A selection circuit for a bipolar ECL memory having memory cell connected to cell selection lines and, more particularly, to upper and lower wordlines. The circuit includes a line driver connected to the upper wordline, an input stage for controlling the line driver to activate the upper wordline connected thereto in response to an address signal, and a switching device responsive to the input stage for applying a discharging current to the lower word line to speed up deactivation of the memory cell in response to a change in the address signal. In one embodiment, the line driver is also turned on at an increased rate for a limited time following application of the address signal to speed up the activation of the line.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to memory devices for high speed digital computers and the like and, more particularly, to a circuit for the selection and deselection of cells in high-performance integrated circuit memories.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor memory chips such as ECL (emitter coupled logic) bipolar memory chips generally have a relatively large number of memory cells which are organized into an array of bits (columns) and words (rows) in which individual ones of the cells can be addressed for the purpose of writing data thereto and reading data therefrom. A 16K bit random access memory, for example, might have 128 rows and 128 columns of memory cells, with all of the cells in a given row being connected to a single wordline and all of the cells in a given column being connected to a bitline pair.
The cells are connected to the respective lines in parallel, and this results in a relatively large capacitive load which can limit the performance of the memory. A line is generally selected and deselected by applying different voltage levels to it, and the capacitance and the magnitude of the voltage swing limit the speed at which the line can swing between the different voltage levels. This limits the rate at which data can be written and read since one cell must be completely deselected before another cell can be selected in order to have valid data.
In an ECL bipolar memory, the falling transition of the wordline is usually the dominant component of the delay, but the rising transition is also a factor. The faster a wordline is pulled down to its "low" potential (deselected state), the sooner another wordline can be selected and valid data written to or read from it.

Memory selection/deselection circuitry having a wordline discharge circuit


The present invention preferably comprises a method and several apparatus embodiments for needle unlocking and disengagement by a single straight-through insertion of the needle to the needle hub, twist unlocking and push through and pull back disengagement. In addition, it is preferable to adapt the relatively small "footprint" of the needle unlocking and disengagement device for placement at the end of a splash and aerosol protective cylinder whereby the external cylindrical body surface of the syringe or vacuum tube adapter lies relatively close to the inside wall of the protective cylinder upon insertion of the syringe or vacuum tube adapter for needle unlocking and disengagement.

The present invention relates to a device for removing hypodermic needles from syringes or similar devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,281 describes a medical container designed to provide a simple method and structure for the disposal of medical needles, of the type for taking blood samples and similar applications. Needles of this type have a steel or metal shank portion through which the blood or liquid is drawn, a plastic collar intermediate the length of the steel shank for releasably engaging a barrel portion with a portion of the needle extending interior to the barrel. The needles are released from the barrel by screwing the plastic collar out of the barrel. The container assists in this operation and includes a needle release area, preferably a sunken recess, which has a needle receiving port having an enlarged area through which the needle and collar may pass and a restricted area for gripping the front portion of the plastic collar hub on the needle. The needle release area is shaped to provide the user with a mechanical advantage by using the barrel portion as a lever, forcing the collar into the restricted area of the needle release area in a manner to grip the collar and hold the same such that the barrel may be rotated to cause release of the needle. After the screw thread of the collar has been released from the barrel, the needle is then passed through the enlarged area, whereupon the needle falls through the enlarged area into the closed confines of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,579 describes a vertically upright box-type outer enclosure including a hinged, lockable front door permitting an upwardly open disposable jar container to be locked internally and aligned with a hole within the top of the box-type enclosure. A cylindrical drop chute fits to the hole and is barrel bolt locked in position with its lower end penetrating the top of the jar. The top of the drop chute carries a slotted needle remover plate, with the slot tapering such that a disposable sharp steel plastic needle holder frictionally fit to the lower end of a syringe barrel is inserted within the slot at its enlarged end, moved transversely within the slot such that the plastic needle holder is captured beneath the needle remover plate. The syringe body barrel is moved upwardly detaching the needle therefrom and permitting it to fall by gravity into the sharps impenetrable, jar type container. The door is periodically opened and the jar and accumulated needles removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,327 describes a limited access closure cover for an opening in a top of a disposable sharps container comprising a frame for securing to the periphery of an open top of a container, an opening in the cover, the opening having the configuration of a cross section axial view of the syringe body, and finger flanges on the syringe body for receiving the axial passage of the body of a hypodermic syringe when angularly oriented to conform thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,767 describes a needle removal/containment and transport apparatus for potentially injurious medical implements, generally comprising a storage and transport housing; a storage container slidably inserted within the housing for receiving and storing the implements; a plastic bag surrounding the container; a needle removal device mounted on the container for threadably disengaging needle/syringe assemblies and depositing the needles into the container; and an entry port formed on the container with a releasably insertable plug member for depositing implements such as syringes, scalpels, etc. into the container. The housing is formed with flap members to permanently seal the container within the housing, yet permit access to the container. The housing is further formed with a cover member to permanently sealingly close the housing for transport to ultimate disposal. The needle removal device comprises a plate member formed with a first receiving slot, and an integral needle engaging member comprising a pair of opposed finger members integrated with a base member to form a stepped slot providing a second receiving slot and a contiguous engaging slot. The first receiving slot is laterally aligned with the second receiving slot at an elevation generally higher with respect thereto. The needle hub is slidably translated through the second receiving slot into engagement with the needle removal device via the engaging slot whereupon the syringe can be rotated relative to the needle hub to unthread the needle from the syringe. The unthreaded needle and syringe are then removed from the engaging slot and translated through the second receiving slot and into the first receiving slot such that the needle hub is disposed on the underside of the plate member permitting the needle to drop into the container. In the event the needle has not been fully unthreaded from the syringe or in the case of a multi-sample needle where the needle can hang-up within the syringe, the needle hub will engage the underside of the plate member in response to upward forces applied to the syringe to act as a stop preventing the needle from being pulled out of the removal device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,462 describes a receptacle including a first recess for receiving the anterior end of the barrel of a conventional double ended needle blood collection tube holder to stabilize the holder during threaded disengagement of the needle. A post is disposed within the recess to prevent rotation of the hub while the holder is rotated to unthread the hub. Upon threaded disengagement, the needle drops into the receptacle, which drop may be augmented by a pair of leaf springs. A second recess in the receptacle receives the collar of a guard supporting a translatable blood collection tube holder, which holder threadedly engages the hub of a double ended needle. A post within the recess can extend within the collar to engage a rib of the hub to prevent rotation of the double ended needle upon rotation of the guard to threadedly disengage the hub from the holder. Upon threaded disengagement, the double ended needle drops into the receptacle, which drop may be augmented by a pair of leaf springs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,156 describes a needle removal and storage device comprising a plate member attachable to a suitable container. The plate member is formed with a an engaging slot defined by a pair of opposed finger members. The engaging slot is laterally aligned with a receiving slot disposed at an elevation generally higher with respect thereto. The needle hub is slidably translated through the engaging slot into engagement with the finger members whereupon the syringe can be disengaged from the needle. The disengaged needle and syringe are then removed from the engaging slot and translated into the receiving slot such that the needle hub is disposed on the underside of the plate member permitting the needle to drop into the container. In the event the needle has not been fully unthreaded from the syringe or in the case of a multi-sample needle where the needle can hang-up within the syringe, the needle hub will engage the underside of the plate member in response to upward forces applied to the syringe to act as a stop preventing the needle from being pulled out of the removal device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,346 describes an improved device for removing used needles from reusable syringes. The device may be operated using only one hand and requires a single downward force applied to the syringe body by the health care worker. At the lower end of the downward stroke, the collar of the needle has been twisted off the syringe body and is automatically deposited into the receptacle for used needles. The health care worker releases the force and the apparatus automatically resets itself to receive another used needle. The device has few parts and may be assembled easily.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,164 describes a disposal container for automatic release of cannulas from a holder and for disposal of the cannulas, and a system for hands-free release of a cannula from a holder. Included is a disposal container having a release aperture formed in the top, the aperture including opposite tapered sides extending into the container. A cannula is mounted in a cannula holder, the holder having at least one depressible lock element extending from the holder. The holder is inserted in the release aperture with the lock element engaging the tapered side, and the holder is then depressed to automatically eject the cannula from the holder. If the cannula is installed in a removable adapter inserted in the holder, both the adapter and the cannula are ejected when the holder is depressed in the aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,877 describes a disposable container closure assembly including a needle removal slot having gear teeth along one side thereof for engaging flutes on a needle hub for rotating the needle relative to a non-rotatable holder passed therealong.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,122 describes a needle disposal system has a blood collection holder with an engaged blood collection needle and a companion biohazard receptacle for disposal of the needle after use. First, the blood collection needle engaged to the holder is irreversibly positively locked upon insertion into respective needle removal device of the biohazard receptacle, thereby preventing withdrawal of the needle from the biohazard receptacle. The needle is then unthreaded from the holder and disposed of inside the biohazard receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,113 describes a disposal container for automatic release of cannulas from a holder and for disposal of the cannulas, and a system for hands-free release of a cannula from a holder. Included is a disposal container having a release aperture formed in the top, the aperture including opposite tapered sides extending into the container. A cannula is mounted in a cannula holder, the holder having at least one depressible lock element extending from the holder. The holder is inserted in the release aperture with the lock element engaging the tapered side, and the holder is then depressed to automatically eject the cannula from the holder. If the cannula is installed in a removable adapter inserted in the holder, both the adapter and the cannula are ejected when the holder is depressed in the aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,315 describes a container lid for a medical storage-disposal container including a slide closure resistant to inadvertent movement from an open position into a fully closed and locked position. The container lid includes a top cover defining a disposal aperture and a laterally oriented depression. The slide closure contains a descending flange configured to engage the top cover depression and lock the slide closure in a fully closed position. An obstructing tab is pivotally coupled to the top cover and projects into the disposal aperture. The slide closure can only be moved into a fully closed and locked position if the obstructing tab is rotated into a non-obstructing orientation. The slide closure further includes protrusions on opposing lateral sides to require application of an affirmative force in order to displace the slide closure from a fully opened position. The slide enclosure further includes a plurality of straight sided apertures to facilitate removal of protective covers from hypodermic needles of varying size. The top cover further includes an aperture intersecting a tapering slot to facilitate removal of hypodermic needles of varying sizes from syringe bodies.
All prior art devices for removing needles from syringes or cannulas must have the function of only temporarily securing a needle hub for unlocking. The speed, ease of use, safety and low cost of the unlocking device are the goals of the well designed needle unlocking devices. It is apparent from the variety of needle unlocking devices that the search for improvements is current and critical in light of the ease of transmission of chronic and life-threatening diseases through pin pricks from needles as well as splashing and aerosolization of the body fluids that can easily occur in the unlocking and disposal motions.

Twist unlock and downward push disengage needle unlocker system


Gaming machines, methods, and systems include gaming chairs integrated with player interface hardware elements in a chair structure and in communication with a game controller. The gaming chairs allow modular assembly and reconfigurability of gaming machines and systems without customized gaming machine cabinetry. Modular pedestals and secondary gaming elements supported on the pedestals may also be provided in combination with the gaming chairs for assembly into different game bank configurations.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to electronic gaming machines and, more particularly, to gaming machines, systems, and methods including gaming machine hardware integrated into a gaming chair for enhanced game presentation and configurability on a game floor.
A conventional gaming machine typically includes a cabinet, one or more game displays mounted to the cabinet, and a player interface supported on the cabinet. Using the player interface, a player can make wagers, enable pay lines, cash-out accumulated credits, prompt a play of the game or make inter-game selections in a game of chance. Accordingly, the player interface typically includes a bill/card/voucher acceptor for accepting and/or validating cash bills, coupons, and ticket vouchers in order to play the game. These bill/card/voucher acceptors may also be enabled to accept player identification cards used in rewards/loyalty programs through which players are enrolled to obtain promotions. These promotions may be things such as gifts, meals or cash back to the player based upon the player's wagering activities tracked via presentment of the player identification card. The player interface may also include a credit or cash-out element for the player to collect any winnings from games played.
Conventional cabinet designs for electronic gaming machines are problematic in some aspects. Improvements are accordingly desired.

Reconfigurable chair-based electronic gaming machines and methods

Aristocrat Techonologies Australia Pty Limited


An apparatus for securing a wafer includes a chuck, at least one O-ring disposed on the chuck, a vacuum system connected to the chuck, such that the vacuum system comprises a plurality of vacuum holes through the chuck connected to one or more vacuum pumps, and a controller configured to control the height of the at least one O-ring relative to the top surface of the chuck. The controller is connected to pressure sensors capable of detecting a vacuum. The at least one O-ring may include a plurality of O-rings.

The semiconductor industry has experienced rapid growth due to ongoing improvements in the integration density of a variety of electronic components (e.g., transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc.). For the most part, improvement in integration density has resulted from iterative reduction of minimum feature size, which allows more components to be integrated into a given area. In the processing of semiconductor wafers, warpage and stiffness of the wafers may occur. This wafer warpage and stiffness can increase the difficulty of securing wafers in place during semiconductor fabrication processes.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY,  LTD.


A method for producing a compound semiconductor single crystal by a liquid encapsulated Czochralski method, including containing a semiconductor raw material and an encapsulating material in a raw material melt-containing portion having a first crucible having a bottom and a cylindrical shape and a second crucible disposed within the first crucible and having a communication hole communicating with the first crucible in a bottom portion thereof; melting the raw material by heating the raw material melt-containing portion; and growing a crystal by making a seed crystal contact with a surface of the raw material melt in a state covered with the encapsulating material and by pulling up the seed crystal. A heater temperature is controlled so that a diameter of a growing crystal becomes approximately equal to an inner diameter of the second crucible, and the crystal is grown by maintaining a surface of the growing crystal in a state covered with the encapsulating material until termination of crystal growth.

Presently, a ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal is deemed as a promising crystal which can be applied to a pure green light-emitting element.
In general, the ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal is produced by a vapor phase epitaxy method in which a ZnTe polycrystal as a raw material disposed at one end in a quartz ampoule is heated to be sublimed at a temperature around a melting point thereof, and a ZnTe single crystal is deposited on a substrate arranged on an opposite side of the ampoule. This method makes it possible to obtain a rectangular ZnTe single crystal substrate of approximately 20 mm×20 mm at the maximum. Recently, to further enhance the light-emitting characteristic of the crystal as a light-emitting element, it has been devised to increase the electrical conductivity of a crystal, and a method of adding an impurity, such as phosphorus, arsenic or the like, to the crystal is carried out, as the method for increasing the electrical conductivity.
Further, it is also possible to make use of the vertical Bridgeman (VB) method or the vertical gradient freezing (VGF) method to grow a ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal. In the VB method and the VGF method, since an impurity can be added during crystal growth, these methods are advantageous in that it is easy to control the electrical conductivity of a crystal through addition of an impurity to the crystal. Further, it is also devised to cover the liquid surface of a raw material melt with an encapsulating material so as to prevent an impurity from being mixed into the melt from above to inhibit forming of a single crystal, and to suppress temperature fluctuation in the melt.
However, in the case of growing a ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal by the vapor phase epitaxy method, it is difficult to add a desired impurity during crystal growth, and hence difficult to control the resistivity of the ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal. Further, in the vapor phase epitaxy method, the growth rate of a ZnTe crystal is extremely slow, and hence it is difficult to obtain a single crystal having a sufficient size, which results in low productivity.
Moreover, even if a relatively large substrate of approximately 20 mm×20 mm can be obtained by growing the ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal, the low productivity makes the substrate very expensive, which offers a barrier to development of devices using the ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal.
For the above reasons, production of the ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal by the vapor phase epitaxy method is not practical as a method for industrial production.
On the other hand, in production of the ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal by the VB method or the VGF method, it is possible to grow a large-sized crystal, but since the crystal is grown by being cooled in the state covered by the encapsulating material, a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the encapsulating material and the growing crystal often causes cracking in the crystal.
Further, in the LEC method, similarly to the VB method and the VGF method, it is also possible to add an impurity, and hence the LEC method is advantageous in that it is easy to control the electrical conductivity of a crystal through addition of an impurity to the crystal. However, almost no example has been known so far in which a large-sized ZnTe compound semiconductor single crystal is grown by the LEC method.
An object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a compound semiconductor single crystal, which is capable of growing a large-sized ZnTe system compound semiconductor single crystal or other kinds of compound semiconductor single crystals while maintaining excellent crystal quality.

Production method for compound semiconductor single crystal


The present invention provides a fiber Bragg Grating sequential writing method with real-time optical fiber position monitoring, characterized in that the relative phase between a fiber grating and a writing interference beam at each positioning point is determined by an interferometric side-diffraction method, and writing is sequentially performed. Accuracy in fabricating a long and complex fiber grating structure can be increased by decreasing or avoiding accumulative errors caused by long-term scan of monitoring optical fiber position, or by a means for fabricating a wanted reference fiber Bragg grating with similar settings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel method for fabricating a fiber Bragg grating, which can increase the accuracy to fabricate a long and complex fiber grating structure. Especially, a fiber Bragg grating having a complex variance in refractive index and arbitrary phase shift is a very important optical communication element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, several methods for fabricating a long and complex fiber grating structure, such as moving-fiber-scanning-beam method and sequential writing method, are continuously proposed. In these methods, a He-Ne laser interferometer is used to monitor the fiber position during the execution of UV-writing. However, the accumulative position reading errors due to the drift of the interference fringe of the interferometer and the inaccurate grating period estimation have caused significant influences on the fabrication of a long fiber Bragg grating (FBG) structure.
For example, Taiwanese Patent No. 434,431 discloses a method for writing arbitrary refractive index disturbances into a waveguide, which writes a movable waveguide directly by using beam and in a single-point way. The above-mentioned method varies refractive index along the waveguide simply by controlling the moving speed of the waveguide. However, the method is suitable only for a long-period fiber grating, not for a short-period fiber Bragg grating.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,834,977 and 6,813,079 disclose that a fiber grating is written into an optical fiber by sequential exposure to UV beam section by section through a phase mask, and an interferometer is used to monitor the position of each positioning point of a translation stage. However, the method for monitoring a written position of the optical fiber by using an interferometer causes the problem of the above-mentioned accumulative errors, and the period of a writing beam needs to be precisely calibrated in advance.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,261 uses a principle in which luminescence is generated by exposing an optical fiber to UV beam. In the Patent, a small grating section is previously exposed, the intensity of the luminescence is detected for the use of feedback, and then a connected grating being long and having no discontinuous phases is formed. However, this method cannot have a phase shift arbitrarily inserted. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,753,118 and 6,801,689 both have the same disadvantage caused by a method in which a grating is written by repeated exposures section by section with a feedback compensation, and a modified amount is calculated by a grating spectral response obtained after writing. However, this method is not easy to be monitored in time, and is suitable for grating modification after writing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,622 discloses that UV beam is additionally exposed to a specific position so as to adjust refractive index, leading to an additional phase shift. However, a second scan is needed, more time is taken, and a wanted phase shift cannot be easily obtained section by section.
M. J. Coke, et al. issues a paper entitled "Moving Fiber/Phase Mask-Scanning Beam Technique for Enhanced Flexibility in Producing Fiber Gratings with Uniform Phase Mask," Electronics Letters, Vol.31, No. 17, 1488 (1995) 1490, in which a grating is written into an optical fiber by moving the optical fiber or a phase mask. However, the length of a fiber grating fabricated by this method is limited to the length of the phase mask, and thus, the sharpness of a written pattern is affected by the limitation of moving speed.
Adel Asseh, Heleg Storoy, et al. issues a paper entitled "Writing Technique for Long Fiber Bragg Grating with Complex Reflectivity Profile," Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 15, No. 8, 1419 (1997) 1423, in which a grating is written by repeated exposures section by section, and an interferometer is used to monitor the position of each positioning point of a translation stage. However, the writing beam is a pulse UV-light laser, and can introduce the problem of extra noise.
Ingemar Petermann et al. issues a paper entitled "Fabrication of Advanced Fiber Bragg Gratings by Use of Sequential Writing with a Continuous-Wave Ultraviolet Laser Source," Applied Optics, Vol. 41, No. 6, 1051 (2002) 1056, in which a grating is written by repeated exposures section by section, and an interferometer is used to monitor the position of each positioning point of a translation stage. Although the writing beam is a continuous UV beam, the method of monitoring the written position of an optical fiber by using an interferometer can cause the problem of accumulative errors, and the period of a writing beam needs to be precisely calibrated in advance.

Method for sequentially writing fiber Bragg grating by using real-time side-diffraction optical fiber position monitoring


A system includes a first device and a second device interconnected with a point-to-point link and operable to transmit data to each other via the point-to-point link. The first device is operable to provide data credits to the second device which facilitate transmission of the data to the first device via the point-to-point link in a plurality of virtual channels. First ones of the data credits are derived from a plurality of shared data credits each of which is operable to facilitate transmission of the data in any of the virtual channels. Second ones of the data credits include a plurality of dedicated data credits each of which is operable to facilitate transmission of the data in a corresponding one of the virtual channels.

The present invention relates to data transmission in tightly coupled point-to-point system architectures and, more specifically, to credit based links in such architectures.
Point-to-point architectures are fast gaining acceptance as higher bandwidth alternatives to traditional bus architectures in tightly coupled systems. In such systems, individual devices or nodes may be interconnected in a variety of topologies using single or pairs of unidirectional point-to-point links between the devices. An example of such a system is a multiprocessor computing system in which processing nodes communicate with each other and system memory via such an architecture. One such point-to-point architecture is the HyperTransport™ architecture pioneered by AMD of Sunnyvale, Calif.
In some point-to-point systems, the transmission of data between two devices over a particular point-to-point link may be facilitated using a credit based approach. According to such an approach, data credits are provided to the transmitting device indicating that the receiving device is ready to receive some unit of data, e.g., a packet. The number of data credits typically corresponds to the amount of buffer space available in the receiving device to store data for consumption by the receiving device. When the transmitting device is ready to transmit data, it determines whether it has any data credits and, if so, decrements a credit counter and transmits the data to the receiving device. The receiving device typically releases the data credit back to the transmitting device (which then increments its credit counter) when the transmitted data is consumed from the buffer.
The latency associated with the transmission of a particular data packet and the subsequent return of the corresponding data credit may be understood with reference to the diagram of FIG. 1. The diagram illustrates an exemplary latency associated with a receiving device RX A consuming a 64-byte data packet and then returning the corresponding data credit to a transmitting device TX B. Assuming the numbers shown for transmitter, receiver and internal device latencies results in a total loop delay of approximately 324 ns. Further assume that the link between the devices is a 3.2 GB/second link. In order to "hide" the loop latency, i.e., allow the link to operate at full bandwidth without stalling, sufficient buffer space to store 1036 (324×3.2) bytes of data must be provided in the receiving device RX A, e.g., seventeen 64-byte buffers.
Devices in point-to-point architectures may employ a data transmission protocol which transmits data in different "virtual" channels. That is, at the protocol level, data packets are segregated and handled differently for a variety of purposes. In general, virtual channels are set up such that none of the virtual channels is allowed to stall as a direct result of another virtual channel stalling. This is accomplished by having dedicated buffers for each virtual channel. That is, each buffer and its corresponding data credit is dedicated for the transmission and storage of data packets in a particular virtual channel. And because the receiving device cannot predict the distribution of data traffic over the different virtual channels, if full bandwidth operation is to be supported for every virtual channel, the data credits and corresponding buffer space required for full bandwidth operation must be replicated for each virtual channel. This accounts for the condition in which all of the data are being transmitted in a particular virtual channel. So, for example, if the system of FIG. 1 had three virtual channels, full bandwidth operation would require 51 buffers rather than 17.
In the example of FIG. 1, each data credit requires a 512 bit buffer array in the receiving device, a significant expense in chip area. In addition, larger arrays tend to have longer access times. This forces the designer to make design choices that may limit performance on some virtual channels in order to fit the data buffer in either the chip area or the timing constraints. It is therefore desirable to provide techniques which mitigate or avoid the negative consequences associated with such design choices.

Data credit pooling for point-to-point links


A system, method and computer program product are provided for network-based information management. A first habitat is initiated. The first habitat has markers that are utilized for identifying information selected by a user. The information associated with the markers is retrieved and displayed on an information screen of the first habitat utilizing a network. Multiple users are allowed to view the information screen of the first habitat. A second habitat is also allowed to access the first habitat for retrieving information from the first habitat.

Information on the web exists in the form of hyperlinks that appear in different web sites. A news site for example may contain headlines that are hyperlinks to their detailed exposition. Custom Internet portals to display web-centric information exist (e.g., myYahoo, myLycos etc.). The level of customization is however, fairly minimal. In typical portals, the user chooses from a pre-determined set of headlines collected from a predetermined set of web-sites. The user has no control over either the web-sites he/she gets the content from or the headlines that are taken from those web-sites. Further, the user has very little control over how the information is presented.
For example, if the user is interested in Indian politics, Soccer, Cricket, and Semiconductor High Tech companies, myYahoo allows the user to configure Yahoo's news source to filter through news on these topics. However, the user must take all this content strictly from Yahoo-selected content providers. This arrangement prohibits users from choosing not just the type of content but the source of the content as well. While, for example, a user may want to be able to receive world politics news from his two favorite Indian news dailies every morning, get his Hi-Tech news coverabe from Red Herring and Cnet, and get sports news from Cricket.org and dailysoccer.com, access to all these sites through a prior art internet portal would be predicated on the Internet portal offering access to all of the particular site via that particular portal.
What is needed is a method that allows the user to completely configure both the source and content that he/she wants on his/her own portal as well as allow others to access the portal. What is further needed is communications between portals of various users.

Method and computer program product for customized information management by allowing a first habitat to access other habitats to retrieve information from the other habitats


A blood conditioning device having a housing with a helical blood acceleration section which includes a helical flow path for impressing centrifugal forces on the entrained bubbles in the blood to concentrate them towards the center of the flow path, a bubble pick off tube aligned with the centerline of the acceleration section which collects and recirculates the bubbles to the cardiotomy reservoir upstream of the device during operation, and a blood filtration section to intercept the flow of particles in the blood.

Open heart surgery is performed on a "still" heart. The patient's blood is circulated by an extracorporeal system, which includes a blood pump, a cardiotomy reservoir and an oxygenator. In operation, blood is drawn from the patient and pumped through the oxygenator and then returned to the patient. In many instances blood is scavenged from the surgical site and this recovered blood is added to the system through the cardiotomy reservoir. As a consequence, surgical debris and air bubbles may be introduced into the system at this point and it is important that the particulate debris and bubbles not be administered to the patient.
It is the conventional standard of care to place a so-called "arterial filter" in the blood line to intercept and capture particles and gas bubbles before the blood is returned to the patient's body. Filters of this type capture both gas bubbles and particles on a filter mesh. However conventional arterial filters are problematic. Typically the volume of an atrial filter is large to maximize the ability of the device to collect and hold gas bubbles. Captured bubbles are retained on the mesh during the entire surgical procedure. Each bubble that is retained reduces the filter mesh surface area available for particulate collection. It is possible that a large particle load will increase the pressure drop across the filter. This "clogging" effect can increase the pressure on the captured bubbles and force them though the filter. As a consequence of this problem the size of the physical membrane of the arterial filter is very large to provide a margin of safety. However this increases the surface area in contact with blood which is undesirable and increases priming volume which is undesirable. It should also be noted that the mesh size of a typical filter is inadequate to capture small bubbles. Consequently the conventional arterial filter is not efficient at handling bubbles and it is improperly sized for the typical particulate load.
It must also be noted that blood is a very delicate organ and surface contact, turbulence and pressure drops within the system can injure the blood. These properties of blood must be accommodated as well.


Optically transparent composite materials in which solid solution inorganic nanoparticles are dispersed in a host matrix inert thereto, wherein the nanoparticles are doped with one or more active ions at a level up to about 60 mole % and consist of particles having a dispersed particle size between about 1 and about 100 nm, and the composite material with the nanoparticles dispersed therein is optically transparent to wavelengths at which excitation, fluorescence or luminescence of the active ions occur. Luminescent devices incorporating the composite materials are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to composite materials having dispersed therein optically transparent solid solution inorganic nanoparticles doped with one or more active ions. The present invention also relates to luminescent devices incorporating the composite materials.
Halide salts have received world-wide attention as materials for a myriad of photonic applications. This results from a chemistry in which the ionic species are of generally greater atomic mass and weaker bonding than oxide-based compounds. This intrinsically results in a greatly enhanced theoretical transparency-hence there is substantial interest from telecommunication companies looking for ultra-low loss halide (predominantly fluoride) optical fibers for long-haul communications. When halide materials are doped with luminescent ions (e.g., the rare-earths), the weak bonding between relatively heavy atoms further results in a reduced influence of the host on the dopant, thereby causing radiative emissions. Accordingly, the halides are said to be of low-phonon energy and thereby enabling of a wealth of applications. Pertinent examples are optical amplifiers at the 1.3 μm telecommunications window, upconversion light sources providing virtually any emission across the near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectrum, color display materials (flat panel phosphors and volumetric monoliths), and long-wavelength sources for infrared imaging, atmospheric sensing, and military counter-measures. Collectively, these few applications represent a multi-trillion-dollar-per-year commerce.
Unfortunately, in most cases, conventional processing methods have failed in their efforts to produce optical components such as fibers with the promised near-intrinsic material properties much less expensively. Resultantly, rare-earth doped halide amplifiers are sold on a very small scale by a very small number of companies. Only applications utilizing relatively small-scale consumption of halide materials currently are sought-generally based on the halides' low-phonon energy nature and resultant luminescent properties.
In particular, conventional processing methods have failed to produce significant concentrations of rare earth element ions in metal halide salts. Jones et al. J. Crystal Growth, 2, 361–368 (1968) discloses that the concentrations of rare earth ions in LaF3 crystals grown from a melt is limited to levels ranging from 25 mole percent for samarium (Sm) to less than 1 mole percent for ytterbium (Yb). Only cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr) and neodymium (Nd) are disclosed as being completely soluble in LaF3.
Kudryavtseva et al., Sov. Phys. Crystallogr., 18(4), 531 (1974) disclosed that higher solubilities can be obtained when melt-grown crystals are quenched into water. The disclosed improved solubilities in LaF3 range from 65 mole percent for Sm down to 5 mole percent for lutetium (Lu).
Neither prior art publication discloses the direct preparation of rare earth element doped metal halide salt nanoparticles. A need exists for a method by which such particles may be directly prepared, as well as for materials having increased levels of rare earth element dopants from terbium (Tb) to Lu.
Furthermore, to have a significant optical function where optical transparency is required, light must be able to propagate a reasonable distance with very little of the light attenuated. Optical attenuation is a measure of optical loss and is expressed in units of decibels per unit length. Attenuation is defined on a logarithmic scale, wherein a factor of two difference in attenuation represents a 100-fold difference in intensity.
Prior art phosphor particles are disclosed for use in applications wherein optical transparency is not critical, such as electroluminescent displays, printing inks and biological markers. For purposes of the present invention, an "optically transparent composite material" is defined as a material in which the particles dispersed therein do not scatter wavelengths critical to the end-use application. At the very least, scattering of excitation and emissive wavelength does not occur to the extent that detection of the emissive wavelength for the particular end-use application is impaired. An "optically transparent composite material" may in addition be transparent to visible spectra wavelengths. For example, the transparency required for telecommunications components at conventionally used visible and IR wavelengths differs from that which is considered transparent to the naked human eye. Window glass has an attenuation of 1000 db/km, which is not suitable for telecommunications. The optical fibers used in telecommunications are fabricated from high purity silica glass with an attenuation of 0.2 db/km. Even though both materials are transparent to the naked human eye, only one is suitable for telecommunications.
Optical loss cannot be adequately controlled for telecommunications purposes using prior art phosphor particles disclosed for use in electroluminescent displays, printing inks and biological markers. While particle sizes as small as 100 nm are disclosed, this is the primary size of inorganic particles that agglomerate to form secondary particles significantly greater than 100 nm in diameter. There remains a need for phosphor particles having a dispersed particle size below 100 nm.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Optically transparent nanocomposite materials


A surgical instrument assembly for a snare cauterization operation comprises a tubular member having a diameter sufficiently small so that the tubular member can be inserted through a biopsy channel of a flexible endoscope. Multiple endoscopic instrument including a cauterization loop, a flexible web member connected to the cauterization loop or to an auxiliary loop so as to form a capture pocket, and an elongate flexible fluid feed tube provided at a distal end with a needle point and an aperture, are slidably disposed in the tubular member. The fluid feed instrument is used to expand a flat or nonprojecting polyp prior to severing thereof with the cauterization loop and capture of the severed polyp with the web member or pocket.

In a conventional endoscopic snare operation, an endoscope is inserted into an internal cavity of a patient, e.g., into the colon, and is used to locate abnormal tissue growths such as polyps in the internal cavity. Upon the locating of a polyp or other growth which is to be removed, a wire extending through a tube in the biopsy channel of the endoscope is slid in the distal direction so that a cauterization loop connected to the wire is ejected from the distal end of the tube and the endoscope. The loop and the endoscope are manipulated from outside of the patient to pass the loop over the polyp or growth. The wire is then withdrawn in the proximal direction to tighten the loop around a base region or neck of the polyp. Once the loop is in contact with the base region of the polyp, an electrical current is conducted through the loop via the wire. Generally, as the loop is closed about the base region of the polyp, electrical current is transmitted through the narrowed organic tissues and thereby generates therein heat sufficiently great to cut and cauterize.
Once a polyp is severed by such a snare cauterization technique, it frequently becomes difficult to capture the polyp and retrieve it from the patient. Sometimes the cauterization loop is used in an effort to ensnare the polyp. Other capture techniques involve the use of forceps or the application of suction. In using forceps, the snare cauterization tube is removed from the biopsy channel of the endoscope and replaced with the forceps. In using suction, a vacuum is applied via a suction channel of the endoscope.
No matter which specific technique is used, the polyp frequently escapes from the capturing instrumentality and falls away into the colon (or other cavity). Especially in cases where the polyp is large, the effort and time expended in retrieving the severed polyp may rival or even exceed the effort and time required to locate and sever the polyp. In some cases, the endoscope must be removed without the polyp and the patient given an enema in an attempt to flush out the polyp from the colon.
Furthermore, there are numerous cases where a severed polyp is never recovered. Sometimes, the polyp is macerated during the retrieval attempt. In all such cases, the pathologist is unable to determine whether the polyp contains carcinoma in situ (localized) or infiltrative carcinoma (spread). The patient must then undergo a colon resection sometimes unnecessarily.
In any event, the manipulations necessary to remove a severed polyp generally increase the trauma to the patient, the expense of the surgery and the hospitalization time. There is now a long-felt need to improve the snare cauterization technique to facilitate the capture and retrieval of severed polyps.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,740 to Nakao et al. provides a solution to the above-described problems in polyp removal. Pursuant to the disclosure of that patent, snare cauterization operations are performed with a surgical instrument assembly comprising a tubular sheath member carrying a metallic cauterization loop and a metal wire operatively connected to the loop, the wire passing longitudinally through the sheath. An electrical supply is operatively connectable to the wire, while a flexible web member is connected to the loop to form a capture pocket, the loop defining a mouth opening of the pocket. During use of the snare cauterization loop, the web member is passed over and substantially surrounds a polyp. The pocket captures the polyp at the same time that the cauterization loop is energized to effectuate a severing of the polyp.
This cauterization snare assembly with attached pocket is a substantial advance over conventional polyp removal techniques. However, in some cases, the pocket can obscure the polyp from visualization via the endoscope's optical system, making it difficult to obtain an optimal severing of the polyp. For example, if a polyp is located behind a fold of colonic tissues, it can be difficult to manipulate a cauterization snare to place it around the polyp. If a pouch is attached to the cauterization loop, the pouch may inhibit effective visualization of the polyp, thereby increasing the difficulty of the cauterization snare procedure.
Another problem in the removal of polyps occurs where a polyp lies flat against the wall of the colon or other internal body cavity. In this case it is difficult for the snare to encircle and sever the polyp. Some progress has been made in this regard by injecting saline or other fluid into the polyp, or into a base region thereof. This injection serves to expand the tissues and elevate the polyp from the internal organic wall, thereby facilitating snare use. The polyp injection operation is currently performed by a separate instrument which must be removed prior to the insertion of a cauterization snare.

Surgical retrieval assembly and associated method


A compact, time-saving and efficiency-promoting electronic signaling device that is programmable by its user to display a predetermined sequence of visual signals, corresponding to destinations, where independent and identified tasks are to be performed, such as but not limited to use in merchandise collection for order fulfillment or restocking distribution, multiple steps relating to product manufacture that are performed at different workstations, and office routing of items or documents to multiple locations for needed review and/or approvals. Preferred embodiments have a signal component that during use one-at-a-time displays a series of visual signals with different characteristics, each signal in the programmed sequence coded to identify a specific destination in an office, storage facility, or manufacturing plant. Once a task is completed, the user advances the device to the next task in the programmed sequence. Once all tasks are completed, the device may be user reprogrammed for a next use.

The invention herein relates to electronic devices that alert and inform a user, or multiple users, about a predetermined sequence of destinations, and may also identify one or more tasks or servicing to be performed at those destinations, specifically to a compact, time-saving, and efficiency-promoting electronic signaling device that is programmable by its user to display a sequence of highly visible and easily distinguishable visual signals each coded to correspond to a specific destination in a facility where at least one servicing/task is to be performed by a worker, workers, or the user, such as but not limited to use in merchandise collection operations for order fulfillment, merchandise stocking operations where distribution of items is needed from a receiving dock to 'bulk storage' or 'picking' areas, multiple steps relating to product manufacture that are performed successively at different workstations during the production or assembly of a component or product, and office/other routing of items or documents to multiple locations for review and/or needed approval. Visual signals produced by color programmable light emitting diodes (LEDs) are preferred in the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, but distinguishable visual signals produced in other ways by a conspicuously located and readily visible beacon are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention. If an embodiment of the present invention having an informational display is used, it can be programmed to also identify tasks or servicing to be provided by a worker, workers, or the user at each destination. Embodiments of the present invention without an informational display may travel through a facility accompanied by an article or container, an electronic pad, other small electronic device, written paperwork, or at least one scannable label, tag, or other means associated with an article or container that can be used to identify the tasks and/or servicing required sequentially at the predetermined destinations.
The most preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to business-to-business and business-to-consumer scenarios, and each present invention electronic signaling device has at least one visual signaling component (also referred to in this disclosure as a beacon) that during use of the present invention sequentially displays a series of visual signals with different and easily distinguishable characteristics, such as but not limited to those with different colors, different colors in combination with variations in light intensity, various flashing characteristics, a variety of blinking patterns/arrangements, and/or different solid and blinking patterns/arrangements that include display of more than one color. Each visual signal included in a programmed sequence is coded to identify a specific destination in a business, retail store, office, storage facility, manufacturing plant, or other large facility. Multiple codes for the same destination can be included in any programmed sequence, depending upon the application and need. Advancement from one visual signal in the programmed sequence to the next one in the sequence that is coded for a different destination, is simply accomplished by a worker at each destination after the task or servicing performed there has been completed. The current worker also initiates an appropriate mode of travel to route the present invention device (while displaying its newest visual signal) and an associated container or item to the next predetermined destination, so that the user (or others) can accomplish the next required fulfillment or manufacturing task, or other servicing (such as, but not limited to, merchandise collection for fulfillment of orders, merchandise stocking operations, routing of office documents or items to multiple locations for review and/or approval, and manufacturing steps performed in sequence at different workstations). When a user completes the current task and engages a function control button to advance the device to display a new visual signal, if no new visual signal appears, the lack of signal indicates that all programmed activity has been completed, and the device may then be reprogrammed for a next use.
The present invention electronic signaling device may be transported by a single user through a facility or office to the next destination in its currently programmed sequence (where the next task or tasks are to be performed), with that user conducting the servicing at all of the predetermined destinations stored in the device. If the present invention also has an information display, the task to be performed may also be identified by the device (otherwise the task may be identified in accompanying paperwork, a scannable bar code label or tag, or other suitable means). In the alternative the present invention can be used in a multi-worker application where it is passed from worker to worker after each worker has completed the specific task or servicing assigned. In multi-worker applications, the present invention may be routed through an office, or other facility, in association with an item during its manufacturing steps, in association with documents routed for review and/or approval via automated or manual transport means, or in association with a box, container, bag, rack, bin, cart, pallet, skid, and/or truck and optionally a conveyor or other automated transport system. Present invention devices may also comprise a mounting component, such as but not limited to a movable or non-movable clip, allowing their temporary and easily releasable attachment to a file, article, container, product during its manufacture, or other item. Multiple present invention electronic signaling devices may be simultaneously routed through a facility. Present invention devices may be routed to the same destination in a facility more than once (such as in manufacturing for items needing additional work or inspections). When used with an automated transport system it is preferred that the present invention device is secured in a conspicuous position on an item or container that allows 360-degree visibility of its beacon's visual signal from a minimum distance of approximately ten feet.


A method for the fabrication of a Group III nitride semiconductor includes the steps of installing a substrate in a reaction vessel, forming a Group III nitride semiconductor on the substrate, causing a solid nitrogen compound to exist in the reaction vessel as a nitrogen source for a Group III nitride semiconductor and supplying a raw material gas as a source for a Group III element into the reaction vessel to fabricate the Group III nitride semiconductor.

The Group III nitride semiconductor has been being reduced to commercial products, such as LEDs and LDs, because it possesses a direct transition-type band gap of energy corresponding to a region extending from visible light to ultraviolet light and allows highly efficient luminescence. It further has the potential for acquiring such characteristic properties of an electronic device as the conventional Group III-V compound semiconductor fails to acquire, as evinced by forming in the heterojunction interface between aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) and gallium nitride (GaN) a two-dimensional electron layer due to a piezoelectric effect characteristic of a Group III nitride semiconductor.
A large lattice mismatching exists between the material generally used as the substrate for growing a Group III nitride semiconductor and a Group III nitride semiconductor. For example, a lattice mismatching of 16% exists between sapphire (Al2O3) and gallium nitride (GaN) and a lattice mismatching of 6% exists between SiC and gallium nitride. Generally, when such a large lattice mismatching as these exists, it is difficult to attain epitaxial growth of a crystal directly on a substrate. Even when the growth is attained, a crystal of excellent crystallinity is not obtained. When the Group III nitride semiconductor crystal is epitaxially grown on a sapphire single crystal substrate or a SiC single crystal substrate by the method of metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), therefore, a method which comprises first depositing on a substrate a layer formed of aluminum nitride (AlN) or AlGaN and called a low-temperature buffer layer and epitaxially growing thereon a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal at an elevated temperature has been generally adopted (refer to Japanese Patent No. 3026087 and JP-A HEI 4-297023).
Besides the method of growth adopting the low-temperature buffer layer mentioned above, a method which comprises forming on a substrate an AlN layer grown at an elevated temperature in the approximate range of 900° C. to 1200° C. and growing gallium nitride thereon has been disclosed (refer, for example, to JP-A HEI 9-64477 and P. Kung, et al., Applied Physics Letters, 66 (1995), p. 2958).
Further, a method of fabricating a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal layer stacked structure using as a buffer a Group III nitride semiconductor fabricated using a Group V/III element ratio of 1000 or less has been disclosed (refer to JP-A 2003-243302).
At 400° C. to 600° C. as temperatures for the deposition of a low-temperature buffer layer, the organic metal raw material or the nitrogen source, particularly ammonia used as a nitrogen source, undergoes no sufficient thermal decomposition. The low-temperature buffer layer deposited at such low temperatures contains defects copiously in its unaltered form. Since the raw material is subjected to a reaction at a low temperature, the reaction entails polymerization as between the alkyl group of the organic metal of the raw material and the undecomposed nitrogen source, and the impurity resulting from this reaction is copiously contained in the crystal of the low-temperature buffer layer.
It is the process of heat treatment called the crystallization of a low-temperature buffer layer that is resorted to for the elimination of such defects and impurity. The process for crystallizing the buffer layer effects the removal of the impurity and defects copiously contained in the low-temperature buffer layer by subjecting this low-temperature buffer layer to a heat treatment performed at elevated temperatures approximating closely to the temperature for the epitaxial growth of the Group III nitride semiconductor crystal.
In contrast with the method of growth using this low-temperature buffer layer, the method which, as disclosed in "P. Kung, et al., Applied Physics Letters, 66 (1995), p. 2958" mentioned above, comprises forming on a substrate AlN grown at elevated temperatures in the approximate range of 900° C. to 1200° C. and then growing gallium nitride thereon has been available. This prior art contains a mention to the effect that this method is capable of fabricating a veritably excellent crystal describing an X-ray locking curve of 30 arcsec on the (0002) plane. A double check of this process has resulted in yielding a gallium nitride crystal film formed of a crystal having a very high column forming property and containing numerous grain boundaries. The crystal of this quality contains threading dislocations occurring from the substrate toward the surface at a high density. When this product is fabricated into a device configuration of a light-emitting device or an electronic device, therefore, the device does not acquire satisfactory characteristic properties.
A method for growth which uses an AlN layer fabricated similarly at elevated temperatures is also disclosed in JP-A HEI 9-64477. As described in this document, the Group III nitride semiconductor crystal to be fabricated is preferred to be a single crystal excelling in crystallinity. In spite of a repeated double check, the method for growth using an excellent single crystal AlN film as described in this prior art, similarly to the method described in the preceding prior art, has not been found to grow such a crystal as fabricating a device structure and acquiring ideal characteristic properties. This failure may be logically explained by a supposition that when the layer of a single crystal excelling in crystallinity is used as a buffer layer and a Group III nitride semiconductor is subsequently grown on the buffer layer, the atoms adhering to the buffer layer during the initial stage of the growth are not smoothly migrated and are not allowed to attain two-dimensional growth easily.
Since the Group III nitride semiconductor crystal possessing crystallinity sufficient to fabricate a device cannot be obtained as described above, the method for growing a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal using an AlN buffer layer grown at elevated temperatures is not quite popular at present.
The technique of forming an AlN film under the condition of restricting the V/III ratio to 1000 or less as disclosed in JP-A 2003-243302 is indeed capable of suppressing an electric power consumed and allaying the warping of the substrate and nevertheless entails the problem that the GaN formed thereby on the AlN film is deficient in crystallinity.
This invention is aimed at developing a method for fabricating a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal, particularly a GaN crystal, exhibiting further excellent crystallinity based on the technique disclosed in JP-A 2003-243302, namely at providing a method for fabricating the crystal of a Group III nitride semiconductor, such as GaN, of excellent crystallinity without requiring to set many temperature ranges or necessitating an excess electric power.

Method for fabrication of group III nitride semiconductor


An aluminum film is formed as a photoreflective electrode in the side opposite to the light incident side of a solar cell by sputtering at a substrate temperature of 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. using a target, aluminum containing silicon as an impurity element at 0.1 to 6.0 weight %. An aluminum film or a silver film into which an impurity element is not added is formed on the above aluminum film, to obtain a texture structure having convex and concave shapes. When an organic resin film substrate is used, components (released as a gas by heating and a vacuum atmosphere) such as water within the organic resin film is removed after the aluminum film is formed.

The present invention relates to a solar battery in which a photoelectric conversion layer for generating a photovoltage is formed by using an amorphous or microcrystalline silicon thin film. Also, the present invention relates to a photoreflective electrode of a solar cell having a texture structure. Further, the present invention relates to a photoreflective electrode of a solar cell using an organic resin film as a substrate.
A solar cell having a photoelectric conversion layer in which at least one PIN junction is formed using a amorphous or microcrystalline silicon film is utilized. In such the solar cell, a light which is incident on the solar cell and transmits without absorbing in a photoelectric conversion layer is reflected by a photoreflective electrode provided in a light incident side position and an opposite side position, and then is incident on the photoelectric conversion layer again, so that a light absorption in the photoelectric conversion layer is promoted by the photoreflective electrode.
The photoreflective electrode is formed by a single layer film (aluminum (Al) or silver (Ag)), a laminate layer of a transparent conductive film (such as indium tin oxide (ITO) alloy, zinc oxide (ZnO), and tin oxide (SnO2)) or a metal film (such as titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and stainless steel) and aluminum or silver.
A photoreflective electrode has an uneven surface (so called the texture structure) formed by aligning crystals of a metal used as its material at a desired direction. A light which is incident on a photoelectric conversion layer and reaches the photoreflective electrode without absorbing in the photoelectric conversion layer is scattered and reflected at various directions, so that the light is incident on the photoelectric conversion layer. By this, the improvement of light absorbing efficiency is attempted.
When an aluminum film is used as an photoreflective electrode, the aluminum film having the purity of 99.99% is formed on a glass substrate or an organic resin film substrate by sputtering in a conventional case. However, only an aluminum film having almost an even surface can be obtained by this method.
In an uneven aluminum film, since an integral reflection (total amount of total reflection light) includes almost mirror (directional) reflection (a reflection angle of reflection light is the same angle as an incident angle of an incident light), it cannot be expected to utilize a light effectively. Particularly, the long wavelength component of an incident light cannot be utilized sufficiently.
It is attempted to obtain a texture structure by crystal growth of the aluminum film along a desired direction. When aluminum is used as a photoreflective electrode and the aluminum film is formed by sputtering while heating a substrate, crystallization of aluminum is promoted and crystal grains are generated to obtain a surface having an uneven shape. However, since a size and a shape of the generated crystal grains is large or nonuniform for a photoreflective electrode of a solar cell, it is not effective to improve a photoelectric conversion efficiency. Also, a film quality is nonuniform.
In the formed aluminum film, large and abnormal crystal grains having a diameter of about 1 .mu.m may be grown. By generation of the crystal grains, a short circuit may be caused between an upper electrode (light incident side electrode) and a photoreflective electrode. FIG. 5 shows a SEM photograph representing a state that large and abnormal crystal grains are generated in an aluminum film formed by a conventional method.
When an aluminum film is formed on an organic resin film substrate by sputtering, since a film quality is reduced, fine film quality cannot be obtained and a photoreflectivity of a photoreflective electrode is decreased and an electric resistance is increased. As a result, a solar cell having high performance cannot be obtained.

Solar cell and method for producing electrode for solar cell

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A power management system and method are disclosed. The system can be a high availability power delivery system. The system can be GPS tracked. The system can have multiple batteries, multiple input power sources, and multiple loads. The system can switch between the multiple batteries and the power source to deliver power to the load. The system can ensure there will always be an input power source to power the load.

1. Field of the Invention
A power management system and method are disclosed. The system can be a high availability power delivery system. The system can be GPS tracked.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power management systems are networks of electrical components used for delivery of power to loads. Power systems are intended to condition the power, which is to say that the voltage and current delivered to the loads are regulated to insure consistency of power delivery. Power management systems often condition the power supply before delivery to the load, regulating the delivered current and voltage to suit the load.
Some power management systems have batteries that receive electricity from power inputs. The batteries can then supplement the power inputs, either providing power to the load concurrent with the power inputs, or when the power inputs are turned off or not available, such as a standard Uninterrupted (or Uninterruptible) Power Supply (UPS).
Batteries can only store incoming power at a limited rate. Accordingly, charging subsystems within power management systems may receive electrical power from power sources such as solar panels or a fixed 120 V line (e.g., from a wall outlet connected to a municipal or other governmental utility power supply) faster than the batteries in the power management system can absorb the charge, and some available power will be lost, for example such as heat.
Power management systems may also have no or one battery. The use of a battery at least helps increase power uptime when a usually-dependable power input, such as a power line, fails, but does not account for the power line and the battery. Thus, power delivery failure of these systems still occurs.
Also, power management systems often have a singular type of power output. That is, the power management system may be designed to output electricity at one fixed voltage and one fixed current.
Accordingly, a power management system that can store high rates of power into a backup battery is desired. A power management system with higher-availability (e.g., more uptime) than a typical single-battery system is desired. Furthermore, a power management system with different output voltages and currents to power different types of load current and load voltage demands is desired.


A switched reluctance machine (SRM) having a rotor and stator pole numerical relationship of S number of stator poles and R number of rotor poles, where R=2S−2, when S is greater than 4; provides improved power density, torque production, torque ripple, and acoustic noise, and is readily adaptable to existing hardware such as known controllers and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a switched reluctance machine (SRM). The present invention relates more specifically to a SRM having a new relationship between the number of stator poles and rotor poles.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A switched reluctance machine has salient poles on its stationary member stator and rotating member rotor. SRMs are advantageous in their operation because they do not require permanent magnets or field windings on the rotor. Because of simple and robust construction, fault tolerant capabilities and torque-speed characteristics, SRMs are very popular to provide auxiliary power in aircraft, automotive and vehicular systems, non-conventional energy sources, and other industrial machineries and equipments.
SRMs are realized in a variety of forms. In particular, the constructions differ in the number of stator and rotor poles on the stationary and movable members, respectively, and in the number of independent circuits with which the controller is separately able to switch stator windings in and out of circuit. The stator poles have phase windings on them while the rotor poles have no windings. Each set of windings separately switched in and out of circuit by the controller constitutes one phase of the machine. The machine may have one or more phases.
Torque produced by an SRM is function of the instantaneous phase inductance, and hence the instantaneous rotor position, and the stator coil currents. By nature of the machine characteristics and control strategy, maximum torque is produced when rotor & stator poles are unaligned, while minimum torque is produced at the aligned position. This results in considerable torque ripple and is one of the factors limiting the application of SRMs. For example, it is known that humans can sense very low levels of torque perturbation. There is therefore a desire in the art to minimize the problem of torque ripple, increase torque production, and otherwise improve the operation of SRMs.


An autonomous electric vehicle comprises a battery electrically connected to the electric motor for powering the electric motor and a battery status prediction module to predict, based on event data from a mobile device of a user of the vehicle, whether the vehicle will be parked at a destination and a time period when the vehicle will be parked. The battery status prediction module predicts a predicted battery status at the end of the time period based on a temperature profile for the time period obtained from a remote weather server. The battery status prediction module determines if the predicted battery status at the end of the time period will have at least a minimum battery capacity to travel a distance to a charging station determined by the battery status prediction module from the destination and a location of the charging station.

Electric vehicles have a chassis, wheels rotationally mounted to the chassis, and an electric motor (or multiple motors) to drive one or more of the wheels. A rechargeable battery (or a battery pack or a group of batteries) stores an electric charge to power the electric motor. The batteries used in electric vehicles are most commonly lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries although other types of rechargeable batteries include lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride batteries.
In very cold weather, battery capacity is known to degrade significantly. Leaving an electric vehicle parked for a long period of time in cold weather may deplete the battery capacity to the point that the vehicle has insufficient charge to reach a charging station. A technical solution to this problem would be highly desirable.

Cold weather battery capacity prediction for electric vehicle


The invention provides an adjustable footrest ring for a chair with a central post. The invention includes an inner sleeve, a quick-release handle, a support frame and a ring. The inner sleeve is used for being put around the central post and has an outer threaded surface, a through slot and a pair of passing holes below the outer threaded surface. The quick-release handle is formed with a through hole at an end thereof. The through hole corresponds to the passing holes for being passed through by a bolt. The inner sleeve is shrunken when the bolt is tightened and the quick-release handle is closed. The support frame has an outer sleeve and support rods radially extending therefrom. An inner threaded surface is formed inside the outer sleeve so as to screw the outer sleeve onto the inner sleeve. The ring is connected to outer ends of the support rods.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to chairs, particularly to a chair with a footrest.
2. Related Art
Office chairs with a cushion elevation mechanism and/or flexible back have been very popular. Many chairs are provided with a flexible back with tilt flexibility to satisfy various requirements of users. Although existing chairs are very comfortable for users, almost all office chairs do not provide a footrest for supporting a user's feet to relax a user's his or her legs.
Even if some office chairs provide a footrest, but the position of the footrest cannot be adjusted or is hard to be adjusted. Users with different height need different positions of the footrest. A user will feel uncomfortable if the footrest cannot be set a proper position.

DONGGUAN KENTEC OFFICE SEATING CO., LTD.


A digitally based system is designed to sense temperatures at a plurality of places and transmit temperature data along a hard-wire cable or distributed (wireless) network to an integrated data collection and control appliance. The system can perform single “spot” measurements or arrange multiple readings in a database for later use. Semiconductor-based sensors with digital output and data transmission capabilities allow large numbers of sensors to be placed along extended lengths of signal cable consisting of only three or four wires. The device incorporates electrical insulating materials, encapsulants, and mechanical strain relief designed to protect the sensors and transmission lines from failures related to exposure to extreme cold. Though described here for cold region applications, the embodiment of this invention encompasses moderate and tropical environments as well, or temperatures ranging from −40 C to +85 C.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains generally to ambient air, soil, and water temperature sensing and reporting instrumentation. More specifically, the invention discloses an assembly of temperature sensor modules specially adapted for repeated and prolonged use in harsh outdoor, underground and underwater conditions, especially at low ambient temperatures (i.e. to at least −40 degrees C./F.), and designed to resist damage from mechanical stresses arising from actions on the assembly such as flexure, twisting, kinking, and tension. The invention can be provided with a standard format electrical connector for electrical association with a separate external device via a signal cable. Alternatively the invention can utilize available wireless digital communication technology to operate without hard wire connections. The temperature sensors can be placed at any position along the signal cable.
The preferred embodiment of the invention features encapsulated sensor modules with integral strain relief and robust environmental protection. The materials and methods of construction offer superior extreme low temperature performance (i.e. to at least −40 degrees C./F.) and enable the sensor elements to tolerate more coil and uncoil cycles than the prior art.
2. Background
The short cool summers and long cold winters that typify the climatic conditions found at high latitudes are conducive to the formation of permafrost or perennially frozen ground. Climatic conditions at very high latitudes also result in seasonal and multiyear ice formations on many lakes and offshore (marine) environments. Permafrost soils present unique design and construction challenges in cold regions around the world for a broad range of projects including community housing, schools, utilities, roads and bridges, airports, resource development, and defense. The occurrence of freshwater ice on inland water bodies and sea ice in the offshore realm also has ongoing relevance to commercial and academic interests focused on resource development and transportation.
Continuous records of accurate ground temperature data highly resolved with depth are required for engineering, construction, and scientific purposes on a regional, local and site specific basis. The invention addresses a need to improve the reliability and performance over previous art while achieving user cost reductions.
3. Description of Prior Art
The prior art has been known and widely used for at least three decades. The prior art accomplishes temperature measurement using a plurality of analog sensors mounted on dedicated circuits within a multiconductor signal cable. The analog sensors typically consist of thermistors, temperature sensitive resistors, which exhibit a temperature dependent resistance. A separate conductor within a cable must be allocated to each sensor although multiple sensors of this type can share a common ground. DC resistance is the measured parameter for this type of sensor. Measurements are typically accomplished in the field by connecting the leads from a conventional test meter to one dedicated circuit at a time and manually recording resistance values. Often a manual switching device is used between the test meter and multiconductor cable to improve the quality of the connections and speed of the procedure. Generic automated analog polling and data logging devices have also been used in cases where relatively few sensors are installed on a long-term basis such as under buildings or remote land-based or sea-based monitoring stations. The measured resistance is later converted to a temperature using the Hart-Steinhardt Equation with appropriate input parameters for the specific thermistor employed.
The use of thermistors for several decades has led to general acceptance of the methodology for obtaining multipoint temperature data as well as incremental improvements to the art. However, inherent limitations to the prior art persist. The signal cable must possess a separate conductor for each analog sensor plus one additional conductor to be used for ground. For applications that require many sensors, specialty signal cable with an unusually large number of conductors or more than one smaller multiconductor cable must be used to provide the required dedicated circuits. The use of cables with high numbers of conductors also increases manufacturing costs, and the cost of maintenance and repair. Large cables also tend to be heavy and inflexible for the end user who must carry, deploy, and recover the cables multiple times. The installation of analog sensors within a cable is typically completed using heat sensitive shrink materials which frequently form an unreliable seal with the outer jacket material and introduce areas of concentrated bending stress on either side of the splice area. Cold temperature failures of the outer cable jacket are common.
The invention possesses numerous benefits and advantages over known multipoint temperature sensing cables for cold regions. In particular, the invention utilizes an established digital communication protocol to reduce the number of required conductors within a cable, thereby affording lower weight and increased flexibility to the user.

Multipoint digital temperature acquisition system


Methods for detecting in a sample the presence of an antibody to a conjugate of an antigen associated with a first carrier by a first association are disclosed. The method comprises contacting a conjugate of the antigen associated with a second carrier by a second association with said sample under conditions that allow binding of the antibody to the antigen; and introducing an agent to detect the presence of the antibody bound to said antigen. The first association and the second association are covalent associations and the first association is different from the second association. Also provided are kits, multiwell plates and conjugates that are useful in the method and further uses of the method. Also provided is a method of releasing a batch of a vaccine comprising a conjugate of an antigen associated with a first carrier by a first association and antibodies useful in this method.

Many vaccines take the form of conjugates of an antigen associated with a carrier. For example, saccharides from bacteria have been used for many years in vaccines. As saccharides are T-independent antigens, however, they are poorly immunogenic. Conjugation to a carrier can convert T-independent antigens into T-dependent antigens, thereby enhancing memory responses and allowing protective immunity to develop. The most effective saccharide vaccines are therefore based on glycoconjugates, and the prototype conjugate vaccine was against Haemophilus influenzae type b ('Hib') [e.g. see chapter 14 of ref. [1]].
In assessing the immune response in a subject to a candidate conjugate vaccine, an assay may be used that detects the presence in a sample from the subject of an antibody raised in response to the conjugate. Such an assay usually comprises an immobilized substance that binds specifically to the antibody, for example, the antigen itself. Detection of bound antibody may then be achieved by use of, for example, chemical, biological or radioactive labelling. For example, detection of bound antibody may be achieved by use of a second antibody that recognizes antibodies from the subject, for example, where the assay is in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format. Where the substance that binds specifically to the antibody is the antigen, a conjugate of the antigen associated with a protein may be used. The protein facilitates immobilization of the conjugate, for example to a multiwell plate. This facilitates detection of the antibody in the assay.
Use in the vaccine of a conjugate of the antigen associated with a protein can expose an artificial epitope that is a product of the conjugation. For example, such an artificial epitope may be present at the interface between the antigen and the protein. The candidate conjugate vaccine may therefore give rise to antibodies to this artificial epitope in addition to antibodies to the native antigen. Use in the assay of the conjugate of the antigen associated with a protein can also expose this artificial epitope, and as a result the assay will detect antibodies to this artificial epitope in addition to antibodies to the native antigen. This may give an inaccurate representation of the quantity of native antigen-specific antibodies in the sample being tested. Moreover, in some instances the immobilized conjugate can also cross-react with antibodies to other antigens [2].
In order to avoid detection of the artificial epitope, it is possible to simply use a physical mixture of the antigen and a protein [2]. However, where the antigen is hydrophilic, such as, for example, a saccharide, it can be difficult to immobilize the free antigen, for example to a plate. As a result, assays involving free antigens, either in physical mixture with a protein or alone, tend to have an inadequate level of sensitivity [3].
Development of a selective and sensitive method for detecting the presence of antibodies in a sample has been particularly problematic in the case of group B streptococcus (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae). For example, in attempting to detect the presence of antibodies to a saccharide conjugate vaccine, some researchers have investigated an ELISA technique where the GBS saccharide is covalently linked to human serum albumin (HSA). The HSA component is intended to allow the conjugate to effectively bind to the ELISA plate and confer sufficient sensitivity on the assay [4].
However, other researchers have found that use of a conjugate in the assay exposes an artificial epitope (also present within the conjugate vaccine component) which is a product of the conjugation. The ELISA is therefore thought to detect antibodies to this epitope that are not antibodies to the native saccharide. The conjugate used in the assay can also cross-react with antibodies to pneumococcal saccharides [2]. Such a method is therefore insufficiently specific for antibodies to the GBS saccharide. In attempting to solve this problem, researchers have used a mixture of HSA and saccharide. However, this adversely affects the immobilization of the saccharide to the multiwell plate and the resulting assay is therefore insufficiently sensitive [3].
GBS infection constitutes a serious health threat to humans and animals. Of particular concern is the occurrence of GBS infections at the time of childbirth. Expectant mothers who are carriers of this bacterium are exposed to a risk of postpartum infection, and they may also transfer the infection to their child as the child passes through the birth canal. It is therefore useful to be able to determine whether maternal antibody levels are sufficient to protect against neonatal infection. Methods are therefore needed not only in the testing of a candidate conjugate vaccine but also in the surveillance of the effects of a vaccine in a patient, and in testing subjects for existing antibody levels to identify those subjects that may require vaccination. GBS infection is also a health threat to animals. For example, it is the cause of mastitis in dairy herds. Methods are therefore needed for testing and surveillance in veterinary contexts.
With the development of conjugate vaccines, and in particular conjugate vaccines based on GBS capsular saccharides, there is also a need for methods of assessing whether each batch of vaccine manufactured by a given process meets regulatory requirements, e.g. in terms of potency (e.g. immunogenicity). If the vaccine batch meets these requirements, then the vaccine should provide the expected immune response; ideally, there would be no need for further tests such as immunizing a test animal with a sample from the batch. Moreover, the requirements should be a more reliable assessment of potency than a physical characterization of the vaccine alone. The regulatory requirements for release of the vaccine are typically set by agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) in the United States and the European Medicines Agency (the EMEA) in Europe. It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide methods for assessing the potency of conjugate vaccines that meet these standards.
Accordingly, there remains a need for further and better methods for detecting the presence of antibodies in a sample, specifically of antibodies to a conjugate of an antigen associated with a carrier.

Method of detecting the presence of an antibody in a sample


A door for a vehicle includes an interior surface and a compartment extending into the interior surface for receiving a dispensable paper product. A cover is movable between a closed position covering the compartment and an open position exposing the compartment. The cover defines an opening for accessing the dispensable paper product. The cover includes an outer surface flush with the interior surface when the cover is in the closed position.

A driver of a vehicle is often in need of a paper product such as a facial tissue or a napkin for use in wiping the driver's nose, face and/or fingers, for handling food, and/or for cleaning spills, e.g., food spills, in the cockpit of the vehicle. In order to accommodate such needs, the driver may place a supply of facial tissues in the vehicle.
For example, the driver may place facial tissues in a glove box of the vehicle. However, when the vehicle is in motion, the driver may be required to compromise safety by reaching across the cockpit to access the glove box. In the alternative, small supplies of facial tissue may be stored in a center console of the vehicle, on a sun visor of the vehicle, in a rear foot well of the vehicle, or on a seat back of the vehicle. However, each of these areas typically present packaging constraints that prevent storage of a large supply of facial tissues, such as a full-size box. Instead, the packaging constraints of these areas typically limit the supply of facial tissues to a small box or pouch of facial tissues. These small supplies can create a nuisance by requiring frequent re-filling.
During food purchases, such as a purchase from a drive-through window of a restaurant, a supply of loose napkins is typically supplied along with the food. This supply of napkins typically exceeds the amount of napkins necessary to handle the food. As such, the driver may store excess unused napkins in the vehicle, such as in the center console or the glove box. However, the storage of the napkins in the center console or the glove box may be disorganized and cluttered because the napkins are loose and may be stored with other articles in the center console or the glove box.
Accordingly, a need remains for the design of a storage system for storing paper products in a vehicle that stores the paper products in an organized and easily accessible manner.

Vehicle door including compartment for dispensable paper products