A method of treatment of liver diseases and comorbid diseases is disclosed wherein an oral dose of lipids in an amount effective to trigger the release of cholecystokinin (CCK) into the duodenum to generate a major release of bile phospholipids from remodeled stores of triglycerides (TAG) in the liver, is administered to a patient in need thereof, thereby causing the formation of sequestered and aggregated mixed micelles and vesicles (SAMMVs) in the intestines of the patient which are then eliminated via the bowels of the patient.

It is estimated that as many as 60 million or ˜33% of the U.S. adult population, and increasing, suffer from excessive liver deposits of triglyceride (TAG) producing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (1,2) and there is growing recognition of the comorbidity of NAFLD with other major chronic diseases (2). There is mounting research evidence uncovering the link between fatty liver, including NAFLD, and insulin resistance, heart disease and other metabolic diseases (2,166,167,168). The incidence of adolescent NAFLD is also significant and rising. There are currently no FDA approved treatment options for fatty liver. The leading contenders are, Metformin, contraindicated for liver disease, and Actos; both have FDA black box warning status. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced grant request for proposals (RFPs) for development of technologies and products to treat liver disease, including NAFLD, and for development of biomarkers and diagnostic tools for liver disease (3). There is a rapidly growing recognition on the part of medical practitioners and life science researchers of the need for therapy options and biomarkers for fatty liver and related diseases (166). Pursuit of FDA approvals and commercialization of a liquid oral combination drug therapy for the treatment of NAFLD, with potential to also treat other forms of fatty liver disease including alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is intended with the invention. Clinical trials have the potential to confirm biomarkers with lipid and metabolite content and ratio panels effective for NAFLD and other disease diagnosis and prognosis, including inflammatory diseases. Due to the expectation that the invention has the ability to reduce liver, plasma and tissue arachidonic acid (AA) levels, the invention may also prove efficacious for treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases such as gastrointestinal disease, arthritis, heart disease and cancer.

Nanoveso™: treatment, biomarkers and diagnostic tests for liver diseases and comorbid diseases


A power distribution system includes a DC-DC converter which outputs a DC power after converting the DC power outputted from a DC power source to a desired voltage level. In the power distribution system, the DC-DC converter is controlled so as to operate only when the input voltage falls in a predetermined range.

Conventionally, there is disclosed a power distribution system which distributes an AC power and a DC power in a building such as a house, a shop and an office building in, e.g., Patent document 1. The power distribution system of Patent document 1 includes a distribution board and AC power outlets. Further, DC output power terminals are provided in the AC power outlets, and a transformer and a rectifier are disposed in the distribution board.
In the distribution board, an AC voltage of 100 V or 200 V is converted into three types of AC voltages, e.g., 6 V, 3 V, and 1.5 V, through the transformer, and three types of DC voltages, e.g., 6 V, 3 V and 1.5 V, are acquired by rectifying the three types of AC voltages using a rectifier. The three types of DC voltages produced in the distribution board are distributed to the DC output power terminals.
From the viewpoint of the global environment protection, there has been proposed a power distribution system which performs grid-connected operation of a DC power generation equipment such as a solar power generation apparatus provided in the building and a commercial power source (i.e., an AC power) supplied from a power company (see, e.g., Patent document 2). In such a type of grid-connected system, a DC power generated by the DC power generation equipment is converted into an AC power by a power converter (power conditioner) for converting a DC power into an AC power, and is operated in conjunction with an AC power of the commercial power source. Further, when the power in excess of the power consumed by load in the building is supplied from the DC power generation equipment, a surplus power can be reversely supplied to the commercial electric power source, which is so-called selling of power.

Power distribution system distributing an alternating current (AC) power and a direct current (DC) power to load devices

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


The invention relates to vaginal composition comprising a combination of estrogen and vitamin D or a vitamin D analog at a daily dosage delivery of (i) estrogen ranging from 1 μg to 100 μg estrogen of estradiol equivalent and (ii) vitamin D or analog ranging from 7.5 μg to 100 μg of vitamin D equivalent.

Women experienced many physical changes during the period of menopause transition and after menopause including vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats), sleep disturbance, mood changes and also vulvovaginal symptoms, urinary incontinence and osteoporosis. All of these symptoms or related health conditions are caused by a decrease in estrogens and other hormones and the effects of aging.
Vulvovaginal symptoms include vaginal dryness, vulvovaginal irritation/itching, and dyspareunia, and are experienced by an estimated from about 4% in the early premenopausal groups to 47% in the late postmenopausal group (Mc Bride M et al., 2010 "Vulvovaginal atrophy". Mayo Clin Proc; 85 (1):87-94). In contrast to vasomotor symptoms, which usually abate over time even without treatment; symptomatic vaginal atrophy is typically progressive and unlikely to resolve on its own (NAMS, 2010,"Contemporary Clinical Management of Menopause"). Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is characterized by different physical signs. The mucosa of the cervix, the epithelium of the vagina and vulva thin and become susceptible to injury; the vaginal rugae diminish leading to a smoother appearing vaginal wall which is accompanied by diminished blood flow (Sturdee D W et al., 2010. Climacteric: 1-24). Left untreated, severe vulvovaginal atrophy can result in a vaginal surface that is friable, with petechial, ulcerations and tears, accompanied in some cases by stenosis. Bleeding may occur from minimal trauma: wiping, speculum insertion and also during intercourse (NAMS, 2013, "Management of symptomatic vulvovaginal atrophy: 2013 Position statement of the North American Menopause Society". Menopause, 20;(9):888). Consequently before irreversible changes occur, early detection and treatment of vaginal atrophy should be implemented. Moreover long-term therapy may be necessary to maintain vaginal (urogenital) health.
One of the options for postmenopausal women with symptoms and quality of life issues is to receive hormone replacement therapy (estrogen alone or a combination of estrogens and progestins). While systemic hormone replacement therapy is effective in abating vasomotor-related discomfort, 25% to 40% of women using systemic treatment still experience persistent vaginal dryness (Johnston S L. Farrell S A. Bouchard C et al. The detection and management of vaginal atrophy. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Can. 26, 503-515 (2004)). Moreover, the systematic administration of unopposed estrogen has been shown to be associated with an increased risk for endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma in a dose- and duration-dependent manner in postmenopausal women who have not gone hysterectomy (Furness S et al., "Hormone therapy in postmenopausal women and risk of endometrial hyperplasia". Cochrane database Syst Rev 2009/CD000402). Thus, if vasomotor symptom relief or osteoporosis prevention is not indicated, recommended treatment for women experiencing vulvovaginal atrophy is local estrogen application with drugs providing minimal systemic absorption.
Vaginal estrogen products deliver estrogen locally to vaginal tissues with systemic absorption proportional to dose used. Various vaginal estrogen preparations such as conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin®), estradiol (Estrace®) vaginal creams, a sustained-release intra-vaginal estradiol ring (Estring®) and a low-dose estradiol (Vagifem®) and estriol tablets are useful therapeutic options in the treatment of this condition. All treatments provided equivalent relief of the symptoms of VVA based on composite scores of vaginal symptoms (dryness, soreness, and irritation) (Suckling J. et al., 2006, Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Oct 18;(4):CD00150). Although intravaginal formulations were developed to avoid systemic exposure to estrogens, several studies have demonstrated that all vaginal products lead to significant increases in scrum estrogen levels and thus that systemic action is expected (Labrie F et al., 2009, Menopause. January-February; 16(1):30-6).
Safety information, especially regarding long-term exposure associated with local estrogen therapy is not well documented in the literature to support an assumed more favorable risk-benefit ratio for endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma. Even if it is rare, endometrial hyperplasia has been seen with low-dose vaginal estrogens (Bachmann G. et al., 2008, Obstet Gynecol. January; 111(l):67-76. Suckling J. et al., 2006. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Oct 18;(4):CD00150). Such risk is not acceptable for patients.
Ultra-low dose of estrogen have been evaluated with the aim to avoid systemic effects and to reduce side effects. For instance, the 10 μg estradiol vaginal tablets Vagifem has been developed to offer the lowest effective hormonal dose (Panay N et al., 2012. Menopause: 18(1):15-9). Even at these dosages, a minor degree of systemic absorption may occur in some patients, especially during the first two weeks of treatment. In an open-label, multicenter trial on 386 women, incidence rate of hyperplasia and/or carcinoma was 0.52% (95% CI 0.06%, 1.86%) at the end of 52 weeks treatment. Improvements on vulvovaginal atrophy are significantly higher than for the placebo but as expected lower than with increased doses (the 25 meg estradiol vaginal tablet for instance) (Chollet J A., 2011, Patient preference and adherence:5:571-574).
Overall, the improvement of symptoms with local estrogen therapy is currently not optimal: as an example, improvement of objective symptoms with Vagifem 25 mcg/day vs placebo has been only 41.4% (Chollet J A., 2011, Patient preference and adherence; 5:571-574).
Several authors have evaluated alternative treatments to avoid estrogen use, especially to overcome potential risk of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma. Conflicting reports suggest the use of vitamin D would be beneficial on vaginal atrophy. Yildirim has shown that oral vitamin D supplementation (0,500 meg calcitriol/day) for at least one year in postmenopausal women resulted in squamous maturation of the vaginal epithelium compared to non-supplemented postmenopausal women (Yildirim B et al., 2004. Maturitas Dec 10:49(4):334-7). Similarly, Rad tested the effect of vaginal vitamin D (suppository 1000 IU vit D Rocatrol, daily for 8 weeks) on vaginal atrophy in 44 postmenopausal women and demonstrated a significant increase of superficial cells in the vaginal epithelium and a significant decrease in vaginal pH. (Rad P et al., 2015, Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res., March-April; 20(2):211-5). On the contrary, results from the Women Health Initiative trial suggest that supplementation with 1000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D does not influence menopause-related symptoms, including vaginal dryness, over an average of 5.7 years of follow-up among postmenopausal women (Leblanc E et al., Maturitas. 2015 Jul; 81(3):377-83). In osteoporotic women discontinuing estrogen replacement therapy, Checa came to a similar conclusion and demonstrated a significant decrease in vaginal maturation value in the oral calcium (500 mg/day) plus vitamin D3 (400 IU/day) group one after one year of treatment (Checa MA et al., Maturitas. 2005 September 16; 52(1):70-7.) Thus there is no consensus on the effect of vitamin D on vaginal atrophy.
Use of oral combination of estradiol and a combination of vitamin D and calcium is already known in the treatment of osteoporosis. Vitamin D use in this case is clearly intended to regulated calcium homeostasis and bone turnover.
Effect of a combination of oral raloxifene (60 mg/day) in association with 400 IU vitamin D and 600 mg of calcium on vaginal maturation index and urogenital symptoms has been evaluated in postmenopausal osteoporotic women, by Zeyneloglu et al. These authors demonstrated an improvement in the vaginal maturation index and in the vaginal pH after 3 months of a treatment with a raloxifen-based regimen, as compared with a 3 months treatment with a risedronate-based regimen, both regimen comprising a daily administration of 400 UI of vitamin D (Zeyneloglu H B et al., Fertil Steril. 2007 August; 88(2):530-2).
Also, vaginal combination of high dose estriol (0.5 mg) and vitamin D (12500 IU) has been evaluated for the treatment of stress incontinence. The combination administered three times a week for six weeks increased vitamin D serum level and brought a partial improvement on incontinence symptoms to therapy with single estriol. The study was small and not considered representative by the authors. No effect on vaginal epithelium is mentioned. (Schulte-Uebbing C et al., Dermatoendocrinol. 2016 Apr 19; 8(1):el 079359.
There is a need in the art for further pharmaceutical compositions that are effective and endowed with a high level of safety for preventing or treating vaginal atrophy.

Vaginal composition comprising a combination of estrogen and vitamin D


Personal data services, such as a set of Web services, are enabled that allow a user to enter personal metadata information, e.g., about likely people and/or events to be targets of a camera capture event. Then, when a user's computing device acquires such metadata, e.g., via embedded Web services software, an intelligent user interface allows the user to enter whether any of such personal metadata information pertains to any personal data, such as a video, an audio file or an image, which is captured by the user's computing device. The personal data including the metadata information can be automatically uploaded via one or more wired and/or wireless networks to a device that hosts a personal data service, which stores the personal data and associated metadata, providing for effective means to access and manage a user's personal data store. The services of the invention also enable a system for identifying unknown or new metadata where existing metadata is not sufficient to describe a video, audio or image capture event. In addition, a gateway is provided that enables transfer of content from the Web services to other media service providers, such as a cable or television over Internet Protocol (“TVoIP”) video or other video on demand (“VOD”) service.

Computing devices of all kinds have made people's lives faster, easier and more inexpensive in some fashion, whether directly or indirectly, for many, many tasks in which people engage in their daily lives. For instance, advancements in software flexibility, processing power and digital storage have made digital cameras commonplace today for their clear benefits over their analog counterparts. While analog cameras still have some advantages to high end photographers, digital cameras have evolved to provide substantially indistinguishable quality for the vast majority of photographs while simultaneously providing many benefits in flexibility.
Digital cameras, for example, enable the recording of a large number of photographs compared to analog cameras. With analog cameras, a user has to buy expensive film limited to a small number of photographs, e.g., 36 photographs, before the film has no more room whereas with digital cameras, in contrast, many photos, e.g., several hundred, may be recorded at a single time. Additionally, the memory of a digital camera is reusable, whereas the user of an analog camera must purchase new film. Other advantages of digital cameras, such as the ability to manipulate images directly in software, also exist over traditional analog cameras. Still further, portable devices of all kinds, including but limited to portable media players, cell phones, PDAs, now include cameras and associated memory, such that the availability of media content recorded by users has mushroomed in recent times.
However, the scalability of tasks that technology advantageously brings sometimes leads to additional problems due to the very scale that the technology itself enabled. Taking the case of digital cameras, instead of taking a few hundred pictures a year which were dutifully placed in physical albums that take up physical space, now thousands, if not tens of thousands, of photos can easily be taken by an avid user of various devices having digital camera capabilities in a single year. A user cannot expect to develop each one of these photos into a physical copy because the amount of time that would be taken and eventually the amount of 3-D space taken up by the albums would be limiting.
To address this issue, currently, each time a user runs out of room in memory of a digital camera for additional digital photographs, or at any time, the user can transfer the contents of the memory of the digital camera to another computing device, such as a personal computer (PC), gaming system, laptop, handheld device, etc., where the photos can be stored according to the file system of the device (e.g., in folders, in a database, etc.), further manipulated, displayed as a slideshow, or otherwise acted upon by the device. The user may also upload the photos from this other computing device, to the extent it is connected to a wide area network, such as the Internet, to a server hosting a media storage and display service that is communicatively coupled to such wide area network, at which point the user may share such folders to any friends, family, or other third parties who have access to the wide area network.
However, this process is not a good solution to the problem of scale that digital cameras have introduced for several reasons. For one, the process is more complex from a technological standpoint than many users are equipped to handle. This is true for both offloading media from a portable device, such as a camera, to a transferee computing device and for uploading the content from the transferee computing device to a server. For instance, the offloading task may involve understanding the mode in which the camera needs to be, possessing an appropriate cable and corresponding understanding of where the interfaces of the cable are received by the transferor portable device and transferee computing device in order to achieve a proper download, and finally an understanding of software on the transferee computing device, which may require a pre-configuration to be able to connect to the particular transferor portable device, that is not always entirely intuitive to a computer novice in order to initiate the offload. The uploading task can also be challenging to achieve for an infrequent user of a computer. For instance, it requires navigation and log-in to a web site, sometimes requires a download of extra software to work, and requires the user, at a minimum, to have an understanding of how to find the data on the computer.
Additionally, these steps take significant time away from the user when the user could be performing more important tasks. An offload of a hundred still images from a camera, for instance, may require five to ten minutes, or more, to complete. Depending on the connection to the Internet, an upload to a server of a hundred still images may take even longer. In short, once a user has completed the task of creating media content, the user should be freed from the current pain caused by administration and overhead surrounding access to such media content.
Moreover, due to the sheer number of photos, videos, audio clips, songs, and the like that a user may store on a computer in different locations and folders, personal data management and search has grown out of control. Due to the scale of the problem, much like finding a needle in a haystack, it may be very difficult for a user to find a particular media item in his or her personal data store. While some file systems and services allow a user to manually enter and attach metadata to a media item, again due to scale, adding metadata per media item is more trouble to the user than it is worth.
Accordingly, for these and other reasons, improved methods for transmitting personal data, such as media content including video, images and audio files, among computing devices, and for automatically assigning metadata to the personal data are desired.

Techniques for transmitting personal data and metadata among computing devices


A method for wireless data transmission between first and second transmission participants, wherein for wireless data transmission between the first and second participants alternately a first protocol and a second protocol are used, wherein the first protocol serves for unidirectional data transmission and the second protocol for bidirectional data transmission.

It is known from the state of the art to provide the housing of a sensor with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), data carrier, so that information stored in the RFID, data carrier can be retrieved contactlessly. Furthermore, it is known from German Patent DE 102008008072 A1 to connect this RFID, data carrier with an internal electronics unit of the sensor, so that signals from the RFID, data carrier can be provided internally to the sensor. For this purpose, the RFID, data carrier can be writable.
Furthermore, known from German Patent DE 202006012632 U1 is the application of RFID transponders for controlling machine access.
Various standards have been created for wireless data transmission. Thus, for example, an inductive coupling or near field coupling (NFC) can occur via magnetic fields. Data transmission and often also energy supply occurs, in such case, via a magnetic near field, which is provided by coils in a reading device and in a so-called tag. The frequencies used for such transmission lie at 135 kHz, 13.56 MHz and are set by the standards ISO 18000-2 and ISO 18000-3, respectively ISO 22536. Furthermore, it is known to use electromagnetic dipole fields for remote coupling. In such case, the data transmission, and often also the energy supply, occurs via antennas, for example, dipole antennas or spiral antennas.
The frequencies for this type of coupling occurs lie at 433 MHz, 868 MHz and 2.45 GHz, as set by the standards ISO 18000-7, ISO18000-6, respectively ISO 18000-4.
The conventional NFC communication method has, however, the disadvantage that it is too power intensive for continuous data transmission, such as occurs, for example, in the case of parametering of a field device of process and/or automation technology via a software tool for configuring the field device.

Method as well as system for wireless data transmission


An analog-to-digital converter circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter, a memory connected to the analog-to-digital converter for receiving at least a part of the digital signals from the analog-to-digital converter to designate at least an address in accordance with the at least part of the digital signals, so that the memory is operated both to store compensating code data at the designated address in a compensation code capturing mode and to read out the compensating code data in an analog-to-digital conversion real operation mode. A control circuit is also included which is connected to the memory for controlling operation of the memory to switch between the compensation code capturing mode and the analog-to-digital conversion real operation mode.

The present invention relates to an A/D converter circuit capable of compensating A/D-converted values.
A conventional A/D converter circuit is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 7-27364. The conventional A/D converter circuit is designed to cancel an off-set voltage generated by the conventional A/ID converter circuit. This conventional A/D converter circuit will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The conventional A/D converter circuit comprises an A/D converter 1 for converting analog input signals 11 into digital output signals 12, an off-set compensating register 8 for receiving the digital output signals 12 from the A/D converter 1 to output an off-set compensating code 25 in accordance with a control signal 24, and a subtracter 2 for receiving both the digital output signals 12 from the A/D converter 1 and the off-set compensating code 25 from the off-set compensating register 8 so as to compensate the digital output signals 12 with the off-set compensating code 25, thereby outputting digital output signals 26 with compensated off-set voltages.
For starting operations of the above A/D converter circuit, an offset compensating code for the off-established compensating register 8 is set in the A/D converter 1. The analog input signal 11 corresponding to "0" level is inputted into the A/D converter 1. In response to the input of the analog input signal 11 corresponding to "0" level, a digital output signal 12 is outputted from the A/D converter 1 and then transmitted into the off-set compensating register 8, before the digital output signal 12 is held in the off-set compensating register 8. The digital output signal 12 output in response to the input of the analog input signal 11 corresponding to "0" level is just a digital value corresponding to the off-set voltage generated by the A/I) converter 1, for which reason this digital value corresponding to the off-set voltage is held in the off-set compensating register 8 as an off-set compensating code for compensating the off-set voltage generated by the A/D converter 1. In the initial state of the A/D conversion operations, the off-set compensating code for compensating the off-set voltage generated by the A/D converter 1 is set in the off-set compensating register 8 for subsequent fetching the off-set compensating code before substantive A/D conversion.
Subsequently, the substantive A/D conversion will be made as follows. The digital output signal 12 output in response to the input of the analog input signal, 11 is then inputted into the subtracter 2 being under the control of the control signal 24, whilst the subtracter 2 is operated to fetch the off-set compensating code 25 from the off-set compensating register 8 for subsequent subtraction of the off-set compensating code 25 from the digital output signal 12, whereby the digital output signal 26 is obtained by subtracting the off-set compensating code 25 from the digital output signal 12 before the digital output signal 26 is then outputted from the subtracter 2.
The above conventional A/D converter circuit has the following disadvantages. As described above, the above conventional A/D converter circuit executes the subtraction operation only with the off-set compensating code corresponding to the off-set voltage generated by the A/D converter, for which reason the above conventional A/D converter is capable of compensation to the off-set voltage of the A/D-converted digital signal outputted from the A/D converter 1. Notwithstanding, the above conventional A/D converter is incapable of compensations to integral linearity error and to gain error in the A/D converter 1.
In the above circumstances, it had been required to develop a novel A/D converter circuit capable of not only compensating the off-set voltage of the A/D-converted digital signal outputted from the A/D converter but also compensating both integral linearity error and gain error in the A/D converter.

A/D converter circuit capable of compensating A/D-converted digital signals


A controller for a switching mode power supply includes two semiconductor chips. The first semiconductor chip has a high-voltage startup transistor coupled to a high voltage supply input terminal and configured to provide a charging current in a startup phase or protection mode of a switching mode power supply (SMPS) and to provide substantially no current in a normal operation phase of the SMPS. The second semiconductor chip has a control circuit for controlling the switching mode power supply. The second semiconductor chip also has first and second on-chip high-voltage resistors coupled to the high-voltage supply input terminal and the high-voltage startup transistor in the first semiconductor chip. The first and the second on-chip high-voltage resistors are configured to provide a voltage and a current related to a voltage at the high-voltage supply input terminal.

The present invention relates to switching mode power supplies (SMPS), and more particularly to the switching mode power supplies with low cost, low standby power, and versatile protection features.
Regulated power supplies are indispensable in modern electronics. For example, desktop and laptop computers often need to receive unregulated power input from various outlets and provide regulated power supplies on the motherboard to the CPU, memories, and periphery circuitry. Regulated power supplies are also used in a wide variety of consumer applications, such as home appliances, automobiles, and portable chargers for mobile electronic devices, etc.
In general, a power supply can be regulated using a linear regulator or a switching mode controller. A linear regulator maintains the desired output voltage by dissipating excess power. In contrast, a switching mode controller rapidly switches a power transistor on and off with a variable duty cycle or variable frequency and provides an average output that provide the desired output voltage. Switching mode power supplies (SMPS) have the advantages of smaller size, higher efficiency and larger output power capability, and are widely utilized in mobile phone chargers, notebook computer adapters, and other fields. In recent years, green power supplies are emphasized, which require higher conversion efficiency and especially lower standby power consumption.
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM) are two control architectures of switching mode power supplies. In PWM control circuits, the duty cycle of the control pulse is used to control the output of the power supply. In a PFM controlled switching mode power supply, the switching frequency can be controlled in response to load conditions.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional switching mode power supply (SMPS) 100 which includes a full-wave bridge rectifier 21, a transformer 30 with a primary winding 31, a secondary winding 38, and an auxiliary winding 32. SMPS 100 also has a controller 23, filter capacitors 22, 24, and 35, and rectifying diodes 25 and 34. When the system is in normal operation mode, the operating power of controller 23 is provided by auxiliary winding 32, diode 25, and capacitor 24. But at system startup, no energy will be delivered from auxiliary winding 32 because controller 23 will not provide switching signals to power transistor 28. So in the startup phase, capacitor 24 can only be charged by the startup circuits of controller 23.
The startup circuits in controller 23 includes high voltage startup transistors 40 and 41, a switch 42, a startup current limit resistor 43, and startup current limit transistors 44, 45, and 46. Controller 23 also has an under voltage lock out circuit including a comparator 48, a switch 47, and voltage divider resistors 49 and 50, as well as switching mode power supply control unit 51 (PWM CTRL). When Vcc rises above a threshold voltage, comparator 48 operates to maintain switch 42 off, which will cut off the startup current during system normal operation. Control unit 51 regulates output voltage Vout in response to a voltage feedback signal from the FB pin through voltage divider resistors 26 and 27 and a current sense signal from the CS pin through the voltage drop across resistor 29.
Depending on the application, on-chip high voltage start up transistors 40 and 41 may require junction breakdown voltages higher than 500V. The on-chip implementation of high voltage startup transistors 40 and 41 can be expensive because the integration of high voltage active devices with the low voltage control circuits requires expensive substrate or epitaxial semiconductor materials and several extra photolithography steps. Moreover, the high voltage (HV) pin associated with the high voltage transistors can be vulnerable to electrical static discharge (ESD) due to the limited size of the on-chip high voltage transistors.
From the above, it is seen that even though conventional switching mode power supplies (SMPS) are widely used, they suffer from many limitations. Therefore, improved switching mode control circuits and power supplies are desired.

Switching mode power supply controller with high voltage startup circuits


A method for determining a CT system parameter: controlling a mould body to move between an X-ray source and a detection surface of a detector, and acquiring X-ray projections of the mould body during movement on the detection surface, wherein the mould body has a first plane and a second plane perpendicular to each other, and the first plane and the second plane are always perpendicular to the detection surface during the movement of the mould body; determining a first straight line and a second straight line according to the acquired X-ray projections; and determining an intersection point of the first straight line and the second straight line as a pedal coordinate of a focus of the X-ray source on the detection surface, a CT coordinate system parameter including the coordinates of the foot of the perpendicular.

A computed tomography (CT) system is a computer imaging system capable of acquiring images of the interior of an object in a non-destructive manner. The CT system includes: an X-ray (also known as Roentgen ray) source and a detector. The CT system needs to use a CT system parameter (such as coordinates of a foot of a perpendicular of a focus of the X-ray source on a detection surface of the detector) in the process of acquiring images. Therefore, the CT system parameter needs to be determined before using the CT system to acquire the images.
In the process of determining the parameters of a traditional CT system, a fine-structure customized mould body is required. The mould body is a structural part embedded with a plurality of small steel balls. Specifically, the customized mould body may be placed between the X-ray source and the detection surface of the detector, and the X-ray source is controlled to emit X-rays to the detection surface. Then, X-ray projections of the plurality of small steel balls on the detection surface are acquired. Further, the acquired X-ray projections are analyzed to determine the coordinates of the foot of the perpendicular of the focus of the X-ray source on the detection surface of the detector in geometric parameters of the CT system.
In the related art, the customized mould body is required to determine the CT system parameter. However, a manufacturing process of the mould body is relatively complicated because of a higher machining accuracy requirement on the structure of the customized mould body.

Method and device for determining CT system parameter


Described herein are analyte sensors with a tailored analyte binding motif that binds an analyte and a host protein operatively linked to the analyte binding motif, in which the binding of the analyte to the analyte binding motif produces a detectable change and manipulation of the analyte binding motif manipulates the responsiveness of the sensor. Also described herein are methods for constructing an analyte sensor by constructing a tailored analyte binding motif capable of responding to an analyte and operatively inserting the analyte binding motif into a host protein. Included is a method for quantifying an analyte by introducing a nucleotide sequence for a protein having an analyte sensor with a tailored analyte binding motif that is able to produce a detectable change upon excitation, expressing the protein, providing excitement to the analyte sensor, and quantifying the detectable change. Nucleic acid sequences for an analyte sensor with a tailored analyte binding motif sequence for an analyte binding peptide that produces a detectable change upon excitation and a host sequence for a host protein, in which the tailored binding motif sequence and the host protein sequence are operatively linked, and manipulation of the analyte binding motif sequence manipulates the responsiveness of the analyte sensor are also included.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to analyte sensors and methods for detecting or quantifying analytes. More particularly, this invention relates to fluorescent protein sensors for detecting and quantifying analytes, including Ca2+ and Tb3+, or for detecting proteins under in vivo and in vitro conditions.
2. Prior Art
Analytes, including Ca2+, are essential to life and control numerous cellular processes such as cell division and growth, secretion, ion transport, muscle contraction, and neuron signaling through interaction with proteins. Further, analytes such as calcium, magnesium, iron and other metal ions are essential to biological systems through interaction with nucleic acid, lipids, carbohydrates and biometabolic molecules. Not only are many analytes essential structural components, e.g. Ca2+ in teeth and bones, but analytes also act as second messengers regulating many biological processes during the birth, life, and death of cells. Furthermore, analyte-mobilizing agents such as ATP, histamine, glutamine, and second messengers such as inositol triphosphate (IP3) and CADPR affect the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ with defined spatio-temporal patterns.
As temporal and spatial changes in analyte concentration have significant consequences in biological processes, detection and quantification of the local analyte concentration in vitro or in vivo may provide insight into physiological processes and a number of human diseases. For example, it is known that changes in Ca2+ concentration have a role in neuronal signaling, muscle contraction, and cell development and proliferation. Further, cellular processes such as gene expression, protein folding, metabolism and synthesis are controlled by different levels and kinetic properties of analyte signaling. Additionally, as diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and lens cataract formation are known to be associated with altered Ca2+ signaling, improved quantification and detection of such signals may provide valuable insight into the aforementioned diseases. Thus, detecting and quantifying changes in analytes that occur in cells or organisms may provide important insight into biological activities and diseases.
Specifically, for illustrative purposes, Ca2+ binds many molecules, especially proteins, at different environments to regulate their functions. Currently more than 1000 calcium binding proteins are known in every kingdom, from mammalian to plants to bacteria. For example, calcium binds to calmodulin to trigger this protein to regulate over 100 processes in almost every compartment of the cell. Many calcium sensor receptors, growth factors, and cell adhesion molecules are directly regulated by calcium binding. Ca2+ signal changes are used as one of the best ways to monitor neuron science, brain and behaviors. Therefore, accurate measurement of Ca2+ concentration in a broad concentration range under in vitro or in vivo (both intracellular and extracellular) conditions by non-invasive techniques, without significantly disrupting cellular functions, is of paramount importance. As such, the constant Ca2+ homeostasis results in local Ca2+ variations.
Accordingly, there is always a need for an improved analyte sensor for quantifying and detecting analyte concentrations and changes thereof in both in vivo and in vitro systems and for probing the functionality of analyte binders and for methods of constructing and engineering new binding sites. Due to the importance of analytes in the physiology of biological and cellular processes, it is essential to develop analyte binding sites for use in proteins, e.g. fluorescent protein, and methods constructing such binding sites. Further, it is important to develop an analyte sensor that can detect changes of the analyte concentration in the microenvironment inside or outside of cells in real time. Such sensors, which can detect changes in microenvironments, are useful as probes of cellular events involving changes in such microenvironments due to movement of molecules in solution or the special location of molecules associated with cell membranes. It is to these needs among others that the present invention is directed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.


A thermal processing system has a processing vessel 4, a support post 30 stood on the bottom wall of the processing vessel 4, and a support table 32 internally provided with a heating means 38 and supported on the support post 30. A workpiece W is placed on the upper surface of the support table 32 and is subjected to a predetermined thermal process. The upper, the side and the lower surface of the support table 32 are covered with heat-resistant covering members 72, 74 and 76 to prevent the thermal diffusion of metal atoms causative of contamination from the support table 32. thus, various types of contamination, such as metal and organic contamination, can be prevented.

A workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, is subject repeatedly to single-wafer processing processes, such as a film deposition process, an etching process, a thermal process, a modifying process and a crystallization process to build a desired semiconductor integrated circuit on the workpiece. Those processes use necessary process gases. For example, the film deposition process uses film forming gases, the modifying process uses ozone gas, the crystallization process uses an inert gas, such as N2 gas, and O2 gas. Those process gases are supplied into a processing vessel.
For example, a single-wafer thermal processing system for processing a single wafer at a time by a heat treatment process places a support table internally provided with, for example, a resistance heater in a processing vessel capable of being evacuated, supplies predetermined process gases into the processing vessel after mounting a semiconductor wafer on top of the support table, and processes the wafer by various thermal processes under predetermined process conditions.
The support table is disposed in the processing vessel with its surface exposed to the atmosphere in the processing vessel. Therefore, a small amount of heavy metals contained in materials of which the support table is made, for example, a ceramic material, such as AlN, and metallic materials is caused to diffuse into the interior space of the processing vessel by heat. Those diffused substances cause metal contamination and organic contamination. Very severe contamination preventing measures have been desired to prevent metal contamination and organic contamination in recent years where organometallic compounds are used as source gases for film deposition.
Usually, the heater incorporated into the support table is divided into a plurality of concentric circular sections. The respective temperatures of the sections are controlled individually to heat the support table in an optimum temperature distribution for processing a wafer. If magnitudes of power supplied to the sections of the heater are greatly different from each other, parts of the support table respectively corresponding to the sections of the heater are subject to greatly different thermal expansions, respectively, and, in some cases, the support table breaks. The insulation resistance of AlN decreases greatly and leakage current flows when AlN is exposed to high-temperature heat. Therefore, process temperature has been unable to be increased beyond about 650° C.
When the thermal process is a film deposition process for depositing a thin film on a surface of a wafer, unnecessary films are deposited inevitably on the surface of the support table and the inside surfaces of the processing vessel in addition to the deposition of a desired film on a surface of the wafer. If the unnecessary films come of the surfaces of the support table and the processing vessel, particles that reduce product yield are produced. A cleaning process is executed periodically or at indeterminate intervals to remove the unnecessary films. The cleaning process etches off the unnecessary films by supplying an etching gas into the processing vessel or removes the unnecessary films by immersing structural members disposed inside the processing vessel in an etchant, such as a nitric acid solution.
A technique for contamination prevention or reducing the frequency of the cleaning process proposed in JP 63-278322 A forms a support table by covering a heating element with a quartz casing. A technique for the same purpose proposed in JP 07-078766 A uses a support table constructed by placing a resistance heating element in a quartz case. Techniques proposed for the same purpose in JP 03-220718 A and JP 06-260430 A use a support table formed by sandwiching a heater between quarts plates.
Those prior art techniques using a support table covered with a quartz cover are effective in suppressing contamination, such as metal contamination, to some extent. However the effect of the prior art techniques is not fully satisfactory. When the quarts plates are transparent, a temperature distribution on the heating element is reflected on the temperature of the wafer and the wafer is hated in an uneven intrasurface temperature distribution. Moreover, in some cases, unnecessary films are deposited in patches or irregularities on the back surface of the support table or on a cover covering the back surface of the support table. Since thick parts and thin parts of the unnecessary films deposited in patches or irregularities have different emissivities, respectively. Consequently, temperature is distributed in an uneven temperature distribution on the surface of the support table, intrasurface temperature distribution on the water becomes uneven, and thermal process to the wafer cannot be achieved uniformly.
The unnecessary films deposited on the surfaces of the support table and the cover peel of comparatively easily at an early stage. Since the cleaning process needs to be carried out before the unnecessary films peel off, maintenance work including the cleaning process needs to be carried out frequently at short intervals. When the support table, namely, a heating structure, is divided into heating zones which can be individually heated and the levels of power supplied to the zones are distributed in a wide range, the support table may possibly break due to the different thermal expansions of the materials forming the zones of the support table.
The present invention has been made in view of those problems to solve those problems effectively.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support table structure capable of surely suppressing the occurrence of contamination, such as metal contamination, having high heat conductivity, suitable for a high-temperature thermal process and capable of being heated uniformly by wide-range adjustment, and to provide a thermal processing system provided with the support table structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a support table structure capable of eliminating the detrimental thermal effect of unnecessary films deposited in patches thereon and of maintaining the surface thereof in a highly uniform intrasurface temperature distribution, and to provide a thermal processing system provided with the support table structure.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a support table structure capable of effectively preventing unnecessary films deposited thereon to reduce the frequency of maintenance work, such as a cleaning process, and to provide a thermal processing system provided with the support table structure.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a support table structure including a support table having a plurality of hating zones and capable of maintaining the surface of the wafer in a highly uniform intrasurface temperature distribution by setting differences in driving power flexibility among the heating zones and of performing a special heating process, and to provide a thermal processing system provided with the support table structure.

Loading table and heat treating apparatus having the loading table


A power system flexibly distributes power among phased array antenna apertures of a satellite (or other type of platform). By allocating the power provided by a power source among the apertures, if one aperture is not providing useful coverage (due to orientation, light traffic volume, aperture operating frequency and/or polarization, etc.), power being supplied to that aperture may be reallocated to one or more other apertures that are providing useful coverage. To flexibly allocate power among the apertures, power amplifiers and attenuators associated with each antenna element are adjusted to provide a wide range of RF output powers with high efficiency at all output power levels. By increasing power allocation efficiency, the size of the satellite power source may be reduced while appropriate power is still provided.

With the advances in wireless technology, satellites such as geo-stationary satellites are used in telecommunication systems to establish communication links across large distances. To produce these links, phased array antennas have been incorporated into some satellites as well as other types of mobile platforms and stationary ground stations. Typically, a phased array antenna has one or more apertures that are assembled from a large number of radiating elements, such as slots or dipoles. By individually controlling a phase shift and attenuation that is applied to each element, predictable beams may be formed and accurately pointed in particular directions. Each aperture is assigned a fixed number of beams and each beam may be pointed in a direction to establish a communication link. For example, a satellite may include four phased array antenna apertures and twelve beams may be assigned to each aperture (for a total of forty-eight beams associated with the satellite). Thus, each of the phased array antenna apertures may point its twelve beams in various directions to establish links. To produce these beams, the satellite includes a power source that provides power to the phased array antenna apertures. The power source is designed with a capacity to simultaneously provide a constant power to the antenna elements in each array. However, due to an electromagnetic characteristic (e.g., operating frequency, polarization, etc.) of an aperture, appropriate coverage may not always be provided. Also, during particular times, one or more of the apertures may be positioned in such an orientation as to not provide useful coverage. Due to these periods of limited coverage, the power provided to the affected aperture(s) is wasted. Additionally, supplying a constant power to the apertures, beam characteristics such as beamwidth and sidelobe levels are less controllable.

Method and system for flexibly distributing power in a phased array antenna system


A vehicle security system includes a controller in the vehicle for generating a plurality of security system condition signals. A local indicator generates a plurality of local security system condition indications adjacent the vehicle based upon respective security system condition signals from the controller. A local transmitter generates transmitted signals based upon respective security system condition signals from the controller. A remote unit or indicator is adapted to be carried by the user when away from the vehicle for receiving the transmitted signals from the local transmitter and for generating a plurality of remote security system indications which emulate the local security system condition indications generated by the local indicator. In other terms, the remote indicator means emulates the same predetermined pattern as the indications given at the vehicle by the local indicator means but uses a different indicator to indicate the pattern. In various embodiments, the local and remote indications may be one or more of audible tones, vibrations, flashing lights, displayed messages, or combinations thereof, for example. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Vehicle security systems are widely used to deter vehicle theft, prevent theft of valuables from a vehicle, deter vandalism, and to protect vehicle owners and occupants. A typical automobile security system, for example, includes a central processor or controller connected to a plurality of vehicle sensors. The sensors, for example, may detect opening of the trunk, hood, doors, windows, and also movement of the vehicle or within the vehicle. Ultrasonic and microwave motion detectors, vibration sensors, sound discriminators, differential pressure sensors, and switches may also be used as sensors. In addition, radar sensors may be used to monitor the area proximate the vehicle. The controller also typically operates to give an alarm indication in the event of triggering of a vehicle sensor. The alarm indication may typically be a flashing of the lights and/or the sounding of the vehicle horn or a siren. In addition, the vehicle fuel supply and/or ignition power may be selectively disabled based upon an alarm condition.
A typical security system also includes a receiver associated with the controller that cooperates with one or more remote transmitters typically carried by the user as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,242 to Sassover et al. The remote transmitter may be used to arm and disarm the controller in the vehicle or provide other remote control features from a predetermined range outside the vehicle.
Many other features may be incorporated into a vehicle security system. For example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,064 to Drori et al. The controller may include self-diagnostics. A flashing LED, sound signal, or voice message may be used to give an indication that the alarm has been triggered. The audible alarm signal may be selected by the user. An alarm may also be given when power is restored after having been disconnected, as when a thief disconnects the power to avoid the security system and attempts to then start the vehicle. An LED is mounted on the vehicle instrument panel or dashboard so that the controller may visually communicate with the user. A keypad may also be mounted within the vehicle to permit the user to program certain features of the security system. Control functions may also be implemented by the security system including: accessory, pulsed alarm, hood release, ignition cutoff, door lock and unlock.
A vehicle security system may also include a passive arming feature wherein the status of all trigger inputs is monitored in several protection zones. These zones may include the passenger compartment, the engine compartment, the trunk, and additional sensor zones such as for motion, impact, and or glass breakage. When the ignition key is turned off, the system begins the passive arming process. If all zones are secure, normal arming occurs after expiration of an exit delay. If any zone becomes active during the exit delay, the process begins again.
Other features may also be incorporated in a vehicle security system. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,948 to Richmond discloses a vehicle security system including anti-carjacking features. The vehicle security system includes a speaker at the vehicle for the purpose of providing an acknowledgment signal, such as a chirp, to incidate that the supervisory control unit is armed/disarmed or to provide other audible response signals as well as intruder warning notices and siren functions. The system further includes a remote transmitter and receiver unit having a miniature speaker which provides an audible sound such as a chirp to indicate acknowledgement of a signal transmission, advise of the status of the supervisory control unit, etc. An LED is also provided for visual indication that a signal is being transmitted or that the battery strength is adequate. Unfortunately, for a typical vehicle security system, a number of important security system conditions may be of interest to the vehicle owner when away from the vehicle. A simple acknowledgement of a signal transmission or of an alarm indication may be of only limited value to the owner.

Vehicle security system including a remote unit that emulates security system condition local indications and related method


In a method of controlling a metallic layer etching process for fabricating a semiconductor device or a liquid crystal display device, the composition of the etchant used in etching the metallic layer is first analyzed with the NIR spectrometer. The state of the etchant is then determined by comparing the analyzed composition with the reference composition. In case the life span of the etchant comes to an end, the etchant is replaced with a new etchant. By contrast, in case the life span of the etchant is left over, the etchant is delivered to the next metallic layer etching process. This analysis technique may be applied to the etchant regenerating process in a similar way.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of controlling a metallic layer etching process and a method of regenerating an etchant for the metallic layer etching process based on a near infrared (NIR) spectrometer and, more particularly, to an NIR spectrometer-based etching control method and etchant regeneration method which automatically analyzes the composition of an etchant used in the lithography process for fabricating a semiconductor device or a liquid crystal display device in real time, thereby controlling the etching process and regenerating the etchant in an accurate and effective manner while reducing the required period of time therefor.
(b) Description of the Related Art
As a large-size semiconductor device or liquid crystal display device becomes to be the choice of electronic consumers, the amount of solvents used in fabricating such a device has been significantly increased. In this situation, effective use of the solvents should be made to optimize the device fabrication process. Among such solvents, etchant is used to etch a metallic layer of chrome or aluminum, on which a photoresist layer of a predetermined pattern is formed as a mask, so that a patterned metallic layer is formed. After the etching is made, the etchant is recovered, and re-used in the next etching process. As the etchant is repeatedly used, alien materials are continuously incorporated into the etchant, and the initial composition of the etchant is continuously altered. When such an alteration degree in the initial composition exceeds the critical value, the etchant cannot be used for the etching purpose without adjusting the composition. In this case, the alien materials should be removed from the etchant, and the components of the etchant exhausted through the etching process should be newly supplied thereto. That is, the etchant should be regenerated before it is reused in the next etching process.
Meanwhile, a conventional way of determining whether the etchant can be still used for the etching purpose is to observe whether spots or stains are formed on a substrate during the etching process, thereby identifying the degree of contamination and variation in the composition of the etchant. However, with such a technique, the etchant cannot be analyzed quantitatively and suitably. That is, either the etchant to be waste-disposed may be used for the etching while causing process failure, or the etchant to be reused may be waste-disposed.
In the regeneration process of the etchant, the components of the etchant should be analyzed from time to time to regenerate the etchant of a uniform composition. For this purpose, conventionally, the user himself extracts a sample from the regenerator, and analyzes the sample with various analytical instruments. However, this method needs much time and effort for the analysis. Furthermore, when the required components determined by the time-consuming analysis are supplied to the regenerator, the regenerator is liable to be full of the etchant due to the etchant delivered from the etching process. In this case, part of the etchant should be discharged from the regenerator to supply the required components thereto. Consequently, the operation of the regenerator is discontinuously made, resulting in increased production cost and time.
Furthermore, in order to analyze various components of the etchant, separate analytic instrument should be used for each component, and the concentration of the sample should be adjusted to be suitable for each analytic instrument, and more than thirty minutes is required for the analysis. This makes it difficult to perform the desired real-time analysis.
In order to overcome such problems, it has been recently proposed that an on-line analytic equipment should be used for such an etchant analysis. However, the currently available on-line analytic equipment at best makes automatic sampling so that the desired real-time etchant analysis cannot be achieved. Furthermore, with the currently available on-line analytic equipment, collective information for treating and processing the etchant used in the lithography process cannot be obtained in real time. Therefore, there is a demand for a technique where the composition of the etchant can be analyzed in real time, and the etchant should be appropriately treated on the basis of the analysis.

Method of controlling metallic layer etching process and regenerating etchant for metallic layer etching process based on near infrared spectrometer


Ground based GPS antennas for differential applications may be subject to intentional or other interference signals incident at low elevation angles. Described GPS antenna systems are usable to provide an antenna pattern having a vertically-steerable null. An array of vertically spaced radiator units having omnidirectional azimuth characteristics provides a primary reception pattern. Vertically intermixed radiator units employed on a separate or shared basis provide an auxiliary reception pattern. By subtractively combining the auxiliary pattern with the primary pattern and adjusting the relative signal level of the auxiliary pattern a vertically-steerable pattern null is provided. The antenna system may include an adaptive control system responsive to an antenna output signal to derive a steering signal to adjust the relative signal level of the auxiliary pattern to steer the vertically-steerable null to provide interference suppression. Antenna systems and methods are described.

This invention relates to antennas to receive signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites and, more specifically to antenna systems arranged for reception for differential GPS applications.
Antenna systems providing a circular polarization characteristic in all directions horizontally and upward from the horizon, with a sharp cut-off characteristic below the horizon are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,882, issued to A. R. Lopez on Jul. 9, 1996 (which may be referred to as "the '882 patent"). Antennas having such characteristics are particularly suited to reception of signals from GPS satellites.
As described in that patent, application of the GPS for aircraft precision approach and landing guidance is subject to various local and other errors limiting accuracy. Implementation of Differential GPS (DGPS) can provide local corrections to improve accuracy at one or more airports in a localized geographical area. A DGPS ground installation provides corrections for errors, such as ionospheric, tropospheric and satellite clock and ephemeris errors, effective for local use. The ground station may use one or more GPS reception antennas having suitable antenna pattern characteristics. Of particular significance is the desirability of antennas having the characteristic of a unitary phase center of accurately determined position, to permit precision determinations of phase of received signals and avoid introduction of phase discrepancies. Antenna systems having the desired characteristics are described and illustrated in the '882 patent, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
For such applications, antennas utilizing a stack of individually-excited progressive-phase-omnidirectional elements are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,510, issued to A. R. Lopez, R. J. Kumpfbeck and E. M. Newman on Mar. 13, 2001 ("the '510 patent"). Elements as described therein include self-contained four-dipole elements which are employed in stacked configuration to provide omnidirectional coverage from the zenith (90 degrees elevation) to the horizon (0 degrees) or from a high elevation angle to the horizon, with a sharp pattern cut off below the horizon. The '510 patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Objects of the present invention are to provide new and improved antennas and methods, including antennas and methods usable for DGPS applications and which may provide one or more of the following characteristics and advantages:
vertically-steerable null;
null steerable for low elevation interference suppression;
adaptively controlled null steering capability;
omnidirectional azimuth coverage with elevation coverage up from the horizon;
wide frequency band operability;
progressive-phase-omnidirectional azimuth pattern; and
operable with circularly polarized signals.

GPS antenna systems and methods with vertically-steerable null for interference suppression

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


Disclosed is a means for increasing coolant flow through the areas adjacent to where the removable top head closure is bolted to the body of pressurized water nuclear reactor. A circumferential plenum for coolant is provided between the upper flange of the core barrel, the inner wall of the pressure vessel body and the upper circular support plate and providing a plurality of orifices for coolant in the upper flange of the core barrel and the upper circular support plate whereby a coolant may be circulated through the core barrel flange, the circumferential plenum and the upper support plate and into the space enclosed by the removable top closure head.

This invention relates to pressurized water nuclear reactors. It relates particularly to the construction of the core barrel and upper support plate assembly used in a pressurized water nuclear reactor.
A pressurized water nuclear reactor power station contains a closed loop of pressurized water which removes heat energy from a nuclear core and transfers the heat energy to a secondary water system used to generate steam. The steam, in turn, drives a turbine generator set to produce electric power. The nuclear reactor system is comprised of a pressure vessel containing the nuclear fuel which generates the heat energy, a steam generator in which the heat energy from the nuclear reactor is used to generate steam, a circulating pump which circulates the coolant and a pressurizer that maintains and controls the pressure within the system.
The nuclear reactor assembly is generally comprised of a steel pressure vessel having a body and a removable top head, a thermal shield within the pressure vessel body, an upper support plate, several core support plates, a core barrel, and control rods and the nuclear fuel making up the core.
Certain components of the nuclear reactor assembly, after years of service, may develop primary water stress corrosion cracking. If such cracking occurs in pressure boundary components, the potential to generate leak paths for the pressurized water coolant exists. Such leak paths could lead to a leakage of coolant water outside the pressure vessel and into the surrounding containment building, thereby creating a potential hazard.
Alloy 600 is a material used in many reactor components. The reduction in temperature of the structural material is recognized as one method to reduce the susceptibility of a material to primary water stress corrosion cracking. The reactor vessel head is fitted with penetration tubes fabricated from ally 600. The penetration tubes allow access through the reactor vessel head for instrumentation and control mechanisms.
With new construction additional cooling manifolds and coolant passages can be built into various components to remove additional heat and reduce the temperature of the penetration tubes during operation. Such modifications would be quite difficult and expensive to use with nuclear reactors already in service, due to the fact that the interior of the reactor pressure vessel body, the removable top head and other internal components are radioactive.

Core barrel and support plate assembly for pressurized water nuclear reactor

Washington Twp., Westmoreland County all of


A liquid crystal display comprises a display panel that includes at least one pixel transistor, at least one pixel electrode in electrical communication with the pixel transistor, at least one common electrode, and a liquid crystal material between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The pixel transistor includes a thin film layer of essentially single crystal silicon that has a thickness in a range of between about 100 nm and about 200 nm. The pixel electrode has a thickness in a range of between about 5 nm and about 20 nm. The common electrode has a thickness of between about 50 nm and about 200 nm.

Active matrix color liquid crystal displays (LCDs) generally include five different components: a white light source, a first polarizing film that is mounted on one side of a display panel including an array of pixels defined by arrays of pixel electrodes and thin-film pixel transistors (TFTs), a color filter plate containing at least three primary colors arranged into pixels covered with a transparent common electrode and finally a second polarizing film. A liquid crystal material is disposed between the pixel and common electrodes. This material will rotate the polarization of light when an electric field is applied across it. Thus, when a particular pixel of the display is turned on, the liquid crystal material rotates polarized light transmitted through the material so that it will pass through the second polarizing filter.
For pixel TFTs, various types of silicon have been used, including amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and single crystalline silicon. Amorphous silicon TFTs generally have poor transistor performance because of very low electron mobility of amorphous silicon. As a result, the amorphous silicon TFTs can only deliver low current density, limiting their use to large-size LCD panels that can accommodate large-size TFTs. Polycrystalline silicon TFTs can in part address the problem associated with amorphous silicon TFTs because the electron mobility of polycrystalline silicon is much higher, but these materials still have a lower electron mobility than single crystalline silicon as they have crystalline defects (such as grain boundary) which can impact TFT performance. Single crystal TFTs have the highest performance, and they can be used for displays with very high pixel density, for example, higher than 100 pixels per inch. In addition, single crystal TFTs have high frequency response, allowing the control electronic circuits to be monolithically integrated within the display panel.
Generally, conventional single crystal TFTs employed in LCDs in the art have a relatively thick silicon layer, for example, having a thickness of about 300 nm or greater. With such thickness, the pixel TFTs may have relatively high photosensitivity (e.g., backlighting and/or ambient light photosensitivity), which can result in current leakage of pixel TFTs. Such current leakage of pixel TFTs, in turn, can cause a relatively low display contrast ratio and/or high image retention.
Thus, a need exists for a method of forming a high quality TFT at each pixel of an LCD that can address problems associated with conventional TFTs, especially forming TFTs that can operate at high speeds, that have reduced photosensitivity, and that can be fabricated easily and at low cost.

Display system with single crystal Si thin film transistors


Magneto-optical memory having a substrate of a material which is transparent for the visible-to-infrared spectral range, on which there are provided, in this sequence, a dielectric layer which is transparent for the visible-to-infrared spectral range and has a refractive index which is higher than the refractive index of the substrate and constitutes a diffusion barrier layer for oxygen and/or water, an in essence amorphous and/or in essence micro-crystalline magneto-optical layer with uniaxial anisotropy and a magnetic ordering temperature higher than ambient temperature and a top layer which acts as a reflection or interference layer and as a diffusion barrier layer for oxygen and/or water, the dielectric layer being a layer which is deposited from organic silicon materials by means of a PCVD process.

The invention relates to a magneto-optical memory having a substrate of a material which is transparent for the visible to infrared spectral range and on which, there are provided, in the following sequence, a dielectric layer which is transparent for the visible-to-infrared spectral range and has a refractive index which is higher than the refractive index of the substrate and constitutes a diffusion barrier layer for oxygen and/or water, an essentially amorphous and/or essentially micro-crystalline magneto-optical layer with uni-axial anisotropy and a magnetic ordering temperature>ambient temperature and a top layer acting as a reflection or interference layer and as a diffusion barrier layer for oxygen and/or water. The invention also relates to a method of producing such a memory.
In erasable magneto-optical memories writing, reading and erasing information can be effected by means of a localized electro-magnetic radiation.
Reading information from the memory is effected by utilizing either the magneto-optical Kerr effect in reflection or the Faraday effect in transmission.
An erasable magneto-optical memory of an essentially amorphous and/or essentially micro-crystalline magneto-optical storage material is disclosed in, for example, DE-PS 23 40 475.
The object of the dielectric layer is to increase the Kerr effect of the magneto-optical memory and to optimize the write, read and erase behaviour of the magneto-optical memory.
For an optimization of the read efficiency it is effective to provide above the magneto-optical layer a layer which acts either as a reflection or an interference layer, the top layer.
In addition, all the layers contiguous to the magneto-optical layer have the further function of protecting the magneto-optical layer from environmental influences, for example oxidation or corrosion, which might affect the length of operational life of a memory.
If a substrate made of a plastics material, for example polycarbonate, is used, the properties of the dielectric layer must satisfy specific requirements. Depositing the dielectric layer may only be effected at a comparatively low temperature (<80.degree. C.), as otherwise the substrate might be negatively affected. There is however a disadvantage, namely that layers provided on the plastics substrate adhere poorly. The dielectric layer must be mechanically loadable, that is to say it must be elastic, so that it can compensate for internal stresses in the magneto-optical layer provided thereon and when the elastic substrate is distorted it does not crack or chip. The dielectric layer which constitutes a passivation layer for the magneto-optical layer must be chemically stable and must not react with the material of the magneto-optical layer. The optical properties of the dielectric layer must be such that at a wavelength of 800 nm, the operating range of a laser cooperating with the magneto-optical memory, it has a refractive index in the range from 1.9 to 2.5, it being necessary for the absorption at this wavelength to be low (absorption coefficient k<0.05).
The combination of all the required properties is not met by the materials mentioned in the foregoing such as, for example, AlN, SiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, used for the dielectric layers. When oxygen-containing materials are used for the dielectric layer there is a risk that the properties of the magneto-optical layer in contact with it will change, for example due to diffusion processes, and is negatively affected. In addition, SiO.sub.2 has a refractive index which is too low for such a use. Dielectric layers made of all the above-mentioned materials have furthermore too low a ductile yield, so that on mechanical loading of a comparatively elastic substrate they crack or chip and consequently can no longer perform their function as passivating layers.

Magneto-optical memory and method of producing such a memory


A container handling machine for containers, such as bottles, with a carousel that rotates around a vertical axis, with handling stations located at appropriate intervals for the handling of the containers, whereby the handling stations are located in a space that is essentially enclosed and is pressurized with a controlled atmosphere and having rotating portions of the space and non-rotating portions that are stationary with respect to the rotating portions, with receptacles (12) for holding the containers corresponding to each handling station, whereby these receptacles (12) are interchangeable.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, a beverage container filling machine, and a beverage container closing machine.
2. Background Information
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position having a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. The filling devices may have an apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material. The apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material further comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the filling of the beverage bottles upon the liquid beverage filling material reaching the predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provided a conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles, for example, from an inspecting machine to the filling machine. Upon filling, a closing station closes the filled bottles. There may further be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the filling machine to the closing station. Bottles may be labeled in a labeling station, the labeling station having a conveyer arrangement to receive bottles and to output bottles. The closing station and the labeling station may be connected by a corresponding conveyer arrangement.
Container handling machines include, for example, filling machines, capping machines, rinsers etc. In higher-capacity bottling plants, these machines employ a rotating construction, whereby the handling spaces that hold the containers are located on the periphery of a carousel and carry along the containers in a circulating movement during handling operations.
Given the increased requirements relating to the quality of the beverages to be bottled and their shelf life, a construction is necessary in which the handling spaces are in an enclosed space that can be filled with a controlled atmosphere. This space can be filled with an inert gas atmosphere, e.g. CO2 with a sterilizing atmosphere of H2O2 for example, to thereby ensure a low-oxygen and aseptic processing of the beverages, which is of priority importance for the quality of the beverages being bottled, in particular when the cold bottling method which is preferred by many users is employed. A variety of such handling machines are used in the beverage industry.
DE-PS 696 569 describes a construction of this type in which a filling machine is located in a closed housing. The space thereby formed is determined by the overall size of the machine and encloses a considerable volume. DE 199 11 517 A1 describes a rotating filling machine which is located in its entirety inside a housing that encloses it with very little clearance on all sides. The size of the housing is determined by the size of the machine and is thereby likewise of considerable volume. DE 198 35 369 C1 shows a realization in which the container handling machines extend in a sealed manner with their handling spaces located on the bottom downward into a space in which there is a controlled atmosphere. This space is designed so that it is accessible from underneath the machine.
An additional solution is disclosed in DE 197 31 796. In this industrial configuration, the filling and capping machines are located in a clean room, the volume of which is so small that there is only free space to perform the necessary service and maintenance work on the filling and capping machine. The purpose of reducing the volume of the clean space is to reduce the operating costs of the plant. An immersion sterilizer is also located directly adjacent to the clean space. The purpose of this measure, in comparison to EP 0120 789, is to eliminate the second rinser and the associated acquisition and operating costs. Overall, one disadvantage of this solution is that here, too, a clean space is provided that encloses both the filling and capping machine in their entirety, which means that the clean space will be very large and will entail high construction and operating costs. The greatest possible reduction in the volume of the clean space, which is the object of this realization of the prior art, also has major disadvantages in terms of restricting access for any maintenance work that has to be performed.
Consequently, the large volume of the space that has to be filled with a controlled atmosphere is a disadvantage in the constructions of the prior art. This space has to be opened whenever operation is disrupted. In that case, the space is filled with normal ambient air and becomes correspondingly contaminated. The subsequent cleaning of the space before operation can be resumed is determined essentially by its surface area and the total volume. With the large-volume spaces of the prior art, even minor operational disruptions or required retooling operations can interrupt production for long periods, because every time the space that is filled with a controlled atmosphere must be opened, it has to be cleaned, a process that generally takes several hours.
Finally, DE 101 45 803 A1 and DE 297 13 155 U1 show that the enclosed space is realized in the form of a ring-shaped tunnel that encircles the filling machine carousel and the ring-shaped boiler on one hand, and is enclosed by the stationary surfaces on the other hand, whereby the stationary and carousel surfaces that form the tunnel are sealed from and/or to each other by means of concentric seals or gaskets. These configurations of the prior art result in significant reductions in the size of the clean space or clean room.
A further improvement is proposed by another application by the same applicant which is Case No. DE 103 26 618.6.
In the context of this application, methods are taught that further limit the size of the handling space.
A handling machine as described in DE 103 26 618.6 has a clean space that consists of a three-dimensional portion that rotates with the filling machine and a stationary, non-rotating three-dimensional portion, whereby only the mouth portions of the beverage containers are admitted into the clean space.
A partition wall of the clean space that rotates with the rotating carousel thereby contains the receptacles and/or supports and centering devices for the mouth portions or parts of the containers, such as neck rings, for example.
These receptacles, supports and/or centering devices are located in the bottom, approximately horizontal rotating boundary wall of the clean space.
Because an increasingly essential requirement of beverage bottling operations is that they must be able to handle, i.e. to fill, different container sizes with a single container handing machine, on a device like the one described in DE 103 26 6187 it is necessary to realize the receptacles and/or supports so that they can be adapted to the largest occurring diameter of the container neck.
With this method, during the handling of containers with relatively small container neck diameters, there are relatively large openings through which the controlled atmosphere can escape, which results in undesirably high costs.
With an increased demand for quality of the beverage to be filled into containers and its stability of durability, there is at hand a type of arrangement in which the handling positions are disposed in a closed space that is supplied with a special atmosphere. Such a space can be supplied with an inert atmosphere, for example, carbon dioxide, with a sterilizing atmosphere, or with hydrogen peroxide and thus can ensure a treatment of the beverage that is low in oxygen and low in germs, this being of paramount importance for the filling quality of the beverage. Such handling machines are known in many varieties in the beverage industry.
German Patent No. DE-PS 696,569 shows an arrangement in which a filling machine is disposed in a closed housing. The space that is provided in this manner is determined by the full size of the machine and has a substantial volume. German Patent Publication No. DE-OS 199 11 517 A1 shows a rotating filling machine that is fully disposed in a tightly surrounding housing that has a size that is determined by the size of the machine and, accordingly, the housing is also of substantial volume. German Patent No. DE-PS 198 35 369 C1 shows an embodiment in which the lower handling positions of container handling machines extend in sealed manner from above into a space that is supplied with a special atmosphere. This space is equipped so as to be accessed from below.
A further solution is disclosed in German Patent Publication No. DE-OS 197 31 796. The technical embodiment of this reference comprises a filling machine and a closing machine that are both disposed in a clean space or room that has a volume that is dimensioned so as to be so tight such that there is only space for maintenance at the filling machine and at the closing machine. By way of the reduction of the volume of the clean space, a lowering of the operating expense of the arrangement is to be attained. In addition, an immersion bath sterilizer is directly disposed at the clean space. This measure is to achieve, in contrast with European Patent No. EP 0120 789, to make the second rinser superfluous and to obviate associated operating and capital expenditures. This solution comprises overall the drawback that also in this embodiment there is suggested a clean space that fully envelops the filling machine, as well as the closing machine, and this arrangement requires a large amount of space and high construction and operating expenses. The desired extensive reduction in size of the constructive volume of the clean space that is sought in this teaching entails marked disadvantages, due to the diminished accessibility when maintenance is to be carried out.
The substantial volume of the space that is supplied with a special atmosphere is, accordingly, of disadvantage in the designs of the prior art. In the event of disruptions of operations, the space needs to be opened. It is then filled with normal ambient air and is correspondingly accessible to germs. The subsequent cleaning of the space prior to resumption of operations is largely determined by the surfaces and the overall volume of the space. In the case of the known large clean rooms, accordingly, the interruptions of operations, that are necessary due to disruptions of operations, or required relocation of machines, as well as the unavoidable cleaning of machines, last for hours.
From German Patent Publication No. DE-OS 101 45 803 A1 (corresponding to International Patent Publication No. WO 03/024860 A1, published on Mar. 27, 2003) and German Petty Patent No. DE-GM 297 13 155 U1, (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,867 issued to Karl on Feb. 22, 2000), it is finally known that the closed space is configured as an annular tunnel structure that moves about/or surrounds the carousel of the filling machine and the annular boiler, on the one hand, and by the stationary surfaces, on the other hand, whereby the carousel surfaces and the stationary surfaces are disposed in sealing manner atop one another or, respectively, with respect to one another by way of concentric seal elements. These known configurations already substantially reduce the required clean space.

Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, having a container handling machine with interchangeable receptacles for the container mouth


An electrical connector used for mating a mating connector includes an insulating body having multiple terminal slots in communication with an insertion space, multiple terminals, an insulating block. Each terminal slot has at least one side wall from which a depressed portion is depressed, the depressed portion is laterally in communication with the terminal slot. Each terminal has a connection portion connected to a contact portion and a soldering portion, a stopping portion protrudes from the connection portion and is located at the depressed portion. The insulating block is insert molded at a back end of the insulating body. A protruding portion protrudes from a front end of the insulating block and enters the depressed portion. The stopping portion is stopped in front of the protruding portion.

An existing electrical connector is used for mating with a mating connector and connected to a cable, and includes an insulating body, multiple terminals fixed to the insulating body, and a metal shell wrapping the insulating body. An insertion space is depressed from a front end of the insulating body and provided for the mating connector to be inserted therein. Multiple terminal slots are provided to run through from a back end surface of the insulating body forward. The multiple terminals are correspondingly inserted into the multiple terminal slots from rear to front, and a front end of each of the terminals is provided with a contact portion stretched into the insertion space to mate a mating terminal of the mating connector. A back end of the insulating body is provided with a circuit board, a back end of each of the terminals has a soldering portion for being soldered to one end of the circuit board, and the cable is soldered to another end of the circuit board, so that the terminals are electrically connected to the cable. At the back end of the insulating body, an insulating block is formed by insert molding, and the insulating block wraps and fixes the soldering portion, the circuit board and a front end of the cable, thereby fixing the electrical connector to the cable. The length of the terminals is relatively long, and the thickness thereof is relatively thin, and therefore the corresponding length of the terminal slot is relatively long, and the width thereof is relatively narrow, so as to conveniently receive and fix the terminals. However, when the insulating body is injection molded, because the length of the terminal slot is relatively long, and the width thereof is relatively narrow, the strength of a pin of a die is relatively weak, deflection is easily generated in a forming process, and thereby the formed terminal slot is easily deflected, which affects smooth insertion of the terminal.
To resolve the foregoing problem, a depressed portion is depressed from each of two sides of the terminal slot, so as to increase the width of the terminal slot, and meanwhile uses a relatively thick pin to form the terminal slot. Because the strength of the pin is enhanced, the pin is not easily deflected or deformed in the forming process, thereby ensuring that the formed terminal slot is not easily deflected, so that the terminal can be smoothly inserted into the terminal slot.
However, because the depressed portion is depressed from each of the two sides of the terminal slot, and the corresponding terminal is only received in the terminal slot, but do not extend to enter the depressed portion. That is, the terminals can only fill space of the terminal slots, but cannot fill space of the depressed portion. Because the depressed portion is in communication with the entire terminal slot, when the insulating block is insert molded, each of the terminals can only stop flowing plastic from entering the corresponding terminal slot from the back end of the insulating body, but cannot stop the flowing plastic from entering the depressed portion from the back end of the insulating body, then flowing into the terminal slot through the depressed portion and then flowing into the insertion space, so that elastic deformation space of the contact portion is reduced, which affects elastic mating between the contact portion and the mating terminal, and the flowing plastic is stacked to the insertion space, which hinders the mating connector from being inserted into the insertion space, thereby severely affecting electrical connection between the electrical connector and the mating connector.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Electrical connector for connecting a cable


A simulated vehicle alarm including a housing formed of an electrically insulative material. A light-emitting diode is secured to the housing. A pair of electrically conductive leads are connected to the light-emitting diode and extend therefrom. A pair of electrical connectors are attached, respectively, to the free ends of the leads. Each of the connectors includes a strip of metallic foil having an adhesive layer applied to one of its sides. A strip of double-sided foam tape is secured to the housing for adhesively mounting the housing upon a supporting surface such as a vehicle windshield.

Electronic security systems for safeguarding vehicles are now commonplace. Such systems typically include motion sensors and other costly circuitry which detect entry into the vehicle and then sound an audible alarm. Experienced automobile thieves, however, are not deterred by these systems since they have developed techniques for rapidly overriding or disabling them.
Interestingly, most vehicle security systems available today include at least one flashing indicator light mounted in a position to alert passersby that the system is armed. It is believed by many that this light alone plays a significant roll in encouraging amateur thieves to proceed past the vehicle and pursue other quarry. Unfortunately, installing a vehicle security system having even one indicator light is time-consuming, requires permanent modification of the vehicle, and is prohibitively expensive for many individuals. A need, therefore, exists for an apparatus capable of deterring the unauthorized entry into vehicles of all sorts which is affordable by most individuals and is easy to install.


An electrical switch includes a housing having walls extending continuously around a recess. A switch actuator is pivotally mounted in the housing in the recess and protected by the walls. First and second reed switches are mounted in the housing, and a magnet is mounted to the switch actuator and is pivotable between a first position, in which the magnet activates the first reed switch, and a second position, in which the magnet activates the second reed switch.

This invention relates to an electrical switch that is weatherproof and well protected against impacts and operator abuse.
Electrical switches are commonly used as control switches in outdoor applications. For example, a delivery truck may carry a hydraulically-powered lift gate, and electrical switches are typically provided on the outside of the delivery trucks to allow the driver to control the lift gate. Such electrical switches must operate reliably in a harsh environment. Any switch failure can cause such delivery truck to be stranded, particularly if the switch fails with the lift gate in the lowered position.
In the past, lift gate switches of this type have proven insufficiently rugged in use. Such switches are exposed at an exterior surface of the truck, and they are subjected to occasional impacts from moving objects. Furthermore, operator abuse may disable a switch if it is not properly designed. Weather-proofness is another important characteristic of such switches.