A method of compressing values of a waveform of a monitored electrical power signal. The method includes acquiring data representative of periods of the waveform, decomposing the waveform of the power signal into a plurality of components over a plurality of periods of the waveform, compressing the values of at least some of the components over a plurality of periods, and storing these values and extents.

In order to provide high quality electric power service, it is desired to monitor the quality of the electric signals at different locations along an electrical power network. Particularly it is desired to know the waveform of the current and voltage at various network locations at the time at which a specific event occurred (e.g., a blackout) in order to understand the cause of the event.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,847 to Van Doom et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a power meter for reading and displaying electrical power waveforms and calculating parameters of the waveforms. These parameters may include, for example, current, voltage, power, phase relationship between waveforms of a multi-phase signal, power factor, frequency, kilo watt hour (KWH), kilo Volt Amper reactive energy (KVAR), KVARH, KVA and KVAH.
In some cases, however, on-line display of the waveforms and/or deduced parameters is not sufficient. U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,071 to Griffin, Jr. et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, states that it would be desired to implement a power quality device that captures all the voltage waveform data at all times, but that such device is impracticable due to the large amounts of data involved. At a sampling rate of 32 samples per cycle, 1920 samples are collected per second. For three-phase meters that measure both voltage and current waveforms, the data is 6-8 times as much. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,071 patent suggests detecting variations in the waveforms and capturing data relating to the times of the detected variations.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,654 to Forth et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an electronic device for measuring power parameters from a power distribution system. As in the '071 patent, data is stored only when an event occurs (e.g., an abrupt change in the current or voltage).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,639,518 to Curtis, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a circuit monitor which monitors one or more metered values in an electrical circuit. The monitor includes a system for selecting alarm set-points.
Some monitoring systems store only the root mean square (RMS) and/or power of the electrical signals. This data, however, is not always sufficient to determine the exact nature of problems.

Method of compressing values of a monitored electrical power signal


An equalizer and equalizing method are disclosed. The equalizer comprises a first switch sampling an input signal into a first sampled signal at a first phase of a clock; a first buffer receiving the first sampled signal and outputting a held signal; a second switch sampling the held signal into a second sampled signal at a second phase of the clock; a second buffer receiving the second sampled signal and outputting an output signal; and a capacitor providing a capacitive coupling between the held signal and the output signal. The capacitor is configured to define a transfer function of the equalizer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a linear equalizer.
2. Description of Related Art
A linear equalizer receives an input signal and outputs an output signal, wherein a first frequency component of the input signal is suppressed while a second frequency component of the input signal is enhanced. Usually, a lower frequency component is suppressed while a higher frequency component is enhanced. This effectively corrects a frequency dispersion of the input signal that often exists in many practical applications. A linear equalizer can be embodied using a FIR (finite impulse response) filter. In U.S. Pat. No. 8,255,449, Lin et al taught a continuous-time FIR filter that can be used as a linear equalizer. A drawback of the continuous-time FIR filter is that the overall circuit speed is reduced when the order of the filter is increased. This limits the order of the filter that can be practically implemented. The same drawback applies to any type of continuous-time filter.
What is desired is a linear equalizer that allows an increase of an order of filtering without materially reducing the overall circuit bandwidth.

Discrete-time linear equalizer and method thereof


A broad band tunable microstrip antenna is realized. A substrate layer with a high dielectric constant is placed between a radiating element and a ground plane layer. The electrically conductive radiating element is fabricated on the substrate layer such that a main patch surrounded by a number of individual tuning patches connected to the main patch and to each other are provided. During the tuning process, the effective length and effective width can be selectively adjusted by disconnecting individual tuning patches. In addition to broadening the bandwidth of the microstrip antenna, the optimal feed point can be selected. In other embodiments, the individual tuning patches are initially disconnected from each other and the main patch. During the tuning process, the individual tuning patches are selectively connected or soldered to the main patch. Furthermore, tuning can also be accomplished by connecting or disconnecting individual tuning patches to obtain the desired dimensions of the radiating element. An array of tunable microstrip antennas is also realized. With appropriate coupling to a transmitter/receiver via a feed point, the tunable microstrip antenna, or an array of tunable microstrip antennas, can be used for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, particularly in wireless computer network applications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to microstrip antennas; and more particularly, to tunable microstrip antennas having bandwidths adjustable by double-stub tuning.
2. Description of Related Art
A microstrip antenna is used for the transmission and reception of electromagnetic energy. As opposed to a conventional wire-based antenna, the microstrip antenna comprises a plurality of generally planar layers including a radiating element, an intermediate dielectric layer, and a ground plane layer. The radiating element is an electrically conductive material imbedded or photoetched on the intermediate layer and is generally exposed to free space. Depending on the characteristics of the transmitted electromagnetic energy desired, the radiating element may be square, rectangular, triangular, or circular and is separated from the ground plane layer. The separation is provided by the intermediate layer, a substrate with a particular dielectric constant, to space the ground plane from the radiating element such that the radiating resonant energy and the corresponding radiation pattern are formed.
A power-driven transmitter and/or receiver network (i.e., transceiver) is generally coupled to the microstrip antenna via a feed point and feed line. Generally, the location of the feed point is selected for optimum matching conditions. When coupled to the transceiver, these three layers contribute to the functions of feed coupling, impedance matching, radiation, and bandwidth shaping.
Microstrip antennas are generally practical for application at frequencies between approximately 1 GHz and 20 GHz. Although no theoretical limit exists, high losses are encountered at frequencies above 20 GHz. Below 1 GHz, wire antennas are more practical because of the large size of the antenna needed.
Microstrip antennas provide advantages such as small size, low weight, low cost, high performance, ease of installation, and aerodynamic profile. Using modern printed circuit techniques, microstrip antennas are mechanically robust when mounted to a rigid surface. They are also versatile elements; they can be designed to produce a wide variety of patterns and polarizations, depending on the mode excited and the particular shape of the radiating element used.
Despite these advantages, a major limitation of a microstrip antenna is its narrow frequency bandwidth. The operating frequency for a microstrip antenna may only be varied from a fraction of a percent to a few percent (approximately 2% to 3%) of its center resonance frequency without severe degradation in performance. The relatively high Q, and hence the narrow bandwidth of the microstrip antenna, is a result of the high dielectric constant of the intermediate substrate layer. However, the high dielectric constant of the intermediate substrate layer allows the desirable physically small size of the microstrip antenna. In essence, the narrow bandwidth results from the radiation impedance infringing capacitance at the edges of the radiating element being much higher than 50 ohms.
One method by which a bandwidth can be increased is by using a matching circuit to drive the antenna. However, the matching circuit takes up additional space on the board, thus effectively adding to the physical size of the antennas and defeating the purpose of the low profile nature of these antennas. The matching network also adds to the loss of the antenna circuit.
In addition to the narrow bandwidth, microstrip antennas have no provision for tuning during and after the manufacturing process. After the feed point is selected, the feed point location, bandwidth, and resonance frequency of the microstrip antenna are fixed.
As discussed above, the use of microstrip or printed circuit techniques to construct antennas has recently emerged as a consequence of the need for increased miniaturization, decreased cost, and improved reliability. However, these microstrip antennas have relatively narrow operational bandwidth which limits tunability of the devices. In general, the antennas should have as wide a bandwidth as possible for various wide band applications.

Tunable microstrip antenna and method for tuning the same


A pressure compensation system is provided. A subsea enclosure of the subsea device encloses the chamber. A first pressure compensator has a first compensation volume and provides pressure balancing between ambient medium surrounding the subsea device and the first compensation volume. A first biasing device is configured to bias the first pressure compensator such that the pressure in the first compensation volume is higher than the pressure in the ambient medium surrounding the subsea device. A second pressure compensator has a second compensation volume and provides pressure balancing between the ambient medium and the second compensation volume. A second biasing device biases the second pressure compensator such that the pressure in the second compensation volume is higher than the pressure in the ambient medium. A control unit is connected to control first and second valves arranged in flow connections between the first and second compensation volumes and the chamber.

Due to the increasing energy demand, offshore oil and gas production is moving into deeper waters. For providing an efficient and secure production of hydrocarbons from a subsea well, processing facilities are being installed at the ocean floor. Such subsea installations may include a range of components, including pumps, compressors, and the like as well as a power grid for providing such components with electric power. The power grid may, for example, include a subsea transformer, subsea switchgear, and subsea variable speed drives (VSDs). Such components of a subsea installation may be installed at water depths of 3,000 meters or more, so that they are exposed to pressures up to or even in excess of 300 bars. To protect such components from the corrosive seawater and to handle the high pressures prevailing in such subsea environment, these components are provided with subsea enclosures.
The construction of such subsea enclosures is technically challenging. Two solutions are proposed for dealing with these high pressures. A pressure resistant enclosure may be provided, which has a close to atmospheric internal pressure, enabling the use of conventional electric and electronic components. Such enclosures need to have relatively thick walls and are thus bulky and heavy, since they have to withstand high differential pressures.
Another solution is the use of pressurized (or pressure compensated) enclosures, which include a volume/pressure compensator that balances the pressure in the enclosure to the pressure prevailing in the ambient seawater. The pressure compensated enclosure may be filled with a liquid, and components operated inside the pressure compensated enclosure are made to be operable under high pressures. The pressure/volume compensator compensates variations in the volume of the liquid filling the enclosure, which may occur due to variations in ambient pressure and/or in temperature. Temperature changes may be caused by deployment at the subsea location and by internal heating, e.g., due to electric losses.
Pressure compensators may include metal bellows, rubber bellows, pistons, or the like. As an example, the document WO 2010/034880 A1 discloses a pressure compensator that has a first bellows chamber surrounded by a second bellows chamber, the second bellows chamber forming a closed intermediate space around the first bellows chamber. A double barrier against the ingress of seawater is thus obtained.
Furthermore, the document WO 2011/088840 A1 discloses a pressure compensation system that achieves a double barrier against the ingress of seawater.
Such type of double barrier may increase the safety and reliability of the pressure compensator only insignificantly. A failure of the pressure compensator may be caused by fatigue of the material of the bellows part, e.g., by the formation of cracks and thus leaks in the bellows part of the pressure compensator. As an example, through such crevice in the outer bellows portion, seawater may leak into the intermediate chamber, where it is stopped by the inner bellows part. Even so, both bellows parts undergo the same compression/decompression cycles, and are accordingly experiencing the same stress and fatigue. Both bellows portions are thus likely to fail within a relatively short period of time. Accordingly, the lifetime and thus the safety and reliability of such double barrier pressure compensator are not extended significantly by the second barrier.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0167962 A1 discloses a configuration that makes use of a particular arrangement of two bellows, thus increasing the compensation volume and keeping the dead volume small. A single barrier configuration having an improved reliability may thus be achieved.
Nevertheless, it is desirable to further increase the reliability of a pressure compensator for a subsea device. It is desirable to both improve the protection against ingress of seawater, and furthermore increase the lifetime over which such pressure compensator may be operated.


By taking a high-order position in an operand which is normalized in a two bit unit by means of and output from a normalizing circuit as an address, an approximation of square root's reciprocal is indexed by means of a table information storing unit. By multiplying an output of a residue holding circuit which takes a 0th residue as a normalized operand by the approximation of square root's reciprocal by using a multiplying circuit, a partial square root value is found. The individual partial square root values each having a overlapped bit at each iteration are merged with one another by means of a digit aligning circuit and an adder. A residue for a next step in iterative computation is found by subtracting a product of a merged square root value and a partial square root value from a residue by means of an inverting circuit, a multiplicand generator, a (R+S.times.T) operation unit.

This invention pertains to square root operation devices for use in data processors.
In many of conventional square root operation devices, square rooting is executed by the Newton-Raphson method. The first process of finding the square root of a numeric value A is to find out 1/.sqroot.A, and the next process is to result by A so as to obtain .sqroot.A. In the Newton-Raphson method, 1/.sqroot.A is found by means of convergent which the number of iteration to be carried out until a convergent condition is reached becomes lower as the initial value of a reciprocal approaches a true value. In such high-speed square root operation devices as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 499,801 and relevant Japanese Patent Pub. No. 25924, a target (i.e., 1/.sqroot.A) is reached after convergent calculation about three or four times.
Additionally, there is a known square root operation device different from the foregoing type, which utilizes a technique similar to a square root computation based on "calculation-on-paper". In such a technique, a square is partially found by means of iterative calculation in descending order by the same number of digits each time, wherein the radicand is an initial, or the 0th partial residue, the (i+1)th partial square root is the i-th partial residue and the first to i-th partial square root values, the multiplicand is obtained by adding the (i+1)th partial square root value to twice the first to partial square root values, the product is found by taking the (i+1)th partial residue as a multiplier, and the partial residue is determined by subtracting the product from the i-th partial square root value. An example of square root operation devices based on this technique is shown in the paper of P. Montuschi and L. Giminiera, "ON EFFICIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGHER RADIX SQUARE ROOT ALGORITHMS," Proc. 9th IEEE Symposium on Computer pp, 154-161, September 1989.
However, in the foregoing square root operation device according to the Newton-Raphson method, the significand part of a floating-point number input operand is input in a multiplying circuit as a multiplicand and a multiplier. Therefore, when finding the square root of a double-precision floating-point number in an IEEE standard, a 53.times.53 multiplying circuit, which corresponds to the bit length of a significand part with an addition of a leading bit, is required. When multiplication instructions and square root operation instructions are not executed at the same time and even when the multiplying circuit for executing a multiplication instruction is used for the execution of a square root operation instruction, no difficulties However, in the case that there is no data interdependence between the multiplication instruction and the square root operation instruction, and that both the instructions are carried out at the same time, a problem that hardware materials increase greatly arises due to the provision of such a 53.times.53 bit multiplying circuit for square root operation.
In the square root operation device proposed by P. Montuschi et al, the number of bits obtained by a single iterating calculation is two. Furthermore, when finding out the square root of a double-precision floating-point number in an IEEE standard, it is necessary to execute iterative calculation twenty-eight times in order that a 55-bit root made up of 53 bits for a significand part 53 bit for a guard bit and one bit for a round bit. As a result, such a proposed square root operation device is not suitable for high-speed operations.
The present invention provides a square root operation device by means of which square roots are founded at although the same uses an operand length for fixed-point numbers and a multiplying circuit smaller than the bit length of a significand part for floating-point numbers, as the bit length of a multiplier.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Large area graphene (LAG) sheets can be embedded in a polymer-based material as a mechanical reinforcement or to otherwise enhance the properties of the polymer-based material. The LAG sheets can be nanoperforated and/or functionalized to enhance interaction between the graphene and the polymer. Reactive functional groups can facilitate formation of covalent bonds between the graphene and the polymer so that the LAG sheets become an integral part of the cross-linked structure in curable polymer-based materials. Nanoperforations in the LAG sheets provide useful sites for the functional groups and can allow cross-links to form through the nanoperforations.

Polymeric materials, while desirable in many applications due to ease of processing, low tooling cost, and design freedom, are usually not as strong or rigid as non-polymeric materials, such as metals or ceramics. Polymer-based composites have been developed in which reinforcement materials, such as non-polymeric fibers, are embedded in a polymer matrix in an attempt to combine the desirable properties of the polymer with the higher stiffness and strength of the reinforcement material. Attempts to incorporate fullerenes such as carbon nanotubes into polymer-based composites as a reinforcement material, to realize the benefits of the high-strength all-carbon molecular structure of fullerenes, have been met with limited success due to problems with entanglement, folding, low affinity for the matrix material, changes in rheological properties and processability, or difficulty in properly orienting such reinforcements.

Method of making a large area graphene composite material


A ring or rings adapted for endoluminal placement within the stomach, other hollow organ or vessel, and a method for deploying the rings is described. The rings create a small pouch with a reinforced stoma in the stomach for the treatment and control of obesity. An endoluminal suturing device for deploying a circumferential line of interrupted mattress suture bites is inserted into the patient's stomach via the patient's mouth. The distal gastric ring is preloaded on the distal end of the suturing device and is incorporated with suture loops from the double-armed sutures contained within the device. The suturing device can have an expandable area at its distal end that can expand its diameter to between approximately 10 mm and 150 mm. The circumference of this expanded area has a suction opening that is used to draw in tissue when a vacuum is applied to the device. Flexible cannulas containing long flexible suture needles are positioned radially around the circumference of the suction opening. The long needles are adapted to be advanced through the drawn in tissue incorporating their attached suture material. The expandable area of the device is collapsed, and the device is withdrawn from the patient. With the distal ring anchoring the sutures beneath the incorporated tissue folds, a column of sutures exits the device's suction port as the device is withdrawn. A second, proximal ring is then incorporated with the sutures and may then be endoscopically lowered into the patient's stomach and positioned proximal to the distal ring. The sutures are endoscopically secured and cut, thereby fixing the two rings together with tissue incorporated between them.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to an endoluminal surgical procedure for the treatment and control of obesity and, more particularly, to gastric rings and a novel method for the endoluminal implantation of the rings.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Methods used in the prior art to treat obesity include gastric bypass and small bowel bypass surgery. Stapling of portions of the stomach has also been used to treat morbid obesity. This includes both vertical and horizontal stapling and other variations which will reduce the size of the stomach and make a small stoma opening. Many problems have been associated with the use of staples. First, staples are undependable. Second, staples may cause perforations in the stomach wall. Finally, the pouch or the stoma formed by the staples may become enlarged over time, thereby making the procedure useless.
A promising method for weight control employs the placement of a band around a portion of the stomach by open or laparoscopic surgery, thereby compressing the stomach and creating a stoma that is less than the normal interior diameter of the stomach. The constricted stoma restricts food intake into the lower digestive portion of the stomach. Such a band has been described by Kuzmak et al in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,592,339, 5,074,868, and 5,226,429, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
These devices, known as gastric bands, require a surgical procedure for their implantation, which includes accessing the patient's stomach and other internal organs via incisions. The invasiveness related to these surgical procedures can cause pain, prolonged recovery, complications, and great expense to the patient and to the healthcare system. Moreover, the procedure can also be technically challenging for the surgeon.
Suturing devices described by Bjerken in U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,707 and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/267,266 enable an operator to remotely place suture material within a closed space such a hollow body organ. Such devices enable the endoluminal implantation of prostheses, correction of defects, and the reconfiguration of tissue without the need for surgical incisions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,707 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/267,266 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.


An adjustable linkage assembly has a longitudinally extending body member with a central section and a spaced pair of flattened portions at each end thereof. An opening is formed in each of the flattened portions and one of the openings is elongated. Each opening receives a trunnion.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a linkage assembly adapted to be incorporated in a gear shift control lever assembly for the transmission of a motor vehicle.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A linkage assembly of the type used in a transmission gear shift control lever assembly transmits motion input to a gear shift lever by an operator to shifting levers pivotally attached to the outer housing of a transmission. The shifting levers drive shift forks which move synchronizers mounted on rotating shafts into and out of contact with gears in the transmission to thereby change the gear ratio output by the transmission. Linkage assemblies used in gear shift control lever assemblies must be adjustable and must be capable of maintaining an adjustment setting for a prolonged period of time.
One prior adjustable linkage assembly incorporates a pair of spaced trunnions. The assembly may be adjusted to change the spacing between the trunnions. This assembly consists of a rod having one end bent 90 degrees. A trunnion is machined onto the end that has been bent to provide a first trunnion which extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod. A flat is machined along the outer surface of the longitudinally extending portion of the rod to cause the rod to have a D-shaped outer surface. A second trunnion is mounted in a clamp adapted to be mounted on the longitudinally extending portion of the rod. The clamp includes a U-shaped steel stamping having a pair of aligned D-shaped holes which complement the outer surface of the rod. An anchor bolt is received within a tapped hole in the clamp to rigidly anchor the clamp. The trunnion is mounted in the clamp such that it projects laterally from the longitudinally extending rod and 180 degrees from the direction of the first trunnion when the clamp is mounted on the rod. The threaded bore which receives the tightening bolt is laterally aligned with the flat formed on the rod such that the tightening bolt bears against the flat to anchor the second trunnion at a desired distance from the first trunnion.
One disadvantage of this assembly relates to its cost inasmuch as the rod requires extensive machining to form a trunnion at one end and to provide a D-shaped cross section on the outer surface thereof. Additionally, it has been found difficult to precisely form the "D" shaped holes in the clamp and to mount a trunnion on the clamp with the precision required to provide precise orientation of the two trunnions with respect to each other.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a linkage assembly having a pair of trunnions which requires minimal machining and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which allows precise orientation of the trunnions with respect to each other, which may be adjusted easily and which will hold an adjustment once it has been set.


A method includes forming a first polymer layer to cover a metal pad of a wafer, and patterning the first polymer layer to form a first opening. A first sidewall of the first polymer layer exposed to the first opening has a first tilt angle where the first sidewall is in contact with the metal pad. The method further includes forming a metal pillar in the first opening, sawing the wafer to generate a device die, encapsulating the device die in an encapsulating material, performing a planarization to reveal the metal pillar, forming a second polymer layer over the encapsulating material and the device die, and patterning the second polymer layer to form a second opening. The metal pillar is exposed through the second opening. A second sidewall of the second polymer layer exposed to the second opening has a second tilt angle greater than the first tilt angle.

With the evolving of semiconductor technologies, semiconductor chips/dies are becoming increasingly smaller. In the meantime, more functions need to be integrated into the semiconductor dies. Accordingly, the semiconductor dies need to have increasingly greater numbers of I/O pads packed into smaller areas, and the density of the I/O pads rises over time. As a result, the packaging of the device dies becomes more difficult, which adversely affects the yield of the packaging.
To solve this problem, process have been developed to encapsulate a device die in an encapsulating material such as molding compound, and forming redistribution lines to connect to the surface pads of the device die. The redistribution lines span to a greater area than the device die, and allow for more I/O pads to be formed without the need to increase the area of the device die.

Info structure with copper pillar having reversed profile

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Linked nucleosides having at least one functionalized nucleoside that bears a substituent such as a steroid molecule, a reporter molecule, a non-aromatic lipophilic molecule, a reporter enzyme, a peptide, a protein, a water soluble vitamin, a lipid soluble vitamin, an RNA cleaving complex, a metal chelator, a porphyrin, an alkylator, a pyrene, a hybrid photonuclease/intercalator, or an aryl azide photo-crosslinking agent exhibit increased cellular uptake and other properties. The substituent can be attached at the 2′-position of the functionalized nucleoside via a linking group. If at least a portion of the remaining liked nucleosides are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro, 2′-O-methoxy, 2′-O-ethoxy, 2′-O-propoxy, 2′-O-aminoalkoxy or 2′-O-allyloxy nucleosides, the substituent can be attached via a linking group at any of the 3′ or the 5′ positions of the nucleoside or on the heterocyclic base of the nucleoside or on the inter-nucleotide linkage linking the nucleoside to an adjacent nucleoside.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) directs protein synthesis. Antisense methodology is the complementary hybridization of relatively short oligonucleotides to mRNA or DNA such that the normal, essential functions of these intracellular nucleic acids are disrupted. Hybridization is the sequence-specific hydrogen bonding of oligonucleotides to RNA or single-stranded DNA via complementary Watson-Crick base pairs.
The naturally occurring events that provide the disruption of the nucleic acid function, discussed by Cohen in Oligonucleotides: Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla. (1989), are thought to be of two types. The first, hybridization arrest, denotes a terminating event in which the oligonucleotide inhibitor binds to the target nucleic acid and thus prevents, by simple steric hindrance, the binding of essential proteins, most often ribosomes, to the nucleic acid. Methyl phosphonate oligonucleotides (see, e.g., Miller, et al., Anti-Cancer Drug Design 1987, 2, 117) and α-anomer oligonucleotides, the two most extensively studied antisense agents, are thought to disrupt nucleic acid function by hybridization arrest.
The second type of terminating event for antisense oligonucleotides involves the enzymatic cleavage of targeted RNA by intracellular RNase H. A 2′-deoxyribofuranosyl oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide analog hybridizes with the targeted RNA to form a duplex that activates the RNase H enzyme to cleave the RNA strand, thus destroying the normal function of the RNA. Phosphorothioate oligonucleotides provide the most prominent example of antisense agents that operate by this type of antisense terminating event.
Considerable research is being directed to the application of oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide analogs as antisense agents for diagnostics, research reagents, and therapeutics. At least for therapeutic purposes, the antisense oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide analogs must be transported across cell membranes or taken up by cells to express activity. One method for increasing membrane or cellular transport is by the attachment of a pendant lipophilic group.
Ramirez, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1982, 104:, 5483, introduced the phospholipid group 5′-O-(1,2-di-O-myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoryl) into the dimer TpT independently at the 3′ and 5′ positions. Subsequently Shea, et al., Nuc. Acids Res. 1990, 18, 3777, disclosed oligonucleotides having a 1,2-di-O-hexyldecyl-rac-glycerol group linked to a 5′-phosphate on the 5′-terminus of the oligonucleotide. Certain of the Shea, et. al. authors disclosed these and other compounds in patent application PCT/US90/01002. Another glucosyl phospholipid was disclosed by Guerra, et al., Tetrahedron Letters 1987, 28, 3581.
In other work, a cholesteryl group was attached to the inter-nucleotide linkage between the first and second nucleotides (from the 3′ terminus) of an oligonucleotide. This work is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,013 and by Letsinger, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1989, 86, 6553. The aromatic intercalating agent anthraquinone was attached to the 2′ position of a sugar fragment of an oligonucleotide as reported by Yamana, et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 1990, 1, 319.
Lemairte, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1986, 84, 648 and Leonetti, et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 1990, 1, 149, disclose modifying the 3′ terminus of an oligonucleotide to include a 3′-terminal ribose sugar moiety. Poly(L-lysine) was linked to the oligonucleotide via periodate oxidation of this terminal ribose followed by reduction and coupling through a N-morpholine ring. Oligonucleotide-poly(L-lysine) conjugates are described in European Patent application 87109348.0, wherein the lysine residue was coupled to a 5′ or 3′ phosphate of the 5′ or 3′ terminal nucleotide of the oligonucleotide. A disulfide linkage has also been utilized at the 3′ terminus of an oligonucleotide to link a peptide to the oligonucleotide, as described by Corey, et al., Science 1987, 238, 1401; Zuckermann, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110, 1614; and Corey, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1989, 111, 8524.
Nelson, et al., Nuc. Acids Res. 1989, 17, 7187 describe a linking reagent for attaching biotin to the 3′-terminus of an oligonucleotide. This reagent, N-Fmoc-O-DMT-3-amino-1,2-propanediol, is commercially available from Clontech Laboratories (Palo Alto, Calif.) under the name 3′-Amine on and from Glen Research Corporation (Sterling, Va.) under the name 3′-Amino-Modifier. This reagent was also utilized to link a peptide to an oligonucleotide, as reported by Judy, et al., Tetrahedron Letters 1992, 32, 879. A similar commercial reagent (actually a series of linkers having various lengths of polymethylene connectors) for linking to the 5′-terminus of an oligonucleotide is 5′-Amino-Modifier C6, also from Glen Research Corporation. These compounds or similar ones were utilized by Krieg, et al., Antisense Research and Development 1991, 1, 161 to link fluorescein to the 5′-terminus of an oligonucleotide. Other compounds of interest have also been linked to the 3′-terminus of an oligonucleotide. Asseline, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1984, 81, 3297 described linking acridine on the 3′-terminal phosphate group of an poly (Tp) oligonucleotide via a polymethylene linkage. Haralambidis, et al., Tetrahedron Letters 1987, 28, 5199 reported building a peptide on a solid state support and then linking an oligonucleotide to that peptide via the 3′ hydroxyl group of the 3′ terminal nucleotide of the oligonucleotide. Chollet, Nucleosides & Nucleotides 1990, 9, 957 attached an Aminolink 2 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) to the 5′ terminal phosphate of an oligonucleotide. They then used the bifunctional linking group SMPB (Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill.) to link an interleukin protein to the oligonucleotide.
An EDTA iron complex has been linked to the 5 position of a pyrimidine nucleoside as reported by Dreyer, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1985, 82, 968. Fluorescein has been linked to an oligonucleotide in the same manner, as reported by Haralambidis, et al., Nucleic Acid Research 1987, 15, 4857 and biotin in the same manner as described in PCT application PCT/US/02198. Fluorescein, biotin and pyrene were also linked in the same manner as reported by Telser, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1989, 111, 6966. A commercial reagent, Amino-Modifier-dT from Glen Research Corporation, can be utilized to introduce pyrimidine nucleotides bearing similar linking groups into oligonucleotides.
Cholic acid linked to EDTA for use in radioscintigraphic imaging studies was reported by Betebenner, et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 1991, 2, 117; however, it is not known to link cholic acid to nucleosides, nucleotides or oligonucleotides.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Derivatized oligonucleotides having improved uptake and other properties


A superjunction semiconductor device is disclosed in which the tradeoff relationship between on-resistance and breakdown voltage is improved greatly so that reverse recovery capability is improved. A drain drift portion substantially corresponds to a portion just under p-base regions serving as an active region and forms a first parallel pn structure in which a first n-type region and a first p-type region are joined to each other alternately and repeatedly. A drain drift portion is surrounded by edge termination region including a second parallel pn structure. Edge termination region is formed such that second n-type and p-type regions oriented consecutively to the first parallel pn structure of the drain drift portion are joined to each other alternately and repeatedly. N-buffer layer is provided between first and second parallel pn structures and n+ drain layer. P-buffer layer is provided selectively inside n-buffer layer in edge termination region.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device.
B. Description of the Related Art
Generally, semiconductor devices are classified into horizontal semiconductor devices having electrodes on one side and vertical semiconductor devices having electrodes on opposite sides. In a vertical semiconductor device, a direction in which a drift current flows in the ON state coincides with a direction in which a depletion layer spreads due to a reverse bias voltage in the OFF state. For example, in an n-channel vertical MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) with an ordinary planar gate structure, a high resistivity n− drift layer portion operates as a region where a drift current flows vertically in the ON state. Accordingly, drift resistance is reduced when the current path of the n− drift layer is shortened. It is therefore possible to obtain an effect that substantial on-resistance of the MOSFET can be reduced.
On the other hand, the high resistivity n− drift layer portion is depleted in the OFF state to thereby increase breakdown voltage. Accordingly, as the n− drift layer is thinner, the width with which a drain-to-base depletion layer spreads starting at a pn junction between a p-base region and the n− drift layer is narrowed so that the breakdown voltage reaches the critical field strength of silicon more quickly. Thus, the breakdown voltage is lowered. On the contrary, in the semiconductor device with high breakdown voltage, the n− drift layer is so thick that on-resistance becomes high enough increase the loss. In this manner, there is a tradeoff relationship between the on-resistance and the breakdown voltage.
It has been known that this tradeoff relationship is also established in semiconductor devices such as an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), a bipolar transistor and a diode. In addition, this tradeoff relationship is also common to horizontal semiconductor devices in each of which a direction where a drift current flows in the ON state is different from a direction where a depletion layer spreads due to a reverse bias voltage in the OFF state.
As a solution to the problem caused by the tradeoff relationship described above, there has been known a superjunction semiconductor device having a drift layer arranged into a parallel pn structure in which an n-type drift region and a p-type partition region are joined to each other alternately and repeatedly with an enhanced impurity concentration (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,275, U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,215 and JP-A-9-266311). In the semiconductor device having such a structure, a depletion layer spreads horizontally from each pn junction extending in the vertical direction of the parallel pn structure to thereby deplete the whole of the drift layer in the OFF state in spite of the high impurity concentration of the parallel pn structure, so that the breakdown voltage can be increased.
On the other hand, in a semiconductor device provided with a diode or in a circuit using a parasitic body diode of a MOSFET etc. such as a bridge circuit, it is necessary to prevent the device from being broken down even when high di/dt occurs during reverse recovery of the diode. As a solution to such a problem, there has been proposed that the carrier lifetime of a parallel pn structure in an edge termination region is made shorter than the carrier lifetime of a parallel pn structure in an active region so that a current flowing into the active region from the edge termination region can be reduced to improve the reverse recovery capability (for example, JP-A-2003-224273, JP-A-2004-22716 and Japanese Patent No. 4743447). Japanese Patent No. 4743447 describes integration of a diode with a MOSFET, but has no suggestion about formation of a p-type region in a drain region opposite to an edge termination region of a MOSFET.
The configuration of a prior art superjunction MOSFET to which such a local lifetime technique is applied will be described. FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view showing the structure of a vertical MOSFET according to the prior art. FIG. 18 corresponds to FIG. 12 in JP-A-2004-22716. As shown in FIG. 18, drain drift portion 102 with a first parallel pn structure is provided on low resistivity n+ drain layer 101 with which drain electrode 113 on the back side makes ohmic contact. Each p-base region 103 having a high impurity concentration and serving as an active region 121 is provided selectively in the surface layer of drain drift portion 102.
Drain drift portion 102 substantially corresponds to a portion just under p-base regions 103 including a plurality of wells and serving as active region 121. Drain drift portion 102 has a first parallel pn structure in which a vertically layer-shape first n-type region 102a oriented in a thickness direction of a substrate and a vertically layer-shape first p-type region 102b oriented in the thickness direction of the substrate are joined to each other alternately and repeatedly along a surface of the substrate at a repeated pitch P101. An MOS gate structure (metal-oxide film-semiconductor insulating gate) including p-base regions 103, p+ contact regions 105, n+ source regions 106, gate insulating film 107 and gate electrode layer 108 and source electrode 110 are provided on the front side of the first parallel pn structure. Reference numeral 109 indicates an interlayer insulating film.
Drain drift portion 102 is surrounded by edge termination region 122 including a second parallel pn structure. Edge termination region 122 is provided consecutively to the first parallel pn structure of drain drift portion 102. In edge termination region 122, a vertically layer-shape second n-type region 112a oriented in the thickness direction of the substrate and a vertically layer-shape second p-type region 112b oriented in the thickness direction of the substrate are joined to each other alternately and repeatedly along the surface of the substrate at a repeated pitch P101. The repeated pitch P101 of the first parallel pn structure is substantially equal to that of the second parallel pn structure and the impurity concentration of the first parallel pn structure is substantially equal to that of the second parallel pn structure.
Oxide film 115 is provided on the surface of the second parallel pn structure. A field plate electrode FP extended from source electrode 110 is formed on oxide film 115 to thereby cover the part of the second parallel pn structure. N-type channel stopper region 114 connected to n+ drain layer 101 is formed on the outer side of edge termination region 122 and stopper electrode 116 makes ohmic contact with n-type channel stopper region 114. The second parallel pn structure and n-type channel stopper region 114 serve as a region (indicated as a hatched portion) shorter in carrier lifetime than the first parallel pn structure.
However, in JP-A-2003-224273, JP-A-2004-22716 and Japanese Patent No. 4743447, the carrier lifetime of the second parallel pn structure in edge termination region 122 is made shorter than that of the first parallel pn structure in active region 121 so that the quantity of stored carriers in edge termination region 122 can be reduced to suppress destruction by local crowding of a reverse recovery current during reverse recovery of a body diode including first p-type regions 102b and first n-type regions 102a. However, the leakage current in the OFF state increases due to the shortened carrier lifetime of the second parallel pn structure in edge termination region 122. As a result, there is a problem that the loss increases. In addition, when the leakage current increases excessively in the off state, there is a problem that the device breaks down due to thermal runaway.
The present invention is directed to overcoming or at least reducing the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.


There is described an automatic device for restarting a two-for-one twisting station after yarn interruption, the device being provided on a carriage which patrols the twisting machine faces and is equipped to discharge a completed bobbin, seize the yarn ends from the feed side and the bobbin side and convey them to a joining device, join said ends, pick up a new tube and position it on the bobbin carrier arm, bring the yarn ends on the feed side up to it and restart the station, so restoring the yarn flow.

This invention relates to an automatic device for starting a two-for-one twisting station, in particular after interruption of the feed yarn.
The twisting operation consists of binding together two or more yarns by twisting them together about their longitudinal axis. This operation enables yarns to be obtained which are of greater quality, more resistant to tension and abrasion, more uniform and with a better appearance and feel.
Twisting can be carried out either by feeding the two or more yarns after they have already been combined and wound parallel to each other by a combiner, or by withdrawing the individual yarns from two separate, preferably conical bobbins lying coaxially one above the other.
For a better understanding of the technical problem involved in twisting and their solution by the present invention a description is given hereinafter of a two-for-one twister in terms both of the device itself and the process, with reference to its feed by separate bobbins which each feed single yarns, it being however noted that the technical problem and its solution by the present invention also apply to the case in which the feed is by means of already combined yarns.

Automatic device for starting a two-for-one twisting station after interruption of the feed yarn and relative automatic process


To inspect all portions of the substrate the substrate table can be moved rotationally and linearly. Furthermore the detector can be moved rotationally. This enables all portions of a surface of the substrate to be inspected from all angles in a plane parallel to the substrate. Less linear motion is needed, so the apparatus occupies a smaller volume and generates smaller vibrations.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Known lithographic apparatus include steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at one time, and scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning" direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
In order to determine features of the substrate, such as its alignment, a beam is reflected off the surface of the substrate, for example at an alignment target, and an image is created on a camera of the reflected beam. By comparing the properties of the beam before and after it has been reflected off the substrate, the properties of the substrate can be determined. This can be done, for example, by comparing the reflected beam with data stored in a library of known measurements associated with known substrate properties.
To inspect different points on the substrate the substrate must be moved relative to the detector. To inspect every point on the substrate the detector and substrate must be moveable with respect to each other in two directions. Furthermore, due to possible rotational asymmetry in the apparatus it must be possible to detect every point on the substrate from every rotational angle to the substrate, i.e. the detector and substrate must be configured to detect any point on the substrate at any given rotation with respect to each other.
Conventionally the substrate table has been moveable in a first linear direction and rotationally and the detector has been moveable in a second linear direction (perpendicularly to the first linear direction). However, such linear movement requires a lot of space (the substrate table and detector must both be moved by at least 300 mm) and furthermore generates large acceleration forces resulting in significant vibrations.
It is desirable to provide scatterometry apparatus near and amongst the lithographic apparatus in a clean environment. Space in such environments is at a premium and therefore it is desirable to minimize the space occupied by the apparatus.
As is well known accuracy of exposure in the lithographic apparatus is very important and because the scatterometry apparatus are often arranged near the lithographic apparatus it is desirable to minimize the vibrations resulting from the use of the scatterometry apparatus.

Apparatus for angular-resolved spectroscopic lithography characterization and device manufacturing method


An optical disk differentiating method applied to an optical disk drive, in which a first level value, a second level value and an optical disk differentiating value generating program are stored and an optical disk is put. The method comprises the steps of: generating a laser beam impinging on the optical disk; generating a first reflex signal when the laser beam is reflected by a surface of the optical disk; generating a second reflex signal when the laser beam is reflected by a reflex layer of the optical disk; calculating a first time frame value when the first reflex signal is greater than or equal to the first level value, and rendering a first beginning time value when the first reflex signal firstly equals the first level value; enabling the optical drive to obtain an optical disk differentiating value according to the first time frame value and the optical disk differentiating value generating program; calculating a second beginning time value as the second reflex signal firstly equals the second level value; calculating a difference between the second beginning time value and the first beginning time value and defining the difference as a response time value; and comparing the response time value with the optical disk differentiating value to determine a type of the optical disk.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an optical disk differentiating method and an electronic device thereof, and in particular to an optical disk differentiating method with dynamic calculation and an electronic device thereof.
2. Related Art
Digital versatile disks (DVDs) are a new generation of optical information storage medium having a higher data density and a larger capacity than those of the compact disks (CDs), and DVD drives have become the mainstream peripherals in the market. A lot of data are stored in the CDs in the past CD generation, so that the optical disk drive must have the ability of reading the CDs and DVDs in order to satisfy the user's demands. Thus, the problem of compatibility has to be considered when the optical disk drive is designed. That is, the optical disk drive must have the ability of reading various CDs (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW) and DVDs (DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW).
FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views showing a conventional CD and a conventional DVD.
The typical DVD 1 includes a dummy substrate 11 with the thickness of 0.6 mm, and a data substrate 12 with the thickness of 0.6 mm. The data substrate 12 is bonded to the dummy substrate 11 to form the DVD 1 having the thickness of 1.2 mm. The data substrate 12 includes a pre-grooved substrate 121, a recording layer 122 formed on a surface of the pre-grooved substrate 121, and a reflective layer 123 formed on the recording layer 122. Then, the dummy substrate 11 and the data substrate 12 are bonded together through a bonding layer 13 to form the DVD 1.
The typical CD 2 has the thickness of 1.2 mm and includes a pre-grooved substrate 211, a recording layer 212 formed on a surface of the pre-grooved substrate 211, a reflective layer 213 formed on the recording layer 212, and a printed layer 214 formed on the reflective layer 213.
The conventional method of differentiating the type of the optical disk is made according to the difference between the thickness of the DVD 1 and the thickness of the CD 2. Typically, the optical pickup head is moved to output a laser beam travelling toward a to-be-tested optical disk, and the laser beam touches the to-be-tested optical disk and is then reflected by the optical disk to generate a reflex signal. The optical disk may be the CD or the DVD, and the laser beam first touches the substrate 121 or 211 of the to-be-tested optical disk and then touches the recording layer 122 or 212 of the to-be-tested optical disk. Because the energies reflected by the substrate 121 or 211 and the recording layer 122 or 212 are different, the optical disk drive calculates the difference between the time when the substrate 121 or 211 generates the reflex signal and the time when the recording layer 122 or 212 generates the reflex signal. Then, the difference is compared with a constant threshold value in order to judge whether the optical disk is the CD or the DVD.
However, the moving speeds of various optical pickup heads manufactured by various factories are different. More particularly, 50% of error is allowed in the specification of the shipped out product. Thus, the possibility of misjudging the type of the optical disk in the optical disk drive is greatly increased when the optical disk drive judges the type of the optical disk according to the time difference of the reflex signal and the constant threshold value.
In the condition that the moving speeds of the optical pickup heads cannot be unified, how to precisely judge the type of the optical disk is an important subject.

Optical disk differentiating method and electronic device thereof


A microwave circular waveguide cavity and filter containing said cavity has a circular iris mounted transversely within the cavity. The iris has an eccentrically located circular aperture that is sized and located to control coupling between modes resonating in the cavity. The cavity can be a dual mode cavity, a triple mode cavity or a higher mode cavity. In a method of constructing such a cavity, coupling can be controlled by choosing from a number of variables including the size of the aperture, the offset distance, the inclination angle, the thickness and the location of the iris within the cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cavity and filter containing said cavity and to a method of constructing said cavity with one or more irises containing eccentric circular apertures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to couple energy between cylindrically shaped cavities using a circular aperture located in a cross wall separating adjacent cavities. In FIGS. 2 and 2(a), (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,844, naming Brambilla as inventor), there is described, as prior art, two cavities separated by a cross wall Pti, which contains a centrally located circular opening Ai. The Brambilla Patent describes an arcuate aperture for use in conjuntion with an adjusting screw for coupling between adjacent cavities.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,051, naming Shimizu et al as inventor, describes a microwave resonator having a rotary joint for variable coupling between cavities. The rotary joint is located at the midpoint of a cavity and apertures, having an elliptical shape, are centered in an iris plate. The patent states that coupling into and out of the cavity may be accurately varied simply by rotating the portion of waveguide on opposite sides of the rotating joint relative to one another.
A prior art cylindrical cavity structure is shown in FIG. 1 where a filter 2 has two cavities 4,6 separated by an iris 8 having a centrally located cruciform aperture 10. The filter has an input 14 and an output 16 and each cavity has 3 tuning screws 18 to provide the desired coupling and phase balance. The arrangement of the tuning screws is shown in FIG. 2(a), which represents a prior art schematic end view of the tuning screws 18 in one of the cavities 6. From FIG. 1, it can be seen that the tuning screws 18 in the cavity 4 are oriented in a different arrangement than the arrangement of the tuning screws 18 in cavity 6.
In another prior art embodiment shown in FIG. 2(b), the tuning screws 18 are replaced by short rectangular posts 20 in cavity 6 (see Guglielmi et al, "Dual-mode Circular Waveguide Filters Without Tuning Screws", IEEE, Microwave Guided Wave Lett., VOL. 2, pages 457 to 458, Nov. 1992 and Beyer et al, "Efficient Modal Analysis of Waveguide Filters Including The Orthoginal Mode Coupling Elements by a MM/FE Method", IEEE Microwave Guided Wave Lett., VOL. 5, Jan. 1995). It should be noted that the rectangular posts vary in size from one another. The structure is analyzed using a pure numerical Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis. Rectangular posts 22 shown in cavity 6 in prior art FIG. 2(c) have been modified to make the analysis easier (see Vahldieck, "A Combined Mode Matching/Method of Lines Approach For Field-theory Analysis Of Dual Mode Filters", Proceedings of ESA Workshop in Advanced CAD for Microwave Filters and Passive Devices, pages 1 to 15, Nov. 1995).
In Accatino et al., "A Four-pole Dual Mode Eliptic Filter Realized in Circular Cavity Without Screws", IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., VOL. MTT-44, pages 2680-2687, Dec. 1996, as shown in FIG. 2(d), the cavity 6 has an iris 24 having a rectangular aperture 26. The iris is located in the middle of the resonant cavities and coupling and tuning mechanisms are obtained by rotation angle of the rectangular aperture and by size of the rectangular aperture relative to the size and thickness of the iris sections. The prior art arrangement shown in FIG. 2(d) has several advantages over previous structures. Unfortunately, the structure shown in FIG. 2(d) suffers from disadvantages as well. For example, in order to construct the irises containing the rectangular apertures, sophisticated mechanical processes are required, for example, electro-discharge machining to ensure that the corners of the rectanglar aperture are sharp. Further, the minimum ratio of remaining conductor surface area over the cavity cross section is as large as (.pi.-2)/.pi.. This results in the conductor loss on the remaining surface being large, which in turn decreases the unloaded Q of the filter. An iris of a small aperture in a TE.sub.11n mode circular cavity may increase a risk of having spurious modes in the frequency band of interest. FIG. 2(e) describes a cavity 6 having an iris 27 with elliptical aperture 29.

Circular waveguide cavity and filter having an iris with an eccentric circular aperture and a method of construction thereof


This invention pertains to methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular conditions. More specifically, the invention relates to isolated molecules that can be used to diagnose and/or treat cardiovascular conditions including cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, stroke, arteriosclerosis, and heart failure.

Despite significant advances in therapy, cardiovascular disease remains the single most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Thus, prevention and therapy of cardiovascular conditions such as myocardial infarction and stroke is an area of major public health importance. Currently, several risk factors for future cardiovascular disorders have been described and are in wide clinical use in the detection of subjects at high risk. Such screening tests include evaluations of total and HDL cholesterol levels. However, a large number of cardiovascular disorders occur in subjects with apparently low to moderate risk profiles, and ability to identify such patients is limited. Moreover, accumulating data suggests that the beneficial effects of certain preventive and therapeutic treatments for patients at risk for or known to have cardiovascular disorders differs in magnitude among different patient groups. At this time, however, data describing diagnostic tests to determine whether certain therapies can be expected to be more or less effective are lacking.

IL1RL-1 as a cardiovascular disease marker and therapeutic target


A combination shower arm and water filter having an integrated design for attachment between a shower wall and a showerhead. The combination shower arm and water filter includes a housing having a number of components that may be easily manipulated, and which may be connected to any available showerhead, without the need of special tools. The combination shower arm and water filter allows an attached showerhead to be extended, moved or rotated into more accessible positions by actuation of the movable portions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to filtered extensions and, more particularly, to a combination shower arm and water filter that is movable to allow adjustment of a showerhead, while improving the quality of shower water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shower filters for use in conjunction with showerheads and filtered showerheads for use in showers are known. For example, filters are inserted at ends of shower arms, with showerheads then secured to the filters, or filtered shower heads are attached directly to the ends of the shower arms. However, because of the size of the filter and attached showerhead, and/or the filtered showerhead, they may extend too far into the shower area. Furthermore, the known filters and/or filtered showerheads add weight to the shower arm, which over time may cause problems. Additionally, the known filters and filtered showerheads are not easily adjustable, or are limited in how they may be adjusted. Such known filters and filtered showerheads also tend to be costly to manufacture and are not used by some persons because of their size or style. For example, the known filters and filtered showerheads do not always match person's aesthetic taste, and/or the overall decor of a bathroom or shower area. Finally, the known filters and filtered showerheads cannot be used with large, modern showerheads, such as the flower shaped or watering can type, and do not have an integrated feel or look when used with known shower arms.
Known shower filter and filtered showerhead assemblies are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,152,464, 5,300,224, 5,503,742, 6,016,977, 6,187,187, 6,214,224, 6,270,023, 6,325,930 and 6,537,455 to Farley. While the foregoing prior art devices provide improved filtration of hot water passing through them, they do not provide for a filtered shower arm that may be attached or secured between a water line and a showerhead that reduces cost and weight. The device of the present invention provides an integrated articulating shower arm and filter assembly that may be used with any type of showerhead, and which also avoids the need for a separate shower filter.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a less, cumbersome, easy-to-install and move, lower cost combination shower arm and water filter that overcomes known problems and can be manufactured in accordance with the present invention.


A method for manufacturing silicone foams that maintains the original air permeable cell structure of an air permeable material including polyester by curing the air permeable material after coating the air permeable material with a silicone solution including a curing agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a silicone foam and the silicon rubber molding manufactured by such process. More particularly to a method for manufacturing silicone foams by maintaining a plurality of original air permeable cell structures of an air permeable material, through curing the air permeable material after coating the air permeable material with a silicone liquid mixture compound with a curing agent, which provides an air permeable structure that may have improved heat-resistance and cold-resistance, as well as reduced production costs due to its simple manufacture.
2. Discussion of the Background
Silicone rubber is a synthetic rubber. A main link of which is a coupling of silicone and oxygen. To the contrary, a main link of organic rubber is generally a coupling of carbon and carbon.
Dimethyl silicone rubber may be obtained by performing base-catalyzed or acid-catalyzed ring opening-polymerization of ring-shaped dimethylsiloxane, which may be created through hydrolysis or condensation of dimethyldichlorosilane. Organic peroxide may be used to vulcanize the silicone rubber. When processed, fine powder silica (silicon dioxide) may be added as a reinforcing filler so that the physical character of the vulcanized matter may be considerably improved.
The most distinctive character of silicone rubber is that it can be used over a wide range of temperatures due to its excellent heat-resistance and cold-resistance. Further, silicone rubber may be widely used for industrial goods such as heat-resistant wire covering, heat-resistant oil thread, O-rings, ozone-resistant materials, corona-resistant materials, decomposition-resistant materials, and electric insulation.
Furthermore, because silicone rubber has low toxicity, it may be widely used in bottle caps for medical supplies, medical rubber tubes, conveyer belts and rolls for food processing, and packaging.
However, the above silicone rubber molding process is relatively expensive. Also this process maintains closed inner cell structures in the silicone rubber. Therefore, it cannot be easily applied to the area where both temperature-resistance and air permeability are required.
For example, products that require air permeability, such as covers for microphones or the bottom boards of ironing stands (especially for industrial purposes), cannot be easily made by the above silicone rubber molding process.
Nylon flannel padding has been used in pads for use in the dry cleaning industry for years. However, there are several problems associated with the nylon padding. First, it has a tendency to burn quickly. Second, the material flattens over time, which may lead to finishing problems on garments.
Korean Patent No. 10-0572558, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a process in which a polyurethane foam is coated with a silicone solution. When the polyurethane foam with silicone embedded therein is used in pads for use in the dry cleaning industry it provides the material with a high resistance to heat. However, the polyurethane foam may be easily torn when subjected to tension.
Therefore, a material having both improved temperature resistance and durability that is capable of maintaining its initial thickness is needed.

Method for manufacturing silicone foam having an air permeable structure


The object of the present invention is to provide a production method wherein synthesis of a cyclic organic silicon compound similar to oxa-silacyclopentanes is completed in a single-step reaction. It is also to provide an organic silicon resin having an alcoholic hydroxyl group, which is capable of easily controlling its construction and is longitudinally stable.

(Cyclic Organic Silicon-based Compound)
Numerous compounds are known as halogenosilanes and alkoxysilanes, having a protected alkali-soluble group. The protected alkali-soluble group includes carboxyl group and protected hydroxyl group in phenol, catechol (for example in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2) or alcohol.
Halogenosilanes and alkoxysilanes, having an alkali-soluble group are useful as a starting material for lithographic material, organic-inorganic hybrid material and the like.                [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-249493        [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2002-338583
However, known methods for producing halogenosilanes and alkoxysilanes, having an alkali-soluble group until now have used multi-step synthesis reactions, and are therefore impractical as methods for low-cost manufacturing.
On the other hand, oxa-silacyclopentanes are known as a cyclic organic silicon compound having a hydroxyl group protected by an organic group (for example in Non-patent Document 1 and Non-patent Document 2).                [Non-patent Document 1] J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 4206-4207        [Non-patent Document 2] J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 2056-2064
It is also known that oxa-silacyclopentanes easily ring-opening react by hydrolysis to form a silicon-based resin having an alcoholic hydroxyl group (for example in Non-patent Document 3 and Non-patent Document 4).                [Non-patent Document 3] MakromolekulareChemie 1964, 73, 85        [Non-patent Document 4] MakromolekulareChemie 1966, 97, 241(Organic Silicon Resin Having Alcoholic Hydroxyl Group)
Various types of organic silicon resins having an alcoholic hydroxyl group are known. The conventional organic silicon resin is one obtained by introducing an alcoholic hydroxyl group into an organic silicon resin constituting a backbone of the polymer.                [Patent Document 1] JP-A-H08-231924        [Patent Document 2] JP-A-H09-176321        [Patent Document 3] JP-A-2001-213963        [Patent Document 4] JP-A-2003-146832
Since these conventional organic silicon resins are obtained by a polymer reaction whereby a specific reactive group in the polymer is reacted with a compound having an alcoholic hydroxyl group, it is difficult to precisely control an introduced amount of the alcoholic hydroxyl group, and when starting materials remain after the polymer reaction, it is difficult to remove the starting materials and purify an organic silicon resin.
A method whereby an organic silicon resin having an alicyclic epoxide is synthesized, and then an oxidation reaction (polymer reaction) is used to convert the product to an organic silicon resin having a diol has been proposed as a method for obtaining a silicon resin having an alcoholic hydroxyl group (for example in Patent Document 5).                [Patent Document 5] JP-A-H10-87834
In addition, a polymethylsilsesquioxane-based microparticle having an alcoholic hydroxyl group has been reported (for example in Patent Document 6).                [Patent Document 6] JP-A-H11-116681
Since an organic silicon resin having an alcoholic hydroxyl group produces an alkali-soluble group, and it is useful as a starting material for lithographic material, organic-inorganic hybrid material and the like.                [Patent Document 7] JP-A-2003-149822
These resins can also be a starting material for various types of functional materials, since they easily react with a silylating agent.
On the other hand, it has been reported that oxa-silacyclopentanes are useful as intermediates in organic synthesis.                [Non-patent Document 1] J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 4206        [Non-patent Document 2] J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 2056
Moreover, basic researches have also been conducted on oxa-silacyclopentane since it easily ring-opening reacts by hydrolysis to give a hydroxyl group.                [Non-patent Document 3] MakromolekulareChemie 1964, 73, 85        [Non-patent Document 4] MakromolekulareChemie 1966, 97, 241

Method for producing cyclic organic silicon compound and organic silicon resin having alcoholic hydroxyl group

Abstract: The means for solving is to produce the cyclic organic silicon compound represented by the formula (3) below by reacting an olefin represented by the formula (1) below and an alkoxysilane represented by the formula (2) below in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal.

Abstract: (In the formula, Z is alkenyl group having carbon atoms from 2 to 5 where the terminal carbon atom forms a C═C bond, R is methyl group or hydrogen atom, and Me is methyl group.)

Abstract: (In the formula, R1 is alkyl group or alkoxyl group, having carbon atoms from 1 to 3, and R2 is alkyl group having carbon atoms from 1 to 3.)

Abstract: (In the formula, Z′ is alkylene group having carbon atoms from 2 to 5.)

Abstract: And it is an organic silicon resin having an alcoholic hydroxyl group obtained by performing hydrolysis and condensation of a cyclic organic silicon compound represented by the formula (3) above, or of a mixture of this and a polyfunctional alkoxysilane.


A sintered body, for manufacturing a ceramic substrate, on which a via can be formed with high positional accuracy and the substrate is not warped and further the productivity is high. The sintered body includes a pillar-shaped ceramic body and metallic wiring rods provided in the ceramic body in parallel with the axis. The metallic wiring rods are made of metal, the melting point of which is lower than the sintering temperature of the sintered ceramic body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sintered body for manufacturing a ceramic substrate. The present invention also relates to a ceramic substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In accordance with recent developments in highly integrated electronic devices, there is a demand for fine and very dense wiring on a substrate. In order to meet the demand, a method in which the fine wiring is provided on a ceramic substrate using a thin film is widely employed. When a via conductor is formed penetrating the ceramic substrate, both sides of the substrate can be effectively used, so that very dense wiring can be realized. For this reason, this method is widely used, and this substrate is put into practical use for assembling semiconductor packages.
When the wiring becomes finer, blow holes in the ceramic, opening onto the substrate surface, might be a cause of disconnection or high resistance. When the via position is slightly displaced, it could be a cause of defective electric continuity. Therefore, in order to form fine and very dense wiring using a thin film, it is necessary that the ceramic substrate be dense, that the number of blow holes be small, and, further, that the surface be flat. In addition, the positional accuracy of the via must be high. Further, there is a strong requirement for a reduction in the cost.
Conventionally, the following method is employed to manufacture a ceramic substrate having the via described above. First, a ceramic green sheet is provided. After the ceramic green sheet has been subjected to punching so as to form a predetermined shape, through-holes are formed at predetermined positions. Next, the through-holes are filled with metallic paste. At least two layers of green sheets that have been processed in this way are laminated. The thus obtained laminated body is subjected to binder-removal treatment and then fired or burned. In this way, the substrate is formed. In this case, a substrate that has warped badly is corrected or rejected. The substrate is then cut into a predetermined shape and polished, and the manufacture of the substrate is completed.
In the above manufacturing process, when the thickness of the substrate is small, it is possible to fill the through-holes with metallic paste after the green sheets have been made into a laminated body. However, in many cases, it is necessary to fill the through-holes with metallic paste for each green sheet. The number of substrates obtained from one sheet of green sheet lamination body is approximately 1 to 4. When the size of the green sheet lamination body is increased so as to increase the number of substrates obtained from one sheet of green sheet lamination body, not only the working efficiency is lowered but also the positional accuracy of the via is deteriorated. After all, the unit number handled in the process is approximately the same from the first to the final stage. Accordingly, the number of the obtained substrates, per one process or one device, is small. Therefore, a sufficiently high mass-production effect cannot be provided, and it is impossible to reduce the cost. Further, due to the defective electric continuity caused by a displacement of the via in the process of lamination and also due to the warping of the substrate, it is difficult to reduce the cost.

Sintered body for manufacturing ceramic substrate


The invention relates to an electric condenser with a negative pole and a positive pole held a given distance apart with a dielectric between the poles. The two poles each have the same three-dimensional lattice-like structure and are held the same distance apart, inserted into one another in every direction. A condenser of this kind meets today's requirements for a high charge capacity but comparatively low volume and weight.

The present invention relates to an electric condenser or capacitor, further to a condenser array composed of two or more such condensers in accordance with the, and to a method for producing an electric condenser.
Electrical condenser or capacitors are known in a multitude of embodiments, for example as plate condensers, cylinder condensers, encased condensers and the like. It is common to all condensers that plate-shaped or flat, layer-like poles are placed opposite each other, wherein a dielectric, for example air, paper, ceramic material or the like is arranged between the poles. In order to increase the capacitance of the condenser, it is possible to achieve an increase in the plate surface by means of flat nesting of condenser plates. In spite of this the result is a limited capacitance per unit of structural volume. It is furthermore not possible to make the known condensers arbitrarily small.

Electric condenser, array of such condensers, and method of producing such condensers and condenser arrays


A multi-chambered airbag is sewn in a flat or 2-D state. The airbag includes a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel of a shape similar to the first fabric panel and coupled to at least a portion of a periphery of the first fabric panel, and a separator panel coupled to the first and second fabric panels. The separator panel forms two or more interior chambers in the airbag. The separator panel includes a venting mechanism to temporarily block the flow of inflation gases into one or more chambers in the airbag or to the outside.

Current multi-chambered side airbag cushions are sometimes designed to have multiple chambers. For example, the airbag cushion may have three chambers. The upper chamber is aligned with the shoulder of the occupant, the middle chamber is aligned with the ribcage of the occupant, and the lower chamber is aligned with the pelvis of the occupant. The chambers are formed by coupling a front panel to the rear panel with a two-dimensional (2-D) or a three dimensional (3-D) separator.
A 2-D separator, such as a sewn seam or stitch, couples the front panel directly to the rear panel. However, a 2-D separator in the form of a stitch may compromise the fabric strength of the front and rear panels. 2-D separators also form chambers with thin sectional shapes that may have reduced stability. Venting between the chambers through the 2-D separator creates high-stress points.
A 3-D separator couples the front panel to the rear panel with a third panel, such as a fabric strip that is generally perpendicular to the front and rear panels. However, 3-D separators generally are limited to linear separators to aid sewing and to minimize the bunch-up of the fabric when the cushion is inflated. The 3-D separator may also be difficult to fold when the airbag cushion is in an undeployed state.


The method for rapid installation of smaller diameter pressure control device usable on blow out preventors, by installing a threaded profile flange with a bell nipple upon a BOP, installing a test plug in the base of the BOP or base of a stack of BOPs, installing a test plug into the threaded profile of flange, performing a pressure test on the flange and all sealing aspects of the BOP, depressurizing the flange and removing the test plug, installing a thread protector between the flange and the bore of the BOP, initiating drilling operations, and upon indication of the need for wireline or other small bore type operations, adapting the existing BOP to smaller working diameter pressure control device, removing the thread protector and installing a high pressure assembly to facilitate the small bore well operations.

Currently, for oil and gas well, blow out preventers are installed using a rig bell nipple. When those nipples are removed, usually two individuals must climb up a BOP to undo about twelve bolts and remove the nipple. The BOP has limited space and is filthy and dirty with poor lighting. The individual must then get a high pressure version of the bell nipple referred to as a spool, energize spool, and then cross over to the smaller diameter BOP. The usual work time required for these actions is between six and eight hours.
Other apparatus and methods for performing wireline operation in a well are described in Young U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,289, Ables U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,737, and Portman U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,652.
A need has existed for a system where people do not have to replace the bell nipple at unreasonable times. A need has existed for a system the can do such an installation of a bell nipple in less than one hour, rather than six hours. A need has existed for a system that reduces the risk of injury to personnel during installation of a high pressure spool piece.
The present method is detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.

Method for rapid installation of a smaller diameter pressure control device usable on blow out preventers


There is provided a method of determining the solubility of a chemical compound containing one or more acidic or basic groups. The method involves preparing a close to saturated solution with solid present of said chemical compound; measuring the pH of the test solution at regular intervals until a consistent rate of pH change; adding a known aliquot of base or acid titrant to the test solution to adjust the pH slope; and repeating steps (b) and (c) until the measured pH slope changes sign. The solubility of the compound is determined as the concentration of unionised compound in solution when the measured pH slope is interpolated to zero.

The determination of the solubility of a chemical compound is a routine requirement in analytical chemistry laboratories. Such determination is for example, commonly required in the development and assessment of new pharmaceutical and agrochemical compounds, many of which contain one or more acidic or basic groups that react with hydrogen ions in aqueous solution.
Traditional methods of determining solubility rely on the addition of a known mass of chemical compound to a known volume of distilled water at a defined pH. The resulting solution is agitated (e.g. by stirring) until an equilibrium state is obtained. Samples of the equilibrated solution are then removed and the solubility determined by known analytical methods. A problem with such traditional methods is that it is not unusual for an extended period of time, sometimes in excess of 48 hours, to be required for an equilibrium state to be reached. Thus, the process is undesirably slow. In addition, over such an extended time period it is not uncommon for environmental factors to affect the test solution. For example, atmospheric carbon dioxide may dissolve in the solution to produce carbonic acid, thereby potentially affecting the pH thereof. Alternatively, the chemical compound itself may be subject to environmental degradation (e.g. as a result of oxidation by atmospheric oxygen).
Overall, it is therefore desirable both from an efficiency and accuracy standpoint to provide a method for more rapid determination of solubility.
A pH-metric method of determining solubility has been described in the literature: 'pH-metric Solubility. 1. Solubility-pH Profile from Bjerrum Plots. Gibbs Buffer and pKa in the Solid State: Pharm Pharmacol Commun 1998, 4: pages 165-178; and 'pH-metric Solubility. 2. Correlation Between the Acid-Base Titration and the Saturation Shake-Flask Solubility-pH Methods: Pharmaceutical Research, 2000, 17: pages 85-89. In practice, however this method still typically requires from six to eight hours to conduct and therefore represents only a partial advance over the traditional methods.
The Applicant has now developed a method of determining the solubility of chemical compounds containing one or more acidic or basic groups that is much faster than both traditional and pH-metric methods. A typical solubility determination can be conducted in less than an hour (e.g. 30 to 60 minutes), thereby providing significant process efficiency benefits and reducing the likelihood of environmental factors having any affect on the result. The method may be used for even poorly soluble chemical compounds and is readily susceptible to automation. Additionally, the method of the present invention does not necessarily require the use of co-solvents as are commonly used in more traditional methods, particularly when assessing compounds of low solubility.
Traditional methods of determining solubility are for example, described in the following literature references: The article 'Physiochemical Properties of Prostaglandin F2α (Tromethamine Salt): Solubility Behavior, Surface Properties, and Ionization Constants: Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1973, 62: pages 1680-5 describes a method of solubility determination of the subject prostaglandin drug that requires 48 hours for equilibrium to be reached and in which, environmental degradation of the drug over 48 hours is noted at pH≦3. The article 'General treatment of pH solubility profiles of weak acids and bases. II. Evaluation of thermodynamic parameters from the temperature dependence of solubility profiles applied to a zwitterionic compound: International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 1985, 25: pages 135-145 describes a method of solubility determination that requires 3-5 days for an equilibrium state to be reached.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of determining the solubility of chemical compounds containing one or more acidic or basic groups that is more efficient than known methods.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of determining the solubility of pharmaceutical or agrochemical chemical compounds containing one or more acidic or basic groups that is more rapid than known methods.

Method for determining solubility of a chemical compound


A signature comprised of a plurality of data blocks formatted in accordance with a multicast communications protocol is received from a target appliance. When it is determined that one or more of the plurality of data blocks has been populated with user data, a representation of at least a portion of signature is provided to an analytics engine for processing whereby the user data within the one or more of the plurality of data blocks is replaced with a predicted, original data. The predicted, original data is then usable to provision a controlling device with a command code set for use in communicating commands to the target appliance.

Multicast services are known in the art, By way of example, the multicast domain name service (mDNS) protocol is a predominant and lightweight protocol that is used to do service announcements and/or discovery for devices, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The mDNS protocol is, by definition, multicast in nature and is limited to a subnet, although there are multiple techniques for service discovery/announcing across subnets. As further described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,593,195 and US Publication No. 2018/0316655, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, when a user on-boards to an IoT network, a client application on an end device may use a multicast service to discover the services/appliances that are available on the IoT network.

System and method for using a multicast service to configure a controlling device


A kit for testing the integrity of sterile tubing welds made by a sterile tubing welding machine employing welding wafers includes a plurality of tubing samples, and a container having a series of receptacles for holding the tubing samples and the wafers used in the sterile tubing welding machine. A set of instructions is provided for making the sterile tubing welds with the tubing samples in the container, and a data sheet is included for recording particulars of the kit and reporting a weld analysis.

This invention relates to a kit for testing the integrity of sterile tubing welds made by a sterile tubing welding apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,670 provides a sterile tubing welding machine for sterilely connecting sterile, closed end tubes. The process used in conjunction with the welding machine comprises flattening a section of each tube to urge inside walls of each tube into contact, urging a hot cutting means through the flattened section of each tube thereby temporarily sealing together the inside walls of each tube and providing molten tube ends, aligning the tubes to be connected with each other, joining the desired molten ends of the tubes together to form a joint between the tubes, and cooling the joint and then subjecting it to stress to open the temporary seal in each tube, thereby providing fluid communication between the joint tubes.
The machine covered by the above-noted patent comprises a cutting means, means adapted to heat the cutting means, a pair of mounting blocks adapted to receive, hold and flatten the tubes to be joined, means to provide movement between the blocks and the cutting means to a position such that the cutting means is between the blocks and traversing where the blocks are adapted to hold tubes, means for realigning the blocks to a position where two different tube ends are aligned with and facing each other, means to separate the blocks and the cutting means, and means for urging the mounting blocks together. The tubes to be connected according to this process have closed ends, i.e., the tubes have sealed ends, a tube is connected to a container such as a blood bag or dialysis bag, the tube is connected to a catheter implanted in a patient, or in some other manner the tube ends are closed to the external environment. Other patents which present similar aspects of this machine are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,369,779, 4,461,951, 4,476,631, and 4,501,951.
In the course of using the aforementioned sterile tubing welding machine, customers have requested that the manufacturer provide documentation that satisfies certified good manufacturing practices and quality assurance requirements relating to manufacturing protocols applicable to the welding machine. To provide customers with statistical documentation that their welding machine is operating within the manufacturer's strength specifications and to provide verification that the customer is utilizing the welding machine properly, it would be beneficial to provide a method of verifying the quality of welds made with the welding machine in the form of a convenient feedback system or kit.
What is needed in the art is a comprehensive survey arrangement by which the manufacturer may easily track the working progress of each welding machine so that individual customers can be informed of the quality and strength of welds made by their machines. It is thus desirable to provide a process which can provide for early detection of a possible potential machine failure. It is also necessary to provide a system which affords the manufacturer the opportunity to provide corrective action to improve the welding product according to the specified application identified by the customer. On a broader basis, it would be desirable to create a program which improves the communication between the manufacturer and the customer of the sterile tubing weld machine.


A method for increasing a detection range of an image capture system includes at least one first image capture unit capturing a first image and at least one second image capture unit capturing a second image; a processor determining an object according to the first image; the processor generating a third image group with a first resolution according to the first image and the second image; the processor generating a fourth image group with a second resolution; the processor determining whether the object exists within an effective range of the image capture system corresponding to the second resolution, within a weak range of the image capture system corresponding to the second resolution, or within the effective range and the weak range of the image capture system corresponding to the second resolution to generate a determination result; and the processor executing a corresponding operation according to the determination result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for increasing a detection range of an image capture system and a related image capture system, and particularly to a method for increasing a detection range of an image capture system and a related image capture system that can change resolutions of images captured by the image capture system according to an image processing method to increase the detection range of the image capture system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An image capture system determines an effective range of a depth information according to a distance (baseline) between two cameras within the image capture system, a horizontal search range, and an image resolution of the image capture system, wherein the image capture system can clearly determine a distance between any object and the image capture system within the effective range. When the distance between the two cameras is greater, the effective range of the image capture system is farther, and when the distance between the two cameras is shorter, the effective range of the image capture system is nearer; when the horizontal search range of the image capture system is greater, the effective range of the image capture system can cover places closer to the image capture system under the same conditions; and when the image resolution of the image capture system is higher, the effective range of the image capture system can cover places farther to the image capture system under the same conditions.
The prior art utilizes increase of the image resolution and the horizontal search range to enlarge the effective range of the image capture system, but increase of the image resolution and the horizontal search range will both increase calculation loading of a depth engine of the image capture system and chip design difficulty applied to the image capture system, resulting in cost of the image capture system being increased significantly. Therefore, how to improve the prior art to enlarge the effective range of the image capture system becomes an important issue.

Method for increasing a detecting range of an image capture system and related image capture system thereof