A menu panel for supporting elongated menu strips of varying heights is disclosed having adjustable guide rails supported by a frame. The frame includes vertical side frame members incorporating guide rail locating elements disposed along the length of the vertical side frame members to position the guide rails. The guide rails are selectively positionable along the length of the vertical side frame members to provide adjustable spacing between adjacent pairs of guide rails. The menu strips include descriptive indicia such as product names and pricing information and are disposed between and supported by adjacent pairs of the guide rails.

Menu boards are widely used at fast food restaurants, for example, to display menu item descriptions and pricing information to a customer. Such menu boards are oftentimes used in restaurants to inform the customer of the available products, their prices, and may also include photographs of special menu items. Typically, the menu board includes one or more menu panels (also referred to as "grids") mounted to an illuminating box (also referred to as a light box) containing a light source for back-lighting the menu panels from the interior of the box.
In menu boards of the type described above, it is well known in the art to provide menu item descriptions and pricing information on elongated menu strips (also referred to as "slats") which are supported by the menu panels and positioned forwardly of the light source. The menu strips may include transparent characters or numerals which are thus illuminated by the light source while an opaque surface on the menu strip prevents light from being transmitted through other areas of the menu strip. Examples of such menu strip designs may be found in Porter, II et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,604 and Grate, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,107 wherein the menu strips are positioned on the menu board between adjacent pairs of guide rails fixed to a front or rear surface of the menu board.
It is generally common in the fast food industry to have menu strips with varying heights as different menu items require more or less description of the product. For example, one menu strip may contain the description "Hamburger" while another menu strip may describe a special combination of "Hamburger", "French Fries" and a "Drink", with these descriptions being presented in three separate lines on the menu strip to reduce customer confusion in selecting from available products. In the latter example, it will be recognized that the menu strip will have a greater height than in the former example. Moreover, the restaurant may include photographs of special menu items presented on flexible strips of varying heights which are also positioned forwardly of the light source between adjacent pairs of guide rails.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,636,463 and 5,901,486, owned by the common assignee, menu panels are disclosed that are adjustable in the field to accommodate for changes in the heights of menu strips, photographs and other descriptive indicia presented at the menu board. In the adjustable menu panels of these patents, a menu panel frame is provided having a top, a bottom and a pair of side members. The side members of the frame incorporate a series of guide rail support elements disposed along the length of the side members that positively engage and secure a series of generally parallel guide rails to the frame. The guide rails are selectively engageable and disengageable at their opposite ends with the guide rail support elements to provide adjustable spacing between adjacent pairs of the guide rails. A series of elongated menu strips having descriptive indicia, such as menu item names and pricing information, are disposed between and supported by different adjacent pairs of the guide rails.
The guide rails are slotted longitudinally to slidably receive the menu strips between adjacent pairs of the guide rails. The guide rails include an "H-shaped" cross-section front member and a rearwardly extending clip member that engages the guide rail support elements and secures the guide rails to the frame. The front members thereby define a series of sleeves between adjacent pairs of the guide rails to slidably receive the menu strips within the sleeves. To accommodate for changes in menu strip height, the guide rails are selectively positionable at varying locations along the length of the side members to provide adjustable spacing between adjacent pairs of the guide rails.
Notwithstanding the advantages and benefits provided by the adjustable menu panels disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,636,463 and 5,901,486, there is a need for an improved menu panel system which is readily adjustable for different menu board applications.


Ceramic-based substrate for coating, e.g., diamond has a basic irregularities surface having a surface roughness Rz of 2 to 20 .mu.m, with Rz at angle regions of 40% or more of that for other than the angle regions. The basic irregularities surface has micro-sized irregularities on an order of crystal grains constituting the uppermost surface (0.5 to 10 .mu.m), forming dual irregularities surface structure. Coating layer engages with surface irregularities to secure firm adhesion at the cutting edge. WC-based cemented carbide is used as substrate and N-containing surface layer is formed by heat treatment to form the surface irregularities.

Related Art
With diamond-coated hard materials comprising a substrate and diamond coated thereon, the diamond coating layer has only a low adhesion strength with respect to the substrate, such that the diamond coating layer tends to be peeled off from the substrate. Various techniques, such as exemplified hereinbelow, have hitherto been proposed in order to improve the adhesion strength of the diamond coating layer on the substrate.
In JP Patent KOKAI Publication No. 1-246361 (JP-A-246361/89) there is disclosed a sintered alloy having a specified coating film formed on a heated surface of a sintered alloy having a specified composition.
In JP Patent KOKAI Publication No. 4-231428 (JP-A-231428/92), there is disclosed a method for producing a machining tool comprising secondary sintering of a cemented carbide (superhard alloy) tool of a particular composition under specified conditions followed by chemical etching and ultrasonic grinding/polishing for forming a diamond coating layer.
In JP Patent KOKAI Nos. 4-263074 (JP-A-263074/92) and 4-263075 (JP-A-263075/92), there is disclosed a hard material comprising a substrate presenting specified surface irregularities and a diamond coating layer formed thereon.
Among the techniques preceding the above techniques, there are those described in JP KOKAI Patent Publication No. 54-87719 (JP-A-87719/79) and No. 58-126972 (JP-A-126972/83) corresponding to JP Patent KOKOKU Publication No. 62-7267.
In "Powder and Powder Metallurgy", vol. 29, No. 5, pages 159 to 163, there is report on the formation of a hard layer on the surface of a WC-.beta.-Co alloy, where .beta. is a WC-TiC solid solution. Thus it is stated therein that, if the alloy is heated at 1673K in N.sub.2 at 5.1 kPa (5.times.10.sup.-2 atmosphere), a hard layer presenting sharp surface irregularities is formed; such hard layer is formed at a N.sub.2 pressure of not lower than about 0.7 kPa (about 7.times.10.sup.-3 atmosphere); and that the higher the N.sub.2 pressure and the longer the heating time employed, the coarser become the grains (.beta.(N) grains) of the WC--TiC--TiN solid solution and the more outstanding become the surface irregularities, with formation of Co pools on the surface region.

Ceramic-based substrate for coating diamond and method for preparing substrate for coating


A method controls a set of semi-active actuators arranged in an elevator system represented with a model of a virtual elevator system having a single virtual semi-active actuator arranged to compensate a virtual disturbance proportional to a sum of disturbances from the set of disturbances. The method determines the virtual disturbance during an operation of the elevator car using a motion profile of position of the elevator car during the operation and a disturbance profile of the virtual disturbance, and determines amplitude of a virtual force of the virtual semi-active actuator using the model and the virtual disturbance. A gain of a controller for controlling the set of semi-active actuators is adjusted based on the amplitude of the virtual force and a reference force of the virtual semi-active actuator.

Vibration reduction in mechanical systems is important for a number of reasons including safety and energy efficiency of the systems. Particularly, vibration in various transportation systems is directly related to ride quality and safety of passengers, and, thus, should be minimized. For example, vertical vibration in vehicles can be controlled by active or passive vibration reduction systems, which are generally referred as suspension systems. Similarly, the vibration induced during an operation of an elevator system can be minimized.
The elevator system typically includes a car, a frame, a roller guide assembly, and guide rails. The roller guides act as a suspension system to minimize the vibration of the elevator car. The car and roller guides are mounted on the frame. The car and frame move along the guide rail as constrained by the guide rollers. There are two principal disturbances which contribute to the levels of vibration in the car: (1) rail-induced forces which are transferred to the car through the rail guides due to rail irregularities, and (2) direct-car forces, such as produced by wind buffeting the building, passenger load, distribution or motion.
Some methods, e.g., methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,289,902, 5,712,783, 7,909,141,8,011,478, compensate for irregularity of the guide rail in the elevator system to improve the comfort of the ride. However, those methods do not consider uncertainties in the elevator components, for instance the parameters of a damping device changes over time due to aging, temperature, and thus reduce the effectiveness of the vibration reduction suspension system.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,902 discloses a method to control actuators damping the vibration of the elevator car by comparing the frequency of a vibration signal to a pre-determined frequency. The pre-determined frequency is calibrated based on fixed values of parameters of the elevator and actuators.
Because parameters of the elevator and actuators may vary over time, new values of parameters may correspond to a different pre-determined value to maintain a desirable performance on vibration reduction. A controller that fails to acquire the variations of parameters deteriorates the performance of the method.

System and method for controlling semi-active actuators arranged to minimize vibration in elevator systems


The invention considers a non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising a first and second floating gate transistor, which are coupled in series. Each floating gate transistor comprises a floating gate. Programming means coupled to the first and second floating gate transistor are operable to place a selected electrical charge in one of the floating gates and less than the selected electrical charge in the other floating gate to represent either a first or second binary value.

Miniaturization of portable devices requires highly integrated logic chips. Many of these applications use non-volatile memory for storing very few bytes of information. The information may comprise configuration parameters, for example for an adjustment of an analog circuitry or an adaptation to a specific application or external conditions. Alternatively, the information may comprise individual information like a serial device number or an identification number, which are so-called personalization parameters. Typical applications may require a few bytes, e.g., 10 Bytes to about 1 Kilobyte, for storing the personalization parameters and/or configuration parameters.
An example for using such non-volatile memory in a miniaturized application is the adaptation of the filter parameters of a hearing aid by the acoustician to the individual wearing it as well as saving the volume parameters in a hearing aid before turning it off.
Personalization parameters and especially the configuration parameters may be alterable. Configuration parameters are normally not changed during normal operation mode, just before switching off or changing from a normal operation mode to a sleep mode. In particular, battery-powered portable applications may require the personalization parameters and, especially the configuration parameters, to survive the sleep mode or partial power-off without data loss to avoid adapting and configuring the application again.
Conventional applications comprise non-volatile memory-on-board, which is read and programmed by a microcontroller, to store the personalization and configuration parameters.
Alternatively, the application may comprise a non-volatile memory module that is read out at circuit start-up into a volatile memory via an internal controller or a state machine. Adding a non-volatile memory module to a chip, which uses only a few bytes of storage, is very inefficient. Conventional memory modules, which enable the storage of much more data, are oversized.
The time delay incurred by reading out such non-volatile memory to the volatile memory at startup results in inconvenient usage.
Further disadvantages of the non-volatile memory module or the memory-on-board are their power supply requirement and their size.
Conventional programmable elements for logic technologies are not optimized for good retention behavior and they are also difficult to scale. The method to program or erase such elements is very complicated.
Programmable interconnects, for example as used in field programmable gate arrays, so called FPGAs, are not meant for very small memories. They are not optimized for low voltage and low power operation.

Semiconductor device and method of operating a semiconductor device


A combination static mixer and heat exchanger having heat exchanger tubes (1) which are provided over their circumference with fins (2a, 2b) which have a static mixing effect.

The rapid, uniform and gentle controlling of the temperature of viscous and highly viscous products, e.g. polymer melts, is only achieved to an insufficient extent using the known static mixer systems described below. Only the outer temperature-controlled housing or tube wall is available as a direct heating surface for these purposes. To control the temperature of a product, the latter is passed a number of times through the known static mixers from the center of the housing or tube to the temperature-controlled housing wall, so that the desired product temperature is reached over an increasing length of the heating section. Temperature-control objectives of this type require long temperature-controlled mixing distances, on account of the low thermal conductivity of most organic substances, leading to a long residence time and a high pressure loss and therefore to damage to viscous substances (>1 mPa·s) with a laminar flow velocity, in particular those with a temperature-sensitive character. An additional drawback of the long mixing distances is the high design-related investment costs involved with such systems. Drawbacks such as the low mechanical stability and high pressure losses of known static mixers lead to the need for large cross sections of flow, which in turn make temperature control more difficult.
A slight improvement in terms of temperature-control objectives is achieved if known static mixers are pressed or rolled into pipelines or into housings. This results in limited metallic contact between the heated inner housing wall and the small outer cross-sectional areas of the metallic static mixers. However, the static mixer which has been drawn or rolled in can only form an inadequate contact surface with the temperature-controlled housing wall. Experience has shown that the contact surfaces are not formed completely, and consequently there are always gaps with respect to the inner housing wall. On account of higher thermal conduction properties of the metallic mixing fins, small amounts of heat are passed radially through these narrow gaps into the flow region of the static mixer. This method allows a slight improvement only with very small housing or tube diameters, since the conduction of heat to the center of the static mixer or the housing is limited by the small, incompletely formed contact surfaces. Furthermore, these gaps represent "dead areas", which contribute to the formation of specks, for example in polymer melts. These specks (impurities) reduce the quality of the products sold (e.g. thermoplastics).
Known static mixers which are soldered into housings or pipelines have slightly better temperature-control properties. The soldering operation requires an accurately prepared housing or pipe and a static mixer which has been machined on its external diameter, so that a good and complete soldered joint can be produced. The mechanical preparations which have to be carried out on the parts to be soldered are complex and cost-intensive. If soldering is successful, static mixers which are soldered in have a good contact surface with respect to the inner temperature-controlled housing wall. On account of the geometric structure of the static mixers, however, the contact surface with respect to the heated housing surface is very small, and consequently only a slightly higher temperature-control capacity with respect to the product flow is possible. The increase in the size of the temperature-controlled surface area compared to the static mixers which are rolled in is not significantly higher, and consequently mixing distances with soldered static mixers cannot be shortened significantly. On account of the limited overall size of soldering furnaces and on account of the distortion caused to the tubes during soldering, the soldering process is only possible for a short length of tube (generally <2 m).
Moreover, the solder used means that additional corrosion problems often occur and have to be taken into account during use of mixers of this type, in order to ensure that, for example, the purity and quality of a product are not adversely affected by impurities resulting from corrosion.
Furthermore, tubes with outer thin sheet metal discs which have been drawn on, pressed in or attached by welding are known for heat transfer with liquid and gaseous substances. The outer thin discs are not completely in contact with the actual carrier tube, and consequently they are preferably used to control the temperature of air in the highly turbulent flow region. These designs are not pressure-stable and do not have any mixing properties for viscous substances in the laminar flow region. Therefore, tube systems of this type are not suitable for controlling the temperature of viscous and highly viscous liquids. To improve the heat-transfer properties, by way of example, these outer discs and the carrier tube are completely covered with a low-temperature solder in order to increase the size of surfaces which are in contact with product and thereby to increase the heat conduction. The solders used (e.g. zinc, tin) cannot be used in chemical processes with high corrosion specifications, and furthermore the mechanical strength of solders of this type is very low, in particular in the event of high thermal loads.
Furthermore, a temperature-controllable static mixer reactor (DE 2 839 564 A1) is known. This reactor mixes the product flowing through, the mixing internals comprising meandering tubes. This apparatus comprises a housing, the temperature of which can be controlled and in which the mixing internals are replaced by a specially shaped meandering tube bundle.
The tube bundle comprises a plurality of bent, thin tubes running parallel to one another. The ends of the tubes are welded to a flange, from which the heating or cooling agent for controlling the temperature of the product stream is fed in.
The bent tubes running parallel to one another are fitted into the housing, parallel to the direction of flow of the product, as temperature-controlled internals. The meandering tubes are positioned at an alternating angle in the direction of flow of the product and run transversely over the hydraulic diameter of the housing. The tubes arranged in parallel in the bundle cross one another in the axial direction of the housing, in accordance with the known static mixer principle. In this design, the mixing tubes have a round to elliptical flow-facing cross section, and the tubes are inclined at an angle with respect to the product flow, so that there is only a slight distributing diversion or mixing of the product flow whose temperature is to be controlled. Since flow-facing round profiles have a low mixing action, a homogeneous temperature distribution in a high-viscosity product flow cannot be achieved to a sufficient extent over a short distance.
The length of the meandering tube bundle which can be plugged in is always a multiple of the housing hydraulic diameter. On account of their elongated length, the meandering bent tubes have a large heat-transfer surface area. The liquid heat-transfer medium, which releases its energy via the tube bundle around which the product flows, is supplied and discharged through the connecting flange. Particularly when the temperature of viscous substances, which have heat-insulating properties, is being controlled, the large heating surface area cannot be utilized effectively, since the internals do not have a good mixing action.
The bent plug-in tube bundles are susceptible to large pressure gradients. During starting-up operations or in the event of a product blockage caused by highly viscous products, high pressure gradients occur, and consequently the meandering bent heating/cooling tubes are subjected to tensile or compressive loads in the direction of flow of the product and are stretched. The inner heat-transfer internals of the apparatus tend to be deformed in the process, and further control of the temperature of the product is then no longer possible, on account of the absence of diversion of the product. The undesired stretching of the tube bundle is irreparable and may lead to the plant having to be shut down, with high downtime costs.
On account of the ideally elongated length of the individual tube and the small cross section of flow, the temperature-controllable meandering tube bundle has a high pressure loss and a long residence time on the temperature-control side. The combination of the two, i.e. pressure loss and residence time of for example the temperature-control medium in the meandering turns, leads to considerable differences between the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature and reduces the mean temperature difference between the product and the heat transfer media, which is important for heat transfer, significantly. Consequently, the heat-transfer performance of meandering tube bundles of this type is low. In practice, a plurality of tube bundles are often connected in series, and this in turn increases the investment costs, the pressure loss, and the residence time of the substance whose temperature is to be controlled (i.e., the product) and also increases the outlay on assembly.
A uniform and gentle control of the temperature of highly viscous, single-phase or multiphase product flows combined, at the same time, with a short residence time cannot be achieved with the known systems, such as for example static mixers with heatable housings or the temperature-controllable meandering tube bundles.
A need therefore exists for a static mixer whose temperature can be controlled and which has heating passages in the product flow and good mixing properties. Such temperature-controllable static mixers are to have a low pressure loss on the heat-transfer medium side, so that it is possible to reckon on large temperature differences with respect to the temperature-controllable product flow. Furthermore, it is desirable to be able to apply such apparatus concept to large housing hydraulic diameters. An additional improvement with regard to high robustness with respect to mechanical effects, with respect to high pressure gradients and the option to use various thermally conductive and corrosion-resistant materials, in order to satisfy different product demands, would also be advantageous.
There are further demands which must be met with regard to successful adaptation in order to achieve different process-engineering objectives in terms of a low pressure losses on the side which is in contact with product and on the temperature-controlled side, a high mixing capacity, a low residence time spectrum on the product side, a large temperature-control surface area and a high heat transfer capacity. The apparatus is to have significant advantages for use with viscous to highly viscous substances (viscosity 0.001 to 20,000 Pa·s).
The mechanical stability during start-up operations or during assembly is to be increased, so that higher operational reliability can be achieved.
The desired apparatus would advantageously be in the form of a compact heat exchanger which could be installed in production facilities with a low installation outlay and low production costs.
To summarize, it is an object of the invention to provide a static mixer/heat exchanger which avoids the drawbacks of the designs known in the prior art, which allows significantly improved control of the temperature, combined with a smaller apparatus volume, reduces the production costs of the apparatus and has a higher robustness, operational reliability and service life than known heat exchangers.


Compositions and methods for treating inflammatory disease and for modulating the immune system are described. The compositions and methods pertain to the use of a combination of N,N-dimethylglycine and a component derived from the mussel Perna canaliculus to achieve synergistic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects.

This invention relates to the use of N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG) in combination with at least one component derived from Perna canaliculus to modulate immune responses and to treat inflammatory diseases in man or animals.
N′N-dimethylglycine (DMG), which is a tertiary amino acid, is an intermediary metabolite found in low levels in many foods. It is produced in the body from choline and has been used as a non-fuel nutrient. The physiological and potential therapeutic effects of N,N-dimethylglycine have been evaluated in recent years. References in the literature pertaining to N,N-dimethylglycine and its potential uses include the following: Graber et al., 1981, J. of Infectious Diseases 143:101–105 (DMG stimulation of both humoral and cellular immunity); Kendall and Graber, U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,068 (discusses DMG alleviation of the effects of excess radiation on the immune system); the 1980 Pacific Slope Biochemical Conference, a paper entitled "Decrease of Lactic Acid Concentration in Blood of Animals Given N,N-Dimethylglycine"; March, 1982 issue of Equine Practice, an article entitled "Effect of a Nutritional Supplement Containing N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG) on the Racing Standardbred" (DMG increased oxygen utilization and thereby decreased lactic acid levels in animals under extreme stress); November-December, 1982 issue of Canine Practice, an article entitled "A Clinical Evaluation of N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG) and Diisopropylammonium Dichloroacetate (DIPA) on the Performance of Racing Greyhounds"; February, 1987 issue of Let's Live magazine, an article entitled "Dimethylglycine Update, New Studies Confirm DMG Improves Health" (DMG as an immunomodulating agent); February, 1987 issue of Health Consciousness, an article entitled "N,N-Dimethylglycine and the Immune Response" (DMG as an immunomodulating agent); 1987 ASM Annual Meeting, a paper entitled "The Effect of DMG on the Immune Response of Rabbits" (DMG as an immunomodulating agent); Jun. 27, 1987 issue of The Blood Horse, an article entitled "DMG, Properties and Proprieties" (in humans, DMG stimulated B-cells to produce much higher antibody responses, and DMG enhanced the activity of T cells and macrophages); Kendall et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,492 (treatment of melanoma using DMG); Kendall and Lawson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,728 (treatment of arthritis and inflammation using DMG); Kendall and Lawson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,618 (use of DMG to enhance antibody production).
The use of preparations made from Perna canaliculus for therapeutic effect extends back at least twenty-five years since the mid-seventies. The nutritional and therapeutic properties of freeze-dried Perna canaliculus in alleviating the symptoms of arthritis were reported in Croft, 1979, Relief From Arthritis (Thorsons Publishing Group, Rochester, Vt.). Studies in both animal and human experiments have given mixed results, but indicate overall that certain components in the mussels were potentially helpful in relieving inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. Certain of these studies are as follows: McFarlane, June 1975, New Zealand Medical Journal, pg. 569 (the results of a study of the effects of a Perna canaliculus product called "Seatone" on a small group of arthritic individuals were reported); Rainsford and Whitehouse, 1980, Arzeim-Forsch, pg. 2128–2131 (a freeze-dried powdered preparation of whole mussel which ws given orally to rats showed some modest anti-inflammatory activity in an induced rheumatoid arthritis model); Miller and Ormrod, 1980, The New Zealand Medical Journal 92:187 (a crude fraction of Perna canaliculus had a marked anti-inflammatory effect when administered by intra peritoneal injection in rats); Couch et al., 1982, The New Zealand Medical Journal 95:803 (a protein containing fraction of Perna canaliculus had an anti-inflammatory effect); Caughey et al., 1983, European Journal of Rheumatology and Inflammation 6:197 (in a human study involving forty-seven rheumatoid arthritic patients, no improvement was observed in patients given mussel extract as compared to patients taking the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen); Gibson et al., 1980, Practitioner 224:955 (93:111 (in human trials for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, significant benefits were achieved after three months on a Perna canaliculus preparation, including reduced pain and stiffness and improvement on functional tests); Audeval and Bouchart, 1986, Gazette Medicale 93:111 (in human trials for osteoarthritis, forty percent of subjects showed significant improvement after treatment with a Perna canaliculus preparation); Miller et al., 1993, Agents Actions 38:139 (an aqueous fraction of Perna canaliculus inhibited experimentally induced inflammation in rats); Whitehouse et al., 1997, Inflammopharmacology (a lipid extract of Perna canaliculus exhibited a dose related anti-inflammatory activity).

Methods and compositions for modulating immune response and for the treatment of inflammatory disease


A smoke generating system is provided for making a household appear inhabited. The household is equipped with an outlet. Next provided is a smoke generator for generating smoke and expelling the same from the outlet of the household.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to smoke generators and more particularly pertains to a new household smoke generator for abating the threat of a burglary of a household by simulating inhabitation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of smoke generators is known in the prior art. More specifically, smoke generators heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art smoke generators include U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,525; U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,318; U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,545; U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,583; U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,574; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 315,617.
In these respects, the household smoke generator according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of abating the threat of a burglary of a household by simulating inhabitation.


A method for modifying an upper layout for an upper layer of an IC using information of a lower layout for a lower layer of the IC, the method including 1) receiving the upper layout containing features and modifications to features, 2) producing a density map of the lower layout having geometry coverages of sub-regions of the lower layout, 4) selecting a feature in the upper layout, 5) retrieving, from the density map, the geometry coverage of a sub-region below the feature, 6) determining a vertical deviation of the feature using the geometry coverage, 7) determining an alteration to the modification using the vertical deviation, 8) applying the alteration to the modification, and 9) repeating for all features. In some embodiments, the upper layout is designed using a library of pretabulated models, each model containing a modification to a feature calculated to produce a satisfactory feature on a wafer.

An integrated circuit ("IC") is a device (e.g., a semiconductor device) that includes many electronic components, such as transistors, resistors, diodes, etc. These components are often interconnected to form multiple circuit components, such as gates, cells, memory units, arithmetic units, controllers, decoders, etc. An IC includes multiple layers of wiring that interconnect its electronic and circuit components. Traditionally, IC's use preferred direction ("PD") wiring models, which specify a preferred wiring direction for each of their wiring layers. In preferred direction wiring models, the preferred direction typically alternates between successive wiring layers.
One example of a PD wiring model is the PD Manhattan wiring model, which specifies alternating layers of preferred-direction horizontal and vertical wiring. Another example of a PD wiring model is the PD diagonal wiring model, which specifies alternating layers of preferred-direction diagonal wiring. The PD diagonal wiring model can allow for shorter wiring distances than the PD Manhattan wiring model and can decrease the total wirelength needed to interconnect the electronic and circuit components of an IC.
Design engineers design IC's by transforming logical or circuit descriptions of the IC's into geometric descriptions, called layouts. To create layouts, design engineers typically use electronic design automation ("EDA") applications. These applications provide sets of computer-based tools for creating, editing, and analyzing IC design layouts. IC layouts include geometric representations of IC elements that are to be fabricated on a wafer, such as IC components, interconnect lines, via pads, etc. As such, IC layouts typically include several geometries such as (1) circuit modules (i.e., geometric representations of electronic or circuit IC components) with pins, (2) interconnect lines (i.e., geometric representations of wiring) that connect the pins of the circuit modules on a same layer, and (3) vias (i.e., geometric representations of non-planar wiring) that connect the pins of the circuit modules across different layers.
To fabricate an IC after designing of the IC layout is completed, a lithographic plate (photomask) is created based on the IC layout so that the photomask contains the various geometries of the IC layout. The various geometries contained on the photomask represent the IC elements (such as IC components, interconnect lines, via pads, etc.) to be created on a wafer in a particular circuit pattern, the wafer forming the base of the integrated circuit. The wafer will typically have a protective insulation layer and a light-sensitive photoresist layer placed on top. A light source and lens are used to focus light through the photomask onto the photoresist layer of the wafer so that selected areas of the photoresist layer are modified (typically weakened or strengthened). In doing so, the circuit pattern represented on the photomask is "imprinted" on the photoresist layer of the wafer. The modified areas of the photoresist layer (as well as the insulation layer beneath) is then etched away to produce the IC elements of the desired circuit pattern. Through multiple stages of designing, photomasking (lighting), and etching, multiple layers of the IC are created.
Typically, however, there is substantial disparity in the geometries as originally designed in the IC layout (and replicated on the photomask) and the resulting fabricated geometries actually produced on a wafer through the photomasking and etching processes. The disparity between the geometries designed in a layout and the resulting fabricated geometries is largely due to the fact that, in recent years, geometry dimensions have become smaller than the wavelength of light used in the photomasking process, thus making accurate reproduction of geometry dimensions problematic. In response, various optical methods, such as Resolution Enhancement Techniques (RET), have been developed to allow more accurate reproduction of geometry dimensions at sizes smaller than the wavelength of light used in the photomasking process. Use of Resolution Enhancement Techniques in IC fabrication, however, do not guarantee that geometries actually fabricated on a wafer will resemble (within a predetermined toleration threshold) the geometries originally designed in an IC layout.
Disparity between a geometry designed in a layout and the resulting fabricated geometry is also caused by diffracted light that strikes the geometry from surrounding geometries, the light being diffracted off the surrounding geometries during the photomask processing of the surrounding geometries. This diffracted light can cause distortions or inaccuracies in the appearance of a geometry with which it makes contact. As such, with or without the use of RET, there is a degree of unpredictability in the fabrication of geometries on a wafer.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the variation that may result between an original geometry 105 as designed in an IC layout (and replicated on a photomask) and a fabricated geometry 120 actually produced on a wafer. In the example of FIG. 1, the original geometry 105 has five features of interest that are indicated by dots: four corner features 110 and one line-point feature 112. As shown in FIG. 1, the fabricated geometry 120 has four rounded corners 125 and a curved line segment 127. Typically in IC fabrication, the corners 125 of a geometry 120 produced on a wafer will have substantial error (i.e., will differ substantially from the corners 110 of the original geometry 105). Also, line segments of a fabricated geometry 120 can also have substantial error and be curved instead of straight, as shown in the example of FIG. 1.
Conventionally, modifications are made to geometries in the IC layout (and replicated on a photomask) to adjust for the errors in the resulting geometries fabricated on the wafer. FIG. 2 shows an example of modifications (correcting shapes) 230 placed on the original geometry 105 and a fabricated geometry 235 actually produced on the wafer. As shown in FIG. 2, the modifications 230 are placed at the corner features 110 of the original geometry 105 which produces less rounded corners 240 in the fabricated geometry 235. A modification 230 is also placed at the line-point feature 112 of the original geometry 105 which produces a less curved line segment 242 in the fabricated geometry 235. Note that although the fabricated geometry 235 produced through use of the modifications 230 is closer in appearance to the original geometry 105, there is still some disparity between the fabricated geometry 235 and the original geometry 105. Typically, modifications are made to original geometries to produce only satisfactory resulting geometries that are within an allowable threshold of variance from the original geometries.
Presently, there are two methods for creating modifications to original geometries in layouts. The first is a simulation-based approach where initial modifications are made to an original geometry in a layout and a computed simulation is performed on the original geometry to produce a simulated geometry. The simulated geometry is used to judge whether the modifications to the original geometry are satisfactory or not. If the modification to the original geometry has not produced a satisfactory simulated geometry, the modification is adjusted (e.g., made larger or smaller) and another simulated geometry is produced. This process is iterated until a satisfactory simulated geometry is produced. The simulation-based approach, however, requires that every geometry in a layout be iteratively simulated until a satisfactory geometry is produced. Considering that there may be billions of such geometries on a single layout, this approach can be very time intensive.
The second approach is a rule-based approach where modification rules are typically developed by an IC designer by hand. Such rules define what modifications are to be made to geometries in different situations. Although the rule-based approach is not as time-intensive as the simulation-based approach, a large number of rules must be developed to cover the various situations that may arise in an IC layout. Also, each modification rule may be complex and cumbersome to develop and apply.
As such, there is a need for a simple and efficient method for determining a modification to a geometry in layout that is calculated to produce a satisfactory geometry when fabricated on a wafer.

Method and apparatus for designing integrated circuit layouts


A user interface for presenting travel itineraries to a user includes an itinerary region for displaying travel itineraries and a filter region. Each travel itinerary has a corresponding value for a first travel criterion and the travel itineraries are grouped into categories based on the values of the first travel criterion. The filter region includes a plurality of cells, each of which is associated with one of the categories of travel itineraries. When a user selects a cell, the itinerary region displays only travel itineraries in the category associated with the selected cell.

Travel planning systems may be used to search for itineraries that meet a set of criteria submitted, for example, by a potential traveler. The systems produce itineraries and prices by selecting suitable trips or flights from a database of travel carriers, geographic scheduling, and pricing information. Travel planning systems may be computer programs that automate part of the process of identifying the itineraries.
Travel planning systems may display a single list of possible travel itineraries. The traveler browses through the information in the list and compares the details of the different itineraries to select a preferred itinerary. Travelers may have difficulty comparing, discriminating, focusing or assimilating some of the details that are presented in the list.
Many travel systems display travel information on computer systems. Certain travel planning systems may be accessible from remote computer clients over a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet, using a browser such as a web browser. In such travel-planning systems, the itineraries may be formatted in a tag-based format, such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML), or eXtensible Markup Language (XML). The itineraries may include links, such as "hyperlinks" or "links", which cause a browser to display a particular set of data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Graphical user interface for travel planning system


A first value of an operational center frequency of a signal to transmit is determined according to received user input. The operational center frequency is centered within a first band of frequencies and the first band of frequencies has a first bandwidth. A single loop antenna is tuned to match the first value of the center frequency and the single loop antenna is arranged and configured to operate across a second band of frequencies having a second bandwidth. The first bandwidth is less than the second bandwidth. The signal is transmitted from the single loop antenna according to the first value of the operational center frequency to provide a transmitted signal.

Different types of moveable barrier operators have been sold over the years and these barrier operator systems have been used to actuate various types of moveable barriers. For example, garage door operators have been used to move garage doors and gate operators have been used to open and close gates.
Such barrier movement operators may include various mechanisms to facilitate this opening and closing of the barrier. For instance, a wall control unit may be coupled to the barrier movement operator and send signals to a head unit thereby causing the head unit to open and close the barrier. In addition, operators often include a receiver unit at the head unit to receive wireless transmissions from a hand-held code transmitter or from a keypad transmitter, which may be affixed to the outside of the area barred by the barrier or other structure.
In previous barrier operator systems, a transmitter (either portable or positioned at a fixed location) was used to actuate a moveable barrier operator and thereby move the barrier. Some of these transmitters functioned as universal transmitters in that they had the ability to transmit signals at several different frequencies. Generally, these previous universal transmitters used multiple tuned circuits to produce the different frequencies. Some of these previous universal transmitters also utilized mechanical switches in order to switch between the different transmitter circuits. Others of these previous systems used a single tuned circuit to produce the desired frequencies.
Unfortunately, all of the above-mentioned previous universal transmitter systems suffered from problems. For instance, the multi-circuit transmitters were usually expensive to produce because of the need for and use of multiple transmitter circuits. Additionally, previous single-tuned circuits were not very efficient in operation since they were typically low Q-value circuits and, consequently, could not efficiently cover the entire spectrum of frequencies needed by the transmitter, especially when the transmitter was a small, low-power, handheld transmitter. Other previous systems utilized a bulky metal loop antenna, which added undesirable bulk and weight to the transmitter.

Frequency agile antenna system and method


A lithium battery including a positive electrode; a negative electrode including a negative active material layer including a first aqueous binder and a second aqueous binder, the first aqueous binder including a monomer unit; and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the separator including a base material layer and a polymer layer formed on at least one surface of the base material layer, and the polymer layer including a non-aqueous binder including a monomer unit identical to the monomer unit of the first aqueous binder is disclosed.

1. Field
Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to a lithium battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
To comply with a demand for small and high-performance devices, it is important to manufacture small and light-weight lithium batteries. Also, for use in electric vehicles, discharging capacity, energy density, and cycle characteristics of lithium batteries are taken into consideration as important factors. For use in such appliances, lithium batteries with a large discharging capacity and high energy density per unit volume, and excellent lifespan characteristics are required.
A separator is included in a lithium battery to prevent or reduce short-circuiting between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. An organic-based separator melts at a temperature of 200° C. or less. Accordingly, when the temperature of a battery including the organic-based separator is increased due to internal and/or external stimuli, a volumetric change may occur due to shrinking or melting of the separator, and thus, the operation of a battery is stopped.
A typical separator has low adhesion with an electrode. Accordingly, during charging and discharging, the distance between electrodes may increase, and thus, the degree of expansion is substantially increased. Due to the increase in a volume of the battery, the capacity and energy density of the battery per unit volume may be reduced. The substantial volumetric change of the battery may lead to destruction of the separator. Accordingly, lifespan characteristics of a lithium battery including the separator may be decreased.
Thus, there is a need to develop a lithium battery that has a reduced volumetric change resulting from improved adhesion property between a separator and an electrode and improved lifespan characteristics.


Disclosed herein in the embodiments of the present invention are the compounds suitable as modulators of HDL having general formula (1), novel intermediates involved in their synthesis, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The present invention also relates to a process of preparing compounds of general formula (1), their tautomeric forms, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and novel intermediates involved in their synthesis.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that low plasma concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a powerful risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis (Atherosclerosis 1996; 121: 1-12). HDL is one of the major classes of lipoproteins that function in the transport of lipids through the blood. The major lipids found associated with HDL include cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, triglycerides, phospholipids and fatty acids, while other classes of lipoproteins include low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). High LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are positively correlated, while high levels of HDL cholesterol are negatively correlated with the risk for developing cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke and the like.
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a plasma protein that facilitates the movement of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides between the various lipoproteins in the blood (Lipid Res 1993; 34: 1255-74). Among the various factors controlling plasma levels of these disease dependent principles, CETP activity affects all three. The role of this plasma glycoprotein is to transfer cholesteryl ester and triglyceride between lipoprotein particles including HDL, LDL and VLDL. The net result of CETP activity is a lowering of HDL cholesterol and increase of LDL cholesterol, the effect of which is proatherogenic. Thus, inhibition of CETP should lead to elevation of plasma HDL cholesterol and lowering of plasma LDL cholesterol, thereby providing a therapeutically beneficial plasma lipid profile (Medicinal Res Revs 1993; 13: 139-59; Pharma. Therap 1995; 67: 443-447). 4-Carboxyamino-2-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,786. WO 0018721 discloses substituted polycyclic aryl and heteroalyl tertiary-heteroalkylamines with cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibiting activity, compositions and method for treating atherosclerosis and other coronary artery diseases. WO 2005033082 discloses CETP inhibitors and metabolites. US 20050059810 disclose a novel CETP activity inhibitor dibenzylamine compound and its medicinal use. WO 2006013048 describes indole, indazole or indoline derivatives as CETP inhibitors. US2006/122224 discloses quinoline and quinoxaline compounds as CETP inhibitors. WO 2006/072362 reported the use of tetrahydroquinoline derivatives as CETP inhibitors.
Very few compounds which are modulators of CETP are there in the market and looking at the tremendous increase in life style related diseases like atherosclerosis, coronary heart attack etc. and the role CETP plays in their pathophysiological manifestation, there exists a need for providing further compounds which are modulators of the CETP protein. Surprisingly, in preliminary experiments carried out it has been found that the compounds of general formula (1), such as herein described, are modulators of HDL. Such compounds preferably, may also be suitable as inhibitors of CETP.


A high-power semiconductor laser device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first type, a first clad layer of a first type formed on the semiconductor substrate, an active layer of a second type and a clad layer of a second type sequentially stacked on the center of the first clad layer, and a current-blocking layer formed on the first clad layer and covering the whole surface of the active and second clad layers. Thus, crystal growth of a mirror facet is performed along with the formation of the current-blocking layer, thereby decreasing the number of process steps. Also, a II-VI group compound semiconductor having excellent electrical and optical characteristics is employed both on the mirror facet and in the current-blocking layer, so that optical absorption is prevented, which thus enhances the reliability and realizes the high-power operation of the semiconductor laser device.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser device, and more particularly to a high-power semiconductor laser device and fabricating method of the same.
The most serious problem with operating a semiconductor laser device with high-power is internal heat generated during operation. Especially, catastropic thermal runaway occurring on a cut-away plane of the semiconductor laser device is the main reason to restrict the high-power operation.
FIG. 1 illustrates the process of thermal runaway in a cut-away plane of a semiconductor laser device, wherein it can be noted that the thermal runaway results from non-radiative surface recombination and an increase of optical absorption rate on the cut-away plane of the semiconductor laser device. The surface recombination of a III-V group compound semiconductor device is caused by high reaction heat of GaAs under an arsenic trioxide (As.sub.2 O.sub.3) ambient.
Referring to a structure of a conventional non-absorbing mirror-type semiconductor laser device shown in FIG. 2, in order to prevent optical absorption on a cut-away plane of the semiconductor laser device, a crystal growth of n-GaAs 1 is performed via a metal organic chemical vapor deposition, and the periphery of an n-GaAs 1 is etched down to the bottom of an active layer. Then, after performing the crystal growth of a n-GaAs current-blocking layer 2, a P-Al.sub.0.5 Ga.sub.0.5 As clad layer 3, an Al.sub.0.1 Ga.sub.0.9 As active layer 4, and n-Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As guide layer 5, and n-Al.sub.0.5 Ga.sub.0.5 As clad layer 6, and n-Al.sub.0.2 Ga.sub.0.8 As crystal 7, P-Al.sub.0.5 Ga.sub.0.5 As crystal 8 and P-GaAs conductive layer 9 are sequentially formed.
However, such a method neither prevents the occurrence of segregated arsenic atoms which is the main factor in catastrophic optical degradation of a semiconductor laser device, nor effectively restrains optical absorption. Moreover, a problem of a cut-away plane formation due to an etching is involved during processing.


An air purge method in a vehicle is provided. The air purge method comprises starting a vehicle ventilation device in response to ventilation instruction; determining a current air purge status based on an operation time of the ventilation device; and indicating the current air purge status via an air purge indication device.

Gases may be diffused from interior parts of a vehicle. For example, the material forming the vehicle trim panels or other parts may evaporate some organic gases and activities of microorganism may generate gases and suspended particulates and thus create odor. When the vehicle is parked for an extended period, the concentrations of the gases and the suspended particulates increase. When a driver and/passengers enter the vehicle, the odor can become obvious to them because they are used to the fresh air outside and the concentrations of undesired gases/substances reach a certain level. To solve such problem, the U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,656B2 discloses a method to start ventilation function of an air conditioning system of a parked vehicle upon receipt a door unlock signal and a method to cleaning inside air in a passenger compartment by an air cleaning device.
Some vehicles are installed with an air mass sensor to notify a user whether an air purge is needed and an air purge degree. However, the sensor can be costly. The inventors of the present application have recognized that it is beneficial to notify the user the air purge status using a low-cost approach.

Air purge method in a vehicle and an air purge system


A ramp for a pontoon boat on which a boat user can come and go from it without having to get wet. Rotatably attached to the outboard end of the ramp is a cylindrical float which not only keeps the ramp and user afloat but also acts like a roller enabling the ramp to move up on the shore during docking on a typical beach. The ramp includes a support structure attached in most cases to the underside of the boat and a platform slideably connected to the support structure. Rotatably attached to the inboard end of the platform is a rudder which can be turned approximately 90 degrees to the centerline of the ramp. When the rudder is so turned and the boat is in motion, water drag forces acting on the rudder cause the platform to be either extended or retracted relative to the support structure.

The previous application disclosed a floatable ramp for a pontoon boat in which the ramp can be alternately extended or retracted by one of two methods: either manually or with the use of an electric motor. An alternate method in which a rudder is used to extend and retract the ramp is disclosed herein.


A wireless sensor node can obtain (102) a wireless sensor node group affiliation pursuant to an affiliation formation process and then subsequently transmit (103) information regarding that wireless sensor node group affiliation. By one approach this affiliation formation process can comprise, at least in part, using wireless sensor node group affiliation information as corresponds to other wireless sensor nodes. Such wireless sensor node group affiliation information as corresponds to other wireless sensor nodes might be received, for example, directly from that other wireless sensor node and/or via an intermediary wireless sensor node that acts to forward such information from the other wireless sensor node.

Networks comprised of wireless sensor nodes are known in the art. A plurality of wireless sensors may be distributed throughout a building, for example, to monitor various environmental circumstances of interest (such as temperature, humidity, proximal human activity, noise, motion, and essentially any other sensable condition that might occur proximal to such a sensor). In many cases at least some of these wireless sensors comprise stand-alone platforms having only limited power, memory, and computational resources. Challenges often exist, therefore, to ensure useful application of such wireless sensors while also at least attempting to extend the useful operating life of the sensor platforms themselves.
Such platforms also often have a relatively limited transmission range. To illustrate, wireless sensors operating at 2.4 GHz and using IEEE 802.15.4 signaling protocols and in compliance with transmission power guidelines set forth by the United States Federal Communication Commission often have a maximum transmission range of only about 50 meters. To accommodate this situation many networks use a mesh-like solution to permit data to be moved upstream to a collection point via any number of intervening wireless sensors that essentially act as repeaters for downstream wireless sensors.
Many such wireless sensors comprise programmable platforms. This, in turn, permits re-programming and re-tasking of already deployed wireless sensor nodes (sometimes on a relatively regular and frequent basis). In many cases, however, such reprogramming will encompass all wireless sensors as comprise a given network. This, in turn, will typically result in each re-programmed wireless sensor acting in accordance with the newly deployed tasks and behaviors.
Unfortunately, such an approach tends to increase the number of computational and/or transmission events that a given wireless sensor must support and will also typically increase the amount of total time that such a wireless sensor must remain in an active operational state. Such operational circumstances tend to accelerate power usage and hence contribute, sometimes greatly, to diminishing the operational lifetime of a given deployed wireless sensor. This, of course, can be viewed in some cases as the inevitable cost of fielding and operating such a network.
In many cases, however, it is not necessary that all of the wireless sensor nodes as comprise a given network must or should actually act to implement such re-programming. In some cases a given wireless sensor node may not possess the requisite facilities that are necessary to accomplish a given task (for example, a given wireless sensor node may lack a temperature sensor and thus may not be able to effect a temperature measurement task). In some networks such information regarding individual platform capabilities is known and can be leveraged to permit more targeted provisioning of new programming.
In other cases, however, such information may not be known. Furthermore, in many cases the task in question may be best served by wireless sensors that have been fielded in a particular way. As a simple example, when a network includes some wireless sensors that are deployed while exposed to sunlight while others are deployed in permanently shaded areas, this circumstance can be of obvious importance when implementing tasks that require that the wireless sensor be exposed to sunlight. In such a case the re-programming and re-tasking of shaded wireless sensors will generate a waste of resources.
In yet other cases an inordinate amount of redundant task support may result. For example, four wireless sensors may all be capable of supporting a given task and may also all be sufficiently close to one another that each is essentially sensing a same ambient condition. As a result, having all four such wireless sensors re-program themselves and then act in accordance with that new programming can serve to deplete, without good reason, their limited resources.

Wireless sensor node group affiliation method and apparatus


When a probe unit and a sheath unit are coupled to each other, an engaging portion of the probe unit is coupled directly to a vibrator unit through an engaging hole portion if the probe unit is combined with a proper sheath. If the probe unit is combined with an improper sheath, the engaging portion is not allowed to pass through the engaging hole portion. Thus, the probe unit and the vibrator unit can be prevented from being wrongly assembled, and only those parts which wear easily can be replaced. And the same protection system can be applied to an engagement of a sheath unit and a body of ultrasonic surgical instrument.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic surgical instrument capable of incising, ablating, or coagulating organic tissues by utilizing ultrasonic waves.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an ultrasonic surgical instrument for incising, ablating, or coagulating organic tissues by utilizing ultrasonic waves, in general, there is an apparatus that is described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publications Nos. 9-98979, 10-5236, etc. This ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises an elongated insertion section that can be inserted into a patient's body. A sheath portion of the insertion section is provided with a mantle tube. A control section on the hand side is coupled to the proximal end portion of the insertion section. The control section is furnished with an ultrasonic vibrator for generating ultrasonic vibration. An operating section for treating organic tissues is provided on the distal end portion of the insertion section. The operating section is provided with an ultrasonic probe.
A substantially shaft-shaped vibration transmitting member is passed through the mantle tube. The proximal end portion of the vibration transmitting member is detachably connected to the ultrasonic vibrator by means of a screw-type junction. Ultrasonic vibration generated by the vibrator is transmitted to the ultrasonic probe of the operating section by means of the vibration transmitting member.
Further, the operating section is provided with a jaw that faces the ultrasonic probe. The jaw is rockably supported on the distal end portion of the insert section. A holding member portion of the jaw that touches an organic tissue is formed of a resin material such as polytetrafluoroethylene.
A control rod for driving the jaw is fitted in the mantle tube for axial movement. The distal end portion of the rod is coupled to the jaw of the operating section. The operating section is provided with a control handle. This handle is coupled to the proximal end portion of the rod.
As the control handle is operated, the control rod is advanced or retreated in the axial direction. As the rod is moved in this manner, the jaw is opened or closed with respect to the ultrasonic probe. If the jaw is closed, the organic tissue is held between the probe and the jaw. Then, the ultrasonic vibrator is driven in this state. As this is done, ultrasonic vibration from the vibrator is transmitted to the ultrasonic probe by means of the vibration transmitting member. Thus, the organic tissue between the probe and the jaw can be incised, ablated, or coagulated by utilizing ultrasonic waves.
Recently, there has been a demand for the proper use of an appropriate ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the region to be treated and the method of treatment. In this case, the distal end portion of the ultrasonic surgical instrument is expected to have an optimum shape for the region to be treated and the method of treatment. To meet this requirement, a set of ultrasonic surgical instruments of a plurality of types having different tip shapes is completed in advance, and the surgical instruments are used alternatively and properly according to the region to be treated and the method of treatment.
In many surgical instruments for endoscopic surgical operations, parts other than the distal end portion are common to a plurality of types of instruments. A reusable ultrasonic surgical instrument, in particular, can be disassembled into a plurality of units to facilitate cleaning. For example, it can be disassembled into three units, including a sheath unit that has a sheath or a mantle tube of an insertion section and a handle of a control section joined together, a vibrator unit having a vibrator, and a probe unit having a probe.
In order to use an ultrasonic surgical instrument having an optimum shape according to the region to be treated and the method of treatment during an endoscopic surgical operation, the probe unit or sheath unit to be joined to the body of the surgical instrument currently in use must be replaced with a new one when the region or method is changed. In replacing the probe unit, in this case, the probe unit and the sheath unit for proper use must be selected and reassembled after the instrument body is disassembled.
In many surgical instruments for endoscopic surgical operations, however, the insertion section is formed having a small outside diameter to ensure low invasion. Correspondingly, the distal end portion of the insertion section is thin and small. Therefore, it is hard apparently to discriminate the difference in the tip shape. In reassembling the disassembled body of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, therefore, the probe unit and the sheath unit cannot be selected and combined properly. Thus, there is a possibility of the probe unit and the sheath unit being assembled in a wrong combination. Although this mistake should be noticed during operation, in this case, the probe unit and the sheath unit must be joined in a proper combination. Thus, reassembling the ultrasonic surgical instrument body requires extra operating time and results in impeding the surgical operation. If the units are used in a wrong combination, moreover, they cannot fulfill their desired function.


A surgical device which combines cautery and tissue debris conveyance via a combination of suction and an Archimedes screw, the cautery electrode encased within the Archimedes screw, the device comprising a device body housing a motor for rotating the screw, a cannula having an aperture for exposing an instrument, extending from the body portion, and a connector system operatively associated with the body portion, the connector system organized to provide pre-determined relative locations of connection for operably connecting the cannula, a cautery electrode and an Archimedes screw to the device body such the cautery electrode tip is positionable outside the aperture of the cannula and the Archimedes screw is disposed within the cannula in a position for conveying tissue entering the cannula via suction.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,555 ('555) describes an instrument for laparoscopic surgery including an instrument body and a cannula which combines cautery, aspiration and irrigation. The cautery rod is disposed within the cannula and can be manipulated so that it can be exposed (outside the cannula) or retracted to within the lumen of the cannula. The instrument body has finger-operated valves for respective connection to sources of suction and irrigation.


The flash memory cell erase operation performs an erase operation at a first erase voltage for a first erase time. An erase verify read operation is then performed for an increasing sensing time period until either all of the memory cells of the block have a threshold voltage that is equal to or greater than an erased threshold voltage or a predetermined quantity of erase verify operations have been performed. The sensing time period for each subsequent verify operation is increased until a maximum sense time is reached. When the memory cells have all been erased, the erase voltage and erase time corresponding to the sensing time period at which the cells passed is used for further erase operations on the memory block.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), and flash memory.
A flash memory is a type of memory that can be erased and reprogrammed in blocks instead of one byte at a time. A typical flash memory comprises a memory array, which includes a large number of memory cells. Each of the memory cells includes a floating gate field-effect transistor capable of holding a charge. The cells are usually grouped into blocks. Each of the cells within a block can be electrically programmed in a random basis by charging the floating gate. The data in a cell is determined by the presence or absence of the charge in the floating gate. The charge can be removed from the floating gate by a block erase operation.
A typical prior art block erase operation first pre-programs the memory block before an erase operation is performed. The pre-programming reduces the chances of the cells going into a depletion mode. As the cells in a flash memory device get erased, they may get erased to the point where they go into depletion and conduct current even when those cells have a gate voltage of 0 V. This affects the reading of all other cells in their respective columns. By pre-programming the memory, the cells start from a known, programmed state and are therefore less likely to go into an overerased depletion state.
The memory block is then erased. The erase operation is conducted to erase the cells to at least a minimum voltage level. The drain and source connections of the bit lines are all typically left floating as are the select gate drain transistors and the select gate source transistors. The word lines of the block to be erased are at ground potential.
An erase verify read is then performed to determine the success of the erase operation on each cell of the memory block. One such erase verify operation comprises, at least in part, comparing each cell's erase current to a sense amplifier reference current level. During this operation, all of the word lines of the block are held at one predetermined voltage (e.g., 0 V) while the selected bit lines are biased at another voltage (e.g., VCC). A pulse at a predetermined level (e.g., 0 V) is applied to the unselected bit lines. The select gate drain and source transistors are typically at 4.5 V that is typically referred to in the art as Vpass. If the verify operation fails, the erase operation is performed again. If the erase verify passes, the erase operation has been successfully completed.
If a column of cells has only one unerased cell after an erase verify, the prior art erase operation applies additional erase pulses to the entire column. This can overstress memory cells in the column that are already erased and do not require additional erase pulses. The overstressing of the cells can increase their failure rate.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an erase algorithm that reduces the overstressing of memory cells in a flash memory device.

Memory block erasing in a flash memory device


Disclosed is a method for the quantitative analysis of a metal element contained in a resin material, which permits quantitatively analyzing the harmful substance such as lead contained in a resin material, comprising decomposing the resin material within a container having at least the inner surface formed of a glassy carbon in the presence of an aqueous solution of an oxidizing acid, heating the organic residue of the decomposed resin material so as to convert the residue into an ash, and quantitatively measuring the metal element contained in the organic residue converted into the ash.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for quantitative analysis of a metal element such as lead contained in a resin material.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, legal regulations have been enforced over the world, with attention paid to the harmful properties of chemical substances. In the European Community, a legal regulation of Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) for restricting the use of specified substances was enforced in 2006 so as to regulate clearly that six kinds of harmful substances including lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) must not be contained in any electrical or electronic appliances. These legal obligations must be obeyed by not only manufacturers but also enterprises exporting electrical and electronic appliances to Europe. Under the circumstances, it is a serious responsibility that must be assumed by enterprises to grasp accurately the amount of the harmful substance contained in the electrical and electronic appliances and to certify that substances harmful to the environment are not contained in the electrical and electronic appliances.
Known methods of measuring Pb and Cd, which are harmful to the environment, include, for example, BSEN-1122 (2001) (Determination of Cadmium wet decomposition method), which is employed in Europe, and EPA method B (Acid digestion of sediments, sludge, and soils), which is an official regulation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In exporting electrical and electronic appliances to Europe and the U.S.A., it is necessary to measure individually the element specified in these official regulations.
The known methods for measuring the specified element includes, for example, a wet chemical analytical method in which an aqueous solution of an oxidizing acid such as nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or hydrogen peroxide is added to a sample so as to decompose the inorganic material or the organic material forming the matrix of the sample. Also, the sample in the form of a solution is measured in general by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry or an atomic absorption method.
Also, an ashing method using a platinum crucible is proposed as a method for the quantitative analysis of lead in ISO6101-2 Rubber "Determination of metal content by atomic absorption spectrometry".
However, various problems arise in the conventional official regulations referred to above, as pointed out in the following:
(1) The methods specified in the official regulations necessitate troublesome analytical operations, and a long time is required for the decomposition so as to make the methods inefficient.
(2) Since sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid is used in the wet acid decomposition method, lead is partly converted into lead sulfate or lead chloride. In other words, loss of lead is generated, with the result that the measured value is not reliable accurate.
(3) In the ashing method using a platinum crucible, Pb or Cd tends to be lost by the rapid heating so as to lower the accuracy of the analysis.
To be more specific, where the sample is formed of a resin material, particularly, polyvinyl chloride resin containing a large amount of chlorine (Cl), the chlorine contained in the resin is combined with the metal element that is to be measured so as to form a chloride, which tends to be evaporated easily.
Also, in the case of using a platinum crucible, a serious problem arises because platinum forms a solid solution with lead (Pb) that is to be measured. Specifically, Pb is adsorbed on the wall of the platinum crucible. Also, Pb is eluted as an impurity from the platinum crucible, or platinum itself is eluted so as to form a solid solution with Pb to be measured. As a result, an isotope interference (influences of platinum oxides such as 206PtO and 208PtO given to lead isotopes of 206Pb, 208Pb) is brought about in the measuring stage by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with the result that the accuracy of the analysis is lowered.

Method for quantitative analysis of metal element contained in resin material


An exhaust apparatus in an ion implantation system for implanting impurities into a target substrate is used for evacuating an ion source chamber. The exhaust apparatus comprises at least one vacuum pump which does not use working oil for evacuating the ion source chamber, an atmospheric exhaust pipe connected to the vacuum pump for exhausting gas from the vacuum pump; and a device for introducing inert gas into at least one of the vacuum pump and the atmospheric exhaust pipe. The exhaust apparatus includes at least two vacuum pumps comprising a turbomolecular pump and a dry pump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust apparatus in an ion implantation system for implanting impurities into a target substrate to be processed, and more particularly to an exhaust apparatus in an ion implantation system which can lengthen service life thereof and facilitate maintenance thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as an exhaust apparatus for an ion source chamber in an ion implantation system, a combination of an oil diffusion pump and an oil rotary pump has been used. However, because of contamination of the ion implantation system caused by back streaming of oil vapor, the necessity of exchange of degraded oil and safety concerns during the exchange process of the degraded oil as well as the problem of disposal of the degraded oil, such a wet exhaust apparatus which uses oil has been replaced, in recent years, with a dry exhaust apparatus which does not use oil and are made up of a combination of a turbomolecular pump and a dry-sealed vacuum pump (hereinafter referred to as dry pump). Conversion of the wet exhaust apparatus to the dry exhaust apparatus creates a new problem that exhausted substances, particularly solid substances which have been trapped by the oil in the pumps are discharged in large amounts because there is no medium which traps such substances. Typical examples of the substances which are implanted into a substrate to be processed by the ion implantation system are arsenic, boron and phosphorous derived from solid sources. Even if these substances are derived from gaseous sources such as arsine, phosphine and boron trifluoride, most of these substances take the form of simple substance in the ion source chamber, and thus a large amount of solid particles comprised of arsenic, boron or phosphorous are contained in the exhaust gas from the ion source chamber as in the case of solid sources.
There has been no report or information about the behavior of such substances, however, our own studies have revealed the following:
Since boron has a melting point of 2300.degree. C., boron takes the form of solid immediately in the ion source chamber, and although about 10% solid boron adheres to the inner wall of the ion source chamber, about 90% thereof is discharged from the system in the form of fine particles without adhering to the turbomolecular pump and the dry pump. As for arsenic, because the saturated vapor pressure of arsenic at a temperature of 160.degree. C. corresponds to an internal pressure of 10.sup.-5 Torr in the ion source chamber, about 50% of arsenic is sublimed and adheres to the inner wall of the ion source chamber, and the remaining 50% thereof is sublimed and deposited within the exhaust apparatus before reaching the atmospheric exhaust pipe of the dry pump. As for phosphorous, it is likely to be in the form of white phosphorous which has a fairly high vapor pressure even at room temperature, and white phosphorous is sublimated and adheres to both the inner wall of the ion source chamber and the pumps as well as the region in the downstream side of the atmospheric exhaust pipe.
In this way, by using the dry exhaust apparatus, arsenic, phosphorous and boron adhere to various regions in the ion implantation system, which causes the following problems:
First, the adhesion of the above substances to an insulating exhaust pipe causes discharge, frequently resulting in the malfunction of the ion implantation system in a short term.
Second, highly reactive substances such as white phosphorous adhere to the exhaust pipe in the downstream side of the vacuum pump and in the atmospheric condition, thus necessitating hazardous maintenance work.

Exhaust apparatus in ion implantation system


A volatile composition dispenser including a container having a bottom wall and side walls extending circumferentially around the bottom wall to define a reservoir and a perfume composition contained in the container. The side walls have a circumferential inner edge defining a reservoir opening. A reservoir opening plane extends across the reservoir opening and intersects the circumferential inner edge. There is a first depth and a second depth between the bottom wall and the reservoir opening plane, wherein D1 is longer than D2.

A conventional liquid air freshener has a liquid perfume delivery engine housed in a housing wherein the housing has one or more apertures for delivering air freshening benefits. The perfume delivery engine is made up of a container containing a liquid perfume, a foil sealably attached to the container to prevent diffusion of vapor phase from the perfume from the container before use and a membrane arranged within the container for allowing vaporization of the perfume after the foil is ruptured or removed. To manufacture the delivery engine, the container is filled with the liquid perfume and sealed with the foil.
However, when the containers containing the liquid perfume are shaken or caused to shake during manufacturing prior to a process of sealing the container containing perfume with the foil, the movement causes movement of the perfume in the containers which may result in perfume splashed onto surfaces in the container designed for subsequent secondary process steps such as for example, attaching of the foil or further to the container. Still further, the perfume may also splash onto the membrane thereby resulting in scrapping of such delivery engines with membranes with the perfume splash prior to use.
Accordingly, there is a need to have a volatile composition dispenser with improved manufacturability and a method for sequentially filling perfume in a container for a perfume delivery engine at an increased production rate minimizing perfume splash.


A device and a method for measuring viscosity that includes attaching molecular rotors to a solid surface, exposing the solid surface to a fluid having a viscosity to be measured, and taking optical measurements to determine viscosity. The solid surface is preferably quartz, polystyrene or silicate glass, such as a fiber optic probe or a glass cuvette. The molecular rotors are of the type that includes an electron-donor group and electron-acceptor group that are linked by a single bond so that the groups may rotate with respect to one another, and that exhibit a fluorescence emission when rotation is hindered.

Blood and blood plasma viscosity may become abnormal due to a variety of pathologic conditions. While the viscosity of full blood is primarily determined through hematocrit, changes in viscosity are observed in conjunction with various diseases, primarily those associated with altered protein levels. For example, infection, infarction, hypertension, or diabetes may alter plasma viscosity, which in turn may complicate the condition. Protein-induced hyperviscosity may lead to an elevated risk of atherosclerosis. Additionally, one of the adverse effects of smoking is elevated plasma viscosity, which may be the link between cigarette consumption and cardiovascular disease.
Non-pathogenic conditions may also influence blood rheology, including bed rest (e.g., associated with prosthetic implants), pregnancy and aging. Viscosity changes during the aging process may also be attributed to indirect effects, such as age-related changes in habits (e.g., increased smoking or lack of exercise).
Accordingly, using plasma viscosity as a diagnostic tool to allow early detection of diseases is advantageous. Even where there is no direct causal relationship between disease and plasma viscosity, measurement of plasma viscosity nonetheless becomes a crucial element in sever hemorrhage when hemodilution leads to dramatically lowered hematocrit and plasma viscosity plays an important role. Blood expansion with high-viscosity fluids enhances capillary perfusion and thus tissue oxygenation.
Accordingly, for many related purposes, including viscosity-related research, diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, or monitoring of the blood resuscitation process, a viscometer that is capable of fast serial measurement with low volumes is desirable. Mechanical devices for the measurement of fluid viscosity are presently available, but they continue to pose disadvantages such as slow measurements, lack of robustness, the need for meticulous cleaning and susceptibility to operator errors. The most widely used conventional mechanical devices are: the falling-ball viscometers (wherein the time required to produce a result usually measures from between 1 minute and 20 minutes), which have high susceptibility toward uncleanliness and the occurrence of solid particles or air in the fluid; flow-resistance viscometers, such as capillary or Oswald-type viscometers, which need high volumes of fluid and require measurement times in the order of minutes; and cone-and-plate viscometers, which have the same disadvantages of the flow-resistance viscometers.
Additionally, a class of molecules known as molecular rotors have been used to probe fluid viscosity in vitro. Molecular rotors are fluorescent molecules with a quantum yield that is dependent on the free volume—and thus the viscosity—of their environment. Molecular rotors form a twisted internal charge transfer (TICT) complex upon excitation. These molecules have a preferred de-excitation pathway of internal conversion through rotation about a C═C double bond. This internal rotation rate depends on the viscosity of the solvent, leading to a viscosity-dependent quantum yield. For example, 9-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)-julolidine (DCVJ) has been used to probe fluid viscosity in vitro by dissolving the DCVJ in a fluid having a viscosity to be measured, and subsequently observing the fluorescence emission. However, because the rotors are dissolved in the fluid to be observed, the applications are limited to in vitro applications.

Supported molecular biofluid viscosity sensors for in vitro and in vivo use

The Curators of the University of Missouri

The Regents of the University of California


Viscoelastic surfactant (VES) based fluid systems are effective to pre-saturate high permeability subterranean formations prior to a treatment operation that would undesirably suffer from high fluid leakoff. The fluid systems may include brine, a viscosity enhancer, as well as the VES, and a high temperature stabilizer. The stabilizer may be an alkaline earth metal oxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxide, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, Al2O3, and mixtures thereof. The viscosity enhancer may include pyroelectric particles, piezoelectric particles, and mixtures thereof. The fluid system is easy to pump into the formation, and after initial pumping, the fluid system will soak into and occupy or “pre-saturate” the pores of the formation prior to pumping of a second treating fluid for fracturing, gravel packing, frac-packing, and the like. The methods are practiced in the absence of acids typically used in acidizing operations, such as hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid.

In the fracturing of subterranean formations for the production of hydrocarbons, it is common to produce fractures in the formation by pumping a fluid at a relatively high pressure into the formation through a wellbore whereby the formation fracturing pressure gradient is exceeded and fractures propagate from the wellbore into the formation. Nearly any fluid given enough volume and pressure can be used to fracture a subterranean formation. However, fracturing fluids, generally include a viscosifying or gelling agent such as a crosslinked or un-crosslinked polysaccharide material, or a viscoelastic surfactant, to affect the rheology by increasing viscosity and increase the proppant-carrying capability of the fluid.
Using stimulation operations such as fracturing, gravel packing, frac-packing, and combinations thereof in high-permeability formations, that is formations having a permeability greater than 100 millidarcy (>100 md; >10−9 cm2) has generated considerable interest in recent years. Attempts have been made to utilize hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) as a viscosifier in the fracturing fluids for such formations. Unfortunately, HEC and most other polymer gels exhibit high rates of leak off to the formation because they may not build up a satisfactory filter cake with acceptable volumes of lost fluid at permeabilities >100 md (>10−9 cm2). This results in large volumes of fluid being required for each formation treatment. The high fluid loss also makes it very difficult to create a fracture having the desired geometry to maximize hydrocarbon production because the fluid is leaking off into the pores instead of pushing against the rock.
Methods are known for fracturing relatively high permeability subterranean formations (above about 10 md (above about 10−10 cm2) using a fracturing fluid system employing two polymer-gelled fluids. An aqueous fracturing fluid is prepared including a viscosifying agent, such as a borate crosslinked hydroxypropyl guar gel. The crosslinked gel is introduced into a subterranean formation through a wellbore at a rate and pressure sufficient to result in initiation of a fracture in the formation and development of a filter cake to control fluid-loss. The first fluid also may include a quantity of proppant. A second fracturing fluid also is prepared. The second fluid comprises a viscosifying agent and may or may not include a crosslinking agent for the viscosifying agent; preferably not. A proppant is added to the second gel and the fluid is introduced into the formation and into the fracture created by the first fluid. The second fluid functions to carry and transport the proppant into the created fracture and, more importantly, to induce a break of the filter cake formed from the first fluid. The second fluid causes an increase in the leak-off rate of the fluid through the fracture faces which improves the ability of the proppant to pack within the fracture by dehydration of the fracturing fluid. Unfortunately, the use of even one polysaccharide-containing fluid tends to cause formation damage when the filter cake formed is removed. Using two polysaccharide-containing fluid increases this risk.
It would be desirable to provide a method by which a high permeability formation could be successfully stimulated while minimizing the potential for formation and proppant bed damage. This method should still reduce or eliminate the tendency of the fluid to leak off into the high permeability formation to make the overall treatment method more efficient and less wasteful.

Methods of using viscoelastic surfactant gelled fluids to pre-saturate underground formations