Provided is a metal-oxide nanofiller including at least two graft chains, at least one of the chains being hydrophilic and the other being a hydrophobic chain compatible with fluorinated polymers. The hydrophobic chain is an oligomer, the weight-average molar mass Mw of which is between 300 and 20,000 g/mol−1. Also provided is a non-stick coating comprising such a filler, as well as to a culinary article provided with such a coating.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a nanoparticulate filler (or nanofiller) of a metal-oxide such as silica, and its usage in a fluorocarbon resin-based aqueous dispersion. The present invention also relates to a non-stick coating comprising such a filler, as well as to a culinary article provided with such a coating.
The synthesis of the nanofiller and the manner in which to achieve the non-stick coating and culinary article are also concerned.
Description of Related Art
The main purpose of the present invention is to introduce as delicately as possible a filler in the form of metal-oxide nanoparticles such as silica in fluorocarbon resin-based non-stick coatings, such as for example polytetrafluoroethylene, (PTFE). For this, it is essential to make the filler (particularly the silica) compatible with the fluorocarbon resin particularly when is in the form an of emulsion comprising a continual aqueous phase and a discontinuous phase constituted by the resin. In fact, the fluorocarbon resin-based non-stick coatings are initially prepared from such emulsions, then are applied onto a substrate and fritted.
A solution known by the skilled person consists in improving the compatibility of the silica nanoparticles with the PTFE by grafting to it a fluorinated chain, such as for example a poly(HEPO)silane which makes the nanoparticles compatible with the PTFE.
However, the major drawback of a silica modified by a poly(HEPO)silane is that it is too hydrophobic and cannot be used in the dispersion formulations of PTFE typically used to achieve non-stick coatings or textile impregnation products. In fact, it is not possible to disperse such a silica in an aqueous medium, and hence much less so in a PTFE emulsion.
The technical issue sought to be resolved by the present invention hence consists more particularly in making the silica (or any other metal oxide usable as a filler in an aqueous dispersion of fluorocarbon resin) compatible with the PTFE (hence hydrophobic), but also dispersible in aqueous medium.

Metal-oxide nanofiller, method for synthesising same, and use thereof in a fluorocarbon-resin non-stick coating

Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Montpellier


The invention provides a method of detecting regional variations in oxygen uptake from the lungs of an air-breathing animal subject, said method comprising administering into the lungs of said subject a diagnostically effective amount of a gaseous hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging agent, detecting the magnetic resonance signal from said agent in said lungs, determining the temporal variation in relaxation rate for said signal for at least one region of interest within said lungs, and from said variation generating a qualitative or quantitative value or image indicative of the oxygen uptake from the alveolar space in said at least one region of interest.

This invention relates to a method of magnetic resonance imaging of the human or animal (e.g. mammalian, reptilian or avian) body by which lung function and, if desired, morphology may be investigated.
Lung function is of interest to physicians, especially when dealing with patients who may have abnormalities of ventilation or perfusion or other determinants of gas exchange in the lung. For proper lung function five conditions must be met:
1. gas (air) must be pumped into and out of the lungs;
2. the gas must be distributed evenly within the lungs;
3. gases must be exchanged by diffusion between the blood and the alveolar space;
4. blood must be pumped through the lungs; and
5. the distribution of the blood in the lungs should correspond to the distribution of gas in the alveolar space (i.e. where the gas penetrates to, blood should flow).
All diseases and ailments relating to the lungs and airways affect one or more of the five conditions above.
It has therefore been known to study lung ventilation and perfusion using various diagnostic techniques. The conventional technique is known as VQ imaging and involves the use of two different radiopharmaceuticals, one to study perfusion and the other to study ventilation.
The perfusion agent is generally a particulate (e.g. 99mTc-microaggregated albumin) which is administered intravenously upstream of the lungs and lodges in the precapillary arterioles.
An image of the lungs is recorded with a gamma camera and the signal intensity may be used to detect local abnormalities in blood flow.
The ventilation agent is generally a radioactive gas or aerosol or microparticulate, e.g. 133Xe, 127Xe or 81mKr, or a 99mTc-DTPA aerosol or 99mTc-labelled carbon particles. The agent is inhaled and an image is recorded with a gamma camera. Signal intensity and distribution may be used to detect airway obstructions or regional abnormalities in ventilation.
Where there is a mismatch between the ventilation and perfusion images (which are generated at different times), various different lung malfunctions, diseases or abnormalities may be diagnosed, e.g. pulmonary embolism, pleural effusion/atelectasis, pneumonia, tumour/hilar adenopathy, pulmonary artery atresia or hyperplasia, fibrosing mediastinitis, AVM, CHF, pulmonary artery sarcoma, and intravenous drug use. Heterogenous perfusion patterns may likewise be used to diagnose various disease states or disorders, e.g. CHF, lymphangitic carcinomatosis, non-thrombogenic emboli, vasculitis, chronic interstitial lung disease, and primary pulmonary hypertension. Decreased perfusion to one lung may be used to diagnose pulmonary embolism, pulmonary agenesis, hypoplastic lung (pulmonary artery atresia), Swyer-James syndrome, pneumothorax, massive pleural effusion, tumour, pulmonary artery sarcoma and shunt procedures for congenital heart disease.
VQ imaging however involves exposing the patient to radiation doses from two radiopharmaceuticals in two temporally separate imaging procedures. Clearance of the injected particulate agent is relatively slow and the agent is taken up in other organs besides the lungs. Moreover, in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, the injected particulate causes a risk of acute right heart failure. For pregnant patients the radiation dose involved in VQ imaging results in undesirable levels of radiation exposure for the foetus.
Furthermore, for most diagnostic purposes mentioned above the resolution of conventional VQ imaging is unsatisfactory.
There is thus a need for a technique which permits lung function to be assessed without the drawbacks associated with VQ imaging.
In magnetic resonance (mr) imaging, radiofrequency signals from non-zero spin nuclei which have a non-equilibrium nuclear spin state distribution are detected and may be manipulated to provide images of the subject under study. In conventional mr imaging the nuclei responsible for the detected signals are protons (usually water protons) and the non-equilibrium spin state distribution is achieved by placing the subject in a strong magnetic field (to enhance the population difference between the proton spin states at equilibrium) and by exposing the subject to pulses of rf radiation at the proton Larmor frequency to excite spin state transitions and create a non-equilibrium spin state distribution. However the maximum deviation from equilibrium is that achievable by spin state population inversion and, since the energy level difference between ground and excited states is small at the temperatures and magnetic field strengths accessible, the signal strength is inherently weak.
An alternative approach that has been developed is to xe2x80x9chyperpolarizexe2x80x9d (i.e. obtain a nuclear spin state population difference greater than the equilibrium population difference) an imaging agent containing non-zero nuclear spin nuclei (e.g. by optical pumping, by polarization transfer or by subjecting such nuclei ex vivo to much higher magnetic fields than those used in the mr imaging apparatus), to administer the hyperpolarized agent to the subject, and to detect the mr signals from the hyperpolarized nuclei as they relax back to equilibrium. In this hyperpolarized mr imaging technique, described for example in WO95/27438, the hyperpolarized material is conveniently in gaseous form, e.g. 3He or 129Xe, and it may thereby be administered by inhalation into the lung and the mr signal detected may be used to generate a morphological image of the lungs.
Since the relaxation time T1 for 3He in the lungs is about 10 seconds it is feasible, using fast imaging techniques, to generate a morphological image of the lungs from the 3He signal following inhalation of hyperpolarized 3He gas and at any desired stage of the breathing cycle, e.g. during breathhold. Since the mr signal selected is from the 3He atoms and since the helium is in the gas phase in the lungs, the image detected is essentially only of the airways into and within the lungs. By administering the hyperpolarized agent as a bolus followed or preceded by other gases or aerosols, e.g. by air, nitrogen or 4He, the hyperpolarized agent can be positioned at any desired section of the airways or other aerated spaces in the body, e.g. it may be flushed from the trachiobronchial tree and the image generated is then essentially only of the alveolar space.
We have now found that functional imaging of the lungs may be carried out effectively using mr imaging of an inhaled hyperpolarized agent by making use of the variation with time of the relaxation rate T1 of the hyperpolarized agent.
Viewed from one aspect therefore, the invention provides a method of detecting regional variations in oxygen uptake from the lungs of an air-breathing animal subject, e.g. a mammalian (human or non-human), avian or reptilian subject, said method comprising administering into the lungs of said subject a diagnostically effective amount of a gaseous hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging agent, detecting the magnetic resonance signal from said agent in said lungs, determining the temporal variation in relaxation rate (e.g. T1 relaxation rate) for said signal for at least one region of interest within said lungs, and from said variation generating a qualitative or quantitative value or image indicative of the oxygen concentration in the alveolar space in said at least one region of interest, and if desired the time dependency of such concentration as a result for example of physiological process, e.g. oxygen uptake by perfusion.
In a preferred embodiment, the method of the invention also involves generation of a temporal and/or spatial image of the distribution of the hyperpolarized agent in at least part of the lungs of the subject, preferably in the alveolar space within the lungs.
In a further preferred embodiment, the method also involves generation of a magnetic resonance image of at least part of the lungs of the subject following administration into the subject""s vasculature of a second mr agent, preferably an agent which affects proton relaxation (with the image generated being a proton mr image) or more preferably an agent containing non-proton mr active nuclei (e.g. 19F, 13C, 31p, etc.) in which case the mr image will be generated from mr signals from such non-proton mr active nuclei. The mr active nuclei in the second agent will preferably not be the same as those in the hyperpolarized agent unless the image generated using the second agent is generated at a time when the lungs contain substantially none of the hyperpolarized agent.
Lung volume may also be estimated from the integrated 3He mr signal (or by 3He mrs) following inhalation of the 3He without air, breathhold, and expiration where the expired volume is measured directly and the residual hyperpolarization of the retained 3He is extrapolated from the hyperpolarization value (signal strength) monitored during breathhold.
In the method of the invention, it is preferred that for at least part of the mr signal detection period (preferably at least 1 second, more preferably at least 5 seconds, still more preferably at least 10 seconds, e.g. 20 sec to 1 minute), there be substantially no flow of gas into or out of the lungs, e.g. that there should be a breathhold period, and that the indication of oxygen uptake be derived from mr signals detected during at least part of this period. However, in a preferred embodiment, the method of the invention will also involve mr signal detection during gas flow into and/or out of the lungs with or without a period of breathhold. In this way, spatial or temporal images or other indications of lung ventilation may be generated from the detected mr signals.
Because the detected mr signal derives from the hyperpolarized agent, the signal strength is effectively independent of the primary field strength of the magnet in the mr imager. Accordingly low or high field, e.g. 0.05 to 3.5 T, machines may be used.


A selectively communicatable hydraulic nipple is provided which includes an upper and lower communications component adapted to communicate with tools landed inside the hydraulic nipple. Each communications component communicates with a control line used by the hydraulic nipple. An operator is allowed to selectively communicate with tools landed inside the nipple via the upper and lower communications components via the nipple control line. As a result, should the TRSCSSV control line loose integrity, the operator has the option of utilizing the nipple control line to continue oil and gas production without the need for well modifications. Alternatively, an operator could land a chemical injection tool, with an injection string suspended therefrom, in the nipple and inject chemicals into the well via the nipple control line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hydraulic nipples used in oil and gas wellbores and, more particularly, to hydraulic nipples adapted to selectively operate as a chemical injection site and/or as a landing site for a wireline retrievable surface control subsurface safety valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is often desirable in the oilfield industry to deploy a hydraulic nipple as an integral component of the production tubing at the time of completion or workover. The hydraulic nipple is typically used for the insertion and retrieval of a Wireline Retrievable Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve ("WRSCSSV") in the event the Tubing Retrievable Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve ("TRSCSSV") is no longer operable or safety redundancy is needed. A typical hydraulic nipple consists of a lock profile, a single communication port and at least two polished bores which straddle the communication port. The communication port is attached to an external control line, which provides surface control or hydraulic communication to the surface.
There are drawbacks in the traditional nipple design. When the initial completion runs the additional hydraulic nipple, below the safety valve, the control line becomes a leak path around the safety valve. The communication port, having no in line check valve to surface must be isolated off by installing an isolation sleeve, effectively sealing off formation pressure from transmitting around the uphole safety valve and back to the surface. An in-line check valve would render the hydraulic nipple system unacceptable for use as a landing location for a WRSCSSV since releasing the pressure at surface would not allow the valve to close due to trapped pressure between the valve and the check valve.
It is sometimes desirable to inject chemicals downhole for treating the well and/or well systems. In the case of a well which has a TRSCSSV or a WRSCSSV, the hydraulic nipple becomes a good landing location for a chemical injection suspension sleeve and capillary string, since capillary can not be ran from surface through the production pipe, which would render the up-hole safety valve non-functional. In order to accomplish this, costly wellhead modifications are typically necessary since a passageway for the injection string has not previously been provided within the tubing hanger and/or wellhead assembly. This is obviously a time consuming, and thus costly, limitation to the present use of hydraulic nipples. In addition, present day well assemblies generally have a single control line used to operate the TRSCSSV. In the event the control line looses integrity, a complete workover, wherein at least a part of the production tubing is pulled, is required to replace the control line and/or TRSCSSV.
In view of these disadvantages, there is a need in the art for an improved hydraulic nipple and well assembly adapted to selectively facilitate the subsequent injection of chemicals downhole or the insertion of a WRSCSSV without the need to modify the wellhead.

System and method for selectively communicatable hydraulic nipples


Embodiments provide a distributed bioreactor system in which a plurality of modular bioreactors are operated in parallel to produce and maintain a biological cell culture. A central or nurse perfusion bioreactor produces and maintains a cell culture and transfers portions of the cell culture to a plurality of modular peripheral perfusion bioreactors, each of which produces and maintains the cell culture in turn. In order to prevent contamination and facilitate segregation of particular peripheral bioreactors, the distributed system is configured such that one-way fluid communication is established from the central/nurse bioreactor to each of the peripheral bioreactors while maintaining fluid isolation among the peripheral bioreactors. Each modular peripheral bioreactor unit has a plug-and-play configuration and may be plugged into or otherwise coupled to the central/nurse bioreactor to scale up the overall size of the cell culture without requiring sterilization or redesign or reconfiguration of the system.

Bioreactors support a biologically active environment for conducting a bio-chemical process involving biological organisms or biochemically active substances derived from such organisms. Bioreactor design is a complex engineering task requiring fine-tuning of bioreactor design and operational configuration to enable the cultured organisms to achieve their desired function. Before large-scale commercial manufacturing can be implemented, it is typically necessary to scale up a bioreactor during a process development stage. However, conventional scale-up techniques are fraught with technical challenges and financial risks.
Conventional techniques, for example, involve many steps of volume increases using different volumes of bioreactors. Control and test methods must be performed at each scale-up step as mass transfer of fluid tends to cause reduction in performance. Scale-up engineering involved in scaling up from the bench scale (i.e., a few liters) to the manufacturing scale (i.e., a couple of thousand liters) is complex, and it is difficult to ensure reproducibility of operation and performance at each scale-up step. Due to variability in operational and performance characteristics at each scale-up step, it is also challenging to satisfy regulatory and safety requirements using conventional scale-up techniques. Furthermore, in conventional scale-up, bioreactor components must be sterilized at each scale-up step.

Distributed perfusion bioreactor system for continuous culture of biological cells


Automatic test equipment for determining the optical properties of a test object is described. A highly collimated test beam of approximately one millimeter diameter is directed through the test object, is reflected, and passes through the test object a second time. The test beam source may be a laser and spatial filter, or equivalent. The reflected beam intensity and the exit point and return slope angle at which this beam leaves the test object are accurately measured to determine the optical characteristics of the test object. In one described embodiment, the exit point is determined by moving a knife edge to a point where half the light is blocked. The angle is determined by focusing the reflected beam and determining the position of the focal point, i.e. image height, by means of a pinhole mounted on a three axis micrometer platform. The light transmitted through the pinhole is detected by a light sensitive diode or equivalent. The entrance point of the test beam is determined by a mirror driven by a micrometer. A computer may be used to automatically drive all the micrometer scans and print out a numerical analysis of the optical properties of the test object. A second embodiment requires the test object to be located two focal lengths from an off-axis paraboloid mirror. A pinhole is located at the focal plane to determine the slope and a means for determining the beam position is located at the conjugate plane to measure the height of the exit beam. The second embodiment is more easily automated since the image height can be measured directly by any one of several electrical devices.

This invention relates to automatic test equipment for testing optical systems and more particularly describes a system for automatically determining the optical characteristics of any optical test object by directing laser beams through the lens elements and measuring the exit points, slopes and intensities of the reflected beams.
Test apparatus for optical systems may be thought of as being divided into two types, those that measure the parameters of the human eye and those that measure the parameters of man-made optical systems. One well known apparatus for the examination of the eye is an ophthalmoscope. This instrument is used primarily to view the internal parts of the eye, but also can be used as a rough measure of the eye lens refractive power, in that the degree of adjustment of the ophthalmoscope lens to bring the subject's retina into focus is also a measurement of the refractive power of the patient's eye lens. The refractive power of a medium is a measure of the amount of deflection from a straight line undergone by a light ray in passing obliquely through the medium. In the eye, it is a measure of the distance between the lens and the focal point, and determines near or far-sightedness. The accuracy of the ophthalmoscope for determining the refraction is limited. Thus, an accurate measurement of a patient's eye is not practically obtainable with an ophthalmoscope.
Retinoscopes are used in conjunction with refractors to determine the refractive condition of the eye but the test results are approximate and require an operator of skill, and patience on the part of the subject.
Because of the shortcomings of these and other standard equipment and techniques now available, the most common method of determining the refractive condition of the eye is the subjective one where the subject views a variety of targets through various lenses and decides which set of lenses produces the clearest image. This method is, of course, time consuming and subjective on the part of both the patient and the operator. Further, the equipment operator does not know what is actually being seen by the patient.
In the case of man-made optical systems, a variety of equipment is also available. In one test apparatus, a collimated light beam is directed towards the entrance pupil and the light which is found to be emanating from the other side of the lens is collected and analyzed to determine the optical characteristics of the test object. This technique can be used with single lenses and multi-element lenses if the image space is accessible. Sometimes, however, it is inconvenient to access the image space.
Another method is to analyze the differences in images formed by the test device when its entrance pupil is only partially illuminated.
The methods mentioned above are time-consuming, require considerable expertness, and suffer from poor signal to noise characteristics. Various interferrometric techniques are also employed but these are less popular because of their sensitivity to environmental perturbations and the requirement for even greater operator expertness.
What is required by the optical industry is a compact, economic test apparatus for determining the optical characteristics of any test object, including the human eye, which can be used automatically to test the optical characteristics of the test object in a minimum amount of time.


An improved system for testing electrical circuit boards in an environmental test chamber includes a carrier moveable into and out of the chamber. The carrier supports a relatively large number of printed circuit boards to be tested by exposure to extremes of temperature, for example. Each board is electrically linked to a carrier-mounted multiple-conductor "gang" connector. The chamber has a multiple-conductor gang receptacle into which the connector is plugged as the carrier moves fully into the chamber. Such arrangement provides a way to electrically monitor board testing by instruments outside the chamber. An automated insertion/extraction assembly powers the carrier between an interconnect position and a disconnect position. The circuit boards are handled as a group of "unit" and the assembly provides both automatic connection and disconnection upon initiation by the chamber operator. Circuit board testing may thereby be accomplished accurately and more expeditiously than with earlier systems.

Environmental test chambers are widely use for component and product testing including but not limited to temperature testing. As an example (and depending upon the particular application), electrical printed circuit boards are tested under extremes of temperature. It is not unusual to subject such boards to temperature excursions from -40.degree. C. to +125.degree. C. (about equal to -40.degree. F. to 260.degree. F.) and excursions down to -54.degree. C. are used for military applications. And rates of temperature change per minute may be in the 3.degree. C. to 20.degree. C. range.
Exposure to such temperature changes provides an accelerated test, dramatically shortening the time required to "prove" board designs and cull out boards which may fail prematurely. Such exposure is not unlike that which might be experienced by a high performance military aircraft flying from ground level to very high altitude in a matter of minutes.
One of the factors affecting cost of circuit board testing is the degree of manual board handling required to be used over the course of the test. In one arrangement shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,424 (Cutright et al.) a circuit board test apparatus uses a relatively large number of baskets, each containing a number of circuit boards to be tested. Each basket, not unlike a file drawer in appearance, has an electrical connector on its end wall. All boards in the basket are electrically attached to this connector which, in turn, is connected to a connector on the cart by which all such baskets are carried. To test, the cart connector is plugged into a connector on a wall of the test chamber. In another arrangement, individual drawer-like baskets are placed into a chamber rack and plugged to a basket-dedicated connector on the rear chamber wall.
It is apparent from the foregoing that basket handling time can be very significant. And connection and disconnection to and from such wall connector(s) is difficult in that the connector insertion and withdrawal forces are substantial. Even though the cart has a manual latching arrangement, the overall configuration is somewhat cumbersome.
An improved system for testing electrical circuit boards which uses a movable carrier for supporting the boards in a "unitized" arrangement and which has a powered insertion/ extraction assembly for easily and automatically transporting the carrier in either of two directions would be an important advance in the art.

Unitized test system with bi-directional transport feature


Disclosed is a process for making soft tissue paper which includes providing a dry tissue web and then applying a sufficient amount of a functional-polysiloxane softener compound to the dry web. The softener application process includes the steps of mixing a functional-polysiloxane compound with a suitable nonvolatile diluent, such as a mineral oil, forming an emulsion containing the functional-polysiloxane compound and nonvolatile diluent using a volatile solvent, such as water, and surfactant emulsifier, applying the emulsion to a heated transfer surface, evaporating the volatile solvent from the emulsion to form a film, and then contacting the dry tissue web with the heated transfer surface. Preferably, the tissue web is dried to a moisture level below its equilibrium moisture content before application of the functional-polysiloxane material. The process may further include the steps of applying an effective amount of a surfactant material to enhance softness and/or wettability control; and/or an effective amount of a binder material such as starch, for linting control, and/or to contribute tensile strength to the tissue paper.

Soft tissue paper is generally preferred for disposable paper towels, and facial and toilet tissues. However, known methods and means for enhancing softness of tissue paper generally adversely affect tensile strength. Tissue paper product design is, therefore, generally, an exercise in balancing softness against tensile strength. Both mechanical and chemical means have been introduced in the pursuit of making soft tissue paper: tissue paper which is perceived by users, through their tactile sense, to be soft. Such tactile perceivable softness may be characterized by, but not limited to, friction, flexibility, and smoothness; and subjective descriptors such as feeling like silk or flannel. The present invention pertains to a process for improving the tactile perceivable softness of tissue paper--in particular high bulk, creped tissue paper--through the incorporation of chemical additives: in particular, polysiloxane materials which impart a silky or flannel-like feel to the tissue paper without rendering it greasy or oily to the tactile sense of users of products comprising such tissue paper. Additionally, surfactant material may be added to further enhance softness and/or surface smoothness and/or to at least partially offset any reduction in wettability caused by the polysiloxane; and binder material such as starch may be added to at least partially offset reductions in strength and or increasing in linting proclivity that results from the polysiloxane and, if used, the surfactant additive.
Representative high bulk, creped tissue papers which are quite soft by contemporary standards, and which are susceptible to softness enhancement through the present invention are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,301,746 which issued Jan. 31, 1967, to Lawrence H. Sanford and James B. Sisson; 3,974,025 which issued Aug. 10, 1976, to Peter G. Ayers; 3,994,771 which issued Nov. 30, 1976, to George Morgan, Jr. and Thomas F. Rich; 4,191,609 which issued Mar. 4, 1980, to Paul D. Trokhan; and 4,637,859 which issued Jan. 20, 1987, to Paul D. Trokhan. Each of these papers is characterized by a pattern of dense areas: areas more dense than their respective remainders, such dense areas resulting from being compacted during papermaking as by the crossover knuckles of imprinting carrier fabrics. Other high bulk, soft tissue papers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,981 which issued Nov. 17, 1981, to Jerry E. Carstens; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,597 which issued Apr. 3, 1984, to Edward R. Wells and Thomas A. Hensler. Additionally, achieving high bulk tissue paper through the avoidance of overall compaction prior to final drying is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,068 which issued Jun. 28, 1974, to D. L. Shaw; and avoidance of overall compaction in combination with the use of debonders and elastomeric bonders in the papermaking furnish is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,000 which issued May 21, 1974, to J. L. Salvucci, Jr.
Chemical debonders such as those contemplated by Salvucci, referred to above, and their operative theory are disclosed in such representative U.S. Pat. Nos. as 3,755,220 which issued Aug. 28, 1973, to Friemark et al.; 3,844,880 which issued Oct. 29, 1974, to Meisel et al.; and 4,158,594 which issued Jan. 19, 1979, to Becker et al.
Tissue paper has also been treated with cationic surfactants, as well as noncationic surfactants to enhance softness. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,125 which issued Sep. 25, 1990, to Spendel; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,513 which issued Jul. 10, 1990, to Spendel, that disclose processes for enhancing the softness of tissue paper by treating it with noncationic, preferably nonionic, surfactants.
It has been found that the softness of tissue paper, in particular, high bulk pattern densifted tissue papers, can be improved by treatment with various agents such as vegetable, animal or synthetic oils, and especially polysiloxane materials typically referred to as silicone oils. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,282 which issued Oct. 22, 1991, to Ampulski et al. The Ampulski patent discloses a process for adding a polysiloxane compound to a wet tissue web (preferably at a fiber consistency of between about 20% and about 35%). These polysiloxane compounds impart a silky, soft feeling to the tissue paper. However, addition of the polysiloxane to the tissue web before the web is dried and creped, in accordance with the process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. '282, can result in interference with the coating on the Yankee dryer and also cause skip crepe and a loss in sheet control. Importantly, these problems are eliminated by the process of the present invention wherein the polysiloxane is added to the tissue sheet after the sheet leaves the Yankee dryer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,546 which issued Sep. 21, 1993 to Ampulski, and incorporated herein by reference discloses an improved process for making soft tissue paper by the application of expensive functional polydimethylpolysiloxane compounds to a dry tissue paper web. Unfortunately, functional polydimethylpolysiloxane compounds are quite expensive, and it is of great economic importance to apply only the minimal quantity required to achieve the desired softness benefit. Surprisingly, Applicant has found that when the functional polydimethylpolysiloxane compounds are first diluted with a miscible, nonvolatile inexpensive solvent such as a nonfunctional polysiloxane compound or a mineral oil, equivalent softness benefits can be obtained with a fraction of the costly functional polydimethylpolysiloxane compounds. It is believed that the addition of the nonfunctional polysiloxane allows the active functional polydimethylpolysiloxane compounds to spread more uniformly on the tissue sheet at lower concentration levels. Importantly, the silicone blends described in the present invention offer substantial cost savings over the higher concentration functional polydimethylpolysiloxane formulations disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. '546.
Additionally, a well known mechanical method of increasing tensile strength of paper made from cellulosic pulp is by mechanically refining the pulp prior to papermaking. In general, greater refining results in greater tensile strength. However, consistent with the foregoing discussion of tissue tensile strength and softness, increased mechanical refining of cellulosic pulp negatively impacts tissue paper softness, all other aspects of the papermaking furnish and process being unchanged. However, through the use of the present invention, tensile strength can be increased without negatively impacting softness; or, alternatively, softness can be improved without negatively impacting tensile strength.
It is an object of this invention to provide a process for preparing tissue paper which has an enhanced tactile sense of softness.
It is another object of this invention to provide a process for preparing tissue paper which has a silky, flannel-like feel,
It is another object of this invention to provide a process for preparing tissue paper which has increased tactile softness at a particular level of tensile strength relative to tissue paper which has been softened by conventional techniques.
It is a another object to provide a process for preparing a soft tissue paper by applying a functional-polysiloxane compound to a dry tissue web from a thin film.
It is a further object to provide a process for softening tissue paper that only requires very low levels of expensive functional-polysiloxanes compounds.
These and other objects are obtained using the present invention, as will be seen from the following disclosure.

Process for applying a thin film containing low levels of a functional-polysiloxane and a mineral oil to tissue paper


The present invention relates to a skutterudite thermoelectric material for directly converting heat generated by the Seebeck effect into electricity, and provides a method of producing a Co--Sb-based filled-skutterudite sintered material having a lower thermal conductivity and thereby having a higher figure of merit. The crystal grains of a Sb-containing skutterudite compound and a metal oxide dispersed in the crystal grain boundaries are sintered to obtain the skutterudite thermoelectric sintered material. The metal oxide prevents growth of grains in the process of sintering, whereby the skutterudite compound is finely pulverized to have an average crystal grain size of 20 .mu.m or less. As a result, the areas at the boundaries of the fine crystal grains are increased, phonon scattering is enhanced, the thermal conductivity is decreased, and the figure of merit is increased. The metal oxide is an oxide of a rare earth metal. The skutterudite compound includes a filled-skutterudite compound having a composition of Ln.sub.y Fe.sub.x Co.sub.4-x Sb.sub.12 (Ln: a rare earth metal, 0<x.ltoreq.4, 0<y.ltoreq.1).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a skutterudite thermoelectric material for directly converting heat to electricity caused by the Seebeck effect, to a thermoelectric couple using the thermoelectric material, and to a method of producing the thermoelectric material and the thermoelectric couple.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, Bi.sub.2 Te.sub.3 -based thermoelectric materials have been well known as thermoelectric materials based on the Seebeck effect, and have been used practically in some applications. However, the materials have a very narrow range of operating temperatures, and are limited to be used at around room temperature.
Furthermore, it is also known that such a thermoelectric material is formed of a CoSb.sub.3 -based intermetallic compound having a skutterudite crystal structure. This CoSb.sub.3 -based compound features high electron and hole mobility, and is expected to become a material wherein high thermoelectric conversion characteristics are compatible with a wide operating temperature range.
An important characteristic required for thermoelectric materials is represented by a figure of merit Z=S.sup.2.sigma./.kappa., wherein S is a Seebeck coefficient, .sigma. is an electric conductivity, and .kappa. is a thermal conductivity. Both higher Seebeck coefficient S and electric conductivity .sigma. in the thermoelectric material, and lower thermal conductivity .kappa. are desired to increase the figure of merit Z. These parameters are determined depending on the kinds and amounts of impurities added to the main ingredients of the thermoelectric material. In addition, the parameters are also changeable due to dispersing impurity particles in the crystal grain boundaries as a second phase
As a prior art, Japanese Patent Publication JP-A 9-260729 discloses an electric conductivity .sigma. of the sintered material being improved at the presence of a metal Sb phase as a second phase in the grain boundaries of a sintered material including CoSb.sub.3 as the main ingredient.
Furthermore, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication JP-A 9-260729 also discloses a method of producing a thermoelectric sintered body. In this method, powder of a CoSb.sub.3 -based alloy including a metal Sb phase is formed under pressure, and heated at a higher temperature than the liquidus temperature of Sb, then, obtaining a sintered material in which the Sb phase dispersed in the grain boundaries.
Recently, compounds having filled-skutterudite structures represented by the formula of LnT.sub.4 Pn.sub.12 (Ln: a rare earth metal, T: a transition metal, and Pn: an element, such as P, As, Sb or the like) have received attention as thermoelectric materials.
Filled-skutterudite is a crystal wherein part of a pair of vacancies existing at the octant of the unit cell of the skutterudite crystal is filled with a heavy element, such as a rare earth metal. When the vacancies in the skutterudite crystal are filled with the atoms of a rare earth metal, such as Ce, the atoms of Ce oscillate because of a weak bond to Sb and act as the centers of phonon scattering. As a result, it can be expected that the thermal conductivity can be decreased significantly.
As a prior art regarding this, for example, D. T. Morelli and G. P. Meisner; "High figure of merit in Ce-filled-skutterudite," I.E.E.E., 15th International Conference on Thermoelectronics (1996), pp91, have studied the characteristics of CeFe.sub.x Co.sub.4-x Sb.sub.12 -based skutterudite thermoelectric materials filled with Ce and part of Co of which is substituted with Fe. According to this study, as the number x of substitutions of Fe with respect to Co increases in the range of 2 to 4, the electric conductivity increases, the thermal conductivity decreases, and the Seebeck coefficient decreases. To obtain the highest figure of merit, the number x of substitutions is required to have a suitable range.
In order to use these materials for a thermoelectric module, it is advantageous to form a p-n junction by using two kinds of Co--Sb-based filled-skutterudite thermoelectric materials. In this case, the filled-skutterudite structure filled with a rare earth metal can be used as a p-type thermoelectric material.
Regarding a thermoelectric module formed from thermoelectric materials, Japanese Patent Publication JP-A 9-64422 discloses that a Co--Pt--Sb-based compound is used as an n-type and a PbTe-based compound is used as an n-type, and that the two compound materials are joined to each other directly or indirectly via a metal conductor to form a p-n junction. In this method, the powders of the two compounds are press-formed integrally into a horseshoe-shaped compact so that they are joined to each other at their leading ends. The compact is then sintered to produce a thermoelectric couple.
In the case of a conventional material wherein a Sb phase is dispersed as a second phase to CoSb.sub.3, although the electric conductivity .sigma. increases, the Seebeck coefficient S decreases, whereby a power factor S.sup.2.sigma. is not improved significantly. In addition, the dispersion of the Sb phase does not decrease the thermal conductivity .kappa.. Therefore, the thermal conductivity must be decreased in order to further improve the characteristics of the CoSb.sub.3 -based thermoelectric material. In addition, depending on the grain size of the Sb phase to be mixed, dispersion becomes non-uniform, thereby causing segregation and unstable characteristics because of the segregation.
Although the filled-skutterudite structure is expected to have excellent thermoelectric characteristics, it is unstable thermally and is apt to be decomposed. In order that one vacant octant is filled with the heavy atoms of a rare earth element, the charges in a cell must be balanced. For example, in the case when a tetravalent atom of lanthanide is used for filling, charges can be compensated for by substituting four divalent Co atoms in the skutterudite structure with, for example, four trivalent Fe atoms. Since the skutterudite structure cannot be obtained by using only the Fe and Sb, part of the filled-skutterudite structure may be decomposed into FeSb.sub.2 and Sb, when the number of valencies of an element filled in the crystal lattices is not constant. In addition, in order to act as the centers of phonons, the filling element is required to have a weak bond to Sb in the lattices. For these reasons, the bond between the Ln and Sb atoms is thermally unstable. At high temperatures, the filling element falls from the lattice of the filling element, causing a problem of generating decomposition of skutterudite.
Furthermore, in order to assemble these materials so as to be used as a thermoelectric module, it is necessary to form a p-n junction by using two kinds of thermoelectric materials. Conventionally, regarding an n-type, it is reported that a material capable of having a high Seebeck coefficient S and a high electric conductivity .sigma. is obtained by adding Pd or Pt to the CoSb.sub.3 crystals (see Japanese Patent Publication JP-A 8-186294). However, to obtain a p-type thermoelectric material, it is considered that a metal element, such as an iron-group transition metal, i.e., Mn, Cr, Fe, Ru or the like, is added to the CoSb.sub.3 crystals. However, since the addition of such a metal abruptly decreases the Seebeck coefficient S, the power factor is not improved. For this reason, the characteristics of such a conventional thermoelectric material are unsatisfactory as a p-type material.
Moreover, the filled-skutterudite thermoelectric material having a filled-skutterudite structure filled with rare earth metals is a p-type. Regarding an n-type, a method of controlling the carrier level by adding Co has been attempted. However, satisfactory results have not yet been obtained.
Additionally, in the case when materials used at high temperatures, such as the skutterudite thermoelectric materials, is formed into a module, a brazing method or the like has been used to obtain a p-n junction at the high-temperature end of the module. In this case, however, problems of improper contacts or wiring breakage are caused at increased usage temperatures due to the difference between the thermal expansion coefficient of a metal used for connection and that of the thermoelectric material.

Skutterudite thermoelectric material thermoelectric couple and method of producing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A crankshaft includes journals that define a central axis of rotation; crank pins that are eccentric with respect to the journals; crank arms connecting the journals to the crank pins; and counterweights integrated with the crank arms. Each of the crank arms has recesses in a surface adjacent to the crank pin. The recesses are disposed inward of peripheral regions in both sides along an edge of the surface, and are disposed along the peripheral regions. The crankshaft has a reduced weight, an increased torsional rigidity and an increased flexural rigidity.

A reciprocating engine requires a crankshaft for converting the reciprocating motion of pistons in cylinders to rotational motion so as to extract power. Crankshafts are generally categorized into two classes: the type manufactured by die forging and the type manufactured by casting. Especially for multiple cylinder engines with two or more cylinders, the firstly mentioned die forged crankshafts, which are excellent in strength and stiffness, are often employed.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an example of common crankshafts for multiple cylinder engines. A crankshaft 1 shown in FIG. 1 is designed to be mounted in a 4-cylinder engine and includes: five journals J1 to J5; four crank pins P1 to P4; a front part Fr, a flange Fl, and eight crank arms A1 to A8 (hereinafter also referred to simply as "arms") that connect the journals J1 to J5 and the crank pins P1 to P4 to each other. The crankshaft 1 is configured such that all of the eight crank arms A1 to A8 are formed integrally with counterweights W1 to W8 (hereinafter also referred to as "weights"), respectively, and is referred to as a 4-cylinder 8-counterweight. crankshaft.
Hereinafter, when the journals J1 to J5, the crank pins P1 to P4, the crank arms A1 to A8, and the counterweights W1 to W8 are each collectively referred to, the reference character "J" is used for the journals, "P" for the crank pins, "A" for the crank arms, and "W" for the counterweights. A crank pin P and a pair of crank arms A (including the counterweights W) which connect with the crank pin P are also collectively referred to as a "throw".
The journals J, the front part Fr, and the flange Fl are arranged coaxially with the center of rotation of the crankshaft 1. The crank pins P are arranged at positions eccentric with respect to the center of rotation of the crankshaft 1 by half the distance of the piston stroke. The journals J are supported by the engine block by means of sliding bearings and serve as the central rotational axis. The big end of a connecting rod (hereinafter referred to as "conrod") is coupled to the crank pin P by means of a sliding bearing, and a piston is coupled to the small end of the conrod.
In an engine, fuel explodes within cylinders. The combustion pressure generated by the explosion causes reciprocating motion of the pistons, which is converted into rotational motion of the crankshaft 1. In this regard, the combustion pressure acts on the crank pins P of the crankshaft 1 via the conrod and is transmitted to the journals J via the respective crank arms A connecting to the crank pins P. In this process, the crankshaft 1 rotates while repetitively undergoing elastic deformation.
The bearings that support the journals of the crankshaft are supplied with lubricating oil. In response to the elastic deformation of the crankshaft, the oil film pressure and the oil film thickness in the bearings vary in correlation with the bearing load and the journal center orbit. Furthermore, depending on the surface roughness of the journals and the surface roughness of the bearing metal in the bearings, not only the oil film pressure but also local metal-to-metal contact occurs. Ensuring a sufficient oil film thickness is important in order to prevent seizure of the bearings due to lack of lubrication and to prevent local metal-to-metal contact, thus affecting the fuel economy performance.
In addition, the elastic deformation accompanied with the rotation of the crankshaft and the movements of the center orbit of the journals within the clearances of the bearings cause an offset of the center of rotation, and therefore affect the engine vibration (mount vibration). Furthermore, the vibration propagates through the vehicle body and thus affects the noise in the vehicle and the ride quality.
In order to improve such engine performance properties, there is a need for a crankshaft having high stiffness with the ability to resist deformation. In addition, there is a need for weight reduction of the crankshaft.
A crankshaft is subjected to loads due to pressure in cylinders (combustion pressure in cylinders) and centrifugal force of rotation. In order to impart deformation resistance to the loads, an attempt is made to improve the torsional rigidity and the flexural rigidity of the crankshaft. In designing a crankshaft, the main specifications such as the journal diameter, the crank pin diameter, and the piston stroke are firstly determined. After determination of the main specifications, the remaining region to be designed is the shape of the crank arm. Thus, the design of the crank arm shape for increasing both the torsional rigidity and the flexural rigidity is an important requirement. Strictly speaking, as described above, the crank arms mean the oval portions connecting the journals and the pins to each other and do not include the portions serving as counterweights.
In the meantime, a crankshaft needs to have a mass distribution that ensures static balance and dynamic balance so as to be able to rotate kinematically smoothly as a rotating body. Accordingly, an important requirement is to adjust the mass of the counterweight region with respect to the mass of the crank arm region determined by the requirements for the flexural rigidity and torsional rigidity, in view of weight reduction while ensuring the static balance and dynamic balance.
For the static balance, the adjustment is made so that when the mass moment (the "mass" multiplied by the "radius of the center of mass") of the crank arm region and the counterweight region are summed, the result is zero. For the dynamic balance, the adjustment is made so that, when, for each region, the product of the axial distance from the reference point to the center of mass multiplied by the mass moment (the "mass" multiplied by the "radius of the center of mass" multiplied by the "axial distance") is determined using a point on the rotation axis of the crankshaft as the reference and the products are summed, the result is zero.
Furthermore, the balance ratio is adjusted for balancing against the load of combustion pressure within one throw (a region of the crankshaft corresponding to one cylinder). The balance ratio is defined as a ratio of the mass moment of the counterweight region to the mass moment of the crank arm region including the crank pin (and also including part of the conrod, strictly speaking) in the crankshaft, and this balance ratio is adjusted to fall within a certain range.
There is a trade-off between an increase in stiffness of the crank arm of a crankshaft and a reduction in weight thereof, but heretofore various techniques relating to the crank arm shape have been proposed in an attempt to meet both needs. Such conventional techniques include the following.
Japanese Patent No. 4998233 (Patent Literature 1) discloses a crank arm having intensively greatly depressed recess grooves in the crank pin-side surface of the crank arm and the journal-side surface thereof, on a straight line connecting the axis of the journal to the axis of the crank pin (hereinafter also referred to as a "crank arm centerline"). The crank arm disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is intended to achieve a reduction in weight and an increase in stiffness. The recess groove in the journal-side surface contributes to a reduction in weight by virtue of the reduced mass, and moreover, the thick region around the recess groove contributes to an increase in torsional rigidity. However, in reality, an increase in flexural rigidity cannot be substantially expected because of the intensively greatly depressed recess grooves on the crank arm centerline.
Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. 2004-538429 (Patent Literature 2), Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. 2004-538430 (Patent Literature 3), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-7726 (Patent Literature 4), and Japanese Patent Application Publication. No. 2010-230027 (Patent Literature 5) each disclose a crank arm having a greatly and deeply depressed hollow portion in the journal-side surface of the crank arm, on the crank arm centerline. The crank arms disclosed in Patent Literatures 2 to 5 are also intended to achieve a reduction in weight and an increase in torsional rigidity. However, in reality, the flexural rigidity is reduced because of the greatly and deeply depressed hollow portion on the crank arm centerline.

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


A surgical system, adapted to operate with at least one surgical device, has a handpiece containing a motor which is adapted to receive the surgical device. The surgical device is driven through a continuum of positions by the motor output shaft. A controller microprocessor controls the operation of the system. The motor has sensors for generating electrical position signals and the controller is responsive to input signals for defining both a stop position and a reversal position for the surgical device. As a result, the controller initiates operation of the surgical device at the so called stop position and stops operation of the surgical device so that it comes to rest substantially at the stop position. In an oscillatory mode of operation, the controller also forces reversals to occur solely at a reversal position dictated by the system, under the control of the user. In connection with an arthroscopic cutting device, the control enables the surgeon to control, for example, the opening of the aperture through which tissue and fluids are removed from the surgical site during the reversal and start/stop conditions.

This invention generally relates to motor driven surgical systems, and, more particularly, to a system for controlling the relative positions of components of an all digital motor controlled surgical system.
Digital speed control systems for controlling the rotational speed of brushless motors used, for example, with arthroscopic cutting devices are now well known.
These brushless motor controlled devices typically adapt to a surgical assembly and use an all digital well defined system such as that disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 135,297 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,622, referred to above. They provide excellent control over the rotational speed and position of the motor armature, which enables precise and accurate control of the surgical assembly through an appropriate gear reduction between motor and assembly. Such digital control systems provide an advancement over the prior analog controlled systems using, typically, brushless motors.
In all of these motors, however, the relative position of the rotatable driven surgical member to the fixed housing in which it rotates, and in particular, the relative opening of, for example, a cutting aperture at the distal tip of the surgical device is unknown. In this respect, both brushless (all digital) and brush motors suffer the same difficulty, in that the nature of the aperture is unknown to the control system and, in particular, there was no way of maintaining any fixed relationship, known to the control system, between the rotatable portion of the removable rotary tip of the surgical device and its enclosing fixed housing.
It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the control over the relative location of the rotational portion of the driven surgical member, and in particular, to provide an apparatus which enables the physician to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of an arthroscopic cutting device and the accuracy with which the cutting process proceeds.
It is a general object of this invention to advance the state of the art in the control of brushless motors, particularly in connection with controlled arthroscopic cutting devices.
Another object of this invention is to provide an all digital motor controlled surgical cutting device having improved cutting effectiveness, accuracy, and response repeatability.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved motor controlled system which has particular application in surgical procedures.
Yet another object of the invention is a method and apparatus which accurately and repeatably control motor driven surgical tools.

Motor controlled surgical system and method having positional control


An adjustable leg for a chair includes a leg housing, secured to a seat, that includes a threaded inner wall. A leg extension is received into the leg housing and includes external threaded portions that mate with the threaded inner wall. A tab in the leg housing cooperates with the external threaded portions and secures the leg extension at a predefined position in the leg housing.

The present invention relates to chairs having a height adjustment. It finds particular application in conjunction with bathing chairs and will be described with particular reference thereto. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is also amenable to other applications.
Adjustable chairs are useful for assisting disabled persons while bathing. Depending on the type and/or severity of the disability, a person may prefer or have no choice but to sit while bathing. In this case, it is desirable to use a chair having a seat easily adjustable to various heights. Furthermore, because the terrain of the bathing area (e.g., a tub or shower) may be uneven, it is also desirable that the legs be independently adjustable to accommodate even slight irregularities in the surface of the bathing area while ensuring that the seat is level (e.g., parallel to the ground).
One conventional chair used for assisting disabled persons while bathing includes a leg having an upper portion secured to an underside of a seat. A continuously threaded section extends from the upper portion of the leg. A lower portion of the leg includes a hollow cavity with continuous threads that mate with the threaded section of the upper portion. The threaded section of the upper portion is screwed into the cavity of the lower portion until a desired height of the seat is attained. Furthermore, the height of the seat is adjusted by turning (e.g., screwing and/or unscrewing) the threaded section of the upper portion to a new position within the cavity.
Although the mating threads on the respective portions of the legs provide a means for adjusting a height of the seat, no means for indexing the height of the legs and/or comparing the height of one leg of the chair with respect to any of the other legs is provided. Therefore, assembling the chair to sit on a relatively flat surface requires a trial-by-error approach whereby a user makes a first attempt at adjusting the legs to achieve a level seat. Then, the user places the chair on the ground and makes the necessary adjustments to the heights of the respective legs until the seat is level and, furthermore, the desired height of the seat is achieved. Obviously, this multi-step process of leveling the seat at a desired height is cumbersome.
Furthermore, conventional bathing chairs having independently attachable legs do not offer desired levels of stability.
Also, the seat portions of conventional bathing seats are not curved in a way that creates a perception of a more accommodating seat.
The present invention provides a new and improved apparatus and method which addresses the above-referenced problems.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises the steps of: (a) forming a thermal oxide film on a surface of a silicon layer; (b) removing the thermal oxide film; and (c) forming a silicide film on the resulting surface of the silicon layer.

This application is related to Japanese application No. 2000-375582 filed on Dec. 11, 2000, whose priority is claimed under 35 USC xc2xa7119, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. In particular it relates to a semiconductor device in which a silicide film is formed on the surfaces of a gate electrode and a source/drain region, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In accordance with the progress in integration of MOS semiconductor devices, the size of a MOSFET (MOS field effect transistor) to be formed on a substrate has been miniaturized. When the MOSFET is miniaturized in a submicron order, parasitic resistances of a gate electrode and a source/drain of the MOSFET hinder high-speed processing of the MOS integrated circuit. To reduce such parasitic resistances, there has been developed a method of vapor-depositing a refractory metal and heating it to form a low resistive metal silicide on the gate electrode and the source/drain region in a self-alignment manner (Salicide technique). According to the technique, sheet resistance of a diffusion layer can be reduced from a conventional value of 50 to 100 xcexa9/xe2x96xa1 to 2 to 3 xcexa9/xe2x96xa1, which is one or more-digit smaller than the conventional value. Accordingly, influence exerted on an operation capability of the device can be ignored. As a metal material for forming the silicide, Ti has been proposed because of its property of silicide formation and low resistivity. Titanium silicide has already been practically utilized in processors and the like.
Hereinafter, description is made with reference to FIGS. 4(a) to 4(b) to a part of a process of manufacturing MOSFET by Salicide technique described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6 (1994)-132243.
As shown in FIG. 4(a), a device isolation regions 22 are formed first on a surface of a semiconductor substrate 21. Boron ions are then implanted to a surface region of the semiconductor substrate 21 and activated by thermal treatment to form a P well 23.
Then, a gate insulating film 24 is formed by thermal oxidation and a polysilicon film containing no impurities is deposited on the entire surface by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Then, the polysilicon film is patterned by photolithography and reactive ion etching (RIE) to form a gate electrode 25.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4(b), a silicon oxide film is formed on the entire surface by CVD and the silicon oxide film is anisotropically etched using ions containing C and F to form sidewall films 26 on the sidewalls of the gate electrode 25. At the end of the etching, the surfaces of the gate electrode 25 and the semiconductor substrate 21 are exposed to plasma so that a layer 27 which is contaminated and/or damaged by fluorocarbon and/or SiC is formed. The contaminated and/or damaged layer 27 causes increase in resistance of a silicide layer 31 (see FIG. 4(d)).
Then, using the gate electrode 25 and the sidewall films 26 as a mask, boron difluoride ions are implanted and activated by thermal treatment in N2 atmosphere at 1000xc2x0 C. for about 10 seconds to form a source/drain region 29. At this time, the boron difluoride ions are also implanted in the gate electrode 25.
Next, as shown in FIG. 4(c), residual contaminants 30 on the gate electrode 25 which is not covered with the sidewall films 26 and on the source/drain region 29 are released by lamp heating in an inert gas. Then, a spontaneous oxide film is removed from the surfaces of the gate electrode 25 and the source/drain region 29 by Ar ion sputter etching. Accordingly, the silicon surfaces of the gate electrode 25 and the source/drain region 29 are exposed.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4(d), a refractory metal film is vapor-deposited on the entire surface and heated to form a silicide film 31 on the gate electrode 25 and the source/drain region 29, respectively.
However, in the conventional techniques, the residual contaminants 30 on the surface of the silicon substrate are removed, but the layer contaminated by fluorocarbon and the damaged layer containing SiC cannot be removed from the surfaces of the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate. This increases the sheet resistance of the silicide film, which may cause deterioration of transistor properties.
Then, to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention provides a method of for forming a silicide capable of removing the contaminated and damaged layers.
According to the present invention, provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: (a) forming a thermal oxide film on a surface of a silicon layer; (b) removing the thermal oxide film; and (c) forming a silicide film on the resulting surface of the silicon layer.
These and other objects of the present application will become more readily apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


The present disclosure provides a touch display panel and a touch display device. The touch display panel includes a color filter substrate, an array substrate arranged opposite to the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer arranged between the color filter substrate and the array substrate. Black matrices are arranged on the color filter substrate. A plurality of first electrodes made of metal is arranged parallel to each other on the color filter substrate, and a projection of each first electrode onto the color filter substrate in a perpendicular direction completely falls within a range of a corresponding black matrix. A plurality of second electrodes made of a transparent conductive layer is further arranged parallel to each other on the color filter substrate, and the second electrodes are insulated from, and cross, the first electrodes.

Currently, a touch panel available in the market includes an Add-on touch panel and an integrated touch panel. For the integrated touch panel, a touch panel is integrated into a liquid crystal display panel in two ways, i.e., arranging the touch panel on a color filter substrate of the liquid crystal display panel (which is also called as "on-cell" integration) and arranging the touch panel between the color filter substrate and an array substrate of the liquid crystal display panel (which is also called as "in-cell" integration).
The on-cell integration is commonly used in the art. In order not to adversely affect the light transmission of the touch display panel, in the related art, a transmitter electrode made of a transparent conductive layer is arranged at a side of the color filter substrate facing the array substrate, and a receiver electrode also made of the transparent conductive layer is arranged at the other side of the color filter substrate. However, because the transmitter electrode is located at an inner side of the color filter substrate, the deflection of liquid crystals may be disturbed by a touch signal, thereby a display effect of the touch display panel may be adversely affected. In addition, mutual interference may also occur between a signal on a thin film transistor (TFT) and the touch signal, so the sensitivity of the touch display panel will be deteriorated. Further, for a display panel where a common electrode is shared, a common electrode signal and the touch signal may be multiplexed in a time-division manner. For a twisted-nematic (TN) display panel, the touch signal may be shielded by the transparent conductive layer at the color filter substrate. The resistivity of the transparent conductive layer is relatively high, so the load of the touch display panel is relatively large due to the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode made of the transparent conductive layer, thereby the sensitivity of the touch display panel will be further deteriorated.

Touch display panel and touch display device

CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A method for forming a semiconductor device includes providing a first cap wafer having a first opening extending through the first cap wafer, and a second cap wafer bonded to the first cap wafer, wherein the second cap wafer has a second opening extending through the second cap wafer, and wherein the first opening is misaligned with respect to the second opening. After the providing the first cap wafer and second cap wafer, the second cap wafer is bonded to a device wafer, wherein a cavity is formed between the device wafer and the second cap wafer, and wherein the device wafer comprises at least one semiconductor device in the cavity. After the bonding the second cap wafer to the device wafer, a vacuum is applied, wherein during the applying the vacuum, a sealing layer is formed over the first cap wafer, wherein the sealing layer seals the first opening.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to semiconductors, and more specifically, to semiconductors having a vacuum cavity.
2. Related Art
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are implemented in a variety of products such as micro-gyroscopes and micro-accelerometers. Micro-gyroscopes require a sealed cavity or enclosure that is at a known atmospheric condition. Implementing a suitable package for very miniature devices with a sealed cavity is problematic, particularly when the chamber needs to be at vacuum. In one process a device wafer with edge standoffs formed of a sealant is placed on a heated chuck or platform. Once the device wafer is sufficiently heated, the chuck is moved toward a suspended cap wafer which also has standoffs formed of a sealant. When the standoffs of the two wafers contact, a cavity next to devices on the device wafer is formed. Radiation heat must be used from the heated chuck to sufficiently heat sealant of both the cap wafer and the device wafer. The required radiation heat can damage and modify the electrical properties of the device wafer which cause incorrect operation. The reliability of the sealing capability of two pressed sealing materials that are compressed when heated is an issue as the strength of the bond does not hold a vacuum long term.

Semiconductor device with a controlled cavity and method of formation


Methods and apparatus for enhancing the accuracy for detecting the endpoint of certain operations (such as etching, photoresist development or chemical reaction) in the processing of materials which results in a change in the reflectivity or refractive index of the material are provided. The methods decrease the sensitivity of endpoint detection to high frequency noise and periodic oscillations. The methods also allow accurate calculation of overprocessing time and real-time viewing of data by the user.

A controller for detecting the end of an operation (often called the "endpoint") on a material and particularly on semiconductor wafers will typically detect the endpoint by detecting a change in light being reflected or transmitted from the material. In one system for doing this an optical emitter such as a light-emitting diode (LED) produces light which strikes a wafer surface and is reflected back to an optical detector. In another system natural light produced by a reaction process is monitored by a detector and the rate of change of this natural light in certain frequency bands is used to detect the endpoint of an operation. In both cases the detected light intensity is a measure of the state of the material being processed. The state of the material being processed may be measured by the material's reflectivity, by the chemical constituents of the material, or by the index of refraction of the material. A change in reflectivity indicates the process endpoint for metal etching, while the end of thin-film-interference oscillation signals may signal the endpoint for dielectric etching and photoresist development.
During development and removal of photoresist or during dielectric etching, interference fringes are a direct indication of resist dissolution or dielectric removed. The breakthrough to the underlying substrate (which might be a wafer surface, for example) that occurs when the photoresist or dielectric is removed is referred to as the endpoint and, as shown in FIG. 1, is recognizable as the point where the interference signal becomes nearly flat. The total process time consists of the time (A) which is required to reach breakthrough (endpoint), and any additional time (B) needed to clear out the resist or the dielectric completely. The time (B) is generally referred to as the overdevelopment or overetch period and will depend upon the nature of the material being removed.
The total process time is equal to the sum of the time to endpoint plus the overdevelopment or overetch time. For simplicity, the phrase "overprocess time" will be used in this specification to mean either the overdevelopment time or the overetch time depending on whether a photoresist is being developed and thus removed or a layer of material is being removed.
The actual signals observed can, and in many cases will, vary drastically from an ideal interferogram pattern. Variations in reflectivity from the substrate layers (such as Si, Poly-Si, Al, SiO.sub.2 and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) topography, substrate roughness, as well as process variables, will affect the strength and characteristics of the reflected signal.
Establishing precise endpoint time is essential in determining the start of the overprocess period, so that the total process time is tightly controlled. A reliable and accurate process control system must be able to recognize the endpoint under any variable signal conditions. For instance, in semiconductor processing where endpoint detection is important, wafer conditions and the wafer-to-sensor distance may vary. In order for the endpoint to be accurately detected, small changes in the reflected light intensity must be measured and changes in light intensity due to effects other than the process being monitored must be eliminated.
Endpoint detection sensors capable of meeting these stringent requirements can suffer from several problems. Ambient light can interfere with the detection of light reflected from the wafer by causing noise in the monitored signal. As the wafer spins during processing, the wafer may wobble or tilt, causing the reflected light to vary. This artifact may interfere with endpoint detection.

Method of endpoint detection and structure therefor


Compositions and methods are provided for improved wound healing. In particular, provided herein are compositions and methods for the direct delivery of Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) or vectors encoding Sirt1 to the wounds (e.g., of diabetic patients). In some embodiments, provided herein are therapeutic devices comprising: (a) a vector encoding Sirtuin-1 (Sirt 1); and (b) a hydrogel carrier. In some embodiments, the vector comprises a viral vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding Sirt 1. In some embodiments, the vector comprises a non-viral vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding Sirt1.

Diabetes-impaired wound healing remains a major clinical complication. A major complication associated with diabetes is impaired wound healing or chronic ulcers. Many molecular and physiological factors contribute to the impairment in diabetic wound healing. For instance, lack of angiogenesis or irregular blood vessel network, excessive and prolonged inflammation, rampant oxidative stress, and senescence are commonly cited.[1-5; herein incorporated by reference in their entireties]. Therefore, therapies that can modulate these events are crucial in improving wound healing.
Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1), an NAD+-dependent lysine deacetylase, has been shown to regulate and restore angiogenic function and the secretion of proangiogenic factors in diabetic endothelial progenitor cell (EPC). [6, 7; herein incorporated by reference in their entireties] Seminal papers have demonstrated that Sirt1 is involved in the protection against excessive inflammation and oxidative stress by deacetylating NFκB and Forkhead box O transcription factors. [8, 9; herein incorporated by reference in their entireties] Furthermore, Sirt1 inhibits cellular senescence, promotes keratinocyte differentiation, and protects against UV-induced DNA damage.[10-13; herein incorporated by reference in their entireties] Several studies have demonstrated that Sirt1 is downregulated or dysfunctional in a diabetic milieu and that Sirt1 overexpression improves glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity and protects against diabetes.[14-19; herein incorporated by reference in their entireties] However, the role of Sirt1 in diabetic foot ulcers or wound healing is not known.

Retroviral particles expressing Sirt1 embedded within PPCN


A knitting machine needle having at least at one point S2, S3, S4 or S5 of its hook, a cross-section that is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal center plane M. Preferably, this cross-section is an oval cross-section and, more preferably, an elliptical cross-section. Using this measure, the robbing-back effect can be affected in a targeted manner during the knitting operation.

The invention relates to a knitting machine needle for loop-forming and knitting machines and, in particular, to a hook needle for circular knitting machines.
Hook needles for circular knitting machines have basically been known. They have a longitudinal shank that has a hook at one end. The hook is disposed to pick up a thread and, while forming a stitch, pull said thread through a stitch that is already seated on the shank. In order to enclose the picked-up thread in the hook, it is possible to provide additional means such as, for example, latches that are pivotally supported on the shank, sliders or the like.
If the knitting operation occurs serially in a row of stitches, a so-called robbing-back effect can be observed during the stitch-forming process. The knitting needle that is knitting pulls the picked-up thread through the older stitch seated on the shank and thus pulls along the thread. A half-stitch is formed, whereby both its tuck loops are located on both sides of the hook. One tuck loop transfers to the guided threads, whereas the other tuck loop transfers to the neighboring, just previously formed, half-stitch. Referring to this knitting operation, it may be observed that, during the formation of the new half-stitch, the thread tends to be pulled over from the just previously formed half stitch, which leads to a reduction in size of the older half-stitch. This effect is referred to as the "robbing-back effect" and may be undesirable.
Considering this, it is the object of the invention to provide a knitting machine needle with which the robbing-back effect can be influenced.

Hook needle with canted elliptical cross-section of the hook


An electronic component includes a first ceramic substrate having a first principal surface on the upper side and a second principal surface on the lower side, a multilayer body constituted by a plurality of insulator layers each made of a material containing resin and laminated on the first principal surface, a first coil disposed in and/or on the multilayer body, a first relay conductor connected to the first coil, and a first outer electrode disposed on the first ceramic substrate and electrically connected to the first relay conductor. The plurality of insulator layers include one or more first insulator layers in each of which a first corner has a shape cut away as a first cut-away portion, the first relay conductor is disposed in the first cut-away portion, and the plurality of insulator layers include a second insulator layer that is contacted with the first relay conductor from below.

As one example of related-art electronic components, there is known an electronic component disclosed in International Publication No. 2013/031880. FIG. 10A is an external perspective view of an electronic component 510 disclosed in International Publication No. 2013/031880.
The electronic component 510 includes magnetic substrates 512a and 512b, a multilayer body 514, an outer electrode 515a, a connecting portion 516a, lead-out portions 521a and 521b, and a coil L501. The magnetic substrate 512b, the multilayer body 514, and the magnetic substrate 512a are successively laminated to position in the mentioned order from the upper side toward the lower side. The coil L501 is disposed inside the multilayer body 514. The lead-out portions 521a and 521b are disposed in a portion of the multilayer body 514 where a ridge of the multilayer body 514 is cut away, and they are formed to extend in an up-down direction for connection therebetween. One end of the coil L501 is connected to the lead-out portion 521a. The connecting portion 516a is disposed in a portion of the magnetic substrate 512a where a ridge of the magnetic substrate 512a is cut away, and an upper end of the connecting portion 516a is connected to the lead-out portion 521b. The outer electrode 515a is disposed on a bottom surface of the magnetic substrate 512a and is connected to the connecting portion 516a.

Electronic component and manufacturing method for same


A private branch exchange comprises trunk circuits, communication highways connected to the trunk circuits for transmitting data of a time-divisional multiplexed channels, and a time switch for switching the communication highways. A communication highway is connected to a computer network via a circuit/packet converter. The computer network comprises branch networks to which the circuit/packet converter is connected, and a root network to which the branch networks are connected through a router/gateway. Each computer terminal has an extension number and IP/port addresses different for such communication functions as audio communication, data communication and the like. The circuit/packet converter has bearer circuits different for each communication function and allocates a specified bearer circuit to each time slot of the communication highway. When a call is originated, the circuit/packet converter controls the time slot of the communication highway such that a bearer circuit vacant and suitable for a call type is connected to the computer terminal. The bearer circuit interfaces data on the computer network with circuit data on the communication highway. Therefore, the computer terminal can be connected to the exchange through the communication highway and caused to function as a terminal connected to the private branch exchange for each of various communication function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication system for performing telephone communication or facsimile transmission by utilizing computer terminals such as personal computers and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
For such a purpose, there has conventionally been available an apparatus, wherein a personal computer is directly connected to a subscriber""s line by fitting a facsimile card or a modem card into the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card slot of the computer.
This apparatus has only a single function system that a card must be prepared for every facsimile transmission or data communication and a PCMCIA card must be replaced by another in order to change a function. It also has a drawback that one computer may monopolize the subscriber""s line.
There is another apparatus designed for the same purpose, wherein a plurality of computers are connected to a local area network (Intranet) and further connected to a public switched telephone network by a gate way having a facsimile function or a data communication function. These apparatus allow a plurality of terminals to individually make calls and seemingly share the subscriber""s line, since these terminals are connected to the gate way. However, as a telephone number is not assigned to each computer, direct communication addressed to each computer from the public switched telephone network may not be performed and sharing of the subscriber""s line is not provided in the true sense of the word. As in the case of the PCMCIA card, this gate way must be prepared for every function and thus this may also has only a single function system.
In such conventional communication system, it is necessary to install large-sized and complicated equipment in order to utilize various functions of the computer by the subscriber""s line or an extension line. Therefore, it has been difficult to make sufficient use of various functions of the computer.
The invention was made to cope with the above-noted situation. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system, wherein a computer terminal may communicate with other communication terminals by a public switched telephone network or an extension network with a computer network connected to a subscriber""s line or an extension line.
It is another object of the invention to provide a communication system, whereby a plurality of computer terminals may share a subscriber""s line and one computer terminal may be utilized as a terminal for various kinds of communication services.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a private branch exchange, whereby an exchanging operation may be performed for a computer terminal by connecting a computer network to communication highways included therein and the computer terminal may be treated equally with other extension terminals connected to the communication highways or other communication terminals connected to the communication highways by a public switched telephone network.
In order to achieve these objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, a communication system comprises exchanging means including a plurality of communication circuits having communication highways of a plurality of channels, exchange control means for controlling the exchanging means, a computer network connected to the exchange control means and having at least one computer terminal, and data converting means connected between the computer network and the communication highways. The computer terminal comprises control information communicating means for transmitting and receiving call control information with the exchange control means by the computer network and data communicating means for transmitting and receiving data with the data converting means by the computer network. The data converting means comprises mode converting means for converting the mode of transmitted data between the computer network and the communication highways.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a communication system comprises a computer terminal and converting means connected to the digital circuits of a computer network and a public switched telephone network. The computer terminal comprises control information communicating means for transmitting and receiving call control signal with the converting means by the computer network when the terminal communicates with another communication terminal connected to the public switched telephone network, and data communicating means for transmitting and receiving data with the converting means by the computer network. The converting means comprises call control signal transfer means for transferring call control signal between the digital circuits of the computer network and the public switched telephone network, and data converting means for converting the mode of transmitted data between the computer network and the digital circuits of the public switched telephone network.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer system, connected to a computer network and capable of communicating plural kinds of data, comprises a plurality of communication highways in which a plurality of time slots are time-division multiplexed, an exchange including a time switch for switching the plurality of communication highways wherein each time slot of the communication highways is respectively assigned to any of the plural kinds of data, and interface means connected between the computer network and one of the plurality of communication highways, and for connecting one computer terminal in the computer network to the time slot in accordance with the data type in the communication highway.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a private branch exchange having a computer terminal capable of communicating plural kinds of data and the terminal is connected to a computer network, comprises a plurality of communication highways in which a plurality of time slots are time-division multiplexed wherein each time slot of the communication highways is respectively assigned to any of the plural kinds of data, a time switch for switching the plurality of communication highways, and interface means connected between the computer network and one of the plurality of communication highways, and for connecting one computer terminal in the computer network to the time slot in accordance with data type in the communication highway.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.
The objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A steering column position control apparatus including a stationary bracket having vertical legs on opposite sides of the steering column, a spacer on the steering column between the legs of the bracket, a non-rotatable thrust plate outside of the stationary bracket bearing on one side thereof, a long bolt mounted on the spacer and projecting through the thrust plate, the spacer and a substantially vertical slot in each leg of the bracket, a non-ratable nut outboard of the opposite side of the bracket threaded on the bolt, and a lever outboard of the thrust plate rotatable as a unit with the bolt. A flex plate is attached to the thrust plate between the latter and the lever and includes a flex arm having a detent feature at a distal end thereof. In a closed position of the lever, the detent feature overlaps an edge of the lever for retention thereof in the closed position. In positions of the lever other than the closed position, the detent feature is biased against a flat side of the lever by the flex arm for moderately tensioning the bolt.

Motor vehicle steering columns which are mounted on a vehicle body for up and down pivotal movement about a geometric center located near the innermost end of the steering column are sometimes referred to as "rake adjustable" or "raked" steering columns. Prior position control apparatus for raked columns typically includes a stationary bracket with vertical legs on opposite sides of the steering column and a lever actuated clamp for squeezing the legs of the bracket against a spacer on the steering column to fictionally capture the position of the steering column relative to the stationary bracket. Usually, the clamp includes a long bolt rotatable with the lever and a nut threaded onto the bolt but restrained against rotation relative to the stationary bracket so that up and down movement of the lever tensions the bolt between the legs of the stationary bracket and the legs squeeze against the spacer. When the screw thread on the bolt is a multiple lead thread, chatter during up and down adjustment may be occur because of the degree to which such multiple lead thread relaxes bolt tension. A raked steering column position control apparatus according to this invention is an improvement over prior control apparatus of the type described above.

Position control apparatus for steering column