A system for retrieving a failed inner check valve that is part of an injection fitting includes a hollow isolation valve assembly that includes a first section and a second section that is detachable from the first section. The first section includes a first valve and the second section including a relief valve. The first valve moves between a closed position in which the first section is completely occluded and an open position and can be in the form of a ball valve. The system also includes an extraction tool that is configured to be coupled to and advanced along the isolation valve assembly. An elongated inner key is configured to be received into and pass through the hollow isolation valve assembly. A distal end of the inner key is configured to engage and unscrew the failed internal check valve for removal thereof.

As is known, pipelines consist of many pipeline segments that are attached to one another to form a continuous pipeline that can have a number of different pathways and segments. Pipelines includes valves that are intended to control the flow of product through the pipeline. A valve in a fully closed position prevents the product from flowing through the pipeline, while a fully open valve allows for the product to flow through the pipeline.
It is also common for pipelines main isolation valves to include one or more injection fittings fitted on the valve body to allow for sealant injection. Sealant injection fittings are primarily a one-way check valve that is designed to provide for the periodic injection of viscous valve lubricants/sealants into pipeline valves, without allowing the product flowing through the pipeline to escape. Usually, the valve is designed with an internal check valve and the injection fitting in series as an extra layer of protection and to allow for cleaning and replacing the injection fittings when it fails. There are many different types of sealant injection fittings including a bolt type plunger, a two-piece combination fitting, a one-piece combination fitting, double ball check one-piece fitting, single ball check capped fitting, etc.
One concern with injection fittings is that they may fail and leak over time. More particularly, in the event that the check valve in the sealant fitting fails, leakage to atmosphere will result. In certain environments, such as a compressor station, production platform, metering station or pump station, this can lead to an emergency shut down, fire, or even an explosion. There are different commercially available solutions to deal with such injection fitting leakage. One solution is to install a leak-lock adapter that can be attached and tightened to provide a seal (typically by using a gasket or metal seal). Leak-lock adapters are designed such that when they are installed, they stop the leak but the technician is still able to inject lubricant and/or sealant into the valve. However, this type of solution is only a temporary solution until an appropriate time when the system can be taken offline. Also, the inner check valve failure will prevent the sealant injection when the valve fails to seal and the need for a sealant rises. It may get clogged and thus will act as a close valve hindering sealant from passing to the valve seat.
In the event of an injection fitting that comprises double check valves in series, the failure of the inner check valve is especially problematic since the replacement of the inner check valve under current protocol results in the system being shut down since accessing and removing the inner check valve would allow the product in the pipeline to escape.
There is therefore a need to provide a solution for removing and replacing the inner check valve of a double check valve injection fitting without the need of system shutdown and in a safe manner.

Injection fitting internal check valve retrieval tool


An apparatus for manufacturing polyarylene sulfide is disclosed. At least the major part of the apparatus which comes into contact with liquid materials is made of the alloy containing nickel and chromium as essential components, or the two phase stainless steel, possessing the following characteristics (A) and/or (B):. The characteristic (A): the characteristic of exhibiting a degree of surface corrosion of 3 .mu.m/y or less when immersed in a 3.6 mol/kg solution of lithium hydrosulfide in a non-proton organic solvent at 130.degree. C. for 90 days, while this solution is replaced with a fresh solution once every 30 days. PA0 The characteristic (B): the characteristic of exhibiting a degree of surface corrosion of 10 .mu.m/y or less when immersed in a 3.6 mol/kg solution of lithium chloride in a non-proton organic solvent at 260.degree. C. for 90 days, while this solution is replaced with a fresh solution once every 30 days.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing polyarylene sulfide and a process for manufacturing polyarylene sulfide using the apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a corrosion resistant apparatus for manufacturing polyarylene sulfide which is used suitably in electricity-electronic fields, the vehicle field such as automobiles, and the heat resistance material field, and to an efficient and inexpensive process for manufacturing polyarylene sulfide using the apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
In the manufacture of polyarylene sulfide by the reaction of, for example, an alkali metal sulfide and a dihalogenated aromatic compound in a non-proton organic solvent, a material which is expensive and difficult to work, such as titanium, has been used for the reaction equipment. Because of this, increased plant construction cost and increased fixed costs have been unavoidable.
To expand the demand of the polyarylene sulfide as an engineering plastic, a reduction in its manufacturing costs has been strongly desired.
Specifically, high corrosion resistant characteristics are demanded of various apparatuses for manufacturing polyarylene sulfide, such as dehydration vessels, polymerization vessels, purification tanks, distillation towers, transportation pipes, storage tanks, separation tanks, and solvent removal tanks, because these apparatuses are exposed to strong alkali components, sulfides, chlorides, organic solvents, and the like at a high temperature of 200.degree. C. or higher during the polymerization of polyarylene sulfide. Even stainless steel which is said to be strongly resistant to corrosion produces metal sulfides, such as iron sulfide or nickel sulfide, by a reaction with a sulfide which is present in the polymerization process. Almost all these metal sulfides are ultimately included in the produced polyarylene sulfide. For this reason, titanium materials which excel in corrosion resistance have conventionally been used.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 39537/1991 describes the use of a titanium material for a liquid-contact section of the dehydration step.
An apparatus for the manufacture of polyarylene sulfide made of iron-chromium ferrite type stainless steel having a specific composition is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 213338/1989.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 49761/1994 describes a method for suppressing corrosion in the reaction vessel by reacting a mixture of an alkali metal sulfide, water, and a non-proton organic polar solvent at a ratio of 1:10-20:1-10 with heating to obtain a dehydration reaction mixture and reacting this reaction mixture reaction with a dihalogenated aromatic compound.
The titanium material disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 39537/1991, however, is more expensive and its workability is poorer than stainless steel and the like, requiring stringent control during manufacture of the apparatus, resulting in increased manufacturing costs.
Although the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 213338/1989 appears to be fairly close to a commercial level with regard to corrosion resistance, this apparatus is not necessarily satisfactory. In addition, it is difficult to judge the applicability in practical use of the apparatus from the data disclosed, because the corrosion data used for calculating the yearly corrosion quantity is based on an immersion test carried out for only a very short period of time in comparison with an industrial production period.
Moreover, because the polyarylene sulfide produced by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 49761/1994 contains several ppm of iron, this polyarylene sulfide is unsuitable for use in applications to electronic components and films requiring a high level of surface smoothness.
In addition, stainless steel is known to produce cracks due to stress corrosion when used for a long time under conditions such as those required for the polymerization of polyarylene sulfide.
The present invention has been completed with an object of solving these problems and providing an apparatus for the manufacture of polyarylene sulfide with excellent corrosion resistance and an efficient and inexpensive process for manufacturing the polyarylene sulfide using this apparatus.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive studies on various materials which make up the apparatuses. As a result, the inventors have found that an apparatus for the manufacture of polyarylene sulfide which exhibits almost the same corrosion resistance as the titanium material can be manufactured from at least one material selected from the group consisting of Incoloy-type alloys, Carpenter-type alloys, Hastelloy-type alloys, and two phase stainless steel. This finding has led to the completion of the present invention.

Apparatus for manufacturing polyarylene sulfide and process for manufacturing polyarlene sulfide using the apparatus


A communication system (100) for providing information includes transceivers (110) for receiving the information and acknowledging reception of the information and a terminal (105) for transmitting the information to the transceivers (100). The terminal (105) transmits a first frame of data that has been queued with first information for reception by recipient time diversity transceivers. When at least one acknowledgment is received from at least one recipient time diversity transceiver, a second frame of data with second information intended for reception by the recipient time diversity transceivers is batched. The second information duplicates at least some of the first information and excludes portions of the first information indicated by the at least one acknowledgment. A controller (165) then queues third information into available words of the second frame after the second information has been batched.

Radio communication systems generally include a message transmission device, such as a base station, for encoding messages using a signalling protocol such as FLEX.TM.. The encoded messages are then transmitted as a radio signal to portable devices, such as paging receivers or transceivers. To increase the probability that a pager receives an error-free message, some systems employ "time diversity", e.g., the transmission of duplicate messages.
Conventionally, different types of TD systems exist. Some TD systems involve the reception of duplicate messages by a pager, which then determines which of the received messages includes the fewest number of errors. The-least erroneous message is stored and displayed to the user. Other systems provide for codeword combining, in which error-free codewords of messages and perhaps even addresses are selected from each of the plurality of transmissions then recombined to form a correct message in its entirety. Bit combination time diversity (BCTD) is the most accurate TD method. When BCTD is utilized, the pager receives duplicate transmissions and selects therefrom correct bits from each of the transmissions. The selected bits are then recombined to form a complete, error-free message. The drawback of BCTD is that each duplicate transmission must be located in a predetermined signal location so that the pager can calculate, such as from a fixed reference point, the exact locations of the bits of the duplicate transmissions.
In one BCTD system that employs the FLEX.TM. signalling protocol, the number of words in each frame is divided evenly according to the number of duplicate transmissions. In the conventional FLEX.TM. protocol, the radio signal is divided into cycles of one-hundred-twenty-eight (128) frames, each including a predetermined synchronization pattern (sync) and a plurality of words. When the radio signal is to be transmitted at 1600 bits per second, for example, eighty-eight words are included in each FLEX.TM. frame. These eighty-eight words are usually divided into an address field, which includes addresses of pagers to which messages are being transmitted, a vector field following the address field, and a message field. Some addresses, such as those referring to numeric or alphanumeric messages, refer to a vector contained in the vector field, which specifies an area within the message field wherein a corresponding message is located.
In a BCTD system, when a message is to be transmitted two times, for instance, each frame is divided into two segments of forty-four words that follow the sync pattern. New message information is provided in the first forty-four word segment of each frame, while duplicate information from the preceding frame is always transmitted in the second forty-four word segment of each frame, as depicted in the signal diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, new information is provided in the first forty-four words of frame x. FIG. 2 illustrates the following frame, i.e., frame x+1, in which new information is provided in the first forty-four words and duplicate information of that provided in frame x is transmitted in the second fortyfour words. Pagers that receive duplicate messages are able to exactly determine the location of each bit of a duplicate message because the duplicate messages are always provided in the same order within a second forty-four word segment of the subsequent frame. Therefore, a pager can select correct bits from both the new information, which is included in a first frame, and the duplicate information, which is included in a second frame, then recombine the bits to form an entire correct message.
However, this approach to TD results in a 50% decrease in capacity because a predetermined half of each frame is always dedicated to the transmission of duplicate information. When two or more repeat messages are transmitted, the situation worsens. For example, when four transmissions of each message are provided, each frame is divided into four even segments. New information is transmitted within the first segment of each frame, while the remaining three segments are dedicated to the transmission of duplicate information. Therefore, such a system results in a 75% decrease in capacity from a non-TD FLEX.TM. system.
A further problem is that, in the described BCTD system, only pre-programmed pagers can receive the duplicate messages. As mentioned above, FLEX.TM. conventionally includes an address field followed sequentially by vector and message fields for each frame. In the prior art BCTD system, though, the address, vector, and message fields associated with duplicate transmissions are positioned within the inner regions of the frame separate from fields associated with original transmissions. Only pre-programmed pagers therefore know to look in the middle of the frames for the duplicate transmissions. Other pagers, such as those that may roam into the system, will miss the duplicate transmissions because the roaming pagers only expect to find, for each frame, a single address field followed by one vector field and one message field.
The conventional prior art BCTD system is further problematic in that the limited number of words dedicated to original transmissions can result in the delayed transmission of lengthy messages or the fragmentation of lengthy messages into smaller portions for transmission. In either situation, the subscriber must wait a longer time than usual for message reception because his pager is waiting for the entire transmission of the message or for a later-transmitted portion of the long message. As a result, subscribers can be inconvenienced by the delay of message reception.
In FLEX.TM., messages transmitted to each pager are generally sequentially numbered so that when a message is missed, the pager subscriber can call into the base station and request the re-transmission of the message that was missed. In the prior art BCTD system, though, the pager can receive a new message before a message having a previous number has been correctly "built." For example, the pager could erroneously receive a first transmission of message 1, correctly receive a first transmission of message 2, then receive the duplicate transmission of message 1. In this case, the pager would conclude that message 1 had been missed because message 2 was received first. Therefore, the prior art BCTD system can cause pagers to erroneously determine that messages have been missed.
Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus for sending duplicate transmissions without decreasing system capacity by a predetermined, fixed amount and without significantly decreasing battery life. Furthermore, the method and apparatus should provide for reception of duplicate transmissions by roaming pagers. The method and apparatus should also provide for the transmission of duplicate messages without unreasonable delay and should not result in missed messages when the system operates on a "numbered messaging" scheme.

Method and apparatus for providing duplicate messages in an acknowledge-back communication system


A battery pack includes: a core pack; a protection circuit module electrically connected to the core pack and including a connector for further electrically connecting to an external electronic device; and a metallic cover for covering the core pack and the protection circuit module while exposing the connector to the outside, the metallic cover including a protrusion adjacent to a ground portion of the connector.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to battery packs.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the development of wireless internet and advances in communication technology, more and more portable computers and other devices that operate using batteries rather than other types of power supplying units are being rapidly developed. In general, portable computers are compact and easy to carry, and thus are widely used for business and personal purposes. Portable computers may contain internal battery packs, so as to facilitate use in a variety of places without having to locate other power supplying devices. Also, internal battery packs may include secondary batteries, which are rechargeable.

Battery pack for reducing damage from external static electricity


Expandable heart valves for minimally invasive valve replacement surgeries are disclosed. The valves are rolled into a first, contracted configuration for minimally invasive delivery using a catheter, and then unrolled or unfurled at the implantation site. One- and two-piece stents may be used in conjunction with a plurality of flexible leaflet-forming membranes. The stents may include an annulus section, a sinus section with the membranes attached over sinus apertures, and an outflow section. Lockout tabs and making slots secure the stents in their expanded shapes. Alignment structure ensures concentric unfurling of the stent. Anchoring elements at the stent edges or in the stent body secure the valve within the annulus. A method of manufacture includes shape setting the sheet-like stent to ensure an outward bias during deployment. The stent may also include dear tracks for engagement with a gear mechanism for deployment. The stent is desirably made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol and may have areas removed or thinned to reduce the bending stresses when rolled into its small spiral for catheter delivery.

Prosthetic heart valves are used to replace damaged or diseased heart valves. In vertebrate animals, the heart is a hollow muscular organ having four pumping chambers: the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles, each provided with its own one-way valve. The natural heart valves are identified as the aortic, mitral (or bicuspid), tricuspid and pulmonary valves. Prosthetic heart valves can be used to replace any of these naturally occurring valves, although repair or replacement of the aortic or mitral valves is most common because they reside in the left side of the heart where pressures are the greatest.
Where replacement of a heart valve is indicated, the dysfunctional valve is typically cut out and replaced with either a mechanical valve, or a tissue valve. Tissue valves are often preferred over mechanical valves because they typically do not require long-term treatment with anticoagulants. The most common tissue valves are constructed with whole porcine (pig) valves, or with separate leaflets cut from bovine (cow) pericardium. Although so-called stentless valves, comprising a section of porcine aorta along with the valve, are available, the most widely used valves include some form of stent or synthetic leaflet support. Typically, a wireform having alternating arcuate cusps and upstanding commissures supports the leaflets within the valve, in combination with an annular stent and a sewing ring. The alternating cusps and commissures mimic the natural contour of leaflet attachment. Importantly, the wireform provides continuous support for each leaflet along the cusp region so as to better simulate the natural support structure.
A conventional heart valve replacement surgery involves accessing the heart in the patient's thoracic cavity through a longitudinal incision in the chest. For example, a median sternotomy requires cutting through the sternum and forcing the two opposing halves of the rib cage to be spread apart, allowing access to the thoracic cavity and heart within. The patient is then placed on cardiopulmonary bypass which involves stopping the heart to permit access to the internal chambers. Such open heart surgery is particularly invasive and involves a lengthy and difficult recovery period.
Some attempts have been made to enable less traumatic delivery and implantation of prosthetic heart valves. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,854 to Boretos discloses a radially collapsible heart valve secured to a circular spring stent that can be compressed for delivery and expanded for securing in a valve position. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,077 to Dobbin describes a disk-shaped heart valve that is connected to a radially collapsible stent for minimally invasive implantation.
Recently, a great amount of research has been done to reduce the trauma and risk associated with conventional open heart valve replacement surgery. In particular, the field of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has exploded since the early to mid-1990s, with devices now being available to enable valve replacements without opening the chest cavity. MIS heart valve replacement surgery still typically requires bypass, but the excision of the native valve and implantation of the prosthetic valve are accomplished via elongated tubes or cannulas, with the help of endoscopes and other such visualization techniques.
Some examples of more recent MIS heart valves are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,552 to Anderson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,570 to Simpson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,959 to Robertson, et al., PCT Publication No. 00/047139 to Garrison, et al., and PCT Publication No. WO 99/334142 to Vesely. Although these and other such devices provide various ways for collapsing, delivering, and then expanding a "heart valve" per se, none of them disclose an optimum structure. For instance, the publication to Vesely shows a tissue leaflet structure of the prior art in FIG. 1, and an expandable inner frame of the invention having stent posts in FIGS. 3A-3C. The leaflets are "mounted to the stent posts 22 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 1." Such general disclosures as in Vesely stop short of explaining how to construct a valve in a manner that maximizes long-term efficacy. In particular, the means of attaching the leaflets to the MIS stent is critical to ensure the integrity and durability of the valve once implanted. All of the prior art MIS valves are inadequate in this regard.
Another problem with MIS valves of the prior art is their relatively large radial dimension during implantation. That is, these valves all utilize one or more radially-expanding stents, and the assembly must be compressed radially and then passed through the lumen of a large bore catheter. Reducing the radial profile of the constricted valve via radial compression is problematic and conflicts with the need for sufficient circumferential length of the valve in its expanded state to fit within an adult heart valve annulus. Moreover, radial compression of the stent in combination with a biological valve must be done with great care so as not to damage the valve.
Tubular stents in general are known, typically constructed of a tubular metal lattice that has a normal, relaxed diameter and is compressed for insertion into a vein or artery. Upon expulsion from the end of a catheter, the tubular metal lattice expands to its original larger diameter in contact with the vessel wall. It is important to note that there is no regulation of the self-expansion of the stent. Furthermore, stents of the prior art expand outward to the size of the expansion balloon, or until meeting resistance from the surrounding vessel, and so their final size varies. Minimally-invasive heart valves that use conventional tubular stents that are self- or plastically expanded outward by a balloon do not have a positive maximum size limit; that is, there is no structure preventing further expansion of the stent. The final diameter of the valve is determined by the maximum size of the balloon, which may over-expand into the surrounding annulus leading to a less than optimum fit. Alternatively, the surrounding annulus may provide sufficient resistance to further outward expansion of the balloon so as to stop expansion of the heart valve prior to its optimum size. That is, the valve may exhibit a loose fit in the annulus, potentially leading to migration.
Some MIS valves of the prior art are intended to be used without removing the natural valve leaflets. Sometimes the natural leaflets are heavily calcified, and their removal entails some risk of plaque particles being released into the bloodstream. Therefore, some of the MIS valves are designed to expand outward within the annulus and native leaflets, and compress the leaflets against the annulus. In doing so, a relatively uneven surface against which the valve is expanded outward is created. This irregularity creates sizing problems, and also may adversely affect the circularity of the expanded valve which negatively affects the valve efficacy by impairing leaflet coaptation.
Despite some advances in MIS valve design, there remains a need for a valve that can be constricted into a smaller package without damaging the biological valve within, and which can be reliably expanded generally into a tube against the relatively uneven surface of the annulus or annulus and intact native leaflets.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rolled minimally-invasive heart valves and methods of manufacture


A semiconductor device formed by mutually connecting a first semiconductor chip with second and third semiconductor chips arranged side by side, with the active surface of the first chip faced to those of the second and third chip. Both the second and third semiconductor chips have functional elements on their active surface. The first semiconductor chip has, in its active surface, a wiring for connecting the second semiconductor chip and the third semiconductor chip, and a terminal for external connection on its surface opposite to its active surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a chip-on-chip structure having semiconductor chips stacked, on their surface, with other semiconductor chips.
2. Description of Related Art
There is a multi-chip module that is one form of semiconductor devices intended to improve the transmission speed of the signals at between devices. In the multi-chip module, a plurality of semiconductor chips are mounted on a circuit board in one package. By shortening the wiring connecting between the semiconductor chips, high speed transmission of a signal is achieved. A plurality of semiconductor chips forming functional elements are mounted on the circuit board, wherein each semiconductor chip is connected face down on the circuit board (flip-chip connection). The circuit board, usually, uses an insulating board formed with multiple levels of wiring thereon. Namely, the circuit board includes the wiring on a surface layer, the wiring on inner levels, and the wiring of inter-level connection.
The semiconductor chip mounted on the circuit board in a certain case is further stacked with other semiconductor chips thereby forming a chip-on-chip structure.
In the multi-chip module thus structured, by shortening the length of the wiring connecting between the circuit board and the semiconductor chip and between the semiconductor chips in the circuit board, it is hoped that high speed transmission of signals between the functional elements formed on the semiconductor chips will be realized. Also, because connection is possible to another circuit board through the bumps provided at the underside of the circuit board, the wiring length for external connection is comparatively short thus making it possible to externally transmit a signal with a certain degree of speed.
However, in the multi-chip module, the wirings on the circuit board are greater in width and pitch as compared to the wiring made by the semiconductor process.
Consequently, in order to mount semiconductor chips with high density on the circuit board, there is a need to increase the number of levels of wirings in order for preventing against interference between the wirings, resulting in an increased wiring length. This makes it impossible to sufficiently increase the transmission speed of signals.
Meanwhile, the semiconductor chips are externally connected through the circuit board using an insulating substrate and hence the possible wiring-length reduction is limited. This makes it impossible to sufficiently increase the signal transmission speed over the external connection.

Semiconductor device having a stacked chip structure


An aerosolization apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber having a plurality of air inlets. The chamber contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation or is sized to receive a receptacle which contains an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation. A shield covers at least one of the air inlets or a portion of at least one of the air inlets. The shield prevents blockage of the air inlet by a user grasping the apparatus and inadvertently covering the air inlet. An end section is associated with the housing. The end section is sized and shaped to be received in a user's mouth or nose so that the user may inhale through the end section to inhale aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation that has exited the receptacle.

The need for effective therapeutic treatment of patients has resulted in the development of a variety of techniques for delivering a pharmaceutical formulation to a patient. One traditional technique involves the oral delivery of a pharmaceutical formulation in the form of a pill, capsule, or the like. Inhaleable drug delivery, where an aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation is orally or nasally inhaled by a patient to deliver the formulation to the patient's respiratory tract, has also proven to be an effective manner of delivery. In one inhalation technique, a pharmaceutical formulation is delivered deep within a patient's lungs where it may be absorbed into the blood stream. In another inhalation technique, a pharmaceutical formulation is delivered locally to a particular site, such as an infected lung. Many types of inhalation devices exist including devices that aerosolize a dry powder pharmaceutical formulation.
One type of inhalation device aerosolizes a pharmaceutical formulation that is stored in a capsule. For example, a dose or a portion of a dose of a dry powder pharmaceutical formulation may be stored in a capsule, and the capsule may be inserted into an aerosolization device which is capable of aerosolizing the pharmaceutical formulation. The aerosolization may be accomplished by causing the capsule to move within a chamber, for example by flowing air through the chamber using a user's inhalation pressure to generate the airflow. As the capsule moves within the chamber, the pharmaceutical formulation exits the capsule though one or more openings in the capsule, and the pharmaceutical formulation is entrained by the flowing air in an aerosolized form. The aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation may then be inhaled by the user, and a dose or portion of a dose of the aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation may be delivered to the user's respiratory tract.
The size and quality of the dose delivered to the user is dependent on the amount and condition of aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation that exits the capsule. However, in conventional aerosolization devices, the amount and condition of the aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation may vary from use to use and/or from user to user. For example, sometimes it is difficult to cause large amounts of the pharmaceutical formulation to exit the capsule when a user is unable to generate a high flow rate of air through the device. The inefficient release of pharmaceutical formulation can be costly and can result in the necessity for numerous operations of the device in order to achieve a desire dosage. In some circumstances, the pharmaceutical formulation exits the capsule in agglomerated form, the agglomerations being undesirably large for inhalation therapy.
Therefore, it is desirable to be able to aerosolize a pharmaceutical formulation in a consistent manner. It is further desirable to be able to aerosolize a pharmaceutical formulation in a manner that extracts an increased amount of the pharmaceutical formulation from a receptacle. It is also desirable to be able to aerosolize a pharmaceutical formulation in a more deagglomerated form.

Aeorosolization apparatus with air inlet shield


In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for determining a dynamic effective elastic modulus of a composite slickline or wireline cable are provided. A system for estimating the effective elastic modulus (or change thereof) may include a sensing head assembly, a vibration generator, a pair of pulleys, and an optical-based signal processing assembly. The system may detect a resonant frequency of a section of the composite cable held between the two pulleys and estimate the effective elastic modulus based on the detected resonant frequency variation. Adjustments for weight and length of the cable extending into the wellbore may be made as well to determine the dynamic elastic modulus of the cable. The opto-mechanical integrated system described below may enable real-time elastic modulus determination. The system may provide a non-contact inspection method for monitoring mechanical fatigue of a composite cable without interfering with the composite cable intervention operation.

Hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, are commonly obtained from subterranean formations that may be located onshore or offshore. The development of subterranean operations and the processes involved in removing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation typically involve a number of different steps such as, for example, drilling a wellbore at a desired well site, treating the wellbore to optimize production of hydrocarbons, and performing the necessary steps to produce and process the hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.
After drilling a wellbore that intersects a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, a variety of downhole tools may be positioned in the wellbore during exploration, completion, production, and/or remedial activities. For example, temporary packers may be set in the wellbore during the completion and production operating phases of the wellbore. In addition, various operating tools including flow controllers (e.g., chokes, valves, etc.) and safety devices such as safety valves may be deployed in the wellbore. Such tools are often lowered downhole by a wireline, a work string, or a slickline and may be configured with a fishing neck to facilitate recovery at a later time. Once such downhole logging service is completed, the tool may be retrieved with the wireline, work string, or slickline.
As noted above, a slickline can be used to lower and retrieve wellbore tools from the wellbore. A slickline generally includes a metal wire based cable or nonelectric cable with a polymeric coating to protect the cable from mechanical wear during deployment and retraction from the wellbore. Recent developments in the field of slicklines have been focused on realizing greater mechanical strength through the use of composite slicklines. These slicklines are constructed from unidirectional carbon fibers suspended in a thermoplastic matrix material. Unfortunately, such carbon fiber reinforced composite slicklines can suffer from structural defects, such as carbon fiber breakage, fiber delaminating or de-bonding from the matrix, and inconsistent volumetric fractions of the carbon fibers, among others.
Such defects are often not measurable after the manufacturing process, but can grow quickly during dynamic tensile loading of the slickline during use in the field. This makes it difficult to determine if a composite slickline cable can be reused after each service. The gradual cable degradation might reduce the minimum breaking strength of the cable during downhole tool logging services. Furthermore, corrosion caused by exposure to fluids in the borehole, bending or kinking, and insufficient or excessive torque also can degrade the mechanical strength of a slickline cable so that the maximum allowable tool-string weight has to be reduced. Accordingly, it is desirable to inspect a composite slickline cable before or after each field logging service to avoid undesirable effects that may require additional service for fishing a lost tool-string from the bottom of the wellbore.

Determining effective elastic modulus of a composite slickline cable


Disclosed is a body composition measurement apparatus, comprising: a current supplying unit; a voltage measurement unit; a bioelectrical impedance measurement unit; and a judgment unit. According to the present invention said current supplying unit supplies an electric current to a person under test, said voltage measurement unit measures an electric voltage, and said bioelectrical impedance measurement unit measures a parameter for bioelectrical impedance of a measured part of the person, based on the current supplied and the voltage measured. Furthermore, said judgment unit judges an index for cell age of the person, based on the measured parameter for bioelectrical impedance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for assessing body composition for each of measured parts of a person under test using a bioelectrical impedance analysis ("BIA") method, and more particularly to, an apparatus for totally assessing the body composition by combination of various measurement results.
2. Prior Art
The bioelectrical impedance analysis has generally been conducted in such manner that the measurement of body composition of a person is performed for each of the parts of the person and the measurement result of body composition is numerically displayed or compared to the standard range. An apparatus has been proposed in which what age the visceral fat mass or basal metabolism belongs to is determined as the index of body composition and the result thereof is displayed (Patent Document 1, for example).
Another apparatus has been known in which a bioelectrical impedance analysis is performed to assess the amount of cells of a person. Furthermore, an additional apparatus has also been known in which the amount of body cells, the fat free mass and the total body water of a person are estimated on the basis of measurement of height or body weight and bioelectrical impedance (Patent Document 2, for example).
Patent Documents associated with the present invention are as follows:
Patent Document 1:                Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003/24293
Patent Document 2:                Japanese Patent No. 3330951
The apparatus, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003/24293, is configured to simply determine what age the visceral fat mass or basal metabolism belongs to as the index of each body composition. The apparatus additionally generates an advice for the person depending on the combination of the visceral fat mass, basal metabolism and "BMI".
In particular, a distribution balance for body composition elements such as fat mass, fat free mass and muscle amount, that is an index greatly depending on change in body build with the age, has not been assessed in association with the age.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent No. 3330951 describes a concrete equation of estimation used only for assessing the amount of cells of the person, but there is no further description found therein.
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to determine what age the body build of a person under test belongs to. More particularly, the present invention aims at judging any change in cells with the age, that can't externally be seen, for totally assessing the body build of the person in view of the age, for assessing any difference between any change in body build with the age and any change in cells with the age, and for producing an advice message useful for behavior in the life of the person according to the result of assessments.


The present invention includes a telephone keypad adapted to be mounted to a back surface of a mobile telephone, a mobile telephone including such keypad. The keypad includes a plurality of alphanumerical keys adapted for allowing text entry into the mobile telephone; and an attachment part for mounting the keypad to the mobile telephone.

Mobiles typically incorporate a keypad, traditionally a particular and "physical" one of a very standardized layout, a 3×4 grid; but with the advent and swift acceptance of so called smartphones, now commonly integrated into sames' sole screen and thereon enacted by a user by light finger or "pen" touches.
This may be viewed as a disadvantage—by some missing the habitual tactility and acquired expertness at the physical keys and by some for its encroaching on the screen area—and visually impaired are disfavored; an active smartphone screen takes lot of battery etc.; and which all gives incentive for this invention.
While thus the sole functional visual user interface at common smartphones tends to be by some regarded as compromised or overcrowded by too many concurring elements, their backside remains virtually empty. Some ways of their assisting have been presented; for so called back-to-back displays in e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,768,605 for so called flip-up 'feature' phones (as contrasting to 'smart'); and for smartphone types in US 2013/0222208 A1; this latter also discussing a back-to-back touch keypad (at paragraphs [0061-63], [0073], [0147], [0242-49]).
Existing solutions for mobile phones back-to-back displays/keypads are thus integrated into the phones and brand specific, which for users who just want such features occasionally and on their usual own smartphone may tend to be regarded as limiting and also expensive. Also, re keypads, they are so far not "physical" and as regards capacitive touch ones, they always need and consume much electric power for appearing/enactment, whereas physical keypads always are at hand (although switch-off-able) and just need negligible electric power for enactment.
To personalize and protect smartphones, a considerable market for and variety of so called cases/covers has emerged. The best reference to them that at the time of this application can be given is here thought to be at a site such as e.g. www.cellphoneshop.net/snapcover. It is there seen that being virtually identical, their main difference lies in which particular smartphone they are designed for, i.e. dimensional properties in order to fit and snap-on perfectly their host phone. Since even within same brand of smartphones measurements often change with new models, it is seen that a cover soon may become outdated and therefore should be kept quite cheap to facilitate change. From a technical point of view, though, they don't change. Their back, following and covering the smartphone's back, mostly just carries some decorative/ornamental art and is for the rest just a plastic sheet and can be varied in gauge and also hollowed without affecting the phone.


A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that generates power for rotating drive wheels, a differential mechanism that is provided between the engine and the drive wheels, and has at least three rotary elements including a first rotary element coupled to the engine, and a second rotary element coupled to the drive wheels, and a controller configured to control the engine. The controller is configured to determine whether to perform correction to increase the power generated by the engine, or perform correction to reduce the power, depending on a rotational speed of the second rotary element, when it changes a rotational speed of the engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle including a differential mechanism (such as a planetary gear mechanism) having at least three rotary elements between an internal combustion engine and drive wheels, and also relates to a control method for the vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-219025 (JP 2011-219025 A), a vehicle including a planetary gear mechanism (differential mechanism) between an engine and drive wheels is disclosed. The planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear coupled, to a generator, a ring gear coupled to the drive wheels, a pinion gear that meshes with the sun gear and the ring gear, and a carrier coupled to the engine. In JP 2011-219025 A, a technology of preventing excessive rotation of the generator by restricting engine torque without departing from an acceleration request, when the acceleration request is made by the driver, in the vehicle as described above, is disclosed.
However, in the vehicle disclosed in JP 2011-219025 A, if power generated by the engine is controlled so as to prevent excessive rotation of the generator, without taking account of changes in rotational energy of the planetary gear mechanism, the excessive rotation may be promoted.
Namely, in a regular engine vehicle in which no planetary gear mechanism is provided between an engine and a transmission, a positive correlation constantly exists between power generated by the engine and the rotational speed of the engine. Namely, one of the engine power and the engine speed increases if the other increases, and one of the engine power and the engine speed decreases if the other decreases. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent excessive rotation by performing correction to reduce the power generated by the engine.
However, in a vehicle in which a planetary gear mechanism is provided between an engine and a transmission, like the vehicle disclosed in JP 2011-219025 A, the relationship between the power generated by the engine and the rotational speed of an input shaft of the transmission changes depending on conditions of the planetary gear mechanism, which may result in a negative correlation between the engine power and the input shaft speed of the transmission. Namely, one of the engine power and the input shaft speed increases if the other decreases, and one of the engine power and the input shaft speed decreases if the other increases. Therefore, in the vehicle disclosed in JP 2011-219025 A, if the correction is performed in the same manner as in the regular engine vehicle, the excessive rotation may be promoted depending on the conditions of the planetary gear mechanism.

Vehicle and control method for the vehicle


A measuring device for triggering a test signal with a superposed noise signal includes a trigger unit, which is connected to a recording unit, where the test signal with respectively superposed noise signal is supplied to both. The trigger unit outputs a trigger signal to the recording unit as soon as the test signal with superposed noise signal has completely run through a hysteresis range. The trigger unit is connected to a hysteresis adjustment unit, where the hysteresis adjustment unit specifies a hysteresis range to the trigger unit, and where the hysteresis range specified by the hysteresis adjustment unit is adjustable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a measuring device for the digital triggering of a test signal with superposed noise signals and can be used in a recording device, for example, in a digital oscilloscope.
2. Discussion of the Background
A phase-corrected or time-corrected display of a test signal on a recording device, for example, a digital oscilloscope, requires a triggering, which identifies the signal portion of the test signal to be displayed on the recording device, for example, via a trigger threshold value, and initiates the recording of the test signal on the recording device via a trigger signal derived from it at the trigger time.
However, interference which is superposed as noise on the signal to be measured can be problematic. As illustrated in FIG. 2, such interference can cause the triggering of an oscilloscope to be released in error. In FIG. 2, a trigger is to be released on a rising signal edge; however, the trigger is also released in the case of a falling edge of the signal to be measured, because interference with a rising edge is superposed on the signal to be measured at the level of the trigger threshold. With a continuous triggering, so-called shadows appear because, as a result of the error triggering events, the test signal to be displayed is not fixed in its position. These shadows have an interfering influence for the user who wishes to evaluate the test signal; or respectively, an automated evaluation of the test data is made significantly more difficult in the case of an error triggering (erroneously identified trigger event).
To avoid an error triggering of this kind, comparators with hysteresis must be used in the trigger system of an oscilloscope. In this context, the greater the background noise of the oscilloscope, the wider the hysteresis must be selected to be.
A triggering circuit, which reduces error triggering events through the use of comparators with hysteresis, is known from DE 10 2006 027 835 A1. As soon as the signal to be measured exceeds an upper hysteresis threshold, a timer is started. If the test signal does not fall below the lower hysteresis threshold within a fixed time span, a trigger pulse is output. If the lower hysteresis threshold is undercut before the time span of the timer has elapsed, no trigger signal is released.
The disadvantage with DE 10 2006 027 835 A1 is that the hysteresis thresholds cannot be adjusted arbitrarily so that test signals can still be safely triggered with different strengths of interference.


Adhesive compositions are disclosed which cure rapidly and completely on confinement between passive substrates, such as magnesium alloys, that are deficient in transition metals and transition metal ions. The compositions include one or more acrylate resins, one or more peroxy free radical initiators, one or more onium salts, and an accelerator such as acetylphenyl hydrazine desirably in an amount of about 1.0% or less by weight of the composition. These compositions provide exceptional bonding to such substrates without the need for a transition metal primer. Methods of making and using such compositions are also disclosed.

Anaerobic compositions are stable and remain in a liquid, unpolymerized state in the presence of oxygen, but cure to a polymerized, solid state in the absence of oxygen. Such compositions are generally characterized as being one-part systems, with the ability to cure at room temperature through a free radical reaction, and to cure through a reaction initiated on a substrate surface. The components of such compositions are often monomers, initiators, catalysts, stabilizers/inhibitors, and modifiers, which may be combined, typically by mixing, to provide formulations of various viscosities, colors, strengths, and adhesion properties.
As a result of their ability to cure in a substantially oxygen-free environment, anaerobic compositions have found great utility as adhesives, sealants, and bonding materials for use with closely mated surfaces, such as between interfitting metal parts. Known industrial uses include locking threaded fasteners, sealing threaded pipe connections, retaining cylindrical machine components, sealing flange joints, bonding structural components, and sealing porous metal castings. Anaerobic adhesives are typically packaged, sold and stored in containers which are permeable to oxygen, such as those made of polyethylene.
Cure of anaerobic compositions is usually accelerated by the presence of a suitable metal, such as a transition metal (e.g., iron, copper, and nickel), which renders such metals well-suited for bonding with such compositions. However, such metals are susceptible to corrosion, often times rendering them poorly suited for industrial applications where corrosion compromises the integrity of the parts.
In contrast, magnesium alloys, typically alloys which include magnesium, aluminum, zinc and manganese, are passive substrates which are characterized as having high resistance to corrosion and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Additionally, they are easily molded and have the ability to withstand high tolerances and high temperatures. As a result of these properties, magnesium alloys are finding utility in many commercial applications, such as automotive applications.
Magnesium alloys have traditionally been joined by riveting or welding. It is desirable, however, to bond magnesium alloys using adhesives, as this offers advantages in weight saving, fatigue strength, and corrosion resistance. Corrosion resistance is due in large part to the very low level or iron, copper, and nickel found in most common alloys. The lower quantity of these transition metals present in an alloy, the slower the rate of corrosion. However, the low level of these transition metals renders magnesium alloys particularly insensitive to anaerobic cure.
Iron and copper have been found to accelerate cure of anaerobic adhesives and typical anaerobic formulations generally require trace amounts of these elements to be present to effect cure. These elements are generally applied to the substrate surface as a primer prior to application of the anaerobic adhesive. Adhesive systems using such primers are known as two-part systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,998 to McArdle et al. discloses the use of anaerobic compositions in one and two part systems for sealing surfaces having thick bondlines. The one-part systems include as a cure system the combination of saccharin and an onium salt. Example 18 of McArdle also discloses a two-part system, with each part having a cure system, the first part including cumene hydroperoxide, saccharin and an onium salt, and a second part which includes saccharin and acetylphenyl hydrazine. Cure is achieved when the two parts are mixed together in equal amounts.
The additional step of treating the surface of the substrate with a primer is undesirable as compared with one-part systems not requiring a primer as the need for a primer renders the adhesive more expensive, more labor intensive to apply, and more difficult to package and distribute. Therefore, there exists a need for a method of bonding magnesium alloy substrates and related passive substrates using one-part anaerobic adhesive systems. The present invention provides a solution to meet this need.

Adhesive compositions for bonding passive substrates


A positive-type photosensitive resin composition comprises a (a) polybenzoxazole precursor, a (b) crosslinking agent, a (c) photosensitive agent, and a (d) solvent, wherein the (a) polybenzoxazole precursor comprises a structure represented by Formula (1) below, and the (c) photosensitive agent is a compound comprising a structure represented by Formula (2) below. In Formula (1), U is a bivalent organic group, a single bond, —O—, or —SO2—, V is a group comprising an aliphatic structure, and the carbon number in the aliphatic structure is 1 to 30.

Heretofore, polyimide or polybenzoxazole having all of satisfactory heat resistance, electric properties, mechanical properties, and the like has been used for a surface protection film and an interlayer insulating film of a semiconductor device. In recent years, a photosensitive resin composition obtained by giving photosensitive properties to the above resins themselves has been used. Thus, a manufacturing process of a pattern cured film can be simplified, and a complicated manufacturing process can be shortened.
In the manufacturing process of a pattern cured film, an organic solvent such as N-methylpyrrolidone has been used in a development step. However, due to an environmental consideration, there has been suggested a resin composition that can be developed with an alkaline aqueous solution by a method in which a naphthoquinonediazide compound is mixed in a polyimide precursor or a polybenzoxazole precursor as a photosensitive agent (e.g., PATENT LITERATURES 1 and 2).
Meanwhile, in recent years, miniaturization of transistors that have supported the enhancement of performance of computers is facing the limit of scaling laws, and it is considered that technology of three-dimensionally stacking semiconductor elements is required for higher performance and higher speeds. Against this background, there has been suggested a three-dimensional package using a through silicon via (TSV), a 2.5-dimensional package using an interposer, or a 2.1-dimensional package, and stacked device structures typified by the above have been attracting attention (e.g., NON PATENT LITERATURE 1).
Among the stacked device structures, multi-die fanout wafer level packaging is a package manufactured by collectively sealing a plurality of dies in one package, and has been attracting much attention because lower cost and higher performance can be expected than in a conventional fanout wafer level package manufactured by sealing one die in one package.
However, in the manufacture of a multi-die fanout wafer level package, a heat treatment at more than 200° C. can not be conducted from the viewpoint of protecting a high-performance die, protecting a sealing material having low heat resistance, and improving yield. Thus, low-temperature curability is strongly demanded even for a polybenzoxazole precursor used as a rewiring formation layer for rewiring of copper (PATENT LITERATURE 3).
Even in the case of low-temperature curing at 200° C. or less, properties equal to or more than those at high-temperature curing are required for the rewiring formation layer. Specifically, in addition to having high resolution in order to perform fine patterning, having high chemical resistance and high adhesion properties is required.
Chemical resistance is needed to comply with a plating process of copper rewiring during multi-die fanout package production. Specifically, in a plating process, after copper plating using a resist for plating production, a resist stripping solution which is a strong chemical is used to remove the resist, and resistance to this chemical is required. Adhesion properties (properties of adhesion between the rewiring of copper and the rewiring formation layer) are extremely important from the viewpoint of ensuring reliability.
However, for the conventional resin composition for the rewiring formation layer (a positive-type photosensitive resin composition using a polybenzoxazole precursor), it is difficult to have high chemical resistance and adhesion properties when cured at a low temperature, and it has been impossible to comply with the production of the package.
PATENT LITERATURE 4 discloses that high sensitivity and high resolution are achieved by combining a specific crosslinking agent and a photosensitive agent with a polybenzoxazole precursor, but the properties of a cured film at low-temperature curing are low.

Positive-type photosensitive resin composition


A motion-sensing device for sensing tilt and acceleration when either tilt, horizontal acceleration, or tilt and horizontal acceleration acting concurrently, influence the device, including: a substrate having a vertical surface, a first accelerometer fixed to the vertical surface of the substrate; a pendulum flexibly coupled to the substrate proximate to the first accelerometer; and a second accelerometer fixed to the pendulum. The first and/or second accelerometers are preferably an accelerometer; a spring-mass system; and/or any tilt or accelerometer sensitive elements. The first accelerometer includes an accelerometer that measures tilt and linear acceleration in a first geometric plane, the pendulum is constrained to move in the first geometric plane, and the second accelerometer is operable to measure linear acceleration in the first geometric plane. The motion-sensing device or devices coupled to a machine, vehicle, and/or a control system. The pendulum is critically damped using a damping fluid.

There are many different designs of tilt sensors or angular sensors or inclinometers and accelerometers and some of them are already commercialized. It is a well known problem for available sensors that they can measure either tilt (inclination angle) or horizontal acceleration, but not both concurrently, because acceleration can generate a tilt signal in a tilt sensor:β=arc tan (a/g)where β is the tilt signal angle, a is the horizontal linear acceleration and g is the gravitational acceleration. In the figures that follow, gravitational acceleration g is directed toward the bottom of the page. Likewise, tilt can generate a horizontal acceleration signal in an accelerometer.
In the case where both tilt and acceleration occur concurrently, however, legacy sensors cannot distinguish between tilt and acceleration and, therefore, cannot measure the signal generated by tilt and the signal generated by acceleration separately in dynamic environment. For example, a tilt sensor or an accelerometer or both are mounted in a moving vehicle, which is a dynamic environment. It is very difficult to measure either tilt or acceleration or both of them separately because of interference from tilt with acceleration and interference of acceleration with tilt. Robert L. Forward designed a method to directly measure these two signals in separate forms. However, he further stated that this method was only academically correct. Robert L. Forward proposed another method to separate these two terms by measuring the resonant frequencies of the sensors and determine the tensor components. French, et al., also used resonant frequency to decrease the noise brought by the horizontal acceleration to measure gravitational field. Dosch, et al., calculated the gravitational field with better accuracy by accounting for undesired accelerations picked up by accelerometers having input axes that are not parallel to the gradiometer disc.
The remaining problem of how to accurately measure the tilt and horizontal acceleration in separate terms and at the same time, however, is yet to be completely resolved. Progress has been made by the present inventor, as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,804 to the present invention and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/625,333 to the present inventor.

Motion sensor for measurement in a dynamic environment of co-existing tilt and horizontal acceleration


An eyepiece includes a viewing region to emit display light out of the eyepiece along an eye-ward direction, an input end peripherally located from the viewing region and configured to receive the display light into the eyepiece, one or more optical elements positioned to direct the display light received into the eyepiece out of the viewing region along the eye-ward direction, a first side through which ambient scene light is received into the eyepiece, a second side out of which the ambient scene light and the display light are passed along the eye-ward direction, and a photo-chromic coating disposed on the first side and the second side, the photo-chromic coating to darken in the presence of UV light.

Photo-chromic lenses are lenses that darken when exposed to sunlight to reduce the brightness of the ambient sunlight reaching the eyes. Typically, the darkening effect of photo-chromic lenses is triggered by the UV radiation present in sunlight, and the darkening effect attenuates light. Once the UV radiation is removed, the photo-chromic molecules, which increase their absorption during exposure to UV light, transition back to a substantially transparent or non-darkened state. Artificial indoor light does not ordinarily include UV radiation. As such, photo-chromic lenses will reversibly darken when outdoors, and return to their non-darkened state when indoors.
Prescription eyeglasses are available with photo-chromic lens darkening. For glass lenses, the photo-chromic molecules (e.g., silver halides such as silver chloride) are often embedded throughout the volume of the lens substrate (not coated), while plastic lenses typically use a layer of organic photo-chromic molecule (e.g., oxazines) that is coated on a single surface of the plastic lens to achieve reversible darkening. Conventionally, the photo-chromic coating is spin coated on the single forward facing side surface (ambient scene side) of the plastic lens.


The aqueous effluent from the wash and/or rinse cycles of a process for cleaning electronic circuit assemblies of rosin flux and other organic residues with an aqueous amine cleaning solution comprises treating the effluent with an alkaline earth metal oxide which reacts with the rosin flux to cause precipitation of an alkaline earth metal rosinate and the retention of free amine in aqueous solution.

The cleanliness of electronic circuit assemblies (ECA), such as printed circuit boards (PCB) or printed wiring boards (PWB), is generally regarded as being critical to their functional reliability. Ionic and nonionic contamination on circuit assemblies is believed to contribute to premature failures of the circuit assemblies by allowing short circuits to develop.
In the manufacture of electronic circuit assemblies, ionic and nonionic contamination can accumulate after one or more steps of the process. Circuit assembly materials are plated, etched, handled by operators in assembly, coated with corrosive or potentially corrosive fluxes and finally soldered.
In the fabrication of electronic circuit assemblies, e.g., printed circuit boards, soldering fluxes are first applied to the substrate board material to ensure firm, uniform bonding of the solder. These soldering fluxes fall into two broad categories: rosin and non-rosin, or water soluble, fluxes. The rosin fluxes, which are generally only moderately corrosive and have a much longer history of use, are still widely used throughout the electronics industry. The water soluble fluxes, which are a more recent development, are being used increasingly in consumer products applications. Because water soluble fluxes contain strong acids and/or amine hydrohalides, such fluxes are very corrosive. Unfortunately, residues of any flux can cause circuit failure if residual traces of the material are not carefully removed following soldering and thus remain on an electronic circuit assembly.
The complete removal of adhesive and other residues from the electronic circuit assemblies also pose a problem. During the manufacture of electronic circuit assemblies the components are mounted on the upper surface of the board with leads protruding downwardly through holes in the board and are secured to the bottom surface of the board by means of an adhesive. Further, it is sometimes necessary to temporarily protect certain portions of the board from processing steps such as the process of creating corrosion resistant gold connecting tabs at the board edges. This transient protection of portions of the circuit board can be achieved by the application of special adhesive tape to susceptible areas. Once such protection is no longer needed, the adhesive tape must be removed. In both instances, a residue of adhesive generally remains which, if not thoroughly removed, can cause premature board failure. Removal of this adhesive residue has traditionally been carried out by the use of chlorinated solvents which are toxic and environmentally undesirable.
Thus, the residual contaminants which are likely to be found on electronic circuit assemblies and which must be removed include, but are not limited to, for example, rosin flux, photoresist, solder masks, adhesives, machine oils, greases, silicones, lanolin, mold release, polyglycols and plasticizers.
While water soluble fluxes can be easily removed with warm, soapy water, the removal of rosin flux and adhesive residues and the like from printed circuit boards is more difficult and has therefore traditionally been carried out with the use of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents such as 1,1,1,-trichlorethane, trichloroethylene, trichloromonofluoromethane, methylene chloride, trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC113), tetrachlorodifluoroethane (CFC112) or mixtures or azeotropes of these and/or other solvents. These solvents are undesirable, however, because they are toxic and when released into the environment deplete the ozone layer and/or contribute to the greenhouse global warming effect. Thus, use of such solvents is subject to close scrutiny by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and stringent containment equipment must be used. Moreover, if released into the environment these solvents are not readily biodegradable and are thus hazardous for long periods of time.
Alkaline cleaning compounds known as the alkanolamines, usually in the form of monoethanolamine, have been used for rosin flux removal as an alternative to the toxic chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. These high pH compounds (e.g., about 12 pH), chemically react with rosin flux to form a rosin soap through the process of saponification. Unfortunately, these compounds, as well as the water soluble soldering fluxes, have a tendency to cause corrosion on the surfaces and interfaces of printed wiring boards if such compounds and fluxes are not completely and rapidly removed during the fabrication process.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,886,099 discloses a water soluble aqueous amine cleaner to remove rosin flux from electronic circuit assemblies. The cleaner includes an aqueous solution of an aliphatic amine which reacts with the rosin flux to form a soap, a glycol ether used as a flux solvent and an organic acid which serves as a buffer to reduce and maintain the alkalinity of the solution at a pH of between about 10.5 and 11.0. While the patent states that the wash water may be discharged into a normal sewage system because the components are biodegradable, it is unlikely that at the present time the introduction of organics such as rosin fluxes, amines, glycol ethers and acids would be acceptable additions to the environment. In particular, in the disposal of industrial cleaning solutions, municipalities often mandate levels of impurities which are allowable in sewage effluents. Thus, the regulations frequently mandate maximum permitted pH, maximum allowable heavy metals and maximum allowable organics measured as BOD or COD. Accordingly, sewering the effluents from a process for cleaning electronic circuit assemblies with an aqueous amine solution would not be permissible.
On the other hand, treating the wash effluents obtained from the washing of electronic circuit assemblies with aqueous amine solutions by conventional activated carbon treatment and cation exchange would likely capture the amine which is reacted with the rosin to form a soap. The wash water effluent after treatment would include the glycol ethers which would likely pass through the carbon treatment. The amine therefore would have to be continuously replenished if the effluent is to be recycled to the wash cycle of the cleaning process. Likewise, even after carbon and ion exchange treatment, the aqueous effluent would still contain the glycol ether which could not likely be sewered for the reasons stated above.
Accordingly, a treatment process is needed to remove the contaminants from the wash water effluents obtained during the washing of electronic circuit assemblies with aqueous amine solutions so as to provide sufficient removal of the contaminants washed from the electronic circuit assemblies and to retain the active components of the aqueous amine cleaning solution in the effluent, such that the treated effluent can be recycled to the cleaning process without the need for substantial replenishment of the active ingredients to the cleaning solution.

Method of recycling amine saponifiers used in cleaning electronic circuit boards


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for arrays, systems, and methods analyzing cells, methods of making arrays, and the like.

It is becoming increasingly evident in cancer treatment that simultaneously targeting multiple critical pathways, using combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs, can enhance outcome1-5. Currently, oncologists lack the tools necessary to predict the success of various combination treatments from one patient to the next. Sensitivity to different classes of chemotherapeutics is highly variable, due in part to intratumor heterogeneity1. Recent findings attribute this heterogeneity to a rare population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) which are now being targeted for therapy. A barrier to this approach is the limitation of having very few available cells on which to test drug combinations6, 7.
Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer and cancer death in the United States. Colon cancer stem cells (CCSC's) have only recently been recognized as a potential cause of colon cancer with several markers identified. As such, this cell population has also been targeted for future therapeutics, but the rarity of CCSC's makes it difficult to screen potential agents.

Cell-based arrays, methods of making, and methods of using

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


An interconnect layer (40) for interposing between two active circuit layers of a multi-chip module (50). The interconnect layer includes a layer of silicon (14) having first surface and second surfaces. A first layer of dielectric material (16) is disposed over the first surface and a second layer of dielectric material (12) disposed over the second surface. The interconnect layer includes at least one electrically conductive feedthrough (42) that is formed within an opening made through the layer of silicon. The opening has sidewalls (22) that are coated with a dielectric material (24) and an electrically conductive material for providing a topside contact (26). A second contact (28) is formed from the backside of the silicon layer after removing the substrate (10). In accordance with the invention, the sidewalls have a slope associated therewith such that an area of the opening is larger at the first surface of the silicon layer than at the second surface of the silicon layer, thereby improving the contact metal step coverage. The silicon layer is comprised of <100> silicon and has a thickness in the range of approximately 10 micrometers to approximately 50 micrometers. The opening is etched through the <100> silicon layer with KOH to provide an inwardly sloping sidewall profile having an angle that is approximately equal to 54.7 degrees.

In the fabrication of three dimensional integrated circuit assemblies, such as multi-chip modules, an interconnect layer is interposed between two layers of active circuitry to provide signal and power routing functions. As such, electrically conductive vias or feedthroughs are required to convey signal and power traces vertically between the two major surfaces of the interconnect layer.
For many applications, the interconnect layer is comprised of a relatively thin (approximately 10 micrometers to 50 micrometers) layer of silicon that is processed to form openings through the layer at locations where feedthroughs are required. During a subsequent metallization step, a suitable metal is deposited within the openings to provide an electrically conductive connection from one side of the layer of silicon to the other.
However, a problem is often encountered in obtaining a high quality, low resistance connection between the two surfaces. This problem is due in part to the conventional vertical-profile silicon trench etch process, such as a reactive ion etch, that is employed to form the feedthrough openings. The significant depth (typically in the range of 10-50 micrometers) through which the metallization must be deposited, in combination with the essentially vertical surfaces of the opening sidewalls, can result in variations in metal thickness and coverage within the openings. This leads to the formation of electrical connections that have less than optimum electrical resistance and reliability characteristics.
It is thus one object of this invention to provide a method for fabricating reliable, low resistance electrical feedthroughs within a semiconductor material.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for fabricating an electrical interconnect layer that is suitable for use in a multi-chip module, the electrical interconnect layer including low resistance and highly reliable feedthroughs.
It is one further object of this invention to provide a silicon electrical interconnect layer wherein feedthroughs have inwardly tapering sidewalls for improving the contact metal step coverage.

Method for forming deep conductive feedthroughs


A system for tensioning lines, particularly belts or webs, utilizing a bi-directional tensioning device. The system includes an anchoring tensioning line, the proximal end of which is removably attached to a first end of the device, and a threadable tensioning line, the proximal end of which is threadably attached to a second end of the device. The distal ends of both tensioning lines are fastened to a support surface. A ratcheting system included in the device winds the proximal end of the threadable tensioning line by means of a pivot handle. The threadable tensioning line is tightened when the handle is pivoted in the direction of the second end of the device. The user may change the direction of the power stroke simply by switching the anchoring tensioning line from the first end to the second end and the threadable tensioning line from the second end to the first end of the device.

Tensioning systems for tensioning lines, particularly belts or webs, utilizing a ratcheting device to wind the tensioning lines have been used for many years. Systems of this type are typically comprised of an anchoring tensioning line, a threadable tensioning line, and a ratchet device. An example of an environment in which these types of devices are employed is in tightening lines around loads or cargo placed on semi-trailer flatbeds.
More specifically, prior art devices typically include a means to attach the proximal end of a first or anchoring tensioning line to a first end of the device and a ratchet system to wind the proximal end of a second or threadable tensioning line from the second end of the device. The distal end of the anchoring line is attached to a metal fastener. The fastener attaches the anchoring line to one side of a support surface (e.g., one side edge of the flatbed trailer). The distal end of the threadable tensioning line also includes a metal faster so that it can be fastened to the opposing side edge of the support surface (e.g., the second side edge of the flatbed trailer). The proximal end of the threadable tensioning line is placed over the vehicle load and threaded into the ratchet mechanism of the device.
The ratcheting system of the device comprises a rotatable drive element serving to wind the threadable line, at least one ratchet wheel connected integrally in rotation to the drive element and exhibiting directionally oriented notches, and a pivot lever serving to introduce the rotary movement into the drive element, on which a drive pawl cooperating with the ratchet wheel is mounted slidably counter to the action of a spring, whilst the notches of the ratchet wheel are shaped so that they are retained firmly by a blocking pawl during movement of the pivot lever towards the first end of the device, whereas during the movement of the pivot lever towards the second end of the device, they are entrained via the drive pawl.
The prior devices, however, have all suffered from the same drawback, namely that the direction of the power stroke is set for each particular device. The power stroke refers to the direction in which the pivot lever is moved in order to entrain the notches of the ratchet wheel. Originally, the power stroke of a typical tensioning device was towards the second end of the device. This was known as a "push" power stroke device. Such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,182.
However, this device was burdensome to vehicle loaders since it often required them to push up from the ground in order to wind the threadable line. This was because the anchoring line was often shorter than the threadable line. This caused the tensioning device to be oriented such that the second end of the device was remote from the support surface. Speich, U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,742, disclosed a tensioning device with a "pull" power stroke. This device had a power stroke pivoting towards the first end of the device. This was advantageous in that it allowed a user to employ his or her body weight to assist in moving the pivot lever. However, in order to release the mechanism the pivot lever must still be activated with a "push" stroke.
However, the "push" power stroke device would still be advantageous under certain circumstances. For instance, if the anchoring line was longer than the threadable line, then the device would be oriented such that the first end of the device would be remote from the support surface. Therefore, a user would only be able to utilize his or her body weight with a "push" power stroke. No prior art devices have allowed the user the ability to switch the direction of the power stroke to suit the needs of a particular situation.
Therefore, there arises a need for a bi-directional load securing ratchet method and apparatus. Preferably such an apparatus and method provides for easily converting the power stroke from push to pull modes. The present invention directly addresses and overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

Bi-directional load securing ratchet method and apparatus


A highly effective and also inert active penetrator, an active projectile, an active airborne body or an active multipurpose projectile with a constructively adjustable or settable relationship between penetrating power and lateral effect. The end ballistic total effect which is obtained from the penetrating depth and covering the surface or stressing of the surface is initiated in an active case by means of a releasable arrangement or installation which is independent of the position of the active body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a highly effective and also inert active penetrator, an active projectile, an active airborne body or an active multipurpose projectile with a constructively adjustable or settable relationship between penetrating power and lateral effect. The end ballistic total effect which is obtained from the penetrating depth and covering the surface or stressing of the surface is initiated in an active case by means of a releasable arrangement or installation which is independent of the position of the active body. This is achieved through the intermediary of a suitably inert transfer medium; for example, such as a liquid, a pasty medium, a plastic material, a material which is constituted of a combination of a plurality of components or a plastically deformable metal, within which, by means of pressure generating and/or detonative arrangement (also without any primary explosives) there is built-up with an integrated or functionally specified triggering initiation with integrated detonating safety a quasi-hydrostatic or, respectively, hydrodynamic pressure field, and which is transmitted to the surrounding, fragment forming or sub-projectile emitting casing.
For end ballistically active effective carriers, one usually distinguishes between:
Inertial projectiles (KE projectiles, spin or aerodynamically stabilized arrow or slender projectiles);
Hollow charges (HL projectiles, flat conical charges, preferably aerodynamically stabilized) with a triggering device;
Explosive projectiles with triggering device;
Inert fragmentation projectiles, for example, PELE (penetrator with increased lateral effects) or with disintegration charge possessing a triggering device;
So called multipurpose projectiles/hybrid projectiles (explosive and/or fragmentation effect with; for example, HL effect acting radially or in the direction of flight (ahead);
Tandem projectiles (KE, HL or combined);
Warheads (mostly with HL and/or fragmentation/explosive effect); and
Penetrators or sub-penetrators in airborne bodies or warheads.
Furthermore, for a series of the above-mentioned active body types there are available corresponding special constructions. These unfold as a rule, certain, constructively or technologically (material-type) specified effects. An effectively optimized configuration is however, mostly connected with a serious limitation in the effective range. In order to correspond with the requirements of a combat area, one mostly reaches back to a combination of a plurality of (two or three) separate effective carriers (for example separately supplied ammunition, mixed ammunition belts, and so forth). In a simplified manner, one combines; for example, inertial projectiles (KE effect) with explosive and fragmentation projectiles.
The simplification of the ammunition palette without any restriction in the effective spectrum is thus a constantly sought after path for a solution. In the area of inertial projectiles there is achieved a decisive advance by means of the laterally acting penetrators (PELE penetrators). Such types of PELE penetrators are disclosed; for example, in German Patent Publication DE 197 00 349 C1. This effective or active carrier combines the KE penetrating effect with a fragment or, respectively sub-projectile generation in such an advantageous manner that for an entire series of applications this ammunition concept in itself is sufficient to fulfill the set tasks. The decisive restriction in this functional principal consists of in that, for initiating the lateral effects, it is necessary to provide an interaction with the target, only then will there be built up a suitable internal pressure, through which the end ballistically active projectile casing can be laterally accelerated, or respectively disintegrated.
Through the present invention there is disclosed a way by means of which, with the least possible restrictions in the range of the effectiveness, there can be joined not only the power spectrum of purely inertial projectiles with those of explosive/fragmentation/multipurpose/tandem projectiles, but also the function of heretofore not combinable separate types of ammunition can be integrated therewith. Thereby, it becomes possible to combine the properties of the most different types of ammunition concepts in a single active carrier. This does not only lead to a significant improvement in the heretofore known multipurpose projectiles, but also to an almost unlimited broadening of the conceivable spectrum of utilization against ground, air and sea targets, and in the defense against airborne bodies.
The invention does not intend to utilize pyrotechnic powder or explosive materials alone as casing disintegrating or fragment accelerating elements. Such types of projectiles are known in the most different types of embodiments with and without triggering devices (referring; for example, to German DE 29 19 807 C2). Also German DE 197 00 349 C1 already mentions this capability; for example, in combination with an expansive medium as a individual component.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
From the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,650 there is known an explosive incendiary projectile which is equipped with a hollow cylindrical as well as aerodynamically configured copper jacket, with a tubular penetrator consisting of heavy metal with an explosive charge. With consideration to the relatively small caliber (12.7 mm) a sufficient penetrating effect with additional lateral effect is alone not achievable due to physical reasons. Its active components in their functioning manner also do not provide the subject matter which is represented within the scope of this invention.
A further projectile is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,960 which essentially encompasses a projectile core, as well as therewith associated and thus connected tip with a formed on mandrel, whereby the inner mandrel is arranged in a bore in the projectile core. It can be constituted of a pyrophoric material; for example, zirconium, titanium or their alloys. Also this projectile is not active; and as well does not contain any expansion medium.
From the disclosure of German Patent No. 32 40 310 there is known an armor rupturing projectile, by means of which there should be attained a conflagration effect in the interior of the target, whereby the projectile encompasses a cylindrical metal member which is extensively shaped as a solid body with a thereto attached tip, as well as an incendiary charge arranged within the hollow space of the metal member which charges; for example, is formed as a solid cylindrical body or as a hollow cylindrical casing. With regard to this projectile, the outer shape remains unchanged during penetration, in the interior there should be produced an adiabatic compression with an explosive-like combustion of the incendiary charge. Also in this instance, there are no active components present, and there are also no means for achieving a dynamic expansion of the metal body acting as a penetrator and its lateral disintegration or fragmentation.
In an extremely broader embodiment of all heretofore known solutions for the generation of lateral effects, there should be mostly provided basically as auxiliary means a sufficient internal pressure generating chemical and/or pyrotechnic aide, and not only minimized, but through its embedding in pressure transmitting media, under the lowest possible pyrotechnic demand or, respectively, volumetric use, there is achieved an optimum disintegration of these surrounding, fragment or sub-projectile producing or emitting casings or segments. Through this separation of the functions of pressure generation or pressure propagation or, respectively, pressure transfer there for the first time opens itself the heretofore in all arrangements known spectrum of application for individual active elements, projectiles or warheads. As examples, there should here serve expelled elements from large calibered ammunition externally or internally of a target, for expel airborne bombs for the attacking of shelters, for warheads up to TBM (tactical ballistic missile) defense, and for utilization in the so-called killer satellites, and finally in the utilization in super cavitating torpedoes (highest speed torpedoes).
From the disclosure of German Patent No. DE 197 00 349 C1 there are disclosed projectiles or warheads which, by means of an internal arrangement for the dynamic formation of expansion zones, produce subprojectiles or fragments with an intense lateral effect. Principally, this hereby relates to the interaction of two materials upon striking against armored targets, or during the penetration into or through homogeneous or structured targets in such a manner whereby the internal dynamically damaged material builds up a pressure field relative to material surrounding it, with a higher speed of an in or through penetrating material, and thereby imparts to the outer material a lateral velocity component. This pressure field is determined through the projectile, as well as through the target parameters: Since such types of penetrators, in their initial form as well as their individual components (fragments, subprojectiles) should possess a greatest possible end ballistic effect, for the casing there affords itself steel or preferably tungsten-heavy metal (WS). From the intended disintegration at specified target parameters there is then obtained a palette of suitable expansion media. In accordance with the selected combination, there are already produced impact speeds at less than 100 m/s expansion pressures which afford a dependable disintegration of the projectile or warhead. Technical or material specific auxiliary means or aids, such as for example, the configuring or, respectively, the partial weakening of the surface, or the selection of brittler materials as the casing material are basically not prerequisites; however, they expand the scope of configurations and the spectrum of use for these so-called PELE penetrators.

Projectiles possessing high penetration and lateral effect with integrated disintegration arrangement


The leg rest includes a base frame and a retractable frame assembly. The base frame has a through hole and two connecting sockets. A connecting rod connects between the connecting sockets. Two hole seats are provided on the connecting rod. The retractable frame assembly connects with the base frame and includes a first support frame having two connecting arms and a main board connected therebetween. The connecting arms separately connect the connecting sockets. A link with a connecting tube perpendicularly extends from the main board. The connecting tube is coaxially connected between the hole seats. A second support frame rotatably connects to the main board. A support seat rotatably connects to the second support frame and has a transversal rod. A vertical rod is perpendicularly connected between the transversal rod and the main board. A support pad is fixed onto the support seat.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to chairs, particularly to a chair with a leg rest.
2. Related Art
Office chairs with a cushion elevation mechanism and/or flexible back have been very popular. Although many chairs are provided with a flexible back with tilt flexibility, height position of the back cannot be adjusted to satisfy various users with different body length. Although existing chairs are very comfortable for users, almost all office chairs do not provide a leg rest for supporting a user's calves to allow a user to stretch his or her legs.

DONGGUAN KENTEC OFFICE SEATING CO., LTD.