The composing circuit outputs a lower voltage out of voltages output from the constant voltage generation circuit and the dummy pump circuit as a voltage to the sensing circuit. The sensing circuit compares voltages to generate a pump activation signal for activating the pump circuit. Since when an external power supply voltage is a low voltage, the voltage applied to the sensing circuit will be an output voltage of the dummy pump circuit having the same output characteristics as those of the pump circuit in place of the reference voltage, no pump activation signal is generated. As a result, when the external power supply voltage is a low voltage, power consumption can be suppressed without uselessly outputting a pump activation signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and, more particularly, a semiconductor device having an internal power supply voltage generation circuit.
2. Description of the Background Art
Some of semiconductor devices are provided with various kinds of internal power supply voltage generation circuits for generating a voltage level different from an external power supply voltage applied to an internal circuit from the outside of the semiconductor device by using the external power supply voltage. In recent years, while demanded is a circuit structure with an operation voltage lowered in order to reduce power consumption, because a required operation voltage level varies according to the purpose of use, also demanded is provision of an internal power supply voltage generation circuit which generates a higher voltage level as compared with an external power supply voltage, for example, a booster circuit.
Circuit structure of a booster circuit includes, for example, a constant voltage generation circuit for outputting a reference voltage whose level is fixed independently of an external power supply voltage, a pump circuit for generating a boosted voltage level, a shifter for shifting a boosted voltage level by a certain rate, and a sensing circuit for comparing an output of the shifter and an output of the constant voltage generation circuit to control pumping operation so as to maintain a boosted voltage level at a desired value based on the comparison result.
In addition, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-63019 discloses a booster circuit which reduces power consumption at the time of stand-by of an internal power supply voltage generation circuit in a semiconductor storage device. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-280923 discloses a booster circuit with suppressed effects of temperature dependency and threshold voltage dependency of an internal power supply voltage generation circuit.
In these circuits, however, when an external power supply voltage is at a level not more than a target voltage level, as a boosted voltage level, because it is increased with an increase in the voltage level of the external power supply voltage, only a voltage level extremely lower than the maximum output level of the pump circuit can be output. In other words, when the external power supply voltage is a low voltage, the maximum output level of the pump circuit and an output level of the constant voltage generation circuit might be close to each other or inverted.
While the sensing circuit continues outputting an activation signal to instruct on pumping operation when determining that a boosted voltage level is low, when the external power supply voltage is a low voltage, because the pump circuit has no output which obtains such a level as inactivates an activation signal of the sensing circuit, it will be instructed to execute pumping operation all the time.
As a result, characteristics that power consumption of the pump circuit is increased will be obtained.
Although in particular, when the voltage level of the external power supply voltage is high as an operation voltage guaranteed by the device, this increase of power consumption is not a great problem, the lower the voltage level of the external power supply voltage becomes, the greater the effect on the device exerted by the increase in power consumption will be to pose a problem.

Semiconductor device having internal power supply voltage generation circuit


A detector bar, a detector formed from a number of detector bars, and a computed-tomography unit including such a detector is disclosed, each detector bar being formed from a number of individual modules. A detector bar has a module carrier for mechanically retaining the individual modules, and a printed circuit board, structurally separate from the module carrier, for making electric contact with the individual modules. The individual modules can thus be exchanged without disturbance, and simple aligning of the individual modules can thus be carried out while electric contact is simultaneously made.

EP 0 847 596 B1 discloses a detector for a tomography unit that is formed from a plurality of individual modules that are directly connected, both mechanically and electrically, to a component carrier assigned to the detector. Each individual module has detector elements arranged to form an array. The detector is constructed such that each individual module can be exchanged without being destroyed. The simultaneous embodiment of the electric and mechanical contact between the individual modules and a component carrier is, however, associated with a number of disadvantages, particularly given a requisite alignment of the individual modules relative to one another.
Making electric contact with the individual modules must be executed in such a way that an electric contact remains reliably made even given a displacement of the individual modules associated with the alignment. However, making electric contact with the component carrier in a way insensitive to displacement is associated with increased outlay on design and more complicated production processes for the corresponding contact elements (contact bump and contact surface).
Furthermore, in the known case a reliable electric contact between the component carrier and the individual module is possible only when the contact elements are held together with a certain expenditure of force. However, the mechanical interactions associated therewith complicate easy and precise alignment of the individual modules.

Detector bar or detector formed from a number of detector bars, and computed-tomography unit with such a detector


An arrangement for a flag pole which exhibits, extending along the outside of the flag pole, a raisable holder for a flag, standard, banner or similar, whereby a line is so arranged and attached to the aforementioned flag holder as to run over a line deflector pulley situated at the top of the flag pole and down to the ground. The flag holder and a number of mast track slides and a counterweight are so arranged as to be guided by a guide extending in the longitudinal sense of the flag pole on the outside thereof, and a flag, etc., is so arranged as to be detachably attached to the aforementioned guided moving parts. In addition guide runners, which are pivotally mounted and capable of lateral movement to a certain extent, are attached to the flag holder.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for a flag pole which exhibits, extending along the outside of the flag pole, a raisable holder for a flag, standard, banner or similar, whereby a line is so arranged and attached to the aforementioned flag holder as to run over a line deflector pulley situated at the top of the flag pole and down to the ground, in conjunction with which the flag holder and a number of mast track slides and a counterweight are so arranged as to be guided by a guide extending in the longitudinal sense of the flag pole on the outside thereof, and a flag, etc., is so arranged as to be detachably attached to the aforementioned guided moving parts, and the flag holder is formed by a metal profile rod, at the upper part of which an attachment upright for a flag hanging rod is supported extending perpendicularly outwards from the pole.
Previously described arrangements for this purpose are complicated and not all that durable, because the flag in this case is affected by significant forces, especially when the wind is blowing strongly.
Previously disclosed through DE 4,141,688 A1 is a flag holder arrangement comprising a profile rail capable of attachment along the outside of a flag pole. An attachment rail for a standard is capable of being accommodated in this rail, and a number of attachments for the standard are distributed along this attachment rail. The attachments, which are formed from attachment rings, are screwed securely in place so as to extend perpendicularly outwards from the rail and thus from the flag pole. The disadvantage of this previously disclosed design is that the attachment rail is guided directly in the profile rail, and that the risk is considerable that the attachment rail cannot slide easily and be displaced internally in the profile rail, for example when the wind imposes stresses on the standard. Inclination of the rail is thus not permitted to any major degree.
Also previously disclosed through DE 3,010,029 A1 is a flag holder arrangement in which a standard is held by means of a number of standard holder guide devices capable of being accommodated in a guide groove integrated with the flag pole.
These devices are held together with a line at a mutual distance from one another. Attachments for standards are rigidly attached to these standard holder guide devices designed as sliding pieces. The risk is also present in this previously disclosed holder arrangement of the devices becoming trapped, for example when they are placed under an uneven load.
The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problems and to function reliably.
The aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that a number of pivotally mounted guide runners are attached to the holder rod at a mutual distance from one another and are accommodated in such a way that they are guided by the guide via a number of horizontal bearing shafts which extend across the aforementioned flag attachment uprights and the flag hanging rod.


The present invention provides novel compounds, N.sup.4 -methylcytidine 5'-triphosphate (N.sup.4 -methyl-CTP) and N.sup.4 -methyl-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate (N.sup.4 -methyl-dCTP). These compounds serve as substrates for RNA or DNA polymerases for incorporation of the N.sup.4 -methyl-C moiety into oligo- and polynucleotides. This is advantageous for certain purposes. For example, DNA sequence analysis using the standard dideoxy chain termination method can be carried out using N.sup.4 -methyl-dCTP in the reaction mixture instead of dCTP. In the gel electrophoresis separation of the resulting oligonucleotides, artifacts of band compression and band distention are eliminated. The novel compounds may also be useful in other applications of primer extension reactions, for example, nucleic acid amplification schemes that employ transcription reactions or RNA replicases.

In the gel electrophoretic resolution of oligonucleotides synthesized by a DNA or RNA polymerase-catalyzed reaction, artifacts occur when local sequence permits areas of secondary structure to occur in single-stranded nucleic acids, even under nominally denaturing conditions.
Resolution of DNA sequencing reaction mixtures by electrophoresis through denaturing polyacrylamide gels is often locally impaired by irregularities in the spacing of the electrophoretic bands. This phenomenon usually occurs as "band compression", a reduction in the spacing between consecutive bands, which may render their correct reading impossible. Band compression in sequencing gels occurs when the corresponding local nucleotide sequence contains an inverted repeat, and it is thought to arise from formation of hairpin structures in the single-stranded DNA fragments, despite the presence of 7M urea in the polyacrylamide gel. To alleviate this problem, the dGTP in the synthesis mixtures has been substituted by 7-deaza-dGTP (Barr PJ et al. (1986) BioTechniques.4:428-432; Mizusawa S et al. (1986) Nucleic Acids Res. 14:1319-1324) or by dITP. However, the use of 7-deaza-dGTP does not lead to complete resolution of band compressions caused by extended inverted repeats (which give rise to particularly stable hairpin loops) , and use of dITP often leads to false stops at G-sites.
In applications of a polymerase chain reaction, hairpin structures formed by nearby G:C-rich tracts of a single-stranded template can reduce the fidelity of copying, resulting in amplification of incomplete and of incorrect sequences when compared to the original template.
Replacement of cytosines by N.sup.4 -methylcytosines (N.sup.4 -methylC) in polynucleotides has been shown to lower the stability of the polynucleotide complexes. The reduced stability of the G.N.sup.4 -methylC pair, compared to the G.C pair, has been documented in short self-complementary oligonucleotides (Fazakerley GV et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15:2191-2200; Butkus V et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15:8467-8478). When those data are compared with the results obtained in a comparison of the melting temperatures of poly(G).poly(C) and poly(7-deazaG).poly(C) (Seela F et al. (1982) Biochemistry 21:4338-4343), the destabilization imparted to the G.C base pair by N.sup.4 -methylation of the cytosine appears to be much greater than the destabilization of the G.C pair caused by substituting 7-deazaguanine for guanine.
N.sup.4 -methyl-2'-deoxycytidine has been synthesized previously and incorporated into chemically synthesized oligonucleotides (Butkus et al., supra) . Conversion of C residues in RNA to N.sup.4 -methylC has been reported by Draper DE (1984) Nucleic Acids Res. 12:989-1002.
The duplex poly(7-deazaG).poly(C) shows only slightly lower thermal stability, compared to poly(G).poly(C), with T.sub.m values of 74.degree. C. and 75.degree. C., respectively, measured in 0.2M sodium EDTA at pH 5.3 (Seela et al., supra). In contrast to this moderate effect, the destabilization of the G.C pair achieved by the substitution of N.sup.4 -methylcytosine for cytosine is more substantial: for the duplex formed from a fully self-complementary dodecadeoxyribonucleotide, conversion of only two base pairs from G.C to G.N.sup.4 -methylC resulted in a change of T.sub.m from 60.degree. C. to 55.degree. C., measured in 0.1M NaCl, 0.2 mM EDTA, at 0.24 mM total nucleotide concentration (Butkus et al., supra), and for the duplex formed from the hexamer d-CGCGCG, change of the two central base pairs from G.C to G.N.sup.4 -methylC is reported to depress the T.sub.m by about 19.degree. C., measured in D.sub.2 O solution containing 150 mM NaCl, 10 mM phosphate (pH 7.4), and 0.2 mM EDTA at 48 mM total nucleotide concentration (Fazakerley et al., supra). At the polynucleotide level, complete replacement of cytosines in poly(I).poly(C) by N.sup.4 -methylcytosines lowers the T.sub.m by at least 50.degree. C., and 39% replacement of cytosines by N.sup.4 -methylcytosines results in a T.sub.m depression of 15.degree. C. (Brimacombe RLC & Reese CB (1966) J. Mol. Biol. 18:529-540).

N.sup.4 -methyl-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate and its use in polymerase-catalyzed nucleic acid syntheses


A wrist rest assembly has a base and a layer of resilient gel supported above the base. The wrist rest assembly is for use adjacent a device operated by a person's hands or fingers, such as a computer keyboard, lap-top or portable computer, computer mouse or other input device. A layer of resilient nonwoven material is disposed between the base and at least a portion of the layer of gel to define, in combination with the layer of gel, a resilient wrist rest support structure supported from the base. A flexible liquid-impervious layer is disposed between the layer of resilient gel and the layer of resilient nonwoven web material.

This invention relates to a wrist rest assembly, and more specifically, to a lightweight, inexpensive and portable wrist rest assembly for use adjacent a device operated by a person's hands or fingers, such as a computer keyboard, lap-top or portable computer, computer mouse or other input device.
The growing use of computers and their associated input devices has led to a tremendous increase in Repetitive Stress Injuries among computer users. Examples of Repetitive Stress Injuries include aching hands, shoulders and neck, and particularly disorders relating to the wrists and hands, with the most common disorder being Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is characterized by soreness, tenderness and weakness of the muscles of the thumb resulting from pressure on the median nerve at the point at which it goes through the carpal tunnel of the wrist. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may result from long periods of repetitive motion with the hands and fingers, such as from manipulating a computer keyboard, lap-top or portable computer, computer mouse or other input device.
As the general public has become more aware of the dangers of Repetitive Stress Injuries, the demand for products that help to alleviate these disorders has grown rapidly. Thus, numerous arrangements have been proposed for supporting the hands and wrists while they are used to manipulate computer input devices, and for absorbing the vibrations which result from using such computer input devices. Such arrangements include vibration absorbing structures for supporting keyboards and the like, and cushioning support pads (e.g., foam or gel pads) for supporting a user's wrists or arms.
One such wrist support structure is the 3M Gel-Filled Adjustable Wrist Rest, commercially available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn. The 3M wrist rest has a rigid base assembly upon which is mounted an elongate wrist support pad. The pad is formed from a layer of resilient gel mounted on the base assembly and covered by a liquid impervious cover. The layer of gel in the pad helps maintain a user's wrists in a neutral position with a portion of the layer of gel conforming to the supported wrists to distribute the weight of the wrists over a wide area while affording significant motion of the wrists along the top surface of the elongate pad. The 3M Gel-Filled Wrist Rest is the subject of Kirchhoff et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,154 (which is incorporated herein by reference). Although quite effective, the 3M wrist rest is not readily portable due to its weight (the gel material is rather dense) and rigid base configuration. Further, gel material is relatively expensive and the cost of the 3M wrist rest is thus prohibitive for a large segment of the market.
Other gel-based wrist rests are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,099 to Sereboff and U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,491 to Mayn. The Sereboff '099 patent discloses a wrist support system which has a liquid containing pack that is filled with either a liquid or a gel composition. The liquid containing pack is for resiliently supporting and conforming to the contours of the palm and wrist area when a user is operating a keyboard. The liquid containing pack is releasably fastenable to a base to form a reconfigurable wrist support system.
The Mayn '491 patent discloses a gel wrist support for computer users. The wrist support has a sealed, moisture proof envelope filled with gel and covered with a soft material. The wrist support is cooled in a freezer to serve as a therapeutic gel cold pack that is applied to the user's wrists during use (to cushion, absorb heat and reduce pain and inflammation).
Prior gel filled wrist rests have the severe drawback of a lack of portability due to their excessive weight. Users of multiple computers may desire to have a separate wrist rest for the input devices at each computer terminal. Additionally, users who travel with lap-top or portable computers also may also want to use a wrist rest. Further, the gel material used in such wrist rest structures is relatively expensive. Thus, many users cannot afford to purchase such wrist rests and forego the protection these structures provide.


A method of retrieving a vial from a carrier includes the steps of: contacting a vial contained within a carrier with a gripper assembly to shift the position of the container to one end of the carrier and to adjust the position of the carrier on a platform from a diverted position to a retrieval position; lifting the vial from the carrier with the gripper assembly; and returning the vial to the carrier with the gripper assembly. Such a method can improve the accuracy and precision of moving the vial to and from the carrier for dispensing.

In mail order, central fill and large retail pharmacies, prescription drugs are dispensed in a high volume. For such services, it is known to use an automatic pill dispensing system to carry out the dispensing of the prescription drugs automatically at a rapid rate.
In some high volume systems, separate conveyors and vial carriers may be used to convey vials to and from the automated dispensing apparatus. The vial carriers are typically employed to prevent a vial from toppling over as it is conveyed at high speeds. In many high volume dispensing operations, vials of the same size are filled consecutively (in many cases with the same drug), so carriers of similar size are also used. The vials may be labeled prior to or after filling and/or capping.
A known automatic pill dispensing system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,541 to Williams et al. This system has the capacity to select an appropriate vial, label the vial, fill the vial with a desired quantity of a selected pharmaceutical tablet, apply a cap to the filled vial, and convey the labeled, filled, capped vial to an offloading station for retrieval. The system has a large number of different bins, or cells, each of which is filled with a specific drug. Two robotic arms transfer each vial between stations for accomplishing many of the various above-mentioned tasks. Counting and dispensing from the cells is carried out with air and suction applied to the cell to agitate pills and direct them to a dispensing outlet, where they are counted as they are dispensed. An updated version of this system is illustrated and described in, for example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009-0178464, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. In this later version of the system, only one robotic arm is incorporated, and the vial selection and labeling tasks are performed before the robotic arm picks up the vial. In each instance, the air/suction-based dispensing technique can provide accurate counting and dispensing at high speeds.
It may be desirable to provide a high volume dispensing system that capitalizes on advantages inherent in the Williams et al. type automated dispensing machine

System and method for high-volume filling of pharmaceutical prescriptions


A system and method for selectively engaging and disengaging auxiliary equipment to avoid gear clash in a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a transmission, a transfer case, and a transmission controller. The transmission has a plurality of gears for establishing a plurality of gear ratios. The transfer case is coupled to the transmission by an output shaft. The transmission controller is in communication with a plurality of control devices for controlling the operation of the transmission. The controller includes control logic for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the auxiliary equipment.

Commercial vehicles such as fire truck pumpers, sewer cleaners, and oil field pumpers include an auxiliary gearbox or transfer case that is connected to the output shaft of the vehicle's transmission. In auxiliary equipment mode, the transfer case drives auxiliary equipment, and the transmission controller provides a secondary mode of operation. A secondary mode of operation could be a single forward range or all ranges with a shift schedule specific to the auxiliary equipment.
The process of transfer case engagement and disengagement with auxiliary equipment takes place with the transmission output shaft locked by applying locking clutches. The locking clutch application is referred to as Neutral Very Low (NVL) range. In NVL, auxiliary equipment engagement and disengagement is difficult to achieve when gear teeth do not line up properly such that a "gear-clash" condition exists. "Gear-clash" in the transfer case cannot be overcome with a transfer case actuator. Operators will attempt to eliminate "gear-clash" by selecting drive or reverse. A high failure rate of transfer case actuators is attributed to "gear-clash".
Thus, there is a need for a system and method to preventing "gear-clash". The system and method for preventing "gear-clash" should operate during engagement and disengaging of the auxiliary equipment.


One aspect of the invention provides polymer conjugated MetAP2 inhibitors. While not being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that coupling the MetAP2 inhibitory core via the linkers described herein provides compounds with superior efficacy to the parent small molecules and superior pharmacokinetic profiles. In one aspect of the invention, the polymer conjugated MetAP2 inhibitors are useful in methods of treating disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer conjugated MetAP2 inhibitor.

Helmut Ringsdorf provided a theoretical framework for the design of polymer conjugates of small molecule drugs over thirty years ago (See Ringsdorf, "Structure and Properties of Pharmacologically Active Polymers", J. POLYMER SCI.: Symposium No. 51, 135-153 (1975)). While many conjugates have been synthesized and evaluated in animals, few have progressed to clinical trials and those trials have been largely disappointing. The identification of polymer drug conjugates that represent improvements over the parent small molecules remains an area of active research.
Fumagillin is a small molecule which has been used as an antimicrobial and antiprotozoal agent. Its physiochemical properties and method of production are well known (See U.S. Pat. No. 2,803,586 (Peterson, et al., incorporated herein by reference) and Turner, J. R. et al., The Stereochemistry of Fumagillin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 48, 733-735 (1962)). The fermentation product, fumagillin, may be hydrolyzed to yield the alcohol fumagillol which in turn may be converted into various derivatives including carbamoylfumagillol, MW 325. The synthesis and preparation of carbamoylfumagillol and some small molecule derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,172.
Fumagillin and related compounds are believed to exert their biological effects through the inhibition of methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP2), a metalloprotease. This enzyme removes N-terminal methionine from nascent cellular proteins. (See Tucker, L. A., et al. "Ectopic Expression of Methionine Aminopeptidase-2 Causes Cell Transformation and Stimulates Proliferation", Oncogene 27, 3967 (2008).)
Carbamoylfumagillol and derivatives as well as other inhibitors of MetAP2 have shown therapeutic benefits in preclinical and clinical studies. These compounds inhibit cell proliferation and angiogenesis as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,172 (Kishimoto, et al., incorporated herein by reference). One of these derivatives, chloroacetylcarbamoylfumagillol (TNP-470) has been extensively studied. (See H. Mann-Steinberg, et al., "TNP-470: The Resurrection of the First Synthetic Angiogenesis Inhibitor", Chapter 35 in Folkman and Figg, Angiogenesis: An Integrative Approach from Science to Medicine, Springer NY (2008).) TNP-470 has shown activity against many cancers, including lung cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. Because of dose-limiting neurotoxicity, TNP-470 has been tested using multiple dosing regimens, but these attempts to limit its toxicity have been unsuccessful. Thus, TNP-470 has been found to be too toxic for human use. With few exceptions, unacceptable weight loss or failure to gain weight was observed in animals receiving TNP-470. TNP-470 has a short half-life and requires extended intravenous administration for therapeutic use. A metabolite of TNP-470, carbamoylfumagillol has a half-life of 12 minutes in man. (See Herbst et al., "Safety and Pharmacokinetic Effects of TNP-470, an Angiogenesis Inhibitor, Combined with Paclitaxel in Patients with Solid Tumors: Evidence for Activity in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer", Journal of Clinical Oncology 20(22) 4440-4447 (2002). In addition, fumagillin and its derivatives are hydrophobic and difficult to formulate.
Methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP2), a metalloprotease, is an enzyme that processes N-terminal methionine from nascent cellular proteins Inhibition of MetAP2 has been shown to block angiogenesis and suppress tumor growth in preclinical tumor models. Interestingly, fumagillin, chloroacetylcarbamoylfumagillol, carbamoylfumagillol and related compounds have been shown to be inhibitors of MetAP2. (See Tucker, L. A., et al. "Ectopic Expression of Methionine Aminopeptidase-2 Causes Cell Transformation and Stimulates Proliferation", Oncogene 27, 3967 (2008).)

Polymer-conjugated MetAP2 inhibitors, and therapeutic methods of use thereof


An implantable stimulator includes a device for delivering a stimulus and a casing having a first, metal portion and a second, portion which is formed from a plastic or polymer. A method of forming an implantable stimulator includes preparing a coil on a ferrite tube and molding a casing body on the coil, such that the coil is embedded in a wall of the casing which is formed of a plastic or polymer. Another method of forming an implantable stimulator includes forming an annular metal connector and molding a plastic or polymer casing body on the metal connector.

Implantable stimulators and microstimulators, also known as BION® devices (where BION® is a registered trademark of Advanced Bionics Corporation, of Valencia, Calif.), are typically characterized by a small, cylindrical housing which contains electronic circuitry that produces electric currents between spaced electrodes. These microstimulators are implanted proximate to target tissue, and the currents produced by the electrodes stimulate the tissue to reduce symptoms or otherwise provide therapy for various disorders. An implantable, battery-powered medical device may be used to provide therapy for various purposes including nerve or muscle stimulation. For example, urinary urge incontinence may be treated by stimulating the nerve fibers proximal to the pudendal nerves of the pelvic floor; erectile or other sexual dysfunctions may be treated by providing stimulation of the cavernous nerve(s); and other disorders, e.g., neurological disorders caused by injury or stroke, may be treated by providing stimulation of other appropriate nerve(s).
By way of example, a microstimulator known in the art is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,539, "Implantable Microstimulator," which patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The '539 patent describes a microstimulator in which power and information for operating the microstimulator are received through a modulated, alternating magnetic field in which a coil is adapted to function as the secondary winding of a transformer. The induction coil receives energy from outside the body and a capacitor is used to store electrical energy which is released to the microstimulator's exposed electrodes under the control of electronic control circuitry.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,193,540 and 5,405,367, which patents are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties, a structure and method of manufacture of an implantable microstimulator is disclosed. The microstimulator has a structure which is manufactured to be substantially encapsulated within a hermetically-sealed housing inert to body fluids, and of a size and shape capable of implantation in a living body, with appropriate surgical tools. Within the microstimulator, an induction coil receives energy from outside the body requiring an external power supply.
In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,452, which patent is likewise incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, there is disclosed a device configured for implantation beneath a patient's skin for the purpose of nerve or muscle stimulation and/or parameter monitoring and/or data communication. Such a device contains a power source for powering the internal electronic circuitry. Such power supply is a battery that may be externally charged each day. Similar battery specifications are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,721, which patent is additionally incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Other microstimulator systems prevent and/or treat various disorders associated with prolonged inactivity, confinement or immobilization of one or more muscles. Such microstimulators are taught, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,596 (Method for Conditioning Pelvis Musculature Using an Implanted Microstimulator); U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,017 (Implantable Microstimulator and Systems Employing the Same); U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,764 (Implantable Microstimulator System for Producing Repeatable Patterns of Electrical Stimulation; U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,965 (Implantable Microstimulator System for Prevention of Disorders); U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,455 (Methods of Reducing the Incidence of Medical Complications Using Implantable Microstimulators); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,032 (System for Implanting a Microstimulator). The applications described in these additional patents, including the power charging techniques, may also be used with the present invention. The '596, '017, '764, '965, '455, and '032 patents are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties.

Casings for implantable stimulators and methods of making the same

Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation


A method of processing half-calls each having opposing first and second ends is provided within a telecommunications network. Each of the half-calls is either an originating half-call terminated at the first end thereof by calling consumer premises equipment (CPE) or a terminating half-call terminated at the first end thereof by called CPE, wherein an associated pair of half-calls connected at their second ends including both an originating and terminating half-call completes a call connecting the CPE terminating the respective first ends of the half-calls that form the pair. The method includes: applying identifiers to originating half-calls such that the originating half-calls are distinctly identifiable thereby with respect to one another, the identifiers thereafter accompanying terminating half-calls that form associated pairs of half-calls together with the originating half-calls to which the identifiers were applied; and, examining terminating half-calls to detect the identifiers such that upon detection of the identifiers the terminating half-calls accompanying the detected identifiers and the originating half-calls to which the identifier were applied are recognized as associated pairs of half-calls.

It is a common practice to use packet-switched networks, such as IP networks, to connect calls (e.g., voice, data or multimedia calls) between end users. For example, Voice over IP (VoIP) has been developed to permit Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE), such as IP telephones, to be connected over an IP network so that end users may exchange voice communications via the connected CPE. Moreover, IP gateways have been developed that bridge IP networks with the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN), a circuit-switched network as opposed to a packet-switched network. That is to say, an IP gateway acts as a point of entry for IP calls into the PSTN, e.g., via a telephone switch such as a class 5 switch, and vice versa for calls from the PSTN into the IP network.
Commonly, IP gateways take advantage of the class 5 switch's features to perform call processing, e.g., routing calls. With reference to FIG. 1, when a VoIP call is placed from an IP telephone 10 (i.e., the calling party), the call is routed over an IP network 12 and through an IP gateway 14 where it enters the PSTN 20, e.g., via a class 5 switch 22. This represents a first half-call as it is sometimes referred to in the art, indicated by arrow 30. The class 5 switch 22 then routes the call to the intended recipient. While generally the call may in practice be intended for any CPE (including those accessible through the PSTN 20), for the purposes of this example, the intended recipient of the call is another IP telephone 40 (i.e., the called party). Accordingly, to connect the call, it is routed back through the IP gateway 14 across the IP network 12 to the IP telephone 40. This represents a second half-call, indicated by arrow 32, that along with the associated first half-call 30 completes the connection between the CPE, i.e., the IP telephones 10 and 40.
With respect to the call in the aforementioned example, certain potential limitations, drawbacks and/or problems are revealed. For example, resources of the switch 22 have to be utilized to maintain support of the call for the duration of its connection through the switch 22. Similarly, resources of the IP gateway 14 also have to be continually utilized (i.e., during the calls duration) to convert and/or translate a packet-switched call to a circuit-switched call (for the first half-call 30) and then ultimately to convert and/or translate the circuit-switched call back into a packet-switched call (for the second half-call 32). Accordingly, in such instances, it may at times be deemed advantageous to free the switch 22 from the burden of supporting the call. It may at times also be deemed advantageous to reduce the conversion/translation load carried by the IP gateway 14, thereby relieving some of the burden thereon.
Accordingly, a new and improved system, gateway and/or technique is disclosed that overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.

Audio watermarking for call identification in a telecommunications network


A stackable component for concrete forming systems is described. End plates are secured to opposite ends of a longitudinal element having a round profile that prevents stacking of the components. The end plates nest together and receive for retention the longitudinal element to permit orderly and stable stacking of the components.

The invention relates generally to concrete form apparatus and, more specifically, to components of concrete form systems, such as shore posts, that are configures to be stacked in neat and stable arrangements for compact shipping and orderly and safe stacks at work sites.
Concrete forming apparatus is in wide use in the construction of buildings, bridges, and other concrete structures. A common system for forming concrete structures uses a plurality of modular form components that are adapted to be assembled into a wide variety of configurations to conform to virtually any architectural requirement. Such forming apparatus components are typically made of metal so that they are strong enough to support the heavy weight of poured concrete and durable so that the components can be reused many times.
A common-application of concrete forming apparatus is in the formation of elevated sections, such as floors or horizontal beams of a concrete building. Typically, pluralities of modular form panels are assembled to form the surface on which the concrete will be poured. These panels are supported on metal shore posts that typically are constructed of an inner tube that is received for telescopic movement inside an outer tube. Metal tubes achieve high load capacity and the telescoping tubes provide adjustment to various heights. The shore posts typically have a foot pad on the bottom end portion and an adaptable top element on the upper end portion used to releasably secure and support other components of the concrete forming apparatus.
After the new slab of fresh concrete has cured sufficiently, workers remove the shore posts and strip the formwork they supported. Commonly, the shore posts are re-used at the project job site. Between uses, the shore posts are typically stored in an out of the way location. Because of the tubular shape of the shore posts, they do not stack one on top of the other, making it difficult or impossible to make a neat, orderly, compact or stable arrangement of the shore posts. The stacks or piles of shore posts are disorganized and unstable, and may form a safety risk to workers. Once the project is completed, the shore posts must be transported to a new project site. Again, the shape of the shore posts makes it difficult to band together in a stable, compact configuration for shipping and also makes it difficult to count for inventory purposes.

Stackable concrete forming apparatus components


A distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named `Orange Love`, characterized by its upright, outward arching and freely branching plant habit; medium green leaves that are glossy and cordate in shape; numerous inflorescences that are positioned above the foliage on strong and erect scapes; broad orange spathes with auriculate base; and good post-production longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant, botanically known as Anthurium andreanum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Orange Love`.
The new Anthurium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands. The objective of the program is to create new Anthurium cultivars that have a freely branching growth habit, strong plant growth, medium leaf size, rapid growth rate, strong roots, attractive spathe color, numerous inflorescences and good post-production longevity. The new cultivar originated from a cross by the inventor in 1992 of the inventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanum selection code number 924 as the female, or seed, parent with the inventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanum selection code number 9322 as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar `Orange Love` was discovered and selected by the inventor as a plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Schipluiden, The Netherlands.
Asexual propagation by tissue culture of the new cultivar at Schipluiden, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Anthurium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.


A segment and reassembly system cooperates with a data processing system for various kinds of data processing on ATM cells accumulated in frame buffers, and supplies ATM cells to ISDN after completion of various kinds of data processing; wherein the segment and reassembly system has processing units connected through exclusive interfaces to engines incorporated in the data processing system, and the engines process the pieces of data stored in the frame buffers at high speed, thereby improving the throughput of the segmentation and reassembly system.

This invention relates to an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) communication network and, more particularly, to a segmentation and reassembly system incorporated in the ATM communication network.
Conventionally, the segmentation and reassembly system is operative on the ATM adaptation layer of the protocol for the broadband ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network). The segmentation and reassembly system receives ATM cells, and extracts payloads from the ATM cells. The segmentation and reassembly system assembles the payloads into a frame, and supplies the frame to a data processing system for upper-level software through a bus system.
The segmentation and reassembly system accumulates the pieces of fixed-speed data such as voice data in a frame buffer. If the segmentation and reassembly system accumulates the pieces of voice data supplied through a single channel, the segmentation and reassembly system consumes a lot of time for completing the ATM cell. This results in undesirable time lag.
The segmentation and reassembly system accumulates the pieces of fixed-speed data such as voice data in a frame buffer. If the segmentation and reassembly system accumulates the pieces of voice data supplied through a single channel, the segmentation and reassembly system consumes long time for completing the ATM cell. This results in undesirable time lug.
Japanese Patent Publication of Unexamined Application No. 7-162437 discloses a solution. The prior art ATM cell builder disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication of Unexamined Application includes a bus switch unit connected to a bus system and plural assembly units connected in parallel to the bus switch unit, and the bus system supplies pieces of voice data through plural channels or time slots to the bus switch unit. The bus switch unit assigns plural channels to each assembly unit, and distributes the pieces of voice data to the assembly units. The assembly unit forms a payload from the pieces of voice data information supplied through the plural channels, and an ATM header and a payload header are added to the payload. In this way, the prior art ATM cell builder assembles the ATM cell, and transfers it through the network.
When the ATM cell arrives at a ATM cell receiver, the payload is disassembled into the pieces of voice data, and pieces of voice data labeled with same discriminative symbol are assembled into a frame. Although the Japanese Patent Publication of Unexamined Application No. 7-162437 is silent as to the data transfer from the ATM receiver to a data processing system for upper-level software, the bus system would be used.
Thus, the prior art segmentation and reassembly system eliminates the time lag due to the assembly work from the data transfer. However, the prior art segmentation and reassembly system suffers from low throughput due to congestion on the bus system.
It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a segmentation and reassembly system, which achieves a high throughput.
It is also an important object of the present invention to provide a segmentation and reassembly system, which allows the manufacturer to reduce the production cost of an associated data processing system.
To accomplish the object, the present invention proposes to share load between at least one exclusive interface and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) interface.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a segmentation and reassembly system cooperating with a data processing system having at least one central processing unit connected through a CPU interface and special purpose engines, and the segmentation and reassembly system comprises a plurality of frame buffers for storing pieces of data selectively supplied from first ATM cells and a processing means connected to the plurality of frame buffers for selectively accessing the pieces of data and selectively supplying at least selected pieces of data to the special purpose engines through an exclusive interface for modifying the pieces of data, if necessary.

Segmentation and reassembly system for ATM communication network improved in throughput


The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element, a main lead and a resin package. The semiconductor element includes an obverse surface and a reverse surface spaced apart from each other in a thickness direction. The main lead supports the semiconductor element via the reverse surface of the semiconductor element. The resin package covers the entirety of the semiconductor element. The resin package covers the main lead in such a manner that a part of the main lead is exposed from the resin package. The semiconductor element includes a part that does not overlap the main lead as viewed in the thickness direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a package type semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a semiconductor device having a semiconductor element sealed in a resin package has been proposed. For instance, the semiconductor device disclosed in JP2012-190936A includes a semiconductor element, three leads, three wires and a resin package. The semiconductor element is placed on a mount surface of a main lead (one of the three leads). The semiconductor element has a surface on which three electrodes are formed. These electrodes are connected to the three leads via the three wires, respectively. The resin package covers the entirety of the semiconductor element, all of the three wires, and a part of each of the three leads. Each of the three leads has a part (terminal) projecting from the resin package.
In the conventional semiconductor device, the size of main lead is larger than that of the semiconductor element. Since the resin package covers the entirety of the main lead, the resin package is undesirably large relative to the semiconductor element, which hinders size reduction of the semiconductor device.


The use of a Nitride layer or a silicon-nodule layer capable of location-specific (LS) charge storage, allow easy vertical scaling and implementation of NOR and NAND NVM array and technology. If the charge is stored in the traps in the Nitride storage layer, a Oxide Nitride Oxide is used as the storage element and if charge is stored in potential wells of discrete silicon-nodules, or Carbon Buckyball layers, an Oxide silicon-nodule Oxide storage element, or an Oxide Buckyball Oxide layer is used as the storage element.

Data storage in discrete locations in non conducting traps in Silicon Nitride layers or in barrier isolated potential wells in silicon nodule layers and carbon Buckyball layers, have been considered possibilities for non Volatile applications instead of the typical floating gate made of poly-silicon, for vertical scaling of the Non-Volatile Memory cells. These cells are called Location-Specific (LS) Charge storage cells as the charge is stored in discrete isolated traps or discrete potential wells in specific locations in the storage element and does not spread during operation. The problem has been mainly the erase of these cells, typically they require high voltages to be applied to the junctions and the wells to erase these types of cells as extracting charge from traps or potential wells completely is difficult. In addition high tunnel voltages will cause reverse tunneling which can cause charge to be stored. Alternate erase methods using Band to Band tunneling, where in holes generated are used to erase the electron charge, used in the mirror bit cells are making the LS storage more mainstream. But the erase limitations have prevented the LS storage structures from being used in NAND cell architecture effectively. The current discussion in the disclosure will be focused on the Nitride layer for storage element, but the Silicon nodule layer and the carbon Buckyball layer can replace the Nitride layer and operate in a similar fashion in the cells described. In the past the high voltage needs and difficulty of erase have limited the scalability of these discrete location-specific storage cells and made the poly-silicon floating gate cell the primary contender for Non-Volatile memories. As the process development has matured and technology has scaled to smaller and smaller dimensions, the poly-silicon cell has approached its scaling limitations. This has re-kindled the interest in the location-specific storage cells. In order to scale these cells it is necessary to remove the high voltage requirements that limit scaling of the memory junctions and isolation. In addition to allow NAND cell structures to be implemented using these LS elements it is necessary to have a good erase method that allow the cells to be effectively erased as a page, a block or a sector.
As explained the prior art method of erase of an NROM cell was by application of very high voltages to cause Fouler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling from and to the discrete storage locations. Due to the non-conductive nature of the storage layer and associated storage element, tunneling of carriers, typically electrons, can take place in both directions if sufficient voltage is applied across the storage element. Hence the traps can get filled by carriers moving in either direction. The FN tunneling erase in the past has relied on the location of storage in the storage element to help the erase of the cell. This has not been a very repeatable and manufacturable process and has limited the use of LS storage cells from becoming a mainstream non-volatile memory technology. The recent mirror bit technology on the other hand uses channel hot electron (CHE) generation to program using high currents and band to band tunneling at the high doped junction to supply carriers of the opposing type (holes) to neutralize the stored charge and hence erase the cell. A unique methods for moving charge into the location specific storage cells for erase is described and some possible cell structures, using this methods, are presented. The erase method proposed is the Tunnel Gun (Tun-Gun or TG) method (U.S. Pat. No. 6,479,863 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,816 B1, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,816 B1), which are hereby incorporated by reference, for transferring charge into the storage element or storage layer. This is a medium or voltage method, where the voltages are applied to the gate structure of the TG structure and can be implemented in a number of ways to facilitate an efficient and scalable Non-Volatile memory cell.

Location-specific NAND (LS NAND) memory technology and cells

Abstract: The problem of location-specific NAND memory is the inability to erase the cells with repeatable results. A novel erase method, Tunnel Gun (TG) method, that generate holes for consistent erase of LS storage elements and typical NAND Cells that erase by the disclosed method and programmed by either by Fouler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling or Low Current Hot Electron (LCHE) method are disclosed.


In order to prevent sub bit line disturbance without leading to an increase in the current required for the write inducing new disturbance-related problems, the semiconductor nonvolatile memory according to the present invention comprises sub bit lines mutually connected in parallel with the drain(s) of the memory cells connected with a plurality of word lines for grouping the memory cells in units of a plurality of word lines, sub bit line selection transistors that connects the sub bit line to the bit line in a manner such that connection thereof can be interrupted, a sub source line connected to the source of the memory cells in a block grouped by the bit lines, and a block selection transistor that connects the sub source line to the source line interruptably. Prior to a write of data into at least an individual memory cell, the sub bit line selection transistors and the block selection transistor involved with one group interlock with each other in order to connect only the sub bit lines and the sub source line corresponding to the selected group to the bit lines and the source line respectively.

The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory in which overwrite is possible and a bipolar source circuit that can be ideally employed for memory overwrite.
While electrical batch deletion is possible in flash memory, it is necessary to batch delete data prior to a write even when the data are to be only partially overwritten, which, in turn, necessitates a full write operation for all the data.
In order to eliminate this inconvenience, the technology whereby memory cells are divided into blocks so that deletion by the block is made possible has been disclosed in "IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits" Volume 29, Fourth Issue, April 1994, pages 454-459 (reference 1), in the technical report of IBICE. ICD 95.about.38 (1995.about.05) and in the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Nos. 55.about.62 (reference 2).
While a nonvolatile memory which, as disclosed in references 1 and 2, is provided with a floating gate and writes and deletes data by employing an FN tunnel current and requires a high voltage for the FN tunnel, it requires only a small current. Therefore, internal voltages can be generated through an on-chip step-up circuit, achieving an advantage in that a flash memory, which enables an external single source voltage operation, can be easily manufactured.
However, since the FN tunnel phenomenon essentially takes place between two electrodes, when a memory cell array is constituted by taking advantage of this phenomenon, a problem of fluctuation in the threshold values (Vth) of unselected cells connected to a selected bit line, a selected word line or a selected P-well, i.e., disturbances in the threshold values, arises.
According to references 1 and 2, by setting the selected P.sub.-- well at -8V and setting all the selected word lines within a block at 10V, electrons are caused to be injected from the channels of the selected cells, i.e., all the cells connected to all the word lines within the selected block in this case, into the floating gate so that a data delete operation can be performed in units of blocks, as illustrated in FIG. 2(a). A voltage of -4V is applied from a common source and the channel potential is raised to -4V to ensure that the cells in an unselected block within a P-well are not disturbed by the -8V voltage in the same P-well, thereby preventing a P-well disturbance (see FIG. 2(b)).
In order to write data, as shown in FIG. 3(a), -8V is applied to the selected word lines, the block selection Tr (SG in the reference) is turned on at 8V, and 5V is applied to the drain of the selected cell by the main bit line (MBL) and electrons are drawn out from the floating gate. By setting the main bit lines of the cells from which no electrons are to be drawn out to 0V, it is possible to selectively write "1" and "0" in the data (see FIG. 3(b)).
In contrast, unselected blocks are protected from disturbance by turning off the block selection Tr (SG) at 0V to ensure that the 5V voltage at the main bit lines (MBL) does not exit to the sub bit lines, i.e., by achieving a floating state.
FIG. 1 shows an equalizing circuit for a memory cell array in the prior art. It is constituted of word lines WLn, each connected with a control gate that is capacitively coupled with a floating gate, main bit lines MBLn and a common source line SL.
Each main bit line is further connected with a sub bit line SBLn via a block selection transistor BST (indicated as SG in the references, which constitutes a block selection line BSL when connected in parallel to word lines).
However, this method presents a problem in that since a delete is performed in large units of a plurality of blocks (>64 Kbytes according to the references), it is difficult to perform a delete in units of small sectors of 512 bytes each, as in a hard disk, necessitating much overhead in the system. To be more specific, while it is possible to perform a delete in units of word line sectors instead of in units of blocks by applying 10V only to, for instance, one word line instead of applying 10V to all the word lines within a selected block in a delete operation, it is difficult to assure a sufficient number of overwrite operations, since the disturbance becomes greater.
For instance, let us consider a situation in which a disturbance in the bit lines occurs during a write, with one block containing 64 word lines. In a block deletion, since bit line disturbances occur only while a write is performed once at each word line within the block after the deletion, even with an assured number of overwrite operations at 10,000, only 63 disturbances must be withstood. However, in order to assure the same number of overwrite operations in word line sector deletion, bit line disturbances 10,000 times greater than in block deletion, i.e. 63.times.10,000 must be withstood, making it difficult to assure a feasible number of overwrite operations for practical use.
Next, let us contemplate a P-well disturbance during a delete operation. In regard to the delete voltage in an FN tunnel-type flash memory, when the block selection line BSL, selected by applying, for instance, a positive 10V to the selected word line and applying, for instance -10V from the main bit line, is at 0V, the sub bit line selection transistor BST becomes turned on. This sets the sub bit line to -10V, and since the memory cell enters an on state at this point, a channel is formed, which sets the cell source to -10V as well as the cell drain. Because of this, if the source line is not divided into a main line and a sub line, all the sources and all the P-wells in the memory array are set to -10V. When the assured number of overwrites is 10,000, if the units of deletion are changed from blocks to word line sectors, the number of delete operations over which the P-well disturbance must be withstood increases from (the number of blocks in the same P-.sub.-- well.times.10,000) to (the number of blocks in the same P-well.times.63.times.10,000), which means that the service life is reduced to 1/63 what it would otherwise be. In order to improve on this, it may be possible to perform deletions with a shallower negative voltage applied to the P-wells and an increased positive voltage at the selected word lines. In that case, however, it becomes necessary for the transistors constituting the word line drive circuit to withstand a higher voltage, which, in turn, will present problems such as reduced drive capability because of the increased size of the X-decoder and an increase in the film thickness of the gate oxide film.
In particular, during a data write, since 5V is applied to the sub bit lines in a selected group and the unselected word lines within the selected group become grounded, the 5V potential between the grounded word lines and the sub bit lines causes a disturbance on the sub bit lines within the selected group.
As a means for preventing this sub bit line disturbance, a positive potential may be LR applied to unselected word lines within the selected group during a data write in order to reduce the difference in potential between the unselected word lines and the sub bit lines.
However, since the memory cells corresponding to the word lines supplied with the positive potential enter an on state, a current will flow to their source line, necessitating a large current for the write operation. In addition, if the source lines are made to float in order to prevent the current from flowing to them, the source line potential increases, inducing a new disturbance-related problems.

Semiconductor nonvolatile memory and source circuit for this memory


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image on a print medium by a reciprocation operation of a print head. There is a conveying device including a belt that holds the print medium, a fan that adsorbs air through suction holes in the belt, and a fan drive controller that drives the suction fan and adjusts power of adsorption of the suction fan. The fan drive controller performs control which makes the power of adsorption for the first reciprocation movement of the image forming device stronger than the power of adsorption for the second reciprocation movement of the image forming device.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments discussed herein relate to an image forming apparatus, particularly to an image forming apparatus using a rolled print medium.
2. Related Art
An image forming apparatus, such as a label printer, performs printing on a print medium having an adhesive surface with no release liner attached thereto, such as adhesive tape or a label sheet with no backing sheet (hereinafter also referred to as a linerless label sheet), and thereafter cuts the print medium into print medium pieces (hereinafter also referred to as label pieces) of a desired length.
An image forming apparatus, which conveys a print medium while adsorbing the print medium on a platen by a suction fan and reduces power of adsorption by the suction fan just before conveying operation in order to reduce the conveying load for the print medium, is known.
When a rolled print medium is used, the curvature of a leading edge portion of print medium occurs for a peculiar winding curl of the print medium which is held as a roll body. Especially in the case of using the rolled linerless label sheet, the leading edge portion of the print medium curls easily by a tearing off force because the adhesive surface of the print medium is held adhering to the roll body itself. Therefore, when using a linerless label sheet, the curl of the leading edge portion of the print medium 2 occurs easily, and the amount of curl is large.
When the image formation operation is performed using the print medium which has a curl in the leading edge portion, the print medium rubs the recording heads and degradation of image quality and a paper jam occur.

Image forming apparatus and method which controls a power of adsorption which holds a printing medium


In a chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensating apparatus according to the present invention, a WDM light which has been angularly dispersed to a first direction by a VIPA plate, is angularly dispersed to a second direction vertical to the first direction by a diffraction grating, and optical signals of respective wavelengths output from the diffraction grating are reflected by any one of a plurality of three-dimensional mirrors having reflective surfaces of curved shapes different from each other, to be returned to the VIPA plate. Thus, with a simple control mechanism in which the plurality of three-dimensional mirrors are moved to only the second direction, an apparatus capable of variably compensating for the chromatic dispersion and the dispersion slope independent of each other can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for compensating for the chromatic dispersion and the dispersion slope generated in optical signals of respective wavelengths which are contained in a wavelength division multiplexed light transmitted through an optical fiber transmission path, and in particular, to an apparatus capable of variably compensating for the chromatic dispersion and the dispersion slope independent of each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an optical transmission system, it is necessary to perform the chromatic dispersion compensation, in order to suppress the wavelength deterioration which occurs due to a difference between optical fiber propagation times of respective wavelength components of modulated optical signals. As one of conventional chromatic dispersion compensators, there has been known, for example, a chromatic dispersion compensator configured by utilizing a so-called virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) for demultiplexing a signal light into a plurality of optical beams that can be distinguished spatially according to wavelengths (for example, a plurality of optical beams that travel to different directions) (refer to Japanese National Publication No. 2000-511655).
Here, there will be briefly described a conventional VIPA-type chromatic dispersion compensator.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the conventional VIPA-type chromatic dispersion compensator. Further, FIG. 14 is a top view of the configuration example of FIG. 13.
As shown in each figure, in the conventional VIPA-type chromatic dispersion compensator, a light emitted from one end of an optical fiber 130 via an optical circulator 120 is converted into a parallel light by a collimate lens 140 and, then, condensed on one segment by a line focusing lens 150 and passes through a radiation window 116 of a VIPA plate 110 to be incident between opposed parallel planes. The incident light on the VIPA plate 110 is multiple-reflected repeatedly, for example, between a reflective multilayer film 112 formed on one plane of the VIPA plate 110 and having the reflectance lower than 100% and a reflective multilayer film 114 formed on the other plane and having the reflectance of substantially 100%. At this time, every time the incident light is reflected on the surface of the reflective multilayer film 112, a few % of the light is transmitted through the surface to be emitted outside the VIPA plate 110.
The lights transmitted through the VIPA plate 110 interfere mutually and form a plurality of optical beams, traveling directions of which are different from each other, according to wavelengths. As a result, if each of the optical beams is condensed to one point by a convergent lens 160, each condensed position moves on a straight line according to variation of the wavelengths. By disposing, for example, a three-dimensional mirror 170 on the straight line, the lights that have been emitted from the VIPA plate 110 and condensed by the convergent lens 160 are reflected at different positions on the three-dimensional mirror 170 according to respective wavelengths to be returned to the VIPA plate 110. Since the lights reflected on the three-dimensional mirror 170 travel to different directions according to wavelengths, optical paths thereof are deviated when they are returned to the VIPA plate 110. The optical path deviation amounts are changed according to wavelengths, so that different wavelength components are propagated for different distances and, therefore, the chromatic dispersion of the input light is compensated.
In consideration of a model as shown in FIG. 15, for example, behavior of the light that is multiple-reflected by the VIPA plate 110 as described above is similar to that in an Echelon grating that is well-known as a step-wise diffraction grating. Therefore, the VIPA plate 110 can be considered as a virtual diffraction grating. Further, in consideration of an interference condition in the VIPA plate 110, as shown on the right side in FIG. 15, the emitted light interferes under a condition in which, with an optical axis thereof as a reference, a shorter wavelength is above the optical axis and a longer wavelength is below the optical axis. Therefore, among a plurality of optical signals of respective wavelengths, optical signals on the shorter wavelength side are output above the optical axis and optical signals on the longer wavelength side are output below the optical axis. Such a conventional VIPA-type chromatic dispersion compensator has advantages in that the chromatic dispersion can be compensated over a wide range and also the wavelength (transmitted wavelength) of the optical signal to be compensated can be varied.
Further, in a system for transmitting a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light containing a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths, since it is necessary to perform the appropriate chromatic dispersion compensation on the optical signals of respective wavelengths, there is a case where also the wavelength dependence of chromatic dispersion, which is called the dispersion slope, is required to be compensated. Combinations of the chromatic dispersion and the dispersion slope, which are to be compensated, exist in countless numbers, since there are countless combinations of the type of optical fiber and the length of optical fiber transmission path. Therefore, there is demanded an apparatus capable of variably compensating the chromatic dispersion and the dispersion slope independent of each other.
As a conventional technology for variably compensating for the chromatic dispersion and the dispersion slope independent of each other, as shown in FIG. 16 for example, there has been proposed an apparatus in which, in the above described VIPA-type chromatic dispersion compensator, there is disposed means 180 for generating the optical path deviation between the lights of respective wavelengths angularly dispersed by the VIPA plate 110 in parallel according to the wavelengths, in a direction vertical to an angular dispersion direction of the lights, so that the chromatic dispersion and the dispersion slope, which are to be given to the optical signals of respective wavelengths contained in the WDM light, can be controlled independent of each other (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-258207).
However, in the conventional chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensating apparatus utilizing the VIPA described above, there is a problem of requiring a complicated control mechanism. Namely, the conventional apparatus needs to be disposed with a mechanism controlling a position of the three-dimensional mirror 170 in order to compensate for the chromatic dispersion, and the means 180 for generating the optical path deviation in the direction vertical to the angular dispersion direction of the VIPA in order to variably compensate for the dispersion slope, to be specific, a parallel plate composed of a transparent material having the refractive index chromatic dispersion or two prisms, or a mechanism controlling two diffraction gratings. If the optical path deviation amount is varied by controlling the means 180 such as the parallel plate or the like, in order to vary a compensation amount of the chromatic dispersion, the optical paths themselves of the respective wavelengths toward the three-dimensional mirror 170 are also deviated overall and a compensation amount of the chromatic dispersion is changed. Therefore, these mechanisms need to be controlled in association with each other. However, for operating the three-dimensional mirror 170 in association with the means 180 to move them for an infinitesimal distance, a complicated adjusting mechanism is needed. But, the designing and the manufacturing of such an adjusting mechanism are not easy and an enormous cost is required. Therefore, there has been a problem in that the conventional apparatus is actually hard to be in practical use.

Chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensating apparatus


A system and method monitor a hydrocarbon reservoir for drainage in volumetric three dimensions. Monitoring between wells is imperative for optimum reservoir management and is achieved by mapping the hydrocarbon fluid pathways in a producing reservoir. Unlike conventional 4D or time-lapse reflection seismic imaging systems that use a controlled active seismic source and records reflected seismic energy at receivers, the system and method exploit the minute vibrations, or micro-earthquakes generated in the reservoir layers that are induced by fluid movement. These microseisms are detected as the fluids move in the reservoir.

Microseisms are induced in the reservoir rock matrix due to pore pressure perturbation and geomechanical stress field relaxation as the reservoir fluids are produced and injected. The micro-earthquakes are generated because the stress field in the reservoir is anisotropic. As the in situ stresses are perturbed by reservoir production and injection activities, the resulting changes in fluid pressure create elastic failure in the rocks and cause microseismic events that are detected with special seismic sensors.
Microseisms, emanated from the reservoir, with local magnitude (ML) down to a Richter value <−1 or even lower, are detected. Events below magnitude −3 are often classified as background noise. These microseisms are detected in multi-component seismic sensors with wide bandwith, over distances of 1 km. and more. Conventionally the assessment of changes in the reservoir characteristics over the production time or reservoir fluid flow monitering is achieved with measurements that were in selected wells with down hole instruments only at selected production time intervals.
The Richter local magnitude ML and seismic moment M0 are computed using the formula:
                              M          L                =                                            Log              10                                                  (                                                M                  0                                -                16                            )                                1.5                                    (        1        )            where the seismic moment M0 is computed using the formula from Lee, W. H. K. & Stewart, S. W., Advances in Geophysics, Supp. 2, Principles and Applications of Microearthquake Networks, (Academic Press, 1981):
                              M          0                =                              4                                                                          π                                                                          ρ                                                                                V              S              3                                                  W              0                                    R                    .85                                    (        2        )            R is the source-receiver distance, W0 is a vorticity parameter, 0.85 is the assumed radiation coefficient, ρ is the bulk density of rocks, and Vs is the shear wave velocity.
The present invention offers a complementary and, in the presence of suitable reservoir rock and fluid properties, an alternative tool for monitoring hydrocarbon reservoirs with time-lapse seismic using-permanent sensors, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,271 to Dragoset. Such inter-well monitoring is also known as four dimensional or 4D seismic that is applied for monitoring the water sweep in a reservoir, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,632 to Raghuraman et al.
As water replaces the hydrocarbon fluids in some reservoirs, the resulting saturation change, generates only very small alterations in compressibility and hence in the seismic acoustic properties. This is especially true in hydrocarbon reservoirs with stiff carbonate rock matrix and low compressibility fluids like oil and water. Most of the giant oil fields in the Middle East with carbonate reservoirs have such characteristics. As a result, conventional technique like 4D seismic has only marginal utility in monitoring water sweep in these reservoir settings.
Results from recent modeling studies of Arab-D reservoir in the super-giant Ghawar oil field of Saudi Arabia suggest that only small changes in the acoustic properties occur with changes in pore fluid saturation. The reservoir pore saturation changes in the reservoir are due the injected water replacing the extracted oil. The sensitivity of the resulting change in seismic signature in carbonate reservoirs like Arab-D, is extremely low and is often below the detectability of 4D seismic measurements, as described in Dasgupta, S., "When 4D Seismic is Not Applicable: Alternative Monitoring Scenarios for the Arab-D Reservoir in the Ghawar Field", Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 53, pp. 215-227, 2005.
The application of microseismic technique, however, would be unlikely to detect reservoir pore saturation changes as oil is swept by injected water. It would instead shed light on the fluid pathways. Information on fluid encroachment paths would allow for detection of premature water breakthroughs in production wells; i.e., an early warning system.
Accurate monitoring of fluid pathways and delineating the reservoir fluid flow anisotropy optimizes the reservoir management and improves the recovery of oil from these reservoirs. These advantages could be achieved by application of microseismic emissions for detecting anomalous sweep behavior. Such monitoring would also provide an opportunity for remedial design and for optimizing the planning of production and injection well locations for field development. Accurate monitoring also increases the accuracy of reservoir simulation models.
Uniform hydrocarbon reservoir fluid fronts and drainage are rare in active fields in production operations. Reservoir characteristics and drainage patterns in most fields are often proven to be much more complex than is initially assumed and are further complicated as the production field matures. The fluid flow anisotropy is related to the heterogeneity in reservoir rocks. The existence of joints, bedding planes, faults, and fractures are common in the sedimentary rock matrix. In most reservoirs, the in-situ stress conditions due to overburden pressure keep these features closed to fluid flow. During the producing life of a hydrocarbon reservoir, physical changes such as fluid pressures result in perturbation in the in-situ stresses.
The reservoir stress-field is designed by a conjugate set of axes defined as principal stresses, with σ1 being the maximum stress, σ3 being the minimum stress, and σ2 being the intermediate stress. The stress axes are mutually orthogonal to each other. In order for rock deformation to take place, the principal stress in one direction σ1 must exceed the other two principal stresses σ2 and σ3. Along the zones of weakness in reservoir rocks, failure occurs that is defined by the known Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The increase in differential stress between the maximum and minimum stresses, or a net decrease in the effective normal stress due to the difference between normal stress and pore pressure, causes slippages or rock failure, as described in Marsden, J. E. & Hughes, T. J. R., Mathematical Foundations of Elasticity, Dover Publications, New York, 1994.
The following equation defines the Mohr-Coulomb rock failure:τf=τ0+σtan φ  (3)where τ0=equilibrium stress state, τf=shear stress at failure, σ=applied resultant stress, and φ=angle of internal friction.
Such failure or shear-slippage induces microseismic activities and is caused by stress changes in reservoirs with perturbation caused by injection and production. Rock failure can be graphically visualized to occur as the differential stress is increased and the Mohr circle intersects the failure envelope. This occurs due to increase in maximum principal stress or a decrease in minimum principal stress.
Reservoir pore pressure change is a major factor in in-situ stress alteration resulting in Mohr-Coulomb failure. Effective stress alteration occurs due to pore pressure changes. Increase in pore pressure due to water injection reduce the effective strength of fractures, joints and faults below the critical shear stress, causing rock failure and thus trigger microseisms. Similarly, oil production from permeable rocks reduces the pore pressure relative to the surrounding lower permeable rocks. This causes a pore pressure gradient and local stress concentrations. Poroelastic changes due to oil production from an Arab-D reservoir concentrates the shear stresses near the reservoir edges or the water flood front. Microseismic events are expected to be concentrated above and below the reservoir.
As the reservoir stress is perturbed by fluid injection, shear slippage or rock failure occurs along the zones of weakness like fractures and faults. The shear slippage in rocks generates microseismic activity. These microseisms are detected and their source or hypocenters are located using broad bandwidth borehole sensors. For each microseismic event, it is first necessary to determine the fault plane and slip direction (i.e., the source mechanism) before investigating the source parameters.
This analysis is more difficult when only one observation well is available. If several sensors are emplaced in multiple wells and sensors that are widely distributed in space are available, generalized triangulation techniques can resolve the microseismic source locations with high accuracy. The distribution of the sensors relative to the microseismic event source location in the reservoir volume determines the efficiency of the sensor network. Optimum network design of sensor locations is derived by forward modeling and using elastic wave velocities and geomechanical properties of rock formations in the study area. The first arrival times of recorded compressional waves (P-waves) and shear waves (S-waves) and the velocities of the rock layers are used to compute source. location or hypocenter microseisms where the rock failure occurred.
Drilling multiple wells for microseismic, however, can prove uneconomical, especially for deeper reservoirs, for which the cost of drilling multiple observation wells becomes prohibitive. Instead of drilling several observation wells for detecting microseisms, in the current invention, the network design consists of a large number of multi-component sensors spatially distributed on the ground surface and cemented permanently in the vicinity of a well. In addition, multi-component sensors are cemented or clamped inside the well bore or borehole at multiple levels in a single well. Such a network provides the capability of detecting a large number of microseismic signals over a wide 3D aperture. The increased density of distributed measurements with respect to the microseismic events in the reservoir ensures that their source points or hypocenters are located accurately.
The method for locating the microseismic source has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,508 to Deflandre, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,083 to Therond et al. Such source location techniques are implemented by identifying and classifying the first arrival time breaks and measuring arrival times of P-wave (or compressional wave) and S-wave (or shear wave).
Recorded microseismic waves consist of records of P-wave and S-wave. The amplitudes of these P-waves and S-waves are detected and the seismograms are recorded.
Also, polarization analysis is performed with hodograms or terminus of a moving vector for particle motion of the waves recorded in the three component (3C) sensors which are oriented orthogonally in the sensor package. The polarization analysis consists in measuring the spatial distribution of a 3C (right-normal basis) signal over a time window using the covariance matrix. Most of the time, the results used are the "azimuth" and the dip inclination of the distribution main direction which is defined by a vector. This analysis determines the direction of a wave's approach to the 3C sensors or detectors that are planted precisely with a known orientation. With these information and the seismic wave propagation velocities in the reservoir and overburden rocks, the distances between the sensors and the microseismic source in the reservoir are computed.
The particle motion of the P-wave defines the direction of the microseismic source from the observation point at each sensor. The plurality of three component sensors in the borehole and spatially distributed over a network on the ground surface provides a redundancy of observations for the same microseismic source. Such a network provides a mechanism for accurate determination of their location. Microseismic events can be located in space and their distribution patterns interpreted in terms of fluid conduction paths, sealing faults or homogeneous sweep. This information will provide improved reservoir management and will allow better planning for future wells.
The analysis of recorded P-wave and S-wave amplitude data from the three component sensors provides orientation and direction of the shear slippage in the reservoir as production and injection activities continues. The ratio of the measured S-wave amplitude and P-wave amplitude (S/P ratio) is computed at the microseismic source location. The detected S/P amplitude ratios are compared with predicted values based on geomechanical failure model and their spatial distribution matched using forward modeling. The data determine the rock failure mechanism and their orientation. Reservoir fluids advance preferentially in directions defined by the orientation and distribution of these failure surfaces. Consequently, the failure surface defines the pathways for preferential fluid movement in the reservoir.
From the Lee, W. H. K. & Stewart, S. W., Advances in Geophysics, Supp. 2, Principles and Applications of Microearthquake Networks, (Academic Press, 1981); and also Raymer, D. et al., "Genetic Algorithm Design of Microseismic Injection-Monitoring Networks in the Tengiz Field", SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts, 2000, pp. 562-565; the travel time for induced microseismic events from source to receiver involves solving a set of first-order differential equations. A network of sensors distributed spatially on the surface and at different levels in a borehole records a number of arrival times n, for P-waves and S-waves from a microseismic event with hypocenter parameters (x, y, z, t). In matrix notation, the problem of solving the following set of linear equations of condition:AX=B  (4)where A is the n×4 design matrix of partial differentials, X is a vector of four unknown hypocenter parameters (x, y, z, t) and B represents vector differences between the calculated and observed travel times arrival. The design matrix determines the efficiency of the network. For a given matrix A and a set of observations of B, the equation will solve for unknown vector X. The partial differentials define how much the hypocenter parameters will change with respect to travel times. The uncertainty will be large when small changes in travel time cause large changes in hypocenter. This provides a quantitative measure for network performance in locating a microseismic event source.
Performance of the network is evaluated by populating the reservoir volume of interest with trial locations. On this volume, 3D seismic ray trace modeling is performed between the trial locations and the designated sensor positions to produce a complete set of partial differentials. Each partial differential forms a line of the design matrix. The optimal combination of sensor locations in the network is found by solving these equations.

Continuous reservoir monitoring for fluid pathways using microseismic data


The present invention provides an agricultural implement and a method of making an agricultural implement. The agricultural implement has a primary containment unit and a plurality of sections. At least one dense phase delivery line connects the primary containment unit to each of the sections. A transport control system allows for individual control of the dense phase transport of the granular product from the primary containment unit to each of the plurality of sections via the at least one dense phase delivery line.

This invention relates to agricultural implements. In particular, this invention relates to sectional distribution of a granular product via dense phase transport.
A common problem in many agricultural implements is achieving acceptable sectional distribution of a granular product. It is often desirable for a granular product such as seed or fertilizer to be transported from a central containment unit to a number of spaced apart secondary units. In this way, the granular product can be more easily spread over a large area.
In most agricultural implements, individual grains are pneumatically transported from a central containment unit to a number of secondary containment units. This transport is conventionally performed at a low ratio of the granular product to air. As there is relatively little granular product being transported by a large amount of air, such transport is also known as dilute phase transport.
Such transport is imperfect, however. Often, one of the secondary containment units receives too much or not enough of the granular product. Delivery of too much or not enough product may occur for a number of reasons including variable rates for precision farming, usage at point rows, variations in the metering and distribution at the secondary containment units, the secondary containment units having various sized container volumes, and the like. Thus, there is frequently a need to selectively increase or decrease the rate of feeding from the primary containment unit to the individual secondary containment units.
However, it is difficult to achieve much control in the section distribution of seed using conventional transport. Once the granular product is introduced into the delivery line, it is sent directly to the secondary containment unit. The granular product cannot be stopped mid-line. An inline valve cannot be used to stop the flow of the granular product mid-line because a closed valve would result in a localized accumulation of the granular product at the valve, clogging the line and preventing further transport of the seed. Thus, existing systems are not well-suited for controlling or regulating the flow of granular product to each of the secondary units individually.
Hence, there is a need for an improved way to distribute a granular product from a central containment unit to a plurality of secondary units. In particular, there is a need for a way to distribute a granular product such that the transport of the granular product to each of the secondary containment units can be individually controlled.

Sectional distribution of granular product


A developing roller has a surface layer which can effectively inhibit the bleeding of a low-molecular-weight component from an elastic layer, and can efficiently impart a high electric charge to a negatively chargeable toner, and is excellent in toner-releasing properties. The developing roller has a mandrel, at least one layer of an elastic layer provided on the mandrel and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer, carries and conveys a toner, and develops an electrostatic latent image on an opposing photosensitive member with the toner. The surface layer comprises a silicon compound film containing Si, N, C and H having specific total amounts of the existing elements Si, N, C and H, and specific ratios N/Si, C/Si, and H/Si.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing roller to be used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine and a laser printer, and an electrophotographic process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which are provided with the developing roller.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a development method of visualizing an electrostatic latent image existing on the photosensitive drum with the use of the toner, a contact development method in which a developing roller carrying a toner is brought into contact with a photosensitive drum is known. The developing roller is required to have a function of imparting an adequate frictional charge to the toner. In the contact development method, a negatively chargeable one-component developer is generally used in many cases. In two such examples, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-181218 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-122108 disclose a developing roller which uses a resin coating layer containing nitrogen in the surface layer of the developing roller, as a developing roller which can efficiently impart a high electric charge to a negatively chargeable toner.
In addition, a developing roller provided with an elastic layer is proposed in order to secure a nip width on a contacting portion with the photosensitive drum. However, in the developing roller having the elastic layer, a low-molecular-weight substance, which is unavoidably contained in the elastic layer, occasionally bleeds out to the surface. The low-molecular-weight substance having bled out adheres to the surface of the photosensitive drum, which is in contact with the developing roller, and thereby occasionally affects the quality of the electrophotographic image and the life of the photosensitive drum. As a result, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-215485 discloses a developer-carrying body provided with a shielding layer which shields a bleeding material that bleeds from the elastic layer.

Developing roller, and electrophotographic process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising the developing roller


A shaft device for a valve, comprises a shaft supported in a bearing and extending into a relatively warm space, a sleeve provided between the shaft and the bearing, and cooling channels arranged in the border area between the shaft and the sleeve for cooling of the bearing, and wherein the axial length of the sleeve is longer than the axial length of the bearing.

In a pressurized bed combustion power plant, a so called PFBC-power plant, the hot combustioned gases are guided from the fluidized bed combuster through cyclones, for purification, in a hot gas channel, to a gas turbine. The shaft of the gas turbine drives a compressor, compressing the combustion air which, through an air supply channel, is supplied to the fluidized bed combuster. The hot gas channel is arranged concentrically in the air supply channel and, accordingly, the hot gas channel is surrounded by the air which is supplied to the combuster. To be able to shut off the flow of hot gas to the gas turbine, for instance in case of a gas turbine trip, a throttle valve is arranged in the proximity of the hot gas channel inlet to the gas turbine. This throttle valve is arranged on a shaft which is turnably supported by means of bearings arranged in the wall of the hot gas channel. Due to the high temperature, approximately 850.degree.-870.degree. C., existing in the hot gas channel, damages often occur on the shaft bearings, as heat is led through the shaft of the throttle valve into the bearings. This can lead to that the throttle valve does not work when the gas turbine has to a problem be quickly stopped.

Shaft device and a method of cooling a shaft device


An electronic cigarette comprising an atomizer and a first case configured for accommodating the atomizer is provided; the atomizer includes a heating mechanism, a breather pipe, and oil storage cotton, the heating mechanism is received inside the breather pipe, and the oil storage cotton envelops an outer surface of the breather pipe; wherein, the heating mechanism is positioned along an axial direction of the breather pipe, and has a shape matching an inner surface of the breather pipe. The heating mechanism in the electronic cigarette has a large effective heating area so that more smoke can be generated by the atomizer.

In the prior art, a heating mechanism of an electronic cigarette is usually formed by a nickel-chromium alloy wire coiled into a spiral shape. The heating mechanism is mounted on a cross section of a corresponding stationary bracket to generate heat. However, in this method, an effective heating area of the electronic cigarette is too limited. Therefore, smoke generated by an atomizer of the electronic cigarette is less, and it may be difficult to meet the need of a user.

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