According to one embodiment, a direct methanol fuel cell includes an anode having a current collector and a catalyst layer formed on the current collector, a cathode having a current collector and a catalyst layer formed on the current collector, and an electrolyte membrane placed between the catalyst layers of the anode and the cathode. The anode-side catalyst layer includes a catalyst and a sheet-like organic compound consisting of a plurality of molecules having an aliphatic cyclic skeleton in which two carbon atoms are bonded to a cationic functional group and an anionic functional group, respectively. The sheet-like organic compound has a layered branch structure in which the molecules are layered by bonding different ions of the aliphatic cyclic skeleton to one another so that the molecules are displaced from one another, and a plurality of units each having the layered branch structure are present in the catalyst layer.

A direct methanol fuel cell includes an anode to which an aqueous methanol solution is fed as a fuel, a cathode to which an oxidant is fed, and a proton conducting membrane placed between the anode and the cathode. The anode and the cathode each have a current collector for electron conduction and a catalyst layer formed on the current collector. The proton conducting membrane is placed between the respective catalyst layers. Each catalyst layer is made of a mixture of a catalyst and a perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid polymer such as Nafion (trade name, manufactured by DuPont). The perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid polymer in each catalyst layer has high chemical stability and functions to hold the catalyst. It is also used as a component resin to form a proton conducting membrane serving as an electrolyte membrane. Each catalyst layer also has catalyst fine particles such as platinum or platinum-ruthenium particles having a particle size of a few nanometers, supported on carbon particles, in which the oxidation or reduction of methanol or oxidant (e.g., air) is carried out.
However, since the perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid resin has a cluster structure in which hydrophilic groups are clustered together, it can swell with the aqueous methanol solution. The swelling of the perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid resin causes blocking of passages for methanol diffusion so that methanol is inhibited from diffusing to and reaching the catalyst surface. It also causes degradation of the catalyst. In addition, the three-phase interface formed between the perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid resin phase, the catalyst phase and the fuel phase (methanol phase) is destroyed by the swelling of the resin so that the proton conductivity at the three-phase interface is reduced. Thus, there is the problem of reduction in cell output power and cell life.


An elongate outer sleeve is mounted on a support and defines an axis and distal and proximate ends in relation to said support. An elongate inner tube is generally coaxial with and contained within said outer sleeve. A drive selectively rotates the inner tube about the axis relative to the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is mounted for selected movement along the axis relative to the inner tube between a first position in which the remote end of the inner tube in contained within and covered by the outer sleeve and a second position in which the remote end of the inner tube is exposed, the inner tube being provided at the remote end with a cutting assembly consisting of a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about the axis and biassed to urge the blade elements to expand outwardly into their normal operative cutting positions when moved exteriorly of the remote end of the outer sleeve, adjacent blade elements being collapsible for containment within the outer sleeve and forming laterally-directed opening which communicate with a channel within the inner tube. Carrier fluid is dispensed at the remote end of the outer sleeve. A receptacle is provided for collecting tissue excised by the expanded blades carried through the inner tube from the remote to the proximate ends by the carrier fluid. Also, a source of suction is provided for extracting cells and tissue excised by the blade elements and transported by the carrier fluid through the inner tube and into the means for collection.

1. Field Of The Invention
The invention generally relates to medical devices, and more specifically to a device for excising breast lesions.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Breast cancer has been and continues to be a most serious problem. Because the disease can be so devastating, more and more women seek to be tested for early signs of any abnornal growths in their breasts. One common procedure for such testing is mammography. However, this approach has disadvantages. If the mammogram showns any indication of a growth the typical next step is to take a needle biopsy and have it analyzed to determine if the growth is malignant. If it is the woman and her physician must make a decision as to whether to remove the growth using surgery or use another method of treatment. Of the approximately 400,000 breast biopsies taken in the United States every year about 90% are benign. However, for those cases where the growth is malignant, the woman may be required to return for surgery at a later date. This interim period is very stressful and filled with anxiety and fear. Also, surgery, particularly, radical mastectomies, can be traumatic and debilitating. Because such surgeries are major procedures, these require extensive hospital stays.
More recently, radiologists have used stereotactic breast biopsy machines for obtaining more accurate images of the abnormal growths. However, once found the same procedures were followed as with mammograms. The same is true with a laser scanning cytometer (LSC) developed by CompuCyte Corporation based in Cambridge, Mass., which appears to have the potential to advance the prognosis and management of breast-cancer patients. Unfortunately, when a malignant lesion has been removed and there is no lymph node involvement, traditional prognastic indicators such as tumor size and lymph node involvement are not accurate predictors of recurrence. Pathologists may need to look at cell cycle and cell proliferation analyses to identify which node-negative patients are at high risk for recurrence and therefore require close observation.
A number of surgical devices have been proposed for removing material from a patient without the use of conventional surgery. Compressible/expandable atherectomy cutters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,966,604; 5.192,291; and 5,224,945. The prior art teaches flexible blades bent outwardly, the amount of expansion being controlled by a control element which can adjust the drive element through an infinite variety of positions while the blade rotates. A similar endovascular cutter for removing lesions constricting a vascular channel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,576.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,611 a vacuum rotary dissector is disclosed which is used for removing undesired tissue during surgery from difficult to reach locations. However, this dissector does not use compressible/expandable cutters.


A porphyrin compound of Formula III

Macrocyclic structures having multiple pyrrole rings joined in a macrocycle are dynamic molecules involved in many biological processes, including oxygen and electron transport. Porphyrins are natural pigments comprised of four pyrrole rings connected via four methine (═CH—) carbons to form an aromatic macrocycle. The IUPAC system is used in numbering positions in a porphyrin. There are a total of 24 positions in the porphyrin ring, including the nitrogen atoms. Carbon atoms are assigned numbers 1-20, starting at the a position, and going around the periphery of the entire heterocycle. α positions are assigned numbers 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14, 16 and 19, whereas β positions are assigned numbers 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17 and 18. The meso positions (carbon atoms at the methine bridges) are numbered 5, 10, 15, and 20. The nitrogen atoms on the other hand are numbered 21, 22, 23 and 24.

Some porphyrins are isolated from natural sources, for example, protoporphyrin IX is the organic portion of iron-containing porphyrin hemin. Many other porphyrins are prepared synthetically. These include those made via the condensation of aldehydes and pyrroles, such as tetraphenylporphyrin, made from the condensation of benzaldehyde and pyrrole. Some porphyrins are useful in photodynamic therapy when activated at an excitation wavelength (for example, 415 nm) for the treatment of cancer. Some cationic porphyrins demonstrate non-covalent interactions with DNA. Aside from interacting strongly with DNA, cationic porphyrins can also cleave DNA, have high photonuclease and photodynamic therapy (PDT) application, and have been found to inhibit telomerase through G-quadruplex stabilization and or to inhibit translation via binding to G-quadruplex tetra-meso (N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphine and C14-alkyl derivative tri-meso(N-methyl-4-pyridyl), meso(N-tetradecyl-4-pyridyl) porphine (called C14). Other porphyrins have been shown to be activated by ultrasound such as the compounds described in Cancer Sci. June 2007, vol. 98; no. 6 pgs. 916-920.
Porphyrins have been shown to be taken up by cancer cells preferentially over normal cells in tissue culture experiments, animal models as well as human patients. This cancer cell selectivity is in part responsible for the utility of porphyrins in photodynamic therapy. The mechanism of porphyrin localization in tumors is not well understood. Understanding this mechanism could have important implications for improved selective delivery of porphyrin compounds to tumors and the targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs to tumors.
A variety of cancer therapies and treatments exist such as surgical resection of solid tumors, radiation, and chemotherapy. While surgical resection and radiation is used on localized tumors, chemotherapy is often delivered systemically and impacts both cancer and non-cancer cells because the traditional chemotherapy enters both cell types; there is no preference for entering cancer cells vs. non-cancer cells. Because of this, chemotherapy is often associated with unwanted toxicity, which can even lead to death. A cancer treatment using a compound or composition that preferentially enters a cancer cell as compared to a non-cancer cell is therefore desired.
Porphyrins show higher binding to and/or internalization in cancer cells as compared to non-cancer cells. The mechanism responsible for this is poorly understood. Literature data suggests that the endocytotic pathways may be a mechanism for preferential porphyrin internalization by cancer cells. In addition, previous studies have suggested that some porphyrins interact with the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) to preferentially enter cancer cells vs. non-cancer cells. Based upon this information, designing porphyrin compounds that take advantage of an LDLR interaction (or other to be identified endocytosis-related receptors) could improve the activity of porphyrin compounds used to treat cancer cells.

Porphyrin compounds and compositions useful for treating cancer

Abstract: A porphyrin compound of Formula III

Abstract: and composition made therefrom comprising a therapeutically effective dose of a porphyrin bound via a linker to an anti-cancer agent useful in treating cancer in a patient in need thereof or to treat cancer cells in-vitro. The compounds and compositions may be delivered by a drug delivery device as disclosed here and be part of a kit.


A method and device for benign, non-surgical external shaping of corneal tissue to compensate, by refractive correction, for deviations from normal focussing. Corneal tissue is externally gently removed by erosion to a maximum 30% depth, within several seconds, by an imperceptibly felt, highly controlled and limited area, isotonic water jet, exerting a total force of at most several ounces. The jet is directed to erode corneal tissue to provide an increase in curvature to correct for far-sightedness i.e., to refocus a perceived image from beyond retina onto the surface of the retina. To correct for near-sightedness and to refocus a perceived image from in front of the retina onto the surface of the retina, the jet is directed to flatten out by eroding, a central portion of corneal tissue, to decrease curvature. The jet is either applied by a nozzle or array of nozzles. The jet is applied and directed, in a computer controlled, raster or similar type movement, until the desired diopter change is effected. Since there is no heating of the cornea, with concomitant wound healing induced deviations, correction can be effected within a deviation range from normal of 0.25 diopters, comparable to that of corrective lenses and contact lenses.

Two major methods of eye cornea reshaping, are in current use, for correction of abnormal vision, resulting from improper eye focussing (generally, the conditions of myopia, with the perceived image optimal focussing in front of the retina; hypermetropia (hyperopia), with the image optimal focussing beyond the retina; and astigmatism which combines symptoms of both myopia and hyperopia, on a localized basis). The first method, radial keratotomy, involves the surgical incision of the cornea of the eye with deep medial cuts which cause a predictable flattening of the cornea of the eye when the eye heals. The reshaped cornea of the eye, with changed curvature and concomitant changed refraction, causes light or optical rays associated with an image (the perceived image), passing through the lens of the eye, to be refocussed on the retina, with refractive compensation, such as for eye shape deviations from normal. This method is however a major surgical one, and requires considerable skill in proper utilization. Improper incisions can detrimentally permanently affect the eye, without recourse to ready correction. Scarring is not uncommon and some deaths have resulted. In addition, the correction may also vary with time.
The second major method for vision correction involves the use of the excimer laser which is on the verge of FDA approval for widespread use. The excimer laser operates by controllably ablating away portions of corneal tissue, mostly through photochemical disintegration of the tissue, to either increase or decrease the effective curvature of the front of the cornea (i.e. corneal tissue), thereby correctively refocussing images on the retina. While this procedure is less invasive and traumatic than the radial keratotomy, and has had no associated injuries in over 250,000 procedures, it is nevertheless accompanied by some heat generation and dehydration, for an extended period of time. The ablation technique leaves the surface structured on a microscopic scale, and also affects adjacent corneal surface tissue and, with the plumes, results in an inaccuracy of correction of up to one diopter or more deviation from the desired value. This compares unfavorably with corrective lenses and contact lenses which provide a more accurate correction to within 0.25 diopters deviation. In addition, some haze usually results from wound healing effects.

Method and device for corneal shaping and refractive correction


A helmet which can ventilate the interior of a head protecting body well by a ventilator mechanism and can decrease the degree of injury or the like of a wearer that may increase by the presence of the ventilator mechanism. At least one of a plurality of attaching mechanisms that attach a cover member or air current deflecting member to the shutter attaching member of the ventilator mechanism includes an engaging projection portion and an engaging hole having a gap. The engaging projection portion is configured to be relatively pressed into the gap and then relatively inserted and held in the engaging hole through the gap.

As a full-face-type helmet in which a ventilator mechanism is provided to a head protecting body to ventilate the interior of the head protecting body as described above, for example, one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,513 is conventionally known. The full-face-type helmet of U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,513 comprises a head central/rear ventilator mechanism at a head central/rear region including the vertex region (the vertex region substantially opposes the vertex of the wearer) and the upper portion of the back head region (the back head region substantially opposes the back part of the head of the wearer) of the head protecting body.
The head central/rear ventilator mechanism provided to the helmet of U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,513 comprises:
(a) a pair of left and right shutter members which reciprocate to open/close vent ports,
(b) three left, three right (a total of six) shutter attaching members respectively held at predetermined positions of the head protecting body to attach and hold the shutter members reciprocally, and
(c) a cover/air current deflecting member held at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the head protecting body in order to cover the shutter members and shutter attaching members and to deflect an air current flowing relatively along the outer surface of an outer shell so as to stabilize the head protecting body.
In this case, the cover/air current deflecting member is attached and fixed to the outer surface of the head protecting body by adhesion with an adhesive or a double-sided tape, or by fastening with a screw or rivet. The shutter attaching members are attached and fixed to the head protecting body by fitting their fitting cylindrical portions in exhaust holes formed in the head protecting body.
In the head central/rear ventilator mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,513, the shutter members can open/close the through holes (in other words, exhaust holes formed in the head protecting body) of the respective fitting cylindrical portions of the shutter attaching members. Therefore, in the helmet of U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,513, when necessary, internal air can be led from the interior of the head protecting body (that is, from the inner structure of the head protecting body itself and/or the head accommodating space of the head protecting body) to the outside. When the internal air is led out in this manner, the interior of the head protecting body can be ventilated well.
In the helmet of U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,513, in order that the cover/air current deflecting member covers well the shutter members and shutter attaching members configured to ventilate the interior of the head protecting body and deflects the air current well so as to stabilize the head protecting body well, a comparatively large projection portion and recess portion must be formed on the cover/air current deflecting member. Such a big projection portion projects outward from the outer surface of the head protecting body. Therefore, for example, if the helmet of U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,513 is used as an off-road driving helmet for a motocross where falling accidents occur comparatively often, when an unforeseen circumstance such as a fall of a motorcycle during driving occurs, the comparatively large projection portion on the cover/air current deflecting member may catch on the ground surface of the unpaved road or a wasteland. Then, the head protecting body of the helmet may not function to skid smoothly on the ground surface of the unpaved road or the wasteland substantially in the traveling direction of the motorcycle so as to moderate the degree of injury or the like of the wearer. Hence, in the case of the helmet of U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,513, for example, when the motorcycle falls, the degree of the injury of wearer may not be able to be moderated due to the presence of the head central/rear ventilator (particularly its cover/air current deflecting member).


An improved electronic toll collection system having two lane-based antennas per laneway. The antennas include an overhead antenna and a side mount antenna. The side mount antenna is disposed so as to communicate especially with license plate transponders. The two antennas are coupled to a transaction processing system for conducting toll transaction communications with a vehicle-mounted transponder through one of the two antennas.

Electronic toll collection systems conduct toll transactions electronically using RF communications between a vehicle-mounted transponder (a "tag") and a stationary toll plaza transceiver (a "reader"). An example of an electronic toll collection system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,352 issued Dec. 9, 2003 to Tiernay et al., and owned in common with the present application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Typical electronic toll collection systems provide for toll plazas having reader antennas located above the toll road mounted on an overhead gantry or other support structure. The overhead antennas are directional and are intended to communicate with transponders or tags passing beneath them on the toll road.
A vehicular transponder or tag is typically one of two types: a windshield transponder or a license plate transponder. The windshield transponder is mounted to the interior or exterior of the windshield and is particularly well adapted to communicate with an overhead antenna. Due to its location, the windshield transponder usually enjoys a clear RF transmission path to an overhead gantry.
For various reasons, a vehicle may be equipped with a license plate transponder instead of a windshield transponder. The license plate transponder is less well adapted for communications with an overhead gantry than the windshield transponder. The license plate transponder suffers from the dB loss associated with being mounted lower on the vehicle, i.e. further from the overhead antenna. In addition, the license plate transponder may encounter multipath problems due to reflections off of the road surface. These multipath problems can result in signal cancellation at certain mounting heights
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide for an improved electronic toll collection system or method of operating such a system.


A propulsion apparatus for coupling to the stern of a boat is provided having at least one afterplane attached to the stern. At least one motor is positioned onto each corresponding afterplane, where each motor has a propeller positioned above the top surface of the afterplane, such that the propeller does not extend substantially beyond the peripheral boundaries of the afterplane to protect the propeller. Each afterplane may be pivotally raised or lowered so that during operation of the motor, the axis of the propellers are parallel with the plane of the water for propelling the boat. The afterplanes may also be pivotally raised or lowered for planing the boat.

Afterplanes or "trim tabs" are common on all motorboats up to 60' in length. A typical afterplane configuration includes a pair of port and starboard afterplanes, each hinged to the bottom portion of the transom, located at the stern of the boat. Each afterplane pivots up and down, via hydraulic pistons or the like, that are attached at one end to the afterplane and at the other end to the transom. The purpose of attaching such afterplanes to a boat is for stabilization as it travels across the water. For example, the stern of a motorboat that does not utilize afterplanes will settle in the water creating a "wall" of water that, during acceleration, the bow must push through. Afterplanes, however, help avoid this unnecessary upward or listing altitude of the bow of the boat.
Typically, during acceleration of the boat from a standstill or near standstill position, the boat operator lowers the afterplanes to a downward position, with respect to the stern of the boat, using a toggle or push-button switch. This downward position forces water against the underside of the afterplanes which consequently raises the stern of the boat while lowering the bow to help maintain the boat in a "plane" position. Once the boat is at cruising speed, the operator raises the afterplanes to a substantially horizontal position to sustain the boat in the desired planing position. Maintaining a boat on a plane is especially important with respect to high performance speedboats for substantially lowering the risk of flipping over the speedboat during hard acceleration. Such flipping may occur when the afterplanes are positioned too low in the water.
The starboard and port afterplanes may typically be operated independently from one another. This is desired when there is an imbalance of weight in the boat. For example, if the majority of the boat passengers are on the port side of the boat, the starboard side will raise up causing the boat to tilt. With afterplanes, the driver can lower only the port afterplane which, in turn, raises the port side to balance the boat.
A boat that is properly balanced in a plane position allows the main boat motors to work more efficiently since their propellers will be substantially parallel to the water surface. Further, a planed boat provides a smoother ride by preventing inherent "porpoising" of the boat, while increasing driver visibility.
Powering such motorboats are typically provided by single or twin screw inboard, outboard or inboard/outboard engines. However, fishing boats and the like often use auxiliary power for trolling speeds, via trolling motors.
Trolling motors are designed to be operational when the main engines are off. They provide quick and precise bursts of speed when fishing, so that the fisherman can easily and quickly follow a fish. Since trolling motors provide less power than the main engines and are often powered electrically, they are quieter and generate far less vibration. This is advantageous, since it prevents "spooking" the fish that the main engines may cause.
Trolling motors are usually attached either to the bow, where the trolling motor pulls the boat, or to the stern, where the motor pushes the boat. With respect to the trolling motors attached to the stern, it is known that a pair of trolling motors may be attached, one motor on the starboard side and the other motor on the port side. This configuration helps to prevent fishing line entanglement, vis-a-vis, trolling motors that are attached to the bow. Further, aesthetically speaking, trolling motors attached to the stern are less of an "eye sore" than trolling motors attached to the bow.
It is also known to have various types of motors fixedly attached on the top surface of a hydrofoil. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,995,839 and 5,017,165 of Havins describe a boat having a main motor attached to the center of the boat transom and a trolling motor attached to the port side of the transom. The trolling motor is directly mounted on top of a hydrofoil. The hydrofoil can be hydraulically positioned in an up-position when the main motor is operating and a down-position when the trolling motor is operating. However, the hydrofoil does not behave as a trim tab but rather the hydrofoil is used to automatically raise the trolling motor when the main motor is engaged. Thus, when the main motor is engaged the hydrofoil is forced out of the water at the same time raising the trolling motor with no planing effects realized.
An example of a prior art system having a pair of motors mounted onto a pair of corresponding trim tabs, is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,642 of Thompson. In this system, a pair of pedal motors are directly mounted on the top surface of a hydraulic trimming vein located on opposite sides of the stern. However, as shown in FIG. 4 of Thompson, a portion of the blades of each pedal motor remains below the trimming vein, and thus is susceptible to damage when the boat travels in shallow waters. Further, the trimming veins described in Thompson are substantially the same size as the pedal motors and thus, offer little protection of the motors, as opposed to an elongated trimming vein.
Another prior art system describing a pair of trim tabs, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,886,462 of Jagiel. This reference describes a single outboard motor which is mounted on a frame that includes a pair of extending fins which act as trim tabs. Here, however, the fins use the force of the water to adjust and maintain the position of the outboard motor helping to plane the boat when the motor is engaged. Also the motor is positioned between the fins, offering no protection against potential damage to the propellers.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide at least one motor positioned onto an afterplane such that the propeller of the motor does not extend substantially beyond the peripheral boundaries of the afterplane.
Another object of the invention is to provide at least one motor positioned onto an afterplane, such that the afterplane has a cut-out portion for permitting water flow therethrough.
A further object of the invention is to provide at least one motor positioned onto an afterplane, such that each afterplane has an elongated shape to provide greater protection of the propeller.
A still further object is to provide in combination an afterplane and trolling motor which allows the operator of a boat to engage a main engine without a need for raising the trolling motor.
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description and the novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Pivotal afterplane having a motor positioned thereon


An electromagnetic apparatus has a housing with a cavity in which a uniform magnetic field is created by a magnetic coil disposed in the housing. The electromagnetic apparatus also has one or more containers for containing magnetic substances for adjusting the intensity distribution of the magnetic field in the cavity so as to obtain a uniform intensity, and clamps attached to the housing for detachably mounting the containers. During adjustment of the magnetic field in the cavity, a container is removed from the clamps, magnetic substances are added or removed, then the container is mounted in the clamps again.

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic apparatus used for example in magnetic resonance imaging systems, more particularly to the structure for attaching magnetic substances referred to as passive shims to correct magnetic field inhomogeneity.
The prior art electromagnetic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is known well. An exploded and enlarged oblique view of the part A of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The prior art electromagnetic apparatus comprises a housing 1 containing coils for generating the magnetic field. The housing 1 has a cavity wherein a uniform magnetic field is to be created in a space 2. Non-uniform components of the field in this space 2 are corrected by passive shims 3 such as soft iron bars. The passive shims 3 are housed in non-magnetic tubes 4 which are attached to the inner surface of the housing 1.
To install the non-magnetic tubes 4 in the housing 1, a support unit 5 is attached to the housing 1. The support unit 5 has holes 5a into which the non-magnetic tubes 4 fit, and projecting seats 5b for attaching the support unit 5 to the housing 1 by screws 6. An end plate 7 closes the end openings of the non-magnetic tubes 4 to prevent the passive shims 3 from escaping from the non-magnetic tubes 4. The end plate 7 is fastened to the support unit 5 by screws 8.
The magnetic field in the cavity is adjusted according to measurements of the magnetic field intensity in the space 2. If the measurements indicate that further adjustment of the magnetic field homogeneity is necessary, the end plate 7 is removed from the support unit 5 and passive shims 3 are added or removed. After this, the end plate 7 is reattached to the support unit 5, and the distribution of the magnetic field is measured again. If necessary, the above procedure is repeated until satisfactory field homogeneity is obtained.
The adjustment is first performed using soft iron wire about 3 to 5 mm in diameter, then gradually finer soft iron wire is used. The finest soft iron wire has a diameter of 1 mm or less.
A problem with the prior art electromagnetic apparatus is that the passive shims must be inserted into small holes in the non-magnetic tubes 4 against the magnetic force of a the strong magnetic field, of 15,000 gauss for example. Particularly in the fine adjustment of the field homogeneity, where thin wires must be inserted in or removed from the non-magnetic tubes 4, the passive shims bend under the influence of the magnetic field, making inserting them into the non-magnetic tubes difficult.
In order to avoid the problems caused by this magnetic force, the magnetic field could be reduced before the adjustment and raised again afterward, but in this case the electromagnets must be energized and de-energized, therefore the time required to adjust the magnetic field increases considerably. Also, in the case of superconducting magnets driven in persistent-current mode, opening and closing the persistent current switch to energize or de-energize the superconducting magnet uses up expensive liquid helium.


An electronic component mounting structure includes a board and an electronic component mounted on a surface of the board. The board includes lands. The electronic component includes a body and terminals extending from the body. Each terminal is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the lands of the board. The terminal has a first terminal portion extending along the surface of the board and a second terminal portion extending toward the surface of the board. Each land includes a land portion electrically soldered to the first terminal portion and a blind hole for receiving the second terminal portion. The first terminal portion is soldered to the land portion in a reflow process under the condition that the second terminal portion is inserted in the blind hole.

In a conventional through-hole mounting structure, terminals of an electronic component are inserted in holes drilled in a printed circuit board and soldered to both walls of the holes and lands formed around openings of the holes by solder. Thus, the electronic component is electrically connected to the printed circuit board. Since the terminals of the electronic component pass through the through holes and are exposed to the back surface of the printed circuit board, other electronic components cannot be mounted to the back surface area having the though holes. Therefore, the through-hole mounting structure limits circuit density of the printed circuit board.
In a blind-hole mounting structure disclosed in JP-H10-41605A, terminals of an electrical component are inserted in blind holes drilled in a printed circuit board. Since the terminals of the electronic component are not exposed to the back surface of the printed circuit board, other electronic components can be mounted to the back surface area having the blind holes. Therefore, the blind-hole mounting structure allows high circuit density of the printed circuit board compared to the through-hole mounting structure.
However, the blind-hole mounting structure reduces contact area between the terminals and solder compared to the through-hole mounting structure. Therefore, temperature change (i.e., difference in the linear coefficient of expansion) or application of external force causes a large stress per unit area on junctions between the terminals of the electronic component and the lands of the printed circuit board. The large stress damages the junctions so that connection reliability between the terminals and the lands may be reduced.
In a conventional surface mounting structure, terminals of an electrical component are bent along a front surface of a printed circuit board and soldered to lands formed on the front surface of the printed circuit board. Thus, the electrical component is electrically connected to the printed circuit board. Since electronic components can be mounted to each side of the printed circuit board, the surface mounting structure allows high circuit density of the printed circuit board.
However, in the surface mounting structure, the terminals of the electronic component are placed on the lands of the printed circuit board and then soldered to the terminals in a reflow process. Therefore, the terminals may be displaced from the lands before the solder hardens. For example, the displacement may occur when the circuit board or the electronic component is deformed due to the difference in the linear coefficient of expansion between the circuit board and the electronic component. Further, it is difficult to ensure coplanarity of the lands because the number of the terminals is large. Therefore, the connection reliability between the terminals and the lands may be reduced.


A folding-type portable information device 120 provided with an image capturing function including a first housing 104 and a second housing 106 rotatably connected via a connecting unit 108, an image capturing unit 110 being provided in the second housing 106 or in the connecting unit 108, and an image display unit 112 for displaying an image captured by the image capturing unit 110 being provided in the first housing 104, wherein an image capturing direction control unit 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, or 140 for varying the image capturing direction of the image capturing unit 110 according to the folding angle between the first housing 104 and the second housing 106 is provided.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable information device, such as a mobile phone set or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and, more specifically, to a folding-type portable information device provided with an image capturing function.
II. Description of the Related Art
Some of the portable information devices such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), are compact, multi-functional, and foldable, and are provided with an image capturing function such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).
A mobile phone set shown in FIG. 16 is an example of the portable information device with a camera in the related art. The portable information device 31 includes a first housing 32 and a second housing 36 connected with each other via a hinge unit 35 so as to be capable of rotating and varying the angle c between front surfaces 32a and 36a. The first housing 32 includes a display unit 33 and a receiving unit 34 on the front surface 32a thereof, and the second housing 36 includes a control unit 37 and a transmitting unit 38 on the front surface 36a thereof. The device can be downsized by folding the first housing 32 and the second housing 36 so as to bring the front surfaces 32a and 36a into abutment with each other, and thus the device has improved portability. The user can talk on the phone by opening the first housing 32 and the second housing 36, placing the receiving unit 34 on the first housing 32 near the user's ear and placing the transmitting unit 38 on the second housing 36 near the user's mouth.
The second housing 36 includes a camera unit 40, and a window 39 of the camera unit 40 for photographing an object 50 is provided on a backside 36b of the second housing 36. The backside 36b is on the side opposite from the front surface 36a and is parallel with the front surface 36a. When the device is switched to a camera mode in a state in which the first housing 32 and the second housing 36 are opened, the image of the object framed by the window 39 is taken into the camera unit 40 and is displayed on the display unit 33, and photographed by pressing a shutter button on the control device 37.
The reference numeral 41 designates a battery built in the second housing 36. Numeral 42 designates an antenna provided in the second housing 36, and numeral 43 designates a circuit board having a control section, storage section, and a wireless section.
As shown in FIG. 16, in the portable information device 31 provided with a folding mechanism, which is constructed of the first housing 32 and the second housing 36, the first housing 32 takes a slanted position with respect to the second housing 36 when the first housing 32 and the second housing 36 are opened in consideration of the positional relationship between an ear and a mouth of the user during a telephone call.
Therefore, when the window 39 of the camera unit 40 is directed toward the object 50 for photographing the object using the camera unit 40 provided in the portable information device 31 shown in FIG. 16, the display unit 33 on the first housing 32 becomes slanted with respect to the window 39 of the camera unit 40, and the display surface 33a of the display unit 33 is disposed diagonally with respect to the line of sight of the user. Therefore, the object 50 displayed on the display unit 33 cannot be seen clearly and thus, it is difficult to pickup the object 50 accurately for image-capturing.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, a device in which the camera unit 40 is disposed in the first housing 32, and the window 39 of the camera unit 40 is disposed on the backside 32b of the first housing 32 opposite from the front surface 32a in parallel with the front surface 32a is also proposed.
Since the camera unit 40 is disposed in the first housing 32, on which the display unit 33 is provided, and the window 39 of the camera unit 40 is provided on the backside 32b disposed in parallel with the front surface 32a having the display unit 33 thereon, the display surface 33a of the display unit 33 can be disposed perpendicularly to the line of sight of the user simply by directing the window 39 toward the object 50. Therefore, the image of the object 50 displayed on the display unit 33 can be observed easily, and the object 50 can be picked up accurately for image-capturing. However, in recent years, while there is a growing need for compact portable information devices 31, there is also a need for displaying a larger quantity of information on the display unit 33 in this multimedia age. Therefore, when the camera unit 40 is disposed in the first housing 32, on which the display unit 33 is disposed, a large display unit 33 cannot be accommodated on the first housing 32, and thus, the need described above cannot be satisfied easily.
A device having a camera unit integrated in the hinge unit, or in a revolving body provided rotatably with respect to the housing is also proposed (JF-A-2002-94629 or JP-A2002-125008)
Such folding-type portable information device provided with the image capturing function in the related art includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, a folding-type portable information device 202 provided with an image capturing function. The portable information device 202 includes a first housing 204 on the upper side and a second housing 206 on the lower side connected via a hinge unit 208 (connecting unit) so as to be capable of folding and opening through a rotary movement with respect to each other.
The hinge unit 208 is provided with an image capturing unit 210, and the image capturing unit 210 is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the hinge unit 208 and is capable of rotating independently by manual operation, and thus the image capturing direction of the image capturing unit 210 can be adjusted manually.
The first housing 204 is provided with an image display surface 212 (image display unit) for displaying a captured image on the inner surface 204a thereof. As a different type from such a folding-type mobile phone set 202 provided with the image capturing function, there is a device in which the image capturing unit 210 is provided not on the hinge unit 208, but on the outer surface of the first housing 204 in such a manner that the image capturing direction is fixed.
Generally, since the folding-type mobile telephone set 202 provided with the image capturing function does not have a finder in the image capturing unit 210, the image supplied from the image capturing unit 210 is displayed on the image display surface 212. Therefore, when the user uses the image capturing unit 210, the user captures images while confirming the image capturing direction or the image to be captured by observing the image display surface 212.
When performing operations without talking on the phone, such as Web browsing, data communication, or e-mailing, using such a folding-type mobile phone set 202 provided with the image capturing function, the phone set is placed on a horizontal plane such as a table in such a manner that the folding angle formed between the first housing 204 and the second housing 206 ranges from about 90° to about 120°, as shown in FIG. 18.
Accordingly, the user can easily operate the keys 209 provided on the second housing 206 while viewing the image display surface 212, and thus, the operability of various functions of the folding-type mobile phone set provided with the image capturing function, such as Web browsing, is improved.
When the image capturing direction of the image capturing unit 210 is directed toward the user by manual operation, the user can take a picture of the user himself/herself without using his/her hand and send the image to a portable information device on the other party, or use the device as a TV-phone. With such a usage, the user can take his/her own picture while observing the image display surface 212.
When capturing images of things other than the user, such as the surrounding landscape, the folding angle is generally opened to an angle between about 160° and about 180°, and then the image capturing direction of the image capturing unit 210 is directed to the substantially same direction as a line of sight E of the user shown in FIG. 18. Then the user holds the folding-type mobile phone set 202 provided with the image capturing function with his/her own hand, and captures an image while observing the image capturing direction or the image to be captured on the image display surface 212.
However, in the folding-type portable information device 202 provided with the image capturing function described above, the user must operate to change the image capturing direction of the image capturing unit 210 depending on the case in which he/she performs data communication or he/she captures his/her own image, and the case in which he/she captures images of things other than the user. In addition, since the angles are slightly different every time, the operation cannot be consistent and thus, the operability is not good.
Since the hinge unit of the portable information device is complex in construction and includes wiring therein, it is very difficult to dispose the camera unit therein. Even when the camera unit can be disposed in the hinge unit, there arises another problem in that the hinge unit is forced to be upsized, and thus it becomes unbalanced with respect to the size of the housing. Furthermore, there is a possibility that its design properties (appearance) become damaged.
On the other hand, the device having the camera unit integrated in the revolving body, which is provided separately from the housing, a rotating mechanism for the revolving body is required in addition to the hinge unit, and thus, the construction becomes complex and the number of components increases, which may cause a problem in assemblability.
The same problems exist not only in the mobile telephone, but also in the portable information device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) having a folding mechanism.

Folding-type portable information device provided with image capturing function


A clip bar for supporting, fixing or stabilizing air hoses, water hoses, electrical cords, safety ropes, cables, etc. on a shingled or unshingled, pitched roof of a building or house. The clip bar has a substantially flat element with a pair of spaced, U-shaped spring clips attached thereto. One or more of the clip bars can be secured to the roof by a nail or nails and support, fix or stabilize hoses, cords, ropes and/or cables thereto, thus, preventing these elements and any attachments thereto from sliding down and off the roof as well as preventing them from interfering with workers or roofers working on the pitched or inclined roof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a clip bar for supporting, fixing or stabilizing air hoses, water hoses, electrical cords, safety ropes, cables, etc., on a shingled pitched roof. More particularly, the present invention concerns a clip bar having at least two U-shaped spring clips attached thereto. The clip bar is especially adapted to be temporarily secured to a shingled pitched roof in order to prevent air hoses, water hoses, electrical cords, safety ropes or cables from sliding down a pitched roof and to facilitate the use and handling of such air hoses, water hoses, electrical cords, safety ropes or cables by a roofer or worker while working on a shingled pitched roof of a house or building. The clip bar can also be used to temporarily support, fix or stabilize air hoses, water hoses, electrical cords, safety ropes, cables, etc., on an unshingled roof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a roofer or worker who uses an air hose, water hose, electrical cord, safety rope or cable for a particular application on a shingled pitched roof will hammer one or more appropriately sized nails into the roof sheathing, sometimes necessarily through the roof shingles, to temporarily support, fix or stabilize an air hose, water hose, electrical cord, safety rope, and/or cable to the roof of a building or house until the particular application has been completed after which the nails are removed. However, such a technique is awkward, cumbersome and time consuming to a roofer or worker and generally allows for the free movement of the air hose, water hose, electrical cord, safety rope, or cable in one direction or another such that slack in these elements can be a problem either to another roofer or worker working on the pitched or inclined roof or to the shrubbery next to the building or house at ground level. Also, holes left in the shingles after the nails are removed can cause water damage over the long run.


A dry offset printing process using a printing apparatus including a) at least one inker block, each block inking a relief plate corresponding to one color of the final motif to be reproduced on an object and including an inker and a succession of transfer rollers, and b) a central blanket which can be placed into contact with the object to be decorated. An ink of suitable tackiness is selected, and the temperature of the ink is regulated in the inker to a predetermined temperature between 15.degree. and 30.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process and apparatus for offset printing, and more particularly to a process and apparatus for dry offset printing on objects with a non-absorbent surface.
2. Description of Related Art
What is known as "offset" printing is generally based on the use of a plate, of which a "hydrophobic" part is inked, as opposed to a "hydrophilic" part that is moistened with water, which in turn repels the ink.
The technique known as "dry offset" printing is accordingly more applicable in certain aspects to typography than to offset printing.
In particular, dry offset printing generally uses inks in the tint of the decoration to be made and makes no, or only slight, use of the four color process with which any decoration can be made from what are known as "primary" inks (yellow, magenta, cyan).
The principle of dry offset printing is illustrated in FIG. 1. Generally, a conventional apparatus includes:
A plurality of inking blocks (one inking block BEi per color or corresponding ink Ei), each one inking a relief plate (CRi) mounted on a drum, corresponding to one color of the final pattern to be reproduced on an object.
Each inking block BEi includes an inker and a succession of transfer rollers intended to obtain a regular and constant thickness of ink on each inked plate.
A central blanket mounted on the drum, each of the relief plates (CRi) being in contact with the rubber blanket (BL) in such a way that each decorative element on each of the plates (CRi) is transferred to the blanket, and that upon each rotation of the blanket one complete decoration is formed on the blanket.
Means making it possible to put the central blanket into contact with a drum carrying the object to be decorated OD, and means for transferring the objects before and after decoration, the object being either a sheet mounted on the drum, or more often an object with a cylindrical or frustoconical surface of revolution.
In operation, heating of the ink is observed from the inker to the relief plate, where the ink typically reaches a temperature of 40.degree. C. Corresponding to this heating of the ink is a related lessening in tackiness, that is, in the inclination an ink has of being transferred from one ink transfer roller to the next roller.
Tackiness is an essential characteristic of a dry offset ink and is measured with the aid of a tackometer, which in the case of the apparatus used by the present applicant functions in accordance with the drawing in FIG. 2.
In using a dry offset printing apparatus according to the prior art, applicant has observed several types of problems
Difficulties in obtaining saturated tints, particularly in the case where bar codes are produced with a black ink, which is a prohibitive defect, since it makes reading the bar code difficult (several attempts being necessary to successfully read the bar code), or even impossible: the overly liquid ink has been unable to accumulate thickly enough.
Second, difficulties in obtaining tints of constant intensity over the course of production, requiring permanent modification of the settings of the machine and local pressure on the inking blade, which may lead to the development of undesirable residues in the inker.
Finally, the appearance of powdered deposits on the surface of the printed object after drying of the ink is sometimes noted, whether drying is done by thermal radiation (IR) or UV.
These problems arise despite proper adjustment of the dry offset printing equipment.

Offset printing process and corresponding apparatus


A hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine having an in-cylinder injection valve directly injecting fuel into a combustion chamber and a port injection valve injecting fuel into an intake port; and a motor generator, and causes a torque equal to a user required torque to act on a drive shaft by controlling output torques of the engine and motor generator. When a misfire is not detected, the hybrid vehicle operates the engine at an engine operation point at which an engine power satisfies an engine required power in a first engine operation line. When a misfire is detected, the hybrid vehicle operates the engine at an engine operation point at which the engine power satisfies the engine required power in a second engine operation line, causes one of the injection valves to inject an entire amount of fuel, and determines which one is abnormal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, having an in-cylinder injection valve and a port injection valve, and an electric motor as drive sources (power sources), and that travels while controlling an output torque of each of the drive sources. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the hybrid vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as drive sources that generate driving force for propelling the vehicle. That is, the hybrid vehicle travels by transmitting torque, which is generated by at least one of the engine and the electric motor, to a drive shaft connected to drive wheels of the vehicle.
Incidentally, a hybrid vehicle may also include an internal combustion engine that includes a fuel injection valve that directly injects fuel into a combustion chamber (that is, in-cylinder injection valve) and a fuel injection valve that injects fuel into an intake port that communicates with the combustion chamber (that is, port injection valve). One of such hybrid vehicles that include an engine having an in-cylinder injection valve and a port injection valve is configured to execute any one of a port injection drive mode, an in-cylinder injection drive mode and a common injection drive mode for the purpose of carrying out various abnormality diagnoses (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-226553 (JP 2005-226553 A)). The port injection drive mode is a mode in which the entire amount of fuel that is supplied to the engine is injected from the port injection valve. The in-cylinder injection drive mode is a mode in which the entire amount of fuel that is supplied to the engine is injected from the in-cylinder injection valve. The common injection drive mode is a mode in which fuel is injected from both the in-cylinder injection valve and the port injection valve.
Incidentally, the hybrid vehicle determines an engine required power on the basis of a torque that is determined on the basis of a user's accelerator operation amount (that is, a user required torque that is required to rotate the drive shaft of the vehicle). Furthermore, the hybrid vehicle controls the engine at an engine operation point in a first engine operation line (optimal engine operation line) such that the power of the engine satisfies the engine required power and the operation efficiency of the engine is optimal.
On the other hand, in the above-described engine, when it is determined that a misfire has occurred in the case where the engine is being operated in the common injection drive mode, it is desirable to be able to identify whether the misfire has occurred due to an abnormality of the in-cylinder injection valve or the misfire has occurred due to an abnormality of the port injection valve. In order to identify which injection valve causes a misfire, it is required to operate the engine in one of the in-cylinder injection drive mode and the port injection drive mode.
On the other hand, when the port injection drive mode is continued in a state where the load of the engine is relatively high, the temperature near a fuel injection hole (nozzle) of the in-cylinder injection valve becomes excessively high. Thus, it is difficult to make the above identification by continuing the port injection drive mode in a state where the load of the engine is high. In contrast to this, in a state where the load of the engine is relatively low, it is possible to continue the port injection drive mode and the in-cylinder injection drive mode over a relatively long period of time although there is a limit.
Thus, when it is determined that a misfire has occurred in the case where the engine is being operated in the common injection drive mode, it is conceivable to identify (determine) which injection valve is abnormal by decreasing the load of the engine and operating the engine in one of the in-cylinder injection drive mode and the port injection drive mode and, in this case, determining whether a misfire occurs.
However, when the operating state of the engine is simply changed from a high load state to a low load state, an engine output torque decreases, so a torque that acts on the drive shaft becomes smaller than the user required torque and, as a result, the user may experience a feeling of strangeness. Furthermore, depending on the characteristics of the in-cylinder injection valve and port injection valve, it may be possible to operate the engine in one of the in-cylinder injection drive mode and the port injection drive mode in a predetermined load range other than a low load range. In this case, in order to identify which injection valve is abnormal, it is conceivable that the operating state of the engine is changed from a low load state to a high load state. At this time, the engine output torque increases, so the torque that acts on the drive shaft becomes larger than the user required torque, so, still, the user may experience a feeling of strangeness.

Hybrid vehicle and method for controlling the same


A system for performing an input processing function on a data packet. The system has an input port to which a first processor is coupled, which determines an attribute of the data packet, and a memory coupled to the first processor having a number of queues. The data packet is assigned to one of the queues based upon the attribute determined, which may be an indicator of a priority characterizing said data packet. Input processing is thus performed in a fixed amount of time, deferring variable latency operations until after the input memory.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of network computing. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for performing input processing a data packet.
2. Related Art
Modern network computing allows great benefits by sharing information and computing resources. Information is transmitted within networks between computers in packets, wherein the data is packaged with destination and origin information promulgated by a packet header to effectuate proper routing. Routing is effectuated by routers and switches operating in the network environment, which use the header information to route the packet to the intended destination. Packets have different priorities, as for processing precedence, preference, or primacy.
Packet priorities differ because some packets are more important than others. High priority packets may be time critical, as for example packets transmitting real time voice or other data. Other high priority packets may have their high priorities because they originate from sources that have paid a premium or subscribed to a data transfer medium offering a higher priority and/or transfer rate. Other packets may have lower priorities. Some packets, such as those transferring normal email, are not especially time sensitive and thus do not need elevated priorities.
Upon receipt at a destination device, packets are buffered within designated regions of a memory, such as an input memory, while awaiting transfer between ports and input/output (I/O) devices. Such buffer storage temporarily holds packets until a program is ready to deal with their data, or for transfer to another unsynchronized device, or one having a different data transfer rate. Memories effectuating such buffer storage are structured to have a number of queues, each queue for storing packets of different processing or other priority.
Conventional packet queuing assigns a packet to a queue in an input memory, thereby prioritizing the packet therein, on the basis of limited information. Often, the only information conventionally designating a packet for queuing is a virtual local area network (VLAN) class of service (COS) value, usually constituted by three bits. The COS value simply declares a packet to be of a particular priority on the basis of a designation assigned at its source. However, virtually no other decoding of the packet takes place prior to processing, which conventionally occurs downstream of the input memory.
With reference to Prior Art FIG. 1, a typical conventional input stage is described. An input packet 10 is placed into one of five queues 17 through 21 within an input memory serving as a packet buffer 12 based on its priority. Highest priority packets are placed in queue 17. The next highest priority packets are placed in queue 18, and so forth until the lowest priority packets are placed in queue 21. These packet priorities are defined by the packets' COS values. In certain instances, this may result in a sub-optimal choice of input memory queue. Sub-optimal input memory queue assignment may result in initially misqueuing a packet, which can delay further processing.
Certain switches are strictly output buffered. These rely on fixed rate forwarding lookups. Delay in determining the correct queuing for the packet requires restriction in forward latency. Such restricted forward latency may result in dropping incoming packets. If forward latency is restricted with resulting delays in system performance, data may be further delayed or lost. Hence, queuing choices restricting forward latency or otherwise increasing the time required for processing may also cause further delays or loss of data due to resulting packet drops.
Prior art solutions have been somewhat problematic therefore, because they may result in misqueuing data packets, thus reducing buffering efficiency, delaying processing, and possibly dropping packets, which can add further delays.

System for performing input processing on a data packet

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display. The backlight unit comprises a frame, a first supporting portion, a second supporting portion, and a film. The film comprises a first constraining portion and a second constraining portion. The film is positioned on the frame by the first and the second supporting portion passing through the first and the second constraining portion, respectively. When the frame is disposed in a first position, the first supporting portion partially contacts an inner wall of the first constraining portion for positioning the film. When the frame is disposed in a second position, the second supporting portion partially contacts an inner wall of the second constraining portion for positioning the film. An LCD utilizing the backlight unit is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display, and in particular to a backlight unit with a film positioning structure.
Liquid crystal displays are used in a variety of electronic devices, including personal digital assistant (PDA), notebook and desktop computer monitors, mobile phones, and TVs. Some liquid crystal displays are rotatable between different angles, such as, from 0° to 90°, 180°, or 270°. Larger panels, however, causes weight to increase accordingly, incurring a load problem during rotation.
FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a conventional backlight unit 10A for a liquid crystal display, disclosed in Taiwan patent No. 449048. In FIG. 1A, the backlight unit 10A comprises at least one light source (not shown), a plurality of optical films 120, a frame 15, and a fixing structure for the optical films 120. The light source is disposed between the optical films 120 and the frame 15. Light emitted by the light source passes through the optical films 120 such as a diffusion sheet, a prim sheet, and the like, thereby uniformly distributing the light. Note that FIG. 1A eliminates the upper and lower housings and the panel to clearly show the backlight unit 10A.
Extended portions 121, 122, 123, and 124 extend from a periphery of each optical film 120. Each extended portion 121, 122, 123, and 124 comprises holes 121a, 122a, 123a, 124a in the centers thereof. The frame 15 comprises four grooves 151, 152, 153, and 154, respectively corresponding to the extended portions 121, 122, 123, and 124. Protrusions 151a and 152a are respectively formed in the grooves 151 and 152, and hooks 153a and 154a are respectively formed in the grooves 153 and 154. When fixing the optical films 120 to the frame 15, the protrusions 151a and 152a and the hooks 153a and 154a pass through the holes 121a, 122a, 123a, 124a of the extended portions 121, 122, 123, and 124 such that the extended portions 121, 122, 123, and 124 are respectively disposed in the grooves 151, 152, 153, and 154. Thus, the optical films 120 are securely fixed in the frame 15.
Although the films 120 are securely fixed in the frame 15, manufacturing processes, such as, modeling of the grooves and fixing elements such as hooks and protrusions is complicated. The capital cost is thus increased. Furthermore, if temperature varies, the optical films 120 may expand or contract. As a result, stress is concentrated at the four fixing points at corners of the films 120; hence, Mura defects occur accordingly.
Taiwan patent No. 552440 attempts to solve the above mentioned problem. The backlight module 10B has an improved fixing structure for the optical films to prevent Mura defects. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the optical films 120 are disposed above the frame 15b. Only one edge of each optical film 120 comprises an extended portion 125 with a hole 125b formed thereon. Before assembling the optical films 120, a jig or other tool is required to fix each optical film 120 to align the extended portion 125 to a groove 150 of the frame 15b. After the optical films 120 are installed on the frame 15b, another fixing element such as a pin 120a and fixing base 120b are required to secure the optical films 150 thereon. Although the optical films 120 are securely fixed, additional time is required for the installing and detaching process. Moreover, alignment is difficult and requires additional alignment tools and jigs.
Furthermore, when positioning at different angles, for example, rotating the liquid crystal display to 180°, all the weight of the optical films 120 are concentrated at the single fixing point P. Since the fixing position is asymmetrical, during expansion and contraction of the films, stress is concentrated on the fixing point P, thus causing deformation of the optical films 120. This also results in Mura defects and uneven optical efficiency.

Backlight unit and liquid crystal display utilizing the same


In the timing drive of an internal combustion engine, cyclic variations in chain tension, in the span traveling from a camshaft sprocket toward the crankshaft sprocket are leveled by synchronous reciprocating movement of a guide in sliding contact with that span of chain. The maximum rearward speed of the guide coincides approximately with the maximum tension in the span of chain, and the maximum forward speed of the guide coincides approximately with the minimum tension in the chain.

A typical timing chain drive is shown in FIG. 7, which shows schematically a DOHC (dual overhead cam) engine E in which a timing chain CH is driven by a camshaft sprocket S1, and arranged to drive camshaft sprockets S2 and S3. The slack side of the chain, i.e., the side that moves from the crankshaft sprocket S1 toward camshaft sprocket S2, is in sliding engagement with a movable guide Ga, which cooperates with a tensioner T to apply appropriate tension to the chain in order to prevent vibration of the chain. The tension side of the chain, i.e., the side that moves from camshaft sprocket S3 toward the crankshaft sprocket S1, is in sliding engagement with a fixed guide Gb.
The movable guide Ga is pivoted on a pivot pin P attached to the engine block engine, and is biased by the plunger of tensioner T toward the chain. The fixed guide Gb is mounted on the engine block by mounting bolts Q. A typical movable guide of the kind shown in FIG. 7 is described in, and shown in FIG. 11 of, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-214504.
In an internal combustion engine timing drive, the torque load on the camshafts varies cyclically, and the torque load variation causes the tension in the tension side of the chain to vary accordingly. Thus, the tension in the chain on the tension side varies cyclically, and the rate of the cyclic variation in tension depends on the speed of rotation of the crankshaft. For example, in a four-cylinder, in-line engine, the tension in the chain goes through four cycles of variation for each full rotation of the camshafts. In the conventional timing drive in which the tension side of the timing chain slides on a fixed guide, the tensile strength of the chain must be sufficient to withstand the peak value of the tension variation in the chain. Because the chain must withstand the peak tension value, the weight of the timing chain is necessarily large, and the requirement for a heavy timing chain leads to a high overall engine size and weight.
An object of this invention is to provide a timing chain drive in which a lighter and more compact chain can be used, and which makes quieter engine operation possible.


An MEM unit according to the invention comprises an Si (silicon) substrate 1 having such a thickness as to transmit a visible light therethrough, an insulating layer 2 formed in contact with the upper surface of the Si substrate 1, a lower electrode layer 3 formed in contact with the upper surface of the insulating layer 2, a sacrificial layer gap 4 of a space formed in the partial region of the upper surface of the lower electrode layer 3, a movable film 5 formed on the upper surface of the lower electrode layer 3 to cover the sacrificial layer gap 4, an upper electrode 6 formed in contact with the upper part of the movable film 5, a contact hole 7 penetrating to reach the surface of the lower electrode layer 3 from the surface of the movable film 5, and a lower electrode 8 formed from the surroundings of the upper part of the contact hole 7 to the surface of the lower electrode layer 3 through the contact hole 7.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display unit and a method of manufacturing the image display unit, and more particularly to an image display unit for functioning as a transmission type MEM (Mechanical Electro Modulator) unit and a method of manufacturing the image display unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have conventionally been proposed various image display units, and a CRT (cathode ray tube) display device, an LCD (liquid crystal display) device, an LED (light emitting diode) display device and a plasma display device have been used practically for a device using a typical image display unit.
In particular, an LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Si) has been well known as a reflection type image display device and has been used as a reflection type liquid crystal projector or a small-sized image display unit.
In recent years, moreover, an MEM unit has been proposed as the image display unit. The MEM unit is an electromechanical optical modulator for mechanically operating a flexible thin film fabricated on a glass substrate or a plastic film through a micromachining technique by electrostatic force, thereby carrying out optical modulation, and has conventionally been known as a transmission type display unit.
In more detail, for example, a flexible thin film comprising a transparent electrode and a diaphragm is provided on a fixed electrode over a light source through a support section as an optical modulator.
In the optical modulator, a predetermined voltage is applied between both of the electrodes to generate electrostatic force therebetween, thereby flexing the flexible thin film toward the fixed electrode. Correspondingly, the optical characteristic of the unit itself is changed so that a light is transmitted through the optical modulator. On the other hand, a voltage to be applied is set to be zero so that the flexible thin film is elastically returned and the optical modulator shields a light. Thus, the optical modulation is carried out.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of such a type as to utilize an interference which is one of the conventional MEM units.
In the MEM unit shown in FIG. 6, two upper and lower transparent electrodes 94 are formed with a spacing on the upper surface of a glass substrate 91 and two upper and lower half mirrors 92 are provided on the lower transparent electrode 94 through two spacers 95. A transparent spacer 93 formed of an insulator is formed in contact with the lower half mirror 92 in a space interposed between the two half mirrors 92 and the two spacers 95. The upper transparent electrode 94 is formed on the upper half mirror 92.
In the MEM unit shown in FIG. 6, a voltage is not applied between the two upper and lower transparent electrodes 94. Therefore, the upper half mirror 92 does not come in close contact with the transparent spacer 93 but is maintained to be formed. As a result, a light 97 emitted from a collimate plane light source 96 provided below the glass substrate 91 is reflected by the lower half mirror 92 and is not transmitted through an MEM unit body.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an internal state obtained in the case in which a voltage is applied between the two upper and lower transparent electrodes in the MEM unit illustrated in FIG. 5.
In the MEM unit shown in FIG. 7, a voltage is applied between the two upper and lower transparent electrodes 94 of the MEM unit shown in FIG. 6. As a result, electrostatic force generated by the applied voltage acts between the transparent electrodes 94 and the upper transparent electrode 94 and the upper half mirror 92 provided thereunder are pushed downward so that the upper half mirror 92 comes in close contact with the transparent spacer 93 to increase the transmittance of a light in an optical path which is orthogonal to the two upper and lower half mirrors 92. Consequently, the light 97 emitted from the collimate plane light source 96 is transmitted through the MEM unit body and is properly scattered by a glass substrate 98 provided above the MEM unit body.
Display devices using the conventional image display unit have problems, respectively.
For example, it is hard to reduce the size of a CRT display device. In a display device having a very small size, there is a problem in that it is difficult to uniformly enhance a lifetime and a reliability and power consumption is also increased.
Moreover, an LCD display device requiring a back light has a problem of the use efficiency of the light. Furthermore, there is a problem in that a TFT (a thin film transistor) requiring a high cost is necessary.
In addition, an LED display device has a problem of the price and lifetime of a light emitting diode, particularly, a blue light emitting diode, and furthermore, a manufacturing cost of a two-dimensional array of the LED.
Moreover, a plasma display device has such an essential problem that a circuit integrating the control system of an image signal and the control system of a power supply required for fluorescent light emission is necessary. For this reason, there is a problem in that the control system of the image signal becomes huge and an operating speed cannot be increased.
Since the MEM unit to be one of the conventional image display units is formed on a glass substrate or a plastic film, there has been a problem in that a special machining technique is to be introduced and the degree of integration cannot be enhanced.
Furthermore, there is a problem in that an image signal is to be converted and processed into a suitable signal configuration for the MEM unit and a semiconductor circuit for driving is to be provided and connected as a separate device from the MEM unit and they cannot be integrated.

Image display unit and method of manufacturing the same


A semiconductor apparatus invention includes a substrate (1), an epitaxial layer (2) formed on the substrate (1), a gate electrode (3), a source electrode (4), and a drain electrode (5) that are formed on the epitaxial layer. The source electrode (4) and the drain electrode (5) each include at least two first divided electrodes that are formed to extend in parallel to each other in a first direction, inter-electrode distances Ps and Pd between the first divided electrodes are greater than or equal to a radius of an abnormal growth portion formed on a surface of the epitaxial layer (2), and widths of the first divided electrodes are less than or equal to the radius of the abnormal growth portion.

As one of high-speed Field effect transistors (FETs) with excellent breakdown tolerance, there is a field effect transistor using a gallium nitride (GaN) based semiconductor material having wide-bandgap characteristics. The field-effect transistor using GaN is used for, for example, a high-frequency amplifier, a high power amplifier, and a power switching device. However, it is difficult to fabricate a GaN substrate for epitaxial growth of such a structure, thus in many cases, GaN is epitaxially grown on an SiC substrate, sapphire substrate, and an Si substrate, for example. At this time, an abnormal growth portion may be generated on the surface of a GaN epitaxial film depending on a substrate used for growing GaN and growth conditions.
Possible causes of forming an abnormal growth portion 103 are a defect (micropipe) in an SiC substrate 101 where a GaN film 102 is grown and abnormal growth around a minute dust adhered during the growth. The abnormal growth portion could be formed on a GaN film that is epitaxially grown on an Si substrate and a sapphire substrate and on an SiC film that is epitaxially grown on an SiC substrate.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique relating to a high power transistor that is capable of reducing drain-to-source capacitance by dividing a drain electrode into two. Moreover, Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique in which drain electrodes and source electrodes are formed in lattice to reduce parasitic capacitance in the drain electrodes and the source electrodes.

Semiconductor apparatus and method for making semiconductor apparatus


A method for forming a Ti-containing film on a substrate by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) using tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium (TDMAT) or tetrakis(diethylamino)titanium (TDEAT), includes: introducing TDMAT and/or TDEAT in a pulse to a reaction space where a substrate is placed; continuously introducing a NH3-free reactant gas to the reaction space; applying RF power in a pulse to the reaction space wherein the pulse of TDMAT and/or TDEAT and the pulse of RF power do not overlap; and repeating the above steps to deposit a Ti-containing film on the substrate.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for forming a Ti-containing film by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) using tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium (TDMAT) and/or tetrakis(diethylamino)titanium (TDEAT).
Description of the Related Art
Ti-based films have been formed for a long time by sputtering method, PVD method, and CVD method, and, for example, TiN films having low sheet resistance have been commercially used as copper-diffusion blocking films. In addition, with recent shrinkage of device nodes, spacer-defined double patterning (SDDP) has gradually started being used as a technology for miniaturization, and TiO and TiN are considered to be good candidates for hard masks for SDDP. For the SDDP hard masks, conformal films having good step coverage are required in view of the nature of the hard masks, and therefore those skilled in the art have used and evaluated TiO- and TiN-based conformal films which are formed by the ALD method which generally provides good step coverage. In particular, TiN generally has difficulty controlling stress and it is likely to become strongly compressive, and thus controlling stress is one of the challenges. Furthermore, due to the miniaturiation of device nodes, it has been difficult to form conformal films having good step coverage by conventional methods such as sputtering method, PVD method, and CVD method, and thus, as an alternative method, a method of forming films having good step coverage and low sheet resistance has come into demand.

Method for forming Ti-containing film by PEALD using TDMAT or TDEAT


A semiconductor device is provided including a printed circuit board and first, second and third rows of power and/or signal pads on the printed circuit board. A plurality of input and output buffers are also provided. Ones of the plurality of input and output buffers are provided between the first and second rows and others of the plurality of input and output buffers are provided between the second and third rows. Related methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are also provided.

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a semiconductor element including a semiconductor device having a conventional row pad structure. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the semiconductor element 100 includes the semiconductor device 110 and a printed circuit board (PCB) 130, for example, having a ball grid array (BGA) package type.
The semiconductor device 110 may be a bare semiconductor chip, for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and includes a pad layer 111 on a surface adjacent the PCB 130. A row pad, which is included in the pad layer 111, is electrically coupled to a plurality of solder balls 131 on a surface of the PCB 130 opposite the pad layer 111 via a corresponding metal line ML. The solder balls 131 may also be electrically coupled to an external device (not shown).
Referring now to FIG. 2, a plan view of a semiconductor element including a semiconductor device having a single row pad structure will be discussed. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a conventional semiconductor element 200 may include a semiconductor device 210 and a PCB 230. A plurality of pads composing a single row pad structure in the pad layer of the semiconductor device 210 are provided in the center of the semiconductor device 210. Such a pad arrangement may be referred to as a center pad arrangement. The pads include first through eighth signal pads SP1 through SP8 and first through seventh power pads PP1 through PP7. Control signals, such as input/output data signals and command signals, may be transmitted via the first through eighth signal pads SP1 through SP8. A power supply voltage, a ground voltage, or a termination voltage is applied to the first through seventh power pads PP1 through PP7.
For example, the first and second signal pads SP1 and SP2 provided between a first input buffer INRCV1 and a first output buffer OUTDRV1 may be data input/output (DQ) pads. A DQ input/output (IO) block may include the first input buffer INRCV1, the first output buffer OUTDRV1, and the DQ pads (first and second signal pads SP1 and SP2) provided in a single unit. The DQIO block may be repeatedly provided in a single row pad structure. The power pads may be provided between each of the DQIO blocks.
The semiconductor device 210, which may be a bare semiconductor chip, may include circuits such as first through fourth input buffers INRCV1 through INRCV 4 and first through fourth output buffers OUTDRV1 through OUTDRV 4. The input buffers may: be referred to as input receivers and the output buffers may be referred to as output drivers.
The first through eighth signal pads SP1 through SP8 and the first through seventh power pads PP1 through PP7 may be respectively bonded to first ends of first through fifteenth connection lines CL1 through CL15, which form metal patterns. The second ends of the first through fifteenth connection lines CL1 through CL15 may be bonded to solder balls 231 of the PCB 230. Each of the first through fifteenth connection lines CL1 through CL15 may extend from the center of the semiconductor device 210 to an edge of the PCB 230.
As the size of semiconductor devices continue to decrease, it may become increasingly difficult to arrange the signal and power pads in a single row pad structure. Thus, some conventional semiconductor devices include two-row pad structures as illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional semiconductor element including a semiconductor device having a two-row pad structure. As illustrated therein, a conventional semiconductor element 300 includes a semiconductor device 310 and a PCB 330.
A plurality of pads forming a two-row pad structure in the pad layer of the semiconductor device 310 are provided in a center pad arrangement. The pads include first through ninth signal pads SP1 through SP9 and first through ninth power pads PP1 through PP9. Control signals, such as input/output data signals and command signals, may be transmitted via the first through ninth signal pads SP1 through SP9. A power supply voltage, a ground voltage, or a termination voltage may be applied to the first through ninth power pads PP1 through PP9.
For example, the first and second signal pads SP1 and SP2 (DQ pads) may be provided between a first input buffer INRCV1 and a first output buffer OUTDRV1 and may be data input/output pads (DQIO). The first and second signal pads SP1 and SP2, the first input buffer INRCV1 and the first output buffer OUTDRV1 may form a DQIO block. The DQIO block may be repeatedly provided in the two-row pad structure of FIG. 3.
The DQ pads of the DQIO block may be provided in a first row of pads or in a second row of pads of a two-row pad structure. When the DQ pads are provided in the first row of pads, power pads may be provided the second row of pads. When the DQ pads are provided in the second row of pads, power pads may be provided in the first row of pads. Providing two-rows of pads as illustrated in FIG. 3 may allow the chip size of a semiconductor device to be decreased.
The semiconductor device 310 of FIG. 2, which may be a bare semiconductor chip, may include circuits such as first through fourth input buffers INRCV1 through INRCV 4 and first through fourth output buffers OUTDRV1 through OUTDRV4. A clock signal may be transmitted to the first through fourth input buffers INRCV1 through INRCV4 and the first through fourth output buffers OUTDRV1 through OUTDRV4 via a signal line SL. The clock signal may be a control signal input through the ninth signal pad SP9. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first through fourth input buffers INRCV1 through INRCV4 may be located between a first row of pads and a second row of pads and the first through fourth output buffers OUTDRV1 through OUTDRV4 may be located between the edges of the semiconductor device 410 and a first row of pads and a second row of pads, respectively.
The first through ninth signal pads SP1 through SP9 and the first through ninth power pads PP1 through PP9 may be respectively bonded to first ends of the first through eighteenth connection lines CL1 through CL18, which form metal patterns. The second ends of the the first through eighteenth connection lines CL1 through CL18 may be respectively bonded to solder balls 331 of the PCB 330. Each of the first through eighteenth connection lines CL1 through CL18 may extend from one of the first through ninth single pads SP1 through SP9 and the first through ninth power pads PP1 through PP9 to an edge of the PCB 330. Thus, the semiconductor device 310 may be electrically coupled to an external device (not shown).
However, although the two-row pad structure of FIGS. 3 and 4 provides improvements over the single row pad structure, as the size of semiconductor devices continue to decrease, it may still be difficult to arrange all of the pads in a two-row pad structure. Furthermore, as the length of a signal line SL, which is configured to distribute a clock signal input through the ninth signal pad SP9, increases, the quality of a clock signal may be reduced due to resistive/capacitive (RC) delay.

Semiconductor devices having more than two-rows of pad structures and methods of fabricating the same


A method for preventing and treating parasitic infections in animals by administering a lysine analog, such as EACA, to the animals on a continuous basis. In the preferred embodiment, the method of the present invention is directed to preventing and treating coccidial infections in poultry by adding EACA to the daily diet of a poultry flock. EACA may also be administered in ovo before hatching. The administration of EACA enhances the natural immune response of the poultry to the invading coccidial organisms and enables the poultry to combat the parasites without the need for antibiotics. Another aspect of the present invention involves preventing parasitic diseases in humans and animals by prophylactically administering a serine protease inhibitor, such as EACA, as an adjuvant in conjunction with a conventional vaccine effective against the target parasite.

Serine Protease Inhibitors
The serine protease plasmin, which is a normal blood constituent, has been shown to activate endogenous immunosuppressive mechanisms in osteoblast cells of animals. In addition, certain viruses incorporate plasmin into a maturation step of their life cycle. For example, influenza viruses require plasmin to cleave a viral coat protein in order for the viral particle to become infectious.
Active plasmin is derived from an inactive precursor, plasminogen, which must bind through a lysine binding site to a cell or tissue before it can be transformed into plasmin. Synthetic antifibrinolytic compounds have been shown to act as serine protease inhibitors by preventing the binding of plasminogen to tissue through a lysine binding site, thereby inhibiting the activation of plasmin from plasminogen. These serine protease inhibitors include epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), trans-4-(aminomethyl) cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, and 4-aminomethylbenzoic acid, as well as derivatives thereof. Because they mimic the amino acid lysine in this mechanism of action, these compounds are often called lysine analogs.
The protective effect of protease inhibitors in virus-infected animals has been previously documented. For example, it has been found that an injection of protease inhibitors into mice and chickens, which were infected with lethal doses of influenza virus, prevented dissemination of the virus in the host organism. Zhirnov et al., Protective Effect of Protease Inhibitors in Influenza Virus Infected Animals, Archives of Virology 73, 263-272 (1982). In this study, it was shown that an injection of the lysine analog EACA, at the time of infection, greatly reduced the severity and duration of the viral infection.
Also, lysine analogs have been shown to exert an effect on the immune system of various organisms via a mechanism of action that is not completely understood. It has been shown that mice injected with a lysine analog and infected with influenza virus showed enhanced resistance to subsequent influenza virus reinfection without additional lysine analog injections. Lozitsky et al., Resistance of Mice to Reinfection After E-Aminocaproic Acid Treatment of Primary Influenza Virus Infection, Acta virol. 32, 117-122, 1988. This study concluded that EACA can stimulate the mechanisms of specific and non-specific antiviral protection of an organism.
Further, EACA has been parenterally administered in combination with an inactive influenza vaccine to enhance the protective action of the vaccine against influenza in mice. Lozitskii et al, Effectiveness of the Combined Use of an Inactivated Vaccine and a Proteolysis Inhibitor in the Prevention Of Experimental Influenza, Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol (USSR) December 1985 (12) p. 49-53.
Other applications of serine protease inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of disease are revealed in additional scientific journal articles. In rats and mice, injections of lysine analogs reversed the immunosuppression associated with experimental acute pancreatitis and enhanced the survival of animals infected with staphylococci. (Chalyi, et al., Protease Inhibitors as Immunomodulators in Experimental Acute Pancreatitis and Staphylococcal Infection, Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol (Russia), January-February 1993, p. 62-65.) Also, hamster lymphoid cells treated with a lysine analog (EACA) showed enhanced proliferation in culture. (Hart, et al., Effect of Protease Inhibitors On Mitogen Stimulation of Hamster Lymphoid Cells, Experimental Cell Research, 102(2):253-63, 1976 Oct. 15.) Further, the anticarcinogenic properties of orally administered EACA have been studied in rats. (Bespalov, et al., The Inhibiting Effect of Epsilon-Aminocaproic Acid on the Incidence of Induced Tumors of the Esophagus, Nervous System and Kidneys, Vopr Onkol (Russia), 1992 38(1), p. 69-74.
In addition to the scientific journal articles set forth above, the following United States patents disclose applications of lysine analogs in treatment methods:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,582 to Stevens et al. teaches that incorporation of certain lysine analogs into parenteral injections containing allergens reduces adverse allergic reactions caused by the allergens. The lysine analogs that Stevens discloses as being suitable include EACA and transexamic acid as well as derivatives of these compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,904 to Tsutsumi teaches the use of lysine analogs to alleviate scours, which is a form of dysentery, in mammalian livestock. The lysine analogs employed in Tsutsumi's method include EACA, trans-4-(aminomethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, and 4-aminomethylbenzoic acid, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these compounds. This patent discloses that these lysine analogs can be administered intravenously by injection or orally by themselves or admixed with animal feed. Additionally, Tsutsumi states that these compounds can be used in combination with other medicaments commonly used for treatment of scours, including sulfa-drugs or antibiotics. While Tsutsumi's disclosure is directed primarily to the treatment of scours, this patent also teaches that the compounds may be used to prevent or reduce the frequency of scours when added to the animal feed on a regular basis.
The patent to Tsutsumi, however, does not specify the mechanism by which the lysine analogs treat or prevent scours. Likewise, Tsutsumi is silent as to any use for lysine analogues beyond treating a single specific disorder, scours, in domestic animals. Moreover, Tsutsumi does not teach or suggest administering lysine analogs to any animals other than mammals such as pigs (piglets), cows, sheep, horses (foals), and goats.

Method for preventing and treating coccidiosis