A mechanical computer keyboard including a plurality of keys and an input/output (i/o) interface for output of registration of pressing one or more of the plurality of keys. Each key includes a keycap, a key switch including a stem, a key registration unit for registering a keystroke, and a spring for forcing the keycap in a neutral release position and providing a perceptible increase in pressing force. The keyboard further includes an analog-to-digital converter and the keys include a distance sensor unit for determining a travel distance of the pushing-down of the keycap by measuring a complex electrical impedance corresponding to the travel distance of the pushing-down the keycap, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is configured to convert the complex electrical impedance to a digital input signal including a digitalized keystroke travel distance for outputting of the digital input signal by the i/o interface towards the computer.

Keyboards are one of the most important computer peripherals. Keyboards are available as stand-alone input device but also integrated into laptops or other (handheld) devices.
One of the essential parts of the keyboard is the key switch. In general, two core keyboard types can be recognized. The first type is a membrane keyboard in which the key switches are made from a membrane such as a sheet of rubber, or alternatively from other material that provides resistance, tactile feedback and registers and communicates the keypress to the computer or other connected device. The second type is a mechanical keyboard which has individual, key switches with metal springs. In the second type, the key switches can sometimes be replaced, either by desoldering or by use of key switch sockets.
The membrane keyboards are the most simplistic type of keyboards. Amongst other reasons, this can be attributed to the simple design in which all or most key switches use the same rubber sheet. Membrane keyboards are also easier to manufacture then mechanical keyboards due to their simplicity.
Although mechanical keyboards are more complex, have individual key switches, more components, and are often less thin than the membrane type keyboards, they are the preferred choice in high demanding applications. Mechanical keyboards provide better (tactile) feedback due to the longer travel of the keys, the feeling of the dump, sound upon pressing the keys, do not need to be bottomed out for registration of the actuation, etc. Hence, they are not only more satisfying than a membrane keyboard, but more accurate too.
The key switches of the keyboard are covered by so called keycaps. When pressing the keycap, the keyboard is able to detect this pressing motion and register actuation of that particular key. The registration is binary, which means that the keyboard is only able to determine if the key is pressed or not.
Hence, whereas a keyboard may have a relatively large number of input elements (keys), each key is only able to produce input data with a low binary resolution, i.e. either "on"/"1" or "off"/"0".
Other computer peripherals such as analog joysticks on the other hand have only a limited number of input elements, i.e. the stick and a few trigger buttons. Most keys are however able to produce input data at a high resolution.
Also, other computer input peripherals may have analog joystick like elements and functionality. An analog stick on a controller for example has greatly overtaken the d-pad in both prominence and use in video control games.
Analog sticks are particularly useful for accurate movement of objects displayed on the computer screen, e.g. to control movement of a playable character in a computer game with additional input data, such as when the movement has to be accurate, or when magnitude or speed is relevant as well.
Some computer applications are better suited for control through an analog input device such as the joystick and other through a digital input device such as the keyboard. Control of some computer applications such as computer games may even require both analog as well as digital input devices.
Since the keyboard is for most devices a mandatory computer peripheral this input device is often the main input device. The keyboard however fails to provide analog input.
Consequently, there is a need for an improved computer keyboard which is able to register analog input commands.

Mechanical computer keyboard with analog input


Efficient utilization of space in a laterally-conducting semiconductor device package is enhanced by creating at least one supplemental downbond pad portion of the diepad for receiving the downbond wire from the ground contact of the device. The supplemental diepad portion may occupy area at the end or side of the package formerly occupied by non-integral leads. By receiving the substrate downbond wire, the supplemental diepad portion allows a greater area of the main diepad to be occupied by a die having a larger area, thereby enhancing space efficiency of the package.

The present invention relates to packaging of semiconductor integrated circuits. More particularly, the invention provides a device and method including a die having a laterally conducting structure and a ground contact coupled to a certain lead frame having a novel lead configuration. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to power IC chips, but there may be many other applications.
In recent years, the evolution of semiconductor packaging technology, semiconductor technology, and consumer product applications have converged and led to a series of innovations influencing each other to improve the end product. This convergence began about ten years ago when metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) technology allowed for the creation of semiconductor chips or dies exhibiting sufficiently low resistance to allow them to perform useful work when mounted on ordinary personal computer (PC) boards, rather than on specialized heatsink structures. Applications ushering in this evolution away from the use of heatsinks included early hard disk drives and portable, battery powered electronic products, with whom the bulk and power consumption associated with conventional heat sinks precluded their use.
Positioning power MOSFET chips (i.e. chips having outputs that can conduct from 1 to 20 Amps, with "on" state resistances ranging from 10 mOhm to as much as 1 Ohm) in contact with a PC board rather than a heatsink represented a departure from prior concerns about heat dissipation, such that package designers were confident that new devices would exhibit sufficiently low resistance to handle the applied current, without generating more heat than could be effectively dissipated by an ordinary PC board. Once power MOSFET switches avoiding the use of heatsinks were mounted and used like other components mounted on the PC board, their packages were adapted from ones already being used for integrated circuits (ICs). The ability of these existing IC packages (such as the JEDEC registered SO, and TSSOP series) to dissipate heat from power MOSFET switches was enhanced utilizing techniques such as 1) tying together multiple pins or contacts, 2) tying pins directly to the die, and 3) fabricating lead frames from copper material exhibiting superior heat conductance. In this manner, balance was achieved between the ability of a power MOSFET package to transfer heat to the PC board, and the ability of the PC board to in turn dissipate heat received from the package.
The continued development of MOSFET and IC technology has allowed simple power MOSFET devices to evolve into power integrated circuit (PIC) devices having dies and packages of approximately the same size as power MOSFET devices. At the same time, the ever-increasing demand for products conforming to tight space requirements and high power demands (such as cell phones and portable imaging and computing products) has rendered such PIC devices highly desirable for use in any number of potential applications.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for new and improved packages for PIC devices which improve the efficient use of space, allowing a die of a maximum size to be contained within as small a package as possible.

Space-efficient package for laterally conducting device


Provided herein are compounds of the formula (I):

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a cyclic peptide that was first isolated from the pituitary of chum salmon (Kawauchi et al. (1983) Nature 305: 321-333). The sequence for MCH has been shown to be identical in all teleost fish where it causes melanin granulation and, hence, regulates color change. Recent reports also suggest MCH plays a role in food intake in teleosts. MCH also inhibits release of ACTH thus acting as an antagonist of α-MSH. MCH was subsequently identified in mammals as a cyclic nonapeptide. The first MCH receptor (later termed MCHR1) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and was identified using a "reverse pharmacology" approach. That is, it was demonstrated that the natural ligand of orphan GPCR, SLC-1, was MCH in mammals. Subsequent to this determination, a second MCH receptor (MCHR-2) has been identified. The role of MCH in feeding behavior in mammals has been the subject of investigation for a number of years (Qu, et al. (1996) Nature, 380: 243-247; Rossi et al. (1997) Endocrinology 138: 351-355; Shimada et al. (1998) Nature 396: 670-674). MCH is predominantly expressed in the lateral hypothalamus and the zona incerta of the central nervous system (CNS). Central administration of MCH is known to stimulate food intake and regulate energy balance. MCH is upregulated in the lateral hypothalamus during fasting (Rossi et al. (1997) Endocrinology 138: 351-355). Knockout experiments have shown that mice lacking the MCH peptide are lean, hypophagic and maintained elevated metabolic rates. MCH mRNA levels are increased in both normal and obese mice. Transgenic mice that over-express MCH are obese and insulin resistant. Genetically altered animals that lack the gene encoding the MCH receptor are moderately hyperphagic but show resistance to becoming obese and have an increased metabolic rate (Shimada et al. (1998) Nature 396: 670-674). MCH is thought to exert its effects on feeding behavior by binding to an MCH receptor (MCHR1 or MCHR2) resulting in mobilization of intracellular calcium and a concomitant reduction in cyclic AMP levels. The consistency in these findings suggests that MCH antagonism could safely lead to weight loss in humans. In further support of this, a number of studies describe statistically significant reduction of food intake in rodents following acute administration of MCH receptor antagonists and/or statistically significant reduction of body weight after chronic administration of small molecule MCH receptor antagonists (Borowsky et al. (2002) Nature Medicine 8(8):825-830; Souers et al. (2005) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 15: 2752-2757; Vasudevan et al. (2005) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 15: 4174-4179; Kym et al. (2005) J. Med. Chem. 5888-91; McBriar et al. (2005) J. Med. Chem. 48: 2274; Takekawa et al. (2002) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 438(3): 129-135; Kowalski et al. Eur. J. Pharmacol. (2004) 497: 41-47). The precise role of MCH in attenuating food intake is not clear from these studies because the small-molecule MCH receptor antagonists described are either 1) unselective for the MCH receptor or 2) no selectivity data is disclosed.
MCHR1 antagonism with a small molecule is now recognized as a promising strategy for the treatment of obesity. The following relate to small-molecule MCH receptor antagonists: Kato et al. WO2001/21577; Chen et al. WO2002/089729; Collins et al. WO2003/105850; Souers et al. US2005/0137243; Hulme et al. WO2005/019167; Tempest et al. WO2005/019240; Barvian et al. WO2004092181; Barvian et al. WO2005/042541; McKittrick et al. WO2002/051809; Sasikumar et al. WO2005/034947; Devita et al. WO2003/045313; Gillig et al. WO2005/040257; and Schwink et al. WO2004/072025.
MCH has been shown to modulate behaviors and disease states other than hyperphagia and obesity. MCHR1 antagonists have been shown to inhibit behavior in rodents that models depression and anxiety in humans (Hervieu (2003)Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets 7(4), 495-511 and references therein; Georgescu et al. (2005) Journal of Neuroscience 25(11), 2933-2940; Chaki et al. (2005) Journal of Pharm. and Exptl. Therapeutics 313, 831-839). These rodent models include forced swim test, vocalization and various models of social interaction. Recent studies also support a role of MCHR1 in cognition (Adamantidis et al. (2005) European Journal of Neuroscience 21, 2837-2844).
There is still a need for selective MCH receptor antagonists in order to address the role of the MCH receptor in food intake and regulation of body weight. Unlike a number of existing medications for weight loss, it is believed that a selective MCH receptor antagonist would provide a means of safely reducing food intake and body weight in humans. Such selective MCH receptor antagonists would be useful for the treatment of, for example, obesity, hyperphagia, anxiety, depression and related disorders.

Diaminocycloalkane MCH receptor antagonists

Abstract: as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are useful for the treatment of obesity, hyperphagia, anxiety, depression and related disorders and diseases.


An autonomous mobile robot includes a housing infrastructure, a drive system including one or more wheels to support the housing infrastructure above a floor surface, a cleaning assembly, electrical circuitry positioned within the robot housing and an electrostatic discharge assembly including an electrostatic discharge member that includes a metallic contact electrically connected to the electrical circuitry and extending, from the electrical circuitry, to an exterior of the housing infrastructure. The electrical circuitry includes a controller to initiate a cleaning operation in which the drive propels the robot across the floor surface while the cleaning assembly cleans the floor surface.

Autonomous mobile robots include mobile floor cleaning robots that travel along floor surfaces to clean the floor surfaces. As a mobile floor cleaning robot travels along a floor surface, different portions of the robot contact the floor surface. This contact between the robot and the floor surface, through the triboelectric effect, can cause the robot to accumulate electric charge.

Electrostatic discharge systems for autonomous mobile robots


A package for housing a light-emitting element wherein a via hole for wiring provided so as to pass through an insulating substrate is arranged in such a manner that it is positioned under a reflector frame; a method for manufacturing the above package for housing a light-emitting element which comprises the steps of separately providing a green sheet for the substrate and a green sheet for the frame, causing a paste containing a ceramic powder to be present between the two green sheets to bind them, and subjecting them to degreasing and sintering, to thereby integrate them.

In recent years, a light-emitting element such as a light emitting diode is widely used as an illuminant for a lighting display board and a back light illuminant for a portable phone or a personal computer due to an improvement of a luminance thereof. Such a light-emitting element is used in the state that the light-emitting element is housed in a package for housing a light-emitting element.
Conventionally, for such a package for housing a light-emitting element, a cavity for housing a light-emitting element is formed on the upper face of an insulating substrate composed of one or a plurality of insulating layers laminated.
Moreover, a wiring pattern layer is formed in a bonded manner on an area from the bottom face to the outside of the cavity. The wiring pattern has a function for supplying to a light-emitting element a current that has been supplied from an external electric circuit, thereby generating a specified luminance. After the light-emitting element is mounted on the bottom face of the cavity through a bump electrode in such a manner that each electrode of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the wiring pattern layer, the light-emitting element is air-tightly sealed in the cavity by filling with a glass or a transparent resin such as an epoxy resin, thereby fabricating a light-emitting apparatus as a final product.
For the package for housing a light-emitting element, there is bonded a light reflecting layer for reflecting a light emitted from the light-emitting element to an inside wall of the cavity of the insulating substrate so as to substantially increase a luminance of the light-emitting element. The light reflecting layer causes a light emitted from the light-emitting element to be bright and the characters and images that are displayed as a lighting display board to be bright and extremely vivid.
As the light reflecting layer, gold, silver, nickel, aluminum, rhodium, platinum or the like is suitably used. For instance, a metallization metal layer is bonded to the inside wall of the cavity of the insulating substrate in advance, and gold, silver, nickel, aluminum, rhodium, platinum or the like is bonded to the metallization metal layer by a plating method, a vacuum deposition, a sputtering method or the like, thereby forming the light reflecting layer in a bonded manner on the inside wall of the cavity of the insulating substrate. The light reflecting layer is not formed on the entire inside wall of the cavity, but is formed in a bonded manner at a distance from the bottom face of the cavity, thereby effectively preventing an electrically short circuit between the light reflecting layer and a wiring pattern layer on the bottom face of the cavity.
As a conducting method to a light-emitting element for such a package for housing a light-emitting element, there is proposed for instance a conducting method disclosed in Patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-232017). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a package 100 for housing a light-emitting element related to Patent document 1 is provided with an insulating substrate 111 and a reflector frame 112 disposed on the peripheral section of the insulating substrate 111, and a cavity 119 for housing a light-emitting element is formed between the insulating substrate 111 and the reflector frame 112.
A through hole for wiring (so-called via hole) 116 provided so as to vertically pass through the insulating substrate 111 is formed in such a manner that it is positioned at the cavity 119 for housing a light-emitting element of the insulating substrate 111, that is, under the cavity 119 for housing a light-emitting element. A conductive material 117 is filled in the through hole for wiring 116, and wiring pattern layers 114 and 115 on the upper and bottom faces of the insulating substrate 111 conduct to each other through the conductive material 117. Consequently, a light-emitting element 118 mounted on the wiring pattern layer 114 on the upper face can electrically conduct to an external electric circuit.
Moreover, as a conducting method to a light-emitting element, for a package 200 for housing a light-emitting element disclosed in Patent document 2 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1996-274378), as shown in FIG. 5, a through hole for wiring 216 is formed from the bottom of the cavity 219 for housing a light-emitting element of the insulating substrate 212 through an intermediate wiring portion 213 formed at the intermediate position of the insulating substrate 212 to the bottom face of the insulating substrate 212. A conductive material 217 is filled in the through hole for wiring 216, and wiring pattern layers 214 and 215 on the upper and bottom faces of the insulating substrate 212 conduct to each other through the conductive material 217. Consequently, a light-emitting element 218 mounted on the wiring pattern layer 214 on the upper face can electrically conduct to an external electric circuit.
Furthermore, for a package for housing a light-emitting element 300 disclosed in Patent document 3 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-37298) and Patent document 4 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-273405), as shown in FIG. 6, a through hole for wiring is not formed in the insulating substrate 311, and a wiring pattern layer 301 disposed between a reflector frame 312 and the insulating substrate 311 is arranged on the outside face of the insulating substrate 311 in such a manner that wiring pattern layers 314 and 315 formed on the upper and bottom faces of the insulating substrate 311 conduct to each other through the wiring pattern layer 301. Consequently, a light-emitting element 318 mounted on the wiring pattern layer 314 on the upper face can electrically conduct to an external electric circuit.
As described above, there are some methods to conduct to a light-emitting element, and a light-emitting element is mounted in a package for housing a light-emitting element in such a manner that the light-emitting element can electrically conduct to an external electric circuit by the methods.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-232017
[Patent document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1996-274378
[Patent document 3] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-37298
[Patent document 4] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-273405
As described above, for the conventional packages for housing a light-emitting element disclosed in Patent documents 1 and 2, and further depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the through holes for wiring (so-called via holes) 116 and 216 are formed directly below the cavities 119 and 219 for housing a light-emitting element so as to vertically pass through the insulating substrates 111 and 211.
In the case in which the insulating substrate is made of ceramics, the via hole and a wiring pattern that is electrically connected to the via hole are formed in general by filling a conductive paste mainly composed of a high melting point metal such as tungsten in a through hole formed in a green sheet by a method such as punching, by carrying out a screen printing of a conductive paste in such a manner that the exposed face of the filled portion is covered in order to form a pattern at the specified position, and by carrying out degreasing and sintering (burning).
In the case in which wiring a wiring pattern is formed on the via hole by such a method, it cannot be avoided that a peripheral section of the through hole is deformed in punching (a peripheral section is protruded or depressed depending on a direction of punching) and a high melting point metal section filled in the through holes for wiring 116 and 216 and the peripheral section thereof are protruded since a contraction behavior in sintering for the high melting point metal filled in the through hole is different from that for ceramics. As a result, the wiring pattern layers 114 and 214 that have been bonded onto the insulating substrate are not flat. It is difficult in practice that the above protrusion is suppressed by not sufficiently filling a high melting point metal into the through hole to form a flat pattern. That is because, in the case in which a filled amount is decreased, a cavity is formed on the contrary or a crack or a blow hole is generated in a conductive layer in the through hole since a contraction of the high melting point metal in burning is large, thereby causing an electrical connection failure or an increase in a conductivity.
Consequently, in the case in which a light-emitting element is mounted such protruded wiring pattern layers 114 and 214 through a bump electrode, a part of the light-emitting element is shifted or detached, or a disconnection or a conductive failure occurs in some cases, thereby preventing a part of a head light or a lighting fixture in which the light-emitting element has been installed from being lighted.
Moreover, in the case in which a wiring pattern layer 301 is arranged on the outside face of the insulating substrate 311 as disclosed in Patent document 3, and depicted in FIG. 6, a wiring distance from the wiring pattern layer 315 formed on the bottom face of the insulating substrate 311 through the wiring pattern layer 301 formed on the outside face and the wiring pattern layer 314 formed on the upper face to the light-emitting element 318 is larger depending on a size of the insulating substrate 311, thereby causing a failure such as a short circuit or a disconnection.
Moreover, since the wiring pattern layer 301 is arranged on the outside surface of the substrate, the wiring is concentrated on one section and a complicated wiring pattern layer must be used in some cases. Furthermore, the complicated wiring pattern layer causes a time taken for a circuit design to be longer and a development cost to be higher.
In addition, in the case in which the wiring pattern layer 301 is arranged on the outside surface of the substrate, the layer becomes thin due to a restriction of the fabrication method. More specifically, a substrate provided with a wiring pattern layer to be arranged on the outside surface is fabricated in general by forming a through hole in the substrate (or a green sheet that is a precursor thereof), coating a paste containing a high melting point metal with a thickness of approximately 15 μm on the inside wall of the through hole, sintering the metal paste by a cofire method, carrying out plating, and cutting the substrate along the face close to the center of the through hole as a cross section (in this case, two substrates can be obtained by one cutting). Consequently, since the wiring pattern layer 301 is comparatively thin to be approximately 20 μm even in the case in which a thickness of a plate is added, an electrical resistance is larger and a large current cannot be flown to the light-emitting element 118, thereby decreasing a luminance. Since it is preferable to form an exposed face by a plating layer, plating is carried out in advance in the above fabrication method in such a manner that a plating layer is exposed in cutting the through hole from the aspect of an efficiency.
The present invention was made in consideration of such conditions, and an object of the present invention is to provide a package for housing a light-emitting element in which a part of the light-emitting element is not shifted or detached, no disconnection or no conductive failure occurs, the light-emitting element can be reliably connected to the wiring pattern layer for connecting a light-emitting element, and it can be prevented that a part of a head light or a lighting fixture in which the light-emitting element has been installed is not lighted in the case in which the light-emitting element is mounted, and to provide a method for effectively manufacturing the package for housing a light-emitting element.
Moreover, another object of the present invention is to provide a package for housing a light-emitting element that is provided with a wiring pattern layer, capable of conducting to the light-emitting element without using a complicated wiring pattern layer, and to provide a method for manufacturing the package for housing a light-emitting element.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the package for housing a light-emitting element, capable of simplifying a circuit design of the wiring pattern layer, lowering a development cost, and manufacturing the wiring pattern layer at a low cost.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a package for housing a light-emitting element, capable of flowing a large current to the light-emitting element, thereby improving a luminance, and to provide a method for manufacturing the package for housing a light-emitting element.

Package for housing light-emitting element and method for manufacturing package for housing light-emitting element


An engine air intake system, which may include a supercharger or other air-handling device, includes a resilient coupling connecting an air intake connector, such as a throttle body, and an air inlet duct. The resilient coupling includes a bellows convolution for allowing limited motion between connected components. The coupling is molded with tuning volumes and connecting passages within the convolution with open sides to allow removal from the mold die. An associated connector closes the chambers upon assembly and forms noise reduction tuning for high frequency air pressure waves.

It is often necessary to attenuate high frequency noise in engine induction systems, particularly in those with superchargers. Traditional approaches include quarter wave tuners or Helmholtz tuners. Higher frequency Helmholtz tuners are very small and any significant attenuation requires a number of small tuning volumes. Conventional systems work very well, but they do require volume which occupies valuable space in an engine compartment for a vehicle and adds to the cost if provided by a separate add on device.

Engine air intake system with resilient coupling having internal noise attenuation tuning


The present application discloses a process for making mushroom wine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the production of mushroom wine.
2. General Background and State of the Art
Mushrooms, like other fungi, stand apart from other plants by their lack of leaves, chlorophyll, flowers, and roots. So they cannot make their own food by the process known as photosynthesis. Therefore, they are obliged to draw nutrition from existing organic materials, and thus they attach themselves to a wide variety of objects such as living or dead plants, or even animals.
They provide moderate amounts of minerals (calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium) along with modest amounts of vitamin Bs (thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin) and vitamin C. Extremely low in calories, mushrooms are fat-free. Because of mushrooms' high concentration of glutamic acid—the naturally occurring form of monosodium glutamate (MSG)—mushrooms are natural flavor enhancers in many dishes.
Studies have shown that mushrooms may favorably influence the immune system, with potential benefits in fighting cancer, infections, and such autoimmune diseases as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. This effect may be related to the high content of glutamic acid, an amino acid that seems to be instrumental in fighting infections, and enhancing other immune functions. Mushrooms also contain an array of compounds not found elsewhere in nature. For instance, antibiotics are derived from closely related organisms-molds.
There are five types of mushrooms with proven medicinal benefits: Enoki, Oyster, Reishi, Shiitake, and Tree ear.
A cultivated variety of velvet shank (Flammulina velutipes) is called Enoki mushroom or Enokitake. The delicate-tasting Enoki mushroom looks something like a pure white bean sprout with its long stem (up to 10 cm tall) and topped with a tiny snowy-white cap.
It looks very different from the wild variety which is orange-brown in colour with a shiny cap.
Enoki mushrooms are cultivated on stumps or in a sawdust medium, and are picked about 2 months after inoculation. Cultivated Enoki mushrooms are paler than those grown in the wild. The mushroom's white flesh is soft but resistant.
It has a fine, sweet and almost fruity flavor reminiscent of white pepper and lemon. This mushroom is sold commercially as Enokitake, Enokidake, or Enoki mushroom.
Some of the main chemical components of Enoki mushroom include protein, fiber, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin-D.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to make beverages such as wine that imparts nutritional and health benefits of mushroom.


A packet network includes a peer-to-peer transparent clock hardware support, a peer-to-peer transparent clock being at least used in order to measure and correct delays of link or path adjacent to network elements and NE residence time, and a Master/Slave end-to-end synchronization path including a first set of network elements A time stamped packet including at least a correction field indicating the cumulated transmission delay of the said packet along the synchronization path. A method includes a detecting a failure event; storing by the first element a measured past path delay of at least one previously transmitted time stamped packet received by the first element; and a function of the incoming current value of the received correction field, the first network element residence time, and a first value depending of a measured past path delay value. A first indicator is generated when detecting a failure.

It is known to implement, within a packet telecommunication network, a specific equipment or device—called thereafter as transparent clock—on a given network node/element (e.g. router or switch) aiming at taking into account this network element residence times—i.e. delays undergone by different synchronization packets to come across such a network element, it is also called as "transit delay" or "residence time".
Transparent clocks are implemented on respective network elements—e.g. routers or switches—along a communication path between a given pair of master and slave clocks or Master and Slave ports, called thereafter respectively as "Master" and "Slave". They exchange synchronization time-stamped packets aiming at distributing the time reference from the Mater to the Slave along said communication path. In this document, such time-stamped packets also called synchronization packets.
On the basis of conveying time control packets, a transparent clock can, by default, measure and inform the Slave of the associated network element residence times, said transparent clock is called as an end-to-end transparent clock. When a transparent clock is also able to measure neighboring link/path delays—said measurement method being called as the peer delay mechanism—the transparent clock is called as a peer-to-peer transparent clock.
A given pair of peer-to-peer transparent clocks are said to be "adjacent" if they are peers to each other with regards to the peer delay mechanism. Two such adjacent peer-to-peer transparent clocks can be directly connected via a network physical "link" or can by separated by a network "path" made of successive combinations of network links and network elements.
As an example of method implementing transparent clocks and time control packets, the standard IEEE 1588V2, also called Precision Time Protocol release 2 version or PTPV2, of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) can be considered.
In the present description, a transparent clock TC may be, as defined in the IEEE 1588V2 standard: a peer-to-peer transparent clock, "P2P TC".
Within the specific case of a full P2P TC deployment—i.e. whereby all the possible intermediate network elements between the Master and the Slave are associated with a P2P TC—the distribution of time (or frequency) is impacted when P2P TC operations fail to guarantee a correctly synchronized frequency and/or time between the Master and the Slave. Thus, corrective and proactive actions are required to deal with P2P TC failures and especially with failures related to the peer delay mechanism.
In the present document, a network architecture with full or partial deployment of P2P TCs is called as a P2P network architecture. Similarly, when a network element is supported by a P2P TC, the term "network element" and the term "peer-to-peer transparent clock" are used interchangeably.
FIG. 1 represents a P2P network architecture comprising P2P TCs ensuring path delay measurements between each node and residence time measurements of each traversed node on the end-to-end synchronization path between the Master 106 and the Slave 108.
Although depicted with one peer delay instance per considered segment, a given link/path delay could be measured twice by two peer delay instances, each measurement instance being triggered by one or the two adjacent P2P TCs delineating the considered link/path. But, this targeted redundant operation mode suffers from strong issues especially while considering:                the objective of these two measurement instances: for a same link/path, these two measurement instances aim at covering the case when synchronization packets transmission directions change relatively to the rules imposed by the PTPV2 standard;        that both involved ports have to be capable of generating messages. It means that if a failure occurs at one side, e.g. one port unable to generate messages, then both instances fail.
The messages exchanged within a P2P network architecture comprise different fields aiming at sharing synchronization data and/or time distribution information between the network elements. Such messages can be for instance Sync messages as defined in the IEEE 1588V2 standard. One field within the messages is particularly used in a P2P network architecture, it is called the "correction field" as defined in the IEEE 1588V2 standard.
The semantics of the correction field of exchanged messages in a P2P network architecture can cumulate up to three values:                Network element (NE) transit delays: residence time;        mean path delays, called "path delays" and;        path delay asymmetries.
When a failure occurs within a given peer delay mechanism of such an architecture, the downstream (with regards to the time distribution direction) P2P TC has to be declared as in a FULL failure state whereas some of its remaining interesting capabilities could still be maintained for supporting the time distribution (e.g. NE residence time measurements).
The FIG. 1 represents in each NE: 1041, 1042, 1043, an associated peer-to-peer transparent clock (P2P TC): 1021, 1022, 1023. The peer delay mechanism—providing the measurement of an adjacent path delay information, also called peer delay information—allows for cumulating into the correction field CF of the Sync message with said path delay information and residence time across each NE.
The peer delay mechanism is based on a scheme which requires a mechanism for bidirectional message exchanges 120 and 130.
Considering a full failed P2P TC, while only a specific failure at the Peer delay mechanism occurs, limit reconfiguration and protection schemes and consequently yields to non-optimal and non-cost effective solutions.
More specifically, there is no defined mechanism for efficiently managing a failed peer delay mechanism within a chain of P2P TCs.
Currently if a failure is internally detected by a transparent clock itself and that the PTP TCs is declared in a failed state, reactive/proactive operations can be performed.
One solution consists in detecting the failure and replacing a synchronization path between the Master and the Slave by another valid path, like a backup synchronization path.
FIG. 2 represents such a solution in which a backup end-to-end synchronization path 110 is identified and activated in order to allow path delay and residence time measurements.
It exists some mechanisms which allow for informing the related slaves 108 of a failure event along the synchronization path without precisely advertising the specific nature of this failure event.
This advertisement allows a slave-centric approach—meaning that the reconfiguration of the synchronization path is driven by the slave—for triggering the selection of a backup path 110 avoiding the failed transparent clock. In the FIG. 2, the backup path comprises a set of NE 1044, 1045, 1046, 1047, which are associated respectively to TCs 1024, 1025, 1026, 1027
This solution has two mains drawbacks:                It considers switching the synchronization signal on a backup path: practically, this is not always possible. For instance, when no backup path is available, switching of PTPV2 traffic to the backup path is not allowed as the former is in-band, meaning mixed with users' data traffics.        This solution does not consider the announcement of a specific partial failure event. It means that it only considers a full failure state announcement.
A second solution consists in deploying an internal redundancy in each NE and associated TC. Internal redundancy can be used meaning that an additional protection scheme can be used locally. When the PTPV2 based path delay measurement failed then this measurement operation can be performed by another internal module.
In essence, this solution puts several implementation constraints and is not cost effective.
Indeed, these approaches require the provisioning of internal transparent clock redundancies and switching procedures—which increase the cost of the transparent clock itself—and/or significant reconfiguration times as the synchronization manager is generally a remote element usually located in a central office at the network core level.
Such significant reconfiguration times imply further Slave requirements (e.g. frequency stability, phase transients filtering) and thus an additional cost thereof.
If a failure is not internally detected by the failed/failing transparent clock itself, a reference clock might be used to control the transparent clock frequency deviation. This reference clock could be embedded either locally—i.e. either within the transparent clock or within an associated network element—or could be available through an external synchronization signal, such as a retimed bit stream. In this case, a locking system might be able to detect any deviation between the frequency carried by the retimed signal and the frequency generated by the local oscillator of the transparent clock.
Disappointingly, these methods also required additional costs, for instance in hardware element such as a Phase Locked Loop.
When using a long holdover mode, in case of failure detection, a holdover mode is triggered at the slave level, meaning that the progression of time is driven by the stability of the slave oscillator frequency. This behavior is not relevant for long time holdover. As an illustration, the Time deviation between two high quality/expensive clocks (i.e. Primary References Clocks—ITU-T G.811 characteristics) is already 2 μs per day. Typical slave clocks are far from these best-in-class clocks.

Method for managing and maintaining an accurate distribution of time in a network when a failure occurs


The disclosure relates to a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a first electrode, a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second semiconductor layer and a second electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer. The second electrode is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a metal metamaterial layer. The metal metamaterial layer comprises a number of metamaterial units arranged to form a periodic array. A distance between the metal metamaterial layer and the active layer is less than or equal to 100 nanometers. The display device using the light emitting device is also provided.

Currently, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are widely used.
Polarizer is used in the LCD to polarize the inputting light. The polarizer is a usually a film polarizer and will waste half of the incident light intensity. Thus, it not only reduces the brightness of the LCD but also waste the electric energy. Although an additional liquid crystal layer is used to replace the polarizer to polarize the incident light. However, the polarizations of the incident light are all based on far field operation.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a light emitting device and a display device for solving the problem discussed above.

Light emitting device and display device using the same


An integrated system for treating a thread and using the treated thread, comprising: a thread treatment machine for treating a thread or portions thereof; a thread applicator configured for using the treated thread such as a stitching machine of 3D printer; at least one mechanism for collecting and trimming thread portions; and a control unit, configured for controlling at least the thread treatment machine, the thread applicator and the collecting and trimming mechanism and for coordinating the treatment of the thread with the operation of the thread applicator, wherein the control unit is further configured for controlling the collecting and trimming mechanism for collecting untreated thread edge portions for allowing using only treated thread portions.

Thread applicators such as stitching machines and 3D printers using one or more threads for stitching or embroidering therewith or for 3D printing typically require placing one or more thread spools in designated spool holders for utilizing thereof, wherein the advancing of each thread from each spool is done by specifically pulling the desired thread from its spool. In case of a stitching machine such as a sewing machine, embroidery, quilting or other, for instance, using one or more stitching needles each needle is carrying out the thread pulling work by the vertical displacement thereof for stitching such that the displacement of the needle downwardly for punctuating the fabric and stitching the thread thereto also pulls the thread to be stitched from its respective thread spool.
FIG. 1 (prior art) for instance shows a part of a known in the art industrial embroidery machine 90 having multiple threading units each unit having a needle 91 through which a thread of a specific color is threaded and a holder member 92 having an opening therein for allowing the needle 91 to pass therethrough for stitching over a fabric placed below the holder member 92 and held thereby, while a boat shuttle or rotating hook bobbin (not shown) located thereunder is used to produce the actual lock-stitching as known in the art. The embroidery machine also includes a clamp device 93 pivotally movable about an axis for gripping the thread and keeping the tension in the thread. The clamp device 93 includes a mechanism for clamping or gripping the thread such as hook-and-loop fastener strips (e.g. VELCRO™ strips). A fixated thread collecting member 94 may extend from the clamp device 93 for hooking the thread and pulling thereof into the clamp device 93.
FIG. 2 (prior art) shows a rotating hook bobbin 82 operation for producing lock-stitches by having the needle 91 of the stitching machine having the main thread 41 threaded through a needle hole thereof, penetrate through the fabrics 21 and 22 while the bobbin 82 grabs the main thread 41 via a clipped edge thereof, forms a loop from the grabbed piece of said main thread and interlaces it with another secondary thread 42 for forming each lock-stitch.
For creating embroidery patterns of multiple colors, the embroidery machine uses multiple main thread spools each assigned to a different needle or using a single needle requiring a human operator to replace the thread spool being used.
Thread treating machines and systems such as thread dyeing machines are often used separately even in separate factories producing spools of thread each spool containing thread of a different color tone for mass distribution thereof to the textile industry and workshops.
There are several solutions for pulling of a thread of a sewing machine for various purposes:
CN 201901758 teaches a thread pulling device for a sewing machine that has a rotatable shaft connected to a hook shaped pulling rod. The hook is located between the thread carriers and the needles.
GB 754618 teaches a thread pulling-off device, which is adapted to be operated at the beginning and end of each cycle, exerts a clamping effect on the thread temporarily whilst it is being pulled. The pulling means comprise a rotary disc, which carries a pair of diametrically opposed slotted pins constituting thread guides, and a pair of centrally-located thread-clamping jaws; the arrangement being such that, at the end of a cycle, movement of the actuating lever of a motor control switch is transmitted by means of a link, lever, slidable rod and arm secured to the latter, to the disc, whereby the thread is deflected from its straight path between the members and, whilst the jaws simultaneously close to clamp the thread therebetween.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,229 teaches a delivery roller located behind the needles of a sewing machine for pulling out the thread operable via drive means. A clamp is located at a different location from the roller and is designed for clamping the threads for directing and separating them from one another for having several needles stitch several threads simultaneously. The pulling of the thread(s) is done by rolling the roller.
KR 1020080093845 teaches a thread pulling apparatus for a sewing machine located between a narrow line nut and a narrow line device operable by a drive device.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,844,016 teaches a device for automatically pulling to a point offset from the needle row the portion of thread extending between the thread carrier and the fabric being knitted on a straight-bar knitting machine at the end of the operation of knitting with thread from that carrier. The thread puller has a hook located between the thread carrier and the needle such as to grab the thread for pulling it offset from the needle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,961 teaches a variable pull-off mechanism for a sewing machine with a thread pull-off disc on a rotatably mounted shaft which is concentric with the drive shaft of a vertical axis looptaker. The disc is formed with thread catching edges which engage and pull-off thread from a bobbin as the disc is oscillated between a fixed and a controllable position in accordance with the operation of a servomotor responsive to various control signals.

Integrated system and method for treating a thread and using thereof


A key switch, comprising a base unit, a first linking member, a second linking member and a key cap, the first and the second linking members being interactively linked and driven by each other, on two sides of the first and the second linking members being respectively two joining pins, on the base unit and opposite the joining pins of the first and the second linking members being two pairs of connecting units, inside the key cap and opposite the joining pins of the fist and the second linking members being two pairs of connecting units, the connecting units of the base unit and the key cap respectively accommodating the joining pins of the fist and the second linking members, so that all joining pins can slide and move inside the connecting units, and the four joining points can move when the first and the second linking members are moving between the key cap and the base unit, to improve consistency of transmission when the push key is pressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a key switch, in which the joining points can move smoothly when the linking members are moving, to improve consistency of transmission when the key is depressed.
2. Background of the Invention
Conventional design of key switch has been aimed at the consideration of compactness and lightweight. As a result, the linking members acting as transmitting agents from the top to the bottom have been designed in two crossing linking members to reduce the space occupied by the keys. Therefore, the size of a desktop computer keyboard is reduced to become a smaller keyboard for a notebook computer. However, the smaller the specifications of the keys, the less satisfactory the user finds his keyboard is performing when he presses the keys. For instance, when the user has pressed on one corner of the key, instead of accurately and properly pressing the entire key, the transmission of the key is often found not so satisfactory.
Therefore, the primary objective of this invention is to provide a key switch, comprising a base unit, interactively linked first and second linking members, and a key cap, on two sides of the first and the second linking members respectively having two joining pins, on the base unit and corresponding to the joining pins of the first and the second linking members being two pairs of connecting units, on the inside of the key cap and corresponding to the joining pins of the first and the second linking members being two pairs of connecting units, so that the four joining points can move inside the connecting units when the first and the second linking members are moving interactively, to improve consistency of transmission when the push key is pressed.


A dual function two stage draw latch has a first stage loop member pivotally attached at one end to a latch lever pivotally mounted to a base member secured to a wall of a first container. A second stage loop member is pivotally attached to the other end of the first stage loop member. The free end of the second stage loop member is able to engage a catch mounted on a wall of a second container stacked on top of the first container to provide a holding force for the two containers. This free end is also able to engage a catch element mounted on a container lid to hold the lid in place. Electrically conductive strips interconnect the latch and catch to provide electrical interconnection between the containers.

This invention relates in general to storage containers. More particularly, this invention relates to storage containers which have removable lids and which are capable of being stacked on top of one another.
Stackable storage containers with removable lids are well known and have been widely used for the storage of many different types of items, including documents, file folders containing documents, mechanical parts, and various objects. A typical storage container of this type consists of two main parts: a box-like structure and a removable lid usually fabricated from the same material, such as plastic or sheet metal.
When such containers are stacked on top of each other, it is frequently desirable to provide some type of mechanism to hold the stacked individual containers together in order to provide mechanical stability to the array. When the stacked containers are held together, the lids on all but the upper-most container are held in place by the vertical holding force applied to the containers by the holding mechanism. The lid of the upper-most container, however, experiences no such holding force and must be provided with some mechanism to secure the lid to its container.
A common single stage draw latch and complementary catch combination might be used as the mechanism to hold together the individual containers in a stacked configuration. This requires that the draw latch be mounted on each container near the upper margin of a wall and the complementary catch be mounted near the lower margin of the same wall so that the latch loop of a lower container draw latch can engage the catch of the upper adjacent container. While such an arrangement might suffice to perform the function of providing the vertical force required to hold together the stacked containers, it could not be used to secure the lid of the upper-most container due to the fact that a latch loop capable of engaging the catch of an upper adjacent container cannot effectively engage a catch mounted on the lid of the container on which the latch is mounted. Consequently, either some other latching arrangement must be provided or a container must be specially designed to function as the upper-most container and provided with some other type of mechanism to secure to lid to the container.
Some stackable storage containers are constructed according to a unique design for enabling remote electronic searching for objects, such as file folders and documents within such file folders, located somewhere within a collection of storage containers. Commonly assigned pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/694,829 filed Jan. 8, 2013 for "Storage Container For Electronically Addressable File Folders And Documents", the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses such a container design. Each container is provided with a pair of electrically conductive support rails mounted in the interior near the top margin. The rails are laterally spaced by an amount designed to receive the ends of support braces incorporated into file folders removably placed within the container to provide both mechanical support for the file folders and electrical connections to circuitry including an address decoder located within the file folder support braces. A circuit board is mounted in the container and contains electronic circuitry for receiving unique address signals supplied by a host computer which identify a folder or document to be located. The rails are individually coupled to the electronic circuitry: one of the rails receives the address signals and supplies them to all file folders residing in the container; the other rail furnishes response signals from the file folders to the electronic circuitry of the container circuit board. Each container also has a visible indicator coupled to the electronic circuitry which is illuminated whenever the address signals specify a file folder or document located in that container. An input connector and an output connector are mounted on the container: the input connector receives the address signals from the host computer via a local controller; the output connector couples address signals from one container to another container.
FIG. 1 illustrates a stacked array of such storage containers. As seen in this Fig., a plurality of storage containers 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-6 are stacked in a vertical array. Each container has an input connector 16-1, 16-2, . . . , 16-6; and an output connector 14-1, 14-2, . . . , 14-6. A local controller 18 receives address signals from a remote host computer (not shown) and supplies these signals to one of the containers 10-1 by means of input cable 19 and input connector 16-1 of container 10-1. The address input signals are coupled to the remaining containers in the stack by means of jumper cables 12-1, 12-2, . . . , 12-5 which are individually connected between the output connector of one container to the input connector of the adjacent container.
The arrangement of FIG. 1 has no provision for holding together the individual containers or for securing the lid of the uppermost container. In addition, the requirement for individually electrically coupling together the individual containers with jumper cables 12i is less than optimal since it requires the installer to manually connect the jumper cables to the respective input and output connectors.

Two stage draw latch for stackable storage box with removable cover


A tool for supporting a rain gutter during its installation on a fascia board. The tool has a height-adjustable bracket and locking pliers with jaws having wide, flat working faces. Once several such tools are temporarily locked onto the lower edge of the fascia board, not only can they be used to support an elongated gutter but also each of the tools can be moved vertically without disturbing the pliers clamping it to the board, thereby making these tools especially handy for setting the height and slope of the gutter. For holding the adjustable bracket in position, each tool includes a mounting block which is rigidly attached to the back of a fixed jaw of the locking pliers and defines a pair of holes which extend parallel to the plane of the working face of the fixed jaw. The bracket is formed from an elongated rod bent to form an angular structure which terminates in a pair of parallel branches slideably insertable into the holes formed in the block. Locking the branches in position within the mounting holes is accomplished with the use of a pair of threadedly engaged screws. The angular structure is padded by either a coating of a soft plastic material or plastic or rubber tubing to protect the surface finish of the gutter. In use, the uninstalled gutter is rested on an array of these tools clamped to the fascia board. A proper slope for the gutter is attained by adjusting the height of the bracket in each of the tools and then verifying that proper drainage will occur in gutter. When the slope is satisfactory, the gutter is fastened onto the fascia board in the usual manner. Then each of the supporting tools is removed.

This invention relates to a device for temporarily holding a gutter in place during its installation. Gutters typically come in standard lengths of 10, 20 and 40 feet. Fabricated of a thin wall material which is usually aluminum or plastic in composition, they are easily bent during shipment, handling or installation. In a typical installing job, several men are needed to support a gutter during its installation.
Lee, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,234, realized the importance of having a temporary holder to facilitate installation of a rain gutter. Lee's holder uses spring-closing pliers to clamp onto the fascia board of a building. Although Lee's invention is an aid in the installation of a gutter, it has two problems in use. The first is that the pliers must be repositioned on the facia board with each adjustment in the placement of the gutter relative thereto. Not only does this activity consume time and entail extra work in opening the pliers against the force of the spring but also it can cause additional damage to the surface finish of the fascia board. Further, Lee's holder is so constructed that part of the pliers is clamped on the fascia board between the gutter and this board; and, as a consequence, the holder has to be removed before installation of the gutter can be completed.
Midlik, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,303, discloses a gutter jack which is fastened to the lower edge of the fascia board with screws during the installation of a gutter. Midlik's jack allows one to adjust the height of the gutter easily. However, Midlik's jack has two problems. The first is that the support for his jack is attached to the fascia board with screws; and the second is that, similarly to Lee's holder, the support for Midlik's jack is held between the fascia board and the gutter and has to be removed prior to completing installation of the gutter.


An automated method for calibrating in real time a diagnostic analyzer includes the steps of receiving diagnostic results of patient samples calculated by the analyzer using pre-set parameters of the analyzer, and calculating the centroid of the analyzer's diagnostic results. The centroid of the analyzer's diagnostic results is subtracted from a centroid of diagnostic results of a field population of comparable analyzers to obtain a bias in the centroid of the analyzer's diagnostic results. The bias is compared to predetermined limits. Should the bias fall outside the predetermined limits, an optimization factor is derived and applied to the analyzer's diagnostic results to obtain optimized results from the analyzer without changing the pre-set parameters of the analyzer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to diagnostic instruments for human and veterinary applications, and more specifically relates to methods and systems for calibrating such instruments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Diagnostic instruments have been used for decades in both the human and veterinary markets. These instruments include hematology analyzers, blood chemistry analyzers and other instruments that determine certain physiological properties of patients. In the veterinary market, the VetTest® chemistry analyzer and the VetAutoread™ automated hematology analyzer have been available since at least the 1990's. Some analyzers, like the VetAutoread™ hematology analyzer manufactured by IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. of Westbrook, Me., (see, www.idexx.com), utilize a fixed optical reference to determine instrument performance. Other analyzers, like the IDEXX LaserCyte® hematology analyzer, incorporate polymers with fixed size and index of refraction to ensure optical performance referred to as Qualibeads™. In addition, some analyzers, like the Sysmex XT-V manufactured by Sysmex Corp. of Hyogo, Japan, (see, www.sysmex.com), utilize a fixed cell control material to ensure assay performance. The veterinary market is very cost sensitive and controls are not run in the same manner as in human practices, which generally run fixed cell controls approximately at least once per 8-hour shift. In addition, for veterinary applications, species specific concerns arise since each species may have a different response to the system chemistry and different algorithms are often employed by species. Therefore, alternative methods are required to ensure instrument performance.
Patient-based approaches have been proposed, such as described in the aforementioned pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/932,192, that provide a means to trend patient data in batches to reduce the impact of individual patient responses. The batches can then be evaluated in a control chart utilizing control chart rules to determine if the system has moved out of control. Fuzzy Logic approaches can then be used to define system optimization adjustments that bring the system back into control. This approach has the inherent benefit that the analyses are performed with patient data on a species-specific basis. This approach can run into difficulties if there are external factors that cause system shifts, such as reagent lot changes. Alternative approaches are required to handle patient sample data sets that are convoluted with reagent lot variability.

Automated calibration method and system for a diagnostic analyzer


High wet braking performance is obtained without causing deterioration to other aspects of performance.

Grooves are formed in the tread of a pneumatic tire for mounting to a vehicle to expel water between the tire and the road surface to outside of the ground contact surface when running on a wet road surface (see for example Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 8-276708).
There are also demands to reduce the rolling resistance of pneumatic tires as part of a gathering momentum to raise fuel efficiency accompanying restrictions on exhaust gas emissions and rising oil prices.

Pneumatic tire with tread having circumferential grooves

Abstract: Circumferential direction grooves 14 are configured with first groove portions 16 of zigzag shape formed at the road surface side and second groove portions 18 of straight line shape formed at the groove bottom side. Accordingly, an effect (edge effect) is effectively exhibited by the edges of the first groove portions 16 catching on the road surface when running on a comparatively shallow water depth. High wet braking performance is accordingly obtained. Water in the grooves flows smoothly due to the presence of the second groove portions 18 at the groove bottom side when running on a comparatively deep water depth. Reliable ground contact performance of the tread surface of the tread 12 to the road surface and high wet braking performance is accordingly obtained. High wet braking performance can be secured irrespective of whether there is shallow or deep water due to the edge effect of the first groove portions 16 and due to the water expelling effect of the second groove portions 18.


An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a loading, inserting and releasing tool for T-shaped intrauterine device (IUD) into a uterus. The loading tool comprises a shaft member having a loader, an inserter tube, an IUD and a plunger. The loading tool includes a platform configured at a proximal end of the loader for holding the IUD in an open position, and an elongated member extending from the platform. The elongated member includes a slot running therethrough aligned to the opening of the loader. Further, the loading tool includes a plunger within an inserter tube capable of running through a slot provided with markings thereon. The inserter tube is provided with a knob for pushing the inserter tube along with plunger in forward and backward direction for inserting and releasing the T-shaped IUD into the uterus.

Conventionally, loading mechanism for an intrauterine contraceptive device (hereinafter 'IUD') includes devices where a Copper T (hereinafter 'Cu T') is loaded into a tube manually by hand and then the tube is inserted into a uterus. Further, the release of the Cu T in the uterus is also controlled manually. However, the loading devices which are small, needs to be handled by both the hands. The handling of such devices is to be done cautiously and skillfully. Further, handling of two or many loose parts is involved while using the conventional loading devices. Further, such handling may a cause infection. The physicians would need both the hands to be used for insertion of the IUD with the help of the conventional loading means which makes it difficult to handle other tools simultaneously and may even lead to improper loading, improper insertion, misaligned IUD placement. In such cases, physicians have to depend on assistants to hold the tools.
Furthermore, the existing loading devices are very straight and may not follow the natural curve of the human body making it painful and difficult to use. Also, the release of the Cu T in the uterus needs to be well controlled by the physician and in case of wrong usage, the relative movement between the solid rod (plunger) of the loading means and the tube may cause injury to the patient.
Moreover, the numbers of steps involved in executing the insertion of the IUD using conventional loading devices are many and may confuse the physician and the physician needs training and practice in order to use the device.
Some embodiments of the invention may provide a loading, inserting and releasing for IUD which provides a trouble free insertion and release and provide high level of safety to the doctors as well as patients.
Some embodiments of the invention may provide a loading, inserting and releasing for IUD which requires minimum steps to be performed for insertion of the intrauterine device in the uterus.
Some embodiments of the invention may provide a single use loading, inserting and releasing tool for an IUD.
Some embodiments of the invention may provide a loading, inserting and releasing for an IUD which is less painful as compared to a conventional IUD loading device.
Some embodiments of the invention may provide a ergonomic tool for the doctors.

Loading, inserting and releasing tool for an intrauterine device


The present invention relates generally to aqueous coating compositions comprising a resin component including a functional group-containing crosslinkable resin and, optionally, a curing/crosslinking agent for functional groups of the crosslinkable resin. More specifically, the resin component includes, at least in part, a special anionically or anionically/non-ionically stabilized functional group-containing crosslinkable resin which can function as either the primary crosslinkable resin (self-emulsifying system) or as a reactive emulsifier for other lipophilic crosslinkable resins (stabilized system).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to aqueous coating compositions comprising functional group-containing crosslinkable resins (the "resin component") and, optionally, a curing/crosslinking agent for functional groups of the crosslinkable resin.
2. Background
Most successful coating compositions, particularly those suited for use in the automotive industry, have been based upon generally lipophilic crosslinkable binder resins diluted in organic solvents. Increasingly stringent health/safety and environmental legislation, however, is making the use of organic solvents an expensive and unfashionable option for the coatings industry. As such, the industry is intensively seeking waterborne alternatives to their long-standing and commercially successful organic solvent based products; however, it has been difficult at best to make the switch to water without significant loss of coating stability and/or resulting film quality.
One option pursued has been to render the lipophilic resins water-dilutable (so called "self-emulsifying" resins). This can and has been done, for example, by building hydrophilic functionality into a polymer backbone or by providing the polymer with a structure wherein the hydrophilic functionality is made pendant to such polymeric backbone. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,634,245, 3,379,548, 4,116,902, 4,133,786, 4,028,313, 4,255,541, 4,277,380, 4,303,565, 4,315,044, 4,321,305, 4,333,865, 4,585,828, 4,608,406 and 5,021,544, British Patents GB 1 117 126, GB 1 199 810, GB 1 517 767 and WO 83/00151, EP-A-157291, EP-A-0355892, EP-A-0445863 and EP-A-0469646. The results obtained with this option, however, are not always satisfactory because the resins often possess a relatively large number of hydrophilic groups, tending to render the resulting films somewhat water-sensitive.
Another option has been to disperse such lipophilic resins in water with the aid of separate dispersing agents. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,352,898; 4,598,108; 4,737,530; 4,929,661; and EP-A-0262720 disclose the use of relatively low molecular weight organic compounds as dispersing agents. The aqueous coatings described, while satisfactory in many respects, may still require the use of significant amounts of organic co-solvents. Additionally, the described dispersants may evaporate and contribute to the overall volatile organic compounds (VOC), and what dispersant remains in the resulting film tends to act as an undesirable hydrophilic center.
Relatively higher molecular weight surfactants have also been used. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,945,964, 4,318,832 and W084/00169 describe the use of various non-ionic (e.g., polyoxyalkylene) and anionic surfactants. The described surfactants, however, are generally non-reactive and, while solving certain disadvantages of the lower molecular weight organic compounds, have a stronger tendency than the lower molecular weight counterparts to remain as undesirable hydrophilic centers in the resulting films.
In still further attempts to overcome the problems associated with the above-referenced systems, it has been proposed to use surfactants which become bound into the film structure during the crosslinking reaction. Such "reactive emulsifiers" have been described, for example, in Australian Patent No. AU-A-82247/87, British Patent Nos. GB1517767, GB-A-2100271 and GB-A-2112793, German Patent No. DE-OS-2455896, Canadian Patent No. CA-A-2007097, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,979,346; 4,028,313; 4,221,685; 4,233,194; 4,321,170; 4,331,573; 4,446,258; 4,538,000 and European Patent No. EP-A-0355892.

Aqueous coating compositions comprising functional group-containing crosslinkable resins


In a digital printing apparatus in which primary colorants are selected by an error-diffusion process, a method takes into account situations in which a colorant is selectable from within the gamut defined by certain other primary colorants. In the case of a printer in which, in addition to CMYK colorants, a mid-gray colorant is also selectable, the method avoids the problem in which an error-diffusion algorithm mandates the simulation of colors outside the gamut.

Digital printing apparatus, such as electrophotographic "laser" printers and ink-jet printers, are well known. In color digital printing apparatus, a small set of colorants, typically black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, are selectably placed in different areas on a print sheet, and small areas of each primary colorant are allowed to blend together optically, to create a large range, or gamut, of colors which would be apparent to an observer.
To obtain a large gamut of colors from a small number of colorants, a variety of halftoning techniques can be applied. One technique, known as "error diffusion," is well known. In error diffusion, in order to print a small area of a desired "source color," the source color is located in color space relative to the locations of the primary colorants, such as yellow, magenta, and cyan; the colorant which is closest to the target color in color space is then selected for one pixel area. However, the error, essentially meaning the Euclidean distance in color space between the source color and the selected colorant, is recorded, and is in effect distributed or diffused to the image data of neighboring pixel areas. In brief, this diffusion of each error to neighboring pixel areas will influence the decision of which primary colorant to use in those neighboring pixel areas. The overall effect is, over a reasonably large number of pixels, an optical blend resulting in the desired source color.
Recently, particularly in the technology of ink-jet printing, there has been developed a hardware option in which selectably available colorants are provided beyond the usual pure primary colorants, such as cyan, magenta, and yellow. In some designs, there may be available colorants of additive colors, such as red, blue, and green, in addition to the subtractive colors; in other designs, there may be available for selection a colorant which represents a lighter or "diluted" version of another primary color, such as a light cyan, which is 50% lighter than regular cyan. The use of such additional colorants can enhance and/or enlarge the available gamut associated with a particular apparatus. One particular additional colorant, which will be the subject of the embodiment of the present invention described below, is, in addition to a pure black K colorant, a mid-gray (MG) colorant, which in effect is a 50% dilution of black ink. Selectable use of the mid-gray ink will, of course, be helpful in the creation of monochrome halftones (such as black-and-white photographs) and also for the creation of non-saturated colors.
These additional colorants, such as light cyan or mid-gray, can be considered "intra-gamut" colorants; which is to say, whereas pure colorants such as cyan or magenta define a gamut and are therefore disposed in color space at the edge or surface of a gamut, these intra-gamut colorants are disposed in color space inside the gamut defined by other colorants. While this is useful for obtaining accurate representations of colors, such as "pastels," which are near the white or gray areas of a gamut, use of such intra-gamut colorants can interfere with the error-diffusion colorant selection process. If an error-diffusion selection process occasionally "decides" that an intra-gamut colorant, such as mid-gray, is desirable for a particular pixel in an image, the resulting error from selection of this intra-gamut color, when diffused to influence the selection of colorants for neighboring pixels, may require the selection of colors which are out of the gamut and which would be physically impossible to obtain with the available colorants. In many situations, selection of a colorant from inside the gamut can lead to errors which require selection of colorants outside the gamut, which are not available.
The present invention is directed to an error-diffusion system, specifically for use in apparatus wherein intra-gamut colorants, such as mid-gray, or lighter or diluted versions of primary color colorants, are available.

Error diffusion in color printing where an intra-gamut colorant is available


A continuous time delta sigma modulator includes a summing circuit, a loop filter, an extraction circuit, a quantizer and a digital to analog converter. The summing circuit is arranged for subtracting a feedback signal by an input signal to generate a residual signal. The loop filter includes a plurality of amplifying stages connected in series and is arranged to receive the residual signal to generate a filtered residual signal. The extraction circuit is arranged for extracting a current from one of the amplifying stages and forwarding the extracted current to a following one of the amplifying stages. The quantizer is arranged for generating a digital output signal according to the filtered residual signal. The digital to analog converter is arranged for performing a digital to analog converting operation upon a signal derived from the digital output signal to generate the feedback signal to the summing circuit.

A high resolution continuous time delta-sigma modulator serves as a power efficient candidate with a signal bandwidth ranging from audio band to several megahertz. However, the higher frequency input signal of the continuous time delta-sigma modulator may cause difficult excess loop delay compensation. To solve the excess loop delay compensation problem caused by the high frequency input signal, an additional circuit such as a digital to analog converter (DAC) is arranged to process a feedback signal from an output of the quantizer to an output of the pre-stage loop filter, and therefore there are more than one DACs configured in the excess loop of the continuous time delta-sigma modulator. This additional circuit such as DAC increases the power consumption and provides a large parasitic capacitance to the loop filter.

Continuous time delta sigma modulator, analog to digital converter and associated compensation method


A sealing structure 20 for forming a seal around a chuck 30 used to hold a substrate 45 having a peripheral edge 50. An actuated, position-adjustable, sealing diaphragm 165 is disposed along the peripheral edge of the substrate. The diaphragm has a conformal sealing surface 170 capable of forming a seal when pressed against the peripheral edge of the substrate 45. A diaphragm actuator 175 actuates the sealing diaphragm from (i) a first non-sealing position 180 in which the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm is spaced apart from the substrate held on the chuck to form a gap 190 therebetween, to (ii) a second sealing position 185 in which the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm presses against, and forms a seal with, the peripheral edge of the substrate.

The present invention is directed to a sealing structure useful for forming a seal around chucks, particularly electrostatic chucks, which are used for holding substrates.
In integrated circuit manufacture, chucks are used to hold semiconductor substrates during processing to prevent movement or misalignment of the substrate. Electrostatic chucks, that use electrostatic attraction forces to hold a substrate, have several advantages over mechanical and vacuum chucks, including reduction of stress-related cracks caused by mechanical clamps; utilization of a larger portion of the substrate surface; reduced formation of corroded particles that deposit on the substrate; and allowing use of the chuck in low pressure processes. A typical electrostatic chuck includes an electrically conductive electrode with an electrical insulator thereon. A voltage source electrically biases the substrate with respect to the electrode. The insulator prevents the flow of electrons therethrough, causing opposing electrostatic charge to accumulate in the substrate and in the electrode, thereby generating an electrostatic force that attracts and holds the substrate onto the chuck. Electrostatic chucks are generally described in, for example U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/278,787 by Cameron, et al.; 08/276,735 by Shamouilian, et al.; and 08/189,562, by Shamouilian, et al.--all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
One problem with conventional chucks is their limited lifetime in erosive process environments. A typical electrostatic chuck comprises a metal electrode covered by a thin polymeric insulator layer. The thin polymeric layer maximizes electrostatic attractive forces between the substrate and the electrode. However, when the insulator comprises a polymer such as a polyimide, the polymer insulator can be rapidly eroded by the erosive process environment, limiting the useful lifetime of the chuck. Erosion of polymer insulators can be particularly severe in oxygen or halogen containing gases and plasmas, which are used for a variety of tasks, such as for example, etching of substrates, deposition of material on substrates, and cleaning of process chambers and substrates. While a large portion of the polymer insulator is covered by the substrate held on the chuck and thereby protected from the erosive environment, the periphery of the insulator is exposed to, and eroded by the erosive gaseous environment. The exposed polymeric insulator can erode in a few hours (typically 2 to 3 hours of exposure to a oxygen plasma environment), and erosion through even a single point on the insulator can expose the electrode causing short-circuiting and failure of the chuck. Failure of the chuck during processing can damage the substrate and reduce yields of the valuable integrated circuit chips formed on the substrate. Also, the polymeric byproducts formed during erosion of the polymer often deposit on the chuck and walls of the process chamber to form hard polymeric deposits which are difficult to clean. Thus it is desirable to reduce the erosion of exposed portions of the chuck, particularly the polymer insulator layers on the chuck.
Several techniques have been developed to reduce erosion of the exposed portions of the chuck. In one solution, described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/410,449, filed on Mar. 24, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference, a flow of inert or non-reactive "masking" gas is directed onto the peripheral insulator portions of the chuck. The masking gas protects peripheral insulator from the corrosive effect of the surrounding gaseous environment. However, the concentration of masking gas can change the concentration of reactive process gas species adjacent to the edge of the substrate thereby altering the rate of processing, i.e., etching or deposition, at the peripheral edge of the substrate. Also, when the pressure of process gas in the chamber is more than one-tenth of the masking gas pressure, upstream diffusion of masking gas due to concentration gradients reduces the effectiveness of the masking gas. Thus, the masking gas method is undesirable in certain substrate fabrication processes.
Another erosion reducing method uses a barrier ring that extends continuously around the peripheral edge of the insulator and forms a seals against the edge of the substrate. A suitable barrier ring structure, disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/439,010, filed on May 11, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference, comprises an elastomeric ring having a base resting on a support below the substrate, and an arm extending from the base. When an electrostatic attractive force is applied on the substrate, the substrate moves downward and presses against the upper portion of the arm of the barrier ring to form a seal that reduces exposure of the insulator of the chuck to the corrosive process gas. However, the barrier ring is compressed against the substrate during the entire process cycle and cannot be released from the chuck without terminating the voltage applied to the electrode of the chuck. Terminating the voltage to the chuck electrode releases the substrate from the electrostatic attractive force, which may cause the substrate move during processing. Movement of the substrate during processing is undesirable, particularly for processes where it is necessary for the substrate to be aligned in a particular orientation on the chuck.
The barrier ring can also have problems in highly corrosive process environments where the portion of the barrier ring contacting the substrate can stick to the substrate (due to corrosion in the corrosive process environments) making it difficult to remove the substrate after processing is completed. A slow release or sticking substrate can damage the substrate when a robotic lift arm attempts to lift the substrate off the chuck. Compensating for occasional sticking of the substrate by slowing the speed of the robotic arm, increases substrate processing time and reduces process throughput. Also, sticking portions of the barrier ring can leave behind undesirable contaminants on the substrate that further reduce substrate yields.
Another problem with conventional barrier ring structures arise from the difficulty in fabricating a barrier ring that has consistent and tight tolerance height dimensions (which are needed to apply uniform pressure along the entire peripheral edge of the substrate), particularly when the barrier ring is fabricated from a soft polymer. Conventional polymeric barrier seals typically have height variations that vary by over 250 microns (10 mils). These height variations result in gaps between the barrier ring and the substrate that allow ingress of corrosive gases that react with and erode the insulator of the chuck. To reduce such gaps, the arm of the barrier ring is fabricated with a slightly larger height than necessary to allow compression of the arm by the edge of the overlying substrate when the chuck electrode is powered and the substrate is electrostatically attracted to the chuck. The larger the "excess height" of the barrier ring, the more the variation in height across different portions of the ring that can be tolerated without adversely affecting the continuous seal around the substrate. However, the large height of the barrier ring combined with the variation in height due to manufacturing tolerance limitations creates an upward force on the substrate that opposes the electrostatic force with which the substrate is held on the chuck, increasing the possibility of movement of the substrate during processing. This is a particular problem for electrostatic chucks that provide reduced electrostatic attractive forces, such as bipolar chucks, and chucks required to operate at relatively low operating voltages (less than 2000 volts). If selected portions of the barrier are excessively high, the barrier ring can lift the entire substrate off the surface of such chucks. Also, the large height of the barrier seal further increases the problem of sticking against the substrate due to excessive compression of the seal.
Yet another problem with conventional electrostatic chucks arises from use of heat transfer fluid grooves on the chuck surface which are used to hold a heat transfer fluid for heating or cooling the substrate held on the chuck. Suitable configurations of such heat transfer fluid grooves are described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/276,735 to Shamouilian, et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. When a substrate is held on the chuck, the substrate covers and seals the grooves to reduce leakage of heat transfer fluid held in the grooves. The substrate is typically cooled using a heat transfer gas held in the grooves to reduce overheating of the substrate, and to provide higher yields of integrated circuit chips, particularly at the peripheral edge of the substrate. However, the heat transfer gas often leaks out from below the peripheral edge of the substrate, resulting in overheating of the peripheral portion of the substrate. Also, the leaking gas can adversely effect the process gas composition at the edges of the substrate. Thus, it is desirable to have a sealing structure that reduces leakage of heat transfer gas from the edge of the substrate.
Thus, it is desirable to have a sealing structure to protect the chuck from erosion in the erosive process gas environment and to reduce leakage of heat transfer gas from below the substrate. It is also desirable for the sealing structure to be capable of being actuated or deactuated during processing of the substrate. It is further desirable for the sealing structure to allow rapid placement and removal of the substrate from the chuck without sticking to the substrate and forming contaminants on the substrate. It is also desirable for the structure to seal substantially the entire edge of the insulator without forming gaps through which erosive process gases can access and erode the chuck.

Pressure actuated sealing diaphragm for chucks


A photographic film transporting apparatus for transporting a photographic film from a developing apparatus to a printer includes: a transport passage device formed of an elongated flexible member and having a pair of mutually opposed grooves for guiding transversely opposite ends of the photographic film and extending in a longitudinal direction of the transport passage device; and two coupling portions for respectively coupling opposite ends of the transport passage device to the developing apparatus and the printer. The photographic film can be fed out by providing at least one driving device in the transport passage device. The photographic film transporting apparatus is further provided with a driving source for imparting a driving force to the driving device and a flexible transmitting device for transmitting the driving force of the driving source to the driving device. A portion of the flexible member in which the grooves for guiding the transversely opposite ends of the photographic film are formed is made of a harder material than a remaining portion of the flexible member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photographic film transporting member for transporting a photographic film from one processing apparatus to another, and to a photographic film transporting apparatus and a photographic processing system using the photographic film transporting member.
2. Description of the Related Art
When development of photographic films such as negative films is effected, the following procedure is generally taken: A plurality of negative films are connected together and are formed into a roll of negative films, a leader is attached to a leading end of the roll which is paid out, and the leader is allowed to engage a pair of sprockets so as to transport the plurality of negative films. The negative films in the form of the roll, for which development processing has been completed by a developing apparatus, are manually transported by an operator to a printer which is separate from the developing apparatus, and the negative films are placed at a predetermined position on the printer so as to effect printing.
A photographic processing system capable of effecting the entire process from the development of the negative films until printing without requiring the handling by the operator, has been proposed in which a negative developing apparatus and a printer are arranged as one unit without using the aforementioned leader. This system is arranged such that the negative developing apparatus and the printer are fixed as one unit, and an outlet of the negative developing apparatus and an inlet of the printer are connected together by means of a rigid transport passage means. In this system, the films can be transported continuously from the negative developing apparatus to the printer.
However, if the apparatus for effecting development processing and the apparatus for effecting print processing are made into one unit, there are drawbacks in that since the entire machine becomes large, the system cannot be accommodated in a predetermined space, and a working space for maintenance becomes limited, resulting in poor operating efficiency.

Photographic film transporting member, photographic film transporting apparatus and photographic processing system


Disclosed is a method for analyzing a defect of a semiconductor device, and more particularly a method for electrically analyzing a defect of a transistor formed in a cell having a latch structure, such as SRAM or a sense amplifier of DRAM. The defect analyzing method according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming a test SRAM cell array in a scribe lane region of a wafer which is formed with a plurality of SRAM chips, forming a pad portion for testing the SRAM cell array on the scribe lane region, and applying a predetermined test voltage to the SRAM cell array through the pad portion. The respective array cells constituting the SRAM cell array are provide with two word lines, and individual test voltages can be applied through the pad portion to the two word lines, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for analyzing a defect of a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method for electrically analyzing a defect for a pattern having a latch structure, such as SRAM or a sense amplifier of DRAM.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As generally known in the art, defect analysis for SRAM employs a physical measuring method such as SEM, TEM or the like, or a method in which a test pattern (it may not wholly correspond to a normal pattern) is prepared under the same design rule as that of a normal pattern and the test pattern is analyzed with respect to whether or not a short circuit or a bridge is generated.
However, since a normal pattern and a test pattern (e.g., an SRAM cell and a correspondent test cell) partially differ from each other, it is problematic to exactly find out whether or not the normal pattern the normal pattern is defective simply by defect analysis for the test pattern.

Method for analyzing defect of SRAM cell