The present invention provides an adenoviral gene transfer vector comprising a first fiber gene and a second fiber gene, wherein the fiber genes are different. The present invention also provides related recombinant adenoviral gene transfer vectors and methods of propagating an adenovirus with a fiber protein that does not bind to a native adenoviral fiber receptor.

The present invention relates to adenoviral gene transfer vectors, as well as methods of making and using the same.
The 49 serotypes of human adenovirus are divided into six serogroups, A-F. All human adenoviruses have a capsid that contains 12 fiber proteins and other capsid proteins, such as penton base protein and hexon protein. The 12 fiber proteins extend from the surface of the capsid protein and bind with a native receptor that is expressed on the surface of cells that adenoviruses efficiently infect. This initial binding step is usually followed by a second virus-host cell interaction in which the penton base protein binds to an integrin. The binding of penton base protein to the cell is necessary for integrin mediated endocytosis of the virus. However, it is the binding characteristics of the fiber protein that are normally dominant (e.g., in non-recombinant adenoviruses) in selecting which cell types are infected by an adenovirus.
Of the 49 different serotypes of human adenoviruses, the subgroup F viruses (Ad40 and Ad41) are unique. They are the only serotypes that contain two distinct fiber genes (one short and one long) in the major late transcription unit. Both of these fiber genes are expressed and form homotrimers in equimolar ratios on the surface of group F adenoviruses. However, group F viruses are extremely fastidious (i.e., have complex requirements for viral propagation), and, in general, do not grow well in cell types normally used to grow adenoviruses, such as A549 cells, HeLa cells, and HEK-293 cells. For these and other reasons, it has not been desirable to use group F adenoviruses to make adenoviral vectors that comprise and direct the expression (in target cells) of heterologous genes (i.e., as gene transfer vectors).
In contrast to the group F adenoviruses, Ad2 (group C), Ad5 (group C), and some other adenoviruses have been well studied and are among the serotypes that are commonly adapted to gene transfer methods. Such adenoviral gene transfer vectors have been successfully employed as vehicles to transfer therapeutic, immunogenic or prophylactic, and experimental genes to mammals in vivo, as vehicles to transfer genes to cells and tissues in vitro (including for subsequent ex vivo therapies or studies), as models of regulated eukaryotic transcription, and for other purposes. Adenoviral vectors are among the preferred contemporary gene transfer vectors employed, because adenoviral vectors have relatively low toxicity to host cells, efficiently infect a broad range of host cells, do not typically integrate into the host cell genome, and have a substantial number of other advantages.
There are, however, a substantial number of cell types that adenoviral vectors do not efficiently infect. Moreover, for some applications, there has been a desire in the art to limit the host cell range of adenoviral vectors. Accordingly, there has been a significant effort to make chimeric adenoviral vectors having modified coat proteins which change and control the efficiency with which adenoviral vectors infect host cells in vivo and in vitro (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,002 (Dulbecco), U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,291 (Curiel et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,328 (McClelland et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,932 (Curiel et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,099 (Wickham et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,991 (Lindholm et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,136 (Wickham et al.), and International Patent Application WO 94/10323 (Spooner et al.)). These modified coat proteins bind or selectively bind to a protein on the surface of a cell, which mediates the uptake of the receptor. However, many of these chimeric coat proteins substantially reduce the infection efficiency into preferred production cell lines (e.g., HEK-293 cells). The result of this decreased infection efficiency (in preferred production cell lines) can include lower yields and titers, the need to produce novel cell lines to support propagation of the novel vectors, and other deleterious effects.
In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for an adenoviral gene transfer vector or a method for producing an adenoviral vector that has a novel target cell range and/or allows the desired control of vector tropism, and which also allows easy and efficient vector production. The present invention provides such a vector and method. These and other advantages of the present invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.
The present invention provides an adenoviral gene transfer vector comprising a passenger gene and two types of fiber genes as well as the genome of the present inventive gene transfer vector. Optionally, one type of the fiber proteins of the adenoviral gene transfer vector has affinity with a natural adenoviral receptor, while the other type of fiber does has affinity for a novel cell surface binding site, but does not have affinity for a natural adenoviral receptor. Advantageously, the ratio of the types of fiber proteins on the adenoviral gene transfer vector can be manipulated to impart selectivity of binding to cells in vivo for research or other uses. The present invention also provides a chimeric adenoviral fiber gene that encodes a fiber protein that has a Factor Xa cleavage site.
While applicants do not wish to be bound to any particular theory, it is believed that the adenoviral fiber protein is dominant in determining which types of cells will be efficiently infected when contacted with an adenovirus. Accordingly, recombinant fiber proteins have been made which have affinity for cellular receptors other than the native adenoviral fiber receptor (hereinafter referred to as CAR, which stands for Coxsackievirus-Adenovirus Receptor; see Bergelson et al., Science, 275, 1320-1323 (1997), and Hong et al., EMBOJ., 16, 2294-2306 (1997)). In many embodiments of these chimeric adenoviral fiber proteins, the binding moiety of the native fiber protein is destroyed, deleted, or sterically obscured. Therefore, adenoviruses comprising the chimeric adenoviral fiber protein must be propagated in specialized cells expressing or overexpressing a receptor for the chimeric fiber protein. Several embodiments of the present invention provide a novel adenovirus comprising, and directing the expression of (in a target cell), a heterologous gene of interest (i.e., a gene transfer vector) and a convenient method of obviating this and other problems.
One embodiment of the present inventive method comprises making and using the present inventive adenovirus to facilitate propagation of an adenoviral vector that has a chimeric fiber protein that does not bind to CAR. The present inventive adenovirus is an adenovirus having two types of fiber proteins, at least one of which does not efficiently bind to CAR. The second type of fiber gene can be a wildtype fiber protein or is a chimeric fiber protein that retains the ability to bind to CAR. Thus, the inventive adenovirus can have one type of fiber protein with the ability to bind to CAR (or another receptor present on the surface of a preferred production cell line for propagating a particular virus) and a second type of fiber protein that binds to a receptor present on the surface of a target cell of interest.
Effective adenoviral infection does not require more than one or a few fiber proteins that have the capacity to bind to a cell surface receptor for the fiber protein. Therefore, the second type of fiber gene efficiently mediates the uptake of the virus by production cells, despite the fact that not all twelve fiber proteinsxe2x80x94and perhaps only one fiber protein per capsidxe2x80x94have affinity for the production cell; especially when the production cell is maintained in vitro, where it is possible to obtain high viral particle to cell ratios. The present invention is especially useful where it is difficult to make or maintain the production cell (e.g., cells expressing an essential gene function of both the E1 and the E4 regions of the adenoviral genome or other cytotoxic proteins).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first fiber protein is chimeric or otherwise does not have affinity with CAR. The chimeric or non-CAR binding fiber protein (in some embodiments both types of fiber protein) comprises a nonnative amino acid sequence in place of or in addition to the native amino acid sequence of the fiber protein. The nonnative amino acid can be placed in an exposed loop of the fiber protein, at the C-terminus of the fiber protein, and/or can replace discreet sections of the fiber protein, such as the knob. The nonnative amino acid comprises sequences with suitable affinity with a cell surface receptor (naturally occurring or induced). Additionally, the nonnative amino acid can comprise sequences that mediate optimal interaction of the fiber protein with the targeted receptor such as spacer sequences. Such fiber proteins are now well known in the art, and specific teachings describing how to make and use these fiber proteins can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,002 (Dulbecco), U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,291 (Curiel et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,328 (McClelland et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,932 (Curiel et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,099 (Wickham et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,991 (Lindholm et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,136 (Wickham et al.), published International Patent Applications WO 94/10323 (Spooner et al.), WO 98/44121 (LeGrand et al.), and WO 98/54346 (Wickham et al.), and in other sources.
The two types of fiber genes can also be obtained or derived from adenoviruses belonging to different serogroups. For example, the fiber protein encoded by one type of fiber gene can be of a serotype that efficiently binds to CAR (e.g., Ad2 or Ad5) and the other can be from subgroup B (e.g., Ad3), which does not bind to CAR. Optionally, the vector from which the fiber gene (or derivative thereof) is obtained can be a group C vector that can also comprises a fiber gene from a group F adenovirus (e.g., Ad40 or Ad41). At least because group F adenoviruses are fastidious, it is preferable in some embodiments for the adenovirus to be of a serogroup other than group F. Group F adenoviruses are most commonly defined by being neutralized by antibodies that bind to the coat of Ad40 or Ad41 (a neutralized virus cannot efficiently infect a cell) wherein the antibody or anti-sera containing the anti-body does not neutralize adenoviruses of non-group F adenoviruses. However, for the purposes of the present invention, group F adenoviruses can also be defined by the E1 sequences, E2 sequences, and the E4 sequences, which contain essential gene functions that are not efficiently complemented by corresponding group C genes (except when replaced entirely as in an adenoviral amplicon or xe2x80x9cgutlessxe2x80x9d vector).
The Ad7 fiber is less effective than group C fibers (e.g., Ad2 fiber or Ad5 fiber) at infecting CAR-expressing cells in vivo, but is capable of efficiently mediating the infection of CAR-expressing cells in vitro. An adenovirus having two types of fiber protein, one specific for a selected cell type and the other being an Ad7 fiber, would be more selective for the targeted cells than if the Ad5 fiber replaced the Ad7 fiber. Accordingly, for many embodiments of the present invention, the Ad7 fiber gene is a preferred type of second fiber gene.
It will be appreciated that any embodiment of the present inventive adenovirus or adenoviral genomes can also comprise a passenger gene. Passenger genes can be any suitable DNA that is of interest in any suitable field, including but not limited to experimental biology, protein or bio-product production, and medicine (e.g., therapeutic, diagnostic, and prophylactic genes).
The fiber proteins present on the present inventive adenovirus are preferably encoded in cis (i.e., by the adenoviral genome), but may be encoded in trans. At least one fiber gene is preferably encoded by the L5 transcript of the major late transcription unit of the adenoviral genome (e.g., in the natural location of the fiber gene). However, the fiber genes can be placed at any suitable location within the genome (e.g., in the E1 or E3 regions of the adenoviral genome). Additionally, either or both fiber genes can be placed under the control of a regulable promoter. If a regulable promoter is used, it is ideally induced or repressed by changing the production cell environment (e.g., changing temperature or adding an inducer or repressor to the medium). The use of inducible and repressible promoters (i.e., regulable promoters) is within the skill of the ordinary artisan.
In an especially preferred embodiment, both fiber genes are placed in tandem in the L5 region of the adenoviral vector. For example, a second fiber gene can be inserted into an adenoviral vector either upstream of the ATG of the first fiber gene or downstream of the polyadenylation of the second fiber gene. The added fiber gene carries with it (or otherwise is provided with) independent splice acceptor elements and polyadenylation signals. This embodiment provides several substantial advantages. First, the fiber genes are temporally regulated by the normal adenoviral regulation of the major late transcription unit and are commonly induced to express fiber protein at the high levels required for efficient adenoviral packaging. Second, one fiber gene will be proximal to, and the other fiber gene will be distal from, the site of transcription initiation. Unless additional elements are added to the vector, the ratio of proximal fiber protein to distal fiber protein produced is from about 3:1 to about 11:1, and preferably about 6:1 to about 10:1, and most preferably about 8:1. Accordingly, the proximal fiber protein is over-represented on the adenoviral capsid so that statistically about 8 to 11 proximal fiber proteins and about 4 to 1 distal fiber proteins are present on the capsid. Since in vitro infection is usually much more efficient than in vivo infection, only one fiber protein need be present on the capsid to effect efficient uptake into the production cell. Advantageously, this leaves up to 11 of the 12 possible fiber proteins to direct in vivo targeting of the recombinant adenoviral vector.
Any suitable technique can be used to make the present inventive adenoviral vectors and recombinant adenoviruses. When inserting an additional gene into the L5 region of the adenoviral genome, insertions are preferably made in the 3xe2x80x2 of the L5 poly(A) site in an area that does not perturb the E4 transcript or reading frame which is expressed on the opposite strand of the genome downstream from the fiber region. Inserted fiber genes can also carry their own 5xe2x80x2 and 3xe2x80x2 RNA processing elements of the major late transcription unit L5 exon. Gall et al., Virology, 70, 2116-2123 (1996), discloses suitable molecular biology techniques which can be used to make the present invention.
The present invention also provides a fiber protein that can trimerize and can be efficiently incorporated into functional adenoviral capsids and which comprises a site that can be efficiently cut by a protease. Preferably, the protease recognition site is inserted into an exposed loop of the fiber gene, and most preferably, the recognition site is inserted into the AB loop of the fiber protein. Factor Xa protease is preferred as it is available at favorable costs, recognizes a site sufficiently small to be inserted into the fiber gene without disrupting essential secondary or higher order structures of the fiber protein; however, the enzyme does not effectively cleave wildtype adenoviral coat proteins (at least in essential regions), and effectively cuts heterologous Factor Xa recognition sites inserted into chimeric fiber genes. Factor Xa is a serine endopeptidase that hydrolyzes peptide bonds at the carboxylic side of Arg within the sequence -Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg-X- (SEQ ID NO: 1). Factor Xa is well known in the art and is available from commercial suppliers such as Boehringer Mannheim and Hoffman-La Roche.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the protease recognition site is incorporated into a first fiber protein specific for a receptor on a production cell of an adenovirus having a second fiber protein. Therefore, the adenovirus of this embodiment can be propagated in the production cell until it is harvested for use. Prior to use, the adenovirus is incubated in the presence of the protease which cleaves the cell targeting moiety of the first fiber protein from the adenoviral capsid. The proteolytically processed adenovirus can then be introduced into a mixed population of cells (in vivo or in vitro), wherein the adenovirus will efficiently infect only those cells that have a receptor specific for the second fiber protein. This embodiment is particularly useful in the identification of ligands for novel cell populations, because no special cells are required to propagate a library of adenoviruses comprising (i) the CAR-specific fiber protein having a protease recognition site and (ii) a novel chimeric fiber protein comprising a particular or random nonnative amino acid sequence. Variations of this process are referred to as xe2x80x9cpanningxe2x80x9d of xe2x80x9cbio-panningxe2x80x9d. It is within the skill of the ordinary artisan to conduct such panning experiments.
In another embodiment, the fiber protein containing a protease recognition site has at least 60%, and preferably at least 90%, identity to a wild type group C fiber protein.
The following example further illustrates the present invention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.

Adenoviral vectors with tandem fiber proteins


Circularly-polarized antennas and their methods of use for active holographic imaging through barriers. The antennas are dielectrically loaded to optimally match the dielectric constant of the barrier through which images are to be produced. The dielectric loading helps to remove barrier-front surface reflections and to couple electromagnetic energy into the barrier.

Active holographic imaging using RF, microwaves, and/or millimeter waves can produce images of objects that are embedded, concealed, and/or obscured by a barrier. However, this task is made difficult when the barrier comprises a dielectric material and the antennas that transmit and receive the electromagnetic radiation used for imaging are not optimized for that particular barrier material. Problems associated with non-optimized antennas can include surface reflections off of the barrier, poor penetration of electromagnetic energy into the barrier, and issues associated with polarized-dependent objects embedded in the barrier or existing behind the barrier. Examples of barriers can include, but are not limited to, concrete, masonry, wall board, wood, and ceramic. Accordingly, a RF, microwave, and/or millimeter wave antennas for active holographic imaging through barrier materials that is matched to the barrier material is needed.

Circularly polarized antennas for active holographic imaging through barriers


Rotary pressure distributor for a carousel-type hollow-body treatment machine, comprising several treatment stations, this distributor comprising two coaxial rings (2, 3) in sealed contact, one of them (3) a rotary ring comprising communication orifices (6) connected to at least one treatment station and the other (2) stationary and comprising several slots (7) connected to a pressure source of the machine, these orifices and slots being distributed over several concentric circumferences (9) of different diameters; the orifices and/or the slots positioned on the different diameters have anterior and posterior ends (11, 12) shaped in such a way that as the orifices slide past the respective slots, the rates at which the surface area of the passage (13) defined by each orifice and the associated slot increase upon opening and decrease upon closing are substantially the same over all the circumferences.

A rotary distributor of this type is described in document FR 2 791 598 in the name of the Applicant. With reference to FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, the rotary distributor denoted in its entirety by the reference 1, comprises two coaxial rings 2, 3, theoretically with their axis A substantially vertical in the conditions of use as shown in FIG. 1. One of the rings (the ring 2 situated underneath in FIG. 1) is stationary, and the other ring (the ring 3 situated on top in FIG. 1) is rotary. The rings are in contact with one another in a sealed manner via respective facing contact faces 4, 5 defining a meeting plane P. The rotary ring 3 comprises communication orifices, denoted generically by the reference 6, which are each able to be connected to at least one individual treatment station for treating a container and which open into the contact face 5 of said rotary ring 3. The stationary ring 2 comprises at least one slot, denoted generically by the reference 7, which is able to be connected, at 8, to a pressure source of the machine and which opens into the contact face 4 of said stationary ring 2 in such a way as to lie in the path of the orifices 6 in the rotary ring 3; hence, a treatment station is placed in communication with the pressure source when the corresponding orifice 6 lies facing the slot 7.
In its design as described and depicted in document FR 2 791 598, the rotary distributor 1 is arranged with orifices 6 for connection to the treatment stations which are distributed over two circumferences, denoted generically by the reference 9, of different diameters (the orifices situated on these two, external 9e and internal 9i, circumferences being denoted 6e, 6i respectively) and with at least two slots 7e, 7i for connecting to at least one pressure source which, too, are situated on two circumferences, also denoted by the references 9e, 9i, of the same diameters as the diameters on which said orifices 6e, 6i are situated. This arrangement can be clearly seen from FIG. 2 of the attached drawings, which is a view of the rotary ring 3 from beneath, and in FIG. 3, which is a view of the stationary ring 2 from above. FIG. 3 shows that the slots 7 are distributed in several groups corresponding to the generation of several pressure levels: two slots 7e1, 7i1 are connected respectively to pumps involved in a first pumping step (pumping to a first vacuum level); two slots 7e2, 7i2 are connected respectively to pumps used in a second pumping step (pumping to a second, lower, vacuum level). In addition, two slots 15e, 15i are both connected, via a single common line 16, to a pump used for a vacuum using step (for example depositing a layer of a material such as carbon on a face—particularly the internal face—of a container made of thermoplastic such as PET, using a low-pressure plasma).
In this known arrangement, the radial distance between the two circumferences 9e and 9i is not very high (typically being of the order of magnitude of the diameter of an orifice 6, as can be seen in FIG. 2), whereas the internal circumference 9i is approximately 6 orifice 6 diameters away from the axis A of the rotary distributor.
This known arrangement is currently used in rotary machines that typically have 20 treatment stations, and is entirely satisfactory.
However, container manufacturers, particularly bottle manufacturers, are ever wishing to increase production rates. For certain treatments, (for example, for depositing a barrier layer, particularly of carbon, on the interior face of containers made of thermoplastics such as PET by using a low-pressure plasma), it is not possible to increase to any appreciable extent the rate at which the treatment process is performed at each station. A significant increase in the production rate can therefore be envisaged by increasing the number of treatment stations. Hence, the Applicant Company envisages developing a new machine in which the number of treatment stations is appreciably higher, and typically is more than doubled (to 48 stations).
In terms of the rotary distributor, that may result in a corresponding increase in the number of connections to be made, that is to say typically may correspond to at least doubling the number of communication orifices to be provided in the rotary ring.
However, rotary distributor rings are very large and heavy components; typically, in present-day machines equipped with 20 treatment stations, the rings are approximately 0.60 m in diameter and each weigh of the order of 120 kg. While it still remains possible to increase their outside diameter a little, the capability of the machines needed to manufacture these rings does, however, set a limit that cannot be crossed, even though it would be necessary to cross this limit in order to distribute the increased number of communication orifices over the same number (typically two) of circumferences of different diameters.
In order for the rings to maintain approximately their current diameter, it is therefore necessary to distribute the communication orifices over a larger number (typically 3 or even 4) of circumferences of different diameters. This objective can be achieved by reducing the diameter of the central aperture 10 of the rings 2, 3, and by populating the available surface area of the ring as densely as possible. By way of example, FIG. 4 shows from beneath a rotary ring 3 arranged in a configuration of this type with the orifices 6 distributed over three groups 6e, 6m, 6i situated respectively on three circumferences 9e, 9m, 9i, these respectively being the external, the middle and the internal ones.
However, in this case, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the diameter of the external circumference 9e is practically twice the diameter of the internal circumference 9i, and the internal circumference 9i is now only about 3 orifice 6 diameters away from the axis A. That means that the linear rate of travel of the orifices 6e situated on the external circumference 9e is practically twice that of the orifices 6i situated on the internal circumference 9i. As a result, if all the orifices 6 have the same shape—here a circle of the same diameter—as illustrated in FIG. 4, the rates at which the passages defined by an orifice 6 coinciding with an associated slot 7 open and close will differ according to the circumference: this rate will be higher for orifices 6e situated on the external circumference than for orifices 6i situated on the internal circumference 9i. This means that the treatment stations do not all receive the pressure in the same way and that, as a result, the containers are not all treated uniformly, according to the position of the control orifice on the rotary distributor.
Such inconsistency in the quality of container treatment is inadmissible.

Rotary pressure distributor and carousel-type hollow body treatment machine equipped therewith


The ultracentrifugal disintegrator includes a device for cooling the annular zone (7), extending from the outer face (8) of the rotor (4) to the inner face (9) of the sieve (5), by feeding a gaseous coolant to the upper part of the zone (7), vertically with respect to the zone (7). Such a disintegrator is used for the cryocomminution of heat sensitive material.

An ultracentrifugal disintegrator of the conventional type includes at least a housing equipped with a system for feeding the material to be comminuted, a motor-driven rotating member (rotor) with blades or pins, an annular sieve positioned around the rotor and a collector for the comminuted material.
In such an apparatus, the comminution of the selected material is carried out through impaction, collision and shearing action. The material arrives into the comminution chamber via the feeder funnel and is caught by the rotor turning at high speed and comminuted into minute particles in less than one second, between the rotor and the annular sieve. The material remains in the comminution chamber only until it reaches the fineness of particles required; under the effect of the centrifugal force, it traverses the annular sieve and reaches the collector.
This type of apparatus is available commercially and is particularly well adapted for grinding quite a variety of inorganic materials (clay, gypsum, limestone), plant materials (cellulose fibers, fodder, wood chips . . . ) or further synthetic materials such as resins and plastics.
In the case of heat sensitive materials being comminuted, whether they be natural or synthetic, this type of apparatus reaches rapidly its limits, and this even more so as the refrigeration modes proposed by the suppliers themselves prove ineffective in numerous cases. As a result, a progressive clogging of the openings of the sieve can occur by the softened or even the molten material, or even worse, the material being comminuted can undergo substantial denaturation. When active substances such as medieaments are processed, this poor control over the temperature conditions prevailing in the comminution chamber can lead to an irreversible alteration of said active substances. In numerous instances investigated, commercial ultracentrifugal disintegrators proved to be unusable.

Ultracentrifugal disintegrator and its use for the cryocomminution of heat sensitive material


A container may have a floor, a ceiling, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall. The first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall may be formed from a container wall for reducing an effective radar cross section of the container. The first side wall and the second side wall in a longitudinal direction of the container mid-height between the floor and the ceiling may be foldable inward into the interior of the container. The first side wall may include a first cladding board that is permeable to radar rays and reduces the effective radar cross section of the container. The first cladding board may have a reflective agent that reflects radar rays and can be aligned to be at least partially inclined relative to a plane of a main extent of the first cladding board.

Standard containers have established themselves for storing and transporting goods. In the meantime, said standard containers are also being used in a very much wider spectrum, from temporary residential buildings or offices to mobile operating rooms.
ISO 668 standardizes containers for maritime freight. However, this standard today is used far beyond maritime freight, such that these containers have become accepted as the standard also in the rail and truck sectors. The 20 ft and 40 ft containers are most commonly found, but the standard also defines containers with a length of 45 ft or 53 ft. On account of the wide use of these containers, the infrastructure in the logistics sector has also been adapted to said containers. Loading bays or storage spaces are typically designed for these standard containers.
In order to save space when containers are not being used, it is known from the prior art for said containers to be folded. A foldable standard container is known from DE 201 11 561 U1, wherein four post elements are movable between a vertical and a horizontal position. A self-unfolding standard container is known from WO 2011/154982 A1.
A foldable maritime container is known from WO 2010 085 785 A2.
A folding box-shaped unit is known from DE 1 536 121 A.
A method for coating surfaces for the purpose of camouflaging them in relation to radar is known from DE 1 956 979 C3.
Despite the above, non-foldable containers are mainly used today, since these are substantially more cost-effective and maintenance free. Likewise, the storage and transportation of empty containers is comparatively problem-free since modern container vessels can transport up to 19 000 20-ft containers (TEU: twenty-foot equivalent unit).
Standard containers are also increasingly establishing themselves in the defense sector since the former by virtue of their standardization are comparatively easy to handle. However, it is disadvantageous that the standardized containers by virtue of the vertical metallic side walls thereof have a comparatively large radar cross section when stowed on the ship's deck, and a vessel which transports such containers is thus easy to detect and thus to render vulnerable. For this reason, containers have also been optimized for the defense sector while considering the effective radar cross section. By way of example, a standard container which has a minimized effective radar cross section (RCS) is known from the post-published DE 10 2014 103 601.
However, it is often desirable in the defense sector for not only the radar signature but also the visibility to be reduced. While it is indeed known for these standard containers to be provided for example with camouflage paint, this can only represent a limited improvement. Moreover, the incoming and outgoing transportation of material that is no longer required, even of a standard container that is no longer being used, is typically very complex in the defense sector.
Therefore a need exists for a container that is optimized for application in the defense sector, said container minimizing the ability for detection and being employable in a reliable manner in the field.


A conical pulley for belt Continuously-Variable-Transmissions allowing a bigger than the width W of the belt maximum axial displacement of the one conical pulley half relative to the other, achieving a bigger than 0.5*W*tan(F) difference between the maximum and the minimum effective radiuses of the belt as it runs on the pulley, wherein F is the angle of the working conical surfaces of the pulley, providing a substantial increase of the transmission gear ratio range that enables faster accelerations at the low gear ratios and better mileage and quieter operation at the high gear ratios.

In a belt CVT for a car, scooter, ATV etc, an even lower gear ratio at low-gear improves the acceleration, and an even higher gear ratio at high-gear improves the mileage and reduces the noise. This is why the ratio of the higher gear ratio to the lower gear ratio, called Transmission Gear Ratio Range (or TGRR in the following), is important.
The new generation of steel belt CVTs for cars expands the Transmission Gear Ratio Range from the previous 6.0 to the current global top level of 7.0
The need for higher Transmission Gear Ratio Range is even more crucial in trucks, in agricultural tractors, in machinery equipment etc.


To provide a medium scan method which can be executed for a suitable region at suitable timing, a disk device comprises a storage medium for storing information, a writing unit for writing information to the storage medium by request from an upper device such as a host computer or the like, a medium monitoring unit for monitoring the state of the storage medium, and a medium scan determining unit for determining whether or not to require medium scan for the storage medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medium scan method for monitoring information written to a medium surface in a preventive and maintainable manner in a disk device which executes a read/write process of information to/from a medium surface by request from an upper device such as a host computer or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
There may be cases where a disk device such as a magnetic disk device, which writes/reads to/from a medium surface data transmitted from an upper device such as a host computer or the like and transmits the data to the upper device, cannot maintain the original quality of the data because of a disturbance (such as the attenuation of a data signal due to an influence of leakage flux at the time of a write to a contiguous region, a partial crush of contiguous data due to device vibrations, or the like) or a change by a time elapsing.
For example, there is a problem such that if an unrestorable data check or a restorable data check, and a sector replacement process accompanying the check occur when attempts are made to actually read data from a sector to which data is successfully written, an upper device comes under a significant influence such as a decrease in a processing speed or the like.
Such problems have become obvious as the recording density (BPI: a density in a recording direction (circumferential direction), and TPI: a density between recording tracks (in a diameter direction)) of a medium surface improves with a recent increase in the storage capacity of a disk device, leading to a large obstacle to the quality of the disk device.
Therefore, a function for reading/verifying the entire surface of a medium at predetermined time intervals while a disk device is idle has been popularized as a function for assuring data on the medium surface beforehand.
Namely, the medium surface is internally read while the disk device is idle, and (1) if a sector which causes an unrestorable read error is detected, it is recorded as log data, or (2) data is rewritten to a sector which causes a restorable read error.
As a result, a temporary read error or head noise, an influence exerted by leakage flux at the time of a write to a contiguous track, partial damage caused by a vibrated write can be possibly relieved. Additionally, a restorable sector can be prevented from being degraded to unrestorable state before the degradation occurs.
Furthermore, (3) if an error occurs even in a read remade after the rewrite in (2), this can be a true fault of the medium. In this case, a sector replacement process is executed if possible.
The above described processes are generally called background medium scan, etc., and its specifications are actually proposed by ANSI (American National Standard Institute).
However, the conventional background medium scan (hereinafter referred to as medium scan) is made for the entire recording region of a disk device at predetermined time intervals. Therefore, it cannot flexibly cope with read/write processes executed by diverse requests from an upper device. For example, the following cases are considered.
(1) Case Where Writes Concentrate on a Specific Cylinder Head Sector
To reduce ill effects such as side erase caused by writes which frequently occur to a specific region, read scan for a contiguous region must be started at a time when definite writes concentrate on a definite region. However, with the conventional medium scan, an entire region is always targeted to be scanned without being dependent on an access pattern.
(2) Case Where Writes to a Specific Cylinder Head Sector Occur in a Short Time
If writes frequently occur to a specific region in a short time, scan must be started at a time of exceeding a specific threshold time. However, the conventional medium scan is always made at predetermined time intervals without being dependent on the time of exceeding a threshold.
Japanese Patent Publication No. SHO58-182775 discloses a self-diagnosis method for use in a magnetic disk device, which can check an arbitrary region on a magnetic disk in an idle state.
Additionally, Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI04-205972 discloses a magnetic disk device which can make a reliable diagnosis in a short time.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-190003 discloses a hard disk drive, an information processing device, a disk controlling device, and a diagnosis method for a hard disk drive.
Still further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-322399 discloses an error state processing method and device for restoring a track squeeze fault, etc. of a magnetic disk drive used in a storage device system of large capacity.

Medium scan method for use in disk device


A first servo unit controls a rotational speed of an optical disc using a reproduced signal obtained as a result of reading a signal previously written on the optical disc. A second servo unit controls rotation of the optical disc using a rotation detection signal obtained as a result of measuring a rotational speed of a disc motor which drives the optical disc. A determining unit determines that the second servo unit is to perform a disc-rotation-speed control operation when it is determined that a disc-rotation-speed control operation performed by the first servo unit is not possible. The determining unit determines that the first servo unit is to perform the disc-rotation-speed control operation when the rotation speed of the optical disc is a predetermined one. The optical disc has a plurality of recording regions, the plurality of recording regions having different recording modes for recording signals therein such that a polarity of the reproduced signal relevant in a tracking control operation is different in response to a change of a currently scanned recording region among the plurality of recording regions. The determining unit further changes the polarity of the reproduced signal relevant in the tracking control operation when it is determined that the disc-rotation-speed control operation performed by the first servo unit is not possible.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical-disc apparatus for recording information in and reproducing information from an optical disc, wherein rotational speed of the optical disc is appropriately controlled.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, the optical discs used as a information recording medium include not only a CD (Compact Disc) and a LD (Laser Disc) but also an MD (Mini Disc). The MD is a recordable and reproduceable magneto-optical disc, which has been developed based on advances in optical modulation technology and magnetic-field modulation technology. The MD has recently come into wide use. The MD is used as a commercial product in public-use as a rewriteable music recording medium.
A system for driving the MD is basically similar to an optical-disc apparatus (magneto-optical-disc apparatus). However, in order to record an amount of information corresponding to 74 minutes on the MD having a diameter of 64 mm, the system additionally performs voice-information compression and includes a memory for preventing problematical skipping of voice information which may occur due to vibration applied to the system.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an optical disc apparatus in the related art. In the optical disc apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 1, laser beams emitted by a pickup 14 are incident on an optical disc 13, which is rotated by a disc motor 12 at a controlled rotational speed. Reflected light is converted into a reproduced signal by the pickup 14. The signal is supplied to a synchronization detecting circuit 16, a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit 17 and a disc servo circuit 19, via an analog waveform-shaping circuit 15.
The PLL circuit 17 compares the reproduced signal supplied by the analog waveform shaping circuit 15 with a reference signal which is generated by an internal oscillator (VCO: Voltage Controlled Oscillator). Thus, a reproduced clock signal for demodulation is generated as a result of causing the reference signal to be in synchronization with the reproduced signal, and is supplied to the synchronization detecting circuit 16, a signal processing circuit 18 and the disc servo circuit 19. The synchronization detecting circuit 16 uses the reproduced clock signal from the PLL circuit 17 so as to process the reproduced signal, and then produces a main signal which is thus in synchronization for each bit with the reproduced clock signal and is transmitted to the signal processing circuit 18.
The signal processing circuit 18 performs the processes of error correction, D-A conversion and so forth on the thus-supplied main signal. During these processes, address information is extracted from the main signal, which information is then supplied to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 via a track-address detecting circuit 20. The signal processing circuit 18 includes a memory for preventing problematical skipping of voice information. This memory stores voice information for several seconds successively and uses the thus-stored information to fill in a blank section of voice information which may occur due to jumping of the pickup due to vibration or the like. Thus, skipping resulting in a lack of voice information can be prevented.
A disc servo circuit 19 produces a servo signal as a result of comparing the reproduced clock signal from the PLL circuit 17 with a reference clock signal generated by a system clock 25, and supplies it to the disc motor for controlling the rotation speed of the optical disc 13 at a Constant Linear Velocity (CLV) such that the linear velocity of a recording/reproducing track of the disc 13 passing in front of the pickup is fixed over all radiuses of the disc 13.
In the MD used only for data reproduction, similar to the CD, all areas have a pit structure. In the MD for both data recording and data reproduction, a read-in area has a pit structure, but each recording area and read-out area has a groove structure. If the optical disc 13 is a rewriteable MD, a pit tracking mode and a groove tracking mode are used for the pit structure and groove structure, respectively. When a tracking operation is performed on the pit structure, a protruding portion on the disc be traced. In contrast to this, when the tracking operation is performed on the groove structure, a recessed portion on the disc is traced. Accordingly, polarity of an error signal used in the tracking operation in the pit tracking mode is inverse of the polarity of the error signal used in the tracking operation in the groove tracking mode. (Such a polarity of the error signal as used in the tracking operation will be referred to as a servo polarity, hereinafter.)
Further, the disc servo circuit 19 performs a servo control for an EFM (Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation) signal when the pit structure is scanned, but performs the servo control for an ADIP (ADdress In Pregroove) signal when the groove structure is scanned. For performing such changing of control, the disc servo circuit 19 produces the servo signal for the disc-rotation-speed control.
The CPU 21 controls a pickup servo circuit 22 which thus uses the reproduced signal from the pickup 14 and thus performs a focus control operation, a tracking control operation and a pickup forwarding/reversing control operation. Further, the pickup servo circuit 22 performs the tracking control operation, where the servo polarity of the tracking error signal is changed as the structure being scanned is changed between the pit and groove structures.
When recording, the signal processing circuit 18 performs the processes of A-D conversion, data (voice information) compression, EFM and so forth and thus supplies a main signal to a head driving circuit 23. A magnetic-modulation recording method is used when recording information in the MD. Accordingly, the recording operation is performed through a head 24 which is located above an upper surface of the optical disc 13. The head driving circuit 23 controls the head 24 for this purpose.
The disc-rotation-speed control according to the CLV is simply the servo control for the EFM signal for the MD for only reproduction because in such type of MD, all of the areas have the pit structure. However, for the MD capable of recording and reproduction, it may be necessary to change the servo control between that for the EFM signal and that for the ADIP signal in response to a change of an area being scanned by the pickup 14.
The pickup will trace a protruded portion on the optical disc 13 in an area of the pit structure, and trace a recessed portion on the disc in an area of the groove structure. The change is performed by appropriately changing the servo polarity of the error signal. If this change is not performed appropriately and thus the servo polarity of the error signal is inverted, a portion of the disc at which no significant signal is recorded is traced by the pickup 14. As a result, no significant signal is obtained.
If the pickup 14 unexpectedly moves to an area of the groove structure, during scanning of an area of the pit structure, due to some cause, the servo polarity of the tracking error signal may not be appropriately changed and also the disc-rotation-speed control may not be appropriately changed from that for the EFM signal to that for the ADIP signal. If the change is not appropriately performed as mentioned above, no significant signal is obtained above and thus disc-rotation-speed control cannot be appropriately performed. In other words, the disc rotation speed is out of control.
As a result, the disc motor 12 drives the optical disc 13 at a high speed. Once the apparatus enters such a situation, if the above-mentioned change is correctly performed, due to respondable frequency bands of the focus servo control operation and tracking control operation and so forth, it is not easy to return the apparatus to a normal state and thus realize a CLV-servo locked state which will be described later.

Apparatus for controlling the rotational speed of an optical-disc


An input shaft includes a cam configured to have a variable diameter profile. An oscillating arm tracks the cam profile. Oscillating motion of the arm is converted by roller clutches back to rotary motion. Speed variation is accomplished by moving the arms axially so that they contact the cam at points of varying cam diameter. The cam is configured to eliminate torque surges at all speed ratios, resulting in smooth delivery of torque under all conditions. An appropriate cam surface providing this result is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a continuously variable speed ratio transmission wherein rotary motion is converted to oscillating motion, wherein one way roller clutches convert the oscillations back to unidirectional rotary motion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Continuously variable transmissions (hereinafter referred to as CVT) have long been known. Some early examples, not of great relevance but illustrating basic planetary gear arrangements, include U.S. Pat. No. 954,453, issued to Arthur J. Morse on Apr. 12, 1910; U.S. Pat. No. 1,306,330, issued to William F. Drew on Jun. 10, 1919; U.S. Pat. No. 2,066,758, issued to Arthur B. Bassoff on Jan. 5, 1937; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,157, issued to Harry E. Novinger on May 6, 1969.
Of greater relevance are those CVT designs which convert oscillating motion of an eccentric member to unidirectional motion, and which provide separate means to vary eccentricity of this member. U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,355, issued to Roger J. J. Bassereau on Apr. 30, 1963, discloses a continuously variable transmission employing rectification of bidirectional rotation. Rectification is performed by a pawl and ratchet wheel assembly. Variation is accomplished by moving a plate to a condition of greater and lesser eccentricity with respect to an input shaft. However, the Bassereau invention is subject to surges in torque, or rippling. Rippling occurs as a result of the ratchet clutch driver being accelerated to a momentary peak value and then decelerated, torque being applied to the planetary gear through only a few degrees of rotation. The inventor's solution to this problem is to maximize the number of certain parts ("bearing ring 5", with reference to column 2, lines 6-8 of '355). While this solution mitigates the problem, it does not actually eliminate ripples.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,101, issued to Maurice C. Terry on Mar. 20, 1990, is a second example of rectified motion. Terry '101 employs overrunning clutches, as does the present invention, to accomplish rectification, in lieu of pawl and ratchet. The important function of addressing rippling is provided by neoprene members (see column 8, lines 50-63 of '101). This arrangement is seen to mitigate, by damping, such rippling, but, again, does not actually eliminate rippling.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


In a method for providing a program guide in a program receiver, program schedule data is received, wherein the program schedule data associates programs with time slots on a particular channel of a plurality of channels. For a first time slot of a virtual channel, and using the program schedule data, a first program is selected from a first channel available for reception in a first selected time slot. For a second time slot of the virtual channel, a second program is selected from a second channel available for reception in a second selected time slot. In response to a request to display a schedule of programs, a schedule of the virtual channel is displayed, including the first and second programs scheduled respectively in the first and second time slots of the virtual channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for producing and displaying an electronic program guide in an entertainment device that receives selected programs, and more specifically to methods and systems for creating and using a custom virtual channel in an entertainment device that receives selected programs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Program receivers for cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems, which may also be referred to as set top boxes or receivers, provide viewers with a large number of television programs broadcast on a large number of television channels. To determine what program a viewer would like to watch, users may consult a printed television program schedule to determine what programs will be broadcast at a particular time. More recently, electronic program guides have been developed, wherein the program schedule information is displayed on a user's television screen. These electronic program guides allow the user to navigate through the television program schedule by pressing buttons on a remote control.
In a typical program guide display, television programs are organized and displayed in a grid, where each row in the grid contains television programs for a particular channel. The columns in the grid correspond to a series of program periods or program timeslots for scheduled broadcast times. The user may scroll up or down to view program listings for different channels, or may pan left or right to view information about programs being broadcast at different times.
As used herein, a channel includes typical television channels broadcast over the airwaves or through cable and satellite distribution systems. In addition, a channel may be any communication link through which program signals or data are transmitted and received for current viewing or later viewing from a storage media. Thus, a channel may include a network, such as the Internet, through which data is transmitted for present, real-time viewing, or a medium through which data is transmitted more slowly, not in real-time, and viewed later when some or all data is received and can be viewed at the intended speed or frames per second.
It is not uncommon for a program provider to offer hundreds of channels of programs, which can make the viewer's task of selecting a program to watch tedious and time-consuming. With so many channels and programs to choose from, the user may spend too much time searching for a program rather than watching the program.
Prior art electronic program guides have provided some tools for enhancing the search for programs. For example, prior art program guides allow the user to select "favorite channels" from the hundreds of channels available, and display only the favorite channels in a program schedule grid from which the viewer may choose a program to watch. This schedule display method filters out hundreds of channels and makes the selection from a few favorite channels easier and quicker.
While the use of favorite channels can make program selection easier, the viewer still has to scroll through all the favorite channels. With hundreds of channels available, the user may have selected dozens of favorite channels, which means there is still a lot of information displayed in the program schedule grid and it may still take a while to select a program to watch.
It should be apparent to those persons skilled in the art that a need exists for an improved method and system for producing and displaying an electronic program guide that provides a program viewer with an efficient and user-friendly way of selecting programs to view.

Method and system for providing an electronic program guide


Disclosed herein is an oven having a display module provided at a front of an electrical compartment, an outside air inlet unit formed at a body such that the air of the outside of the body may be inlet from an upper side of the display module, and a guide member provided at the electrical compartment as to guide the air inlet through the outside air inlet unit to move from the upper portion of the display module to a lower portion of the display module, thereby increasing cooling efficiency of the display module. In addition, the amount of the exhaust air of a cooking compartment may be adjusted while provided with a bypass hole to inlet the air of a cooling path into an exhaust path, and an opening/closing apparatus to open/close the bypass hole.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an exhaust structure and a cooling structure of an oven.
In general, an oven is an apparatus that cooks food while provided with a cooking compartment, a heating apparatus to apply heat at the cooking compartment, and a circulating fan to circulate the heat generated at the heating apparatus at an inside of the cooking compartment.
The oven is provided with a cooling structure to cool the surroundings of the cooking compartment such that electrical components disposed at an electrical compartment damageable by heat, or a user or furniture adjacent the oven may not be affected. In general, the cooling structure generally circulates air in the cooking compartment with a blower fan. However, a display module displays operation and/or motion information of the oven is disposed at a front of the electrical compartment, and thus an efficiency of cooling through air circulation may be decreased by a certain degree.
In addition, the oven is provided with an exhaust structure to exhaust the air of the cooking compartment to maintain pressure, remove moisture, and remove hazardous gas and smell, followed by an increase of temperature in the cooking compartment.
The exhaust structure is not provided to use a separate blower fan to generate inflow force, but is provided to use a method of the Venturi effect to allow the air of the cooking compartment to flow in and exhaust along with the circulating current that circulates at the surroundings of the cooking compartment.


A pulse delay circuit includes a delay circuit, a plurality of selectors and a plurality of synchronous circuits. The delay circuit includes a plurality of series connected delay elements for delaying a clock signal and generating a plurality of delay clock signals. Each of the selectors is connected to the plurality of delay elements and selects one of the plurality of the delay clock signals in accordance with an associated selection signal. The plurality of synchronous circuits receive pulse signals and the selected delay clock signals and generating a plurality of synchronous pulse signals that are synchronized with the selected delay clock signals, respectively.

The present invention generally relates to a pulse signal delay circuit, and, more particularly, to a pulse signal delay circuit including a plurality of delay elements.
In general, a pulse signal delay circuit includes a plurality of delay elements connected in series. In a CMOS semiconductor device, a delay element is formed by an inverter comprising a P-channel MOS transistor and an N-channel MOS transistor. A selector is preferably connected to a plurality of delay elements and selects one of delay outputs from the plurality of delay elements. Accordingly, the delay time of an input signal is determined. A comparator may be used instead of the inverter. However, in order to change the delay time in each of a plurality of input pulse signals, the conventional delay circuit requires the same number of delay circuits and selectors, as the input pulse signals. Hence, the area of the delay circuit is quite large.
The delay circuit may be formed by a plurality of series connected D type flip-flops (D-FF) each of which operates in synchronism with a clock signal. In this case, a high-speed clock is required to finely set the delay time of the clock signal. In fact, it is difficult to supply the high-speed clock signal and to prepare a D-FF that operates stably in synchronism with the high-speed clock signal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pulse signal delay circuit having a reduced circuit area.
In one aspect of the present invention, a pulse delay circuit provided that includes a delay circuit, a plurality of selectors and a plurality of synchronous circuits. The delay circuit includes a plurality of series connected delay elements for delaying a clock signal and generating a plurality of delay clock signals. Each of the plurality of selectors is connected to the plurality of delay elements and selects one of the plurality of the delay clock signals in accordance with an associated selection signal. The plurality of synchronous circuits are connected to the plurality of selectors, respectively. The plurality of synchronous circuits receive pulse signals and the selected delay clock signals and generate a plurality of synchronous pulse signals that are synchronized with the selected delay clock signals, respectively.
In another aspect of the present invention, a pulse signal control circuit is provided that includes a first synchronous circuit for receiving an input signal and a clock signal and generating a first synchronous input signal that is synchronized with the clock signal. A waveform shaping circuit waveform-shapes the first synchronous input signal and generates a waveform-shaped input signal. A plurality of second synchronous circuits receive a plurality of input pulse signals and the clock signal and generate a plurality of second synchronous input pulse signals that are synchronized with the clock signal. A delay circuit includes a plurality of delay elements for delaying the clock signal and generating a plurality of delay clock signals. Each of a plurality of selectors selects one of the plurality of delay clock signals in accordance with an associated selection signal. A plurality of third synchronous circuits receive the plurality of second synchronous input pulse signals and the selected delay clock signals and generate a plurality of third synchronous input pulse signals that are synchronized with the selected delay clock signals, respectively. A plurality of logic circuits receive the waveform-shaped input signal and the plurality of third synchronous input pulse signals and generate a plurality of pulse signals that are synchronized with the waveform-shaped input signal.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.


A filing device hanger bar supports a center hook cartridge binder from its center hook for storage or from either end of the binder in an inverted inclined position for accessing the inner pages of the document bound by the cartridge binder. The hanger bar has a bead flange for supporting a center hook cartridge binder from its center hook for storage and a retention lip above the bead flange for engaging an end of the binder to support the binder in an inverted inclined position for accessing the document bound by the cartridge binder. A support flange above the retention lip supports end hook filing devices for storage, and another retention lip above the support flange may also be used for engaging an end of the binder to support the binder in an inverted inclined position for accessing the document bound by the cartridge binder.

Filing devices for storage of files or other items are well known and of many different types. Such filing devices include bins, binders, pockets, frames and generally any type of container or binder for storing paper files, magnetic media or other items.
One type of filing device has a hook for supporting it from a hanger bar. Such devices include "end hook devices", which have a hook at one end and "center hook devices" which have a hook between the ends of the device, although not necessarily in the center. An example of an end hook device is the bin shown in FIG. 1 and an example of a center hook device is the cartridge binder shown in FIG. 1.
Previously, end hook devices required one type of hanger bar and center hook devices required a different, separate hanger bar. Existing cartridge binders as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have a shoulder at each end so that the binder can alternatively be used in a conventional hanging type filing system, where the file is suspended from each end by rails. In either method of filing the cartridge binder, to access the inner pages of the document bound by the cartridge, the binder had to be removed from the hanger bar or the rails and supported manually or a surface found to lay the document down on so that it could be opened. Although inconvenient, this has long been a conventional way of accessing cartridge bound documents.


Embodiment of the present disclosure describe integrated circuit package assemblies that allow for relatively short connections between devices such as a processor and memory. In one embodiment, a package assembly includes a die embedded in a subpackage directly coupled to another die attached to the subpackage. In some embodiments the subpackage may also contain power management devices. In some embodiments the die embedded in the subpackage and/or the power management device may overlap, or be located in, a region defined by the die coupled to the subpackage such that they are located between the die coupled to the subpackage and a substrate underlying the subpackage. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

As integrated circuit package assemblies become smaller and more complex it has become challenging to efficiently route signals between different components. Increasing the length and/or complexity of conductive pathways may limit bandwidth between components such as a processor and memory. Also, lengthy and/or complicated power delivery pathways can increase losses and decrease overall power efficiency. Current techniques tend to place components in a single plane, establishing effective minimum lengths for conductive pathways based on the size and spatial arrangement of the components to be connected.

Embedded memory and power management subpackage


In a bonding method and apparatus, a bonding arm having a bonding tool at one end thereof is controlled to stop at a constant height position by a computer that incudes a memory containing positional deviation correction values which correct deviations at stopping positions of the bonding arm so that a bonding arm position controller is controlled by the positional deviation correction values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wire bonding apparatus with a bonding arm supported so as to move upward and downward by an elastic member and also to a method for controlling the apparatus
2. Prior Art
A wire bonding apparatus in which the bonding arm is supported so as to be movable upward and downward and driven by an elastic member is shown in FIG. 2.
The bonding arm 4 of this bonding apparatus has a bonding tool 1 at one end thereof and is fastened to one end of a supporting frame 3. The supporting frame 3 is attached to a moving table 5 via a plate spring 4 which is assembled in the form of a cross, so that the supporting frame 3 is swingable upward and downward as shown by an arrow V, and a moving table 5 is mounted on an XY table 6. The coil 8 of a linear motor 7 is fastened to another end of the supporting frame 3, and the magnet 9 of this linear motor 7 is fastened to the moving table 5. A linear scale 10 is attached to the rear end (right-side end in FIG. 4) of the supporting frame 3.
Examples of a wire bonding apparatus of this type are described in Japanese Patent Application Pre-Examination Publication (Kokai) Nos. S58-184734 and H6-29343 and Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication (Kokoku) No. H6-80697.
With the structure described above, the supporting frame 3 and bonding arm 2 are caused to swing in the direction of arrow V about the cross-shaped plate spring 4 by the linear motor 7, and the bonding tool 1 is, as a result, moved up and down. Furthermore, the moving table 5, supporting frame 3, bonding arm 2 and bonding tool 1 are moved horizontally (or in X and Y directions) by the XY table 6. By way of the combination of the vertical movement and horizontal movement of the bonding tool 1 as described above, a wire 12 passing through the bonding tool 1 is connected between the first and second bonding points on the workpiece (not shown). In other words, a ball 13 formed at the tip end of the wire 12 is bonded to the first bonding point, and then the other portion of the wire 12 is bonded to the second bonding point. During this bonding of the wire 12 to the first and second bonding points, a load or a bonding load is applied by the linear motor 7 so that the ball 13 and wire 12 is pressed against the bonding points on the workpiece by the bonding tool 1.
Next, the operation system for the above bonding apparatus and the control configuration of the linear motor 7 will be described.
The operation system substantially comprises an external input-output means 20 and a computer 21. The external input-output means 20 is used for inputting and outputting various types of information (required for the operation of the apparatus) with respect to the computer 21. The computer 21 comprises a control circuit 22, an operating circuit 23, a reference coordinate register 24 and a height position counter 26. The control circuit 22 controls the external input-output means 20, operating circuit 23, reference coordinate register 24 and height position counter 26.
In the reference coordinate register 24, the height position of the bonding arm 2 is stored. More specifically, the value of the height position is inputted into a position control circuit 30 as one position command. When the value is thus inputted, the position control circuit 30 compares a previous position command and a new position command and generates an amount of movement of the bonding tool based upon the difference between the two position commands. This amount of movement is transmitted to a motor driver 31 as a driving signal 33.
The motor driver 31 generates electric power which is used to move the bonding tool 1 to a designated height position in accordance with the driving signal 33. Generally, electric power is the product of voltage and current; therefore, actual control of the linear motor 7 can be accomplished by controlling either the voltage or current, or both. Accordingly, the following explanation describes the case where the driving current 35 (and not a driving voltage) that flows through the linear motor 7 is controlled. The circuit described in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication (Kokoku) No. H6-18222 may be cited as an example of the circuit that controls the driving current. When the driving current 35 generated by the motor driver 31 is applied to the coil 8 of the linear motor 7, a driving force is generated; and as a result of this driving force, the supporting frame 3, bonding arm 2 and bonding tool 1 are caused to swing about the plate spring 4 (or moved up and down).
Furthermore, the height position counter 26 of the computer 21 counts signals from an encoder 32 which converts signals from the position sensor 11 into a signal format which can be inputted into the computer 21 and generates an actual height position of the linear scale 10. The computer 21 is provided beforehand with a ratio of the amount of movement of the bonding tool 1 in the vertical direction to the amount of movement of the linear scale 10 in the vertical direction, and a quantization coefficient of the position sensor 11, i. e., a coefficient which converts the amount of movement into an electrical signal. Accordingly, the actual height position of the bonding tool 1 is determined by calculating the value indicated by the height position counter 26 via the operating circuit 23 based upon the value described above. The term "height position of the bonding tool" refers to the height position at which the bonding tool I contacts the object to which a load is to be applied.
The bonding arm 2 and bonding tool 1 swing about a fulcrum 4a of the cross-shaped plate spring 4. Accordingly, it is desirable that the bonding tool 1 be in a vertical position; in other words, it is desirable that the bonding arm 2 be in a horizontal position when the bonding tool 1 contacts the bonding point. With the bonding arm 2 thus adjusted to a horizontal position, an instruction to place the bonding arm 2 in a horizontal position is sent to the computer 21 by the external input-output means 20. As a result of this instruction, the control circuit 22 sends control information for this purpose to the position control circuit 30 via the reference coordinate register 24; and from the position control circuit 30, a driving signal 33 which produces the driving current 35 is sent to the motor driver 31. On the basis of this driving signal 33, the motor driver 31 produces the driving current 35 of a specified polarity and magnitude and outputs this driving current 35 to the coil 8.
Instructions concerning the movement of the bonding arm 2 are thus transmitted from the computer 21 in this manner.
In the system wherein the supporting frame 3 is supported by the plate spring 4 so as to swing upward and downward as described above, when no driving current 35 flows through the coil 8 or when no driving force is generated in the linear motor 7, the bonding arm 2 stops at the equilibrium position B as shown in FIG. 5. The equilibrium position B is a balanced position where the driving force of the plate spring 4 and the weight balance of the bonding tool 1, bonding arm 2, supporting frame 3, coil 8 and linear scale 10, etc. are supported by the plate spring 4.
In other words, the driving force of the plate spring 4 in this case acts in a direction which causes the bonding arm 2 to return to the equilibrium position B. More specifically, when the bonding arm 2 is in a position A which is higher than the equilibrium position B, the plate spring 4 generates a driving force which pushes the bonding arm 2 downward toward the equilibrium position B; and when the bonding arm 2 is in a position C or D which is lower than the equilibrium position B, then the plate spring 4 generates a driving force which pushes the bonding arm upward toward the equilibrium position B.
The equilibrium position B varies according to the mechanical factors of the wire bonding apparatus; therefore, the bonding arm 2 in the equilibrium position B is not necessarily in a horizontal position. Here, the term "mechanical factors" refers to mechanical errors arising from the working precision, assembly, adjustment, etc. of the parts of the bonding head.
In cases where the output is caused to follow the command speed, etc. in ordinary motor speed control, a constant deviation (i. e., a deviation between the command value and the output which is generated after the output has reached a steady state with respect to elapsed time after passing through a transitional state) is always generated; accordingly, the control circuit is endowed with integrating characteristics (I-control) so that the constant deviation is controlled to zero. In other words, since the deviation is integrated, a cumulative output appears until the deviation reaches zero. However, the installation of an integrating means within the system results in the generation of a delay which affects the stability of the control system; accordingly, in the control shown in FIG. 4, since the stability of the control system is important, control with an integrating means installed in the control circuit is not performed. Consequently, because of external perturbation, the target height position of the bonding arm cannot be maintained, and deviations (positional deviations) occur. Incidentally, the term "I-control" refers to a control in which the value obtained by integrating the deviation between the command value and the fed-back output is taken as the amount of movement of the control system.
As the bonding arm 2 is displaced toward the upper position A which is higher than the balance position B, the driving force of the plate spring 4 which brings down the bonding arm 2 increases; on the other hand, as the bonding arm 2 is displaced toward the lower positions C and D which are lower than the balance position B, the driving force of the plate spring 4 which brings up the bonding arm 2 toward the balance position B increases. If a positional correction feedback which is sufficient to correct for the difference in the spring force of the plate spring 4 according to the positions A, C and D is performed, i. e., if the position feedback gain level is increased, the bonding arm 2 begins to vibrate above a certain level. Accordingly, the position feedback gain is lowered to a level at which no vibration occurs. However, if the position feedback gain level is lowered, it becomes impossible to completely correct the driving force of the plate spring 4 according to the height position, resulting in that a positional deviation occurs.
Recognition of the height position of the bonding tool 1 is accomplished by: detecting the amount of movement of the linear scale 10 in the vertical direction using the position sensor 11; counting the pulse signals 36, which is shown in FIG. 6(a) and outputted by the encoder 32, via the height position counter 26, and then processing the result of this count by the operating circuit 23 through the control circuit 22. A, B, C and D in FIG. 6 indicate the height positions of the bonding arm 2 shown in FIG. 5.
However, as described above, the driving force of the plate spring 4 causes the bonding arm 2 to stop in the positions indicated by inverted triangles in FIGS. 6(b), (c) and (d), causing deviations in the stopping positions. Position A+1 indicates a position which is one pitch above position A, and position A-1 indicates a position which is one pitch below position A. Positions B+1, B-1, C+1 and C-1 have similar meanings. Furthermore, in regard to the stopping pitch (with the stopping pitch P (B) at position B used as a standard), the length of one pitch decreases as the stopping position moves upward or downward, because the driving force of the plate spring 4 also increases. Moreover, this variation in the length of one pitch is cumulative, and therefore, the amount of downward deviation increases as the stopping position moves upward, and the amount of upward deviation increases as the stopping position moves downward.
More specifically, the pitch between stops is as shown by Numerical Formulae 1 and 2 below. Furthermore, at position A, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the driving force of the plate spring 4 acts in a direction which causes the bonding arm 2 to drop, so that the stopping position is shifted downward. At position B, as shown in FIG. 6(c), the bonding arm 2 stops at a center point 37 between pulses, since this position is the balanced position. Meanwhile, at position C, as shown in FIG. 6(d), the driving force of the plate spring 4 acts in a direction which causes the bonding arm 2 to rise, so that the stopping position is shifted upward.
[Numerical Formula 1] EQU P(B)>P(B+1)> . . . P(A-1)>P(A)>P(A+1)> . . . EQU [Numerical Formula 2] EQU P(B)>P(B-1)> . . . P(C+1)>P(C)>P(C-1)> . . .
Ordinarily, the stopping control of the height position of the bonding arm 2 or the bonding tool 1 causes the bonding arm 2 to stop at the center 37 between pulses of the pulse signal 36 outputted by the encoder 32. However, as described above, the driving force of the plate spring 4 causes the bonding arm 2 to stop in the positions indicated by the inverted triangles L, so that a shift in the stopping position occurs. Meanwhile, the precision with which the height position of the bonding tool 1 is recognized is determined by how precisely counting can be performed when the signal from the position sensor 11 is converted by the encoder 32 and counted by the height position counter 26; i. e., the precision of recognition is determined by the resolution; and this resolution varies according to the parts that make up the wire bonding apparatus and the circuit construction, etc. Accordingly, even if the position recognized by the computer 21 is accurate, a positional deviation between pulses may be generated depending on the height position.

Control method for wire bonding apparatus


A substrate polishing method, a semiconductor device and a fabrication method for a semiconductor device are disclosed by which high planarization polishing can be achieved. In the substrate polishing method, two or more different slurries formed from ceria abrasive grains having different BET values from each other are used to carry out two or more stages of chemical-mechanical polishing processing of a polishing object oxide film on a substrate to flatten the polishing object film.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a substrate polishing method, and more particularly, to a substrate polishing method applied to flattening polishing of a polishing object in the form of a thin plate, such as a liquid crystal panel substrate.
The present invention also relates to a semiconductor device fabricated by applying the substrate polishing method and a fabrication method for the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In related art, a colloidal suspension, wherein silicon nitride or a hydrate of silicon nitride is dispersed colloidally or colloidal silica, is used as a polishing agent, that is, as a polishing composition (hereinafter referred to as slurry) for polishing the surface of a semiconductor substrate (hereinafter referred to as wafer) formed from a silicon wafer, a chemical wafer or the like. Further, as a polishing method, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is generally known wherein a wafer is placed on a polishing surface table on which a polishing cloth formed from a foamed member, a synthetic resin (polyurethane or the like) or an unwoven fabric is stretched and, while the wafer is pressed and rotated by a polishing head, the slurry is supplied quantitatively to the wafer to carry out polishing.
As the slurry, a solution produced by cracking silicon particles in the form of fine colloidal silica into a solution which contains an alkali component is used as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,141. This polishing applies a chemical action of an alkali component of a slurry, particularly an erosion action for a wafer or the like. In particular, by the erosion action of alkali, a thin and soft erosion layer is formed on the surface of a wafer or the like, and the thin layer is successively removed by the mechanical action of fine colloidal silicon particles to advance polishing.
Meanwhile, a polishing method for improving the flatness of an element isolation portion without an increase of the number of steps in trench element isolation formation by CMP is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-135617. According to the polishing method, a slurry formed from abrasive grains of a comparatively large particle size is used in the front half of polishing whereas another slurry formed from abrasive grains of a comparatively small particle size is used in the latter half to carry out polishing. Such polishing provides an effect that the polishing time is reduced by the polishing using abrasive grains of the comparatively large particle size and the flatness is improved by the polishing using abrasive grains of the comparatively small particle size.

Substrate polishing method, semiconductor device and fabrication method therefor


A bicompartmental tensiometer for use in prosthetic knee surgery, and in particular for use in revision knee surgery. The tensiometer comprises two parallel, independently operable jaws which are inserted between resected surfaces on the distal femur and the proximal tibia. The jaws are opened manually by the surgeon until the proper tension is placed on the collateral ligaments. Each of the jaws comprises two paddles which remain parallel to each other as they are opened. Moreover, the two jaws remain parallel to each other, or in the same angular orientation, when adjusted to be placed adjacent the condyles. Each jaw is held open by a pawl which engages a rack.

When human joints, such as the knee, become diseased or otherwise are incapable of functioning, surgical intervention is possible. Surgeons expose the junction between the tibia and the femur, temporarily disconnect the patella, resect away parts of the femur or tibia or both, and replace the ends of the femur and tibia with artificial prostheses. Orthopedic implants for the human knee generally have a femoral and tibial component. The tibial component is usually placed on the resected proximal surface of the tibia and frequently has a metal base plate with a shaft extending into the medullar canal. The base plate usually carries an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) articulating surface. The articulating surface has medial and lateral condyle compartments, approximating the medial and lateral condyle compartments of a natural tibia in form and function. A femoral component is implanted on a resected distal end of the femur and presents artificial condyles, similar in form and function to the natural condyles of the femur which have been cut away, which articulate with the condyle compartments of the tibial component. A femoral component generally comprises the condyle articulating surfaces and fixation means, which may include an elongated stem extending into the medullar canal of the patient. Such prostheses are well known and examples can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,963,152; 5,062,852; and 5,071,438.
For patients who require an artificial knee prothesis, degeneration of the bone at either the tibia or femur or both may be occurring. Moreover, this degeneration may be proceeding unevenly with respect to the two condyles, or the two condyle compartments. A side effect of this degeneration is that the anatomic alignment of the femur to the tibia may become disjointed causing an imbalance to the collateral ligaments. It is known that some patients require a re-operation and the installation which is called a "revision" knee prosthesis. The revision knee prosthesis is generally more massive than a so-called "primary" knee prosthesis. The revision femoral knee condylar parts may be thicker and more robust and the medullar shaft may be substantially longer. Moreover, in many cases, degeneration of one condyle may be substantially more advanced than the other.
Whether natural or prosthetic, the knee joint is supported by the patella and by ligaments, including the medial and lateral collateral ligaments on either side of the knee, and the cruciate ligaments behind the knee. If present, these ligaments, particularly the collateral ligaments, must be under proper tension, and balance, both when the knee is in extension and when it is in flexion, in order to maintain correct anatomic alignment. It is important, therefore, for a surgeon performing knee replacement surgery to be able to size the prosthesis and place resection cuts appropriately so that the reassembled knee will cooperate with the ligaments to form a stable joint. This is particularly problematic in the case of revision surgeries, where substantial changes in the bone structure, and also changes in the balance of the medial and lateral collateral ligaments may be expected.
In the past, surgeons have placed the exposed knee joint under tension both in extension and flexion either manually, or by use of instruments. There remains a need, however, for instrumentation which can enable the surgeon to spread the joint between the distal femur and the proximal tibia, placing the collateral ligaments in tension, both when the knee is in flexion and in extension in an effort to establish the balance of these ligaments with respect to the correct, or corrected, anatomic alignment of the knee joint. Moreover, such apparatus is needed which would operate on both condyles simultaneously to place the medial and lateral collateral ligaments in tension.

Surgical bicompartmental tensiometer for revision knee surgery


Hydrocarbons are removed from solids such as drill cuttings in apparatus including a rotating cylindrical retort vessel having a counter rotating auger-type conveyor therein, the auger-type conveyor is eccentrically located at the bottom of the vessel, the vessel is heated by an induction heating coil surrounding the vessel and traveling along the length thereof, and a retention device is inserted at the downstream end of the retort vessel in order to impede the discharge of solids traveling therethrough, to ensure more complete hydrocarbon removal, and the apparatus includes a general assembly of a pair of retort vessels, each with a counter rotating auger-type conveyor therein, located generally in the same vertical plane, with the downstream end of the upper vessel being in communication with the upstream end of the lower vessel.. The method and apparatus find particular utility on off-shore oil and gas wells, wherein the drill cuttings can be rendered environmentally acceptable by removal of hydrocarbons therefrom, so that the drill cuttings can be simply discharged overboard without environmental pollution, and the hydrocarbon removal step is accomplished with reduced risk of fire and/or explosion.

In the drilling of oil and/or gas wells, it sometimes becomes necessary to place oil or other hydrocarbons in the drilling fluid for various downhole drilling conditions. When the drill cuttings reach the surface together with the drilling fluid, they are separated by passage over conventional equipments such as shakers. When using drilling fluids which are not based upon oil or other hydrocarbons, the drill cuttings can be disposed of by overboard disposal (if off-shore) or by land fill operation if the drilling is on land. However, if oil or other hydrocarbons are used in the drilling fluid, the hydrocarbon soaked drill cuttings can not be thrown overboard because of environmental pollution. As of the current date, many measures have been proposed, but the only solution used by the drilling industry to date for off-shore drilling is to catch the drill cuttings and by bulk process send the drill cuttings to land for disposal. It is very expensive to send the drill cuttings to land, and many more wells would be drilled if it were economical to drill with an oil-based drilling mud or fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,654 is directed to an apparatus for recovering oil from oil shale and similar solid materials. The oil is removed from solids by a simple pyrolysis process, in the presence of hyrogen to prevent the formation of high molecular weight materials. The oil bearing solids are passed through an elongated substantially horizontal pyrolysis vessel having an auger-type conveyor therein. During passage through the pyrolysis vessel, the oil bearing solids are heated, and the heating means may comprise a furnace or electrical heating coils.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,648 discloses a rotatably retort tube having an internal helical member which is fixed to the tube so that no relative rotation is possible. The patent is directed to the solvent extraction of tar sands and oil bearing shale materials, and seeks to overcome a problem regarding the removal of residual solvent from the already substantially oil free material, before returning the material to the environment. The patent uses a solvent recovery vessel where the solvent is heated and pumped away, and it is unnecessary to raise the temperature much above 200.degree. F. to effect satisfactory evaporation of the solvent. Induction heating is suggested for the heating of the solvent.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,739,066 discloses a device incorporating a counter rotating auger within a rotating drum. The patented device is primarily intended for mixing together particulate materials such as stockfeed, cement, fertilizers, and the like, and discloses that the counterrotating produces a good mixing effect.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,769 discloses an auger/retort system for recovering oil from shale and similar materials. The retort is not rotatable, and may be heated using electrical resistance strip heaters extending longitudinally along the retort. The device is provided with an insulation material which is spaced from and completely surrounds the retort to provide good insulation properties, as well as a safety shield for the strip heaters.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,973,312, 3,997,388, and 3,652,447 disclose different methods for heating material in a retort. The first two patents disclose the use of ultrasonic and/or microwave heating, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,447 suggests the pyrolytic recovery of oil by the use of pulsed laser beams.
Other patents further illustrating the background of the present invention includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,077,868 and 3,616,266.

Drill cuttings treatment apparatus and method


A screen is used for a projector and includes a metal plate body and a plurality of elongated parallel streaks. The metal plate body has a concave reflection surface which is horizontally straight and vertically curved and which has a predetermined radius of curvature. The streaks protrude uniformly and densely from the reflection surface of the metal plate body and extend from the top end of the reflection surface to the bottom end of the reflection surface in a generally vertical direction. Any adjacent pair of the streaks are sized and spaced apart from each other at an interval of less than 5 microns so that the streaks function as a concave grating. The concave reflection surface is coated with a transparent film by immersing the metal plate body in a caustic solution so as to decrease interference from light sources other than the projector. Accordingly, when the screen is in use, the light emitted from the projector can form high contrast images on the concave reflection surface so as to provide a high image quality on the screen.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a screen for a projector, more particularly to a screen with a concave reflection surface which can provide increased gain and horizontal viewing cone for a viewer and which can decrease the reflected light emitted from light sources other than the projector.
2. Description of the Related Art
The improvement of this invention is directed to a conventional screen which is used for a projector.
Generally speaking, there are two principal types of conventional screens which are used for projectors. The first type of screen, such as a white linen has a wider viewing cone for a viewer, but its gain of screen is poor so that the images that fall on the screen can be clearly visible only under dim light conditions. The second type of screen, such as a metal which is coated with a piece of film, has a better gain of screen for the viewer, but its viewing cone is narrower than that of the first type so that the viewer can watch clearly the images on the screen only within a limited scope.
Because the conventional screen has an even reflection surface, light that is emitted from the projector is reflected from the even reflection surface of the screen only in a regular direction. The gain of the screen is in inverse proportion to the viewing cone of the screen. Accordingly, the gain and the viewing cone of the screen can not be increased simultaneously so that the practicability of the conventional screen is limited.

No. 356, Hsin-Hsing Rd., Yen-Tien Tsun, Yung-An Hsiang