A baseball cap having distorted graphics applied to the upwardly facing surface of the cap's visor, wherein the graphics are distorted in such a manner as to compensate for perspective and become more easily readable when viewed from a particular viewing position, more particularly, a frontal viewing position. The graphics may be text or pictorial views, and are distorted in such a manner that the distortion compensates for the distortion that normally exists when the visor is viewed from the frontal position whereby the graphics are easier to read or understand when so viewed.

This invention relates generally to headwear, and more particularly to headwear having a visor extending from the edge of a hat, such as a baseball cap. It is common practice to apply graphics of one kind or another to the top surface of the visor. However, when the cap is being worn, the graphics on the visor are distorted and difficult to read or understand by someone who is in "face-to-face" relation with the wearer. This is because the graphics are on a surface that is in angular relation when seen by the viewer from such a position. The basic concept of the instant invention is to compensate for this distortion by applying purposely distorted graphics to the cap visor (when viewed straight on from above the visor), the arrangement being such that when the visor is viewed by someone in "face-to-face" relation with the wearer, the distorted graphics are compensated for by the angulation of the visor, and the graphics become easily readable and/or understood. The graphics may be computer generated and may be applied to the visor by being directly printed or silk screened thereon, or by being applied to labels that are adhered to the visor. It is well known in the prior art to have varying graphics applied to different portions of a baseball cap. It should be understood that graphics is a broad term that represents both text and pictorials. The graphics may be applied to the rear portion of the cap, or the visor of the cap, but most commonly are found on the front forehead portion of the cap. The graphics traditionally represent such things as different sporting teams, musical groups, companies, resorts, islands, states, etc. Many people own at least one baseball cap, and many have a large selection of caps in order to have many to choose from. Since the cost of the traditional baseball cap is rather inexpensive, it is affordable for people to have a variety of these caps to choose from. The instant invention relates to a traditional baseball cap having distorted graphics applied to the upwardly facing surface of the visor of the cap. The distortion is such that it compensates for perspective as experienced by an observer, when that observer is essentially in a "face-to-face" relationship with the wearer of the cap. Thus, the important feature of the invention is to provide purposely distorted graphics on the visor of a baseball cap which become more easily readable when viewed in a "face-to-face" relation with a person wearing the cap. It should be understood that the graphics may be distorted in any number of ways so as to be easily readable from a number of different "face-to-face" viewing positions, but difficult to read when viewed from straight on, i.e., a ninety degree viewing position looking straight down at the visor.
The instant invention is directed to a baseball cap having distorted graphics applied to the upwardly facing surface of the cap's visor, wherein the graphics are distorted in such a manner as to compensate for perspective and become more easily readable when viewed from particular viewing positions. The baseball cap is of the traditional type having a cap portion for surrounding and covering the top of a person's head, and a visor portion extending outwardly from the bottom front edge of the cap portion for protecting the person's eyes from the sun. The visor has upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces, and distorted graphics are applied to the upwardly facing surface of the visor in such a manner that the graphics compensate for perspective from a generally "face-to-face" viewing position, thus removing the distortion, and making the graphics easy to read and/or understand. The graphics may be applied to the upwardly facing surface of the visor of the cap by printing, heat transfer, or any other suitable method. The graphics may include text or pictorial scenes and still be distorted in such a manner that they become more clearly understandable when viewed face on, such as by a person standing in front of the person wearing the cap in generally "face-to-face" relation. As set forth above, the graphics would be applied to the upwardly facing surface of a baseball cap visor. The invention includes determining the perspective angle change between a first viewing position where one looks straight down at the top of the visor and a second viewing position where one looks at the visor as seen when standing "face-to-face" with the wearer of the cap, and then distorting normally proportioned graphics appropriately such that perspective foreshortening from the second viewing position restores desired proportions enabling the graphics to become more easily readable.
Accordingly, among the several objects of the instant invention are: the provision of a baseball cap having distorted graphics applied to the upwardly facing surface of the cap's visor, which distortions are removed when one looks at the visor "face-to-face"; the provision of such a baseball cap wherein the distorted graphics are computer generated; the provision of such a baseball cap wherein the distorted graphics may be applied directly to the upwardly facing surface of the cap's visor, or in the alternative, may be separately applied thereto by a sticker or printed decal means; the provision of such a baseball cap wherein the distorted graphics may be text or picture graphics; the provision of such a baseball cap having endless advertising possibilities; the provision of a baseball cap that is neat and attractive in appearance; and the provision of a baseball cap that is cost efficient and easy to manufacture.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.


A technique for aligning features on opposite surfaces of a substrate by generating a fiducial image at an image plane and identifying the location of the image at a viewing device remote therefrom, e.g., a video display screen. The substrate is placed so that one surface thereof, on which a feature is to be placed in alignment with a corresponding feature already present on the other oppositely disposed surface, is at the image plane. The one surface has photoresist material thereon. With the fiducial image turned off, an image of the feature on the other oppositely disposed surface is presented at the viewing device and the substrate is moved in the image plane until the image of the feature at the viewing device is at the previously identified location of the fiducial image. The fiducial image is then regenerated to mark its location in the photoresist material at the one surface of the substrate, such location then being in alignment with the corresponding feature on the other oppositely disposed surface thereof.

There is an increasing need for aligning features, such as features produced using photolithographic techniques, which features are to be positioned on opposite surfaces of a substrate. Such alignment can be required, for example, in manufacturing integrated circuits or optical elements, or combinations thereof. Current techniques for providing such alignment generally use one of two alternative techniques.
A first technique relies on the transparency of the substrates involved at the wavelengths used for alignment so that the alignment equipment in effect "looks through" the substrate, from one surface to the other, to align the oppositely disposed features thereon. In some cases, where the substrate is opaque in the visible part of the spectrum but is transparent in the infrared portion of the spectrum, the alignment equipment may be designed to use infrared wavelength signals. However, in such cases there is a loss in alignment precision because of the longer wavelengths involved and because the devices used therein are not optimized for operation at the longer wavelenths. This technique cannot be used in cases where the substrate is opaque in the portions of the spectrum that can be used for aligning (generally the visible or near infra-red).
A second technique, that is sometimes used, exposes the lithography simultaneously on both opposing surfaces. The equipment used therefor utilizes a mask for each surface, with the two masks accurately aligned before the substrate is introduced. This approach can handle opaque substrates, but the equipment is complex and expensive. In addition, it is restricted only to situations where it is practical to initiate the lithography on both surfaces simultaneously.
It is desirable then to develop a simple and relatively inexpensive technique which will provide alignment of oppositely disposed features using wavelengths, preferably in the visible part of the spectrum, whether or not the substrate is transparent or opaque at such visible wavelenths, and which allows lithography on one surface of a substrate to be aligned with existing lithography on the opposite surface.

Technique for aligning features on opposite surfaces of a substrate


Parallelization of word alignment for a text-to-text operation. The training data is divided into multiple groups, and training is carried out of each group on separate processors. Different techniques can be carried out to increase the speed of the processing. The hookups can be done only once for all of multiple different iterations. Moreover, parallel operations can apply only to the counts, since this may be the most time-consuming part.

Text to text applications include machine translation and other machine intelligence systems such as speech recognition and automated summarization. These systems often rely on training that is carried out based on information from specified databases known as corpora.
A training pipeline may include many millions of words. It is not uncommon for the training to take weeks. There is often a tradeoff between the speed of the processing and the accuracy of the obtained information.
It is desirable to speed up the training of such a system.

Task parallelization in a text-to-text system


The present invention provides an improved automatic suction structure of a vacuum container. The structure includes a pumping unit, a power supply, a vacuum releaser and a vacuum detector. The structure allows for automatic air suction, automatic detection, safety power disconnection and continuous vacuuming as well as easy operation. The present invention guarantees improved quality and convenient operation.

Conventional airtight containers are commonly used to accommodate food products or precision devices. While a vacuum pump extracts air from the container via a one-way valve, a negative pressure for reliable adsorption of container is formed. However, since it is difficult for a vacuum pump to maintain air tightness with the container during the actual sealing and operation, the air suction effect is often poor, or leads to failure due to air leakage.
For a typical structure of the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,870, entitled "Automatic Suction Structure of a Vacuum Container" is shown in FIGS. 1-2. The suction device 20 comprises a motor 21, a deceleration gear set 22 driven by the motor 21, a connection rod 23 actuated by the deceleration gear set 22, a suction pump 24, a piston rod 25 disposed slidably in the suction pump 24 such that one end of the piston rod 25 is fastened with the connection rod 23, a piston 26 fastened with other end of the piston rod 25, and an air-exhausting valve 27.
Problems are found from such a prior art structure during actual application. First, due to complexity of the air extractor structure and assembly procedure of deceleration gear set 2 and coupled actuating arm 3, the assembly requires a time-consuming and tedious process. Time is wasted and costs the favor of the operators.
Since the air extractor is equipped with continuously-running deceleration gear sets 2, the swinging motion of gear sets will lead to defects in the air extractor 8.
Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.
To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

Automatic suction structure of a vacuum container


A water pressure controlled valve including a housing and a piston slidably received within the housing. First and second water control chambers are positioned on opposite ends of the piston and are fluidly coupled to first and second water control valves, respectively. Operation of the first and second water control valves controls water pressure in the first and second water control chambers to cause sliding movement of the piston and control water supplied to a water outlet.

The present invention relates generally to mixing valves for use with faucets and, more particularly, to a mixing valve controlling temperature by utilizing water pressure to move a control piston.
The present disclosure provides for temperature control of outlet water from a faucet by using water pressure to move a control port supported by a piston. More particularly, a plurality of electrically operable valves are utilized to control water flow to the outlet of a faucet. Illustratively, a first electrically operable valve moves the piston towards a hot water position, a second electrically operable valve moves the piston towards a cold water position, and a third electrically operable valve activates and/or deactivates water flow.
In an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a mixing valve utilizes hydraulic forces to control the positioning of outlet openings relative to control ports which, in turn, controls the temperature of the water. Rather than controlling the mixed temperature by rotating hot and cold water ports, linear displacement of control ports controls water temperature. As the control ports move axially back and forth, the proportion of hot and cold water exiting a control chamber varies, thereby changing the temperature of the outlet water. More particularly, solenoid valves on opposing sides of the control ports may be opened and closed to position the control ports as desired, thereby controlling the outlet water temperature. A temperature sensor may be coupled to a controller to provide a closed loop feedback system. As a change in temperature is detected, the temperature sensor will alert the controller of the change. The controller will then open the appropriate solenoid valve to move the piston and associated control ports to the proper position to achieve the desired outlet water temperature.
In a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a diverter valve utilizes hydraulic forces for positioning control ports of the piston to determine which outlet opening receives outlet water. In another illustrative embodiment, a temperature control valve utilizes hydraulic forces for positioning control ports of the piston to determine flow rate of outlet water.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a water pressure controlled mixing valve includes a mixed water outlet, and a valve housing having a hot water inlet opening, a cold water inlet opening, a hot water outlet opening, and a cold water outlet opening. The hot water outlet opening and the cold water outlet opening are in fluid communication with the mixed water outlet. A piston is slidably received within the housing, the piston including a hot water piston chamber including a hot water inlet port and a hot water outlet port, and a cold water piston chamber including a cold water inlet port and a cold water outlet port. The hot water outlet port is selectively alignable with the hot water outlet opening, and the cold water outlet port is selectively alignable with the cold water outlet opening to control the temperature of water supplied to the mixed water outlet. A first water control chamber is defined by the valve housing, and a first end of the piston is received within the first water control chamber. A second water control chamber is defined by the valve housing, and a second end of the piston is received within the second water control chamber. A first electrically operable valve is fluidly coupled to the first control chamber, and a second electrically operable valve is fluidly coupled to the second control chamber. The first electrically operable valve is configured to control water pressure in the first water control chamber, and the second electrically operable valve is configured to control water pressure in the second water control chamber to cause sliding movement of the piston and control the temperature of water supplied to the mixed water outlet.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a water pressure controlled valve includes a housing having at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening. A piston is slidably received within the housing. A first water control chamber is defined by the housing and receives a first end of the piston, and a second water control chamber is defined by the housing and receives a second end of the piston. A first water control valve is fluidly coupled to the first water control chamber, and a second water control valve is fluidly coupled to the second water control chamber. Operation of the first and second water control valves controls water pressure in the first and second water control chambers to cause sliding movement of the piston and control water flow from the at least one inlet opening to the at least one outlet opening.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A method for compacting a magnetic powder in a magnetic field comprising steps of filling a die with a magnetic powder, applying a pulsed magnetic field to the magnetic powder in the die to orientate the powder, and compressing the magnetic powder, wherein the pulsed magnetic field is applied twice or more when density ρ of a compacted body of said magnetic powder satisfies the relationship ρ=α×H0.5+β(α=0.63 and β=1 to 2), where H is intensity (T) of the applied magnetic field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a rare-earth sintered magnet, more particularly to a method for compacting a magnetic powder in a magnetic field to improve magnetic orientation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In production of an anisotropic sintered Sm—Co or Nd—Fe—B system magnet, compacting is conducted in a magnetic field. It is important to improve the orientation of the magnetic powder when compacted in a magnetic field, in order to improve the residual magnetic flux density of the anisotropic sintered magnet. A more orientated magnet has a higher squareness, leading to higher residual magnetic flux density and magnetizability thereof.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-208809 proposes production of an Nd—Fe—B system sintered magnet, wherein magnesium stearate is used as an additive and a pulsed magnetic field is applied while it is compacted.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 3,307,418 discloses a method for applying a pulsed magnetic field to a compacted body of magnetic powder while it has a relative density of 30 to 55%, discussing that it can have improved magnetic orientation even in the absence of a lubricant or a release agent, e.g., magnesium stearate.

Method for compacting magnetic powder in magnetic field, and method for producing rare-earth sintered magnet


An apparatus and a process as disclosed for manufacturing a glass sheet having a complex form for vehicles. The apparatus includes a roller heating oven, a supporting air bed in a shaping section, and a shaping ring for conveying the glass first to an upper shaping mold and then to a tempering station. The air bed is formed with fustoconical nozzles of such a size as to enable the ring to pass through them and to be placed beneath the a floating plane of the glass. The ring undergoes a first vertical movement to lift the glass toward the shaping mold and a second horizontal movement to convey the glass to the tempering station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for shaping and tempering sheets of glass having a complex shape, for use as windows in vehicles.
The shape of the bodywork of a motor vehicle is of great importance, not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also from an aerodynamic one. In this context, it is also necessary that there be no surface discontinuity which would worsen the vehicle's air penetration coefficient when in movement.
For this reason glasses for automobiles in particular have taken on complex forms which can only be manufactured in specially produced plants built for the purpose.
Industrial plants for shaping and tempering sheets of glass with complex forms for use in motor vehicles are known from the state of the art.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,715 describes a plant which heats the glass, conveyed on rollers, in a horizontal oven and, again on rollers, transports it to a shaping station. A lower vertically mobile mold, whose flat surface is grooved so as to pass through the rollers transporting the glass, lifts the glass from the rollers and carries it upwards until the glass is close enough to be attracted to the upper mold by means of vacuum suction. When shaping has been completed the upper mold allows the glass to drop onto a ring-like member, called a shuttle, running horizontally, which transports the glass to the tempering and cooling station.
The disadvantage in this plant lies mainly in the fact that the glass, which is at a high temperature, suffers surface deformation due to the long period of contact first with the rollers in the shaping area, and then with the flat surface of the mold. The surface deformation causes notable optical faults which are unacceptable for glass to be used in motor vehicles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,556 describes a method and an apparatus for shaping sheets of glass having complex shapes. The sheets of glass move along a gaseous hearth bed through a horizontal heating oven, drawn by transversal bars separated by a given space, and reach the shaping station. In this area, a hearth formed by a gaseous bed takes up the glass and bears it in its horizontal movement. Because the hearth has a suitable downward causes, it curves the glass to become curved due to gravity into a desired shape. A hollow shaping ring, of the configuration desired, surrounds the gaseous bed and is positioned below the bed. When the whole surface of the glass is resting on the gaseous bed, the ring lifts it vertically towards a mold, to which the glass is attracted by vacuum suction, and which successively deposits the glass on a second shuttle carriage ring which carries it to the tempering and cooling station.
In this plant there are several disadvantages: first of all it is necessary to change, for production of each shape, not only the lower ring and the upper mold, but also the gaseous hearth bed, which has a curvature similar to that of the finished article; the gaseous hearth bed must also be changed in relation to the surface dimensions of the article, as it must be housed within the hollow shaping ring; and the transfer from the oven to the shaping station takes place by means of intermediate rollers which, given the high temperature of the glass, can easily cause surface deformation and therefore optical defects.
The European patent application EP 415,826 describes a plant which attempts to overcome the disadvantages deriving from the presence of rollers in the curving station, substituting the rollers with a belt of suitable heat-resistant material which is placed between a lower shaping ring and an upper vacuum mold.
In this case also there are certain disadvantages, deriving mainly from the difficulties in controlling such a complex shaping system, and from the fact that prolonged standing of the glass, heated to softening temperature, on the support belt can easily cause unpleasant optical deformations.

Apparatus for the manufacture of sheets of glass having a complex shape


A semiconductor structure that provides intrinsic doping from native defects is provided. A quantum well including a narrow bandgap material (11, 14) having a low concentration of native defects is sandwiched between two wide bandgap spacer layers (12, 20, 17, 15). The spacer layers (12, 20, 17, 15) have a low concentration of native defects. At least one doping region (13, 16) having a high concentration of native defects positioned adjacent to one of the undoped spacer layers (12, 17).

The present invention relates, in general, to semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to a quantum well semiconductor structure having high mobility intrinsic doping.
Semiconductor devices are formed on a substrate comprising semiconductor material. Intrinsic semiconductor material usually has very high resistivity or is semi-insulating. Conventionally, the resistivity of semiconductor material is lowered by doping portions of the semiconductor material with atoms that provide electrons or holes. For example boron is a P-type dopant in silicon, while phosphorous and arsenic are N-type dopants. This type of doping is called extrinsic doping.
One problem with extrinsic doping is that the dopant atoms increase scattering of charge carriers moving in the semiconductor material. Increased scattering is reflected in lower mobility in the semiconductor material. Moreover, lower mobility results in devices with slower switching and higher power consumption. This problem is addressed to some degree by modulation doping in heterostructure semiconductor devices. Modulation doping physically separates the dopant atoms from the charge carriers that they provide using quantum wells and barriers.
Native defects in the semiconductor crystal also cause scattering and mobility degradation. Modulation doping does not prevent scattering caused by native defects. Usually, manufacturers attempt to minimize the concentration of native defects to improve mobility. Unfortunately, native defects can have beneficial effects in a semiconductor structure, and minimizing their concentration also minimizes these beneficial effects.
What is needed is a semiconductor structure that beneficially uses properties of native defects while minimizing scattering and mobility degradation caused by the native defects.

Intrinsically doped semiconductor structure and method for making


A GTO thyristor includes a p-type emitter layer, an n-type base layer, a p-type base layer and an n-type emitter layer. An additional n-type layer is formed on the p-type base layer next to the n-type emitter layer An additional p.sup.+ -type layer is formed on the additional n-type layer and stretches to the n-type emitter layer. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode are disposed respectively on the n-type emitter layer and the p-type base layer. The n-type emitter layer and the additional p.sup.+ -type layer are connected with each other by a floating electrode. A first gate electrode is disposed on the additional p.sup.+ -type layer, additional n-type layer and p-type base layer with an insulating film interposed therebetween so as to form a first FET. A second gate electrode is disposed on the n-type base layer, p-type base layer and n-type emitter layer with an insulating film interposed therebetween so as to form a second FET. A thyristor having such a configuration can effectively prevent a latched-up condition caused by parasitic transistors or thyristors to ensure turn off operations of the host thyristor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thyristor and, more particularly, it relates to an improved GTO thyristor
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a GTO thyristor is turned off by drawing out the electric current within the device through a gate electrode directly fitted to the base layer of the device by means of a current-driven type drive device. Such a current-driven technique, however, requires the use of a gate circuit adapted to accommodate large electric power and hence of a large drive device.
A voltage control type GTO thyristor comprising an insulated gate such as an EST (emitter switched thyristor) has been proposed to bypass the above identified problem.
FIG. 19 of the accompanying drawings illustrates in cross section a known EST.
The EST comprises an n-base layer 83, a p-emitter layer 82 formed on one of the surface of the n-base layer 83, an anode electrode 81 disposed on the p-emitter layer 82, a p-base layer 84 selectively formed on the other surface of the n-base layer 83 and an n-emitter layer 85 selectively formed on the surface of the p-base layer 84, said semiconductor layers 82 through 85 providing this device with a thyristor portion through their pnpn structure.
A p.sup.+ -layer 86 and an n.sup.+ -layer 87 are formed side by side on the surface of the p-base layer 84 and a cathode electrode 88 is arranged to bridge the surface of the p.sup.+ -layer 86 and that of the n.sup.+ -layer 87. A gate electrode 90 is disposed on the p-base layer 84 to bridge the n.sup.+ -layer 87 and n-emitter layer 85 with a gate oxide film 89 interposed therebetween, said p-base layer 84, n-emitter layer 85, n.sup.+ -layer 87, gate oxide layer 89 and gate electrode 90 constituting an n-channel MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) Tr1.
Similarly, another gate electrode 80 is disposed on the n-emitter layer 85, the p-base layer 84 and the n-base layer 83 with an insulation film 79 interposed therebetween, said n-emitter layer 85, p-base layer 84, n-base layer 83, gate oxide film 79 and gate electrode 80 constituting another n-channel MOSFET Tr2.
A GTO thyristor having a configuration as described above is turned on by applying a positive voltage to the gate terminal G in relation to the cathode terminal K, while applying a forward voltage between the anode terminal A and the cathode terminal K.
As the voltages are applied, an n-channel ch1 is produced on the surface of the p-base layer 84 between the n.sup.+ -layer 87 and the n-emitter layer 85 while another n-channel ch2 is produced on the surface of the p-base layer 84 between the n-emitter layer 85 and the n-base layer 83 so that electrons may flow from the n.sup.+ -layer 87 to the n-emitter layer 85 by way of the first n-channel ch1 and from the n-emitter layer 85 to the n base layer 83 via the second n-channel ch2.
Thus, a base current takes place in a transistor constituted by a p-emitter layer 82, an n-base layer 83 and a p-base layer 84.
On the other hand, holes of the p-emitter layer 82 are made to flow from there to the p-base layer 84 through the n-base layer 83.
In other words, another base current takes place in another transistor constituted by an n-base layer 83, a p-base layer 84 and an n-emitter layer 85.
Consequently, the first transistor constituted by a p-base layer 82, an n-base layer 83 and a p-base layer 84 and the second transistor constituted by an n-base layer 83, a p-base layer 84 and an n-emitter layer 85 mutually amplify the respective collector currents of the other parties to turn on the thyristor.
The thyristor can be turned off by applying an negative voltage to the gate terminal G in relation to the cathode terminal K to turn off the MOSFET Tr1 and stop the supply of electrons to the n-emitter layer 85.
However, a thyristor of the above described type is accompanied by problems as described below.
As a flow of holes runs into the cathode electrode 88 through the p-base layer 84 under n.sup.+ -layer 87, the p-base layer 84 shows a voltage drop due to the resistance of the p-base layer 84.
The voltage drop forwardly biases the n.sup.+ -layer 87 and the p-base layer 84 so that electrons flow from the n.sup.+ -layer 87 into the n-base layer 83 by way of the p-base layer 84. Consequently, a parasitic thyristor PT constituted by the n.sup.+ -layer 87, the p-base layer 84, the n-base layer 83 and the p emitter layer 82 comes into existence and latches up the host thyristor HT. Since electric current flows through the parasitic thyristor, the current cannot be prevented from flowing through the device even when the host is turned off.
Additionally, the voltage drop turns on another parasitic transistor constituted by the n.sup.+ -layer 87, the p-base layer 84 and the n-emitter layer 85 to cause electrons to flow into the n-emitter layer 85 so that, again, the host thyristor constituted by the p-emitter layer 82, the n-base layer 83, the p-base layer 84 and the n-emitter layer 85 is forced to continue its operation after the gate is turned off.

GTO thyristor capable of preventing parasitic thyristors from being generated


A haircutting template is a plastic headpiece having a plurality of upper blade rows and a plurality of perpendicularly disposed lower blade rows in the shape of a head. The peripheral edge of the device has the shape of a common hairline. The template is capable of being removably secured about the head of a user by means of an adjustable strap.

People all over the world routinely go to a hair salon or barber for a haircut. While some people may be happy to do so, many would prefer to avoid the trip and expense of getting a professional haircut. This is almost certainly true for people who have a haircut that is not complicated.
In order to facilitate untrained users to cut their own hair there have been many devices offered for sale that promote an easy do it yourself haircutting solution. However, often times these products are not affordable or as easy to use as would first seem. Therefore, a need exists for a device which affords a user a safe and cost-effective way to cut his or her own hair. The development of the haircutting template fulfills this need.


A DC connector arrangement is disclosed. The DC connector arrangement includes a DC plug and a DC receptacle that are configured to engage one another at more than one position. The DC plug and DC receptacle are also configured with a small contact distance to minimize the insertion and extraction forces that occur between the DC plug and the DC receptacle.

In order to operate and/or charge electronic devices, dedicated power assemblies that connect the electronic devices to external power sources are required. Power assemblies generally include a plug that receives AC current from an electrical outlet, a power converter that turns AC current into DC current, and a power plug that distributes the DC current through a power port of the electronic device. As is generally well known, DC current (3 to 12 volts and less than 1 amp of current) is required to operate most electronic devices and to recharge batteries that store DC current while AC current (110 volts or 220 volts) is typically supplied in most buildings.
AC connections, such as the American standard for alternating current, come in various configurations including two prong or three prong connections. In either case, the prongs include at least a two metal contacts for carrying AC current. Three prong connections additionally include a "ground" contact that provides a path to ground when an electrical failure occurs. In the two prong variety (unless it includes one oversized prong), the two metal contacts are electrically identical and therefore their positions may be reversed when connecting to an AC socket. For example, the two prong AC connector can be inserted up or down (two ways to insert). In the three prong variety, the three metal contacts typically must be inserted in one position relative to the socket (only one way to insert).
DC connections also come in various configurations. The most common DC connection includes a post that slides axially into a jack. Both the post and the jack typically include an outer and inner contact. Because they connect axially, these connections typically do not require an exact connection position as the AC connections (e.g., 0 to 360 degree insertion). The post fits snuggly into the jack so that a friction force holds the two together, i.e., resists sliding motion. In order to ensure proper electrical contact and securement between the post and the jack, high friction is typically required over a long distance. This is especially true at the outer contact. Unfortunately, however, this makes it difficult to insert and extract the post to and from the jack. That is, a large insertion or extraction force over a large distance is necessary in order to couple and decouple the post from the jack. Furthermore, the post must move parallel to the centerline of the jack (axially). If the plug is pulled or pushed at a slight angle relative to the central axis, the force required to extract or insert the plug goes up exponentially.
A less common DC connection includes plug/outlet combination similar to the AC connection. This type of DC connection includes a plug having female sockets, and an outlet having male pins. The entire plug is insertable into the outlet in order to allow the mating of the pins and sockets. This type of connection can only be mated one way. In fact, in order to ensure that the plug is correctly positioned within the outlet, the plug may include a protrusion that fits into a groove in the outlet
Other DC connections may also be provided by connectors that include both power and data functionality. These type of connectors typically include a linear array of pins or pads. Each pin or pad is dedicated to transmitting power or data. Similarly to the large two prong or three prong AC connection and the less common DC connection described above, these type of connections can only be connected one way. In fact, the mating connectors typically include arrows or visual indicators for correctly aligning the two connectors so that they are placed in the appropriate position for mating. In addition, linear array connectors generally include a button or latch mechanism for securing the connectors together (rather than using friction). While these mechanisms may work well, they add complexity and cost to the connector. Furthermore, because they are mechanical in nature they can break over time (repeated use) and some users may have difficulty manipulating the buttons or latches. Moreover, the buttons and latches may adversely affect the cosmetic appearance of the connector (e.g., protrusions), especially on the plug side of the DC connection. As should be appreciated, the plug side is the side that is typically seen by the user and thus poor aesthetic qualities may cause the user to think badly about the product in which it is used.
In view of the above, what is desired is an improved DC connector assembly that is easy to insert and extract.


A valve for controlling fluids, including a housing in which an armature for actuating an actuating element is disposed, a valve insert disposed coaxially to the armature and an intermediate element disposed between the armature and the valve insert with the intermediate element having an inner diameter which is greater than an outer diameter of the armature or of the valve insert.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve for controlling fluids, having an armature for actuating an actuating member of the valve and having a valve insert disposed coaxially to the armature.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electromagnetic valves are known in various versions from the prior art. To assure the function of the valve, a plunging stage is embodied between the armature and the valve insert, so that one part can plunge at least partway into the other part. Until now, such plunging stages, of the kind shown for instance in German Patent Disclosure DE 197 33 660 A1, have been made by lathe machining to very close tolerances on the armature or the valve insert. The armature, on its face end toward the valve insert, has a protrusion of recessed outer diameter, and the valve insert has a correspondingly embodied annular edge region, so that the armature can plunge into the valve insert. Thus in the prior art, machining must be done on both the face end of the armature and the face end of the valve insert, which is complicated and expensive because of the tolerances required.


System and methods for initializing secure communications with lightweight devices are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes enabling a device manager to securely communicate with a lightweight device, the method comprising receiving encrypted data from the device manager, wherein the device manager received the encrypted data from the lightweight device. In the embodiment, the method also includes decrypting the encrypted data to produce access information, wherein the access information enables the device manager to securely communicate with the lightweight device. In the embodiment, the method also includes securely transmitting the access information to the device manager.

Computer networks often include a device manager that manages or controls a number of lightweight devices. Lightweight devices are relatively simple electronic devices that accomplish tasks using minimal logic (e.g., relatively simple circuits, ASICS, or processors). Because lightweight devices do not have sophisticated logic or large memory, it may be difficult for them to perform complex operations necessary for establishing secure communications channels with other network devices. Device managers can be general-purpose computers or other more sophisticated electronic devices.
Typically, when a computer network is initially deployed into the field, a field technician uses a secure communication channel to configure the lightweight devices and/or the device manager to enable secure communications between the manager and the lightweight devices. For example, one prior art technique calls for establishing a temporary secure physical link between the lightweight devices and configuration equipment. In particular, when configuring the network, a field technician uses configuration equipment to physically transfer cryptographic keys and other security information into each lightweight device and the device manager. One disadvantage of this technique is that when a device manager fails, the field technician has to physically access and upload new security information to all the lightweight devices and a replacement device manager. Another disadvantage is that adding lightweight devices to the network similarly requires a field technician to establish a temporary secure physical link between the configuration equipment and the new lightweight device and the/or the device manager. Another disadvantage is the need for a specific configuration device that is not a common tool for field technicians. This configuration device is not easily replaced if it is lost or fails. Another disadvantage is that this technique requires additional expertise for the field technicians.
Another prior art technique requires that the lightweight device be connected directly to a device manager over a physically secure link. The disadvantages of this technique are that it is generally impractical to maintain either a large physically secure network or to bring each lightweight device to the device manager's location (or to each device manager's location for networks that have more than one device manager) for the initial installation and for any time that a device manager fails.

System and method for initializing secure communications with lightweight devices


The present invention relates to a polymerizable monomer represented by the general formula (1),

The present invention relates to (a) novel fluorine-containing monomers having a special structure, that is, a hydroxyl group or a substituent for protecting or modifying hydroxyl group, (b) polymers prepared by polymerization or copolymerization of such monomers, and (c) materials (e.g., reflection preventive materials, photosensitive coatings, and resist materials) containing such polymers.
Fluorine-containing compounds have been used and developed in various fields particularly in the field of advanced materials due to their good qualities (e.g., water repellency, oil repellency, low water absorption, heat resistance, weather resistance, corrosion resistance, transparency, photosensitivity, low refractive index, and low dielectric property). In particular, there have been active researches and developments of fluorine-containing compounds in the fields of (a) reflection preventive films utilizing low refractive index and visible light transparency of fluorine-containing compounds, (b) optical devices utilizing transparency of fluorine-containing compounds in a long wavelength band for optical communication, and (c) resist materials utilizing transparency of fluorine-containing compounds in ultraviolet region (particularly vacuum ultraviolet wavelength region). In these fields, the common task of designing polymers is to achieve adhesion to the substrate and high glass transition point (hardness), while achieving transparency at each wavelength for use by introducing as many fluorine atoms as possible into the polymer. Although there have been various proposals for increasing transparency at each wavelength by increasing the fluorine content in the polymer, there is no or very few proposals for improving water repellency and adhesion and for obtaining higher glass transition point by newly designing fluorine-containing monomers themselves. Recently, there have been some reports of hydroxyl group-containing and fluorine-containing styrenes and hydroxyl group-containing and fluorine-containing norbornene compounds in the field of the next generation F2 resist in vacuum ultraviolet region. However, there are demands for new materials (i.e., novel polymers and novel monomers for providing novel polymers) having a sufficiently low refractive index necessary for reflection preventive films, for those having a sufficient transparency at optical communication wavelength, and for those having both of a sufficient transparency in ultraviolet region and a sufficient etching resistance.

Fluorine-containing polymerizable monomer and polymer prepared by using same

Abstract: wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; R2 is a straight-chain or branched alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aromatic group, or a substituent having at least two of these groups, the R2 being optionally partially fluorinated; R3 is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group that is optionally branched, a fluorine-containing alkyl group, or a cyclic group having an aromatic or alicyclic structure, the R3 optionally containing a bond of an oxygen atom or carbonyl group; and n is an integer of 1–2.


A chisel for breaking spot welds of a vehicle includes an elongate handle section with a grip and a slightly angled chisel section with blade faces on three sides and a rib generally parallel to a blade edge to limit insertion of a blade between vehicle body parts.

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool useful for vehicle repair and, more particularly, vehicle body repair.
Modern vehicles typically include steel sheet metal panels or parts which are spot welded together. When repairing the body or other spot welded components of a vehicle, therefore, it is often necessary to detach the welded components, such as panels, from other parts of the vehicle. It has been suggested that a chisel type tool can be utilized to effect such detachment by removing the welded material at least in part, and subsequently inserting the tool in between the welded parts and breaking of the spot weld by twisting or otherwise manipulating the tool. That is, a small drill bit (as close to the diameter of the spot weld) may be used first to remove as much of the weld as possible. The bit may be allowed to penetrate completely one or both pieces of metal that are welded together. The remaining spot weld may then be separated using the spot weld popper. The present invention relates to an improved chisel type tool designed to function as a device for breaking spot welds so that vehicle body parts may be separated for repair and/or replacement.


A lateral epitaxial growth process is employed to facilitate the fabrication of a semiconductor structure including a stack of suspended III-V or germanium semiconductor nanowires that are substantially defect free. The lateral epitaxial growth process is unidirectional due to the use of masks to prevent epitaxial growth in both directions, which would create defects when the growth fronts merge. Stacked sacrificial material nanowires are first formed, then after masking and etching process to reveal a semiconductor seed layer, the sacrificial material nanowires are removed, and III-V compound semiconductor or germanium epitaxy is performed to fill the void previously occupied by the sacrificial material nanowires.

The present application relates to semiconductor technology. More particularly, the present application relates to a method of forming a semiconductor structure including a stack of suspended III-V or germanium semiconductor nanowires that are formed utilizing a lateral epitaxial growth process. The present application also relates to a semiconductor structure that includes such a stack of suspended III-V or germanium semiconductor nanowires.
For more than three decades, the continued miniaturization of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) has driven the worldwide semiconductor industry. Various showstoppers to continued scaling have been predicated for decades, but a history of innovation has sustained Moore's Law in spite of many challenges. However, there are growing signs today that metal oxide semiconductor transistors are beginning to reach their traditional scaling limits. Since it has become increasingly difficult to improve MOSFETs and therefore complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) performance through continued scaling, further methods for improving performance in addition to scaling have become critical.
The use of non-planar semiconductor devices such as, for example, semiconductor fin field effect transistors (finFETs) or gate-all-around semiconductor nanowire field effect transistors is the next step in the evolution of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices. Such non-planar semiconductor devices can achieve higher drive currents with increasingly smaller dimensions as compared to conventional planar FETs.
Gate-all-around semiconductor nanowire field effect transistors provide superior electrostatics and higher current density per footprint than finFET devices. Gate-all-around semiconductor nanowire field effect transistors include at least one semiconductor nanowire including a source region, a drain region and a channel region located between the source region and the drain region, and a gate electrode that wraps around the channel region of the at least one semiconductor nanowire. A gate dielectric is typically disposed between the channel region of the at least one semiconductor nanowire and the gate electrode. The gate electrode regulates electron flow through the semiconductor nanowire channel between the source region and the drain region. Stacked semiconductor nanowires, in which the semiconductor nanowires are formed one atop another, afford higher density than their non-stacked semiconductor nanowire counterparts.
However, there are many process challenges which must be overcome in order to facilitate a gate-all-around semiconductor nanowire field effect transistor that contains stacked semiconductor nanowires. For example, there is a need for providing a gate-all-around semiconductor nanowire field effect transistor in which a stack of a III-V or germanium (Ge) channel material is employed since such channel materials have high mobility for electrons and holes as compared with silicon (Si) channel materials.

Replacement III-V or germanium nanowires by unilateral confined epitaxial growth

International Business Machines Corporation


A computer-implemented method can include accessing a micro-blog to retrieve a real-time copy of the micro-blog thread and delivering the real-time copy of the micro-blog thread for display in an e-mail message.

In recent years, micro-blogging has increased in popularity. In general, micro-blogging allows a user to broadcast relatively short messages to a group of people associated with the user. In a micro-blogging system, the user generates a submission (referred to herein as a post) that is re-transmitted to the group of people who have been associated with the user. Based on the user's post, other users may comment or add additional information in response to the post generating a series of posts (referred to herein as a thread).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A capillary driven microfluidic device with blood plasma separation means that can be used to separate, meter and transfer a blood sample. The blood separation means can be arranged as a capillary pump by the configuration of a porous membrane and the microfluidic device.

Microfluidic devices are used in a wide range of applications. Typically, a microfluidic device is defined to handle small fluid volumes (μL, nL, pL etc.), have a small size with at least one dimension in the micrometer range, and/or use effects of the microdomain. In such devices fluids may be moved, mixed, separated or otherwise processed. Numerous applications employ passive fluid control techniques like capillary forces.
One important area of microfluidics is in medical devices. Microfluidic devices may be used in analytical or therapeutic applications, e.g. to administer medications or to handle samples of bodily fluids.
Blood plasma based testing forms the gold standard in clinical laboratory analysis, drug development and therapeutic drug monitoring, world-wide. Plasma is usually obtained through centrifugation of venous blood samples, requiring typically milliliter samples to be taken from the patient. However, if the centrifugation step could be eliminated while still providing an analyzable and volume-defined amount of plasma, time-consuming and costly steps in clinical practice would be vastly reduced. Thus a method that only requires a microsample of blood, e.g. 50 μl obtained via fingerprick, to extract plasma is highly preferred over centrifuged plasma samples requiring milliliter volumes. Such a method would be highly relevant for billions of blood samples taken every year in laboratory analysis and drug development trials on both humans and animals.
To ensure ease-of-use and enable use in distributed settings, plasma extraction devices should preferably be autonomous, i.e. not require any external power sources, pneumatic pumps, or other additional equipment. One such autonomous system using capillary forces from surface treated polymer microchannels is described in Biomed Microdevices, vol 8, no. 1, pp 73-79, March 2006 (S Thorslund et al)
Different types of volume-metering capillary driven device are disclosed by WO 2015/044454 that so far only have been demonstrated with water and whole blood. There is no disclosure in WO 2015/044454 of an operable, autonomous capillary driven plasma separation process integrated with a microfluidic device, suitable in point-of-care or distributed uses.

Method for separating blood plasma and metering thereof


A clamp for a prosthetic limb includes a first section configured to couple to a first portion of a prosthetic limb and a second section being separate and spaced apart from the first section and configured to couple to a second portion of a prosthetic limb. The clamp further includes a plurality of pins extending between the first section and the second section and connecting the first section to the second section, each pin having a first end connected to the first section and a second end opposite to the first end and connected to the second section.

Prosthetic limbs are attached to a residual limb or stump of an amputee by a stump socket, which is a shell that closely conforms to the residual limb. For example, a knee prosthetic includes a stump socket that is attached to the stump of an amputee. The stump socket has a threaded socket adaptor which is adapted to engage with an intermediate connector, such a pyramid plug. The pyramid plug then connects the socket adaptor to an upper tube clamp. A lower tube clamp is connected to the upper tube clamp with a tube. The lower tube clamp is then connected to a prosthetic foot with a connector.

Clamps for prosthetic limbs and methods of making clamps for prosthetic limbs


A mechanical stop is adapted to be mounted onto a rigid bar and includes a single piece conically shaped body having a plurality of inwardly extending projections. Each of the inwardly extending projections have a distal end that is contoured to match an outer surface of the bar. The distal ends define an opening. The conically shaped body is adapted to be plastically deformed to a substantially flat shape after being placed onto the rigid bar. The opening includes a first dimension larger than the rigid bar prior to being plastically deformed and a second dimension smaller than the rigid bar after being plastically deformed. After the conically shaped body is plastically deformed into a substantially flat shape, the distal ends will frictionally engage the outer surface of the rigid bar to secure the mechanical stop thereon.

1. Technical Field of The Invention
The present invention generally relates to a mechanical stop adapted to be mounted onto a rigid bar or tube. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mechanical stop that is adapted to be plastically deformed into frictional contact with the outer surface of a rigid bar, thereby providing a mechanical stop on the rigid bar that does not create any stress risers within the rigid bar.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many bars and tubes in machine and automotive components require a ring or clamp that fixes itself onto the bar or tube to create a mechanical stop. These types of mechanical stops can be formed in many ways. Often, the bar is machined to receive such a stop, or a stop is welded onto the bar or tube. Machining and welding of the bar or tube causes stress risers within the bar or tube, which are undesirable.
As seen from the above, there is a need for an improved mechanical stop that can be mounted onto a bar or tube without causing stress risers within the bar or tube. A principle object of this invention is to provide a mechanical stop that is frictionally attached to a bar or tube to provide a stop thereon.


A squeegee blade made of a compound having a methyl vinyl silicone polymer, a filler, and a friction-reducing additive is provided. The friction-reducing additive is present in an amount from between about 5 and 42 weight percent. The average particle size of the friction-reducing additive is preferably less than about 25 microns, thereby permitting extrusion of the compound into the shape of a squeegee blade. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferred as a friction-reducing additive, but other substances, such as boron nitride or graphite could be used.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to windshield wipers and in particular to windshield wipers having a silicon rubber wiper blade that incorporates PTFE.
2. Description of Related Art
Rain, sleet, and snow have always presented a vision problem for the driver of a moving vehicle. The windshield wiper blade has attempted to minimize the problem by clearing the windshield of the light obstructing moisture and debris. Such blades are typically formed of rubber or rubber-like materials. Over the years, wiper blades have been modified in many ways in order to enhance wipe quality and therefore visibility during precipitation. In some instances, the configuration of the blade has been changed to give a plurality of contact surfaces on the blade. Various modifications have been introduced to improve the consistency and integrity of the wiping edge.
Wiper designers have developed silicone-rubber-based wiper blades with some success. Silicone rubber is a superior material to natural rubber for several reasons. Silicone rubber, i.e., high molecular weight, vulcanizable polydiorganosiloxane, is able to withstand wide temperature variation without an appreciable effect on its physical properties. Further, silicone rubber is virtually unaffected by ultraviolet radiation, even over long periods of time. It is also resistant to ozone, oil, salt, water and other road and automotive chemicals.
Silicone rubber as used for wiper compositions has had one significant drawback: it has an unacceptably high coefficient of friction with respect to glass. Some of the early silicone wiper blades exhibited such a high coefficient of friction that the wiper blades could tear loose from the wiper frame when wiping the windshield. Less catastrophic effects of this high coefficient of friction include an unacceptably loud squeak or chatter as the wiper traverses the windshield, and unacceptably high loads on the windshield wiper motor. The silicone wiper blades produced today have improved significantly but wiper designers continually search for improved solutions that would reduce the friction between the wiper blade and the windshield.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been used in conjunction with wiper blades in an attempt to decrease friction between the wiper blade and the windshield. However, the wiper blades are typically coated with PTFE after the blade is cured. Coating a cured blade with PTFE is less than desirable because the PTFE will wear off over time, thereby reducing the improved frictional characteristics of the wiper blade.
Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 5[1993]-117530, by Hiroshi Honma, (the "Honma Application") describes compounding a fluoro resin powder from 0-10 parts by weight with a silicone rubber formulation for wiper blades. The application teaches that the formulation provides excellent climate resistance and causes no vibration or squeaking. Fluoro resin powder, such as PTFE, is added to the compound in a preferable amount of 1-10 parts by weight, and an average particle size of 40:m. As described in more detail below, the primary problem with compounding PTFE as described in the Honma Application is that the particle size of the PTFE hinders the manufacturability of the compound. Larger particle sizes of PTFE tend to increase the plasticity of the silicone rubber compounds, which reduces the ability to extrude the compound, and in some cases the ability to mold the compound.
A need therefore exists for a windshield wiper blade made of a silicone rubber compound that provides excellent friction characteristics when wiping a windshield. The reduced friction characteristics of the wiper blade will preferably allow a significant reduction in the force required to move the wiper blade across the windshield and will reduce the amount of chatter, squeaking, jumping, and other noise inducing and performance reducing actions associated with current wiper blades. A need further exists for a windshield wiper blade having these properties that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Preferably, the materials used in the wiper blade compound will be readily available and inexpensive. Finally, a need exists for a wiper blade compound that has a relatively low plasticity, thereby allowing the compound to be easily formed by a variety of manufacturing methods, including extrusion.

Squeegee having reduced friction characteristics


An integrated circuit including a fabricated die having a cyanate ester buffer coating material thereon. The cyanate ester buffer coating material includes one or more openings for access to the die. A package device may be connected to the die bond pads through such openings. Further, an integrated circuit device is provided that includes a fabricated wafer including a plurality of integrated circuits fabricated thereon. The fabricated wafer has an upper surface with a cyanate ester buffer coating material cured on the upper surface of the fabricated integrated circuit device. Further, a method of producing an integrated circuit device includes providing a fabricated wafer including a plurality of integrated circuits and applying a cyanate ester coating material on a surface of the fabricated wafer. The application of cyanate ester coating material may include spinning the cyanate ester coating material on the surface of the fabricated wafer to form a buffer coat.

Both high density and lower density integrated circuits are fabricated on wafers utilizing numerous fabrication techniques, including, but not limited to photolithography, masking, diffusion, ion implantation, etc. After the wafers are fabricated, with the wafer including a plurality of integrated circuit dies, a die coat is commonly used to protect the plurality of integrated circuit dies from damage during the remainder of the manufacturing process. It is commonly known to use polyimides as the buffer or die coat when fabricating such devices or wafers.
Thermosetting resins, such as cyanate esters, have been used in various applications that span electronic, structural aerospace, and microwave transparent composites as well as encapsulants and adhesives. Cyanate esters are described in the paper Arocy.RTM. Cyanate Ester Resins Chemistry, Properties and Applications, by D. A. Shimp, J. R. Christenson, and S. J. Ising (Second Edition--January 1990). Some examples of uses of cyanate esters include spinning cyanate ester onto a wafer for the purpose of making a durable base for building electric conductive metal features and also circuit board configurations.
Polyimides utilized as a spin-on die coat are somewhat expensive. Many polyimides have a high dielectric constant and do not cure very quickly. Cyanate esters on the other hand have a lower dielectric constant than most polyimides and further cure more quickly than polyimides. In addition, polyimide buffer coats do not have extremely consistent photo-imageable characteristics. For example, when using photo-masking or photolithography techniques with polyimides, such techniques are not always highly successful or reliable. Therefore, in view of the above, there is a need for improved buffer coats for the fabrication process and improved integrated circuit devices resulting therefrom.

Integrated circuit device having cyanate ester buffer coat


An all mechanically controlled, non-venting pressure control system for liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen cryogenic tanks that requires no electrical control while managing disparate, non-stoichiometric reactant boil-off rates is provided. The pressure control system allows for the passive and repeatable stoichiometric consumption of hydrogen and oxygen boil-off from cryogenic tanks to form liquid water, while preventing the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen cryogenic tanks from overpressurizing and venting to the external environment. More particularly, in response to an overpressure condition in a first reactant reservoir, a backpressure regulator is opened, providing the overpressure first reactant to a fuel cell or other consumer, and providing a pilot signal to open a supply line from a second reactant reservoir to the consumer. Whether the second reactant is supplied from the second reactant reservoir as gas or a liquid is determined based on the pressure within the second reactant reservoir.

When provided as gaseous reactants to a fuel cell for the generation of electrical power, cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen provide substantially higher energy density storage than primary and secondary batteries for the same volume. This power and energy storage approach has direct advantages and utility when used in an air independent environment, such as for power generation in unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV). However, liquid cryogenic reactants (liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LO2)) stored in passive thermally managed reservoirs or dewar tanks will continually develop pressure unless the boil-off ullage gasses are removed from the tank.
Pressure management in a cryogenic liquid hydrogen or liquid oxygen dewar is routinely accomplished by venting of the ullage gasses to the environment through a pressure relief mechanism or consuming them with an energy conversion device such as a fuel cell to generate electrical power and water. This venting or out flow reduces or maintains the pressure in the dewar by removing the ullage gasses and hence the excess thermal energy in the tank. However, it may be impractical or impossible to vent excess gasses to the environment. For example, UUVs are planned to operate at ocean depths greater than 1000-ft, where external pressures on the UUV will exceed 450-psia. Under such conditions, traditional lightweight cryogenic liquid hydrogen and oxygen dewar storage tanks are unable to vent overboard. Without the ability to vent through a passive pressure relief valve, pressure management of the dewars must be performed by the energy conversion device (e.g., fuel cell) and its associated electronic control system by consuming the boil-off to reduce any potential overpressure. In the event the fuel cell's electronic control system fails or becomes unreliable, the cryogenic storage tanks will overpressure and ultimately burst, resulting in the loss of the UUV.
More particularly, when passive relief pressure venting to the environment is not possible, a reactant consumer (say fuel cell) must, at a minimum, consume enough reactants (generate enough power) to match or exceed the nominal boil-off flow rate of the cryogens stored in the dewars in order to control the dewars internal pressures. Specifically, fuel cells consume hydrogen and oxygen in a balanced stoichiometric ratio of 2 molecules hydrogen to 1 molecule oxygen to form 2 molecules water (H2O). Because the dewar boil-off flow rates of either liquid hydrogen or liquid oxygen may not be exactly matched to this stoichiometric ratio, the fuel cell electronic control system must actively select between ullage gas feed and/or cryogenic liquid feed of reactants from either dewar to meet the required pressure-controlled flow rate at stoichiometric ratios. This can be accomplished using electronically controlled valves downstream of cryogenic liquid-to-gas and/or gas-to-gas heat exchangers that are opened and closed by the electronic fuel cell controller as a function of dewar tank pressure and system power demand. For instance, if the pressure as measured by an electronic pressure transducer in one tank (say hydrogen) is too high or above a preset upper threshold, then the (hydrogen) ullage valve is electronically opened and that reactant, post heat exchanger, is fed to the fuel cell anode to be consumed. This gaseous outflow results in a drop in pressure in the ullage of the tank. Concomitantly if the pressure in the other tank (say oxygen) is too low to meet the flow rate of the other reactant (say hydrogen), then a liquid feed valve for the other cryogenic reactant (say oxygen) is electronically opened and flashed to gas by a cryogenic liquid-to-gas heat exchanger. This scheme provides an ample flow rate of the other reactant (say oxygen) to the fuel cell cathode even when its ullage pressure and nominal boil-off rate is initially insufficient to meet the stoichiometric demand of the other reactant (say hydrogen) at the fuel cell. During liquid cryogen feed from either reactant dewar, the ullage pressure will naturally rise at a rate dictated by the thermal heat leak into the dewar. Once its ullage pressure has exceeded a preset threshold, the gas ullage feed valve will be opened to the fuel cell and the liquid feed valve closed. This electronically controlled alternating cryogenic gas/liquid feed scheme is sufficient to meet even the most dynamic power demand profiles.
The flow rate of reactants consumed stoichiometrically at the fuel cell is directly proportional to the electrical current and hence power being demanded from the fuel cell. In typical UUV operation, the fuel cell will load-follow the electrical power demand of the UUV system. Since these power demands are routinely greater than the highest boil-off rate of either reactant, dewar pressures will never rise above safe limits and in normal operation of the UUV and dewar tank pressure will be controlled. Note also that the aforementioned flow control scheme of alternating between gas and liquid feed as a function of dewar tank pressures to meet the fuel cells power demand is a superior flow control scheme over alternate techniques, such as the direct electrical heating of either tank to control pressure. In the latter case, cartridge heaters immersed in the liquid cryogen of each tank would be turned on and off to maintain the ullage pressure of the reactants above a minimum threshold to meet power demand. This electrical heating approach wastes the fuel cell system's energy resources and can potentially suffer from dangerous over pressurization due to the time lag response of the cryogen/ullage to heating when attempting to meet unpredictable power demands placed on the fuel cell by the UUV. If in either flow-control case, however, the fuel cell control system fails, is damaged, becomes unreliable or experiences a loss of a pressure transducer or electronically controlled valve, then cryogenic dewar pressures can exceed their design limits and fail, resulting in loss of the UUV. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide passive, entirely mechanical systems and methods for ameliorating overpressure conditions in storage reservoirs.

Systems and methods for passively controlling pressure within a cryogenic storage tank


A beverage maker device is disclosed. In embodiments, the device includes an external housing and a water tank coupled to a water supply via an inlet. The beverage maker includes a manifold within the housing, the manifold controlling the dispensing of the water into a server or through a faucet via solenoid valves. Within the inlet body connecting the tank to the water supply are plumbed two pressure transducers on either side (e.g., tank-side and coupling-side) of a restriction orifice. The tank-side and coupling-side pressure transducers sense flow pressure on their respective sides of the restriction orifice and generate tank-side and coupling-side flow pressure signals. Within the housing a process control board (PCB) includes control processors and control circuitry in communication with the solenoid valves. The PCB control processors determine a differential pressure associated with the water flow based on the received tank-side and coupling-side pressure signals.

Aircraft beverage maker devices can brew coffee or tea or provide hot water via an exterior faucet. Said devices are connected to an aircraft potable water supply and may be at risk of overflow, e.g., due to software or electrical sensor malfunctions. For example, software or sensor failures may cause the solenoids controlling the dispensation of water to remain open indefinitely, leading to overflow of the platen drain system.

Differential pressure flow meter for beverage maker


Systems and methods for relate to bus ring performance monitoring and control. A bus ring includes an agent and a switch unit to connect the agent to the bus ring. The switch unit includes a transmit queue to store data from the bus ring to be transmitted to the agent and a receive queue to store data from the agent to be transmitted to the bus ring. A first counter is implemented to track a number of pending transactions in the transmit queue and a second counter is implemented to track a number of times the receive queue is full and unable to accept additional data. Frequency of the bus ring is increased or decreased based on comparison of values of the first counter and the second counter with corresponding predefined high and low threshold values.

A bus ring architecture includes a network topology in which data travels around a network ring. A plurality of agents are connected to the bus ring through switch units. Each agent can receive/transmit data around the ring through the switch units, where the switch units can also be used as repeaters for data flowing through the ring. The amount of data traffic that can flow through the bus ring at any time is limited by parameters such as the maximum bandwidth and frequency of the bus ring. Performance of the bus ring is said to be high when more data traffic can flow through the bus ring. However, high performance may mean that power consumption is increased, because higher frequency of operation leads to more power consumed by the bus ring. Thus, balancing performance and power consumption is a recognized design challenge for bus rings.
The agents connected to the bus ring can include processors (e.g., central processing units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), etc.), memory controllers, memory devices such as caches (e.g., L2, L3 caches), peripheral bridges, etc. The agents may have varying requirements and may influence the traffic on the bus rings differently. However, conventional bus ring designs take the overall bus ring traffic and frequency into account while trying to modulate performance of the bus ring and minimize power consumption. The conventional designs seek to reduce power consumption by slowing down the bus ring clock frequency and/or lowering the voltage of the bus ring circuits based on metrics such as average traffic in the bus ring. However, metrics related to the overall frequency or traffic of the bus ring are misleading because these metrics do not correlate well with the performance or needs of individual agents. Some agents may be stalled or starved while other agents may over-utilize the bus ring's resources. Lowering the frequency of the bus ring based on average traffic may further degrade the performance of the stalled agents. Conventional designs do not monitor the interfaces of individual agents (or more specifically, the interfaces of switch units) to determine if the performance requirements of the individual agents are satisfied. Moreover, in conventional designs, changes in the bus ring frequency are not based on concurrence of all agents, which may, for example, lead to depriving a starved agent from an opportunity to prevent further starvation that may be caused by a lowering of the bus ring frequency.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved performance monitoring to achieve reduced power consumption and increased efficiency of traffic flow in bus ring designs.

Monitoring and controlling bus ring performance


A method of forming an integrated circuit, including providing a first substrate layer having a center piece and two side pieces on opposite sides of the center piece, assembling one or more circuit elements on a top side and a bottom side of the center piece of the first substrate layer, preparing two support pieces from a substrate, matching the size of the side pieces, coupling the support pieces to the bottom of the first substrate layer under the side pieces to form a second substrate layer with a void in the center under the center piece of the first substrate layer; and wherein the side pieces and support pieces include via connectors electrically connecting between a bottom side of the second substrate layer and the circuit elements.

Ever since the first integrated circuits it has been desirable to reduce their size so that they may include more complex circuitry without taking up more space. Reduced size integrated circuits generally use less power, cost less and can provide faster performance. Additionally, reduced sized integrated circuits require smaller encasements and can fit more easily into other devices, for example to add GPS functionality to a smartphone or a wristwatch.
An integrated circuit may include one or more main chips and have smaller chips and/or additional elements serving as an electrical interface for the main chips. The footprint of the integrated circuit may be reduced by stacking up multiple layers, for example the main chip on one layer and the rest of the elements on another layer. This introduces the problem of communicating electrical signals between the layers especially if they are on separate substrates (e.g. printed circuit boards), thus requiring wiring between the layers.
In some methods circuit elements may be attached to the bottom side of a substrate inside the integrated circuit. Such an attachment would then require an additional substrate below it with appropriate wiring and supports if the integrated circuit is to be surface mounted onto external circuit boards.


The invention relates to a novel multi step synthesis of 3-(N-methyl-N-pentyl) amino-1-hydroxypropane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, monosodium salt, monohydrate, of the formula

Ibandronate sodium is one of the most potent antiresorptive drugs that directly inhibit osteoclast activity and present an effective pharmacologic alternative for controlling hypercalcemia. Ibandronate sodium binds to hydroxyapatite in calcified bone, rendering it resistant to hydrolytic dissolution by phosphatases, thereby inhibiting both normal and abnormal bone resorption. This drug increases bone mass and decreases the risk of fractures and is therefore particularly well adapted to bone and calcium metabolic diseases such as for instance osteoporosis or Paget's disease (EP-A 0252504).
For the preparation of bisphosphonic acids the following processes are known in the state of the art and have been considered.
EP 0402152 discloses the preparation of crystalline 4-amino-1-hydroxybutyllidene-1-bisphosphonic acid monosodium trihydrate, carried out in one step in presence of phosphorus trihalide, phosphorous acid and methane sulfonic acid. This process allows the reaction mixture to remain fluid.
WO 03/097655 discloses the preparation of a bisphosphonic acid including the step of combining a carboxylic acid with phosphorous acid and phosphoryl chloride in the presence of a diluent. The diluent includes aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene and benzene or inert silicone fluids such as polydimethylsiloxane and polymethylphenylsiloxane.
However, the methods described in the art are not satisfactory with regard to yield and purity, in particular with respect to the synthesis of ibandronate sodium.


A coupling and grounding structure of a plasma display device for grounding a circuit board effectively, and fixing the circuit board stably. The plasma display device includes a plasma display panel having a display area, on which images are displayed; a chassis base coupled to a back surface of the plasma display panel; at least one circuit board, on which at least one electronic element for driving the plasma display panel is mounted, the circuit board having a conductive portion and at least one coupling hole to be coupled to the chassis base by a bolt member penetrating the coupling hole; and at least a conductive member which contacts the conductive portion and the bolt member in the coupling hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel (PDP), and more particularly, to coupling and grounding structures of a circuit board in a plasma display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a plasma display panel (PDP) displays images using gas discharge operations, and has excellent display characteristics such as display capacitry, brightness, contrast, residual image, and viewing angle. Thus, the PDP can substitute for a cathode ray tube (CRT). In the PDP, a discharge occurs in a gas between electrodes due to a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) being applied to the electrodes, and phosphors are excited by ultraviolet rays caused by the discharge operation and emit lights.
The PDP can be classified into an AC type and a DC type according to a discharge mechanism thereof. The DC type PDP includes the electrodes that are directly exposed in the gas layer filled in discharge cells, and voltage applied to the electrodes is applied to the discharge gas layer. In addition, in the AC type PDP, electrodes are separated by both the discharge gas layer and a dielectric layer, the electrodes do not absorb charged particles generated in the discharge operation to form wall charges, and the discharge operation is performed using the wall charge.
In the general PDP, the panel is attached to a chassis base while interposing a heat-radiation sheet having thermal conductivity. In addition, a circuit board, on which a plurality of electronic elements are mounted, is coupled to a boss that is formed on the chassis base. The circuit board is coupled to the boss using bolts by arranging a plurality of coupling holes that are formed on the circuit board with the boss. Therefore, the bolts must be coupled tightly.
I have determined that in such a case, the circuit board may be damaged or distorted due to the bolts being over tightened. Additionally, the bolts may be loosened during thermal distortion or vibration of the circuit board. Accordingly, the grounding is performed poorly. Also, if the grounding of the circuit board is performed poorly, current and voltage noises cannot be controlled effectively, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) characteristics will be lowered.

Structures for coupling and grounding a circuit board in a plasma display device


One or more techniques are provided for adapting a reconstruction process to account for the motion of an imaged object or organ, such as the heart. In particular, projection data of the moving object or organ is acquired using a slowly rotating CT gantry. Motion data may be determined from the projection data or from images reconstructed from the projection data. The motion data may be used to reconstruct motion-corrected images from the projection data. The motion-corrected images may be associated to form motion-corrected volume renderings.

The present invention relates generally to the field of medical imaging and more specifically to the field of imaging dynamic, internal tissue, such as cardiac tissue, by computed tomography. In particular, the present invention relates to the characterization of internal motion and to the reconstruction of images that account for the characterized motion.
Computed tomography (CT) imaging systems measure the attenuation of X-ray beams passed through a patient from numerous angles. Based upon these measurements, a computer is able to reconstruct images of the portions of a patient's body responsible for the radiation attenuation. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these images are based upon separate examination of a series of angularly displaced projection images. A CT system processes X-ray transmission data to generate 2D maps of the line integral of linear attenuation coefficients of the scanned object at multiple view angle positions. These data are then reconstructed to produce images, which are typically displayed on a monitor, and may be printed or reproduced on film. A virtual 3-D image may also be produced by a CT examination.
CT scanners operate by projecting fan shaped or cone shaped X-ray beams from an X-ray source. The X-ray beams may be collimated to control the shape and spread of the beams. The X-ray beams are attenuated as they pass through the object to be imaged, such as a patient. The attenuated beams are detected by a set of detector elements. Each detector element produces a signal affected by the attenuation of the X-ray beams, and the data are processed to produce signals that represent the line integrals of the attenuation coefficients of the object along the X-ray paths. These signals are typically called "projection data" or just "projections". By using reconstruction techniques, such as filtered backprojection, useful images may be formulated from a collection of projections. The images may in turn be associated to form a volume, allowing generation of a volumetric rendering of a region of interest. The locations of objects, such as pathologies or other anatomical structures, may then be identified either automatically, such as by a computer-assisted detection (CAD) algorithm or, more conventionally, such as by a trained radiologist. CT scanning provides certain advantages over other types of techniques in diagnosing disease, particularly because it illustrates the accurate anatomical information about the body. Further, CT scans may help physicians distinguish between types of abnormalities more accurately.
CT imaging techniques, however, may present certain challenges when imaging dynamic internal tissues, such as the heart. For example, in cardiac imaging, the motion of the heart causes inconsistencies in the projection data, which, after reconstruction, may result in various motion-related image artifacts such as blurring, streaking, or discontinuities. To reduce the occurrence of motion-related image artifacts, various techniques may be employed to improve the temporal resolution of the imaging system, thereby reducing the effects of the moving tissue. Temporal resolution may generally be improved by decreasing the rotation time of The CT gantry. In this way, the amount of motion that occurs within the temporal window associated with the acquisition of a projection data set is minimized.
Temporal resolution may be further improved by the choice of reconstruction algorithm. For example, segment reconstruction algorithms, such as half-scan reconstruction algorithms, may be employed in the reconstruction process. The segment reconstruction algorithms typically reconstruct images using projection data collected over an angular displacement of the gantry equaling 180° plus the fan angle (α) of the X-ray beam. Because the acquisition of projection data during rotation of the gantry by 180°+α is more rapid than acquisition during 360° of gantry rotation to acquire the requisite projection data, the temporal resolution of the reconstruction process is improved.
Multi-sector reconstruction techniques may also improve the temporal resolution of the reconstructed images by using projection data acquired during multiple rotations of the gantry using a multi-slice detector array. The projection data set used for reconstruction is composed of two or more sectors of projection data that are acquired from different cardiac cycles on multiple rotations of the gantry. The sectors comprise the projection data acquired during a short span of the gantry rotation, typically less than half of a rotation. The sectors, therefore, have good temporal resolution if acquired by a rapidly rotating gantry, thereby providing a good effective temporal resolution for the aggregate projection data set used in reconstruction.
Using the techniques discussed above, third and fourth generation CT systems existing today are capable of temporal resolutions of approximately 300 ms for segment reconstruction strategies. However, a temporal resolution of approximately 20 ms is desirable in order to "freeze" cardiac motion, thereby minimizing motion related artifacts in the reconstructed images. Presently, improving temporal resolution by the above techniques has typically focused on further increasing the rotational speed of the gantry.
However, as the rotational speed of the gantry increases, the centripetal force on the gantry components also increases. The increasing centripetal force and the tolerances of the gantry components may comprise, therefore, a mechanical limitation to increases in gantry velocity. Furthermore, to obtain consistent image quality in terms of signal-to-noise ratio, a constant X-ray flux should be delivered to the imaged object or patient during the scan interval. Achieving a constant X-ray flux, however, places increased demand on the X-ray tube, particularly in regard to tube output, and on the components that are required to cool the X-ray tube. Both mechanical and X-ray flux considerations, therefore, are obstacles to increasing the gantry rotation speed sufficiently to achieve a temporal resolution of 20 ms or better in CT reconstructions. A technique for achieving a temporal resolution without increasing gantry rotation speed is therefore desirable.

Method and apparatus for correcting motion in image reconstruction


An external access station for interfacing with existing building monitoring systems to obtain data and control at least some of the systems for use by first responders to an emergency. The access station includes a protective enclosure recessed into a building exterior wall or adjacent kiosk housing a panel PC and touch screen display viewable upon opening a locked cover.

This invention concerns electronic monitoring systems in buildings or groups of buildings such as a school campus. Most large commercial, government, residential and school buildings, particularly high rises, have electronically operated monitoring systems, such as closed circuit television systems (CCTV), burglar or intrusion alarm systems (BAS), access control systems (ACS), fire detection and notification systems, air handling systems, elevator control systems (ECS), and parking management systems (PMS). If an emergency occurs in the building, first responders must quickly gather accurate information about the building and the emergency situation.
It would also be desirable if the first responders could quickly gain access and perhaps control over at least some of the monitoring systems to the extent possible. While typically this would be possible from locations within the building by persons familiar with the location and the nature of the systems, the first responders typically would not have that familiarity and, more seriously, access to the building may be blocked or it may be too hazardous to enter.
Many emergencies have occurred in which an ineffective response has proved tragic. It has been proposed to interface with such building systems via the internet, but these have generally been incomplete and not easily accessible by first responders.
With respect to building security, the current state of the art in a security alarm annunciator is a simple panel, typically installed inside a building lobby, which displays a lit, blinking LED next to a floor or zone number when an alarm or sprinkler is activated. Faced with an array of floors or zones, emergency first responders, if they can even approach the building, are provided with only a blinking light to indicate that there may be a hostage situation, a medical emergency, a bomb or a fire.
A system has been offered commercially which is a touch screen LCD monitor installed inside the building, and offering information on the location of a fire, activated fire sensors and a rudimentary floorplan that is converted from CAD drawings that the building owner must supply. It is functionally no different than the blinking LED next to a floor or zone number on a typical panel.
In an overwhelming number of cases, emergency first responders have no idea what they are walking into, especially in a large public or office building. At the site of the Columbine High School tragedy, policy, firefighters and medical teams waited outside for hours, not knowing where the killers were located, how many were dead or injured, or the identity of the killers, even though the school had a camera and sensor system that was active and functional. Nor did they have floor plans for the school for at least 40 minutes after they first arrived.
If a fire alarm is tripped inside a large public or office building, fire crews will break down doors trying to find and encircle the affected area based on which smoke detectors were activated and displayed on a typical annunciator panel. Insurers estimate that firefighters destroy 3 doors for every door necessary to be destroyed for fire control.
In some medical emergencies in high-rise buildings, first responders often arrive without the proper equipment and lose precious time backtracking, simply because they didn't know the extent or nature of injuries or because certain critical dimensions for elevators, stairwells or doorways prevent them from moving in the appropriate equipment.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an emergency interface with building monitoring and security systems which is easily accessed by first responders and provides a highly effective interaction with these systems.

Access station for building monitoring systems


A knock determining apparatus includes a sensor which outputs a waveform signal corresponding to a knock state, and at least one of a first to a third knock determiner which determines a knock state based on a vibration intensity distribution of the waveform signal. A knock detector compares the vibration intensity of the waveform signal with a threshold, and detects a knock when the vibration intensity exceeds the threshold. This threshold is corrected based on a knock determining result by the first to the third knock determiner.

A knock determining apparatus of a typical internal combustion engine includes a knock sensor attached to the cylinder block of the internal combustion engine. The knock sensor detects vibration of the cylinder block caused by a knock. The determining apparatus extracts the knock frequency component from an output signal of the knock sensor by a band-pass filter every time one combustion is occurred, and compares a peak value of the knock frequency component for one combustion with a knock determination threshold value to conduct knock determination.