A diffuser plate for a vehicle exhaust system comprises a body having a primary opening and a plurality of secondary openings circumferentially spaced apart from each other about the primary opening. In one example, the diffuser plate is positioned between an exhaust manifold and a catalytic converter. Exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold flows through the primary and secondary openings in the diffuser plate to provide a thorough mixed flow that is evenly distributed across an inlet to a catalyst substrate, and also enable an oxygen sensor to accurately measure engine cylinder exhaust gas chemistry.

Exhaust systems are widely known and used with combustion engines. Typically, an exhaust system includes exhaust tubes or pipes that convey hot exhaust gases from an engine exhaust manifold to other downstream exhaust system components, such as catalytic converters, mufflers, resonators, etc. As known, a catalytic converter converts toxic by-products of the exhaust gases to less toxic substances by way of catalysed chemical reactions. The catalytic converter includes a substrate positioned within a housing that has an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. As the exhaust gas flows through the substrate, pollutants such as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon, and oxides of nitrogen are converted to less toxic substances such as carbon dioxide and water, for example.
It is known to use mixing elements positioned upstream of the catalytic converter in an attempt to efficiently direct exhaust flow into the substrate. While these plates have proved effective, there is always a need to further increase emission conversion efficiency.

Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies USA, LLC


Aliphatic polyesters may be substituted at the alpha- and beta-positions. These aliphatic polyesters may have increased thermal, chemical and hydrolytic stability compared to conventional aliphatic polyesters. In addition, these aliphatic polyesters may be used as high performance lubricants, including lubricants for hard disk drives.

High performance lubricants are used for a large number of diverse applications. The requirements of these lubricants are becoming more demanding due to a variety of factors, including miniaturization of electronic and mechanical devices, use of high temperature operating conditions, an increased expectation of product lifetimes, and an expanding range of operating and storage environments. In addition to providing acceptable lubrication to surfaces, lubricants also may need to offer thermal stability, chemical inertness, wear resistance, low volatility and/or corrosion resistance, depending on the particular application.
One application in which high performance lubricants are subject to ever increasing demands is hard disk drive magnetic recording systems. These systems use a collection of rigid disks, each coated with a thin layer of magnetic material and then with a protective layer, typically of amorphous carbon. The lubricant is applied to the surface of the disk over the protective layer. Due to the demand for higher density storage and faster data transfer rates, the lubricant film typically is only 1-2 nanometers (nm) thick. A disk is rotated at speeds greater than 15,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) during operation, which can cause non-uniform distribution of the lubricant or, in some cases, spin-off of a portion of the lubricant. In addition, these devices are expected to last for approximately 1010 revolutions, including an estimated 7,500 start-stop operations. Hard disk drives are expected to operate acceptably from 5° C. to 60° C. and from 8% to 80% relative humidity, and shipping and storage environments can range from −40° C. to 65° C. In order to avoid failure, the lubricant should not volatilize or experience hydrolytic or thermal instability during the life of the hard drive.
Conventional hard disk drive lubricants are typically perfluoropolyethers (PFPE's), such as the Fomblin® PFPE's available from Solvay Solexis, Inc. (Thorofare, N.J.). The performance and lifetime of PFPE lubricants can be limited by their thermal and chemical stability, as well as their static friction and adhesion properties. Local temperatures on the disk surface can reach 200° C. or greater during the recording process, a temperature at which PFPE's typically degrade and vaporize. Degradation of fluoroethers also can occur chemically at elevated temperatures by exposure to the Lewis acidity of the Al2O3/TiC material typically present on read-write heads, which record or read the information in the magnetic layer. The static friction coefficient of PFPE's can be prohibitively high as the lubricant film thickness increases, placing an upper limit on the amount of lubricant that can be present to protect the disk.
Aliphatic polyesters were studied as a possible improvement over PFPE lubricants. In a Master of Science thesis at University of Illinois in 1997 entitled "The Applications Of Advanced Materials To Four Unique Problems Involving Surface Interfaces", by Brian Fabio, chapter 4 (pp. 61-89) disclosed a polyester formed from 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptanedioic acid; and a polyester formed from these monomers in addition to 2,2,5,5-tetramethylhexanedioic acid. Although these polymers are disclosed as having potential for general lubrication, the thesis specifically states that it could not be predicted whether the polymers would be useful for lubrication of hard disk drives until specific tests are carried out (pp. 75, 79, 85, 87-88). These tests include friction tests at normal loads of 2-4 grams and surface energy measurements performed in a controlled atmosphere.
A lubricant that has increased thermal and chemical stability would be beneficial. It would be desirable to provide more stable lubricants that could also have friction and wear properties that are comparable to or better than conventional lubricants.

Aliphatic polyesters and lubricants containing the polyesters

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


The instant invention provides for novel cationic lipids that can be used in combination with other lipid components such as cholesterol and PEG-lipids to form lipid nanoparticles with siRNA, to facilitate the cellular uptake and endosomal escape, and to knockdown target mRNA both in vitro and in vivo.

The present invention relates to novel-cationic lipids that can be used in combination with other lipid components such as cholesterol and PEG-lipids to form lipid nanoparticles with oligonucleotides; to facilitate the cellular uptake and endosomal escape, and to knockdown target mRNA both in vitro and in vivo.
Cationic lipids and the use of cationic lipids in lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of oligonucleotides, in particular siRNA and miRNA, have been previously disclosed. Lipid nanoparticles and use of lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of oligonucleotides, in particular siRNA and miRNA, has been previously disclosed. Oligonucleotides (including siRNA and miRNA) and the synthesis of oligonucleotides has been previously disclosed. (See US patent applications: US 2006/0083780, US 2006/0240554, US 2008/0020058, US 2009/0263407 and US 2009/0285881 and PCT patent applications: WO 2009/086558, WO2009/127060, WO2009/132131, WO2010/042877, WO2010/054384, WO2010/054401, WO2010/054405 and WO2010/054406). See also Semple S. C. et al., Rational design of cationic lipids for siRNA delivery, Nature Biotechnology, published online 17 Jan. 2010; doi:10.1038/nbt.1602.
Butyl CLinDMA is one of the cationic lipids disclosed in US 2006/0240554. Other cationic lipids are also generically disclosed in US 2006/0240554 including Octyl CLinDMA. We have synthesized and tested both Butyl CLinDMA and Octyl CLinDMA in lipid nanoparticle formulations and found that Octyl CLinDMA has superior properties to Butyl CLinDMA. Octyl CLinDMA (otherwise known as OCD) is also described in WO02010/021865.
We adopted a rational approach to design cationic lipids for use in lipid nanoparticle formulations to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA). Starting with the cationic lipid Octyl CLinDMA (designated, "Compound 12" in this application) as a benchmark, we designed novel cationic lipids with superior properties as demonstrated in mouse, rat and monkey experiments.
The compounds of the instant invention contain a 1,3-diether linker.
It is an object of the instant invention to provide novel cationic lipids that can be used in combination with other lipid components such as cholesterol and PEG-lipids to form lipid nanoparticles with oligonucleotides, to facilitate the cellular uptake and endosomal escape, and to knockdown target mRNA both in vitro and in vivo.

Cationic lipids with various head groups for oligonucleotide delivery


A powered running board assembly has a deck and at least two hinges extending from the deck for mounting longitudinally the deck to an underside of a vehicle. Each hinge has a mounting bracket configured to mount to the underside of the vehicle. A pair of links pivotally extends between the deck and mounting bracket. The deck is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A motor assembly operably engages at least one of the hinges to drive the deck between the retracted and extended positions. The motor assembly extends substantially longitudinally. The motor assembly has a gear train and clutch assembly enabling the motor assembly to drive relative to the deck movement when the deck movement is prevented, and enabling manual deck movement when the motor assembly is not energized.

Running boards are available as an option for larger sized vehicles such as sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, mini-vans, and cross-ever vehicles. In model year 2003, the Lincoln Navigator became the first vehicle available with a factory installed powered running board. In this running board, the deck or stepping platform will automatically retract and extend upon closing and opening the door. This retractable running board is described in United States Patent Publication no. US 2002/0113400 ('400).
The '400 running board provides a deck that extends longitudinally along the side of the vehicle adjacent the rocker panel. The deck is operably connected to the vehicle by a set of four bar links. A drive motor is mounted in a generally horizontal condition, perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the running board. This configuration is acceptable for the Lincoln Navigator as there is sufficient space beneath the vehicle where the running board mounts to the vehicle. However in other vehicles, there is insufficient space under the vehicle to mount the running board with the drive motor.


This invention relates to an adenovirus vector having excellent gene transfection activity on specific cell lines, particularly on hematopoietic cells. This adenovirus vector derives from the adenovirus type 35 genome by at least partial or total deletion of the E1 region therefrom. The adenovirus vector according to this invention has excellent gene transfection activity on specific cell lines, particularly on hematopoietic cells, ES cells, pluripotent stem cells, blood stem cells, and tissue stem cells.

In 1953, adenoviruses were separated from a culture solution of pediatric tonsil or adenoid cells. The existence of 80 or more adenovirus serotypes that are infected with humans, birds, cattle, monkeys, dogs, mice, or pigs as a host has been discovered to date. Up to the present, 51 or more types of adenovirus serotypes that are infected with humans as a host have been discovered, and adenovirus type 2 and type 5 are used as vectors for gene therapy.
Adenovirus type 5 is a non-enveloped and regular icosahedron with 252 capsomeres. Among them, the 12 capsomeres located at the peak of the icosahedron are referred to as "pentons" (composed of Penton bases and fibers) having projected structures and the other 240 capsomeres are referred to as "hexons." Viruses infiltrate (infect) cells as follows. Fibers bind to the CAR receptors (for details, please refer to Bergelson J M et al., Isolation of a common receptor for Coxsackie B viruses and adenoviruses 2 and 5, Science 275: 1320-1323, 1997) and the RGD motifs of the penton bases then bind to the integrins on the cell surfaces (Bai M, Harfe B, Freimuth P, Mutations that alter an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence in the adenovirus type 2 penton base protein abolish its cell-rounding activity and delay virus reproduction in flat cells, J. Virol. 67: 5198-5205, 1993; Wickham T J et al., Integrins αvβ3 and αvβ5 promote adenovirus internalization but not virus attachment, Cell 73: 309-319, 1993). Viruses that reach the endosomes alter capsid protein structures under acidic conditions, disrupt the endosomes, and infiltrate the cytoplasm. Accordingly, the first step of infection is the binding of viral fibers to the CAR receptors on the cell surfaces, and the infection range for a vector is considered to be capable of being varied via modification of fibers (Paillard, F., Dressing up adenoviruses to modify their tropism, Hum. Gene Ther. 10:2575-2576, 1999).
Adenovirus type 35 was first discovered in urine of patients such as those who had undergone kidney transplantation, those who had undergone marrow graft, and those with AIDS. Infection therewith is said to cause acute hemorrhagic cystitis and to infect the kidney. At present, a receptor for adenovirus type 35 infection is not yet known.


A software product for easy-to-use naming, coding, and sharing of locations, including those with no addresses.

Once used solely as classified military technology, the use of global positioning systems (GPS) is now widely used in the general populous. Devices, such as Garmin® devices, may be used in cars to direct the driver based on their global position and their desired destination. Alternatively, cars frequently include built-in navigation systems that offer similar services. Smartphones also commonly include basic GPS capabilities for locating the user and directing him or her to a desired destination. Other smartphone applications, such as RunKeeper® for example, use the smartphone's GPS capabilities to track the user's path, speed, elevation, etc. . . . . Despite this broad usage of GPS technology, the problem that location identification can be unwieldy and imprecise remains.
There are several common ways to identify a location. Longitude and latitude coordinates may be extremely precise, but are extremely unwieldy to relay to a GPS device or another person. One might tell a friend to meet him at specific GPS coordinates, which may precisely indicate one's location, but the long strings of numbers are neither easily remembered, nor communicated, nor entered into a device with GPS capabilities. Physical addresses are another common way to identify a location. Again, remembering, communicating, and/or entering addresses can be difficult at times, especially when the address is long—1327 Foothill Boulevard, La Canada Flintridge, Calif., for example. Moreover, some addresses are ambiguous and are not easily input into a GPS device. For an address such as, 1454 US RTE 22 West, Union, N.J., for example, a GPS device might not recognize the input of "Route 22" or "Rte. 22," but may, unbeknownst to the user, instead require "US RTE 22" exactly in order to recognize the address. Finally, locations may be identified informally, such as "soccer field #3," "parking lot B," "the East side entrance to the Central Park reservoir," or "the dragon ride at Alpha Amusement Park." Such informal location identifications that don't necessarily have an address are particularly prone to confusion and miscommunication. All of these types of locations and others may need to be communicated from time to time, and all have their disadvantages as far as simple, precise location communication.
Google™ Place Pages provides a service where a business may be provided with a QR code associated with that the business. One who scans such a QR code is provided with information about the business and an option to click for maps or directions to that location. Although a useful tool, this service does not appear to accept input of locations other than addresses, nor does it provide simple process to simply scan for directions, and as such, does not address many of the situations outlined above.
Therefore there is a need for easy assignation and communication of precise coordinates of a specific location.

Geographic coordinates coding software product


Systems and methods of aligning a lithographic mask are described. In one aspect, a substrate and a lithographic mask are aligned based at least in part on a motive force between a substrate alignment mark on the substrate and a mask alignment mark on the lithographic mask that induces movement of at least one of the substrate and the lithographic mask into mutual alignment.

Many different lithographic methods have been proposed for producing patterns on a surface. For example, optical lithographic techniques commonly are used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. Optical lithography is the process of transferring patterns of geometric shapes from a mask to a thin layer of radiation-sensitive material (e.g., photoresist) covering a surface (e.g., a semiconductor substrate). In general, optical lithography involves depositing a layer of photoresist on a surface, selectively exposing the photoresist to ultraviolet light through a mask, and selectively removing the exposed (or unexposed) photoresist regions. The resulting patterned resist structure may be processed to transfer (e.g., by etching) the pattern to an underlying layer or to transfer (e.g., by a lift-off process) the pattern to an overlying layer deposited over the patterned resist structure. Current optical exposure tools typically are capable of a resolution of approximately 0.1-1 μm and a registration of approximately 0.5 μm.
Other lithographic techniques have been developed to improve the resolution and registration limitations of optical lithography. For example, x-ray lithography has a resolution of about 0.5 μm (micrometers), or better, and a registration of about 0.5 μm. Ion beam lithography is capable of a resolution on the order of 10 nm (nanometers). Imprint lithography is a non-radiation based lithography technique in which surfaces are modified by contact with a master pattern. The master pattern may lithographic mask the surface directly or it may initiate chemical reactions on a surface. Imprint lithography may be used to create ultra-fine (sub-25 nm) patterns in a thin film.
Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,905 describes an imprint lithographic process for creating ultra-fine (sub-25 nm) patterns in a thin film 6 that is disposed on a substrate 8. In accordance with this process, a lithographic mask 10 includes a body 12 and a lithographic masking layer 14 that includes a plurality of exposed protruding features 16. In operation, lithographic mask 10 is pressed into thin film 6 to form a relief pattern (FIG. 1B). In one embodiment, features 16 are not pressed all the way into thin film 6 and, consequently, features 16 do not contact substrate 8. After the lithographic mask is removed, thin film 6 has a relief pattern that consists of compressed (or thinned) regions 18 and uncompressed regions 20 (FIG. 1C). Thin film layer 6 may be further processed (e.g., by etching) to expose substrate regions 22 underlying compressed regions 18 of thin film 6 (FIG. 1D). The resulting patterns in thin film 6 may be transferred (e.g., by lift-off processing) to a material that is deposited onto substrate 8. Alternatively, the patterns in thin film 6 may be transferred (e.g., by etching) directly into substrate 8.
As shown in FIG. 2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,905 further discloses an alignment system 24 that may be used to align lithographic mask 10 with respect to film 6. Alignment system 24 includes a stationary block 26 supporting substrate 8 and a moveable lithographic masking block 28 carrying lithographic mask 10. A controller 30 controls the operation of an X-Y positioner 32 that is configured to move lithographic masking block 28 in a plane parallel to the supporting surface of stationary block 26, and a Z positioner 34 that is configured to move lithographic masking block 28 in a direction that is orthogonal to the supporting surface of stationary block 26. An alignment mark 36 is carried by lithographic mask 10 and a complementary mark 38 is carried by substrate 18. A sensor 40 on moveable lithographic masking block 28 is coupled to alignment marks 36 and 38. Sensor 40 is configured to provide an alignment signal 42 to controller 30. In one embodiment, sensor 40 is an optical detector and alignment marks 36, 38 are configured to generate a moiré alignment pattern that enables moiré alignment techniques to be used to align lithographic mask 10 with respect to thin film 6. In another embodiment, alignment marks 36, 38 are formed from electrically conducting material, and sensor 40 is configured to detect the capacitance between alignment marks 36, 38. In this embodiment, lithographic mask 10 may be aligned with respect to thin film 6 by moving moveable lithographic masking block 28 until the capacitance between alignment marks 36, 38 is maximized.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method and a generator are described for high speed generation of an S-bit long pattern of a PRBS sequence to be periodically burst on to a bus of width S. The technique provides the calculation time being independent from the width S of the bus, and comprises calculation of all S bits of the PRBS pattern separately and in parallel by using previous PRBS patterns stored in a memory. For each bit to be generated, the generator performs a constant number N of logical operations require(by a polynomial defining the PRBS sequence.

Creation of a PRBS is usually explained and implemented as applying a polynomial to a binary sequence; it can be illustrated by applying a number of XOR (exclusive OR) operations to a binary shift register.
FIG. 1 shows a simple model for PRBS generation illustrating a shift register 10 comprising one XOR unit 12 which performs a logical operation of exclusive OR with the 11th and 9th positions of the register to introduce the result in the 0-th position of the register. The output of the register issues a PRBS bit sequence.
The process of forming the bit sequence can be described by the following polynomial having two terms (i.e., w=2, not including the "1"):P=1+X9+X11According to the above polynomial, each position ai in the PRBS bit sequence can be formed as follows, using (w−1) XOR operations:ai=ai-9⊕ai-11Using indexes nj of complexity of a polynomial:ai=ai-n0⊕ai-n1where n0=9, n1=11,we may write down the process of forming a PRBS based on any given polynomial:
                                                                        p                =                                  1                  +                                                            ∑                                              0                        ≤                        j                        <                        w                                                                                x                                              n                        j                                                                                ;                                                                                a                i                            =                                                ∑                                      0                    ≤                    j                    <                    w                                    ⊕                                                                                a                                      i                    -                                          n                      j                                                                                (        1        )
As it has been accepted by now, the greater the "w" parameter, the wider the bus (i.e., the greater the number of the "S" parameter), the more complex the PRBS generation process will be from the point of time and memory consumption.
The above statement could be explained by the fact that, for forming any next binary position of the PRBS sequence, some particular previous binary positions of the PRBS sequence should be used. Based on the conventional model of the PRBS generation, one cannot calculate a following position of the PRBS sequence before the required previous positions of the sequence become known. However, the previous positions are also to be calculated based on some pre-previous positions of the PRBS stream. Consequently, if all S positions of a rather long pattern of PRBS sequence is to be created during one and the same generator's clock, this clock would most probably include a considerable number of iterative calculations (and a chain of XORs in the implementation) which means that a high speed clock is hardly achievable for wide buses.
In case the PRBS sequence be wholly stored in the memory, so that patterns of the sequence be issued just by reading them from the memory one after another, the memory would be excessively large since the periodicity of a complex PRBS pattern is quite great and is equal to 2K−1, where K=nw-1.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,906 describes a system for synchronizing a pseudorandom binary sequence signal with a time-delayed version of the same signal without the use of delay lines or programmable counters. This is accomplished by the use of two Pseudorandom Binary Sequence [PRBS] generators for producing the same PRBS signal. Each PRBS generator incorporates as a constituent component a serial shift register with M stages with the outputs of multiple stages fed back through can exclusive-OR to provide an input to the register, thereby to produce a clocked repetitive series of said sequence signal as inputs to each register. The states of shift register are numbered n such that (n−1) clock cycles elapse before the next start state. A start detect circuit is responsive to the start state of the pseudorandom binary sequence signal of the first generator for generating a synchronizing signal at that instant to force the second PRBS generator to be at a state in the binary sequence representing a delayed point in the sequence.
The solution of U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,906 is focussed on synchronizing the sequence. It should be mentioned, however, that the principle of a serial shift register does not allow obtaining a high speed wide bus PRBS generator.

Technique for high speed PRBS generation


Methods for producing an at least partially cured layer by applying a layer including a (meth)acrylate-functional siloxane to a surface of a substrate, and irradiating the layer in a substantially inert atmosphere with a short wavelength polychromatic ultraviolet light source having a peak intensity at a wavelength of from about 160 nanometers to about 240 nanometers to at least partially cure the layer. Optionally, the layer is at a curing temperature greater than 25° C. In some embodiments, the layer has a thickness of about 0.1 micrometers to about 1 micrometer. In certain embodiments, the layer is substantially free of a photoinitiator and/or an organic solvent. In some particular embodiments, irradiating the layer with a short wavelength polychromatic ultraviolet light source takes place in an inert atmosphere including no greater than 50 ppm oxygen. The substantially cured layer may be a release layer or a low adhesion backsize (LAB).

The free radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers is known. Polymers formed by this mechanism from monomers or oligomers having acrylic, methacrylic, vinyl ester and styrenic functionalities are major constituents in many films and cured layers, including protective layers, release layers, and adhesives. Polymerization typically involves the use of an added compound (an "initiator") that initiates the reaction of and chain formation by such monomers. When free-radical initiators are used, the initiation step typically consists of two reactions. In the first reaction, the initiator undergoes cleavage or dissociation upon exposure to a source of radiation (e.g., heat, ultraviolet light, etc.), causing the formation of at least one radical species of the initiator. In a second step, this radical then combines with a first monomer to form a chain initiating species of the polymer. Once formed, this chain initiating radical propagates the polymerization reaction, incorporating other monomers into a growing polymer chain.
When electromagnetic radiation is the source of energy used to initiate and polymerize free radically reactive monomers, photoinitiators that absorb light and form radical species when exposed to energy in the ultraviolet to visible range (250 to 700 nm) are typically employed. These photoinitiators may be organic, organometallic, or inorganic compounds, but are most commonly organic in nature. Examples of commonly used organic free radical photoinitiators include benzoin and its derivatives, benzil ketals, acetophenone, acetophenone derivatives, benzophenone, and benzophenone derivatives. Alternatively, electron-beam (e-beam) radiation may be used without a photoinitiator to induce formation of radical species which can initiate chain growth and (co)polymer formation.


A filter cartridge for a filter for filtering a fluid is to be used downstream of a main filter cartridge in a filter and is provided with an inflow surface, an outflow surface, and a main flow direction extending from the inflow surface to the outflow surface. A filter body is provided that can be flowed through along the main flow direction. A filter cartridge frame supports the filter body. A seal is disposed on the filter cartridge frame and separates a filter interior of a filter into a clean side and a raw side. An adhesive connection is provided that connects the filter body and the filter cartridge frame to each other. In one configuration, the filter cartridge frame at an inflow side is provided with a grip area, wherein the grip area enables inflow of a fluid into the filter body via the grip area and manual removal of the filter cartridge.

The present invention concerns a filter, in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, as well as a filter cartridge, in particular for such a filter.
In particular in construction and agricultural machines, engine air filtration is becoming more and more important. On the one hand, more and more efficient air filters are used because higher engine performances and stricter emissions standards require an increased air throughput through the engine. On the other hand, the number of component groups that are installed by default, such as air-conditioning devices, increases. This reduces the available installation space in the vehicle. Finally, there is the desire to design vehicles smaller and more lightweight which also is done at the expense of the available installation space.
In case of the easing integration, a particularly high reliability of each component of such a filter is important for long servicing intervals. In the aforementioned fields of use, aside from the high fluid throughput, also high mechanical loads, for example, by vibrations, require a particularly stable construction of the total system.
It is an object of the invention to provide a filter cartridge, in particular a secondary element, that as a result of a robust construction provides particularly high reliability.
In addition to the outer dimensions of an air filter, the maximum possible air throughput, and the service life of a filter, the pressure loss that is caused by the air filter is a decisive parameter in regard to evaluation of the performance of an air filter.
It is a further object of the invention to configure the pressure loss of a filter cartridge for a filter with a given outer geometry as low as possible.
The aforementioned objects are solved respectively by different aspects of the embodiments of a filter to be described in the following, in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, as well as a filter cartridge, in particular for such a filter. As can be seen in the embodiments, the different aspects can be provided advantageously individually or combined in embodiments wherein, in case of combination, individual aspects enhance the advantages of other aspects and a synergistic interaction leads to an advantageous product.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An environmental monitoring device for detecting and warning users of unhealthy levels of a given substance is disclosed having more than one sensor for each substance to be detected. Each sensor for each substance detected may be positioned in more than one plane or surface on the device. The device may be capable of auto or self calibration. Methods for reading substance levels and auto calibrating are also disclosed.

In a number of industrial work environments workers are at risk of being exposed to a variety of hazardous environmental substances such as toxic or highly combustible gases, oxygen depleted environments, or radiation, etc. that pose a serious threat to worker safety. In order to keep workers safe, specialized environmental monitoring devices are used to alert workers of dangerous changes in their immediate environment.
Current practice involves using fixed point monitoring devices that monitor the environment around where they are deployed or portable monitoring devices that are carried by the workers to monitor their immediate vicinity. Fixed point monitoring devices are typically used around potential hazard locations such as confined spaces to warn workers of the environment before they enter. Portable monitoring devices are often used for personal protection. These monitoring devices may have a single sensor to monitor one specific substance or multiple sensors (typically two to six) each monitoring a distinct substance.
Given that these environmental monitoring devices are life critical, it is important the device functions properly and accurately. Current practice involves periodic bump testing and calibration of monitoring devices to guarantee proper functioning. Bump tests involve exposing the monitoring device to a measured quantity of gas and verifying that the device responds as designed, i.e., it senses the gas and goes into alarm. Calibration involves exposing the device to a measured quantity of gas and adjusting the gain of the sensors so it reads the quantity of gas accurately. The purpose of calibration is to maintain the accuracy of the monitoring device over time.
Current best practice followed by leading manufacturers of environmental monitors recommends bump testing the monitoring device before every days work and calibrating the device once at least every thirty days. While a number of manufacturers sell automated docking stations that automatically perform calibration and bump testing when a monitoring device is docked, there are still a number of disadvantages to the current practice.
A fixed bump and calibration policy, such as currently practiced, does not take into account the actual state of the sensors or the environmental monitoring device. Such a fixed policy (bump test every day and calibrate every thirty days) by its very nature is a compromise that is too stringent in many cases and too liberal in many others.
Given that the docking operation requires the user to bring the monitor to a central location, which typically is outside the work area, to perform the bump test and calibration, there is value in minimizing/optimizing this operation as much as possible without compromising safety.
Threshold limit values (TLV), namely the maximum exposure of a hazardous substance repeatedly over time which causes no adverse health effects in most people is constantly being reduced by regulatory authorities as scientific understanding and evidence grows and we accumulate more experience. Often these reductions are quite dramatic as in the case of the recent (February 2010) reduction recommended by the American Congress of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for H2S exposure. The ACGIH reduced the TLV for H2S from a time weighted average (TWA) of 10 ppm to 1 ppm TWA averaged over eight hours. The effect of such reductions puts a premium on accuracy of measurements. Current practice of a fixed calibration policy, such as calibrate every thirty days, may not be enough to guarantee the level of accuracy to meet the more stringent emerging TLV's. While a blanket reduction in the frequency of the calibration interval, i.e., from thirty days, will help to improve accuracy, it would add significant cost to the use and maintenance of the environmental monitoring devices.
One solution to this problem, pursued by some, is to use newer and more advanced technology sensors with a higher degree of accuracy and tolerance to drift that minimize the need for calibration and bump testing. While there certainly is value in this approach, the cost of these emerging sensor often preclude its widespread use, particularly in personal monitoring applications where a large number of these monitors need to be deployed.
For all the aforementioned reasons there is value in developing monitors that use current low cost sensor technologies while still meeting emerging TLV regulations and allow for a more adaptive calibration/bump policy that takes into account the state of the sensors and monitoring devices.

Multi-sense environmental monitoring device and method


An adhesive transfer device can reliably transfer by simple operation an adhesive onto a transfer target surface by either of spot-like transfer and linear transfer that are alternately selected. The adhesive transfer device has a supply reel (20) around which a transfer tape (1) having a backing material (2) provided with an adhesive (3) on one surface thereof is wound, a take-up reel (30) for taking up the transfer tape, and a transfer head (40) for transferring the adhesive onto the transfer target surface. The transfer head is pivotally supported at one end thereof and includes a first transfer section (45a) formed at a free end portion thereof and having a circular arc-shaped contact surface for mutual contact with the transfer target surface, a second transfer section (45b) having a flat transfer surface (45c) between the first transfer section and a pivot portion of the transfer head, and a spring member (46) for urging the free end portion of the transfer head toward the transfer target surface. Pressing the second transfer section onto the transfer target surface against the resilience of the spring member performs spot-like transfer of the adhesive onto the transfer target surface. Linear transfer of the adhesive onto the transfer target surface is performed by moving the first transfer section with the first transfer section pressed to the transfer target surface by the resilience of the spring member.

Conventionally, transfer tapes having an adhesive carried on one surface of a backing material have been used for pasting posters, pictures and the like or sealing envelopes. The transfer tapes are wound around a reel and set in a case of a transfer device before use.
The transfer device for transferring the adhesive from the transfer tape onto a transfer target surface includes a case having contained therein a rotatable supply reel around which a transfer tape having an adhesive provided on one surface of a backing material is wound, a rotatable take-up reel for taking up a portion of the backing material unwound from the supply reel, and a transfer head for transferring the adhesive of the transfer tape unwound from the supply reel onto the transfer target surface and having a flat transfer surface.
One example of such transfer device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication (JP-A) No. 11-227386, which can perform spot-like transfer of the adhesive of the transfer tape to the transfer target surface by bringing the transfer head into contact with a desired position on the transfer target surface and compression deforming an elastic member of the transfer head by pressing. When performing linear transfer of the adhesive to the transfer target surface, a corner edge of the transfer surface is brought into contact with the transfer target surface and the body case of the transfer device is moved in a direction parallel to the transfer target surface with the body case pressed in a direction toward the transfer target surface.
Another example of the transfer devices is disclosed in International Publication (WO-A1) No. 2006-516931, which comprises a transfer head including a plurality of rollers that are rotatable about substantially parallel axes spaced apart from one another, and a closed-loop belt that is trained about the periphery of the rollers.


There is provided a sheath for a flexible electrical contact that is incorporated within a sound reproduction device. The sheath preferably includes at least one opening at each end of the sheath to enable the sheath to be worn over the electrical contact with each opening having a thickened periphery ring. The main body of the sheath may be either a cylindrical shape or a conical shape. It is advantageous that the sheath damps a resonance vibration of the flexible electrical contact during operation of the sound reproduction device when the sheath is worn over the flexible electrical contact. The flexible electrical contact may be incorporated within a battery compartment of the sound reproduction device. A corresponding method of using the sheath is also disclosed.

The explosive growth in demand for portable digital entertainment devices has correspondingly led to an increase in demand for accessories for use with such portable digital entertainment devices. It is likely that such accessories will include, for example, earphones, headphones, speakers and other sound reproduction devices. It is likely that these sound reproduction devices are also portable and either draw power from the portable digital entertainment devices or are independently powered.
Portable power sources used by the independently powered sound reproduction devices like speakers include dry cell batteries. These speakers usually have at least one compartment/receptacle for placement of the dry cell batteries to enable the operability of the speakers. It is common practice that conductive electrical contacts are used in the at least one compartment/receptacle to enable electrical connectivity between the dry cell batteries and the speakers. It is also common for such sound reproduction devices to be able to operate using an alternative power source like an AC power source such as an electrical mains supply. In this regard, when the sound reproduction device is operating while using an AC power source, the compartment/receptacle for the dry cell batteries is usually left empty unless the dry cell batteries are able to be recharged by the AC power source when placed in the at least one compartment/receptacle.
As such, when the compartment/receptacle for the dry cell batteries is empty when the sound reproduction device is in operation, the conductive electrical contacts would generally tend to resonate and correspondingly create undesirable resonance noise. These resonance noises (vibrations) directly affect the quality of sound reproduction in a detrimental manner.
While the resonance vibrations of the conductive electrical contact may be minimized by increasing the stiffness of the material used, this may affect the ease of dry cell battery placement in the compartment/receptacle. This would be detrimental to the usability of the sound reproduction device.

Sheath for a flexible electrical contact


A technique for ranking records of a database is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query, wherein the index has a plurality of index entries, and wherein each index entry has a weight.

In the prior art, it has been well known that computer systems can be used to index databases, and to search the index to locate records qualified by queries. In recent years, a unique distributed database has emerged in the form of the World-Wide-Web (Web). The database records of the Web are in the form of pages accessible via the Internet. Here, tens of millions of pages are accessible by anyone having a communications link to the Internet.
The pages are dispersed over millions of different computer systems all over the world. Users of the Internet constantly desire to locate specific pages containing information of interest. The pages can be expressed in any number of different character sets such as English, French, German, Spanish, Cyrillic, Kanakata, and Mandarin. In addition, the pages can include specialized components, such as embedded "forms," executable programs, JAVA applets, and hypertext.
Moreover, the pages can be constructed using various formatting conventions, for example, ASCII text, Postscript files, html files, and Acrobat files. The pages can include links to multimedia information content other than text, such as audio, graphics, and moving pictures.
Search engines have been provided to allow users to locate Web pages of interest. These search engines typically have a query interface where the users specify terms and operators which they want to use to qualify pages.
There are a number of problems with locating pages using an index to the Web. First, the number of pages accessible through the Web is very large, so the number of potential qualifying pages is also going to be large. In addition, many Web users are unsophisticated, so in many instances queries are going to be loosely specified, potentially yielding many pages which may not be of interest to the users. The number of qualifying pages many number in the tens of thousands.
It is desired to minimize the number of index entries which need to be searched for query terms which are not likely to yield fruitful results, and maximize the search of the index using query terms that are more likely to locate records of interest to users.

Technique for ranking records of a database


In a new circuit arrangement for improving the signal-to-noise ratio, the entire audible frequency spectrum is divided into several abutting frequency channels. Each channel supplies the respective signal part in delayed form to an amplifier with controllable amplification. The amplifier's amplification is adjusted as a function of a comparator, so that when the audio frequency signal is below a threshold value during a specified time, the amplification of the controllable amplifier is gradually decreased to the lowest amplification value. Vice versa, when the useful signal again exceeds the threshold value, the amplification is gradually controlled upward to a maximum value.

To record or amplify sound events, it is first necessary to convert the sound events into an electrical signal by means of an electro-acoustical converter. The thus gained electrical signal is either amplified further and converted back by another electro-acoustical converter so that the amplified sound signal can be recovered, or it is first stored temporarily in a data carrier before it is converted back into a sound signal.
The electrical channel contained between the two signal converters changes the signal inasmuch as it adds at least some noise to the signal. On the one hand the noise is composed of thermal noise from the structural units, and therefore depends exclusively on temperature when an internal resistance is specified, and on the quantization noise if the electrical signal is converted or reconverted from the analog to the digital form. The signal amplitude of the noise signal cited last is also independent of the amplitude of the useful signal or the audio signal.
The components of the noise signal do not affect the ear as long as they remain significantly below the amplitude of the useful signal. The ear has the ability of fading out signals if their amplitude remains clearly below that of a signal with greater amplitude. Aside from its dependence on amplitude, this fade-out effect is frequency-dependent as well.
Many attempts have been made for that reason in the past to utilize this property of the human hearing, in order to subjectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
One of the oldest methods for the subjective improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio consists in dividing the audio-frequency into two channels, where the frequency limit is about 8 kHz, and to reduce the amplification in the channel with the higher frequency jump to zero when the useful signal therein falls below a predetermined threshold.
The unpleasant side effect of this comparatively very simple circuit rests in the significant deterioration of the tone quality, because many overtones occur in the frequency range above 8 kHz, which are uniformly cut off with this method.
Another method which also operates with only two channels, wherein the channel with the higher frequency is affected, is described in the essay "The SSM 2000 HUSH Noise Reduction System" from Analog Devices. This system operates with a variable limiting value which, when exceeded, also controls the high-frequency channel disturbed by the noise.
This system also affects the tone quality audibly in an undesired manner, aside from the fact that pumping effects can occur if the transient period is not fast enough.
With the noise filter according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,357 the lower and the upper frequency ranges are transmitted without change, while the middle frequency range is assigned to a multichannel system. This multichannel system contains a number of narrow-band band-pass filters which cover the entire frequency range between the low-pass and the high-pass filter. Each of the narrow-band band-pass filters is followed by a linear amplifier, whose amplification ratio is adjustable. The control of the amplification takes place with the help of a noise tracker which samples the composite signal at the input of all band-pass filters, and equally controls all of the narrow-band channels.
Control of the amplification in the known system includes defining a gap in the vicinity of the zero passage of the audio signal, during which the signal is zero at the output. In this way input signals falling within this gap are not amplified. Sinusoidal and sine-shaped signals whose peak-to-peak amplitude is greater than this dead zone are allowed to pass, but change into a clear step or a bend because of the missing amplification in the vicinity of the zero passage. The nonlinear distortion created in this manner is compensated by a further narrow-band filter at the output of the amplifier.
The cost is comparatively high and the system furthermore produces additional harmonics which become noticeable as an increased disturbance factor, similar to push-pull amplifier stages with transitional distortions.
A further problem with this system are the transient effects, which are known to last longer the narrower the band of the filter is. The results are transitional distortions which are just as undesirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,157 describes a noise suppression system wherein the audio signal is also divided into several narrow-band channels, and the respective channel is switched on or off as a function of amplitude of the channel signal.
Such a hard switching system tends to have audible pumping effects.

Circuit arrangement for improving the signal-to-noise ratio


A synthetic osteoinductive porous biomaterial is provided comprising: a network of interconnected micropores, wherein the microporosity is 23% by volume or more; wherein the surface free energy of the biomaterial is 19 mJ/m or more; and the mean interconnection diameter and the mean interconnection diameter and the surface free energy are chosen to provide a permeability resulting from the micropores of 0.206 nm2 or greater and a capillary pressure difference in water of 3.7 kPa or more. The biomaterial contains hydroxyapatite and silicon.

When a bone-replacement material is implanted in patient, the formation of living bone may be induced at the surface of the bone. This is termed osteoconduction. In addition, living bone may in certain circumstances form within the material itself, penetrating the structure of the bone-replacement material. This is termed osteoinduction.
When osteoinduction occurs, bone is formed at a non-bony (i.e. ectopic) site. Osteoinduction is thought to be beneficial because, over time, the growth of bone penetrating a material can result in the more resilient integration of the bone-replacement material into already existing bone at, for example, the site of an osseous defect. However, many osteoconductive biomaterials do not exhibit osteoinduction.
Osteoinduction is promoted and/or accelerated by osteoinductive materials. In other words, osteoinductive materials are capable of inducing bone growth and the formation of bone in non-osseous tissue. When implanted in patients, osteoinductive materials are of significant therapeutic value because they promote and accelerate bone growth. For example in patients with compromised bone biology, the promotion and acceleration of bone repair can lead to shorter fracture-repair times and a lower incidence of non-unions or pseudo-arthroses.
To date, the most popular way of achieving osteoinduction in a biomaterial has been to include powerful cytokine proteins in a therapeutic form. The best known and most widely used of these proteins are the Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP), particularly BMP-2 and BMP-7. These have been provided as recombinant human proteins (as present for example in the 'InFuse'® and 'OP-1' bone replacement materials currently on the market), or as gels, powders or fibres derived from highly processed cadaver human bone and generically referred to as Demineralised Bone Matrix (DBM).
The disadvantages of using these proteins are well-known. While Bone Morphogenetic Protein products are certainly effective in their ability to promote rapid bone growth in preclinical studies, the use of recombinant human Bone Morphogenetic Protein products can also result in significant negative side-effects, such as uncontrolled bone resorption, runaway bone formation and, from a financial viewpoint, extremely high costs per therapeutic unit. Numerous clinical adverse events have been recorded using these highly-potent therapies, some resulting in major harm to patients. The mechanisms behind the occurrence of these adverse events are not currently well-understood.
In addition, the performance of products derived from Demineralised Bone Matrix is known to be highly variable and very donor-dependant. One solution to this would be to batch mix products from different donors. However, as all Demineralised Bone Matrix products have to maintain lot traceability, batch mixing is not possible. In addition, the levels of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (from which the Demineralised Bone Matrix's osteoinductive properties are thought to derive) are very low and below established therapeutic thresholds for predictable, repeatable performance. As a result of these drawbacks, Demineralised Bone Matrix products have not demonstrated equivalent performance to current, commonly-used therapies in other equivalent orthopaedic and neurosurgical fields.
Another disadvantage of conventional Bone Morphogenetic Protein products is that they are not localised to a persistent scaffold which supports bone growth. Specifically, Bone Morphogenetic Protein products are typically provided as liquids which have to be adsorbed onto suboptimal scaffolds. The unpredictability of the absorption process can result in insufficient adsorption of the proteins, followed by implant compression and extrusion of the active agent into nerve spaces, causing severe harm or disability once bone formation has eventually been induced.
An alternative approach to relying on intentionally-introduced Bone Morphogenetic Proteins to provide osteoinductive activity is to provide a material having intrinsic osteoinductivity. The material is typically a scaffold material that itself promotes and accelerates bone growth without having to be treated with Bone Morphogenetic Proteins before being implanted into a patient.
One approach to provide an osteoinductive material has been to select a material that is resorbable. For example, the dissolution of calcium and phosphate from a calcium phosphate material are thought by some to be the key to providing an osteoinductive material. This approach is extended in, for example, PCT/NL2006/000210, which suggests that the dissolution of certain trace elements from a calcium phosphate material further promotes osteoinduction.
Another example of material that is claimed to have intrinsic osteoinductivity is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,913. This material is "bioinert", but, according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,913, has a surface geometry with a series of concavities that is said to concentrate Bone Morphogenetic Proteins absorbed from circulatory fluid in order to induce bone formation. However, these types of materials have also not yet resulted in strong in vivo promotion of bone growth.
As a result of at least some of the drawbacks with the prior art, the inventors of the present invention have set about to provide a material having intrinsic osteoinductivity but without relying on the sometimes unpredictable dissolution of trace elements or manipulation of surface geometry to provide osteoinduction.
EP 0951441 describes the synthesis of a dense osteoconductive silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite material.


Disclosed aspects include a content addressable memory device comprising at least two memory banks connectable to a global search line. Each memory bank comprises at least two content addressable memory cells. Each content addressable memory cell can store one bit. Each content addressable memory cell is coupled to a respective local search line. Aspects include a bank connection circuitry configured for coupling the global search line to the local search lines in dependence of a bank prediction signal line. The bank connection circuitry of the content addressable memory device may comprise bank hold circuitry for storing a search value transmitted by the global search line.

The present invention generally relates to memory architecture, and more specifically, to methods and systems for content addressable memory (CAM).
Content addressable memory, also called "associative memory", is a type of storage device, which includes comparison logic with each bit of storage. A data value is broadcasted to all words of the storage and compared with the data values in storage. Words that match are flagged in some way. Subsequent operations can then work on flagged words, e.g., read the flagged words out one at a time or write to certain bit positions in all of the flagged words.
Digital integrated circuits including content addressable memory may be used for a diverse number of electronic applications, from simple devices such as wristwatches to the most complex computer systems.
For mobile devices, power consumption of digital integrated circuits is of interest.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An implant is provided which has an upper member which pivots and is locked to a lower member and engages adjacent vertebrae and have surfaces which are ceramic and will allow bone growth into such surfaces and thus bonding with the adjacent vertebra. The opposing and bearing surfaces of the upper and lower member are coated with ceramic zirconium for long wear. Since the upper and lower members are captured, the implant device herein cannot be forced out of place by spinal tension. Particularly for the lower spinal vertebrae, the option of securing the upper and lower members with screws is facilitated. A vertebral replacement system using components in common with the implant is used to make a spaced connection between two pivoting points and is used to replace badly damaged vertebrae where the load bearing portion of the vertebra will be insufficient to allow normal support. It is expected that the implant and vertebral replacement will have several sizes corresponding to the spinal cross sectional shape being bonded to, and that exact dimensioning will be obtained through tomographic scans to enable rapid final sculpting of a highly customized implant.

Currently the main method used for spinal vertebra damage is the spine fusion. Fusion is an undesired method of dealing with the problem and can cause damage to adjacent vertebrae since it is the adjacent vertebra which must make up for the angular displacement lost due to the fusion of any two fused vertebrae.
The objective in any spine repair includes maintenance of safety to the spinal cord and its nerve roots and that of supporting the body and head in a variety of postures during normal movement of the arms, legs, and torso. Fusion will not enable the second objective to be fully realize. Coupled with the further damage which can occur in repairing vertebrae with fusion, fusion comes nowhere near accomplishing both objectives.
A wide variety of devices have been proposed for use in implantation into the spinal column. There are several main drawbacks for the devices currently in use. One of the most important shortcomings of the currently used implant devices involves their ability to separate when the spinal column is either placed under tension (as in doing pull ups or inversion therapy) or when loading is lessened. Under either of these conditions, one half of the load device could either be forced from its position in the spinal column, or at best the two load members could fail to re-mate. The result would be the necessity to either re-enter the patient for adjustment or an exterior attempt to get the load members to re-mate.
Other prostheses have attempted to imitate the intervertebral fribrocartilaginous discs. Bonding and support which imitates the human action of such discs is not realistically achievable. Again, since these soft discs can always slip out of their place, a disastrous breakdown of such a system is always possible.
It is clear that there is a severe need for a superior surgical joint replacement device; particularly, a replacement for a dislocated, ruptured or damaged vertebra due to spondylolysis. An estimated annual incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI), and its associate vertebrae injuries, is between 30 and 40 cases per million population in the U.S. Based on the 1992 census population of 254 million, these rates correspond to 7,600 and 10,000 new cases each year.
The number of people in these United States who are alive today and have SCI has been estimated to be between 721 and 906 per million population. This corresponds to between 183,000 and 203,000 persons. Spinal fusion is frequently used as a treatment for lower back pain and intervertebral disk degeneration, and the use of internal fixation has increased the ability of a surgeon to obtain a solid fusion. There is increased concern, however, that the biomechanical rigidity of the fusion and internal fixation may predispose adjacent spinal motion segments to rapid deterioration. Long-term follow up of patients undergoing a successful fusion indicates that 50 percent will continue to have complaints of back pain. As in other joints, alternatives to fusion of a spinal motion segment have inherent advantages.
Researchers have attempted to design a successful intervertebral disk arthroplasty device for years. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,378 & 4,874,389 discloses an artificial disk having a pair of end bodies with a medical synthetic polymeric intermediate member held between the end bodies. The intermediate member apparently provides some flexibility. Somewhat similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,932,975 & 5,002,576 discloses an artificial disk having end cover plates separated by a closed corrugated tube which is filled with a visco-elastic material, like a body-compatible silicone or elastomer. Other approaches are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,349,921, 4,714,469, 4,759,769, 4,863,476, 4,936,848, 4,997,432, 5,047,055, 5,071,437, 5,306,308, 4,349,921 and PCT patent WO 92/14423 discloses an artificial disk having convex superior and inferior surfaces corresponding to the adjacent vertebrae surfaces and being formed from two components to allow flexion and extension between the two components. U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,769 discloses and artificial disk having upper and lower members hinged together at the rear portion and biased apart at the front portion by stiff coil springs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,476 discloses a two portion spinal implant that is expandable so as to increase the spacing between the adjacent vertebrae. U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,848 shows an artificial disk having a spherical shape that is hollow and rigid. The sphere wall contains fenestration, open to the sphere cavity, for placing bone fragments therein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,432 shows an artificial disk having plates separated by a sliding core body normally consisting of a synthetic material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,055 discloses an artificial disk made of hydrogel material having a specified compressive strength and, when hydrated having the shape of a human disk. U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,437 shows an artificial disk having two rigid end-plates separated by, and connected to an elastomeric core material having flexure properties similar to those of a human disk. Finally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,595,663, 5,037,438, 5,425,773 and Re, 32,449 discloses the use of ceramic material, including Zirconia, for applications such a joint replacement. There are certain basic criteria a successful intervertebral disk arthroplasty device must fulfill.
Fatigue strength of the materials used in any joint replacement is of utmost importance. Since the average age of patients undergoing fusion is 36 years old, the life span of the device should exceed 51 years. Assuming the average patient walks 2 miles per day, with a stride of 2 feet=5,280 strides per day * 365 days=1,927,200 strides per year * 51 years=98,287,200 cycles+400,000 significant bends in the spine. A conservative estimate of the number of spinal loading cycles over 51 year period would be 98,687,200 cycles. To provide a safety factor, round off at 100 million cycles. A device for implant into the Human spine should be designed to have a fatigue limit of 100 million cycles. In addition to such durability, the material for a successful intervertebral disk arthroplasty device must be biocompatible. The wear of the implant must be kept to a minimum. Although the implant should be small enough to be contained within the anatomic confines of normal disk space, it is recognized that it may be advantageous to increase the prosthetic disk height in order to over distract the disk space to unload the joints posteriorly.
The present invention satisfies all these criteria.


A method of mounting a semiconductor chip in which an IC chip is mounted by filling a gap between the chip and a substrate with adhesive which functions as an underfill. The fillet of the underfill is made to have a preferable shape. To accomplish this, a head IC chip provided with bumps is placed on a suspension that is covered with the underfill adhesive and is provided with pads. A bonding tool presses the head IC chip and applies ultrasonic oscillation to the head IC chip, so that the bumps are properly bonded to the pads. When the head IC chip is pressed and subjected to ultrasonic oscillation, the ultraviolet rays 108 are emitted so as to harden the peripheral portion 151a of the adhesive 151 spread out between the head IC chip 11 and the suspension 12.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of mounting a semiconductor chip and an apparatus for mounting a semiconductor chip.
The method of mounting a semiconductor chip can be applied to mounting of a head IC chip 11 of a hard disk device 10 to a suspension 12, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, or to mounting of an IC chip 31 of a printed circuit board unit 30 to a substrate 32, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the hard disk device 10 has a hard disk 16 that rotates at high speed in a hermetically sealed housing 15, and a head slider assembly 19 attached to the top end of an arm 18. The head slider assembly 19 comprises a head slider 20 and the head IC chip 11 mounted on the suspension 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The head slider 20 has a magnetic head 21 formed by a thin film forming technique. The head IC chip 11 functions to control the magnetic head 21 by amplifying a weak signal read by the magnetic head 21, for instance. As shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 2, the head IC chip 11 has Au bumps 22 on its lower surface joined to Au pads 24 at the edge of a wiring pattern 23.
The printed circuit board unit 30 comprises a multi chip module 36 provided with a heat sink, a memory socket 38, and an I/O connector 39, all mounted on a mother board 35, as shown in FIG. 3A. The multi chip module 36 has a plurality of IC chips 31 mounted on the substrate 32, as shown in FIG. 3B. The head IC chip 31 has Au bumps 42 on its lower surface bonded to Au pads 43 formed on the substrate 32. The head IC chip 31 is also bonded onto the substrate 32 by underfill 44.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate a method of producing a conventional head slider assembly. The head IC chip 11 has Au bumps 51 on its lower surface. The suspension 12 has Au pads 61 on its upper surface. This head slider assembly is manufactured in the following manner.
First, the suspension 12 is fixed onto a stage 70. A predetermined amount of insulating adhesive 71 functioning as "underfill" is then applied to the upper surface of the suspension 12, using a precision dispenser (not shown). The head IC chip 11 is picked up by vacuum suction of a tool 75 having a suction hole 76, and is moved onto the suspension 12. The tool 75 then presses the head IC chip 11 by a force F, and ultrasonic vibration of several μm amplitude is applied to the head IC chip 11 for several seconds, as indicated by an arrow B. By doing so, the Au bumps 51 are bonded to the Au pads 61. The vacuum suction of the tool 75 is then stopped, so that the tool 75 is separated from the head IC chip 11. The suspension 12 is then moved to a heating furnace 80, so that the adhesive 71 is hardened by heat. Here, underfill 72 is formed, and the head IC chip 11 is bonded to the suspension 12 by the underfill 72. Thus, the head slider assembly 19 is completed.
The above method of producing a conventional head slider assembly exhibits at least the following disadvantages:
1. The shape of the fillet of the underfill is unstable.
The adhesive 71 functioning as the underfill is circular on the suspension 60, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5A. As the tool 75 presses the head IC chip 11, the adhesive 71 is pressed by the lower surface of the head IC chip 11, and is radially spread out. The spread adhesive 71 reaches the periphery of the lower surface of the head IC chip 11, and forms a fillet 90. The shape of the fillet 90 is determined by the spread state of the adhesive 71 to functions as the underfill. The spread state of the adhesive 71 varies with the applied amount and the applied position of the adhesive 71. Depending on the situation, the adhesive 71 may significantly overflow on the upper surface of the suspension 12, as indicated by reference numeral 91 in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
As the hard disk device becomes smaller, the width W1 of the suspension 12 becomes smaller. On the other hand, as more functions are added, the head IC chip 11 becomes larger in the direction of L1 shown in FIG. 5A. Accordingly, the extra portion 92 outside the mounted head IC chip 11 on the suspension 12 becomes smaller in a width W2. Furthermore, the large amount of overflow of the adhesive has an adverse effect on the on the floating characteristic of the head slider 20 with respect to a hard disk.
As for the multi-chip module 36 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3B, the large amount of overflow of the adhesive on the upper surface of the substrate 32 often hinders the mounting of other components.
2. The overflowing adhesive sticks to the tool 75.
Depending on the applied amount and the applied position of the adhesive 71, the adhesive 71 overflows onto the upper surface of the head IC chip 11 and sticks to the top end of the tool 75, as indicated by reference numeral 93 in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
When the adhesive 71 sticks to the top end of the tool 75, the suction operation of the tool 75 becomes unstable. Therefore, the top end of the tool 75 requires cleaning often. However, it is troublesome to clean the top end of the tool 75 every time the mounting of one head IC chip 11 is completed.
The applied adhesive 71 is applied in a circular pattern and spreads radially, when seen from above. Accordingly, the adhesive 71 overflows from the sides of the head IC chip 11, and reaches the upper surface of the head IC chip 11.
3. The transmission rate of ultrasonic waves from the tool 75 to the head IC chip 11 is low.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the tool 75 is brought into contact directly with the head IC chip 11. The tool 75 is made of stainless steel, and the head IC chip 11 is made of silicon. The friction coefficient μ1 between the tool 75 and the IC chip 11 is in the range of 0.5 to 0.7, which is relatively low. Accordingly, the transmission rate of ultrasonic waves from the tool 75 to the head IC chip 11 is low, and the bonding of the Au bumps 51 to the Au pads 61 requires a long period of time.
4. The head IC chip often deviates at the time of mounting, and the deviation results in defective mounting.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the tool 75 and the head IC chip 11 are in contact with each other. Due to the slight orientation of the end surface 75a of the tool 75, the head IC chip 11 slightly deviates from the initial position shown in FIG. 7A in one direction of the ultrasonic oscillation (in the X1 direction, for instance) every time the tool 75 ultrasonically oscillates. Depending on the situation, the Au bumps 51 might slip off the Au pads 61, as shown in FIG. 7B, resulting in defective bonding.
In the multi-chip module 36 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the pads formed on the substrate 32 each have a rectangular shape, as indicated by reference numeral 43A in FIG. 8. However, the longitudinal direction of the horizontally aligned pads 43A in FIG. 8 is equivalent to the width direction of the vertically aligned pads 43A in FIG. 8. Accordingly, the pads on the substrate 32 are not always effective in preventing the head IC chip 11 from deviating when the tool 75 ultrasonically oscillates.
In view of this, the present invention is directed to providing a semiconductor chip mounting method and device, in which the above problems are eliminated.


Techniques for determining a temperature measurement of a junction of a power switch are described. A current can be applied to a control node, e.g., gate terminal, of the power switch, such as a field-effect transistor (FET) or an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), while the power switch is in a steady-state region in which a gate-to-source voltage (e.g., FET) or a gate-to-emitter voltage (e.g., IGBT) of the power switch is constant. While in the steady-state region, the temperature measurements can be performed, thereby ensuring accuracy of the measurement.

In high density power converter or inverter applications, it can be important to know the instantaneous chip or junction temperature. The instantaneous chip or junction temperature can be used for temperature monitoring and fast over-temperature protection. For new power switch technology, e.g., field-controlled power switches, such as silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN), external temperature sensors may not be appropriate due to size, costs, tolerances, or junction temperature (Tj) measurement propagation delay.

Techniques for junction temperature determination of power switches

Analog Devices International Unlimited Company


A method and system for translating two dimensional (2D) mapping into a three dimensional (3D) derived model. The method and system receive electrical measurements from a plurality of electrodes of the basket catheter of an anatomical region of interest. The method and system receive a 2D map grid based on the electrodes and corresponding spines of the basket catheter. The 2D map grid includes a location of at least one focus of an arrhythmic rotor. Further, the method and system generate a 3D derived model of the anatomical region of interest that includes the basket catheter and display a 3D location of the focus the arrhythmic rotor on the 3D derived model based on the 2D map grid.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to systems and methods for translating a two dimensional (2D) mapping into a three dimensional (3D) derived model of an anatomic region of interest of a patient.
An arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat occurs when the electrical activity of the heart of a patient is irregular or is faster or slower than normal. The electrical activity of the heart may be measured by a catheter with electrodes positioned against the heart wall. Conventionally, these measurements may be used to create a 2D map of the electrical activity based on the positions of the electrodes relative to the catheter. Further, based on the 2D map and electrical measurements a rotor can be identified. A rotor is a foci of an arrhythmic event. Once the rotor is identified, a clinician can treat the arrhythmia by positioning a medical tool, such as an ablation catheter, at the rotor. However, there is a need to translate the position of the rotor from the 2D map based on the electrode position of the catheter to a 3D position based on the anatomy of the patient, such as the heart.

Methods and systems to translate two dimensional mapping into a three dimensional derived model


Disclosed is a charging system for both plug-in charging systems and contactless charging systems, having a simple electrical configuration, and capable of achieving miniaturization and weight saving. The charging system includes a secondary cell charged via first/second coils of a transformer to which electrical power is supplied from a first power supply via a plug-in connector, and a third coil supplied with electrical power from a second power supply, a relative position of which to the second coil of the transformer is variable, and which can be magnetically coupled to the second coil when the second coil approaches the third coil, wherein the secondary cell is charged via magnetic coupling between first/second coils when charging the secondary cell by the first power supply, and the secondary cell is charged via magnetic coupling between the third coil and second coils when charging the secondary cell by the second power supply.

In the past, a variety of types of charging system for charging the secondary cell of, for example, an electric vehicle have been developed. Among these systems, as a typical charging system, there can be cited a charging system mounted on a vehicle and performing charging while being connected to a power supply using a plug. Hereinafter, this charging system is referred to as a "plug-in charging system." The plug-in systems can be divided into normal charging devices and fast charging device having a larger power capacity than in the normal charge depending on the power capacity.
In PTL 1, a core and a coil on the secondary side of an isolation transformer and a rectifier circuit are used in common by a normal charging circuit and a fast charging circuit to thereby achieve miniaturization and cost reduction of the charging device while corresponding with both of the normal charging system and the fast charging system. In the case of this plug-in system, although charge can be performed in any place where a power supply is provided, since the operator is required to connect the plug and the power supply to each other when performing the charge, there is a problem that the operation becomes troublesome. In particular, in PTL1, there is required the operation of mounting a dummy core to a detachable transformer section when performing the normal charge, and detaching the dummy core and then mounting a fast charging paddle (provided with a primary coil and a detachable core) when performing the fast charge.
In contrast, in recent years, there has been proposed a charging system, which performs the charge in a contactless manner without requiring to connect the plug and the power supply to each other when performing the charge. Hereinafter, this charging system is referred to as a "contactless charging system." However, since the contactless charging system uses a complicated device, and requires a dedicated charging device, there is a problem that the charging place is restricted compared to the plug-in charging system.
As a charging system for solving the problem, PTL 2 has been disclosed. In this charging system, there is disclosed a charging system corresponding with both of the plug-in charging system and the contactless charging system in a first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of PTL 2. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 2 of PTL 2, both of the two systems are contactless charging systems, and in an embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 , both of the two systems are plug-in charging systems. According to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of PTL 2, a plug-in charging circuit and a contactless charging circuit are provided to thereby achieve enhancement of the convenience so that the charge can be performed using either of the charging devices.


A system detects, identifies, and optically tracks a jammer by calculating position and velocity information associated with the jammer based on jamming signals received at one or more antennas, and utilizing the position and velocity information to control one or more cameras. The cameras capture a series of images that include the calculated location, the expected movement of the jammer, or both. The system analyzes the images to extract motion information associated with one or more objects identified in the images. The system utilizes the calculated position and velocity information and the extracted motion information to determine which of the identified object in the images is the jammer. Further, the jammer motion information extracted from the images may be utilized to update the calculated position and velocity information associated with the jammer, to improve the overall accuracy of the tracking of the jammer.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to GNSS systems, and in particular, to GNSS systems that perform jammer detection.
Background Information
Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) provide ranging signals that are utilized in applications that determine global positions for surveys, global positions for delivery trucks, global positions for aircraft at and/or approaching airports, and so forth. As is well known, GNSS antennas receive signals from a plurality of GNSS satellites and associated GNSS receivers determine positions based on the timing of codes and carriers in the received GNSS satellite signals.
Increasingly, jamming devices are utilized to transmit jamming signals to intentionally disrupt position calculation operations performed by particular GNSS receivers. A portable jammer may be used, for example, on a delivery truck, to transmit jamming signals to the GNSS antenna located on the truck, in order to occasionally disrupt operations that track the movement of the truck. The jamming signals may also unintentionally disrupt the operations of other GNSS receivers in the same area. For example, the truck may be on a highway traveling by an airport and may disrupt the operation of GNSS receivers at and/or near the airport that are utilized to determine global positions of the aircraft.
The jamming signals have the same or near the same frequencies as the GNSS satellite signals. Further, the received jamming signals have a much higher power than the received GNSS satellite signals because the distance between the jamming device and the GNSS antenna is much shorter than the distance between the GNSS satellites and the GNSS antenna. Thus, the jamming signals overwhelm the GNSS satellite signals at the GNSS receivers, such that the GNSS receivers may not be able to track the codes in the received GNSS satellite signals.
Currently, GNSS jammer detectors determine position and velocity information associated with a jammer based on the detected direction of the received jamming signals, typically with an accuracy of approximately 5 m at a 200 m distance. While the jammer detector systems provides useful information as to the general location of and/or route traveled by the jammer, it does not provide sufficient information to readily identify the jammer.

GNSS jammer detection system with optical tracking and identification


A cathode ray tube includes a panel having a substantially flat outer surface and an inner curved surface with a phosphor screen. The panel has a substantially rectangular effective screen portion with two long sides parallel to each other, two short sides parallel to each other and four rounded edges interconnecting each long side and the neighboring short side. The effective screen portion is structure such that a first line V1 interconnecting centers of the long sides, a second line H1 interconnecting centers of the short sides and a third line D1 interconnecting centers of the rounded edges opposite to each other meet at a point. The effective screen portion has a first thickness Tv at the centers of the long sides, a second thickness Th at the centers of the short sides, a third thickness Td at the centers of the edges and a fourth thickness Tc at the meeting point of the all three lines V1, H1 and D1. A shadow mask is disposed within the panel so that the shadow mask faces the inner curved surface of the panel. The shadow mask has a curvature corresponding to the inner curved surface of the panel. The ratio of the second thickness Th to the third thickness Td while subtracting the fourth thickness Tc from each thickness satisfies the following condition: 0.75(Th−Tc)/Td−Tc)≦0.85, and the ratio of the first thickness Tv to the thickness Td while subtracting the fourth thickness Tc from each thickness satisfies the following condition: 0.75≦(Tv−Tc)/(Td−Tc)≦0.85.

Generally, a faceplate panel for CRTs has a convex-shaped lens with curved inner and outer surfaces. The convex lens-shaped panel is advantageous in various aspects such as convenience in formation, stability in strength and adaptability for shadow mask application.
However, to the eye of the viewer, it is desirable that the screen image be displayed substantially flat. For this purpose, several attempts have been made to form the inner and outer surfaces of the faceplate panel with a flat shape while maintaining normal display characteristics of the CRT. It is found that when a flat panel is employed for the display screen problems occur in both the convergence characteristics of electron beams and in the strength of a shadow mask. For instance, because the flat-shaped inner surface of the panel is naturally formed with a flat phosphor screen, it becomes difficult to deflect three electron beams of red R, green G and blue B on correct phosphors on the phosphor screen. Furthermore, because the shadow mask facing the flat-shaped inner surface of the panel should also be flat, a desirable shadow mask strength cannot be achieved using the common shadow mask forming technique.
In addition, there is a problem with the flat-panel CRT from the standpoint of the viewer. When the viewer watches a monitor with a flat-shaped panel, the viewer feels that the screen image is sunken at its center portion while protruded at its peripheral portion.
Therefore, it is preferably that the outer surface of the panel is flat whereas the inner surface of the panel is curved.
In such a faceplate panel, as the overall curvature radius of the inner curved surface of the panel becomes smaller, the panel is more easily produced and the shadow mask has a more stable structure capable of reducing a doming phenomenon. However, when the curvature radius falls short of a minimum effective value, the peripheral portion of the panel bears an undesirably large thickness and this results in poor production efficiency as well as high production cost. Furthermore, the transmission rate of the peripheral portion becomes poor due to its large thickness, causing brightness failure.
In order to overcome such problems, various techniques are proposed for a one-sided flat panel CRT application. For example, some techniques are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 6-36710 and No. 6-644926. However, the technical details are not specified for preserving the structural strength of the shadow mask which should be re-designed pursuant to the curvature radii varying at different positions of the inner curved surface of the panel.
Furthermore, the prior art does not discriminate the desired thickness ratios of a diagonal portion of the panel to the peripheral portion for minimizing distortion of the screen image. Therefore, when the CRT panel is manufactured on the basis of the above-identified techniques, the aforementioned problems remain unsolved.
In the usual sized flat-panel 21-inch, 25-inch and 29-inch CRTs, the thickness ratios of the peripheral portion of the panel to the center portion are 3.13, 2.91 and 2.72, respectively. These ratios are so high that they result in poor production efficiency as well as brightness failure.


A hydroforming seal and method includes a nozzle having both a radially expandable O-ring seal and a conical tapered surface for separately sealing with the bore of the tube. The O-ring seal is expanded to seal the tube and pressurized fluid is added sufficient to support the interior of the tube while the dies are closed so that the tube is thereby bent and forced into the die cavity without collapse or injury to the tube. The O-ring seal is then contracted to a non-sealing position and the conical tapered surface provides metal-to-metal sealing while the higher hydroforming pressure is applied to expand the tube. The nozzle also has a radial shoulder that engages the end face of the tube so that advance of the nozzle feeds the tube into the die.

It is well known in the prior art that a tube may be hydroformed to a desired complex tubular shape. The tube is placed between a pair of hydroforming dies having cavities which define the desired resultant shape of the tube. Pressurized hydroforming fluid is then introduced into the tube to expand the tube outwardly into the cavities.
It often occurs that the complex shape of the cavities require that the tube be preformed to an approximate shape of the cavities before the tube is placed into the dies. The prior art has recognized that the pre-forming of the tube can be avoided by positioning the tube between the dies and then filling the tube with fluid under a modest pressure so that the dies can then be closed and the pressure of the fluid residing within the dies will provide sufficient internal support to the tube walls to thereby prevent undesired collapse or other injury to the tube as the tube is forced into the cavities by the closing dies. Thus, although the pre-filling of the tube before closing the dies can avoid the necessity for pre-forming the tube, the hydroforming seals can be subjected to increased stress and wear which can cause an increase in machine down time for seal maintenance.
It is also well known that the complexity of the cavities in the hydroforming dies can result in the need to axially feed the tube into the die cavity as the hydroforming pressures are increased to expand the tube outwardly into the conformance with the complex shapes of the die cavity. This axial feeding under high pressure condition can also cause stress and wear on the seals.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide further improvements in hydroforming seals and methods in order to achieve further improvements in the reliability of the sealing of the ends of the tubes as well as improved cycle times for the filling of the tube, and the closing of the dies, and the introduction of high pressure fluid and axial feeding of the tube into the complex shape of the dies.
A hydroforming seal and method includes a nozzle for insertion into the tube, the nozzle being a radially expandable O-ring seal for sealing with the bore of the tube, a conical tapered surface for sealing with the bore of the tube, and a radial shoulder for engagement with the end of the tube. The O-ring seal is expanded to seal the tube and pressurized fluid is added sufficient to support the interior of the tube while the dies are closed and the tube is thereby bent and forced into the die cavity without collapse or injury to the tube by the closing dies. The O-ring seal is then contracted to a non-sealing position and the conical tapered surface provides metal-to-metal sealing while the hydroforming pressure is applied to expand the tube outwardly into the die cavities and the end of the tube is axially fed into the die by the engagement of the radial shoulder with the end face of the tube.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Two mode hydroform seal apparatus and method


Two flow passages are provided for allowing the passage of air sent out from a blower in the same direction individually and discharging the air to outside. An ion generation unit for generating positive ions by only corona discharge is arranged at one flow passage, and an ion generation unit for generating electrostatic atomized water particles with negative polarity by electrostatic atomizing phenomenon is arranged at the other flow passage. A throttle is provided at the one flow passage for making the wind speed of air flowing through the one flow passage faster than the wind speed of air flowing through the other flow passage. Since positive ions having shorter lifetime are emitted more than electrostatic atomized water particles with negative polarity having longer lifetime, the balance between positive and negative polarities in the air can be sustained over a long period of time.

An ion generator includes a blower, a housing having two flow passages for allowing the passage of air sent out from the blower in the same direction individually and discharging the air to outside, and ion generation units attached to a channel wall of each of the flow passages respectively and generating ions. The ion generator discharges the ions (positive ions and negative ions) generated by the ion generation units and the air flowing through the flow passages to an indoor space so that bacteria floating in air is eliminated and virus is inactivated (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-80425). The ion generation unit has a needle-shaped discharge electrode and a voltage application part which applies a voltage to the discharge electrode, and ions are generated by corona discharge from the discharge electrode.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-33293 describes that an electrostatic atomization apparatus (ion generator) is configured such that a discharge electrode is coupled to one surface of a Peltier element where the one surface absorbs heat due to an applied voltage and the other surface emits heat; a heat sink with a radiation fin is coupled to the other surface of the Peltier element; the discharge electrode is cooled by a voltage applied to the Peltier element; the moisture in air is condensed on the tip of the discharge electrode; an electrostatic atomizing phenomenon occurs on the tip of the discharge electrode by a voltage applied to the discharge electrode; and then electrostatic atomized water particles with negative polarity are generated.

Ion generator provided with ion generation units at respective air flow passages