the adhesion of harmful bacteria on the lens surface.

Encrusting and bacterial resistant coatings for medical applications


A rotary current machine system and method for controlling an electric rotary current machine, in particular an induction machine, having a rotor, a stator and at least two phase windings is disclosed. At least one electrical signal, in particular a voltage signal, is applied to at least one phase winding, preferably all phase windings, of the rotary current machine, and the current waveform in the at least one phase winding is measured. An intermodulation signal component, induced in the rotary current machine by slotting effects and magnetic saturation effects, which is determined from the current waveform measured in the at least one phase winding, is used for controlling the rotary current machine.

In modern control methods for rotary current machines, it is often necessary to know the angular position of the rotor. To obtain this information, sensors such as incremental rotary encoders, absolute rotary encoders or resolvers can be used, which can be based on a wide variety of physical principles. The disadvantage of all types of rotary encoders, however, is the additional costs. In addition, rotary encoders have a limited-service life, which is often less than the planned service life of the rotary current machine. A suspected failure of a three-phase drive is often due to the failure of such a sensor. However, failures and downtimes, for example of faulty trains on railway lines, can involve considerable effort and high costs and should therefore be avoided where possible.
In order to avoid the use of such sensors in rotary current machines or three-phase drives, so-called sensorless control methods were developed in which the angular position of the flow chain can be determined from the waveforms of the electrical variables in the rotary current machine without the use of a sensor for the angle or the rotation speed of the rotor. In these procedures, excitation signals are often applied by means of a converter and the response signals of the machine are measured as a consequence of the excitation signals. By means of an appropriate evaluation, the angular position or the rotation speed of the rotor can be determined.
Sensorless control methods use the fact that rotary current machines exhibit asymmetries caused by their design or during operation as a result of electrical or magnetic effects, which can change over time and in location. The changes in the asymmetries usually cause changes in inductance and can therefore be detected, for example, by a change in the current rise. Document WO 99/39430 A1 describes a sensorless control method.
An example of a design-related asymmetry is the rotor of a permanent-magnet-excited synchronous machine (PSM), which has permanent magnets at certain positions, which have a lower relative permeability than the surrounding areas that have iron and therefore increase the magnetic resistance in the area of the permanent magnets relative to the areas with iron. As the rotor of the PSM rotates, the magnetic resistance along the circumference of the air gap is varied with time and position, which manifests itself in changes in inductance.
Examples of electrical or magnetic asymmetry are local saturation phenomena of the magnetic flux paths in the rotary current machine.
The weaker the rotor-related asymmetries of a rotary current machine are, the more difficult it is to detect a change in the rotation angle of a rotor without sensors. It is particularly difficult to determine the angular position of a rotor of an induction machine without sensors (i.e., without sensors of the type described above, such as incremental rotary encoders), because induction machines, especially in comparison to synchronous machines, have lower asymmetries. In asynchronous machines, a slot signal component contained in the measured current waveforms is usually isolated from other signal components and evaluated, or the saturation signal is used. The slot signal component is caused by the rotation of the rotor slot past the stator slot and the associated inductance change. Since the inductance changes caused by the passing slot are relatively small, the slot signal component is usually small and can therefore, depending on the operating state and design of the induction machine, be difficult to identify and separate from other signal components. In particular with increasing load on the induction machine, it is difficult or impossible to distinguish the slot signal component from other signal components.

Method for regulating an electric rotary current machine, and rotary current machine system for such a method


The invention relates to a trayless close packed array of cans locked together in a heat shrunk sleeve. The packaging machine includes a marshalling station for marshalling the cans in arrays in which there are unequal numbers of cans in each row and a collation station in which the array of cans in rows and columns are collated into close packed formation. A wrapping machine wraps a plastic sleeve around the close packed array and a sealing station seals and heat shrinks the sleeve around the array to lock the array into its formation.

The present invention relates to packaging and packaging machines therefor.
Cylindrical objects such as drinks cans and bottles are frequently packed in packs of twenty four. They are assembled in an array of four columns and six columns on a cardboard tray and the whole is wrapped in a polythene sleeve which is heated to cause the sleeve to shrink around the pack and lock the objects in their positions on the tray. The packs are then stacked on a pallet and transported to a warehouse for distribution.
A packaging machine for effecting the continuous packaging of the objects includes an elongate conveyor system onto which the objects are fed en masse at the upstream end. The conveyor passes between guides which constrain the objects to proceed only six abreast. The conveyor passes through a marshalling station which marshals the objects into spaced groups with each group arrayed in six rows and four columns. Each group is then fed through a tray assembly station in which a cardboard tray blank is fed under the array. Adhesive material is applied to various flaps of the blank and the blank is then erected using predefined fold lines to form a shallow tray. The array of objects on the tray continue along the conveyor for a period sufficient to allow the adhesive to take effect and then passed through a wrapping station. At the wrapping station, the leading end of a sheet of plastics is fed under the tray and a set of bars carry the trailing edge of the sheet forward over the top of the pack and in front of it so that the advancing pack passes over the trailing end and the sheet becomes completely looped about the pack in the form of a sleeve with the trailing and leading end portions of the sheet overlapping.
The sleeved pack then passes through a heating station. At the heating station the overlapping end portions of the sheet pass over heated rollers which seal the two portions together. Air jets are directed at opposite open ends of the sleeve to inflate the sleeve and simultaneously heat is applied to cause the sleeve to shrink relatively uniformly about the tray and the array of objects so as to lock the array of objects in position on the tray.
The pack of objects are then transported to a stacking station where the packs of objects are stacked on a pallet for subsequent transportation.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved packaging and packaging machine.
According to the invention there is provided a trayless close-packed planar array of filled cans or bottles enveloped in a sleeve of heat shrinkable plastics shrink-wrapped around the cans or bottles and covering the cylindrical ends of all the cans or bottles, the cans or bottles being arranged in an odd number of rows, with each alternate row having the same even number of cans or bottles and each intervening row having the same odd number of can or bottles, the sleeve being of sufficient thickness to hold the cans or bottles generally in their close-packed formation when carried unsupported.
According to the invention there is further provided a marshalling station for marshalling cylindrical objects arriving at the station into spaced arrays having different numbers of objects in different rows, the station comprising a reservoir for temporarily storing said objects as they arrive, a plurality of parallel conveyor belts, each belt being arranged to receive one row of said objects from said reservoir, a pair of arresting means located on opposite sides of each belt to be engaged by the leading object of each row, each arresting means being movable in the same direction as the belts but at a slower speed than the belts, different arresting means associated with different belts moving at different speeds so that during the period that said arresting means are operational, the objects on different belts move at different speeds, whereby when the arresting means disengage said objects, the plurality of belts will accelerate away from said marshalling station, an array of objects in which different rows contain different numbers of objects.
According to the invention there is still further provided a collating station for collating an array of twenty five objects arranged in a first formation into a second formation, comprising first conveying means for conveying the objects, row wise, in the first formation in which the objects are arranged in seven rows, the middle three rows having three objects each and the remaining rows having four objects each, pusher means for engaging the trailing column of objects of the array to displace the array in the same direction as being moved by the first conveyor means across a stationary surface and onto second conveyor means and then disengaging the array, the pusher means having projections which provide additional displacement of alternate rows of the array by an amount not exceeding the radius of the object, and guide means having converging surfaces to compress the array as it is being driven across the stationary surface into a close packed array in which each alternate row has four objects and each intervening row has three objects and thereby define said second formation.

Packaging and packaging machines therefor