Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling a telecommunications network with data storage capability. A data connection is established to a storage device. The storage device is associated with a telecommunications network facility. Customer-defined electronic data is communicated to the storage device via the data connection. At least some of the electronic data may be managed according to a service level agreement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to computers and to telephony and, more particularly, to methods and systems that allow a customer to manage electronic data in a storage-enabled telecommunications network.
2. Description of the Related Art
The explosive growth of electronic data presents storage problems. As more and more businesses and residences embrace information technology, businesses and residences are confronted with the problem of storing more and more electronic information. Businesses, for example, generate thousands of electronic documents, emails, proprietary information, and the like each day. The pressing challenge is how businesses may store and manage this growing electronic data without investing millions of dollars in hardware and equipment, network infrastructure, maintenance, and training. There is, accordingly, a need in the art for a storage service that reduces a customer's investment in data storage networks.


A fusion protein is provided which is based on a self-assembling gene-regulatory NSP10 protein and a protein or peptide capable of being fused to NSP10 without interfering with the assembly or aggregation of the resulting fusion protein. The disclosure also relates to any nanoparticle formed thereby whether complete or not, and methods for the use of the NSP10 fusion protein are also disclosed, including use as vaccines for any indication in humans or animals, therapeutic methods involving the use of the fusion proteins such as using the protein to targeted an antibody or receptor, such as for treating or diagnosing cancer, biosensors using the fusion protein, or the use of the fusion proteins in cell sorting or any imaging application.

Nanoparticle research is an area of intensive and extensive research, largely due to the changes in physical properties of materials as they approach the 10 nm size range, where among other factors, quantum confinement in semiconductor particles and plasmon resonance can be achieved (Hewakuruppu, et al, 2013). They have a plethora of applications including acting as a semiconductor or sensor, or in biomedical applications as therapeutic agents and vaccines.
Nanoparticles are broadly defined as objects which behave as a single, wholly contained unit with dimensions generally in the range of 1 to 100 nanometers. Their composition is varied and includes a full spectrum of pure or composite materials which can range from metals, such as gold or silver, to biological based particles, such as viruses or engineered virus-like particles (VLP). Typically, virus particles, due to their complexity and requisite storage of genetic information, usually fall toward the upper end of the nanoparticle definition. For example, parvovirus, among the smallest viruses, are particles of approximately 260 Å or 26 nanometers in diameter.
With regard to the prior art, relevant to those biological-based self-assembling nanoparticles (VLP) of non-viral origin, it has previously been disclosed that ferritin, as one such non-viral particle, is the most appropriate and current example of prior art for comparison to the present invention as detailed herein.
The ferritin technology (Carter & Li, 2003; Li, et al., 2006) involves the creation of novel functionalities from an existing naturally occurring and ubiquitous ferritin nanoparticle involved in iron storage. Ferritin is comprised of a small 17 kd protein which self assembles into a spherical 24 unit capsid with a hollow core (FIG. 1). The fortuitous positioning of the N- and C-termini of each subunit on the outer and inner core of the capsid respectively, allows for the engineering of novel materials by standard genetic engineering practices. The surface exposed positions of these termini provide a scaffold to genetically engineer an immense variety of novel nanomaterials with therapeutic, diagnostic and electronic applications. For example, in potential oncology applications, the genetically engineered ferritin containers can be used to house therapeutic drugs and diagnostics, while surface modifications can be used to direct the capsid for highly specific drug delivery or for the creation of new vaccines.
As part of the inventor's early foundational work with ferritin fusion proteins, applications were demonstrated in several areas, including vaccine development (e.g., HIV) and nanomaterial synthesis (e.g., silver single crystals condensed in the core with novel metal binding peptide fusion), as well as demonstration of solution plasmon resonance (Kramer, et. al, 2004). The present inventor observed, and now many others have confirmed, the ease, rapidity and relatively inexpensive process with which these fusion products can be made using standard recombinant techniques and a full spectrum of industry standard prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems. Ferritins with novel functionalities can be made and examined in as little as 10 days and modern high-throughput methods allow for the potential production of dozens of these genetic constructs in parallel.
In the vaccine application alone, there are broad and far reaching implications for the successful outcome in a variety of deadly diseases, many which are endemic throughout the world, including influenza and the promise of the long awaited HIV vaccine. To this end, NIH researchers have contributed an additional beautiful example of the effectiveness of this technology in animals against H1N1 influenza (Kanekiyo et al, 2013). In an issue of Science Magazine, the prior ferritin technology has been heralded as the answer to the long awaited universal flu vaccine ("Once-in-a-Lifetime Flu Shot?" Science Vol 341: pg. 1171, September, 2013) (FIG. 2). Clearly, the great potential of the ferritin non-viral nanoparticle platform (Carter & Li, 2003) has been validated independently by a number of research groups around the world.
The protein known as non-structural protein 10 or NSP10 is a viral regulatory protein found in at least the Group I, II and III coronaviruses. The three-dimensional atomic structure of NSP10 from the SARS coronavirus was determined by Su, et al., (2006) (FIG. 3). See also Joseph et al. (2006). This is an approximate 17 Kd MW viral gene regulatory/replicase-inhibitor protein that binds to the host cell 40S ribosomal unit and inhibits translation of host proteins. By suppressing host cell expression, NSP10 facilitates the production of its own viral gene expression.
Structurally, NSP10 is categorized as a zinc finger protein and can be further described as a two subdomain structure with one n-terminal helical subdomain (subdomain I) and one c terminal small beta sheet subdomain (subdomain II). NSP10 normally self-assembles into a spherical dodecamer having trigonal 32 point symmetry with an outer diameter of approximately 84 Å and an inner hollow hydrophobic chamber of 36 Å in diameter (FIGS. 3 & 4) (Su, et al., 2006; PDB identifier: 2G9T, sequence identifier P0C6U8). Subdomains I self-associate to form a trimer interaction at the four capsid n-terminal three-fold axes and subdomains II self-associate as trimeric units on the four c-terminal three-fold axes. One zinc binding site occurs at the interface between the two subdomains, and the three other zinc sites are located within subdomain II near the c-terminus.
NSP10 remains a unique topological representative of a structurally distinct assembling family of proteins, despite almost a decade since its first discovery. There have only been implied sequence homologies with other proteins, such as the HIT-type zinc finger proteins identified through sequence homology by Su, et al. (2006) which are also believed to be involved in gene regulation. Given the identified gene regulatory role of this protein, it would be understood that other topologically similar proteins exist, and thus by referring to NSP10, this includes other proteins that have the same physical folds, dimensions or properties, and are NSP10-like (or "NSPL"). In addition, NSP10 as used in the present application refers to other proteins having the same properties of folding and self-assembly as the NSP10 protein. Other proteins usable in the present invention will have sequence homology with the NSP10 protein in varying degrees, such as any level of 45% sequence homology of higher, e.g., 50% homology, 55% homology, 60% homology, 65% homology, 70% homology, 75% homology, 80% homology, 85% homology, 90% homology, 95% homology, or higher. The NSP10 proteins of the invention will thus include those proteins that may not have at least 45% sequence homology, but which contain similar binding regions and bonding patterns such that the self-assembly of the molecule forms the same pattern as the NSP10 fusion protein.
It is thus possible to develop alternate amino acid sequences of NSP10 proteins and accomplish the same objectives of the invention described herein. For example, it would be understood that amino acid substitutions to increase stability, remove zinc binding or change the amino acids exposed in the interior, would be considered within the scope of the invention as set forth below provided that the NSP10 self-assembles as indicated above. As a detailed example, the NSP10 proteins of this invention constitute a family of proteins that have important inter-subunit contacts which occur at the 2 folds of the capsid. Here, the main surface interaction is between two beta sheets running antiparallel (FIG. 5). If necessary or desirable, such features call for the improvement of capsid stability by replacing Met 44 on each protein by cysteine to potentially form a crosslinking disulfide bridge between two fold related dimers. The intermolecular distance between these two residues is approximately 6.2 Å. In the same line of reasoning, one may also potentially substitute a cysteine at or near Valine 42 which could potentially form a disulfide with Cysteine 46 of the adjacent molecule. In any case, it would be readily possible without undo experimentation to create a nanoparticle with increased stability by cross linking the protein in this manner, whether at the two-fold, or elsewhere on the molecule.
Moreover, very recent advances in protein structure prediction and engineering design have made it possible to design new capsid proteins having no sequence homology with existing proteins, but creating the same oligomeric assembly, whether as an individual protein or as a two-component system (Bale et al., 2016). Such engineered proteins with the same similar topological features and the advantageous disposition of the n and/or c-termini for the fusion of proteins or peptides, would be considered within the scope of the invention as set forth below.
Although structurally unique (for example, there are no similarities in the three-dimensional topology of the individual NSP10 proteins with ferritin), they, like members of the ferritin family, are formed by the self-assembling monomeric units. There are no also amino acid sequence homologies between NSPL proteins and the ferritins. While the family of proteins as thus far described are zinc finger proteins, excess zinc is not required for the dodecahedron formation and assembly. Zinc, however, may be required for viral gene regulatory function (Su et al, 2006). The NSPL family of dodecahedrons are similar in size to the smaller dodecameric ferritin capsids induced by heat-shock (which also have nucleic acid binding ability, a property suggested to be protective association (stabilizing) functions). In dodecameric form (12mer), they are approximately 84 Å in diameter vs. the 100 to 120 Å in diameter for normal 24mer ferritins with 432 symmetry). In addition to the 12mer assembly, there is a propensity for these to form dimers as discovered by the crystal structure. Surface electrostatic mapping reveals that the outer shell has definitive patches of positive charge (FIG. 4.) supportive of the proposed role in RNA regulatory processes (Su et al, 2006). Other distinctive features include a predominantly hydrophobic core structure (inner diameter of 36 Å) and examination of the structure space-filling model reveals a series of solvent assessable pores leading from the surface to the interior hollow core.
As previously described, ferritin nanoparticles possess an n-terminus that is located on the capsid surface making possible the display of peptide or protein fusions on the surface creating a VLP display. The types of surface display fusions are limited in this platform to the n-terminus, meaning that the fusion peptide or protein must be fused through the c-terminus of the fusion partner. This is referred to as an N to C terminal fusion requirement. The n-terminus is also located in close proximity to a capsid three-fold axis, making it possible to fuse and display natural oligomeric receptors which require three-fold symmetry. The c-termini of ferritin are located within the interior of the assembled capsid and very closely disposed around a four-fold axis. The c-termini are thus advantageously positioned to fuse peptides or proteins for interior modifications, such as changing the metal affinity and storage properties of ferritin (Kramer, et al, 2004). The c-termini, however are not advantageous in the surface display or the C to N terminal fusion required for a variety of other viral and receptor oligomeric structure requiring surface display and trimeric assembly. Examples of viral receptors that extend from the N to the C-terminus (Influenza, HIV, Ebola and coronaviruses) while other viruses have evolved receptor complexes which extend from the surface with a C to N terminus polarity (such as the reovirus and adenovirus families). Such viral receptors are the most important immunization targets and are key in eliciting neutralizing antibodies that prevent viral infection by blocking the viral receptor interaction and/or conformational requirements for subsequent membrane fusion. Information regarding the ferritin fusion proteins described above is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,097,841 and 7,608,268, both of these patents and their disclosures incorporated herein by reference.
When characterizing the NSP10 and the subsequent x-ray structure determination, Su et al. (2006) utilize a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein for the affinity-based isolation, using a commercially available expression vector with the GST and a specialized protease cleavage site to remove the target protein from the GST. In this way the GST component remains bound to the column and the target protein is easily eluted with relatively high purity. In this manner, Su et al. obtained NSP10 material suitable for further characterization and crystallization. Consequently Su et al. did not evaluate the potential assembly of the GST fusion protein by itself.
As part of the work to evaluate the potential of the NSP10 family of proteins for capsid fusion applications it was necessary to examine the proteins with the fusion partners intact, something that was not demonstrated or suggested by Su et. al., nor since that time, anywhere in the literature. Here, we describe the utility of NSP10 proteins as identified above for a variety of nanoparticle fusion protein applications, and demonstrate for the first time the propensity for self-assembly and proper biological function of the fusion partners once assembled in the capsid form (Examples 1-6). By self-assembly is meant the ability of the protein when formed to fully or partially assemble into the established oligomeric structure including all folds, core regions, pores, and bonding. Self-assembly can also refer to the formation of an aggregate including the proteins of the fusion protein.
Unlike ferritin where the N and C-termini terminate on the exterior and interior of the capsid, respectively, the N and C-termini of NSP10 proteins both are perfectly disposed about the three-fold axes and both terminate on the capsid surface, thus providing a major advantage over prior art. This eliminates the polarity issue, previously described, which limits surface expression partners in ferritin. Most importantly, the termini of each are properly disposed about three-folds with inherent ideal spacing for the fusion of the receptor stems, either helical or fibrous in nature. This positioning creates an anchor point for nucleating the trimeric oligomeric structures of numerous and complex, viral and cellular receptors. The employment of three-fold symmetry created by a fusion partner is well known to catalyze or nucleate the correct folding of a trimeric component (Papanikolopoulou, et al., 2004). Accordingly, the NSP10 proteins of the present invention will be able to be used in the same applications as described above for ferritin, but with the advantages as discussed herein.
As such, these protein or peptide fusions can be used to advantageously display the native form of various viral receptors for a more natural, improved antigen display or to guide the nanoparticle to a therapeutic target. Numerous virus families utilize the three-fold display of stems and receptors, these include the viruses of HIV, Ebola, influenza, coronaviruses, like SARS, MERS, and many others, some of which, like the orbiviruses, do not have an integral stem section, yet still utilize three-fold symmetry of the receptor/host recognition. This receptor display application of the NSP10 agents of the present invention agents can extend beyond viruses into cell tropism of many other infectious diseases and applications, including the targeted delivery of small molecule or protein therapeutic agents to cancerous cells or infectious agents, such as mycobacterial tuberculosis, and parasites, such as malaria. Clearly the scope of the possible applications of the novel NSP10 technology of the present invention is very broad and in addition to the applications described above, including those for the ferritin fusion protein, includes, for example, cell sorting, imaging, material science, vaccines, biosensors, diagnostics, and therapeutics, as described further below.
In this case, the assembled nanoparticle creates two unique sets of four identical three-fold related peptide terminal sequences, namely one set which terminates at the c-terminus and the other set which terminates at the n-terminus where the trimeric sets are each oriented in independent tetrahedral spatial configurations. As a conceptual and visual aide, since the NSP10 proteins of the invention have the same symmetry as a trigonal pyramid, each apex of the pyramid could be thought of as one terminal axis at the three-fold such as the three n-termini, while the c-termini three-folds can be represented by the center of each face of the pyramid (red or blue, see FIG. 6). A further graphic illustrates the final assembly of a c-terminal fusion with a viral stem and receptor (FIG. 7).
Further, an additional set of 4 stem fusions can be constructed on the same particle with the remaining 4 sets of trimeric N termini. FIG. 7 also illustrates the lack of steric spatial restrictions for these fusions, including the large GST fusion tags used for affinity chromatography.

NSP10 self-assembling fusion proteins for vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other nanomaterial applications


A method and apparatus for economically regenerating chemical etch solutions for aluminum and the alloys thereof without the use of large, complex and expensive processing apparatus. The method of the invention can be accomplished substantially at ambient temperature thereby avoiding the necessity for substantial investment in complex temperature control instrumentation. In accordance with the method of the invention, the spent etchant which is to be regenerated is first mixed with water in a separate storage tank and is then cold filtered prior to being transferred to the reactor or regeneration vessel. This step substantially reduces contamination buildup within the reactor vessel and thereby avoids costly periodic shut down of operations for clean-up. Due to the unique nature of the regeneration process of the invention, the alumina produced as a by product of the process is of extremely high quality and is snow white in color.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for regenerating caustic etch solutions of the type used in chemically milling aluminum and aluminum alloy parts. More particularly, the invention concerns a simple and straight forward method for regenerating cold filtered sodium hydroxide etching solutions using large reaction vessels which operate at ambient temperature.
2. Discussion of the Invention
Chemical milling is widely used in the prior art for precisely contouring the surfaces of various types of parts which have a particular configuration that makes surface contouring difficult or impossible using conventional milling machines. The technique is particularly useful in milling large sheet metal workpieces to uniform wall thicknesses.
Typically the chemical milling etchant used in large scale commercial aluminum chemical milling operations comprises a sodium hydroxide solution containing a small amount of dissolved aluminum. During the chemical milling process, the sodium hydroxide is consumed and the soluble compound, sodium aluminate, is formed. As the milling process progresses, the etching rate declines in proportion to the gradual decrease in the concentration of free sodium hydroxide and the simultaneous increase in the concentration of the dissolved aluminum. When the dissolved aluminum concentration reaches a certain level, it adversely affects the quality and effectiveness of the etchant and the spent solution must either be pumped out and replaced with fresh etchant, or the solution must be regenerated.
A novel and useful method and apparatus for accomplishing production scale chemical milling is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,973 issued to Nelson. Similarly, a generally typical prior art method for etching aluminum and aluminum alloy bodies is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,041 issued to Holman.
In accordance with prior art practices, when regeneration of the etchant solution became necessary, the regeneration process was accomplished by seeding the spent etchant with alumina trihydrate crystals under closely controlled temperature regimens. During the regeneration process, the dissolved sodium aluminate within the solution reacts with the alumina trihydrate crystals to form more alumina trihydrate and to regenerate sodium hydroxide as follows:
Sodium Aluminate.fwdarw.Alumina Trihydrate+Sodium Hydroxide
Typically, the conventional prior art caustic regenerators used to regenerate the spent etchant typically operated at very closely controlled elevated temperatures of on the order of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the conventional belief of those skilled in the art was that precise temperature control of the crystallization process was imperative, the regenerators often embodied complex and costly temperature control systems. Additionally, the more successful prior art regeneration systems were operated on a continuous flow basis thereby further adding to the cost and complexity of the regenerator systems.
By way of example, one prior art method and apparatus for regenerating an etch solution at an elevated temperature is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,805 issued to Takahashi, et al. The method and apparatus described in this patent includes the steps of withdrawing a portion of the etchant from a reservoir, adding a polymeric flocculent in a thickener to form a solid sulfide and then removing the solid sulfide from the thickener by means of a nozzle. The supernatant liquid in the thickener is then introduced into a crystallizer and water is added. Next, the crystallized aluminum oxide is separated and removed from the crystallizer by means of a centrifugal separator. The alkaline liquid which is discharged from the crystallizer as an overflow supernatant is then introduced into a recovery tank and concentrated by means of an evaporator. Finally the concentrated liquid is removed from the evaporator and returned to the etchant tank with or without the addition of sodium hydroxide and/or sodium sulfide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,046 issued to Hunter et al discloses a process for etching aluminum in caustic solution capable of providing a consistently uniform matte finish like that of the never dump process, but with little waste like the regeneration process. Etching is performed in a solution containing free sodium hydroxide and dissolved aluminum in a ratio between about 0.6 and 2.1 g/l and also containing an etch equalizing agent at a temperature above about 70.degree. C. In column 4, starting at line 63, Hunter describes the "conventional regeneration process" as being "typically operated at a temperature between about 55.degree. C. and 60.degree. C., with an aluminum concentration between about 25 and 30 g/l, and a free sodium hydroxide between about 50 and 70 g/l for aluminum. Hunter continues pointing out that in his invention "the etch temperature is higher than about 70.degree. C., preferably about 80.degree. C."
As will be better appreciated from the discussion which follows, the method and apparatus of the present invention greatly simplifies the process and apparatus for regeneration of the etchant solutions and, for the first time, provides a simple, regeneration system which operates at ambient temperature and requires no complex equipment, instrumentation or controls. Since the method uses large vessels which operate at ambient temperature, no sophisticated and costly temperature control instrumentation is required.

Method and apparatus for regenerating an etch solution


A computer has a floppy disk drive provided in one of the spaces for receiving disk drives of the computer, a computer keyboard and a main system board. An access control device includes a casing placed into another one of the spaces for receiving disk drives of the computer, a keypad provided on a front panel of the casing and operated so as to provide an input password, and a control unit provided within the casing and electrically connected to the keypad. The control unit includes a memory unit which contains a desired password, a microprocessor unit which receives the input password from the keypad and which generates an activating signal when the input password tallies with the desired password in the memory unit, and at least one control circuit connected to a respective one of the computer keyboard, the floppy disk drive and the main system board. Each of the control circuits is actuated by the activating signal from the microprocessor unit so as to unlock and enable the respective one of the computer keyboard, the floppy disk drive and the main system board and permit normal operation of the computer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer, and more particularly to a computer with a push-button control device that prevents the operation of the computer in the absence of a correct input password.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computers are usually provided with a control device that prevents the unauthorized operation of the same. Such control devices are necessary so as to prevent unwarranted access to classified information, to prevent data loss and to prevent the introduction of a computer virus into the computer.
The access control devices of the above type are currently available in two kinds. The first type is a key-operated control device which is usually installed in most computers. A special key is used to activate the control device so as to permit proper operation of the computer. The second type is a card-operated control device which requires the insertion of an access card into a card receiving groove so as to permit proper operation of the computer.
Note that in both types of access control devices, a separate component (such as a key or an access card) is necessary before the access control device can be activated. The computer cannot be operated when the separate component is lost or damaged. Furthermore, the conventional control devices prevent the operation of the computer by disabling the computer keyboard of the latter. Unauthorized use of the computer is still possible by installing a computer mouse.

Computer with security device for controlling access thereto

No. 21-1, Lane 137, Sec. 2, Chung-Shan N. Rd.


A system for irrigating a patient's skin. The system includes a fluid container that includes a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment being adapted to retain a first fluid on a first side of a divider and the second compartment being adapted to retain a second fluid on a second side of the divider. The system also includes an irrigation sleeve adapted cover a portion of the patient's skin. The system also includes a fluid charging portion adapted to receive a portion of the first fluid and a portion of the second fluid, wherein the portion of the first fluid reacts with the portion of the second fluid to form a charged compound in the fluid charging portion. The system also includes a compound delivery portion that extends at a first end of the compound delivery portion from the fluid charging portion, the compound delivery portion being adapted to deliver the charged compound from the fluid charging portion to the irrigation sleeve.

Surgical wounds or chronically occurring wounds, such as diabetic or vascular foot or leg ulcers, can become inoculated during surgery or infected with bacteria or other infectious organisms. Prophylaxis to prevent and/or cure infections can be provided by eradicating inoculation, colonization or contamination. Further, prevention of infection, inoculation or colonization of surgical wounds or chronically occurring wounds can be provided by a lasting antimicrobial activity in a nontoxic irrigant which offers persistent antimicrobial activity. This can be accomplished if the irrigant is allowed to remain in or around the wound, eliciting persistent antimicrobial activity.
Increasing metabolism and growth of anaerobic bacteria in such wounds may increase when an oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) is decreased. The Eh in such wound areas can decrease, for example, when oxygen in the wound area is decreased and may decrease responsive to other changes in the characteristics of the wound area. Conversely, by increasing the Eh in a wound area, metabolism and growth of anaerobic bacteria may be decreased, which may prevent and/or cure an infection in a wound area. Increasing the Eh in a wound area may include irrigating the wound area with one or more ion rich compounds, such as a charged zinc compound having free available zinc ions and at least one Eh raising component.

System and method for patient skin treatment and irrigation


The present invention is directed to antiperspirant compositions which comprise from about 0.1% to about 99.9% by weight of solubilized or solid antiperspirant active and from about 0.1% to about 99.9% by weight of a carrier which comprises 1,2-hexanediol, preferably in combination with a volatile silicone liquid carrier and dimethiconol as a coupling agent. The 1,2-hexanediol carrier is a highly effective coupling agent and is milder to the skin when applied topically to the axilla or other areas of the skin as compared to many other polyol-containing carriers. Preferred are antiperspirant compositions containing solubilized antiperspirant active.

Polyol-containing carriers and solvents are well known for use in deodorant and antiperspirant compositions. These carriers are most typically used to solubilize the antiperspirant active, or as coupling agents during the manufacturing process. These polyol carriers are typically aliphatic polyhydric alcohols which have from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, examples of which include propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, butylene glycol, 1,2proplyene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol (1,3-butane-diol), glycerine (1,2,3-trihydroxy propane), 2-methyl-2,4-pentane-diol (hexylene glycol), 2-ethyl-1,3-hexane-diol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, and combinations thereof.
Polyol-containing carriers are especially useful in formulating a variety of consumer products containing solubilized antiperspirant active. In making such products, the polyol-containing carrier is typically in the form of an aqueous system which is used to initially solubilize the antiperspirant active. Once the antiperspirant active is solubilized, the water in the aqueous system is removed by any of a variety of known means. The anhydrous solution is then used to formulate an antiperspirant composition containing solubilized antiperspirant active.
Polyol-containing carriers are especially useful in formulating clear or translucent antiperspirant compositions. These compositions are typically anhydrous systems containing solubilized antiperspirant active, wherein the polyol carrier is used to help solubilize the active and in most cases provides the primary carrier material within which the solubilized active is miscible or dispersed within.
Many polyol-containing carriers, however, can cause skin irritation when topically applied to the underarms or other sensitive areas of the skin. This skin irritation is especially problematic when the applied composition is an anhydrous system containing higher concentrations of the polyol carrier. These higher polyol concentrations are often necessary in anhydrous antiperspirant compositions to successfully couple product gellants, structurants, thickening agents or other similar materials with other product carriers or solvents. This skin irritation, especially when caused by higher polyol concentrations, is especially problematic in a small percentage of the population that is unusually sensitive to topical polyol irritation. Although this type skin irritation can be minimized by adding lower irritation solvents such as mineral oil or volatile silicones, these low irritation solvents are not miscible with higher concentrations of most high-polarity polyol solvents.
It has now been found that polyol-containing carriers, and in particular 1,2-hexanediol containing carriers, can be formulated which cause remarkably less skin irritation. It has been found that 1,2-hexanediol is an excellent coupling agent that not only causes less skin irritation, but that can be used at lower concentrations which further results in reduced skin irritation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a polyol-containing antiperspirant composition that is milder to the skin, and further to provide such a composition that also has good skin feel characteristics during and after topical application.

Antiperspirant composition containing 1,2-hexanediol


A process for producing a Group III--V compound semiconductor represented by the general formula In.sub.x Ga.sub.y Al.sub.z N (provided that x+y+z=1, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1, and 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1) employs a support member for forming the semiconductor, wherein the member constitutes SiC which is obtained by converting a graphite base material into SiC. In another embodiment, the member comprises a graphite-SiC composite wherein at least a surface layer part of a graphite substrate is converted into SiC. The member of the invention has superior chemical and mechanical stability, thereby making it useful in high-productivity production devices for making compound semiconductors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a member for a production device for producing Group III--V compound semiconductors, and a production device using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
As a material of light-emitting devices such as a light-emitting diode (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "LED") in the ultraviolet, blue or green color range or a laser diode in the ultraviolet, blue or green color range, a Group III--V compound semiconductor represented by the general formula In.sub.x Ga.sub.y Al.sub.z N (provided that x+y+z=1, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1, and 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1) has hitherto been known.
Examples of processes for producing a Group III--V compound semiconductor include the molecular beam epitaxy (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "MBE") process, the organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "MOVPE") process, the hydride vapor phase epitaxy (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "HVPE") process and like processes. Among them, the MOVPE process is particularly preferred because uniform formation of layers in a large area can be generally conducted in comparison with the MBE and HVPE processes.
In the vapor phase deposition process for producing a compound semiconductor, a member of the production device is exposed to an atmosphere of raw gases (e.g. hydrogen, organometallic compounds, ammonia gas, etc.) which have a large reactivity at high temperature. Therefore, it is necessary that the members used in the production device be composed of a material which has high resistance to these raw gases and which emits a minimal amount of impurities so that a high-purity semiconductor can be grown.
Graphite is often used in a production device for semiconductors other than the compound semiconductor because of various features such as its stability at high temperature, its ability to be easily heated due to its high absorption efficiency of high frequency electromagnetic waves or infrared rays or by Joule heat of the current through the graphite itself, its emission of small amounts of impurities and the like. However, it is known that graphite has high reactivity to ammonia, especially at a high temperature, and is drastically deteriorated, upon exposure to a high-temperature ammonia atmosphere. Therefore, graphite is generally used after coating the surface of the graphite with a chemically stable material (e.g. SiC, etc.) in a thickness of about 100 .mu.m.
However, problems occur in that the coating material such as SiC is gradually cracked or pinholes develop when it is exposed to a high-temperature (not less than 1000.degree. C.) atmosphere for a long time or when a cycle of heating to a temperature of not less than 1000.degree. C. and cooling to room temperature is repeated, even if graphite coated with SiC is used as the material for the member. Another problem is that the coated SiC cannot be used for the sliding part of the member because the surface thereof is not smooth.
On the other hand, a SiC-sintered member has high resistance to ammonia, but has a problem in that it cannot be easily formed into a complicated form because SiC is a remarkably hard material.

Member for use in production device for semiconductors


A method, apparatus, and/or computer program product creates a virtual resource package. Metadata related to a machine is captured, where the machine is a physical machine and/or a virtual machine. A constraint definition describing a configuration constraint of the machine is generated based on the captured metadata. A disk image file of the at least one machine, the captured metadata and the generated constraint definition are packaged to generate the virtual resource package.

The present invention relates to the field of virtualization, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for creating a virtual resource package, for example, an Open Virtualization Format (OVF) package.
In the computer field, a virtualization technique has been widely used. With the virtualization technique, one or more virtual machines having complete computer system functions can be simulated on a physical machine. Each of the virtual machines may be based on a different virtualization platform, such as a virtualization platform from VMware®, a virtualization platform from Microsoft®, or the like. For convenience of development and deployment of the virtual machines, a virtual appliance is proposed. The virtual appliance is a pre-built software solution which includes one or more virtual machines packaged, maintained, updated and managed as one unit.
In order to standardize the virtual appliance, the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) has proposed an Open Virtualization Format (OVF) standard, which is used to package and distribute the virtual appliance (accordingly, software running on respective virtual machines in the virtual appliance) in an open, safe, portable, efficient and scalable format, and thereby simplify installation and deployment of the virtual appliance across multiple virtualization platforms. An OVF package created by packaging the virtual appliance typically includes: one OVF descriptor file (.ovf), i.e. "OVF envelope", which describes component parts of the virtual appliance, requirements of the respective component parts, etc.; zero or one OVF manifest file (.mf), which includes SHA-1 abstracts of respective files in the OVF package for ensuring integrity of the OVF package; zero or one OVF certificate file (.cert), which is used to sign the OVF package by signing the manifest file to ensure authenticity of the OVF package; and zero or more disk image files of the virtual machines.
Conventionally, the process of creating the OVF package is performed manually, which requires a user to execute an OVF creating tool deployed as an application on a general purpose computer. Such manual process requires specialized knowledge and is error-prone. Particularly, a system administrator having specialized knowledge of both the OVF and physical systems migrated to the virtual machines is often required to perform the creation of the OVF package. However, when creating the OVF package manually, even such experienced system administrator may enter an incorrect parameter accidentally so that the OVF package is flawed, resulting in that problems may occur in the virtual machines deployed finally.
In order to reduce manual operations, some methods for creating the OVF package have been proposed, which use OVF package creating tools to guide a user through the creation of the OVF package by, for example, graphical wizards. Although these methods provide a step toward automated creation of the OVF package, they still need many manual operations, and thus are still error-prone. In addition, when the OVF package is created, the existing methods cannot collect topology information for an existing runtime environment including physical machines and virtual machines, and it is also difficult to include contents describing configuration constraints for the respective virtual machines in the created OVF package.

International Business Machines Corporation


A two stage voltage boost circuit, IC and design structure are disclosed for boosting a supply voltage using gate control circuitry to reduce gate oxide stress, thus allowing lower voltage level FETs to be used. The voltage boost circuit may include a first stage for boosting the supply voltage to a first boosted voltage and a second stage for boosting the first boosted voltage to a second boosted voltage. Each stage may include a passgate and a gate control circuit for generating an on-state gate voltage level for the respective passgate adjusted to reduce gate oxide voltage stress on the passgate. The circuit may also include a precharge circuit for coupling a voltage on a high node of the second stage to a gate node of a precharge transistor thereof for disabling the precharge transistor and preventing leakage back to a power supply voltage.

The disclosure relates generally to voltage boost circuits.
A voltage boost circuit or charge pump is an electronic circuit that uses capacitors for energy storage to create a higher voltage power source. One challenge with charge pumps is that when creating a higher voltage power source, such as in a three times a supply voltage (3× Vdd) charge pump, voltages may be generated in excess of the oxide-stress limit of a field effect transistor (FET), i.e., a stress limit of the gate oxide thickness. Previous approaches have used FET devices with an oxide stress limit greater than the output voltage of the pumping system. This situation forces inclusion of a thicker, and typically lower performance FET in a technology menu which adds cost and complexity such as additional mask steps and extra characterization requirements. For example, a "medium" gate oxide thickness FET may have a gate oxide of approximately 22 Angstroms (Å), while a thicker gate oxide, lower performance FET may require a gate oxide of approximately 52 Å. Gate voltage controllers for generating a safe gate drive level below an excessive stress level of the oxide have been implemented, but they are limited in terms of the amount of boost permissible and require a precision current source for calibration.

Two stage voltage boost circuit with precharge circuit preventing leakage, IC and design structure


A sanitary tubular pet waste removal device includes a hollow proximal section having a handle extending from a first end thereof and a hollow distal section extending from a second end of the proximal section, the second end opposite the first end. One or both of the distal and proximal sections includes a scoop arranged to nest within the sections when not in use, and the interior of the distal section is adapted to temporarily hold and sanitarily retain fecal matter. Together, the proximal and distal sections form a bat-like structure when not in use, thereby facilitating ease of carrying by a user. The handle of the proximal section includes a separable light source arranged to illuminate the exterior of the unit, acting as a safety light, and also arranged to shine down to the ground beneath, thereby facilitating the process of locating target fecal matter.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention relates generally to pet waste removal devices.
2. Background
Laws require that all pet waste must be removed in public spaces due to the potentially life-threatening diseases that can be contracted from pet waste, along with the unpleasant odor and appearance. An infected dog can shed as many as 50 million worm eggs in only 1 week! Cleaning up animal waste is cumbersome, unsanitary, smelly, and embarrassing. Animal lovers have become accustomed to carrying plastic bags or heavy/cumbersome devices to clean up after their pets during a walk. Traditional "jaw-like" pooper scoopers are unable to handle the task when there is multiple pet waste to be cleaned. These methods are inconvenient, ineffective, malodorous, and can be unsanitary and unhealthy. Waste receptacles are not always immediately available which forces the pet owner to carry bags of pet waste until they arrive home or find a proper receptacle. Dogs need to be walked regardless of the time of day, and many pet owners find themselves walking their pets in poor lighting or in the dark. Walking in the dark can be dangerous for both the pet owner and pet as they are apt to getting attacked from other people or animals.

Sanitary tubular pet waste removal device


In an aspect, an electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, the electrode active material including a silicon-based alloy and a coating film containing a polymer that includes a 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene repeating unit and an oxyalkylene repeating unit, coated on the surface of the silicon-based alloy are provided.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to an electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, an electrode for a lithium secondary battery, including the electrode active material, and a lithium secondary battery including the electrode.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Lithium secondary batteries are attractive as a power source for portable small electronic devices. Lithium secondary batteries including an organic electrolytic solution may have a discharge voltage two or more times as high as that of a battery using a conventional alkali aqueous solution. Accordingly, lithium secondary batteries including an organic electrolytic solution have high energy density.
A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode, each of which includes an active material enabling intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions, and an area between the positive electrode and the negative electrode filled with an organic electrolytic solution or a polymer electrolytic solution. Lithium secondary batteries generate energy due to an oxidation reaction and a reduction reaction respectively occurring when lithium ions are intercalated into or deintercalated from the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
Although such lithium secondary batteries have a high electromotive force and high energy density, growth of the industry has led to large demand for batteries with a longer lifespan and encouraging further research into such batteries.

Electrode active material for lithium secondary battery, electrode for lithium secondary battery including the same, and lithium secondary battery including the electrode


A trip apparatus for a circuit interruption device that comprises a coil operatively connectable to a circuit interruption device. The coil is configured to selectively operate the circuit interruption device to interrupt when a current flowing through the circuit interruption device exceeds a threshold. The trip apparatus also includes a current measuring device configured to selectively measure a coil current flowing through the coil to determine a measured coil current signal. In addition, the trip apparatus includes a monitoring device configured to determine the derivative of the measured coil current signal and to perform a correlation of the derivative of the measured coil current signal and a reference derivative of a reference coil current signal to determine a correlation output. The monitoring device is further configured to compare the correlation output with a reference correlation threshold to determine whether an operating condition of the coil is normal or abnormal.

This invention relates to a trip apparatus for a circuit interruption device, a circuit interruption device comprising such a trip apparatus, and a method of determining an operating condition of a coil in such a trip apparatus.
Fast and repeatable operation of circuit interruption devices such as circuit breakers in, e.g. high voltage power transmission networks, is essential in order to clear faults within critical clearance times. It is desirable therefore to test the correct operation of the circuit interruption devices so as to ensure the said fast and repeatable operation when required.

In or relating to circuit interruption devices


The objective of the present invention is to provide a high-speed, miniaturized, low-cost DVD recording and reproducing system. The present invention is particularly directed to a motorless optical pick-up device for recording and/or reading information on or from an optical disc (CD or DVD), which provides focusing, tracking, seamless layer jumping, tilt compensation, and CD/DVD compatibility.

DVD is an optical storage medium with large data capacity. A single layer DVD can store about seven times more data than a standard CD while their physical dimensions including diameter and thickness are the same. The data on DVD is recorded in the form of microscopic pits and land along the spiral track, which is similar to CD; however, DVD has much smaller pit size with higher densification possibly on multiple layers. A DVD recording and reproducing system needs to provide a precise mechanism to record and reproduce these microscopic high density data signals. In addition, due to the popularity of CD, it needs to provide CD/DVD compatibility like all commercial DVD players and drives.
A DVD recording and reproducing system includes a spindle motor with a turn table configured to position and rotate an optical disc (DVD or CD), an optical pick-up unit configured to focus in on pits and trace a data track, and a control system for controlling the spindle motor and the optical pick-up unit.
The optical pick-up unit uses an objective lens to focus a laser beam onto the surface of the optical disc to record or reproduce data. Since the DVD has a small pit size with high densification, the laser beam needs to be focused in on small spot. To reduce the spot diameter, the optical pick-up unit for the DVD employs a laser diode with a reduced wavelength and an objective lens with a large numerical aperture.
To read data from an optical disc, the objective lens focuses a laser beam on the surface of the optical disc and a photo detector measures the intensity of the reflected light from the reflective layer of the optical disc. When it hits a pit in the data layer, the reflected light is more diffused, or has a weak intensity. When it strikes a smooth area, or land, the reflected light has a strong intensity. The signal processor identifies pits and land based on the measured light intensity, and converts them to an electrical signal, which is sent to a decoder.
Similarly, to record data on an optical disc, the objective lens focuses the light on the dye layer of the optical disc. The intensity of the laser beam emitted by a laser diode is varied according to a data signal transmitted to the laser via a data storage device. Depending on the intensity of the laser beam, the dye that is used to form the optical disc reacts to the heat and light to create a series of recorded pits and land.
Focusing and tracking errors caused by eccentricities in the rotation of the disk and vibration due to the rotation of the disk are detected by a signal processor using a light beam image formed in a photo detector. When an objective lens is closer to or farther away from an optical disc than the focal length of the objective lens, a signal processor can detect abnormality from a light beam image formed in the photodetector and produce a focus correction signal.
For tracking control, a three spot push-pull radial tracking method (U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,619 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,537) is usually employed, which utilizes a diffraction grating wherein the light is converted into a central peak and two side peaks. If the optical head is on track, the central beam is configured to be centered on the data track and two side beams are configured to be centered on land. A photo detector will measure a lower light intensity for a central spot than for side spots because the central beam is tracking on both pits and land while side beams are tracking on land. In addition, two side beams will have the same intensity. If the optical head is deviated from the data track, the central spot will have a higher light intensity and side spots will have lower intensities. Also, the intensities of two side spots will be different. In that case, the signal processor produces a tracking correction signal.
Conventional optical pick-up units are actuated by an electromagnetically driven servo system comprising coils and magnets, which usually provides two-axis controls; one for focusing control which drives the objective lens in the direction perpendicular to the optical disc surface and the other for tracking control which drives the optical head in the radial direction of the optical disc. The servo system includes a moving part that conducts macroscopic translational motions for focusing and tracking, and generates a certain degree of vibration.
The aforementioned conventional optical pick-up units show some limitations and drawbacks mainly due to their slow response time, a lack of degree of freedom, and complexity. Many DVDs use dual layers. The second layer can use either parallel track path layout or an opposite track path layout. The parallel track path layout in which both layers read from the center of the disc is suitable for a computer random access application such as DVD-Rom, a disc providing the choice between wide screen and full screen versions, or a disc having special DVD features along with a movie. The opposite track path layout in which the first layer reads from the inside to the outside while the second layer reads from the outside to the inside allows near continuous playback for long movies with a high picture quality. Both methods usually show noticeable time delay (freezing) for transition and refocusing from one layer to another because conventional optical pick-up devices use the macroscopic servo technologies to actuate controller, which results in a slow response time.
The tilt of an optical disc caused by the deflection and mechanical run-out of a disk, increases coma aberration, which is critical in systems with a large numerical aperture. Thus, tilt compensation is strongly required for DVD recording and reproducing systems. However, it is difficult for a two-axis optical pick-up actuator to compensate for coma aberration. Moreover, there is a sub-resonance problem due to mass unbalance or nonlinearity of the moving parts.
In order to solve those problems, optical pick-up units used in DVD recording and reproducing systems require three-axis motions for focusing, tracking, and tilt compensation. Such a device is described in US Patent No. 2004/0052180 A1, wherein a three-axis macroscopic mechanical servo system is used. However, the three-axis macroscopic actuator has many disadvantages, including, but not limited to, its complicated structure, large volume, heavy weight, low speed, high cost, and vulnerability to vibration.
Moreover, to provide the CD/DVD compatibility, it requires complicated structures such as an additional objective lens (U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,154), a holographic optical element (U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,674), or a liquid crystal shutter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,603).
Further, there is a growing need for high-speed, and small and thin size DVD recording and reproducing system. However, it is very difficult to satisfy the requirements for high-speed and/or miniaturization when the conventional servo technology is employed.
Thus, there is a practical need for an optical pick-up unit for DVD recording and reproducing systems that provides focusing, tracking, seamless layer jumping, tilt compensation, and CD/DVD compatibility with minimal macroscopic motion or even without macroscopic motion. This device also must be able to withstand vibration and satisfy the need for high-speed, miniaturization, and low production cost.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An on/off clutch assembly is disclosed having a two component spring end cap. The spring end cap includes a steel cap portion and a non-metallic portion. The non-metallic portion extends along the entire length of the steel cap portion and is located between the steel cap portion and the piston rod. The new design insulates the steel piston rod from the steel spring end cap. This results in reduced corrosion of seals within the clutch assembly and contributes to improved conditions for bearings within the clutch assembly.

Vehicle engines commonly utilize cooling assemblies to remove excess heat from the engine and maintain an optimal operating temperature. The cooling assembly pumps a coolant through the engine and other components in order to control engine temperature. Heat generated within the engine and other components is absorbed by the coolant and dispersed into the surrounding atmosphere through the use of a radiator. In order to improve dispersal by the radiator, it is common to utilize fan assemblies to draw or force air past the radiator to assist in temperature transmission.
It is not always desirable for such fan assemblies to run continuously. At times, it is desirable for the temperature within the coolant to increase rather than decrease. Additionally, continuous operation when unnecessary places a non-required draw on the engine and thereby reduces efficiency. To compensate for this, present fan assemblies utilize fan clutch assemblies that allow for the selective engagement of the fan to the engine such that the fans are engaged only when necessary.
The present invention relates to friction coupling devices that drive radiator-cooling fans. A common friction-coupling device is that of the dry friction drive style, otherwise referred to interchangeably hereinafter with a friction clutch assembly. Dry friction drives are used for their simplicity, cool operating temperature, and ability to turn at fully engaged peak operating speeds.
Although the present invention may be used advantageously in various configurations and applications, it is especially advantageous in a coupling device of the type used to drive a radiator cooling fan of an internal combustion engine for an over the road truck, such as a class 8 truck, and will be described in connection therewith.
Dry friction drives tend to have two operating conditions "ON and OFF", which refer to when an associated friction clutch is either fully engaged or fully disengaged. When a friction clutch assembly is fully engaged, the assembly provides cooling to an associated engine and is not slipping. When a friction clutch assembly is fully disengaged slippage between the clutch plate and an engagement surface is at a maximum, thus providing little rotational output to drive an associated fan.
There are several disadvantages of known dry friction drives. One disadvantage is damage done to O-rings or seals within the friction clutch assembly. It has been determined that one source of damage done to the O-rings is due to contamination introduced into the environment. Another disadvantage is failure of the bearings within the friction clutch assembly. Bearing failure has been linked with excessive vibrations to the assembly.
These problems stem from the interaction between components in known friction clutch assemblies. There is a spring assembly that resides between the rotating drive shaft and the clutch housing. The spring assembly includes a spring and two end caps, each positioned at one end of the spring. The first end cap is translatable along the piston rod in response to a fluidic control circuit demanding disengagement of the clutch assembly. The first end cap is made from steel and the piston rod is made from steel. Therefore, the steel end cap moves back and forth over the steel piston rod. Internal metal-to-metal contact between the piston rod and spring end cap, sets up the perfect environment for fretting corrosion when coupled with engine vibrations, thus producing significant amounts of oxide particles which contaminate and degrade a nearby seal.
Another problematic issue with known dry friction drives is the costly step of machining radii in the inner diameter of the steel spring end cap.

Bi-assembly spring end cap for vehicle on/off fan drive to improve seal life, reduce vibration input loading to ball bearings and reduce component cost


This rotation driving apparatus includes a torque generating circuit 72 for generating a torque of a servo motor 30 with voltage supply from a power source 71 and a motor control circuit 73 for controlling rotation of the motor. In the torque generating circuit 72, a condenser 76 is arranged to detect a level of the supplied voltage and a period of voltage drop. A voltage-drop information detected by the condenser 76 can be transmitted to a host controller 70. The host controller 70 previously memorizes a power-recovery information having a voltage drop and a time under an instantaneous blackout capable of recovering within a predetermined period and a rotation control pattern information of the motor corresponding to the power-recovery information and further compares the voltage-drop information, the power-recovery information and the rotation control pattern information of the motor with each other. Based on a control signal, the controller 70 controls the rotation of the servo motor 30. Then, by controlling the rotation in correspondence with the voltage drop during the driving of the motor, it is carried out to suppress increasing of a driving period, improving the throughput and restricting vibration due to a rotational standstill of the motor by the voltage drop.

For example, a manufacturing apparatus for semiconductor devices transfers an object to be processed, such as semiconductor wafer and LCD substrate (the object will be referred "wafer etc.", after) from a loading/unloading part to a processing part, e.g. a cleaning/drying part by using a transport mechanism. At the cleaning/drying part, a wafer etc. held by a rotor equipped with a rotating mechanism is cleaned in order to remove contaminations, such as particles, organic contaminants and metallic impurities, and post-etching polymers from the wafer etc. with supply of designated chemical liquid, deionized water or the like. After the removal, the wafer etc. is dried by removing droplets therefrom with supply of inert gas, for example, nitrogen (N2) gas, volatile and hydrophilic IPA vapor, etc. Subsequently, an operation to pick up the wafer etc. from the cleaning/drying part and further transfer the wafer etc. to the loading/unloading part by the transport mechanisms is performed.
In the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus like this, of course, a motor (rotation driving apparatus) driven by a supply voltage from a power source is used in a rotor, as a driving source for the transport mechanism.
By the way, during the operation of the apparatus, there arises a situation that the supply voltage for the motor drops. In such a situation, the processing is immediately suspended for purpose of protecting the rotor and the transport mechanism. However, the standstill of the processing may cause the quality of a wafers etc. to deteriorate.
Therefore, there has been hitherto adopted a method that if the supply voltage drops due to power blackout etc., then a processing condition is memorized by a power source supplied from power reserving means and further, when the voltage drop is recovered, the processing operation is restarted while referring to data of the memorized processing condition. This method is disclosed in e.g. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2723764, paragraph Nos. 0011, 0024 to 0028 and 0031 and FIGS. 4 and 5. Additionally, there is also known a method that when a power blackout occurs, the transportation of wafers etc. or the processing operation is maintained by an emergency power from an emergency power source. This method is disclosed in e.g. Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-150014, paragraph Nos. 0033, 0040 and 0041 and FIG. 5.
In the above-mentioned method that the processing condition is memorized by the power source supplied from the power reserving means when the supply voltage drops and that the processing operation is maintained while referring to data of the memorized processing condition when the voltage drop is recovered, however, there are problems to be solved. That is, since the operation (driving) of the apparatus is once stopped when the supply voltage drops and the operation (driving) is restarted when the voltage drop is recovered, the driving period of the apparatus is increased to cause reduction of its throughput. Additionally, if stopping the rotation of a driving part of the apparatus during, especially, its accelerating rotation or high-speed rotation, the wafers etc. may be damaged due to vibration of the apparatus. Similarly, the other method of continuing the processing operation with supply of the emergency power from the emergency power source at a power blackout has problems although there is no problem of increasing the processing period remarkably. That is, since the driving of the apparatus comes to a temporary standstill in changing a main power supply to the emergency power source, the driving period is increased as much to cause reduction of the throughput. Additionally, as mentioned above, if stopping the rotation of a driving part of the apparatus during, especially, its accelerating rotation or high-speed rotation, the wafers etc. may be damaged due to vibration of the apparatus.
By the way, such a situation that a supply voltage drops is not always derived from a power blackout only. The situation may be derived from an instantaneous blackout where the voltage drops instantaneously and the power is recovered (redelivered) subsequently. Note that, the apparatus is usually standardized so as to cope with such an instantaneous blackout.
Also in case of such an instantaneous blackout, the standstill of the apparatus driving causes increasing of the driving period and reduction of the throughput. Further, there is a problem that a standstill in rotational drive causes the wafers etc. to be damaged due to vibration.
Under the above circumstance, the object of the present invention is to suppress increasing of the driving period by controlling the rotation of an apparatus corresponding to a voltage drop during driving of the apparatus, to improve the throughput of the apparatus and to suppress vibration of the apparatus due to its standstill in rotation in the voltage drop.

Rotation drive device and rotation drive method


Semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor device may include a control signal generator and a fuse array portion. The control signal generator may generate a power control signal, disable the power control signal to a ground voltage signal level during a power-up period, and enable the power control signal to a power supply voltage signal level from a moment that the power-up period terminates until a moment that a mode register set operation terminates. The fuse array portion may execute a boot-up operation while the power control signal is enabled. The fuse array portion may generate fuse data according to an electrical open/short state of a fuse. The fuse may be selected by a level combination of address signals during the boot-up operation.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to semiconductor devices and semiconductor systems.
2. Related Art
Semiconductor devices may be designed to include fuses that store information necessary for various internal control operations. For example, repair information on abnormal memory cells is one example of stored information. General fuses can be programmed at a wafer level. This is possible because the logic level of each piece of data is determined according to an electrical open/short state pertaining to a fuse. However, once the semiconductor devices are encapsulated to form semiconductor packages, it may be impossible to program the general fuses in the semiconductor packages. To solve the aforementioned disadvantage E-fuses may be used. Each of the e-fuses may be realized using a transistor. For example, a MOS transistor may be used as the transistor. In such a case, data may be stored in the e-fuse by changing an electrical resistance value between the gate terminal and the source/drain terminal of the MOS transistor. The MOS transistor being used as the e-fuse. That is, the e-fuse may be electrically open or short according to a resistance value between the gate terminal and the source/drain terminal of the MOS transistor employed as the e-fuse.
In order to correctly recognize the data stored in the e-fuses, a size of the transistors employed as the e-fuses has to be increased. Additionally, amplifiers have to be used without increasing the size of the transistors employed as the e-fuses. However, in any case, there may be limitations in increasing the integration density of the semiconductor devices including the e-fuses.
Recently, e-fuse arrays have been proposed to solve the limitations of the integration density and to store the information necessary for various internal control operations. Accordingly, the integration density of the semiconductor devices may be improved.

Semiconductor devices and semiconductor systems


Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for controlling an actuator in an optical image stabilizer. The apparatus includes a hand-shake frequency determination unit configured to determine a hand-shake frequency based on distance data output from a distance calculator which is configured to calculate a distance based on an output from a motion sensor. The apparatus further includes a proportional-integral-derivative coefficient selection and switching controller configured to apply proportional-integral-derivative coefficients suitable for the determined hand-shake frequency to a PID controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling an actuator in an optical image stabilizer to prevent an image blur from occurring independently of a hand-shake of a low frequency and a hand-shake of a high frequency by optimally controlling the actuator in the optical image stabilizer for both of the hand-shake frequencies.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical image stabilizer (OIS) senses a user's hand-shake using a motion sensor, for example, a gyro sensor, and prevents an image blur by moving a lens module or an image sensor in an opposite direction to a hand-shake direction by controlling an actuator.
A voice coil motor (VCM) is a frequently used actuator in the OIS for moving the lens module or the image sensor. The VCM has a coil mounted outside a camera lens module to control a direction and an amount of current flowing in the coil and to move the lens module to a desired position.
The major factor to cause the image blur relies on how much light is transferred to RGB pixels of the image sensor. As the camera lens module is shaken, light is transferred to a wider range of pixels, causing the image blur. The OIS moves the position of the lens module or the image sensor to prevent or reduce the image blur.
To prevent the image blur from occurring by moving the lens module, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is used to control the actuator or VCM. Considering characteristics of the PID controller, it is difficult to accurately control both the low and high hand-shake frequencies.
When the hand-shake of the high frequency is stabilized, a motion value of the hand-shake of the low frequency is excessively over calculated. Because of this, although the lens module does not actually need to move much, the lens module may excessively move. When the PID controller is designed to cope with any one of the low and high hand-shake frequencies, in the case in which the hand-shake frequency is suddenly changed or is in the frequency environment in an opposite direction thereto, excessive occurrences of image blur may be difficult to control.
The performance of the PID controller is changed based on the optimization of ratios of three coefficients, of a proportional coefficient Kp, an integral coefficient Ki, and a differential coefficient Kd, in the given environment. The proportional coefficient Kp has a connection with a current control value, the integral coefficient Ki has a connection with a past control value, and the differential coefficient Kd has a connection with a future control value.
The proportional coefficient Kp has a connection with how large a weight puts on a current error, the integral coefficient Ki has a connection with how many past errors based on the present are integrally controlled, and the differential coefficient Kd has a connection with how to control errors based on a value to some degree and a direction in the future.
One of the values of the three PID coefficients has a close effect on the remaining two coefficient values, and therefore even in the configuration of the PID controller, other PID coefficients may be determined to be optimal values depending on the environment.
Only the three coefficients may be changed in real time by the PID controller. Since the three coefficients may be optimized in the given environment and have various values depending on the purpose, it is difficult to meet all the conditions using one setting value in the OIS. Thus, a trade-off occurs in the performance of the PID controller based on where a frequency domain to be intensively controlled is found.
At the time of driving the OIS, assume the case in which a hand is quickly shaken or slowly shaken. The PID controller sets the Kp, the Ki, and the Kd to prevent a hand from quickly shaking. In this case, when the same Kp, Ki, and Kd are used to prevent the hand-shake of the low frequency, the output from the PID controller is excessively changed in the low frequency domain, such that an oscillation signal may be output from the VCM.
When the excessive oscillation signal is generated from the VCM, the camera lens module oscillates, and thus a captured image is excessively shaken, which is not a preferable phenomenon. To prevent this, since the Kp, the Ki, and the Kd are set to tune a low frequency to correct the hand-shake of the low frequency, when the hand-shake of the high frequency occurs, the hand-shake itself may not be compensated. The reason is that a change in current values moving the lens module is small in the VCM and thus the lens module may not be located immediately at a desired place after the hand-shake phenomenon by slowly moving the lens module.
For example, Japanese reference, JP2010-061160, describes a biasing correction apparatus and a photographing apparatus, which prevent a biasing correcting lens from unstably moving around a moving center at the time of triangular fixing with a small biasing amount by strongly applying a velocity bias using a linear equation velocity bias table when a triangular fixing state is determined by a support state determination unit. In JP2010-061160, it is difficult to optimally control the VCM of the OIS for both the low and high hand-shake frequencies.

Apparatus and method for controlling actuator in optical image stabilizer and optical image stabilizer using the same


A peripheral device adapted to be releasably secured to a host computer of the type having a standardized card slot. The peripheral device includes a card shaped portion attached to a module portion which houses an input/output device. In one embodiment, the input/output device is an item identification reader, and the card shaped portion and module portion are integrally connected. Further, the card shaped portion is fitted into the card slot in the host computer to secure the peripheral device within the card slot to permit one handed operation of the host computer/peripheral device combination. The first embodiment also provides an electronic interface between the host computer and the peripheral device. In a second embodiment, the card shaped portion does not provide an electronic card interface. The card shaped portion and card slot merely engage to secure the peripheral device within the card slot. In this embodiment, the electronic interface is provided via a separate serial port connection. In a third embodiment of the invention, the card shaped portion and module portion are releasably attached to provide both one handed and two handed operation. A zigzag ribbon cable is utilized to maintain electrical connection between the module portion and card shaped portion when the respective portions are not attached to one another. A second and third embodiment may be combined to provide a card shaped portion releasably attached to a module portion wherein the electronic interface is provided via a separate serial port connection.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to a peripheral device for use with a host computer. More particularly, the invention relates to a peripheral device having a card shaped interface. Specifically, the invention relates to a peripheral device having a card shaped interface which is accepted in an industry standard card slot and which is releasably and rigidly supported from the host computer via the card shaped interface.
2. Background Information
Since the advent of the personal computer, manufacturers and industrial users have continually developed faster, smaller and more versatile machines, including portable computers that are dedicated to perform a specific function such as word processing, data collection or item identification. Alternatively, portable computers may be all purpose computing machines capable of running a variety of types of software programs. These portable personal computers may interact with a variety of portable and stationary peripheral input/output devices such as printers, light pens, image scanners, video scanners, etc. Moreover, these computers usually have an electric power cord for receiving power from a standard electric outlet, as well as a battery pack for powering the unit when an electrical outlet is unavailable or is inconvenient. The portability and versatility of portable computers, in combination with the ever decreasing size and weight of these machines, has attracted a significant number of users, with the number of users expected to dramatically increase in the near term.
Portable computers have progressed significantly, and the industry has recently enjoyed the introduction of palm top computers and pen based systems. One example of such a system is the Newton.TM. personal digital assistant (PDA) manufactured by Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Another such device, Envoy.TM., is offered by Motorola Inc., of Schaunburg, Ill. PDAs are general purpose computers that often include communication capabilities such as fax boards and modems, as well as software packages including word processing, note taking, handwriting recognition, and daily planners. The costs of these versatile portable computers continue to decrease as they are becoming increasingly familiar in all areas of business and personal life, and the manufacturers enjoy savings due to the economies of scale associated with mass production.
Alternatively, dedicated computers are designed to fill a specific need. One such device is manufactured by Symbol Technologies Inc. of Bohemia, N.Y. and is the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,100. While devices of this type offer added convenience to the end user, these devices are generally user specific, and thus are not mass produced and do not enjoy the economies of scale associated with mass production. Thus, these devices are somewhat more costly than the mass produced PDA counterpart.
Both general purpose and dedicated computers generally include one or more electronic interfaces such that one or more of a variety of peripherals may be electrically attached to the host computer. Serial ports are one type of connector wherein a cable extends between the host computer serial port and the peripheral providing electronic communication between the host machine and selected peripheral.
A second type of electronic interface commonly available is the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) slot. PCMCIA slots permit the user to add additional memory via the insertion of a PCMCIA memory card into the slot. Such additional memory may then be removed and used in a separate computer system allowing multiple systems to operate on a single data set. PCMCIA interfaces continue to grow in popularity, and a San Hosea based market research firm has estimated that half of the seven million notebook computers shipped in 1993 contained PCMCIA slots, and that by 1995, 13 million notebook computers will be shipped and 97% of them will be equipped with PCMCIA slots. As such, PCMCIA slots are quickly becoming standard in both PDA, lap top and personal desk top computers, and the popularity of the PCMCIA interface is expected to dramatically increase in the near term.
The primary benefit of the PCMCIA interface and similar card interface slots is that the cards are relatively low energy users, are relatively small in size, are often completely enveloped by the host computer and are universally standardized. PCMCIA card specifications are included in PCMCIA release number 2.01 and therefore, are not described herein.
One peripheral which is often associated with portable computers are item identification readers such as laser scanners for bar codes and radio frequency identification readers for RFID tags. Traditionally, these scanners are handheld devices which are connected to a host device such as a personal computer or a handheld computer via an interface cable extending between the above referenced serial port, and the peripheral device. One such device is a handheld laser scanner described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,297. The laser scanner optically receives the code, and the host device in turn processes and stores the scanned item identification number. Such devices have the advantage of making use of general purpose host computers, and thus are relatively inexpensive. However, they require both of the users hands during operation, and thus are not convenient to use when only one hand is free to hold the host computer/peripheral device combination.
Alternatively, the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,100 has the scanner integrated within the handheld device to form a computer with a dedicated function.
The portable point of sale device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,782, to Kumar is also a dedicated machine. Another device which includes a built in scanner is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,868. These devices do not provide a one piece scanning system which use an off-the-shelf general purpose host computer. Such dedicated computers are effective in carrying out the specific function for which they are designed. However, these computers are significantly more expensive than the two piece solution, as these devices do not utilize mass produced host computers.
Mustech Inc. has also introduced the Plug-N-Scan portable scanning system where the scanner interfaces with a PCMCIA 2.0 slot. The unit draws power from the host system and is compliant with TWAIN compatible scanning software which bridges various application software packages with scanner hardware. In essence, the Plug-N-Scan portable scanning system utilizes a PCMCIA electrical connection, and a cable extends from the PCMCIA electrical connect card to the scanner module. This system, while presumably adequate for the purpose for which it was intended, still does not mechanically support the scanner and provide a one piece host computer/peripheral device combination, nor does it provide for one handed operation.
Thus, while a number of prior art general purpose and dedicated computing devices have been developed, and are presumably adequate for the purpose which they are intended, these prior art devices fail to provide item identification scanning systems which employ a cost effective general purpose host computer, and also offer the one piece convenience of integrated scanning systems such that the user employs only one hand to hold the device. Further, the prior art peripherals will not electronically interface and be detachably mounted to the general purpose host computer, thus permitting the peripheral module to be mounted to the host computer when in use, and removed from the general purpose host computer when not in use.
Therefore, the need exists for a peripheral device which will electronically interface with a general purpose host computer and also will removably attach to the host computer thus creating a one piece handheld computer which includes the peripheral's capability, and which peripheral may be removed from the general purpose host computer when not in use.
The need also exists for an item identification scanning system which employs a cost effective general purpose host computer and also offers the one piece convenience of integrated scanning systems to permit one handed use.


Solid samples having a uniform sorbate content are produced by directing a gas having a constant sorbate pressure through a plurality of containers, each container enclosing a solid sample. The sorbate content of the solid samples equilibrates with the sorbate pressure in the gas, thereby causing the solid samples to have a uniform sorbate content. An apparatus that can be employed to generate solid samples having a uniform sorbate content includes a relative humidity generator, and a manifold which connects the relative humidity generator to a plurality of solid sample containers.

Properties of powder materials can be affected by the amount of moisture they contain. Examples of such materials include pharmaceutical, chemical, food, agricultural and other products. To extend shelf life, many powders are formulated and stored under conditions that minimize moisture content and product degradation. For example, the residual moisture content of some lyophilized drugs and biologically active compounds needs to be carefully controlled so that their activity is maintained over their shelf or storage life. In order to study product stability, product degradation and other product properties affected by the amount of moisture present in the powder, manufacturers typically generate powder samples of known moisture content, and, after storing the samples for a period of time, test their properties.
Existing techniques for preparing powder samples of known moisture content often are cumbersome and time consuming. It is common, for example, to place a powder sample in a large chamber of a known relative humidity. In such a case, the time required to reach equilibrium between the sample and the chamber environment can be extensive. Transferring samples to and from the chamber can offset the relative humidity in the chamber environment as well as the moisture content of the sample. In addition, non-uniform conditions throughout the chamber may result in moisture content uncertainties in powder samples placed at different positions in the chamber.
One common approach for generating a chamber environment at a known relative humidity relies on using saturated salt solutions. Preparing saturated salt solutions requires careful laboratory work. In addition, since, for a given temperature a given saturated salt provides only one relative humidity, to generate samples of different moisture contents requires multiple experiments using different saturated salt solutions.
Therefore, a need exists for a method of producing powder samples having a specified moisture content which overcomes or minimizes the above-referenced problems.
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for producing a plurality of solid samples having a uniform sorbate content.
The method includes directing a gas which includes a sorbate at a constant sorbate pressure, through a plurality of containers, each container enclosing a solid sample. The sorbate content of the solid samples equilibrates with the sorbate pressure in the gas, thereby causing the solid samples to have a uniform sorbate content.
In one embodiment, the method includes enclosing a plurality of solid samples in separate containers and directing a gas stream having a constant sorbate pressure through said containers, whereby the sorbate content of the solid samples equilibrates with the sorbate pressure in the gas stream, thereby causing the solid samples to have a uniform sorbate content.
In another embodiment, the method includes correlating the sorbate content of solid samples with the sorbate pressure of a gas, whereby the sorbate content of the solid can be determined by regulating the sorbate pressure of the gas with which the solid is in equilibrium, generating a stream of gas having a constant sorbate pressure and directing the gas stream through a plurality of containers, each container enclosing a sample of the solid. The solid samples equilibrates with the sorbate pressure of the gas stream, resulting in powders that have a uniform sorbate content corresponding to the sorbate pressure in the gas stream.
The apparatus of the invention includes a source of gas having a constant sorbate pressure, a plurality of containers for enclosing solid samples, and a manifold extending from the source of gas to the containers.
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a main conduit for connection to a relative humidity generator and a plurality of side conduits, each conduit being suitable for connection to a container.
This invention has many advantages. For example, it provides a rapid method for preparing multiple samples of uniform sorbate content. The method of the invention generally is less cumbersome and painstaking than conventional saturated salt solution techniques. For example, the same apparatus can be employed to generate a gas stream having any sorbate content. In addition, the method and apparatus of the invention typically do not require a large chamber for equilibrating powder samples with the chamber environment. Also, a plurality of solid samples having a desired sorbate content can be prepared simultaneously. Such samples can be used, for example, in moisture stability studies to determine optimal moisture levels for product integrity. Furthermore, the invention can be employed to generate solid samples having a substantially uniform sorbate content, such as uniform water content.

Method and apparatus for uniform sorbate equilibration of solid samples


A soft, flexible foam characterized in having (i) a hardness, IFD 25% value, of at most 29 lbs/50 in.sup.2, as determined in accordance with Test B.sub.1 of ASTM D 3574 and (ii) a density of about 0.9 to 3.0. pounds per cubic foot is disclosed. Accordingly, the foam is prepared by reacting an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol in the presence of a catalyst and water and a compound conforming to ##STR1## where A is selected from among H, COOH, NH.sub.2, and OH, M is a counter ion, and. where n, x and m are selected such that said compound has a number average molecular weight of about 500 to 20,000, a functionality of 0 to 10 and a sulfonate concentration of about 0.1 to 30 percent by weight.

Flexible polyurethane foams are generally prepared by reacting an organic polyisocyanate and a polyol in the presence of a blowing agent, a catalyst and optional auxiliary additives. The blowing agents used in this application were halogenated hydrocarbons, such as freon. In recent years due to environmental considerations, there has been a trend away from the use of halogenated hydrocarbons.
Among the large number of patents which deal with flexible polyurethane foams note might be made of U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,148 which disclosed a process for the preparation of cellular polyurethane entailing reacting water, an organic isocyanate and a mixture of trihydric polyalkylene ether with a specific tetrahydric organic compound. Also relevant is U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,952 which disclosed a certain addition product of an alkylerne oxide and an aromatic amine which additive is said to contribute to the load bearing properties of soft, flexible polyurethane foams. An amine containing reactive mixture useful in the preparation of flexible polyurethane foam has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,292. Also relevant in this connection are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,950,694 and 4,970,243 as well as European Patent Applications 358,282 and 429,103 all of which disclosed processes for the preparation of water-blown polyurethane foam.
Also presently relevant is U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,221 which disclosed dihydroxy sulphonate containing ether groups and a process for their preparation. The sulphonates are said to be suitable as monomers for the preparation of acid-modified polyurethanes. Also relevant is U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,564 which disclosed dihydroxy sulphonates containing ether groups.