A stowage device for stowing workpieces of a plurality of kinds on pallets in accordance with inputted shipment information includes a supply conveyor system provided with a refuge track conveyor. A plurality of carrier means devices (e.g. containers) carrying workpieces of different kinds are supplied via the supply conveyor system. Pallets on which workpieces are stowed by an industrial robot are transferred via a transfer device. The stowing of workpieces on each pallet is effected in two cycles: In the first cycle, workpieces of each kind filling a complete layer or layers of workpieces on the pallet are stowed. In the second re-stowing cycle, remaining fractional numbers of workpieces of respective kinds are stowed on the pallet. During these stowing operations, the carrier devices may be temporarily taken into the refuge conveyor before being transferred away from the robot.

This invention relates to stowage devices for stowing on pallets, etc., workpieces or articles for shipment, etc., wherein the number of workpieces of each kind stowed on a pallet is determined in accordance with shipment information.
As disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 61-33426, a stowage system is known in which after stowing schedules are automatically formed by a scheduling device in accordance with arbitrarily given dimensions of articles of a plurality of kinds, articles of respective kinds are marshaled and then stowed by an industrial robot on pallets in accordance with the stowing schedule. The number of articles of respective kinds stowed on each pallet is determined in accordance with shipment information, etc. The system is in need of a separate marshaling device for marshaling beforehand the stowed articles, in addition to a supply and a stowage device of the articles.
Such a conventional stowing system, however, still has the following disadvantages. First, the system is complicated and incurs much installation cost. Second, it is difficult to realize a higher speed of stowage. Third, the system is in need of a wide open space for the stowage. Fourth, the stowing of a fractional number of articles of respective kinds may result in an un-balanced and unstable form of the stowed articles on the pallets, and the stowing operations may be troublesome.

Stowage device for plural species of works


This Invention relates to methods of treating a subterranean hydrocarbons reservoir comprising contacting the formation with a treating fluid comprising an aqueous solution, an acid, a surfactant acting as gelling agent essentially consisting of erucylamidopropyl betaine (or a protonated/deprotonated homolog or salt thereof). The treating fluid may further comprise a lower n-alcohol for improved temperature stability.

This invention relates to fluid compositions whose viscosity can be carefully modulated from very low viscosity to sufficient viscosity to act as a barrier to further flow. More specifically, the invention relates to diverting fluids used for stimulating hydrocarbon-bearing formations i.e., to increase the production of oil/gas from the formation.
Hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas, etc.) are obtained from a subterranean geologic formation (i.e., a "reservoir") by drilling a well that penetrates the hydrocarbon-bearing formation and thus causing a pressure gradient that forces the fluid to flow from the reservoir to the well. Often, a well production is limited by poor permeability either due to naturally tight formations or to formation damages typically arising from prior well treatment, such as drilling, cleaning etc.
To increase the net permeability of a reservoir, it is common to perform a well stimulation. The most common stimulation technique consists of injecting an acid that reacts with and dissolves the damage or portion of the formation thereby creating alternative flowpaths for the hydrocarbons to migrate through the formation to the well. This technique known as acidizing may eventually be associated with fracturing the injection rate and pressure is enough to induce the formation of a fracture in the reservoir.
Fluid placement is critical to the success of stimulation treatment. Natural reservoirs are often heterogeneous; the acid fluid will preferentially enter areas of higher permeability in lieu of treating the areas where a treatment is most needed. Similarly, acid treatment tends to remove the damages that are easier to reach, due to a lower degree of damage or higher permeability. Each additional volume of acid fluid follows the path of less resistance, failing to remove the most important damages. The critical character of fluid placement is exacerbated by the fact that the acid reacts extremely quickly and consequently, is spent almost immediately and therefore not available for treating the untreated areas.
In order to control placement of treating fluids, various techniques have been employed. Mechanical techniques involve for instance the use of ball sealers and packers and of coiled tubing placement to specifically spot the fluid across the zone of interest. Non mechanical techniques typically make use of gelling agents as diverters for temporary impairing the areas of higher permeability and increasing the proportion of the treating zone that goes into the areas of lower permeability. Of course, a diverter should not itself damage the reservoir and therefore it is important that it can be easily removed following the acid treatment so that the zones of higher permeability remain so.
Most commercialized chemical diverters are based on cross-linked polymers. Unfortunately, these systems leave residues in the formation, which can damage the formation, resulting in diminished hydrocarbon production. In addition, the cross-linking reaction is easily perturbed by formation chemistry, contaminants in the pumping equipment, and so forth.
It is also known to use self-diverting acids, typically consisting of hydrochloric acid mixed with a gelling agent and a pH-sensitive cross-linker. Self-diverting acids are typically designed to gel at intermediate pH values, when the acid is partially spent. Self-diverting systems not based on cross-linking chemistry by which rely upon viscoelastic surfactants are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,389 (see also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,669, and British Patent No. 2,012,830, both cited there) which has a common assignee as the present application. Viscoelastic surfactants based systems exhibit very low friction pressure and therefore are easy to pump and yet, form a gel downhole. U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,389 discloses a viscoelastic surfactant-based gelling agent intended for use in acid fracturing. The particularly preferred embodiment is a fluid comprised of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) fatty amine acetic acid salt (the gelling agent), an alkali metal acetate salt, acetic acid (the acid which actually removes the damage from the formation), and water.
Improved self-diverting systems have been described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/419,842, having a common assignee as the present application and its corresponding International Patent Application WO 01/29369. This application, hereby incorporated by reference, provides formulations suitable for acid treatment comprising an amphoteric surfactant that gels as the acid spends in presence of an activating amount of a co-surfactant and of multivalent cations typically generated by the acid reaction with the formation. When the gelling agent is mixed in hydrochloric acid, the co-surfactant prevents the gelling of the solution; the solution gels when the pH increases above 2.
In a preferred embodiment, the amphoteric surfactant is oleylpropyl betaine of the formula:
and the co-surfactant is preferably sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate.
Compositions known from the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/419,842, and its corresponding International Patent Application WO 01/29369, have been of limited commercial applications due to temperature limitations. In particular, formulations based on oleylamidopropyl betaine and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate can only be used for temperature below about 200° F. (93° C.) while the carbonate acidizing market calls for temperature up to about 300° F. (about 150° C.).
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for stimulating a subterranean hydrocarbons reservoir comprising contacting the formation with a treating fluid consisting of an acid, erucylamidopropyl betaine (or a protonated, deprotonated, homolog or salt thereof), and an-alcohol, typically selected among methanol and/or ethanol, and most preferably being methanol. The formulation of the present invention may also comprise various standard additives such as corrosion inhibitors, non-emulsifiers and iron control agents. One embodiment is a method of treating a subterranean formation involving contacting the formation with a treating fluid containing an aqueous solution, an acid selected from an organic acid at a concentration of greater than 12% and an inorganic acid, and a surfactant acting as gelling agent essentially consisting of erucylamidopropyl betaine, or a protonated/deprotonated homolog or salt thereof, without a co-surfactant; preferably, the acid is present in the fluid at a concentration of at least 15% by weight.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fluid system having controllable reversible viscosity


Particular polyurethane photopolymers are disclosed as materials of construction in producing improved polishing pads. The polyurethane photopolymers are formed from a polyurethane prepolymer prepared from the reaction products of a first reactant selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyethers, polybutadienes and mixtures of the foregoing with diisocyanates, further reacted with acrylates and/or methacrylates.

This invention relates to compositions useful in the manufacture of polishing pads which can be used for creating smooth, ultra-flat surfaces on items such as glass, semi-conductors, dielectric/metal composites, metals, and integrated circuits. The instant invention proposes the manufacture of polishing pads from specifically advantageous photopolymer compositions.
Polishing generally consists of the controlled wear of an initially rough surface to produce a smooth (specular) surface. One method of accomplishing this is by rubbing a pad against the surface of the article to be polished (the work-piece) in a repetitive regular motion. Frequently, a slurry or suspension of fine particles is present at the interface between the polishing pad and the work-piece.
Polishing pads have historically been fabricated from felted or woven natural fibers such as wool, urethane impregnated felted polyester on various types of filled polyurethane plastic. U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,233, the teaching of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, discloses some polymers useful in the manufacture of polishing pads and desired characteristics of these pads.
The polishing rate regarding a polishing pad is controlled by a variety of variables including pressure between the pad and work-piece, velocity of the pad in relation to the work-piece, size of the particles in the slurry, hardness of the particles in the slurry and of the pad material, configuration of the pad surface, texture of the pad material, and possibly chemical reactivity between the slurry or the pad and the work-piece.
Generally macrotexture and microtexture of the pad are provided for in the pad manufacturing process. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,081,051 and 5,216,843, the teaching both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, disclose the importance of maintaining this macrotexture. Frequently polishing pads have depended upon inhomogenity in the pad material to achieve polishing. However in order to achieve acceptable polishing the inhomogenity must be constant across the surface (throughout the body) of the pad. Many of the materials used to make pads however fall short in this regard. Thus, for example, variability in density of felt for pads or variations in filler density negatively impact polishing performance.
The inventors herein propose the use of photopolymers to create polishing pads with the appropriate texture and surface features for optimum polishing characteristics. These photopolymers provide pads with the appropriate surface texture without any substantial inhomogenity in the bulk material. The pads produced have optimum polishing characteristics and are relatively economical.

Polyurethane composition with (meth)acrylate end groups useful in the manufacture of polishing pads


A semiconductor device comprises a memory cell (160) including a transistor body (150) having a top surface (111) and including a first doping area (10a) and a second doping area (10b) with a channel region (110) in between. The memory cell (160) further includes a gate electrode (3a) arranged above the channel region (110) and separated therefrom by a dielectric layer (2a). An oxide-nitride-oxide layer (66) has first portions (661) and second portions (662). The first portions (661) of the oxide-nitride-oxide layer (66) are arranged above at least parts of the first and second doping areas (10a, 10b) and are substantially parallel to the top surface (111) of the transistor body (150). The second portions (662) of the oxide-nitride-oxide layer (66) are adjacent to the gate electrode (3a) and extend in a direction not substantially parallel to the top surface (111) of the transistor body (150).

Portable devices, such as mobile phones, digital cameras and music players, comprise non-volatile memory units. These portable devices have become smaller in recent years, as have the respective memory units. It is assumed that the miniaturization of portable devices will proceed. The amount of data that can be stored in the non-volatile memory unit may increase to improve the performance of the device. As a result, for example, more music songs, photos or other data can be stored in smaller devices.
Non-volatile memory units may be realized in different ways. Examples are read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) and electrical erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).
The advantage of the ROM is the low price per device. The ROM cannot be programmed electrically. Programming occurs during one of the production steps. Special masks that contain the data to be stored pattern the semiconductor device according to the data. When the production process has been completed, the content of the ROM can no longer be changed. Changes in data programming result in the expensive and time-consuming redesign of the special masks.
The PROM is manufactured as a blank memory. After having been programmed once, the content cannot be changed anymore.
The EPROM can be programmed again after having been exposed to ultraviolet light for erasing.
The above-described non-volatile memory unit cannot be electrically erased. The EEPROM can be electrically programmed and erased. It retains the stored data for a long time without power supply and can easily be programmed and erased many times.
The EEPROM comprises a plurality of memory cells for storing small pieces of information. There are memory cells for storing only one bit. Multi-bit memory cells, however, can store more than one bit. Means for storing a bit have two states. One state represents a logic zero. The other state represents a logic one.
An embodiment of a one-bit memory cell comprises a transistor body that includes a cell well having two doping areas. A channel region is located between the doping areas. A gate electrode is arranged above the channel region insulated by a dielectric layer that is arranged between the channel region and the gate electrode.
The cell well is formed by implanting ions into the substrate. The doping areas are formed by implanting ions in a further step. The type of the dopant ions used to form the doping areas differs from the type of the dopant ions used to form the cell well.
One of the doping areas serves as a source and the other one serves as a drain. A reading voltage is applied to the drain while the source is grounded. If the reading voltage exceeds a certain threshold voltage, a current flows. In accordance with the respective state, the threshold voltage varies. It is either higher or lower than the reading voltage. An alternative embodiment of a memory cell based on this structure is described below.
A non-volatile memory cell comprises a transistor as described above including a gate electrode arranged above a dielectric comprising a first oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer and a second oxide layer. The silicon nitride layer is used to trap electrons. Applying a positive gate voltage, electrons can tunnel from the substrate through the thin oxide layer, where they are subsequently trapped. The trapped negative charge increases the threshold voltage of the transistor. Likewise, the threshold voltage can be decreased by a negative voltage on the gate, removing the electrons from the nitride layer. When applying the reading voltage, a current either flows or not, depending on the threshold voltage. The two stages of the memory cell correspond to a switch that is either conductive or not.
A similar memory cell, however, also comprising a silicon nitride charge trapping layer between the channel region and the gate electrode, is able to store two bits. Such a cell is called nitride programmable read only memory (NROM) cell.
The nitride programmable read only memory (NROM) cell is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,725 and Boaz Eitan et al.: "NROM: A Novel Localized Trapping, 2-Bit Nonvolatile Memory Cell," IEEE Electron Device Letters, vol. 21, no. 11, November 2000. Both of these references are incorporated herein by reference.
The oxide-nitride-oxide layer of the NROM cell comprises a nitride layer of the memory cell serving as a charge trapping layer sandwiched between the insulating oxide layers which avoid vertical retention. Two individual bits are stored in physically different regions of the even nitride layer. A first bit region is near a first doping area and a second bit region is near the second doping area. S. T. Kang et al.: "A Study of SONOS Nonvolatile Memory Cell Controlled Structurally by Localizing Charge-Trapping Layer," Proceedings of IEEE Non-Volatile Memory Workshop, Monterey, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a memory cell having two segregated ONO layers.
A memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells arranged as a matrix having rows and columns. The rows of the cell array are arranged parallel to a first direction. The columns of the cell array are arranged parallel to a second direction that is orthogonal with respect to the first direction. The first and second doping areas of the memory cells in a column are aligned in a direction parallel to the second direction.
The gate electrodes arranged parallel to the first direction are connected to wordlines. A bitline connects the doping areas arranged parallel to the second direction. The bitline includes the sources and drains of the memory cells located on either side.
The bits are programmed by means of channel hot electron programming. Electrons are injected from the channel into the charge trapping region, according to the applied voltages. Programming of a first bit is performed by applying a programming voltage to the first doping area and the gate while grounding the second doping area. The electrons are injected and trapped in the first bit region, which is adjacent to the first doping area. Likewise, programming of a second bit is performed by applying a programming voltage to the second doping area and the gate while grounding the first doping area. The electrons are injected and trapped in the second bit region.
For erasing a bit, hot holes or Fowler-Nordheim tunneling can be used. Erasing of the first bit is performed by applying erasing voltages to the gate or to the first doping area and the gate resulting in a lateral field. Holes are caused to flow through the bottom oxide layer for compensating the charge of the electrons.
A bit information is read by applying a reverse voltage between the first and second doping area compared to the programming voltage that is used to program the bit. Relatively small charges near the grounded one of the first and second doping areas prevent or reduce current flow. For example, reading of the first bit is performed by applying reading voltages to the second doping area and the gate. The first doping area is grounded. The current flows, while there are no trapped charges inside the first bit region. While there are trapped charges inside the first bit region, the current flow is reduced or the current does not flow.
The first and second bit of each memory cell can be programmed, read and erased by applying the programming, reading and erasing voltage respectively to the adjusted combination of the bitlines and the wordline, which are connected with the respective memory cell.
A conventional NROM cell as described above comprises an even oxide-nitride-oxide layer beneath the gate having two different regions for storing the charges representing the first and second bit information. As a result, the injection of electrons or holes for changing one bit information can influence the other bit. The influence of residual charges in a region of the nitride layer located adjacent to the bitline may be negligible. An unintended injection into the nitride layer of state-of-the-art NROM cells above the channel region cannot be avoided.
The local distribution of electrons in the charge trapping region is wider than for holes, because the mobility of electrons and holes in nitride differs. Holes are much more mobile. The same number of holes is spread in a wider area than the corresponding number of electrons. There is not a hole adjacent to each electron compensating its charge. More widely spread holes than electrons are used to cover the charge of the electrons. In order to change a bit information that is represented by electrons, more holes are injected to compensate the charge of the electrons. During a further programming step, more electrons may be injected into the charge trapping region again, requiring more holes to compensate the charge during the following erase cycle. This aging process results in an increase of the erasing voltages and the programming and erasing processes take more time.
The enhanced mobility of the holes representing one bit influences the charges representing the other bit and result in a retention loss.

Semiconductor device and method of producing a semiconductor device


This disclosure presents a method of canceling inductance-dominated crosstalk using a capacitive coupling circuit; it also presents a method of calibrating, selecting and programming a capacitance value used for coupling, so as to add a derivative of each aggressor signal to each victim signal, and thereby negate crosstalk that would otherwise be seen by a given receiver. In the context of a multiple-line bus, cross-coupling circuits may be used between each pair of “nearest neighbors,” with values calibrated and used for each particular transmitter-receiver pair. Embodiments are also presented which address crosstalk induced between lines that are not nearest neighbors, such as, for example, for use in a differential signaling system.

In systems that have multiple communication lines disposed in close proximity, signaling on any one of the lines may excite shadow signals on the other lines, a phenomenon known as "crosstalk." Crosstalk tends to reduce signaling margin on the lines (i.e., the tolerable timing and/or amplitude error in a transmitted signal on those lines) and thus generally becomes increasingly problematic as signaling rates increase and amplitudes shrink, ultimately limiting signaling bandwidth.
A number of approaches have been developed for addressing crosstalk; however, these approaches may or may not work or be desirable in every given situation. A need therefore still exists for approaches to addressing the crosstalk problem.
The present invention addresses this need and provides further, related advantages.


Provided is a method comprising: maintaining forward network structure information that, with stages arranged in a multilayer structure and each stage including one or more nodes associated with one or more words and associated in whole or in part with a point, connects nodes included in different layers with each other, in order from a higher layer toward a lower layer in a network state; acquiring one or more search word to use for a search; acquiring a node including all or part of the acquired search words and converting the acquired search words into a point; and using the forward network structure information to calculate points by sequentially adding together in a manner to inherit points, in node units of each layer, the points associated with the acquired node along all paths connected by these points from a topmost layer to the node of a predetermined layer.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the search technology of a search system using a database that has a forward network structure.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, for example, technology is known relating to a failure diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle, in which a cause and effect relationship is set as a node and a technique is implemented for performing a case search, for example, using a database having a forward network structure in which nodes are connected to each other in a tree structure, such as disclosed in Patent Document 1. With this technique, a so-called "inquiry type" search system is provided to determine the cause by tracing the connections between nodes in response to an input answer of a user to questions about the nodes, which are associated with the tree.
As another example, although it is not a database having a forward network structure such as described above, a retrieval system is provided that represents the elements to be searched by a plurality of vectors and performs a search according to the matching degree with respect to the vector of the search keywords, such as described in Patent Document 2.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-004663 bulletin    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-011042 bulletin
However, the conventional technology mentioned above has the following problems. That is, with the technology of Patent Document 1, because it is necessary for a user to reply to questions one by one, this technology is not suitable for immediate decision making, since it takes effort and time to get the desired answers.
In addition, in a case where the user can assume several possible answers to the question content or a case where the user cannot decide on a unique answer, the user must try all of the answers, or at worst follow all of the diverging branches.
In addition, with the technique of Patent Document 2, search results can be obtained instantly by appointing a plurality of search keywords, but there is a problem because the linkage between the elements which are expressed in a vector is judged based only on the distance and the direction of each vector, and this is not suitable for the relation of elements such as answers and results, for example, for the linkage of elements such as "lighting of the HDD trouble lamp" and "trouble of the HDD".

Search system, display unit, recording medium, apparatus, and processing method of the search system


A testing apparatus includes a tester and a probe card system that includes a probe card connected to the tester, and an active interposer connected to the probe card and wirelessly coupled with a device to be tested. The active interposer includes pads positioned on its free surface facing the device. The pads are positioned with respect to pads of the device so that each pad of the active interposer faces a pad of the device and is separated therefrom by a dielectric. Each pair of facing pads forms an elementary wireless coupling element which allows a wireless transmission between the active interposer and the device. The active interposer also includes an amplifier circuit configured to amplify wireless signals from the device before forwarding them to the tester. The probe card system includes a transmission element able to transmit a power voltage from the tester to the device.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a probe card system for wireless testing of integrated devices.
More specifically, the disclosure relates to a probe card system of a testing apparatus for testing integrated devices comprising a plurality of elementary wireless coupling elements able to allow a wireless transmission between the probe card system and a device to be tested and the following description is made with reference to this field of application for convenience of explanation only.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, the electric selection of devices carried out on wafer, i.e., the so called Electric Wafer Sort (EWS) testing, includes electrically connecting a tester or ATE (acronym of "Automated Test Equipment") that executes measures on the wafer. A terminal portion of the testing apparatus is schematically shown in FIG. 1A, globally indicated with 1.
The wafer 6 includes a plurality of devices to be tested or selected, in particular chips 7 (also indicated as integrated circuits (IC). The interface between the ATE 1A and a wafer 6 is a so called probe card 2, which typically is a printed circuit board (PCB), and a probe head 3. The probe head 3 comprises different hundreds (several times thousands) of probes 4 that electrically connect the ATE 1A to almost all the contact pads 8 of a chip 7 to be tested, as shown in greater detail but always schematically in FIG. 1B. In particular, each end portion or tip 9 of the probes 4 comes into contact with a pad 8 of the chip 7 during a testing phase.
In general, the wafer 6 includes a plurality of chips 7 to be tested, and during the testing steps it is put on a support 5, shown in the portion of the testing apparatus 1, and belonging to an apparatus also called prober (not shown in the figure), this support 5 being thus also indicated as prober chuck.
The number of pads 8 for a testing can be smaller or equal to the total number of pads 8 of the chip 7 to be tested.
In a similar way, one goes further even if the chips 7 have bumps instead of pads 8, as it is well known to the technical experts in the field.
Before each chip 7 is encapsulated in a corresponding package, it is known that the testing of the chip 7 itself is executed, the chip 7 being still on the wafer 6, using the probes 4 that are connected directly to the pads 8 and that execute the so-called probing of the pad 8 they contact.
After the testing, the wafer 6 is cut and the chips 7 that have been tested and are operating are assembled in their package, ready for further process steps, also comprising further testing steps of the chips 7 in the package wherein they have been assembled.
In particular, similarly to the testing on wafer, the ATE is in particular able to execute a final test or FT (acronym of "Final Test") of what is contained in a package, electrically connecting the connections of the package itself.
In the case of SiP systems (acronym of "System In Package") there can be other situations, even very complex, further to the creation of electric connections between the various parts (chips, passive components, PCB, . . . ) of the system, these situations being well known to the technical experts in the field and in particular to the testing specialists.
It is also well known that a generic electronic system or chip is connected to the surrounding world through connections such as cabled channels (for example: cables, optical fibers, . . . ) or wireless channels, for example of the electromagnetic type. These connections allow to exchange information signals and/or to supply power to the same chips.
In case magnetic or electromagnetic signals are to be exchanged between an integrated circuit IC and at least another external system, the integrated circuit IC should have at least one receiver/transmitter inside. In the case of magnetic coupling these circuits are called transceiver/transponder, connected to at least one antenna that can be embedded in the integrated circuit IC itself. Examples of integrated circuits IC equipped with an antenna are the RFID circuits (acronym of "Radio Frequency Identification") or Smart Cards, that are low power integrated circuits (low power ICs), that can be supplied and exchange information by using electromagnetic waves through wireless channels (and thus without contact or contactless) that use an electromagnetic coupling obtained through at least two antennas.
In any case, the antennas of the embedded type, nowadays used for RFID or Smart Cards, have a limited communication range due to their sizes.
Electrodes for capacitive type transmission are also known, that use the generic pad of an integrated circuit IC as an armature of a capacitor, thus allowing a wireless probing.
A method and an apparatus for probing an integrated circuit through capacitive coupling are described for instance in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,325 in the name of Coates et al. According to this document, a system that performs electrical testing of a device by placing a probe conductor in proximity to (but not touching) a target conductor within the device is described.
US patent application published under No. US 2008/0018350 in the name of Chao et al. describes an apparatus for testing integrates circuits with ultra-fine pitch based on a passive interposer to adapt probe card sizes to pad sizes, still using a contact approach.
A similar solution is proposed by M. Daito et al in the paper 7.6 presented at ISSCC 2010 (page 144 of the IEEE proceeding) entitled "Capacitively Coupled Non-Contact Probing Circuits for Membrane Based Wafer Level Simultaneous Testing". A passive interposer is proposed to adapt the different pitches of a standard contact probe card and the DUT pads but in this solution a contactless approach is proposed to avoid the interconnect congestion.
Thus, it is highlighted that the contact solutions have different problems tied to the fact that the probe tips and the pads are damaged during the contact scrub of the probes and that the probe weight limits the test parallelism. Moreover, the contactless solutions, namely comprising a passive interposer, show an additional delay attenuation due to the passive interposer which limit the performance of the system as a whole.

Active probe card for electrical wafer sort of integrated circuits


A velocity compensated contacting ring system includes a first dielectric material, a plurality of concentric spaced conductive rings and a first ground plane. The first dielectric material includes a first side and a second side. The plurality of concentric spaced conductive rings are located on the first side of the first dielectric material. The conductive rings include an inner ring and an outer ring. The first ground plane is located on the second side of the first dielectric material. A width of the inner ring is greater than a width of the outer ring and the widths of the inner and outer rings are selected to substantially equalize electrical lengths of the inner and outer rings.

The present invention is generally directed to a contact-type slip-ring system that is utilized to transfer signals from a stationary reference frame to a moving reference frame and, more specifically, to a contact-type slip-ring system that is suitable for high data rate communication.
Contact-type slip-rings have been widely used to transmit signals between two frames that move in rotational relation to each other. Prior art slip-rings of this nature have utilized precious alloy conductive probes to make contact with a rotating ring system. These probes have traditionally been constructed using round-wire, composite materials, button contacts or multi-filament conductive fiber brushes. The corresponding concentric contact rings of the slip-ring are typically shaped to provide a cross-section shape appropriate for the sliding contact. Typical ring shapes have included V-grooves, U-grooves and flat rings. Similar schemes have been used with systems that exhibit translational motion rather than rotary motion.
When transmitting high-frequency signals through slip-rings, a major limiting factor to the maximum transmission rate is distortion of the waveforms due to reflections from impedance discontinuities. Impedance discontinuities can occur throughout the slip-ring wherever different forms of transmission lines interconnect and have different surge impedances. Significant impedance mismatches often occur where transmission lines interconnect a slip-ring to an external interface, at the brush contact structures and where the transmission lines connect those brush contact structures to their external interfaces. Severe distortion to high-frequency signals can occur from either of those impedance mismatched transitions of the transmission lines. Further, severe distortion can also occur due to phase errors from multiple parallel brush connections.
The loss of energy through slip-rings increases with frequency due to a variety of effects, such as multiple reflections from impedance mismatches, circuit resonance, distributed inductance and capacitance, dielectric losses and skin effect. High-frequency analog and digital communications across rotary interfaces have also been achieved or proposed by other techniques, such as fiber optic interfaces, capacitive coupling, inductive coupling and direct transmission of electromagnetic radiation across an intervening space. However, systems employing these techniques tend to be relatively expensive.
What is needed is a slip-ring system that addresses the above-referenced problems, while providing a readily producible, economical slip-ring system.

Broadband high-frequency slip-ring system


A wheel and solid rubber tire comprising a circular mounting disk having an axis perpendicular through the center of the circular disk. A wheel rim is rigidly affixed circumferentially around the mounting disk and has a cylindrical surface extending from one end of the rim to another and, axially aligned about the axis of the mounting disk. Multiple angled cross ribs having top and bottom edges rigidly affixed at the bottom edges to the cylindrical surface of the wheel rim substantially continuously thereacross at an angle from one end of the rim to the other and evenly spaced circumferentially therearound. One or more base layers of even thickness rubber are bonded to the cylindrical surface interposed between the angled cross ribs, and multiple additional layers of even thickness rubber are bonded to the one or more base layers with each additional layer bonded to the next so that a solid rubber tire is formed which is directly bonded to the wheel rim.

Heavy rolling equipment is used in construction industries and in the underground mining industries. Substantial time, expense, and loss of production can result from punctured pneumatic tires used on such equipment. In some instances, standard pneumatic tires have been filled with fluid rubber, elastomeric or urethane foam materials which solidify in the tire to avoid flats and down time associated with repairing and reinflating the tires. This has not been found to be totally satisfactory because the standard pneumatic tires have a very large capacity for such elastomeric foam or solidifying rubber, so that the weight of such tires is substantially increased. Also, it has been found that such foam-filled tires nevertheless deteriorate quickly under heavy loading conditions, which results in breakage and cracking of the foam and chunking of the tire tread. The increased weight inside of the tires increases the wear and tear on both the tire and the equipment.
Solid rubber tires have been used in lighter vehicles in the past and considerable effort has been expended in attempting to avoid slippage of such solid rubber tires on the wheel rims. For example, a solid rubber tire disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,301,230 issued to Cooper, has layers of rubber belts mechanically secured one layer to the next through brads and to the rim through radially extending spring-loaded bolts having enlarged heads to hold the multiple layers inward toward the rim. The bolts also tend to reduce circumferential slippage with respect to the rim. The bolts can result in uneven support pressure in the tire so that bumping will occur on a heavy loaded tire.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,950 issued to Grove, discloses a solid rubber tire for use with heavy rolling equipment around mines, construction jobs, and lumber camps. Reinforcing U-bolts are formed into solid rubber tires radially spaced and extending laterally across the tire just below the exterior surface and down each side where the bolts are secured to upwardly projecting side rim portions. These bolts also result in an uneven load carrying capabilities as it rolls from bolt, to rubber, to bolt repeatedly.
More recent improvements in the construction of wheels and tire assemblies with solid rubber tire for use on heavy construction equipment have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,966,212 and 5,053,095 issued to Hill. These patents disclose a wheel and tire assembly which provides a large metal cylinder having side rims extending therearound and welded cross bars evenly spaced around the circumference of the rim surface and extending laterally between the side rim portions. These wheel and solid rubber tire assemblies provide substantial advantages over previously existing solid rubber tires. The cross bars are well below the tire surface to reduce the bumping effect of the lateral cross bars. However, although the type of bumping and uneven rolling which was associated with the U-bolts of Grove was substantially reduced while maintaining durability, it has been found that under extreme high pressure loading of low profile solid tires, such as that found in underground mining equipment, a certain amount of unevenness of the tire support occurs and some bumping results. Further, the in constructions where rectangular cross bars are used, such bars may present disposed sharp corners along a relatively short lateral top edge against which the rubber is compressed under heavy loading.
In each instance above, the increased pressure at the support bolts or bars, also accelerates tire deterioration. Further, previous solid tires relied upon side rim portions extending upward from the wheel rim to reduce side-to-side or axial slippage of the tires. Bonding of the tire directly to the rim was not always an adequate solution to axial slippage.

Solid rubber wheel and tire assembly with angled cross bars


A battery pack including a plurality of bare cells, a protective circuit module having a thermistor, and a case accommodating the bare cells and the protective circuit module therein is disclosed. The case may include a mounting portion having the thermistor mounted thereon and a first rib portion. The mounting portion may form a separate space between the mounting portion and the bare cells. The first rib portion may be positioned in the separate space. Accordingly, the thermistor may be guided to a particular position within the case by the first rib portion, thereby preventing damage to the thermistor.

1. Field
An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a battery pack.
2. Description of the Related Technology
With the rapid development of electronic and communication industries, the prevalence of mobile electronic devices has increased. Secondary batteries are widely used as power sources of the mobile electronic devices in consideration of economical efficiency. For example, the secondary batteries can be used not only in cellular phones or notebook computers, but also in medium- and large-sized apparatuses such as electric motor tools, electric bicycles and automobiles, which require both high output and power. Such an apparatus thus requires a high-output and a high-power source. To this end, a battery pack is used as one power source when connecting a plurality of secondary batteries in series or parallel. As such, the battery pack having the plurality of secondary batteries further includes various protection devices for safety. One type of protection device is a thermistor configured to measure the battery pack temperature. If the temperature of the battery pack rapidly increases before the battery pack generates heat or fire, the thermistor senses a temperature of a bare cell and transmits the sensed temperature to a protective circuit module, thereby cutting off current.


In various embodiments, a laser apparatus includes a beam emitter, first and second mounts disposed on opposing sides of the beam emitter and in electrical and thermal contact therewith, and a housing body for conducting heat away from the beam emitter.

High-power laser systems are utilized for a host of different applications, such as welding, cutting, drilling, and materials processing. Such laser systems typically include a laser emitter, the laser light from which is coupled into an optical fiber (or simply a "fiber"), and an optical system that focuses the laser light from the fiber onto the workpiece to be processed. Wavelength beam combining (WBC) is a technique for scaling the output power and brightness from laser diodes, laser diode bars, stacks of diode bars, or other lasers arranged in one- or two-dimensional array. WBC methods have been developed to combine beams along one or both dimensions of an array of emitters. Typical WBC systems include a plurality of emitters, such as one or more diode bars, that are combined using a dispersive element to form a multi-wavelength beam. Each emitter in the WBC system individually resonates, and is stabilized through wavelength-specific feedback from a common partially reflecting output coupler that is filtered by the dispersive element along a beam-combining dimension. Exemplary WBC systems are detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,062, filed on Feb. 4, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,679, filed on Sep. 8, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 8,670,180, filed on Aug. 25, 2011, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,559,107, filed on Mar. 7, 2011, the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein.
While techniques such as WBC have succeeded in producing laser-based systems for a wide variety of applications, wider adoption of such systems has resulted in the demand for ever-higher levels of laser output power. Typically higher laser powers involve the driving of laser diodes at increasingly higher currents, which results in higher operating temperatures and concomitant thermal-management issues aimed at preventing temperature-based reliability issues. Thus, there is a need for improved thermal-management systems for high-power lasers (e.g., laser diodes), particularly such systems that also provide electrical insulation from other system components.

High-power laser diode isolation and thermal management


In a rotating electrical machine a stator winding is formed of flexible cables inserted in an open stator in the stator core. The stator slots extend from a radially outermost yoke part of the stator core radially inwards towards the rotor, the stator slots being separated by teeth. The stator slots are shaped as double slots with shoulders arranged in the slot walls such that each cable in the winding is secured between the previous cable in the stator slot and, seen from the slot opening, the next shoulder situated outside that particular cable. In a method for manufacturing such a winding the first cable is inserted through the opening of the stator slot and pressed firmly into a cable slot arranged at the bottom of the stator slot and designed to retain the cable when it has been pressed in. A second cable is inserted through the opening of the stator slot and secured between this first cable and an opposing securing shoulder in the wall of the slot, after which a third cable is inserted through the opening in the stator slot and secured between the second cable and a securing shoulder in the slot wall opposite the second cable, and so on.

Electrical machines of the type mentioned above are described, for instance, in international patent application WO 97/45919. The cables forming the stator winding are suitably high-voltage cables of substantially the same type as those used for power distribution, i.e. PEX cables (PEX=cross-linked polyethylene). However, contrary to power distribution cable, the winding has no metal sheath which normally surrounds such a power distribution cable. The cable thus comprises substantially only the electrical conductor and at least one semiconducting layer on each side of the insulating layer. These machines can be built for extremely high voltages, 800 kV and higher, and for extremely high powers, up to 1500 MW.
When manufacturing the winding for such a stator, the stator is usually provided with mainly closed slots, the cable being drawn axially through the slots. In electrical machines intended for these extremely high voltages, several hundred kilovolt, the total length of cable in the stator winding will be considerable, up to several kilometers per phase. In such electrical machines the slots for the stator winding in the stator core must also be made very deep to ensure sufficient space for the required number of winding turns in the slot, and this in turn leads to the teeth that separate the slots becoming very long. Furthermore, it is essential for the function of these machines that the outermost semiconducting layer of the cable is not damaged during winding of the machine, since this layer is vital for enclosing the electric field in the winding.
In the case of machines intended for lower power, up to 30–40 MW, and lower voltages, to which the present invention relates, the stator winding is composed of a cable with considerably smaller diameter than the winding in a machine for high voltage and high power. In a generator for wind power plants of the type described, for instance, in international patent applications SE99/00943 and SE99/00944 and in published international application WO99/28919, the generator is driven directly and operates at very low speed, 10–25 rpm, which in turn means that it must be designed with a large number of poles. Many poles result in large diameter and thus high weight.


An image processing device includes a filtering unit which filters an input image with variable frequency characteristics, an edge detection unit which detects magnitudes of edges appearing in the input image, and a degree-of-white-background-likeliness detection unit which detects degrees of white-background likeliness in respect of local areas of the input image, wherein the filtering unit changes the variable frequency characteristics in response to the magnitudes of edges and to the degrees of white-background likeliness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to image-processing devices for processing image data, and particularly relates to an image-processing device which processes image data on an area-by-area basis according to characteristics of each image area, being suitable for an image-processing system such as a digital copier, a printer, a facsimile device, an image scanner, or the like wherein data is supplied from an image-data acquisition device such as a scanner for acquiring an original image, and is processed for better image quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 5-307603 discloses a method that applies sufficient smoothing to mesh-dot images while maintaining sharp appearances at edges of letters and line drawings, and that enhances edges even within mesh-dot image areas and/or photograph image areas. To achieve this, this method mixes at least two types of image data which are selected from original image data, edge-enhanced image data obtained by filtering the image data, and smoothed image data obtained by filtering the image data.
The document described above further teaches a method for better reproduction of letter images on white backgrounds. This method selects one of the original image data output, the edge-enhanced image data output, the smoothed image data output, and an output obtained by mixing these image data outputs based on edge analysis. Decisions in such selection are made by detecting white-background areas in the original image and by checking whether an area of interest belongs to the white-background areas.
In general, image-processing devices do not have sufficient image-reproduction quality in areas where letters are present if these devices are provided with gamma correction characteristics that focus on smooth level changes in picture areas. For example, fine lines may appear broken from place to place, and letters in light tone may appear in poor quality. To obviate this problem, there is a method that detects features of picture areas and letter areas, and applies different image processing to the respective areas with an aim of improving image quality. A Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 8-204953 discloses a white-background-area detection means and a plurality of level-conversion means, and teaches a method that selectively switches the level-conversion means based on the detection results of the white-background-area detection means.
The Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 5-307603 has a drawback in that processing volume increases unduly because all the edge-enhancement filtering process, the smoothing filtering process, and the like need to be performed and completed prior to selection based on the white-background detection. Further, if the white-background detection suffers errors, loss of image quality is substantial in the configuration where filtered data is selected based on presence/absence of white backgrounds.
The Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 8-204953 employs a white-background detection scheme that is disclosed in a Japanese Patent Lain-open Application No. 6-133159. In this scheme, the detected image areas do not necessarily include white-background areas and boundary areas thereof, so that reproduction quality of letters is poor in the boundary areas. If the boundary areas are also subjected to different processing, proper sizes of boundary areas need to be identified for such processing.
The Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 8-204953 is silent about such boundary areas, and, also, fails to identify the type of image data that is fed to the white-background-area detection means.
There are other schemes that separate letter areas from picture areas by using image features relating to edge detection and mesh-dot detection, and apply optimum gamma correction to each area. Image separation-based on edge detection or the like involves a large processing volume, and is thus costly. Further, such edge detection tends to produce detection results indicative of presence of large edges in mesh-dot image areas despite their nature as a picture if there are frequency components that happen to match the filter frequency characteristics used in the edge detection, or if the mesh-dot image areas include sharp changes of image levels, or if the mesh-dot image areas include only a small number of lines. This results in erroneous image-area separation.
Further, if image processing is performed based on binary-wise checks as to whether areas are white-background areas or non-white-background areas, information regarding the degree to which areas are close to white backgrounds ends up being disregarded. Such processing tends to be unstable. If a pixel is marked as a white background pixel in areas where pixels should be marked as non-white-background pixels, changes in image characteristics resulting from image processing become locally conspicuous, resulting in degradation of image quality. Further, if image characteristics are changed stepwise, reproduced images do not have smooth appearance.
Accordingly, there is a need for an image-processing-device which can change image characteristics on a continuous scale or on a multi-level scale, rather than changing image characteristics as a choice between two alternatives based on binary-wise checks as to whether areas are white-background areas or non-white-background areas.
Further, there is a need for an image-processing device which attends to image processing by detecting white-background areas and boundary areas thereof when image characteristics are changed as a choice between two alternatives based on binary-wise checks as to whether areas are white-background areas or non-white-background areas.
Moreover, there is a need for an image-processing device that can enhance sharpness of letters and line drawings reliably on white backgrounds by employing a simple device configuration while reproducing edges clearly in picture areas and suppressing moiré generation in mesh-dot image areas.
Further, there is a need for an image-processing device that can improve reproduction quality of letters and line drawings on white backgrounds by employing a simple device configuration, with a particular emphasis on detection of letter contours without detecting inner edges of letters that would be detected when straightforward edge detection is employed.

Image processing based on degree of white-background likeliness


The present invention aims to provide a transfer method and a transfer facility for an easily polymerizable substance that limits standing retention of the easily polymerizable substance in the feed pump, etc., and the generation and adherence of solid matter such as polymer or precipitate that accompanies such retention, in a facility in which respective feed pumps are disposed at the plurality of passages that branch off at the easily polymerizable substance inflow side and converge at the easily polymerizable substance outflow side. In this easily polymerizable substance transfer method, in the case where one feed pump 13 operates and the other feed pump 14 is stopped, a portion of the easily polymerizable substance is fed to feed pump 14 and second passage 12 in a direction that is opposite to the direction of flow of the easily polymerizable substance when feed pump 14 is activated. In this easily polymerizable substance transfer facility, a check valve 22 provided downstream to feed pump 14 has a hole in the valve plug that permits passage of the easily polymerizable substance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transfer method for an easily polymerizable substance like (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic ester, (meth)acrolein or the like, as well as for liquids containing such easily polymerizable substances, and to a facility therefore. More specifically, the present invention relates to a transfer method for an easily polymerizable substance and to a transfer facility therefore, which limit standing retention of the easily polymerizable substance in the feed pump, etc. inside the facility, and the generation of polymers that accompany such retention.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-92511, filed Mar. 28, 2002, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Such easily polymerizable substances as (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic ester and (meth)acrolein undergo polymerization extremely readily. When manufacturing or handling these substances, polymerized substances arise from these and, in some cases, necessitate stoppage of the device or process.
When manufacturing (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic ester and (meth)acrolein, conventionally known countermeasures to the aforementioned problem include: i) adding a polymerization inhibitor such as hydroquinone, phenothiazine, etc.; and, further, ii) performing a surface polishing treatment inside the device in order to prevent adherence of solid matter such as polymer material or precipitate to the inside of the device; iii) cooling (or, in some cases, heating) the device from the outside; and iv) preventing stay of fluid or retention. However, the conventional technology has yet to be successful in fully preventing the generation or adherence of solid matter like polymer or precipitate material
When transferring an easily polymerizable substance such as (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic ester or (meth)acrolein, a feed pump disposed along the transfer passage is typically employed. An emergency or a back-up feed pump, provided in case of malfunction of the main feed pump, and an auxiliary feed pump, for temporarily increasing transfer capacity, (the term "reserve feed pump" being employed hereinafter for both), are provided in parallel to the aforementioned main feed pump. So that they begin operating immediately in the event of an emergency, at least one of reserve feed pumps is always connected to the transfer passage and is filled with the easily polymerizable substance.
FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram showing an example of a transfer facility for an easily polymerizable substance in which the two feed pumps are disposed in parallel. Feed pumps 13 and 14 are respectively provided to a first passage 11 and a second passage 12 which branch off from each other at the easily polymerizable substance inflow side, and converge at the easily polymerizable substance outflow side in the transfer facility. Respective check valves 15 and 16 are provided at positions downstream to feed pumps 13 and 14, so that when one of either feed pumps 13 and 14 is stopped, the easily polymerizable substance does not flow from the outflow to the inflow side through the passage of the halted feed pump, or does not flow backward. In addition, strainers 17 and 18 for removing foreign material are provided at a position upstream from feed pumps 13 and 14.
However, in an easily polymerizable substance transfer facility of this type, in which at least one of emergency and at least one of auxiliary feed pumps are provided, the easily polymerizable substance is retained in the reserve feed pump, which is held in the halted stated, and in its strainer and the passage for the pump and the strainer. As a result, generation of solid matter such as polymer, becomes a problem. When such polymer material is generated, it becomes impossible to use the easily polymerizable substance transfer facility, and operational anomalies occur as a result of the polymer material.
In addition, when it becomes necessary to immediately switch to the reserve feed pump in the case where transferring a high-temperature (at least 40° C., for example) easily polymerizable substance, it is possible for heat shock to occur at the moment the high-temperature easily polymerizable substance is introduced into the passage for the reserve feed pump due to the temperature difference between the easily polymerizable substance and the cooler pipes. As a result of this heat shock, leakage of the easily polymerizable substance from the connections between pipes may occur, leading in some cases to damage of the facility.

Transporting method and transporting facility for easily polimerizable material


A stabilized depressed-index cladding ridge waveguide semiconductor laser diode having a graded (index of refraction) lower cladding layer.

In most semiconductor laser diode applications, it is desirable that the laser's threshold current be minimized. Thus, the trend has been toward devices containing (multiple-) quantum-well active regions. By operating at low currents, the devices generate less heat and, consequently, have longer lifetimes. However, in the pursuit of low threshold devices, the quality of the output beam has been somewhat neglected. Typically, the output beam is highly elliptical in shape, having far-field divergences in the planes parallel (.theta..sub.l) and perpendicular (.theta..sub.t) to the laser junction being on the order of 7.degree. and 40.degree., respectively, resulting in a far-field divergence ratio, p=.theta..sub.t /.theta..sub.l, of .about.5.7. For applications, such as, optical recording or laser coupling to an optical fiber, large divergence ratios are highly undesirable. Thus, recently some attention has been devoted to designing lasers with more circular output beams.
Both Yuri et al. (M. Yuri, A. Noma, I. Ohta, and M. Kazumura, `Reduction of beam divergence angles perpendicular to the junction planes by modulating the refractive index profile in AlGaAs laser diodes`, presented at the Fall 1991 meeting of the Japanese Society of Applied Physics) and Cockerill et al. (T. Cockerill, J. Honig, T. DeTemple, and J. Coleman, `Depressed index cladding graded barrier separate confinement single quantum well heterostructure laser,` Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 59, 2694, 1991) have introduced depressed-index cladding layers into their devices to significantly lower .theta..sub.t. A schematic of an AlGaAs-based laser diode containing these layers in shown in FIG. 1. In the figure is indicated the Al content of the various layers, where 10 refers to the n.sup.+ -GaAs substrate. On the surface of 10 is formed the lower cladding layer 12. Upon 12 is deposited the lower depressed-index cladding layer 14. The index of refraction of this layer is smaller than that of the surrounding layers since the index of refraction of AlGaAs materials is smallest for pure AlAs. On the surface of 14 is formed the lower spacer layer 16, followed by the active layer 18 and the upper spacer layer 20. Upon 20 is formed the upper depressed-index cladding layer 22 followed by the upper cladding layer 24. Lastly, upon the surface of 24 is formed the capping layer 26. Since light avoids low-index regions, the physical effect of the inclusion of the depressed-index cladding layers is to push the transverse-confined waveguide mode both toward the middle and ends of the structure. With greater light intensity present in the lower and upper cladding layers, .theta..sub.t decreases as desired. .GAMMA. remains approximately stationary since light is also pushed towards the middle (active layer) of the structure. More specifically, Cockerill et al. determined that for a broad-area graded-index separate confinement heterostructure device, .theta..sub.t was 27.degree. and 59.degree. for structures with and without the inclusion of the depressed-index cladding layers, respectively. Finally, in the above-referenced copending application of Kahen et al., a single depressed-index cladding layer in the lower cladding region of a ridge waveguide laser diode is implemented. By employing only a single depressed-index layer, the interaction of the field with the rib structure is enhanced, while sufficient spreading of the modal-field is obtained.
This Kahen et al. laser diode is quite effective since its basis is a ridge waveguide laser diode which is simple to manufacture. However, the structure can become unstable for large rib etch depths. More specifically, the modal field at the edges of the rib (where the etched rib contacts the upper cladding layer) can oscillate in a number of different transverse modes for ribs etched deeply into the upper cladding layer, resulting in .theta..sub.l being a strong function of the etch depth and the laser being susceptible to lateral multimoding for small output powers. These transverse modes have nodal structure not in the active region, but in the lower cladding layer and occur for the following reasons. The placement of depressed-index cladding layers nearby the active region effectively takes intensity away from the active layer and redistributes it into the tails of the transverse modal-field distribution. Since light decays quickly at the edges of the rib, the modal-field distribution is cut-off closer to the active layer, causing a greater proportion of the light to leak into the lower cladding layer region. To avoid excessive substrate absorption losses it is then necessary to either increase the thickness of the lower cladding layer or to include a lower depressed-index buffer layer as per commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 923,763 filed Aug. 3, 1992, pending, to T. Hayakawa entitled "Laser Diode". Either way a thick "waveguide" is set-up in the lower cladding layer between the edges of the lower depressed-index cladding layer and the (substrate) lower depressed-index buffer layer, where the nodal structure occurs within this "waveguide" and the dominant mode is determined by the depth of the rib etch. Since the effective transverse index of refraction is smaller for modes with greater nodal structure, the degree of lateral confinement (and the value of .theta..sub.l) is a function of the etch depth, making it difficult to control the shape of the output beam. Thus, the prior art has low manufacturing yields, since many of the devices would fall outside of desired specifications.

Depressed-index ridge waveguide laser diode containing a stabilizing region


The invention is based on the discovery that the gylcosylation enzyme GnT-4 increases glyocsylation and the stability of glucose transporter (Glut) family members, e.g., by increasing lectin binding. Modulators of GnT-4 activity can therefore be identified and used for the treatment of diabetes or pre-diabetes. In addition, inhibitors of GnT-4 activity can be used for the treatment of cancer.

The regulated secretion of insulin by the pancreatic beta cell modulates blood glucose levels within a limited range that facilitates normal metabolism. Increased glucose concentrations are sensed upon transport across the plasma membrane by Glucose Transporter glycoprotein resulting in insulin secretion. Activation of insulin receptors on various cell types diminishes circulating glucose levels by increasing glucose uptake and utilization, and reducing gluconeogenesis in the liver. Failures within this regulatory network can result in diabetes and associated pathologic syndromes that affect a large and growing percentage of the human population.
Glucose Transporters (Gluts) are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins expressed differentially among cell types and bearing distinct affinities for glucose and other saccharide ligands. One or more Glut family members are required by all viable cells to support cellular energy requirements in quiescent and activated metabolism. Altered Glut expression or transporter function may contribute the etiology of metabolic syndromes. For example, reduced pancreatic Glut-2 expression to 10% of normal in mice using an antisense-RNA approach was reported to induce diabetes. In normal contexts, pancreatic beta cell Glut-2 is expressed predominantly at the cell surface and is not sequestered among intracellular compartments. However, decreased Glut-2 expression and intracellular accumulation have been observed in animal models of diabetes, and following administration of a high-fat diet. Glut transporter deficiency at the cell surface attenuates the beta cell response to increased glucose concentrations, resulting in deficient insulin secretion and chronic hyperglycemia that may exacerbate the development of insulin resistance. Post-translational modification of Glut expression may contribute to a mechanism underlying normal glucose homeostasis and the etiology of diabetes.
The post-translational modification of Glut-2 includes a single N-glycosylation site conserved among all homologues of vertebrate species studied. N-glycans that reach the mammalian cell surface are typically multi-branched structures produced in the Golgi apparatus by sequential saccharide linkage formation by glycosyltransferase enzymes. N-glycan branching forms the necessary scaffolding for the construction of saccharide linkage patterns that can operate as ligands for lectin receptors. With the exception of the N-glycan branch initiated by β-4 linked N-acetylglucosamine addition, other major N-glycan branch structures have been assigned specific biologic functions in humans and mice, and in some cases, roles in genetic disease (Lowe and Marth, Annu Rev Biochem. 72:643-91, 2003).
Mannosyl (α-1,3-)-glycoprotein beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (also referred to as Mgat 4 or GnT-4) is involved in N-glycan synthesis. For example, the Mgat4a-encoded GnT-4a initiates the β-4 linked N-acetylglucosamine branch on the α-3 linked core mannose (FIG. 1A). The mouse Mgat4a gene is highly conserved and selectively expressed among normal tissues and cell types, with highest levels in the pancreas and intestinal tract (FIG. 1B). The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery of dietary regulation of β-4 linked N-acetylglucosamine branch expression on Glut-2 and a role for this N-glycan structure in controlling pancreatic glucose transport and insulin secretion.

Regulation of glucose and insulin levels by GnT-4 glycosyltransferase activity

The Regents of the University of California


A reflection characteristic measuring apparatus for measuring a characteristic, such as a gloss, of a sample surface. The apparatus includes at least one illuminator for illuminating a sample surface to be measured with light and a plurality of light receiving sections which are arranged axially symmetrically to each other with respect to a normal to an intended object surface and which output two-dimensional light receiving data. A deriving section derives a characteristic of the sample surface such as gloss based on a weighted average obtained by applying a weighting factor to each of the light receiving data outputted from the light receiving sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflection characteristic measuring apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample surface such as a gloss of the sample surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a reflection characteristic measuring apparatus for measuring the gloss of a sample surface. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a construction of a conventional reflection characteristic measuring apparatus 100.
As shown in FIG. 18, the reflection characteristic measuring apparatus 100 includes an incident-side optical system 101 and a reflection-side optical system 102. The incident-side optical system 101 outputs light toward a sample surface S set in a proper position, with a certain angle with respect to the normal G passing a certain point on the sample surface S. The reflected light from the sample surface S is incident onto the reflection-side optical system 102 disposed at a position with a certain angle with respect to the normal G.
The incident-side optical system 101 and the reflection-side optical system 102 have diaphragms 103 and 104, respectively. The diaphragm 103 of the incident-side optical system 101 is adapted to direct the light from a light source 105 toward the sample surface S within a predetermined opening angle. The diaphragm 104 of the reflection-side optical system 102 is adapted to direct the reflected light from the sample surface S toward a light receiving surface of a light detector 106 within a predetermined light detection angle. The gloss of the sample surface S is measured, using an output from the light detector 106 which has received the thus-regulated reflected light.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-29258 discloses an apparatus for measuring the color and the gloss of a sample surface to be measured. The apparatus is provided with a line sensor for receiving light reflected from the sample surface in the direction of the normal, and first and second illumination optical systems disposed at such positions as to illuminate the sample surface with light inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the normal. The one of the illumination optical systems includes a mirror for switching over an optical path between a first position in which the light from a light source provided in the illumination optical system is guided to the sample surface, and a second position in which the light incident to the illumination optical system is reflected to a position different from the position of the light source; and an image sensor for receiving the light reflected from the mirror in the second position. In measuring the color of the sample surface, the first and the second illumination optical systems irradiate the light, with the mirror being set in the first position, and the line sensor receives the light reflected from the sample surface. In measuring the gloss of the sample surface, the first illumination optical system irradiates the light, with the mirror being set in the second position, and the image sensor receives the light reflected from the sample surface.
In use of the reflection characteristic measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 18, as shown in FIG. 19, if the setting position of the sample surface S is tilted by the angle θ, the direction along which the reflected light from the sample surface S is incident onto the reflection-side optical system is tilted by the angle 2θ with respect to the original condition before the tilting. In FIG. 19, the diaphragm 104, the light detector 106, and the like are not illustrated. In this condition, as shown in FIG. 20, assuming that the focal length of a lens element 107 of the reflection-side optical system 102 through which the reflected light is directed toward the light detector 106 is defined as f, the focus position is displaced by f×tan 2θ on the focus plane with respect to the focus position M of reflected light obtained in a condition that the sample surface S is not tilted. In FIG. 20, the solid line shown by the symbol A1 indicates reflected light to be obtained in the case where the sample surface S is not tilted, and the dotted line shown by the symbol A2 indicates reflected light to be obtained in the case where the sample surface S is tilted by the angle θ.
In the conventional measuring apparatus 100, the dimensions of the aperture of the diaphragm 104 provided in the reflection-side optical system 102 are fixed. Accordingly, if the sample surface S is tilted as mentioned above, the amount of reflected light detected by the light detector 106 is varied with respect to a proper condition that the sample surface S is not tilted relative to the measuring apparatus 100. This results in failure of accurate detection of the gloss of the sample surface S.
Also, even if the sum of the amount of reflected light detected by the light detector 106 is identical concerning sample surfaces whose gloss is to be measured, the sample surfaces include sample surfaces having a relatively small ratio of specular reflection light component to diffusion light component as shown in FIG. 21A, and sample surfaces having a relatively large ratio of specular reflection light component to diffusion light component as shown in FIG. 21B. The curves (1) and (2) in FIGS. 21A and 21B show magnitudes of intensities of reflected light with respect to a distance from the reflection point Z. As is obvious from FIGS. 21A and 21B, the intensity of reflected light passing a relevant point on the curve (1), (2) is increased, as the distance from the reflection point Z to the point on the curve (1), (2) is increased.
In the conventional reflection characteristic measuring apparatus 100, the dimensions of the aperture of the diaphragm 104 provided in the reflection-side optical system 102 are fixed, and the gloss of the sample surface is measured based on the sum of light passing through the aperture. Accordingly, if the sum of the amount of reflected light detected by the light detector 106 is identical concerning the sample surfaces to be measured, all the sample surfaces are determined to have the same degree of gloss, which makes it impossible to distinguish the sample surfaces one from the other. Even with use of the apparatus disclosed in the above publication, the drawback cannot be overcome.

Apparatus for measuring reflection characteristics of object surfaces


A HomePlug apparatus is electrically connected to a power network and includes a HomePlug processing circuit and a surge protecting circuit. The HomePlug processing circuit is electrically connected to the surge protecting circuit. The surge protecting circuit has at least one inductor, at least one capacitor and at least one arrester. The inductor is electrically connected to the power network. The arrester is electrically connected to a ground. The inductor, the capacitor and the arrester are connected in series to guide a surge originated from the power network to the ground.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a network apparatus and, in particular, to a power network apparatus.
2. Related Art
The HomePlug apparatus is a network apparatus. The terminals of the HomePlug apparatus communicate with each other through power lines for supplying power, and data transmission is performed through the power lines. Thus, the trouble of arranging network wires and layout can be avoided at homes, schools, and companies.
Because noise exists on the power lines, the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) of IEEE 802.11 serves as the media access method and the frequency band (from 4.3 to 20.9 MHz) with the less noise on the power lines is used for the data transmission in a power network. In addition, the power network increases the transmission speed and the ability against the interference by the way of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation.
Generally speaking, the power lines may have a surge generated due to the factor such as a thunderbolt or interference. In order to prevent the impact caused by the surge, a surge protecting circuit is usually provided to absorb the surge.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional power network apparatus 1 includes a power network processing circuit 11, two capacitors 12 and 13 and an arrester 14. The power network processing circuit 11 is electrically connected to a power network 2 to receive/transmit an information signal, and demodulate/modulate or decode/encode the information signal so as to reproduce a data signal from the information signal or to mix the data signal into the information signal. The power network apparatus 1 may provide the data signal to a computer, a digital home appliance or a calculator apparatus.
The capacitors 12 and 13 and the arrester 14 serve as a surge protecting circuit and are disposed between the power network processing circuit 11 and the power network 2. The first ends of the capacitors 12 and 13 are electrically connected to a node S, and the second ends of the capacitors 12 and 13 are electrically connected to two ends of the power network 2, respectively. One end of the arrester 14 is electrically connected to the node S and the other end thereof is electrically connected to the ground. The surge on the power network 2 may be properly buffered and guided to the ground through the capacitor 12 and the arrester 14 or through the capacitor 13 and the arrester 14. Thus, it is possible to prevent the surge from being inputted to the power network processing circuit 11 to damage the circuit.
Under this architecture, however, the capacitors 12 and 13 may absorb the information signal on the power network processing circuit 11 and the power network 2 so that the intensity of the information signal is attenuated and the data transmission rate is decreased and the data transmission quality is influenced.
Therefore, it is an important subject to provide a power network apparatus capable of preventing the above-mentioned problems from happening and improving the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Apparatus and surge protecting circuit thereof


Methods and apparatus for air content and pressure measurement of sample fluid, especially sample fluid in association with an infusion pump. Volume change in a chamber as the chamber transitions between negative and positive pressure relates to the air content in the chamber. In particular, in an infusion pump, the volume change of infusion fluid as it transitions between being under negative pressure and positive pressure within a cassette central chamber, e.g., pumping chamber, relates to the air content in the infusion fluid. The outlet pressure of the cassette central chamber, e.g., blood pressure, can be monitored based on the cassette central chamber pressure.

There is a need in the field for methods of measuring air content and pressure of a sample fluid. Particularly in an infusion pump, it is critical to determine the air content of the infusion fluid and the fluid pressure down stream of the outlet valve of the infusion pump.


A vehicle sun visor includes a visor body and a fixed base mounted within a storage space defined in a vehicle cabin ceiling. A linearly movable member is movable along a first guide rail. A movable support member is movable along a second guide rail and is pivotally coupled to the linearly movable member. The visor body is movable between a storage position and a first light shielding position along the windshield. In addition, the visor support may include a support member and a guide device. The guide device allows the visor body to move along a predetermined path between a first light shielding position and a second light shielding position along a side window, while one side of the visor body faces the interior of a vehicle cabin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle sun visors adapted to be mounted to a vehicle cabin ceiling.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a vehicle sun visor has a visor body pivotally supported by a horizontal rod portion of a support rod that is mounted to a vehicle cabin ceiling. The visor body is able to move between a storage position adjacent to the vehicle cabin ceiling and a light shielding position adjacent to the front windshield as the visor body pivots about the axis of the horizontal rod portion of the support rod.
Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 62-197422 teaches a vehicle sun visor that has a support device enabling a visor body to move into and be withdrawn from a storage space defined within the vehicle cabin ceiling. The visor body can pivot about a horizontal rod when the visor body has reached the end or limit of the withdrawing movement (i.e., a fully withdrawn position).
Therefore, according to the arrangement of this publication, the appearance of the vehicle cabin ceiling will not be degraded by the constant exposure of the visor body, since the visor body can be concealed within the storage space of the vehicle cabin ceiling when the visor body is in a storage position.
However, in order to move the visor body to a desired light shielding position, it is necessary to initially fully withdraw the visor body to the end of the withdrawal stroke. Then, the visor body can pivot to a desired angular position about the horizontal rod portion. Therefore, the resulting operation is relatively cumbersome and somewhat troublesome. In addition, it is difficult to motorize the visor body in order to enable an automatic movement of the visor body.
Further, a sun visor is also known that has a visor body movable between a front light shielding position adjacent to a front windshield, and a side light shielding position adjacent to a side window, in addition to being moveable between a storage position adjacent to a vehicle cabin ceiling and the front light shielding position. To this end, a substantially L-shaped support rod having a horizontal rod portion and a vertical rod portion is rotatably mounted to the vehicle cabin ceiling. More specifically, the vertical rod portion is rotatably mounted to a boss portion of a bracket that is fixed to the vehicle cabin ceiling. The visor body is rotatably mounted to the horizontal rod portion. Therefore, the visor body can move between the front light shielding position and the storage position as the visor body pivots about the axis of the horizontal rod portion. In addition, the visor body can move between the front light shielding position and the side light shielding position as the visor body pivots about the axis of the vertical rod portion.
During the movement of the visor body from the front light shielding position to the side light shielding position, an end of the visor body positioned furthest from the vertical pivotal axis moves along a circular path about the vertical pivotal axis. The circular path has a radius substantially corresponding to the horizontal length of the visor body. Therefore, the driver and/or the passenger must typically move himself or herself out of the circular path of the visor body during such movement of the visor body. Therefore, the operation of the visor body interferes with the driver and/or passenger and is troublesome in this respect.
Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 58-19813 teaches a sun visor that is configured to substantially reduce the path of movement of the visor body from a front light shielding position to a side light shielding position. The radius of movement is approximately half of the radius in comparison with the previously described circular path. As shown in FIG. 27, according to the sun visor of this publication the end of a horizontal rod portion 101 of an L-shaped support rod 100, located away from the vertical rod portion 100a, is bent substantially vertically downward to form a vertical bent portion 102. The vertical bent portion 102 is rotatably inserted into a hinge member 105. The hinge member 105 has a horizontal extension 106 to which a central portion (with respect to the horizontal direction) of a visor body 110 is pivotally mounted.
However, according to this configuration of the above publication as the visor body 110 is pivoted from a front light shielding position to a side light shielding position, the visor body 110 pivots in one direction about the vertical rod portion 100a of the support rod 100. The visor body 110 is also simultaneously pivoted in an opposite direction about the vertical bent portion 102 located at the other end of the horizontal rod portion 101 of the support rod 100. Therefore, the complex pivotal movement of the visor body 110 tends to become unstable, resulting in relative degradation of the operability of the sun visor.


The present disclosure relates generally to mechanisms for the estimation of location privacy risk, comprising: building one or more trajectory models from auxiliary information (e.g., one or more maps, one or more routes); capturing common behavioral patterns (e.g., shortest route(s),/fastest route(s)); identifying, given unlinked trajectories for a plurality of users, most likely linkages using the trajectory model(s); eliminating one or more unlikely linkages based on deviation from the shortest route(s) and/or the fastest route(s); measuring privacy as the percentage of linkages correctly identified; and outputting the measured privacy.

One conventional mechanism to control information release utilizes anonymization. Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional Chaumian Mix mechanism is shown. As seen, digital mixes 101 and 103 create hard-to-trace communications using a chain of proxies such that an external observer will not be able to "link" output messages 105A, 105B and 105C to input messages 107A, 107B and 107C (that is, the digital mixes create "unlinkability"). Such mechanisms are typically used in anonymizing IP networks, such as Tor and Onion routing.
In recent years, privacy protection has become a critical issue for location based services (sometimes referred to herein as "LBS") users. For example, a massive volume of spatio-temporal data is available that potentially reveals user habits, interests and activities (and which can be exploited for illicit gain via theft, blackmail or even physical violence).
Several studies show how to help protect users by anonymizing location traces, i.e., data that captures a sequence of space-time points visited by the users. Referring, for example, to Mix Zones: User Privacy in Location-aware Services, Laboratory for Communication Engineering, University of Cambridge, Beresford et al., a set of users {a, b, c} enter a mix-zone at time t (t is not an "instant", it is a "time window"). The same set of users leave the mix-zone at time t but with different pseudo-identifiers (e.g., {a, b, c}→{q, r, s}). The goal is to ensure that entering and exiting users cannot be "linked".
However, "side-channels" (e.g., timing channel, social side-channel, local spatial constraints (Markovian)) have been used in the past as auxiliary information to deanonymize data (that is, where anonymized data+auxiliary information=deanonymized data).
One specific conventional mechanism has examined linkages that can be deduced using timing information heuristics such as left/right turn (in the United States you drive on the right hand side of the road, so a left turn takes more time).
As mentioned above, utilizing mix-zones to break trajectories into unlinkable segments can help increase privacy significantly. However, conventional models typically assume that attackers use timing analysis and/or local factors (e.g., on roads in the United States a right turn is typically faster than a left turn). As described herein, many of these conventional assumptions are inadequate; and they may result in an over-estimation of privacy.

Privacy risk metrics in location based services

International Business Machines Corporation