An aseismic support structure which includes a fixed part which is attached to a stationary floor, an equipment connection part for holding part of the equipment and a moving part coupled to the fixed part and the equipment connection part and wherein the moving part is freely movable relative to the fixed part in any direction parallel with the stationary floor and the equipment connection part is freely rotatable about the moving part. The equipment can have a caster which is held by the equipment connection part. For a weak earthquake shock, a caster lock portion of the equipment connection part locks the caster of the equipment to prevent the movement of the equipment. For a stronger earthquake, resonance is prevented by the moving part moving in a direction parallel with the stationary floor, and for a ruinous earthquake the vibration of the moving part is absorbed by a shock absorbing member attached to the fixed part.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a device for supporting a structure relative to a stationary floor and in particular, to an aseismic device which has resistance to earthquakes and can support a structure such as a computer which is sensitive to the shock and vibration of an earthquake.
2. Description of Related Art
At present, structures used for daily and industrial applications are wide ranging and include manufacturing machines, household electrical appliances, transportation equipment, etc. Some of them are particularly sensitive to the shock of an earthquake. It is the most basic object of a support structure having earthquake resistance (hereinafter referred to as aseismic support structure) to prevent the collapse of these structures when an earthquake occurs. Furthermore, equipment sensitive to the shock of an earthquake, for instance, electronic equipment, computers, measuring instruments and the like (hereinafter referred to as equipment) require that consideration be given not only to avoid destruction of their functions by the earthquake but also prevent the loss of data or a malfunction. Some of them observe the behavior during an earthquake and instantaneously perform a data calculation based on the result of the observation, and the above requirement is more severe in such equipment. Accordingly, they particularly need to be fixed to an aseismic support structure different from ordinary structures, or to a floor or the like by a highly earthquake-proof system.
An earthquake first causes a problem of the movement or turnover of equipment. The movement of equipment may cause the breakage of the connected cables or the contact with other equipment which further increases the possibility of a malfunction. Further, the turnover of equipment may physically destroy other equipment or cause an injury to workers. Moreover, the effect on the inside of the equipment by the seismic shock from the floor surface is very significant. For instance, stress may occur in parts within the equipment that can break the package or cause data errors, loss of data, or the like. In addition, there is a similar need in various production machines. If such production machines move or fall down when an earthquake occurs, the smoothness of the process is lost, which is very dangerous.
Generally speaking, since many cables are connected to the above mentioned equipment, the floor is double-structured for large-sized equipment. That is, on the stationary floor (slab) forming the bottom part, there are additionally provided free access floors at predetermined intervals, and a free wiring is secured by the use of the intervals. The inventors of the present invention disclosed a method in which a toggle bar is used to fix equipment on free access floors (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-42747). However, this method cannot cover equipment which are smaller in size and directly fixed to a stationary floor.
Conventionally, there have been several structures or methods for supporting equipment directly fixed on a stationary floor. The simplest way is to attach a caster to the equipment and place the equipment on the stationary floor. Typically, in this method, the caster is normally in a locked state because it is undesirable for the equipment to move during its normal use. The caster becomes movable if an earthquake occurs and an acceleration greater than a predetermined value is applied on the equipment, so that the energy of the earthquake is absorbed by the movement of the equipment caused by the caster. This method only requires that a caster, which is a small part, be attached to the bottom surface of the equipment, and thus it is the simplest countermeasure against earthquakes. In addition, this method is convenient for a change in the placement of equipment because the location of the equipment is not fixed. However, the maximum earthquake resistance of this method is about 0.4 G, which is low, and thus it cannot hold up under a large earthquake which produces a serious problem for the equipment. Furthermore, since there are problems of stress generation on the cables due to the movement of the equipment, and the turnover of the equipment, it is not appropriate as an aseismic supporting method. As an improved method, there is a method in which a pad is attached to the caster, and a method in which the equipment is fixed to a stationary floor by means of an adsorption disk, but these are also essentially insufficient from the viewpoint of resistance to earthquakes.
As a method for increasing resistance to earthquakes, there is a method in which equipment is directly fixed to a stationary floor (slab) or free access floor by means such as bolts. The former is also called a direct support type, while the latter is called an indirect support type. The direct support type can resist an acceleration greater than 1 G as earthquake resistance, and has an advantage that the movement and turnover of equipment does not occur. On the other hand, however, since the equipment is difficult to move once they are fixed, a long-term plan for the placement layout is required and the costs for the placement (e.g. construction cost) are also high. In addition, since the earthquake energy directly propagates through the stationary floor, a problem such as a malfunction is likely to occur in this method.
Accordingly, there is a desire for an aseismic support structure which provides sufficient earthquake resistance, overcomes the disadvantages of the above described structures and methods and is applicable to existing equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an aseismic support structure which prevents equipment installed on a stationary floor from falling down or moving when an earthquake occurs. Further it is an object of the present invention to provide an aseismic support structure having earthquake resistance greater than 1 G and can suppress the seismic effect on equipment to a minimum.
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an aseismic support structure and system which is also applicable to existing equipment, requires no modification of the room where the equipment is installed and does not inhibit transferring or moving the equipment after installation.


A pinhole detection system of a fuel cell element unit including a density measurement module that calculates a density of a fuel cell element unit using weight and volume data measured from electronic weight balance and 3D scan type volume integrator. Photon energy ranges of X-ray beam and window species of the pinhole detection system automatically are selected from Group 1 or Group 2 according to the density reference point for a fuel cell element, and a stage on which a fuel cell element unit is disposed to be detected. A drive portion that moves the stage to rotate the fuel cell element unit. An X-ray source is disposed at one side of the stage to apply X-ray to the fuel cell element unit that rotates. An image detector detects an X-ray penetrating the fuel cell element unit, and a computer tomography that reconstructs a three dimensional tomogram.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pinhole detection system of a fuel cell. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pinhole detection system of a fuel cell that detects a pinhole formed inside a fuel cell stack element, especially MEAs and bipolar plates.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, a fuel cell system generates electrical energy from chemical energy.
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack that generates electrical energy, a fuel supply system supplying fuel (hydrogen) with the fuel cell stack, an air supply system supplying oxygen of air, which is an oxidizing agent that is necessary for electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell stack, and a heat and water management system that controls the operating temperature and the moisture of the fuel cell stack.
Preferably, the fuel cell stack is made by stacking three layers of membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), two gas diffusion layers (GDL), and a bipolar plate, alternately.
However, MEA and bipolar plate of a pinhole can be formed during making process for fabricating the MEA and pressing process for fabricating the bipolar plate in each. Further, as the MEA and the GDL are joined (or hot pressed) to improve productivity, a pinhole can be formed through an electrolyte membrane of the MEA by carbon fiber of the GDL.
The pinhole of the MEA and the bipolar plate generates a burning phenomenon by the chemical reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to meet each other directly and pollution phenomenon of the MEA by leakage of antifreeze, such that output performance of the fuel cell stack and durability are decreased and the fuel cell stack can be shut down.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to inspect the fuel cell stack for a pinhole to improve the quality of the fuel cell stack. Further, there remains a need in the art to inspect a pinhole, which is formed inside the stack element.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A control system for a motor vehicle is provide which is capable of reducing a load on a friction engagement device and preventing the friction engagement device from being damaged. A transmission 50 includes a plurality of gears and a plurality of dog clutches for transmitting torque from an input shaft 41 to an output shaft 50 and a friction engagement device 10. A torque transmission path from the input shaft 41 to the output shaft 50 is formed through engagement between the gear and the dog clutch. When the engagement between the gear and the dog clutch is changed from a first engagement to a second engagement, the friction engagement device 10 is used to transmit torque of an engine 6 from the input shaft 41 to the output shaft 50. A power train unit 100 includes state determiner 310 and engine torque control means 320. The state determiner 310 detects or estimates a thermal state of the friction engagement device 10. The engine torque controller 320 controls the torque of the engine 6 according to a parameter representing the thermal state detected or estimated by the state determiner 310.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Document No. 2003-323029, filed Sep. 16, 2003, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a system and a method for controlling a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to a system and a method for controlling a motor vehicle mounted with a transmission that, when a gearshift is accomplished by selecting a dog clutch, transmits by way of a friction engagement device torque from a driving power source from an input shaft to an output shaft.
An automated manual transmission (hereinafter referred to as an "automated MT") has been lately developed. The automated MT is a system automatizing operations of getting a vehicle started and gearshifts performed by a manual transmission that transmits torque of a driving power source from an input shaft to an output shaft through engagement of a gear and a dog clutch.
In a conventional vehicle mounted with an automated MT, a gearshift operation is performed by using an actuator that operates a friction clutch interposed between the driving power source and the input shaft of the transmission. As a result, the gearshift operation is disabled if the friction clutch is damaged. Then, in worst cases, the vehicle becomes unable to run.
Examples of known art are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 8-230503 and PCT Patent Publication No. WO 95-22014 (an equivalent of Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 8-509284). In these known techniques, energy generated from a friction surface of the friction clutch is calculated and controlled to prevent the friction clutch from being damaged due to an increased temperature. In PCT Patent Publication No. WO95-22014, for example, an approach as detailed in the following is taken. Specifically, the overall energy that has already been generated is calculated based on an engine rotational speed, an input shaft rotational speed, and the transmission torque of the friction clutch. The natural cooling energy is then subtracted from the overall energy to arrive at the energy generated on the friction surface of the friction clutch. It is further known that the friction clutch is protected by minimizing the energy generated on the friction surface of the friction clutch in the following manner. Specifically, engagement of the friction clutch is rapidly released or a rapid engagement of the friction clutch is promoted according to the value of the calculated energy.
The automated MT has the disadvantage that there is an interruption of torque transmitted from the driving power source due to release and engagement operations of the friction clutch during gearshifts. This gives passengers of the vehicle a sense of discomfort. Known as a method of controlling gearshifts in the automated MT is an automatic transmission provided with a friction engagement device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 61-45163. In this method, when accomplishing a gearshift through selecting a dog clutch, the friction engagement device is controlled so as to transmit the driving power source torque to the output shaft of the transmission even during the gearshift. The method thereby avoids torque interruption, achieving a smooth shift feel.
The techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 8-230503 and PCT Patent Publication No. WO95-22014 are effective in protecting the friction clutch, but are not directly applicable to the automatic transmission provided with the friction engagement device such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 61-45163. To state it another way, the friction engagement device differs from the friction clutch used in PCT Patent Publication No. WO95-22014 in the purpose of use, method of use, frequency of use, and operating conditions. The friction engagement device without its modification is not thus directly applicable to the automatic transmission provided with the friction engagement device.
The automated MT using the friction engagement device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 61-45163 therefore has the problem that a broken friction engagement device aggravates a gearshift feel and, in worst cases, could make the automated MT totally disabled in gearshift.

System and method for controlling motor vehicle


Interface modules are disclosed that can couple combined signals in communication signal bands (e.g., cable television and upper and lower direct broadcast satellite signal bands) to communication receivers (e.g., integrated receiver decoders). These modules facilitate the use of inexpensive single-cable distribution systems in multiuser facilities (e.g., apartment and office buildings).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to combined communication signals and more particularly to combined CATV and DBS signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
A signal-band diagram 20 of FIG. 1 defines frequencies that are associated with a variety of communication services that deliver communication signals to consumers. In the oldest of these communication services, off-air television and frequency modulation signals are typically received through a consumer antenna. The majority of these off-air signals are arranged in a plurality of signal bands that range from 54 to 216 MHz and are shown in broken lines as bands 22 in FIG. 1.
In a second one of these services, communication signals are provided by a wireless cable system in which signals are directed from a service provider's antenna to a plurality of subscriber antennas. The signals are sent over the multipoint distribution service (MDS) frequency band (2150-2162 MHz) and the multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) frequency band (2500-2686 MHz). Signals in these wireless cable bands are typically downconverted at subscriber dwellings by low noise block downconverters (LNB's) to form MDS and MMDS intermediate-frequency bands that respectively span 116-128 MHz and 222-408 MHz. These are respectively shown in broken lines as bands 24 and 26 in FIG. 1.
Consumers are also offered the alternative of cable television (CATV) in which hard cables deliver television and frequency modulation signals to consumer locations over a signal band of 54-648 MHz.
The communication signals provided by these three communication systems were initially limited to television and frequency modulation signals. Consumers are now being offered, however, an increasing list of other communication options. For example, a communication service can carry telephony signals and also operate as an internet service provider (ISP) who provides access to the internet. It was also initially envisioned that signals were only downlinked to consumers but some of these communication services have now become two-way streets in which consumers uplink data signals (e.g., signals associated with the activities of pay-for-view, banking, home shopping, medical alarm and fire/security).
To provide for both uplink and downlink processes, a CATV signal band is generally defined to span 5-750 MHz and includes an uplink signal band of 5-30 MHz for consumer uplinking of data signals and a downlink signal band of 50-750 MHz for provider downlinking of communication signals. The CATV signal band is shown in FIG. 1 as the band 28.
Consumers can presently also choose to receive communication signals from a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system. In this system, satellites radiate microwave signal beams in C-band and Ku-band frequencies. Upon direct receipt at a consumer antenna, these satellite signals are initially downconverted to an intermediate-frequency signal band of 950-1450 MHz before further downconversion and detection at a lower detection frequency.
To increase their number, DBS channels are typically grouped in two sets which each basically span the same DBS band but each channel of one set is centered over a boundary between adjacent channels of the other set. In order to further isolate the sets, they are transmitted with different signal polarizations (e.g., vertical and horizontal polarizations or left-hand and right-hand circular polarizations). Once the transmitted signals are detected in an antenna, the polarization isolation is lost and the two intermediate-frequency signal bands must either be carried on separate transmission lines (e.g., coaxial cables) or carried on a common transmission line after one channel set has been frequency offset from the other.
In either case, DBS signals present distribution problems. If the two DBS channel sets are carried away from an antenna on separate cables, these cables must be continued all the way to the consumer's equipment (e.g., a television set). This is especially difficult and costly in multiuser installations because it means that all link portions of a distribution system must be formed with pairs of cables.
If the intermediate-frequency channel sets are, instead, frequency offset, they typically form a lower DBS signal band of 950-1450 MHz and an upper DBS signal band of 1525-2025 MHz. These are respectively shown in FIG. 1 as DBS signal bands 30 and 32. These two signal bands can be carried over a single-cable distribution system because of their frequency separation. Because the CATV signal band 28 of FIG. 1 also occupies a different frequency band, it can be carried over the same single-cable distribution system.
Television sets (and other communication devices) typically cannot receive CATV and DBS signals directly and they are, therefore, complimented by interface modules commonly referred to as "set tops". More precisely, these interfaces are generically termed integrated receiver decoders (IRD). Because they are generally configured to only accept the lower DBS signal band 30, they are not compatible with a single-cable distribution system that carries both DBS signal bands 30 and 32.
To summarize, communication signals for consumers are generally grouped into a CATV signal band (28 in FIG. 1) and lower and upper DBS signal bands (30 and 32 in FIG. 1). They provide desirable communication services (e.g., television, internet and telephony) and facilitate downlink and uplink processes. However, these communication signal bands are not currently compatible with single-cable distribution systems.
Conventional efforts to resolve this incompatibility have generally involved the use of mechanical relay switches or IRD's which have been modified to receive the lower and upper DBS signal bands. The former effort accepts the low reliability and lifetime of mechanical switches and the IRD's of the latter effort are more expensive and still exclude CATV signals.

Interface modules and methods for coupling combined communication signals to communication receivers


A substrate card, in the form of a Metrocard®, farecard, keycard, passport, boarding pass or the like, presented for controlled gateway passage at an automatic reader, is photographed and the captured card image is digitized. The card then is heated to a point where trace explosive present on the card is subjected to an energetic reaction imparting a char smudge signature. The card is cooled and a second image is captured and digitized. The digitized images are subjected to a subtractor stage resulting in an isolated char smudge signature image possibly in the form of at least a partial fingerprint residue recognizable by a computer. Upon char image detection, which may include a fingerprint matching process, the computer directs the controlled gateway to restrain the card presenter and secure the card as evidence. The card may be pre-coated to avoid ignition and to enhance trace material adhesion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of explosive detection, particularly in the area of trace detection and forensic evidence collection.
2. Description of Related Art
Explosives are essential components of conventional, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons as well as improvised terrorist devices such as car bombs, letter bombs, luggage bombs and personal or suicide bombs.
There are several methods and devices currently operating to detect explosives, and each has its own special application and optimum operating environment. Generally speaking, there are two principal categories of explosive detection techniques: bulk detection and trace detection.
Bulk detection is usually macroscopic in nature, and often carried out by viewing images provided by x-ray radiographic equipment or related imaging technology such as computed tomography (CT).
Another popular method of identifying articles and/or individuals associated with explosives includes the use of canines. The deployment of dogs to discover or track explosives has its advantages and disadvantages. On the negative side, persons subjected to canine inspection may feel threatened or offended. Besides, the liability attached to such inspections is obvious. Moreover, dogs have duty cycle limits, in that they are limited to but one hour of work without a break. Perhaps the most significant limitation to their usefulness is their inability to communicate to the handler the type of explosive detected.
On the positive side, dogs can be conditioned to track and identify almost any substance that is volatile, and with impressive accuracy. More importantly, dogs have at least the capacity, though limited, to make a physical connection between a detected substance and its associated human source. More recently, honeybees are being preconditioned to make targeted discoveries during their wide-ranging foraging efforts. University of Wyoming researchers in this area train bees to find such targets as explosive material and drugs.
Another method of testing for the presence of explosives involves bulk detection by x-ray imaging of a container or package so as to discover metal parts used in fuzes and/or wiring required for proper functioning. Still another method involves neutron activation of the chemical elements such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen that make up the explosives.
Regardless of method or device, responsive and reliable explosive detection development remains a priority in the present climate of global terrorism. For a number of reasons, significant research and developmental resources are shifting to trace evidence tracking and discovery. This is particularly the case since interpretation of X-ray or CT images is highly labor intensive and subjective. The result of this shift is the emergence of varied embodiments of trace detectors that are highly effective in discovering minute amounts of explosive.
Typical of such trace detection techniques are systems involving Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS), Chemiluminescence, Electron Capture Detectors (ECD), Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors (SAW), or system combinations such as ECD and Chemiluminescence detectors, or SAW and front-end Gas Chromatograph (GC).
Then, too, there are the Thermo-Redox detectors and a technique called Field Ion Spectrometry. Perhaps more well known are the highly developed Mass Spectrometry systems, and the recently developed EXPRAY field test kit. Still other relatively newer techniques or devices for trace detection have emerged in the form of the Thermal Neutron Activation (TNA) system, the 14.7 MeV neutron interrogation system, and the Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA) technique currently under development by SAIC, Inc.
More techniques under recent development include the Quadrupole Resonance (QR) technique (developed by Quantum Magnetic Inc.), and the Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy (PINS) chemical assay system developed jointly by EG&G Ortec, Inc. along with the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.
Current methods for detecting explosives on humans, particularly when they are entering portals to transportation systems or important facilities, include the removal of particulates by air blasts directed toward possibly contaminated areas such as hands, pockets, belt area and handbags, and subsequently capturing the residue.
The air blast and particulate capture in such systems are followed by pre-concentrating and heating the residue and detecting the unwelcome substance by employing one or more of the many sensitive techniques such as Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS), Gas Chromatography (GS), Mass Spectrometry (MS) and other such processes.
These systems and methods are typical of those commonly used when inspecting people and/or their baggage or other personal items. For example, passengers entering air or ground transit, as well as attendees at a massive ticketed event, find themselves subjected to this type of inspection. However, such systems and methods are only as effective as the time or opportunity allowed for such inspection. At best, such inspections can be intrusive; at worst, even abusive.
Obviously, in the interest of time, efficiency, and human comfort, everyone in a card/pass holder queue cannot be tested by these complex systems. Currently, inspections must be limited to subjects randomly selected (or pre-identified by some form of prescreening technique) so as to avoid disturbing and/or delaying the entire card/pass holding queue. Besides the issue of time, there are further issues of logistics, physical layout for the equipment, trained supervised staffing and so forth.
Under constraints of time and space, and the ever-present need to avoid obstructing passenger or patron traffic, the tasks of capturing and evaluating trace evidence are vexing. The challenge becomes insurmountable with the growth of demand for reliance on such inspections and with the constant expansion of facilities that require such safeguards. Hence, these trace evidence discovery systems are becoming ubiquitous.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), around 20,000 IMS units currently are deployed worldwide, with more than 7000 of those placed at US airports. Vast numbers of units are in place at embassies, stadiums, courthouses, and so on. The demand for enhanced security at every turn is exploding. With this explosion, there is a growing need to strengthen metrology and develop reliable standards to support ever-widening deployment. Even as trace detection quality is refined, the overall methodology currently in place is flawed for a number of reasons.
Current trace detection processes, regardless of the substance residue testing method, usually require detention or retention of persons, luggage, and so forth identified through earlier screening processes as persons or items of interest. Pre-screening, as by profiling or behavioral observation, obviously has its limitations. Current trace discovery technology also has its limiting issues. Such techniques are not always successful due to the lack of sufficient quantity of traces, insufficient time for thorough analysis, or simply because the traces are never easily identified.
Many explosives have a very low vapor pressure making detection particularly challenging to existing technologies. An example of such an explosive is SEMTEX, a plastic explosive manufactured in the Czech Republic. SEMTEX is difficult to trace since it has no detectable smell, and has been used by extremist groups in the Middle East, Libya, Balkans and by the IRA in Northern Ireland.
Other low vapor pressure explosives particularly challenging to existing trace discovery technology are pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and hexahydro-trinitro triazine (RDX), both commonly employed in terrorist bombings. These can easily be molded for concealment. Only relatively small amounts of these substances can bring down large aircraft, destroy buildings and wreak havoc on rail transit systems.
Examples of techniques and apparatus for detecting the presence of trace evidence of explosive abound. With respect to the present invention, the more pertinent documents uncovered in patent literature searches are embodied in the following patent documents.
Haley et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,898, disclose a technique for detecting traces of explosive material, for example on a suitcase, by applying laser radiation to the surface thereof. This causes micro-detonation of any trace particles thus enabling detection of the explosive by its characteristic emission.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,638,166 and 5,912,466 issued to Funsten et al., a photomultiplier, a charge couple device or a photodiode is used to detect ultraviolet emissions resulting from heating of explosive purportedly resulting in deflagration. An apparatus and method presented by Sousa et al. in their U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,795 may be employed to detect the presence or absence of propellants, explosives, and nitro pollutants, wherein a laser photon fragments a target molecule and facilitates detection of the characteristic NO fragment.
Laser energy is also key to the detection system of Brestel et al. disclosed in Published US Patent Application No. 2004/0051867, wherein at least one laser illuminates a portion of an object and either a second harmonic detector or a luminescence controlled substance detector, or both are used. Additionally, the Brestel et al. system includes a Raman scattering based substance detector.
Megerle's U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,977 discloses a method and apparatus for screening an object for the presence of an explosive, chemical warfare agent, biological warfare agent, drug, metal, weapon, and/or radioactive material. The apparatus includes a portal through which the object is arranged to pass, the portal including a housing equipped with an ion mobility spectrometer and a surface acoustic wave device for detecting explosives, drugs and chemical warfare agents. In another embodiment the housing is equipped with a biological warfare agent detector, chemical warfare agent detector, metal detector, x-ray system, and/or radiation detector.
Nguyen et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,797,944, disclose a laser desorption and detection of explosives, narcotics and other chemical substances. The Nguyen et al. technique employs a compact scanning apparatus including an optical system to deliver a beam of pulsed infrared laser light that illuminates an interrogation area of the surface.
The illumination described by Nguyen et al. is sufficiently intense and of such duration as to cause selective ablation of molecules of contraband substance present on a surface without substantially damaging the surface. A portion or sampling of the ablated molecules is collected and transferred to a separate chemical analysis system where a detector reacts to the sampled portion and activates an audible or visible alarm. A traceable residue of the detected contraband is left on the article for subsequent forensic analysis.
In EPO455516, Akery et al. present a security system for an airport or the like where an item such as a ticket or a boarding card is checked to see if it holds traces of explosive or other contraband picked up from the passenger's hands. According to the invention, a prospective passenger is handed a boarding card, landing card, identity card or like item for use in gaining passage beyond a check point. The card or like item is such as to absorb traces of explosives and other contraband material from the passenger's hands should such traces be present thereon.
After the card has been handled by the passenger, Akery et al. explain that at least part of the card is tested for the presence of any of said traces. Before boarding the aircraft, passengers are required to insert their cards into a card analyzer. This analyzer consists of apparatus for determining the presence of trace levels of single or multiple explosive types from the surface of the card.
The analysis in the Akery et al. patent may include heating the surface of the card and passing the desorbed particles into a Grace Gas Analyzer. Alternatively, the analysis may employ a liquid or gaseous solvent to remove the absorbed materials from the surface preceding trace chemical analysis. The chemical analysis may include mass spectrometry, gas chromomatography, ion mobility spectrometry, etc.
The magnetic strip on a card also is read in a reader/analyzer and the information thereon passed to the airline's computer system, as further disclosed by the Akery et al. patent. The presence of explosives and the card holder's identity are indicated on a monitor to security staff who can take appropriate action.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,047, Chaney et al. also address airport security. The Chaney et al. patent disclosure focuses in particular on SEMTEX plastic explosive in a sample such as a fingerprint. The explosive trace is detected by Raman spectroscopy as a boarding card is fed into a boarding card reader for otherwise normal processing prior to boarding.
The Chaney et al. patent explains that as the boarding card is transported by the boarding card reader, it is scanned by a laser, for example, a gas laser such the Helium-Neon type. A dichroic filter reflects the laser light and focuses it on the card. Filtered Raman scattered light is collected and focused by a lens onto a detector, such as an avalanche photodiode. This detector reacts to indication of the presence of explosive trace.
One particular advantage of the Raman analysis technique employed by Chaney et al. is that it is non-destructive. Hence, if SEMTEX explosive substance is detected, the card can be retained for further analysis and for use as evidence. Such systems can be modified for detecting SEMTEX explosive material on other surfaces such as tickets, identity cards, passports, and so forth. Further, according to Chaney et al., such systems may be used in situations other than an airport boarding card reader, e.g. at the entrances to public buildings, government offices and the like. The non-destructive nature of the Raman analysis lends itself to such situations, since the ticket, card and such can be handed back to the holder after analysis.
To enhance the performance of the Chaney et al. system, the patent disclosure suggests coating the card with a thin layer of a material such as silver, gold or copper, and providing it with a suitably roughened surface such that molecules of substances such as RDX or PETN will be adsorbed onto the roughened surface and would thus exhibit surface enhanced Raman scattering.
Valentinovich et al., in Published US Patent Application 2004/0124376, disclose a system and an apparatus for detecting explosive in real time. The apparatus involves a chamber in which items pass through or people walk through for detecting said explosive particles in real time. The explosive particles from either the people or items will be deposited into a cell by an influx of air flow from the chamber to the cell.
The cell described by Valentinovich et al. includes a heating device and an optical scheme. The cell is heated to a predetermined temperature in which the explosive particles are divided into small molecular components that can be detected. The optical scheme detects the smaller molecules. The computer system controls the apparatus and analyzes the data gathered.
These old and more recently developed systems and techniques, as just described, have unique strengths and shortcomings. The latter reflect a lack of adaptability to field application, particularly with respect to challenges presented by fast-moving masses of people passing checkpoints or dealing with automated ticket collectors for transit systems and major events across the country and across the planet.
Attempts to apply existing technologies in solving the myriad of issues in this field result in the construction of highly complex and relatively expensive systems. They demand well-trained, highly skilled and experienced personnel and require constant, personal monitoring and participation. Too often, subjective judgment must be relied upon. And, importantly, few if any of these systems (other than the trusty canine) can establish a direct link between discovered trace evidence and the human perpetrator.
The invention presented herein as the subject of this application addresses the above noted problems and shortcomings in a unique manner, while drawing upon off-the-shelf detection and analysis technologies assembled and applied in a new and unobvious manner and achieving wholly unexpected results. To achieve this, the present invention takes advantage of some basic principles observed with respect to explosive trace evidence, but not heretofore exploited in the trace detection field.
As demonstrated by the prior art discussed hereabove, it is well known that surfaces brought into contact with commercial, military or improvised explosives become contaminated with traces of explosive particulates. Such surfaces may include, but are not limited to, luggage coverings, purse fabric, and bare skin, as well as tickets, boarding passes, electronic key cards, passports and the like which typically are presented for facility entry, passage to major events, or boarding transit conveyances or systems.
Trace evidence contamination may have its origins during explosive manufacturing, packaging or subsequent handling stages of such explosives. Also, the explosive-related contaminants are well known to be sticky in nature, thus having a tendency to linger on the handlers' hands, particularly within skin patterns such as typical fingertip whorls, loops or arches. The stubborn, sticky contaminants often will remain on the hands and other surfaces of interest for several hours despite repeated washing.
The proposed technique employed with respect to the present invention includes direct observance of yet another property common to explosives. Upon detonation, all explosives undergo an exothermic reaction resulting in the generation of significant heat. In minute traces, explosion is not likely since the dimension of explosive particulate is less than a diameter critical to sustained detonation. However, explosive material in very small sizes or traces will, when subjected to a rapid heating process, deliver a relatively large amount of heat whether it detonates or deflagrates. Sufficient heating is certain to bring about an energetic, if not sustained, reaction.
In the present invention, one of the techniques to initiate or activate an explosive trace involves heating a trace evidence on a substrate to a temperature higher than the critical temperature where an exothermic reaction would set in, but not so high that the substrate is destroyed. The intent herein is to employ heat in driving the explosive substance to react in such a way that the resultant reaction delivers an identifiable signature to the substrate, as will be explained.
As inferred hereabove, the fingers or other portions of the hands of a person working with explosives typically will carry or retain at least a few micrograms of explosive residue. Despite all determined efforts to avoid it, fingerprints of explosive handlers invariably will be transferred to any surfaces or items touched or handled, as for example boarding passes, tickets, coupon, transit transfers, key cards, currency, fare cards and the like.
As an example, it has been recognized that fare cards employed to access mass transit trains such as London's Tube, the Metro transit lines running in Washington, D.C., or the Subway system in New York City and similar mass transit systems in other metropolitan areas can be found to carry trace evidence of explosive residue. Boarding passes (generally in the form of cards) for gaining access to aircraft or long distance passenger trains could also carry similar residue-contaminated fingerprints. Finger prints, however, generally are invisible to the unaided eye, even if they contain explosive trace evidence. While latent fingerprints may be revealed or made more visible through application of vapors of iodine or by Superglue®, neither application will be successful in detecting explosive traces.
Testing for explosive traces on boarding passes and fare cards has been postulated in the past; however, the question remains: How best to deal with such trace evidence in an effective and efficient manner, and in a way that is essentially nondestructive such that forensic evidence is retained. Further questions: a. how best to do this in real time and automatically, and in such as way as to avoid traffic disruption or excessive invasiveness; b. how best to test for explosive traces and unequivocally tie such traces to a perpertrator?
Fare computations, e.g., date/time, points of embarkation and destination, and other data, presently are routinely read by well-known automatic scanners at subway turnstiles and airline boarding gateways. In some instances as discussed above, trace explosive evidence on boarding passes purportedly has been detected by sophisticated scanning devices such as the Raman Spectroscopy or ablation by lasers and the characteristics of the ignition evaluated. However, while such data are read by scanners, no method currently exists to actually capture or reveal fingerprints directly associated with or related to such evidence.
Thus, while fingerprints (and/or prints of other portions of the hand) contaminated by explosive trace evidence most likely appear on fare cards and boarding passes, processes for capturing the trace in situ and reading or capturing the prints did not exist prior to the present invention. Further, until the present invention, there was no known technique or system by which trace evidence could be analyzed in real time and without significant passenger traffic disruption (e.g., during a normal scan/read operation of a transit fare card and the like) and in such a way as not to result in bottlenecks at gateways or turnstiles.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) experts naturally have identified such gateways as crucial to protection of a threatened public. Up to this point in time, general thinking has dictated that, even if trace evidence could be captured and evaluated, such a complex process would be far from convenient or economically feasible, and thus would be rejected as raising unacceptable barriers and cost margins for the traveling public.
Until now, and without extensive, laborious and individually-targeted screening techniques, singling-out individuals as they are queued for passing portals and perhaps carrying trace evidence of explosive handling has been impractical and far from cost effective. There is a long felt need for an automated system and process for examining substrates, articles or material touched and handled by individuals, and capturing evidence instantly linked to a bearer who also handled explosive materials. This also must be a real-time technique applied as subjects are constrained to pass, one by one, through a validation checkpoint (e.g., airport gateway, transit turnstile, entrances to pavilions, concert halls, civic centers and the like).
The requisite presentation of Metrocards®, fare cards, boarding passes, tickets, passports and the like by people queued at a checkpoint, turnstile or gateway for travel or events offers distinct opportunities for gathering trace evidence, since such cards, passes and the like must be physically handled by their bearers or presenters.
The present inventive system and process effectively resolves the shortcomings and inadequacies of the prior art in satisfying the long felt need.

Fare card explosive detection system and process


SRAM cells having landing pads in contact with upper and lower cell gate patterns, and methods of forming the same are provided. The SRAM cells and the methods remove the influence resulting from structural characteristics of the SRAM cells having vertically stacked upper and lower gate patterns, for stably connecting the patterns on the overall surface of the semiconductor substrate. An isolation layer isolating at least one lower active region is formed in a semiconductor substrate of the cell array region. The lower active region has two lower cell gate patterns. A body pattern is disposed in parallel with the semiconductor substrate. The body pattern is formed to confine an upper active region, which has upper cell gate patterns on the lower cell gate patterns. A landing pad is disposed between the lower cell gate patterns. A node pattern is formed to simultaneously contact the upper cell gate pattern and the lower cell gate pattern.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) cells and methods of forming the same, and more particularly, to SRAM cells having a landing pad in contact with upper and lower cell gate patterns and methods of forming the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In semiconductor memory devices, a static random access memory (SRAM) device may offer advantages of lower power consumption and faster operating speed as compared to a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device. Therefore, the SRAM may be widely used for cache memory in computer and/or other portable devices.
A unit cell of a SRAM device mat be categorized as either a resistor-load SRAM cell or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) SRAM cell. A resistor-load SRAM cell may employ a high-resistance resistor as a load device, while a CMOS SRAM cell may employ a p-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor as a load device.
The CMOS SRAM cell may be categorized as one of two types. One type of CMOS SRAM cell is a thin film transistor (TFT) SRAM cell, which may employ TFTs stacked on a semiconductor substrate as the load device. The other is a bulk CMOS SRAM cell, which may employ bulk transistors formed on a semiconductor substrate as the load device.
The bulk CMOS SRAM cell may exhibit higher cell stability as compared to the TFT SRAM cell and the resistor-load SRAM cell. In other word, the bulk CMOS SRAM cell may have excellent low voltage characteristics and low stand-by current. This may be because the transistors that make up the bulk CMOS SRAM cell are typically formed of a single crystalline silicon substrate. In contrast, the TFTs of the TFT SRAM cell are typically formed using a polysilicon layer as a boby layer. However, the bulk CMOS SRAM cell may have lower integration density as well as weaker latch-up immunity as compared to the TFT SRAM cell. Therefore, in order to produce a highly integrated SRAM device having high reliability, characteristics of load transistors employed in the TFT SRAM cell may need to be improved.
In addition, each of the SRAM cells may include a pair of node contact structures. More particularly, in the TFT SRAM cell, each of the node contact structures may electrically connect a P-type drain region of a load transistor to an N-type drain region of a driver transistor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,484 to Bin Yu (the '484 patent) discloses a multiple active layer structure and a method of making such a structure. According to the '484 patent, the structure and the method include a first layer having an oxide layer, a first active semiconductor layer and a first insulating layer, which are sequentially stacked. A second active layer is formed on the first insulating layer. The second active layer is recrystallized through a first seed window in the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed on the second active layer.
The structure and the method further include a third active layer on the second insulating layer. The third active layer is recrystallized through a second seed window. The second seed window is aligned with the first seed window. At this time, at least one transistor is disposed in at least a portion of the first active layer. At least another transistor is formed in at least a portion of the second active layer. Further, at least still another transistor is formed in at least a portion of the third active layer.
However, the transistor is composed of a gate structure including a gate dielectric layer, a polysilicon conductive layer and spacers on sidewalls of the polysilicon conductive layer. At this time, the spacers and the active layers have different etch rates from one another. And each of the first and the second seed windows is formed adjacent to the spacer. Accordingly, the first seed window or the second seed window may increase in a probability of having different diameters from each other in an upper and a lower portions thereof due to the etch rate difference between the spacers and the active layers and due further to gradual reduction of a given design rule. Accordingly, the first seed window or the second seed window may have different diameters in the upper and lower portions thereof to deteriorate electrical characteristics of the structure.

SRAM cells having landing pad in contact with upper and lower cell gate patterns and methods of forming the same


The reliability of a field effect transistor made of a nitride semiconductor material is improved. An ohmic electrode includes a plurality of unit electrodes isolated to be separated from each other. With this configuration, an on-state current can be prevented from flowing in the unit electrodes in a y-axial direction (negative direction). Further, in the respective unit electrodes, a current density of the on-state current flowing in the y-axial direction (negative direction) can be prevented from increasing. As a result, an electromigration resistance of the ohmic electrode can be improved.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and, for example, to a technique that is effectively applied to a semiconductor device including a power device made of a nitride semiconductor material.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei7 (1995)-45829 discloses a configuration in which a plurality of contact holes is connected to a metal wiring portion in a drain diffusion region, and the plurality of contact holes is also connected to a metal wiring portion in a source diffusion region.
Also, Japanese Patent No. 3086713 discloses a technique in which a plurality of source contact regions that joins a source electrode to a nondivided source region is provided.


An optical apparatus comprises an optical interconnect structure defining one or more optical source and receiver ports and one or more interconnect optical signal pathways connecting corresponding optical signal source and receiver ports. The optical interconnect structure comprises an optical waveguide defining a portion of each interconnect optical signal pathway. Each interconnect pathway includes a wavefront diffractive transformation region and a corresponding set of diffractive elements thereof. Each diffractive element set diffractively transforms a corresponding diffracted portion of an incident signal with a corresponding design input signal wavefront into an emergent signal with a corresponding design output signal wavefront. For at least one diffractive element set, only one of the corresponding design input or output signal wavefronts is confined in at least one transverse dimension by the optical waveguide, while the other design wavefront propagates without confinement by the optical waveguide.

The field of the present invention relates to optical devices incorporating distributed optical structures. In particular, distributed optical structures providing signal guiding for optical signals within optical interconnection circuits are disclosed herein.
One or more distributed optical structures (i.e., sets of diffractive elements) in a channel waveguide, an optical fiber, a slab waveguide, or another guided-wave optical structure may be used in a variety of devices for beam steering, spectral filtering, laser frequency control, spectral multiplexing, optical sensing, or other functions. It is often desirable that such devices be optimized, or nearly so, for routing, mapping, or coupling optical signals between input and output optical ports with minimal optical loss. Distributed optical structures designed by computed interference between simulated optical signals are disclosed herein that may enable such optimized routing, coupling, or mapping. Also disclosed are distributed optical structures designed via ray tracing and other methods known in the art to provide optimized routing, coupling, or mapping.
Various embodiments, implementations, and adaptations of such diffractive element sets are disclosed in: application Ser. No. 11/055,559 filed Feb. 9, 2005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,794); application Ser. No. 11/021,549 filed Dec. 23, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,260,290); application Ser. No. 10/998,185 filed Nov. 26, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,223); application Ser. No. 10/989,236 filed Nov. 15, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,716); application Ser. No. 10/898,527 filed Jul. 22, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,194,164); application Ser. No. 10/989,244 filed Nov. 15, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,961,491); application Ser. No. 10/798,089 filed Mar. 10, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,115); application Ser. No. 10/653,876 filed Sep. 2, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,417); application Ser. No. 10/602,327 filed Jun. 23, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,318); application Ser. No. 10/229,444 filed Aug. 27, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,429); application Ser. No. 09/843,597 filed Apr. 26, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,464); and application Ser. No. 09/811,081 filed Mar. 16, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,441). Each of said applications is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. A publication entitled "Planar holographic optical processing devices" (T. W. Mossberg, Opt. Lett. 26 414 (2001)) is also incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Optical interconnect structures incorporating sets of diffractive elements


A colloidal facial mask with a partial carrier is revealed. The colloidal facial mask includes a colloidal layer and a carrier layer. The colloidal layer is made from colloidal film materials with high water absorption and having a first surface attached to user's face and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The carrier layer is attached and connected to at least one partial area of the second surface of the colloidal layer so as to increase mechanical strength thereof. The partial area can be an eye part, a nose part, or a mouth part. There is a partial area of the second surface of the colloidal layer not covered by the carrier layer so that the cost of the carrier layer is reduced. Moreover, the carrier layer can be preset with patterns or markers according to user's needs.

The present invention relates to a colloidal facial mask with a partial carrier and a method for manufacturing the same, especially to a colloidal facial mask having a colloidal layer and a carrier layer attached to at least one partial area of one surface of the colloidal layer while the rest area of the colloidal is not covered by the carrier layer.
Generally, the colloidal facial mask is divided into two types while in use-without carriers or with carriers. The colloidal facial mask without carriers includes only a colloidal layer with a certain thickness such as alginate layer, but not limited, while the colloidal facial mask with carriers consists of a colloidal layer with a certain thickness and a carrier layer made from non-woven fabric (not limited) connected to each other. The carrier layer is connected to and integrated with the colloidal layer so that the two layers are unable or difficult to be separated. In the present invention, the colloidal facial mask is with carriers.
A conventional colloidal facial mask is formed by a colloidal layer and a carrier layer. The colloidal layer is made from colloidal film materials with high water absorption such as alginate, polymer gel, bio-cellulose, etc. so as to absorb solutions such as whitening agents or anti-wrinkle agent for cosmetic use. The carrier layer can be made from knitted fabric such as lace fabric, woven fabric, Jacquard fabric, etc or non-woven fabric but not limited. The carrier layer is attached and connected to whole surface of the colloidal layer (the surface here is defined as a rear surface). While in use, the user extends the colloidal facial mask and set a front surface of the colloidal layer (opposite to the rear surface with the carrier layer) on the face. Thus the solutions for cosmetic use container in the colloidal layer are contacted with and acted on the facial skin. Moreover, the shape of the conventional colloidal facial mask is not limited. It can be a half-face type, or full-face type. The full-face type covers the whole face while the half-face type covers a part of the face such as an upper face (including an eye part or a nose part) or a lower face (including a mouth part).
The colloidal facial masks are quite popular on the market so that both manufacturers and users (consumers) are concerned about development and improvement of the related techniques in following respects. (1) effect- how to make facial masks for cosmetic use have better effect? (2) convenience in use: how to allow users use facial masks more conveniently? (3) safety in use: how to improve safety and quality of facial masks? For example, whether the microorganism growth is effectively controlled or not. Is the facial mask preservative free? Do the materials for the facial mask match requirements for environmental protection? (4) appearance: how to provide users more options and let them have the desire of buying? (5) brand recognition: how to increase brand recognition and brand identity of users? (6) cost and price: how to mass-produce facial masks and increase their economic benefits. According to the different aspects mentioned above, the conventional colloidal facial mask in which the carrier layer is directly attached to the whole rear surface of the colloidal surface has following problems and shortcomings.
(1) The colloidal facial mask is attached to the face of the user but an eye part, a nose part, and a mouth part of the user are unable to be covered. Thus the colloidal facial mask is mounted with through holes corresponding to the eye part, the nose part, and the mouth part so that the eye, the nose part, and the mouth part are exposed. However, the through holes become fragile parts on the structure of the colloidal facial mask. Thus these parts are easy to be cracked or get broken when the user extends and puts the colloidal facial mask on the face.
(2) The carrier layer in the conventional colloidal facial mask is attached to the rear surface of the colloidal layer smoothly and used for reinforcing mechanical strength of the colloidal layer. When the carrier layer is made from materials with a certain thickness such as non-woven fabric, the colloidal facial mask is unable to be attached to projecting parts such as the eye part, the nose part, and the mouth part smoothly and completely. Thus the colloidal facial mask is easy to be released from the user's face in use. When the carrier layer is made from thin and light materials such as knitted fabric such as lace fabric, woven fabric, Jacquard fabric etc, the problem of insufficient attachment can be solved. However, the materials and manufacturing cost of the knitted fabric are higher. And the knitted fabric is only used as the carrier layer without additional functions and is discarded along with the colloidal facial mask after use. This causes a kind of waste and has negative effects on the market competitiveness of the colloidal facial mask.
(3) The conventional techniques used fro manufacturing the colloidal facial mask includes casting and continuous formation. Casting is a process by which materials for the colloidal layer and carrier layer are respectively poured into a mold, which contains at least one hollow cavity of the desired shape of the facial mask. Then a colloidal facial mask is solidified and molded. Although this method saves more materials for different layers, the method is not suitable for mass-production, especially for colloidal facial masks made from alginate. The continuous formation includes following steps. First a continuous long-strip base material having a colloidal layer and a carrier layer is produced. For example, the colloidal layer and the carrier layer are attached and connected on a conveyor. Then get a colloidal facial mask by cutting the continuous long-strip base material. This process uses more materials for the colloidal layer and the carrier layer. Yet this process is suitable for mass-production, especially for colloidal facial masks made from alginate. Therefore how to avoid the waste of the materials for the colloidal layer and the carrier layer (especially the carrier layer made from knitted fabric) becomes an important issue when manufactures intend to use the continuous formation for mass production.
(4) As to the colloidal facial masks available on the market now, the words or patterns related to manufacturers, brand logos, place of manufacturing, compositions, etc. are all labeled on the packing boxes (bags). After the colloidal facial mask being taken out or the user/consumer puts the facial mask on the face, the user/consumer is difficult to differentiate colloidal facial masks of different brands because the shapes or appearances of the colloidal facial masks of different brands are nearly the same. This has negative effects on marketing and management of the manufactures' brands, as well as the users' selection and brand identity. Moreover, this may result in unnecessary disputes in the future. For example, the user/consumer buys two brands of colloidal facial masks with different cosmetic effects (or different prices). After use, the user finds that one of the two masks is unable to achieve the expected cosmetic effect (as shown in the advertisement). Now the user is unable to find out the source of the colloidal facial masks after use if the shapes or appearances of the colloidal facial masks are having no features or special designs and difficult to be differentiated. Once the user/consumer intends to find out who should be accountable for the failure or request for the services, he/she is easy to have conflicts with the sellers. Thus bad money drives out good and the market share of good products is affected.
Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,420, U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,995, U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,845, U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,164, U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,248, U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,524, U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,016, U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,853, U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,666, U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,857, U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,957, U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,016, US2005/0287193, US2010/0227164; PCT/GB 9502284(WO96/10106), PCT/GB 9601719(WO97/03710), PCT/GB 9701098(WO97/39781), PCT/DK 9700292(WO98/02196), WO2008/072817, WO03092754, EP2111926A1(WO2008/0090892, PCT/JP2008/050822); JP2010-189386, WO99/20378A1, these are all prior arts related to facial masks. However, most of these prior arts provide no technical solutions for problems and shortcomings mentioned above.
Furthermore, the structural design of the colloidal facial mask that solves the problems mentioned above may cause certain problems during manufacturing processes of the colloidal facial masks. For example, an apparatus and a method for manufacturing facial masks revealed in EP2111926A1 are quite complicated. Moreover, the films are not continuously manufactured during the processes. Thus the facial masks are difficult to be mass-produced.
There is room for improvement and a need to provide a new design of a facial mask and a method for manufacturing the same that overcome the shortcomings and solve the problems mentioned above.

Colloidal facial mask with partial carrier and method for manufacturing the same


An accessory towing apparatus that connects a towing vehicle to a gooseneck-type trailer. The accessory towing apparatus includes a chassis framework assembly mounted on an axle having two ground engaging wheels. The chassis assembly includes three linkage arms, which are attached to and extend from the framework. The ends of the three linkage arms are designed to engage and couple with three brackets attached to the main frame of the towing vehicle. When the respective coupling mechanism of the three linkage arms are each engaged, they are substantially parallel to one another and pivot about a substantially common axis. An automatic alignment and attachment system may also be included to greatly simplify the attachment process of the gooseneck-type trailer to the towing vehicle.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a trailer towing system and more particularly to an improved towing apparatus used to connect a towing vehicle and a gooseneck-type trailer, whereby the improved towing apparatus enhances the utility, stability, maneuverability and safety of the hitched vehicle and trailer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1a, a towing mechanism such as a simple bumper hitch 12 is frequently added to a vehicle 10 for the purpose of towing a trailer 20. However, such a bumper pull trailer can oftentimes place an excessive vertical load on the back end of the towing vehicle 10. Moreover, such draw bar trailers have inherent stability and weight transfer problems due to the towing pivot point being positioned behind the rear axle of the towing vehicle 10.
A more recent innovation in trailer towing systems includes what are commonly referred to as gooseneck trailer rigs and fifth wheel recreational vehicle (RV) trailers (hereinafter referred to collectively as "gooseneck-type trailers"). As shown in FIG. 1b, gooseneck trailer rigs typically include a trailer 50 having an extended forward section with a vertical tongue 52 extending therefrom. The vertical tongue 52 is adapted to be coupled to a hitch mechanism 44, which is secured to and supported by a suitable frame mechanism attached to the bed 42 of a pick-up truck 40. The hitch mechanism 44 is typically mounted onto the bed of the truck above and slightly forward of its rear axle. A coupler mechanism, located at a distal end of the vertical tongue 52, pivotally attaches the vertical tongue 52 to a fixed ball portion of the hitch mechanism 44.
Fifth wheel RV trailers are very similar to gooseneck trailer rigs but have much shorter vertical tongues and typically require a raised hitch mechanism on the tow vehicle. While a gooseneck trailer hitch usually includes a ball hitch mechanism mounted onto the bed of the towing vehicle and a corresponding coupler mechanism on the distal end of the vertical tongue, the fifth wheel hitch mechanism typically comprises a hitch plate mechanism mounted onto the bed of the towing vehicle and operable for receiving a disc-shaped coupler on the end of the vertical tongue commonly referred to as a kingpin.
Gooseneck-type trailer systems offer a number of advantages over the bumper pulled or draw bar trailers. By virtue of its geometry, a gooseneck-type trailer rig is typically able to safely tow greater loads than a similarly sized bumper pulled trailer because the load is passed directly onto the rear axle of the truck instead of onto the bumper. Moreover, by positioning the pivot point of the trailer nearly over the rear axle, gooseneck type trailer rigs distribute the load more evenly over the tow vehicle, causing less wear and tear on the tow vehicle and a smoother ride. In addition, gooseneck type trailer rigs also offer a smaller turning radius.
While current gooseneck type trailer rigs offer improved stability over bumper pull trailers, they also have several disadvantages. In general, gooseneck type trailer rigs are only suitable for use with a pick-up truck style towing vehicle. Moreover, the storage capacity of the pick-up bed is greatly diminished while the gooseneck type rig is attached to the towing vehicle. In addition, when detached from the towing vehicle, supporting legs or jack stands must be extended to support the forward portion of the trailer rendering the gooseneck type trailer essentially immobile. The reattachment of the gooseneck type trailer to a towing vehicle can also be inordinately complex and difficult. What is needed is an improved trailer towing system which fully exploits the usefulness of the gooseneck type trailer while minimizing its inherent shortcomings.
Another problem area with all trailer towing systems involves braking. While four wheel brakes are mandatory for vehicles and combinations of vehicles over 10,001 lbs., many lighter trailers have no brakes. This is particularly critical with regard to gooseneck type trailers, which are typically larger. With insufficient or no brakes, a trailer will push against the tow vehicle every time it decelerates to stop. Moreover, if there is a sway, the trailer can jackknife because there is nothing to control it. Thus, larger trailers are typically equipped with rudimentary braking systems. There are basically three types of trailer braking systems currently available: electronically controlled electric brakes, hydraulically controlled electric brakes, and surge hydraulic brakes. Electronically controlled electric brakes provides automatic and manual control of electric trailer brakes and require the towing vehicle to be equipped with controlling device and additional wiring for electrical power. Hydraulically controlled electric brakes are electric brakes which are applied in proportion to brake pedal pressure applied in the towing vehicle. Surge brakes are independent hydraulic brakes activated by a master cylinder at the junction of the hitch and trailer. Thus, current trailer braking systems are highly dependent upon the towing vehicle for either electrical power or hydraulic power. Therefore, a need exists for an improved trailer towing system having enhanced braking and stability capabilities. Moreover, it would be desirable to produce an improved trailer towing system having an independent trailer braking capability and providing enhanced stability to the both the trailer and the towing vehicle.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An ultra-broadband ultraviolet (UV) catadioptric imaging microscope system with wide-range zoom capability. The microscope system, which comprises a catadioptric lens group and a zooming tube lens group, has high optical resolution in the deep UV wavelengths, continuously adjustable magnification, and a high numerical aperture. The system integrates microscope modules such as objectives, tube lenses and zoom optics to reduce the number of components, and to simplify the system manufacturing process. The preferred embodiment offers excellent image quality across a very broad deep ultraviolet spectral range, combined with an all-refractive zooming tube lens. The zooming tube lens is modified to compensate for higher-order chromatic aberrations that would normally limit performance.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an ultra-broadband ultraviolet (UV) catadioptric imaging microscope system, and more specifically to an imaging system that comprises a UV catadioptric objective lens group and a wide-range zooming tube lens group.
2. Description of the Related Art
Catadioptric imaging systems for the deep ultraviolet spectral region (about 0.19 to 0.30 micron wavelength) are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,976 to Shafer and U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,229 to Elliott and Shafer disclose two such systems. These systems employ the Schupmann achromatic lens principle and the Offner-type field lens. Axial color and primary lateral color are corrected, but not higher order lateral color. This is the limiting aberration in these systems when a broad spectral range is covered.
The above-noted ""976 Shafer patent discloses an optical system based on the Schupmann achromatic lens principle which produces an achromatic virtual image. A reflective relay then creates an achromatic real image from this virtual image. The system, reproduced here as FIG. 1, includes an aberration corrector group of lenses 101 for correcting image aberrations and chromatic variation of image aberrations, a focusing lens 103 for receiving light from the group 101 and producing an intermediate image at plane 105, a field lens 107 of the same material as the other lenses placed at the intermediate image plane 105, a thick lens 109 with a plane mirror back coating 111 whose power and position are selected to correct the primary longitudinal color of the system in conjunction with the focusing lens 103, and a spherical mirror 113 located between the intermediate image plane and the thick lens 109 for producing a final image 115. Most of the focusing power of the system is due to the spherical mirror 113 which has a small central hole near the intermediate image plane 105 to allow light form the intermediate image plane 105 to pass through to the thick lens 109. The mirror coating 111 on the back of the thick lens 109 also has a small central hole 119 to allow light focused by the spherical mirror 113 to pass through to the final image 115. While primary longitudinal (axial) color is corrected by the thick lens 109, the Offner-type field lens 107 placed at the intermediate image 105 has a positive power to correct secondary longitudinal color. Placing the field lens slightly to one side of the intermediate image 105 corrects tertiary longitudinal color. Placing the field lens slightly to one side of the intermediate image 105 corrects tertiary longitudinal color. Thus, axial chromatic aberrations are completely corrected over a broad spectral range. The system also incidentally corrects for narrow band lateral color, but fails to provide complete corrections of residual (secondary and higher order) lateral color over a broad UV spectrum. The above-noted ""229 patent to Elliott and Shafer provides a modified version of the optical system of the ""976 patent, which has been optimized for use in 0.193 micron wavelength high power excimer laser applications such as ablation of a surface 121xe2x80x2 as seen in FIG. 2. This prior art system has an aberration corrector group 101xe2x80x2, focusing lens 103xe2x80x2, intermediate focus 105xe2x80x2, field lens 107xe2x80x2, thick lens 109xe2x80x2, mirror surfaces 111xe2x80x2 and 113xe2x80x2 with small central opening 117xe2x80x2 and 119xe2x80x2 therein and a final focus 115xe2x80x2 as in the prior ""976 patent, but repositions the field lens 107xe2x80x2 so that the intermediate image or focus 105xe2x80x2 lies outside of the field lens 107xe2x80x2 to avoid thermal damage from the high power densities produced by focusing the excimer laser light. Further, both mirror surfaces 111xe2x80x2 and 113xe2x80x2 are formed on lens elements 108xe2x80x2 and 109xe2x80x2. The combination of all light passing through both lens elements 108xe2x80x2 and 109xe2x80x2 provides the same primary longitudinal color correction of the single thick lens 109 in FIG. 1, but with a reduction in total glass thickness. Since even fused silica begins to have absorption problems at the very short 0.193 micron wavelength, the thickness reductions is advantageous at this wavelength for high power levels. Though the excimer laser source used for this optical system has a relatively narrow spectral line width, the dispersion of silica near the 0.193 micron wavelength is great enough that some color correction is still needed. Both prior art systems have a numerical aperture of about 0.6.
Longitudinal chromatic aberration (axial color) is an axial shift in the focus position with wavelength. The prior art system seen in FIG. 1 completely corrects for primary, secondary and tertiary axial color over a broad wavelength band in the near and deep ultraviolet (0.2 micron to 0.4 micron region). Lateral color is a change in magnification or image size with wavelength, and is not related to axial color. The prior art system of FIG. 1 completely corrects for primary lateral color, but not for residual lateral color. This is the limiting aberration in the system when a broad spectral range is covered.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,518, filed Jul. 22, 1996, is for a catadioptic UV imaging system with performance improved over the systems of the above-described patents. This system employs an achromatized field lens group to correct for secondary and higher order lateral color, which permits designing a high NA, large field, ultra-broadband UV imaging system.
Zooming systems in the visible wavelengths are well-known. They either do not require very high levels of correction of higher-order color effects over a broad spectral region, or do require correction, but accomplish this by using three or more glass types. In the deep UV, there are very few materials that can be used for chromatic aberration correction, making the design of high performance, broadband optics difficult. It is even more difficult to correct for chromatic aberrations for ultra-broadband optics with wide-range zoom.
There remains, therefore, a need for an ultra-broadband UV microscope imaging system with wide-range zoom capability.
The present invention has an object to provide a catadioptric imaging system which corrects for image aberrations, chromatic variation of image aberrations, longitudinal (axial) color and lateral color, including residual (secondary and higher order) lateral color correction over an ultra-broad spectral range in the near and deep UV spectral band (0.2 to 0.4 micron).
Another object is to provide an UV imaging system, useful as a microscope or as micro-lithography optics, with a large numerical aperture of 0.9 and with a field of view of at least one millimeter. The system is preferably telecentric.
The invention is a high performance, high numerical aperture, ultra-broad spectral region catadioptric optical system with zooming capability, comprising an all-refractive zooming tube lens section with one collimated conjugate, constructed so that during zooming its higher-order chromatic aberrations (particularly higher-order lateral color) do not change; and a non-zooming high numerical aperture catadioptric objective section which compensates for the uncorrected (but stationary during zoom) higher-order chromatic aberration residuals of the zooming tube lens section.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Ultra-broadband UV microscope imaging system with wide range zoom capability


The invention provides bacteriophages that infect Bacillus bacteria, including Bacillus anthracis, and compositions containing the bacteriophages. The invention also provides methods for using the bacteriophages of the invention to prevent and treat infection of an organism by Bacillus bacteria. Methods and materials to decontaminate a surface or an organism that is contaminated with Bacillus bacteria or Bacillus spores is also provided.

The emergence of pathogenic bacteria resistant to most, if not all, currently available antimicrobial agents has become a critical problem in modern medicine. This is particularly because of the concomitant increase in immunosuppressed patients. The concern that humankind is reentering the preantibiotics era has become very real and the development of alternative antiinfection modalities has become one of the highest priorities of modern medicine and biotechnology.
Prior to the discovery and widespread use of antibiotics, it was suggested that bacterial infections could be prevented or treated by the administration of bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses that invade bacterial cells and, in the case of lytic bacteriophages, disrupt bacterial metabolism and cause the bacteria to lyse (burst).
Bacteriophages have been successfully used to treat dysentery and staphylococcal skin disease. In the 1940's, Bacteriophage preparations were prepared and distributed commercially for the treatment of various infections that included abscesses, suppurating wounds, vaginitis, acute and chronic infections of the upper respiratory tract and mastoid infections. However, the efficacy of bacteriophage preparations was controversial and commercial production in most of the Western world ceased with the advent of antibiotics.
Bacteriophages have several characteristics that make them attractive therapeutic agents. Bacteriophages are highly specific, very effective in lysing targeted pathogenic bacteria and are safe, as documented by their sale and use in the United States in the 1940's. Bacteriophages are also adaptable to control newly arising bacterial threats. Their safety and adaptability make bacteriophages a valuable tool in combating the increasing threat of widespread infection by pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis, the causal agent of anthrax, and multiple drug resistant bacteria that are unable to be treated with antibiotics.
Accordingly, what is needed are bacteriophages and compositions that can be used to prevent and treat infections caused by Bacillus bacteria, such as Bacillus anthracis.

University of Northern Iowa Research Foundation


Semiconductor structures and methods for fabricating semiconductor structures are provided. The method comprises forming a first insulating layer having a substantially planar surface overlying a first conductive layer of an interconnect stack. A thin film resistor is formed overlying the first insulating layer and a second insulating layer is deposited overlying the first insulating layer and the resistor. A portion of the second insulating layer is removed to form a substantially planar surface. The second insulating layer is anisotropically etched to form a first via to the first conductive layer and a fill material comprising tungsten is deposited within the first via. The second insulating layer is wet etched to form a second via to the thin film resistor and a second conductive layer is deposited overlying the second insulating layer and within the second via.

Thin film resistors are desirable components for high precision analog and mixed signal applications, such as medical device applications. In addition to a low thermal coefficient of resistance, low voltage coefficient of resistance, and good resistor matching, they typically provide good stability under stress. Chromium-silicon (CrSi) resistors are particularly well suited for use in medical devices because the resistivity of CrSi resistors can be controlled within about 1 to 2% and resistor matching is easier than with other thin film resistors, such as nickel-chromium (NiCr) resistors. In addition, CrSi is a cleaner working material than other thin film resistor materials such as NiCr.
The manufacture of semiconductor devices with thin film resistors presents a number of challenges. One challenge related directly to the thin film resistors is location. Thin film resistors often are sandwiched between layers of metal or below and offset from one or more metal layers of the interconnect stack. At these locations, the thin film resistors are exposed to a number of thermal cycles during formation of the interconnect stacks and overlying devices. Each thermal cycle degrades the resistor values of the thin film resistors. Accordingly, the thin film resistors may have resistor values that are substantially different from the original, desired resistor values.
Other challenges are related to formation of the interconnect stacks themselves. For example, certain applications, such as medical equipment applications, are requiring semiconductor devices with smaller geometries. However, such small geometries are difficult to achieve by present-day fabrication techniques. Interconnect stacks typically utilize copper layers and copper interconnect lines that are formed using damascene or inlaid processes. During a damascene process, a dielectric layer is deposited overlying a previously fabricated metal layer or plug. A photoresist mask is deposited on the dielectric layer and a via contact is etched within the dielectric to the previously fabricated metal layer or plug. Copper then is deposited within the via contact. However, the etching of the via contacts to the various interconnect layers during such damascene processes is often imprecise because the photoresist masks used to form the vias often are deposited on uneven dielectric layer surfaces. Thus, space between the interconnect layers or other devices has to be maintained to compensate for any photolithography misalignment.
Another challenge encountered by typical copper interconnect technology involves the often inadequate step coverage achieved with a copper deposit within the vias. In a typical metal deposition process, voids within the via contacts may form. The voids tend to aggregate and create reliability issues for the interconnection.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a semiconductor structure that is formed with a thin film resistor that is not substantially degraded by thermal cycles. In addition, it is desirable to provide a semiconductor structure that is formed with a thin film resistor and that is suitable for reduction to small geometries. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a semiconductor structure with a thin film resistor with enhanced reliability. It also is desirable to provide methods for fabricating such semiconductor structures. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Semiconductor structures utilizing thin film resistors and tungsten plug connectors and methods for making the same


The lens apparatus allows adjustment of lens tilt due to component variation caused by tolerance. The lens barrel includes a straight guiding barrel having a straight groove portion, a cam barrel having a cam groove portion, a straight movable barrel disposed outside the straight guiding and cam barrels, holding a lens and being movable in an optical axis direction by a relative movement of the straight guiding and cam barrels. A cam follower includes first and second cylindrical portions that respectively engage with the straight groove and cam groove portions. The first and second cylindrical portions have central axes decentered from each other. The cam follower includes an operation portion allowing rotational operation of the first and second cylindrical portions from outside of the straight movable barrel. A connecting member connects the cam follower and the straight movable barrel with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens apparatus and an optical apparatus including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventionally known configuration, a cam barrel and a straight guiding barrel are relatively moved to move a lens holding barrel in an optical axis direction. Specifically, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2009-42345 discloses a configuration including a cam barrel in which cam groove portions are formed at multiple circumferential positions, a straight guiding barrel in which straight groove portions are formed at multiple circumferential positions and a straight movable barrel holding a lens. In this configuration, cam followers are mounted to the straight movable barrel; each cam follower includes a roller portion (cylindrical portion) engaging with the cam groove portion of the cam barrel and a key portion engaging with a straight groove portion of the straight guiding barrel, and thereby the straight movable barrel is moved in the optical axis direction.
In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2009-42345, the straight movable barrel is disposed outside the cam barrel and the straight guiding barrel, and each cam follower is pulled by a screw toward the straight movable barrel to be fixed thereto. Such a configuration causes decentering and tilt in which the lens held by the straight movable barrel serving as a lens holding barrel is shifted from an ideal position on the optical axis because of manufacturing accuracy (tolerance) of each component, thereby degrading optical performance.
The shape of the cam groove portion formed in the cam barrel is set depending on a movement locus of a lens unit for zooming or focusing. Some lens configurations have a so-called U-turn cam in which a positive and negative sign of an angle (intersection angle) formed by the cam groove portion with the straight groove portion changes between a wide-angle side and a telephoto side or between an infinity side and a close side.
For example, an angular position tolerance (equal division difference) of the cam groove portions in the cam barrel and of the straight groove portions in the straight guiding barrel causes engagement of the cam followers with the cam groove and straight groove portions at positions shifted from ideal engagement positions, thereby causing tilt and decentering of the straight movable barrel. In particular, in the straight movable barrel moved by the above-mentioned U-turn cam, the intersection angle inverts between the wide-angle side and the telephoto side or between the infinity side and the close side, so that the direction of the tilt also inverts therebetween, resulting in a larger change amount of the tilt.
For such a lens unit affecting degradation of optical performance, decentering adjustment and tilt adjustment of the lens unit are typically performed taking the optical performance as an evaluation item. In the case of including the U-turn cam, however, when the decentering adjustment and the tilt adjustment of the lens unit are performed to improve optical performance at, for example, the telephoto side or the infinity side, the optical performance can be improved at the telephoto side or the infinity side, but an opposite tilt is caused at the wide-angle side or the close side. This results in greater degradation in optical performance than that caused in a case of using a normal cam groove portion which is not the U-turn cam.
Thus, in the case of including the U-turn cam, the change in the intersection angle due to the U-turn cam in adjusting the optical performance by adjustment of any one of the lens units or all of the lens units causes a significant degradation in the optical performance.
Therefore, for example, correcting variation due to the equal division difference of the straight groove portions and the cam groove portions enables suppressing the change in tilt due to the U-turn cam. For example, as a well-known technique, decentering the roller portion (cylindrical portion) engaging with the cam groove portion of the cam barrel with respect to the key portion engaging with the straight groove portion of the straight guiding barrel enables adjusting a circumferential shift caused by the equal division difference.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2010-197698 discloses an easy-to-assemble lens barrel configuration with cam followers each including a first cylindrical portion (engaging with a cam groove portion and a straight guiding groove portion) and a second cylindrical portion (engaging with a cam follower position controlling portion of a straight movable barrel).
In the straight movable barrel as the lens holding barrel disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2009-42345, however, the cam follower is pulled by the screw toward the straight movable barrel to be fixed thereto, which makes it difficult to adjust the cam follower and thus makes it difficult to adjust the equal division difference.
Moreover, the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2010-197698 allows suppressing the change in tilt due to assembly variation, but does not allow suppressing the change in tilt due to component variation.

Lens apparatus, optical apparatus and camera


An apparatus for delivering humidified gases has a connection manifold adapted to connect with inlet and outlet ports of a slide on water chamber in a single slide on motion. Connection of the gases inlet and gases outlet ports as well as any additional electrical and/or pneumatic connections are all made in the same slide on motion. The water chamber may include inwardly extending elongate extension tubes with one of the extension tubes having an air bleed aperture to aid filling of the chamber.

i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for delivering humidified gases. In particular it relates to a humidifier arrangement for use in stand alone humidifiers used for example in providing respiratory assistance to patients receiving mechanical ventilation or respiratory support and/or integrated humidifiers included for example in consumer CPAP delivery devices.
ii) Summary of the Prior Art
Humidification systems are known which include a heater base and a disposable humidifier chamber which is fitted onto the heater base and within which a supply of water can be heated by the heater base. Air enters the humidifier chamber through an inlet air port in the roof of the chamber where it is humidified by the evaporation of water from the water supply before leaving the chamber through an exit port in the roof of the humidifier chamber.
Humidifier chambers of this type are also now used in compact and portable ventilation machines, for example machines intended for the home treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (CPAP machines). Where the humidifier base is adapted for use with slide-on humidifier chambers, and the connection of the chamber to the machine is accomplished with a single sliding movement, the inlet air port is provided horizontally through the side of the chamber. Air enters the humidifier chamber through the inlet air port and the humidified air leaves the humidifier chamber into a breathing conduit through an exit port in the top of the humidifier chamber.
A disadvantage of these configurations is the need to disconnect the patient breathing conduit from the top of the humidifying chamber in a separate operation before removal of the chamber for the purpose of refilling. A further disadvantage of these configurations is that separate electrical wiring connections are required to make use of a heated respiratory conduit.

Apparatus for delivering humidified gases