An optical element (100) for releasable connection to a lighting module (103), the optical element comprising; an outer member (102) having a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion having a shoulder portion (104) extending towards a central axis of the cylindrical portion; an inner member (110) having a cylindrical portion at least partially arranged within the cylindrical portion of the outer member (102); wherein the optical element further comprises at least one deformable member (108) arranged within the cylindrical portion of the outer element adjacent to the shoulder; and at least one of the inner and the outer member comprising an optical member (120) for modifying light emitted from the lighting module; and wherein the inner member is movable in an axial direction in relation to the outer member to compress the deformable member between a base surface of the cylindrical portion of the inner member and the shoulder portion of the cylindrical portion of the outer member.

In many lighting applications it may be desirable to be able to modify and replace different parts of the luminaire in order to achieve various lighting effects. Different effects may for example be achieved by changing optical elements such as reflectors or diffusing lenses.
Such optical elements are typically screwed or clamped to the lamp holder. Mounting and removal of the optical elements may be done manually by placing the fingers around the optical element or it may require the use of a tool.
Furthermore, it may be desirable to arrange luminaires in a recess in the ceiling or wall in which they are mounted in order to provide a low visible profile of the luminaire itself. In applications where the luminaire is countersunk into the surrounding material or where the space surrounding the luminaire is otherwise restricted, it may be difficult or even impossible to manually replace parts of the luminaire using conventional techniques once the luminaire is installed as a certain minimum distance between the module to be replaced and the surrounding may be required.


A kit comprising a medical dispensing container (402), such as a vial for diagnostic agents, and a liquid transfer device (401) to be used to transfer a liquid into or from said dispensing container. The transfer device allows substantially limiting the gaseous exchange between the inside of a vial and the external ambient, when the device is connected to the vial in steady state conditions.

Medical dispensing containers made of glass or polymeric materials, the walls of which are non-collapsible, typically require an air inlet when a medical fluid is withdrawn therefrom, to prevent the formation of vacuum therein. Typically, vials containing a medical fluid are closed by rubber stoppers which are pierced by a spike of a transfer device having a duct for the passage of the medical fluid and a ventilation duct. Examples of devices comprising a liquid fluid duct and a ventilation duct are disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,521, U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,671, U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,343, U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,068, U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,106, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,534.
The present invention is particularly concerned with the liquid transfer into a container containing a medicament reconstitutable upon addition of said liquid, and the subsequent removal of the reconstituted medicament from said container. More particularly, the device of the invention is suitable for the preparation and dispensing of some diagnostic or therapeutic agents, such as those comprising a gaseous component including, for instance, gas-filled microvesicles for ultrasound diagnostic and/or therapeutic use.
Gas-filled microvesicles for ultrasound diagnostic and/or therapeutic use include suspensions of gas bubbles having a diameter of a few microns dispersed in an aqueous medium. Of particular interest are gas bubbles which are stabilized by means of suitable additives such as, for example emulsifiers, oils, thickeners or sugars, or by entrapping or encapsulating the gas or a precursor thereof in a variety of systems. These agents are designed to be used primarily as intravenous or intra-arterial injectables in conjunction with the use of medical echographic equipment which employs for example, B-mode image formation (based on the spatial distribution of backscatter tissue properties) or Doppler signal processing (based on Continuous Wave or pulsed Doppler processing of ultrasonic echoes to determine blood or liquid flow parameters).
A first category of stabilized bubbles or microvesicles is generally referred to in the art as "microbubbles" and includes aqueous suspensions in which the bubbles of gas are bounded at the gas/liquid interface by a very thin envelope (film) involving a stabilizing amphiphilic material disposed at the gas to liquid interface. Microbubble suspensions are typically prepared by contacting powdered amphiphilic materials, e.g. freeze-dried preformed liposomes or freeze-dried or spray-dried phospholipid solutions, with air or other gas and then with an aqueous carrier, while agitating to generate a microbubble suspension which can then be administered.
Examples of aqueous suspension of gas microbubbles and preparation thereof are disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,928, U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,813, U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,774, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,556,610, 5,597,549, U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,504, WO 97/29783 and WO 04/069284.
Commercially available ultrasound contrast agents of this type include for instance SonoVue® (Bracco International BV).
A second category of microvesicles is generally referred to in the art as "microballoons" or "microcapsules" and includes suspensions in which the bubbles of gas are surrounded by a solid material envelope of a lipid or of natural or synthetic polymers. Examples of microballoons and of the preparation thereof are disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,933 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,021.
Whilst the above formulations are administered as suspensions of gas-filled microvesicles in a suitable physiologically acceptable liquid, for storage purposes it is in general preferred to use precursors of said microvesicles in dry (e.g. lyophilized) form, as disclosed in the above mentioned patents and patent applications. The microvesicles suspension is then obtained by adding to said dry precursors, in the presence of a suitable gas (e.g a fluorinated gas), a physiologically acceptable liquid carrier, preferably under agitation. The dry precursor can for instance be stored in a vial (e.g. of glass) in the presence of a desired gas, said vial being sealed with a suitable stopper (e.g. of rubber), through which the liquid carrier can be injected. The contrast agent formulation can thus be supplied in a kit comprising a vial (containing the dry precursor and the gas) and a pre-filled syringe (containing the physiologically acceptable liquid carrier). The syringe can be associated with a suitable liquid transfer device which typically comprises a spike for piercing the stopper, a first conduit for injecting the liquid carrier into the vial and withdrawing the formed microbubbles suspension from it, and a second conduit (vent tube) for allowing a gas/air flow from and into the container during the respective liquid injection and withdrawal phases. Examples of such devices are disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,214.
When the suspension of gas-filled microbubbles has been reconstituted with the addition of the liquid, it may however be desirable to keep said reconstituted suspension in the vial for a relatively long time (e.g. few hours) before using. As observed by the Applicant, such a relatively long storage time of the reconstituted suspension may however pose some problems, particularly in connection with a possible exchange between the gas contained inside the container and the outer atmosphere air. This may be for instance the case when a liquid transfer device (such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,214) is employed, where a direct fluid-gas passage is present between the inside of the container and the outer ambient, with consequent possible air inlet inside the container. While it has been demonstrated that a fluorinated gases employed for filling the microvesicles can be admixed with relatively high amounts of air (e.g. up to 70-80% by volume of air) without substantially modifying the properties and stability of the gas-filled microvesicles (as described for instance in EP patent no. 682 530), an excessive amount of air may nevertheless negatively affect said properties and stability. In addition, when the gas filled microvesicles already contain a mixture of fluorinated gas and air (as in the above mentioned EP 682 530), the negative effects deriving by said air inlet may be more evident.
Furthermore, the above undesirable gas/air exchange may similarly take place also when the transfer device is connected to the vial and left in place for a certain time, without connecting a syringe thereto and/or injecting a liquid into the vial.
In co-pending International patent application PCT/EP2005/056975, the Applicant suggests to insert a suitable valve in the vent tube of the transfer device, so to substantially avoid said gaseous exchange under steady state conditions.

Liquid transfer device for medical dispensing containers


The present invention for data distribution relates to a network wherein a distributor, which may be an Ethernet switch, is used in combination with active taps and programmable logic controllers to increase data transfer speeds and the volumes of transmission using active branching elements, i.e., active taps, that are interconnected via a bus line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network for distribution of data, and more particularly to a network including a programmable logic controller with at least one input/output unit that are interconnected with a distributor, e.g., and Ethernet switch, and active taps using a bus line.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Field bus systems (such as a profibus or an actuator/sensor interface bus) are conventionally used for communications between programmable logic controllers (SPS) and input/output units in industry, for example within a machine These field bus systems can be implemented in two ways.
First, each terminal device, e.g., input/output unit, can have two connection points for a field bus connection, cabling thus taking place directly from device to device, and one of the devices being connected to a programmable logic controller. The second possibility is for the field bus to have a main line from which so-called branch points are located at corresponding connection points for terminal devices, each respective terminal device being connected to its pertinent branch point.
These field bus systems have proven themselves in practice. However, these field bus systems have a maximum possible transmission rate of only up to 10 megabits per second, this processing speed and the resulting data volume is no longer adequate for current applications. The low transmission rates are due to the fact that interfaces of terminal devices or branch points are built passively, so that an increase in the amount of transmitted data or the processing speed is not possible with these components.

Active tap for directing distribution of data over data transmission network


A method for beam sweeping in a wireless communication system is described. Beam sweeping includes performing a reduced beam sweep corresponding to a reduced set of beams that are a subset of a full set of beams available for transmitting and/or receiving from an antenna module, without sweeping beams that are not members of the reduced set of beams. The method includes selecting a beam out of the reduced set of beams for transmitting and/or receiving from the antenna module based on the reduced beam sweep without sweeping beams that are not members of the reduced set of beams. Related devices are disclosed.

Wireless communication between two devices such as a network node and a mobile device involves data signals that are transmitted between the antennas of the mobile device and the node. Wireless communication systems may use multiple antenna elements to combine signals into one or more beams. Beams from one or more devices may need to be aligned with one another for proper communication. Various solutions for beam alignment include digital beam forming (DBF), analog beam forming (ABF), and/or hybrid beam forming (HBF). Multiple beams may be available for transmitting signals between the node and the mobile device.

Systems, methods and devices for beam selection in a wireless communication system


A thermally conductive resin composition is disclosed herein. The thermally conductive resin composition exhibits high thermal conductivity while having excellent handling properties. In an embodiment, a resin composition includes a resin component and 600 parts by weight or more of a thermally conductive filler relative to 100 parts by weight of the resin component. The thermally conductive filler comprise 30 to 50 wt % of a first thermally conductive filler having a D50 particle diameter of 35 μm or more, 25 to 45 wt % of a second thermally conductive filler having a D50 particle diameter in a range of 15 μm to 30 μm, and 15 to 35 wt % of a third thermally conductive filler having a D50 particle diameter of 1 to 4 μm, based on the total weight of the thermally conductive filler.

Since batteries, televisions, videos, computers, medical instruments, office machines or communication devices, and the like generate heat during operation and the temperature increase due to the heat causes operation failure or destruction, a heat dissipating method or a heat dissipating member used therefor has been proposed.
For example, there is known a method in which heat is transferred to a cooling medium such as cooling water, or a temperature rise is suppressed through heat conduction to a heat sink using a metal plate having high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper, and the like.
In order to efficiently transfer heat from a heat source to the cooling medium or the heat sink, it is advantageous that the heat source and the cooling medium or the heat sink are closely contacted or thermally connected as much as possible, and to this end, a heat conductive material can be used.


An optically amplifying waveguide guides both the LP.sub.01 and the LP.sub.02 mode. Its erbium distribution profile is preferentially matched with the modal field distribution of the LP.sub.02 mode. The waveguide is provided with long period perturbations of a pitch and strength that resonantly couples signal power of different wavelengths from propagation in the LP.sub.01 mode to propagation in the LP.sub.02 mode and back again to propagation in the LP.sub.01 mode whereby the longitudinal distribution of gain along the waveguide at one wavelength is longitudinally displaced with respect to that at least one other wavelength.

This invention relates to optically pumped optical waveguide amplifiers, such as erbium doped optical fibre waveguide amplifiers. When such amplifiers are used in cascade in a transmission system for amplifying wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals, problems are liable to be encountered that arise from the effects of differential spectral gain. Such differential gain effects can, if unchecked, lead to signal corruption at one or more wavelengths because the signal power at these wavelengths has become too small in relation to the signal power at one or more of the other wavelengths. The problems associated with limiting differential gain effects are compounded by the fact that the spectral gain characteristic of one of these amplifiers alters shape with changes in operating conditions. These problems can in principle be avoided by arranging for some form of passive equalisation to take place using saturation effects in an optical amplifier. What is required of such an amplifier is that strong input signals shall, through the effects of saturation, experience less amplification than weaker input signals. It has been shown that such an effect can be produced in an erbium doped optical fibre amplifier by cooling it to about 77K so that the erbium transition shall be predominantly inhomogenously broadened. However, at temperatures nearer room temperature, homogeneous broadening predominates, with the result that the gain spectrum saturates relatively uniformly even though the optical power in only one of the WDM channels is increased significantly over that of the others.
An alternative approach is described by M N Zervas and R I Laming in an article entitled `Twin-Core Erbium Doped Channel Equalized`, Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol 13, No 5, May 1985, pp 721-731. Ideally one would wish for -1 dB/dB equalisation so that for every 1 dB of power difference between one input signal and another there would be -1 dB of relative gain. The twin-ore approach does not achieve this target but is able, under fully optimised conditions to achieve in excess of -0.4 dB/dB. This is achieved by the action of the twin core in producing a partial separation between the regions where light of one wavelength propagating in the guide experiences gain, and the region where light of another wavelength experiences it. What happen is that light is launched into a single one of its twin cores thereby exciting both the zero order mode and the first order mode. For any given wavelength, these propagate at different velocities, and so at various positions along the guide the optical power is concentrated in the vicinity of one the cores, while at various intermediate positions it is concentrated in the vicinity of the other core. These positions are different for different wavelengths.

Optically pumped optical waveguide amplifier


This disclosure generally relates to a headrest assembly, seat, and a method of use. In the disclosure, a head restraint is moveable from an upright position to a folded position by movement of either the push-button or a lever. The disclosed arrangement provides two ways to fold a head restraint, and can further be integrated with another assembly, such as a seat back folding assembly. The disclosed arrangement is further configured to resist vibration, leading to a tighter, more stable design, which provides increased customer satisfaction.

Headrests are configured to be positioned relative to the rear of an occupant's head and/or neck. Many vehicles include foldable seat backs in order to provide additional room in the vehicle for storage and transport of goods. Before folding a vehicle seat back, headrests are sometimes also folded to prevent interference between the headrest and another vehicle seat, for example.

Headrest assembly configured to resist vibration


A scleral lens solution comprising an aqueous mixture that includes sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium cations and a pH in a range from about 6.5 to about 8.7.

Scleral lenses are a special type of rigid contact lenses used to vault over the cornea, leaving a space between the contact lens and the cornea. Scleral lenses are often used for patients with corneal problems such as keratoconnus, irregular astigmatism, surgically induced corneal irregularities, or persistent corneal defects. These patients often already have diseased or compromised corneas and therefore wearing of contact lenses need to minimize the potential for additional damage and patient discomfort. To provide acceptable vision, a solution is often used to provide a liquid interface that fills the void between the lens and the cornea.


An apparatus and method for applying a label to a specific location on a vial. The apparatus may comprise a label dispenser, a vial placement assembly for orienting the vial and placing it onto a track, a pushing device for pushing the vial down the track into an adhesive side of the label, and a labeling gate for contacting a non-adhesive side of the label to smooth the label onto the vial. The apparatus may further comprise a label positioning device for correcting unwanted curling of the label, a stopper positioned to engage a portion of the pushing device as the vial contacts the label to cause the pushing device to release the vial, and a label-release switch configured to signal for the label dispenser to release a trailing edge of the label once the vial contacts the labeling gate.

1. Field
The present invention relates to the field of automated medicament dispensing systems. More particularly, the invention relates to an automated apparatus and method for applying labels to vials.
2. Related Art
In the field of automated medicament dispensing systems, a vial is automatically filled with pills or other medicaments and presented without a label thereon to a pharmacist. A printer dispenses an adhesive label with the associated prescription or instructions thereon to the pharmacist for manual application of the label to the vial. When a plurality of orders are to be processed, filled vials are presented in sequence and the corresponding labels are dispensed in sequence.
Difficulties can arise, for example, if the printer malfunctions. In this situation, the sequence of reprinted labels can be confused leading to the risk of applying the wrong label to a vial. Similarly, if the vial filling mechanism malfunctions, the sequence of vials for labeling can also become confused, again leading to the risk of a mislabeled vial.
Automated medicine vial labelers have largely overcome these problems for cylindrical-shaped vials of various sizes. Such labelers generally wrap a label around a vial by placing an outer surface of the vial in contact with an adhesive side of the label and rotating the vial. However, in some instances, it is desirable to use non-cylindrical-shaped vials, such as vials with substantially oval cross-sections or rectangular cross-sections. These non-cylindrical-shaped vials may make the vial easily distinguishable from other vials, present a larger surface area for the label, etc. For example, some vials may have a front face, a back face, and two side faces. Unlike cylindrical-shaped vials, the location of the label on non-cylindrical-shaped vials is important, so that when each vial is facing the same direction, the same part of the label may be visible to the pharmacist or patient. Automated medicine vial labelers for cylindrical-shaped vials are unsuitable for non-cylindrical-shaped vials because they merely wrap the label around the vial without consideration for the orientation of a front, back, or side of the vial.
Accordingly, there is a need for an automated apparatus and method for labeling vials that overcomes the limits of the prior art.


A telephone switching system is provided for use with an external telephone line and a plurality of telephone extensions wherein each extension has a plurality of "touch tone" buttons which, when depressed, generate an audio signal unique to that button. The system includes at least one internal channel and at least one external channel wherein the external telephone line is connected to the external channel. An on-hook and off-hook detector is provided for each of the telephone extensions as well as a detector for detecting the presence of an incoming call on the external channel. A switching circuit is then responsive to an off-hook status of a first extension together with a coded audio signal generated by the buttons at the first extension to either (1) selectively and exclusively connect the first extension to a selected second extension determined by the coded audio signal to the internal channel and to generate a ring signal to the second extension, or (2) connect the first extension to the external channel. The switching circuit is also responsive to a coded audio signal to transfer an incoming call from the first extension to a selected second extension. Other features, including area code lockout features and placing an external call on hold, are also disclosed.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telephone switching system connected to a plurality of telephone extensions for selectively connecting the extensions to each other and/or an external telephone line.
II. Description of the Prior Art
There are many previously known telephone switching systems, commonly called PBX systems, for selectively directing incoming telephone calls to a selected telephone extension in the telephone system. These previously known systems, however, all suffer from a number of common disadvantages. One disadvantage of these previously known systems is that such systems are expensive to obtain and maintain. While the expense of such systems is acceptable in many business settings, such telephone switching systems are economically infeasible for a home telephone system.
A still further disadvantage of these previously known telephone switching systems is that, upon a loss of power to the system, the entire system becomes inoperable and thus incapable of either receiving or sending telephone calls onto an external telephone line.

Telephone switching system with internal and external channel


A method and apparatus for molding a plastic washing machine basket includes a fixed mold core formed with teardrop-shaped projections spaced about a periphery thereof, cavity sidewall members spaced about the periphery of the mold core which carry core pins having tips adapted to abut teardrop-shaped projections on the mold core and a cavity cover member spaced about an end of the mold core and abutting the cavity sidewall members so as to define a cavity between the mold core and both the cavity cover member and the sidewall members. After injecting a plastic material to flow about the tips of the core pins and the projections so as to fill the cavity and form a plastic washing machine basket having an annular sidewall extending from a peripheral portion of a base wall with spaced apertures extending through the sidewall and teardrop-shaped grooves in an inner surface thereof extending from the apertures, the plastic washing machine basket can be ejected from the molding apparatus by separating the mold core and the cavity cover member and shifting the cavity sidewall members away from the mold core at a predetermined angle such that the core pins force the plastic washing machine basket to be removed from the mold core due to engagement of the core pins in the apertures of the basket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of washing machines and, more particularly, to a plastic washing machine basket along with a method and apparatus for making the same.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Washing machine baskets are generally formed from metal and include spaced holes in both a base wall and an annular sidewall thereof. In accordance with the prior art, normally these holes are perforated subsequent or prior to shaping the metal basket. This multi-step manufacturing method is costly and time consuming.
It has also heretofore been proposed to form a washing machine basket from a plastic material. Attempts have been made to mold such plastic washing machine baskets in an apparatus which would simultaneously form the desired apertures in the base wall and annular sidewall of the basket. However, such attempts have proved unsuccessful and have resulted in plastic baskets having numerous knit lines formed on the inner surface of the basket. Knit lines cause reduced structural integrity and visually indicate defects. Alternatively, it has also been proposed to mold a plastic washing machine basket as a unitary structure and then perforate the holes during a subsequent manufacturing step. This method leaves burrs and sharp edges that would result in damage to garments washed in the basket. Again, this need for multiple manufacturing steps is undesirable and results in increased manufacturing costs.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a method and apparatus for molding a plastic washing machine basket with holes in the base wall and annular sidewall thereof, without forming undesirable knit lines, in a single manufacturing step.


A method and apparatus for sharing data with another electronic device are provided. The apparatus includes a processor, and a memory for storing program instructions. The program instructions are configured to have the processor sense a tagging with the another electronic device; determine a service level of the another electronic device; identify shared data corresponding to the determined service level of the another electronic device; and transmit the identified shared data to the another electronic device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for sharing data with another electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic device can share data with another electronic device using a local area communication function. For example, the electronic device can connect with the another electronic device using Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, etc., and provide stored data to the connected another electronic device.
Generally, after the electronic device connects with the another electronic device, a user of the electronic device selects data to be provided to the another electronic device. However, this selection process is normally performed by the user directly performing a menu selection process. As a result, the user has to perform multiple commands in order to share data, which can be inconvenient to the user.

Apparatus and method for sharing data with an electronic device


The invention concerns a method for the aluminothermic welding of rails, comprising the steps of:                triggering an aluminothermic reaction in a crucible (2),        casting the metal derived from said reaction into the mold (1), so as to fill the molding cavity starting from the foot of the rail,        after filling of the molding cavity, triggering a second aluminothermic reaction above the rail head, and casting the metal derived from said reaction into said molding cavity in the region of the rail head.

Aluminothermic welding is a process which has long been used to join together railway rails placed end to end.
For this purpose, a mould generally formed of three main parts is arranged around the ends of the rails to be welded, a crucible containing an aluminothermic charge is placed on said mould and said charge is ignited to initiate the aluminothermic reaction.
The molten metal derived from this reaction then flows into the mould and fills the moulding cavity.
After the metal has solidified and the mould has been released, the excess metal is removed and the weld region is polished to provide good continuity with the profile of the rails.
However, with this method the nature of weld metal is identical throughout the entire weld region, from the foot of the rail as far as the rail head.
Yet it is desirable, in some applications, to have a weld metal at the rail head which has different mechanical properties, and in particular which has greater hardness.
For example, for railway lines intended for transporting freight on which greater demand is placed, rails are used that are hardened at the rail head in order to extend their lifetime.
It is therefore desirable that the weld should have a hardness profile that is comparable with that of the rails i.e. greater hardness in the region of the rail head and greater ductility at the foot of the rail.
For this purpose, U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,282 has already described a method for aluminothermic welding in which an aluminothermic reaction is initiated in a crucible and the molten metal derived from this reaction is poured into the mould in which alloying additives containing a hardening agent have previously been placed via the diverting plug of the mould.
The additives may be in powder form contained in a capsule carried by the diverting plug or inserted in a cavity of the diverting plug.
The container containing the additives must be positioned in relation to the type of casting (uphill or downhill) so that only the metal intended to form the rail head region comes in contact with this head, and therefore the alloying of the aluminothermic metal with the additives containing the hardening agent only takes place in the region of the rail head.
However, while this method appears to be advantageous in theory, it does not in practice allow the expected localized hardening to be obtained.
The hardening agent is found to diffuse throughout the entire moulding cavity, which means that essentially homogeneous hardness is obtained over the full height of the rail.
It is therefore one objective of the present invention to provide an aluminothermic welding method which allows localized hardening of the weld at the rail head with good reliability and good reproducibility.
A further objective of the invention is to design a simple, robust device which can be used to implement this method.

Method and device for the aluminothermic welding of rails

Abstract: The invention also concerns a mold (1) adapted to fit over the two rail ends to form a molding cavity (10), comprising a crucible (4) arranged above the region of the rail head so that it is fed with molten metal from the molding cavity (10) via a secondary channel (42).


Land grid array (LGA) connectors are used to attach circuit modules to printed circuit boards that present an array of noble metal or semi-noble metal plated contacts to not only effect a reliable connection, but also enable circuit module release and replacement. During replacement, the connector is discarded and a replacement circuit module is used. Only the contact array on the printed circuit board is reused. An in situ gasket carried by the connector is compressed against the circuit board in the assembled condition to form a sealed enclosure about the contact array at the printed circuit board surface which excludes particulate and gaseous contaminants. Thus when the module is replaced, the contact array site on the printed circuit board does not require cleaning or processing to overcome degradation of the contact materials or surfaces. Beyond providing a sealed enclosure, the gasket material should be selected for sealing, but inelastic qualities so that the uniform pressure applied to the contacts of the array is not impaired nor the total required contact force increased.

The invention relates generally to electrical connectors and more particularly to land grid array (LGA) connectors.
Current and future high performance computer systems and server systems rely on both large scale packaging of multiple high density interconnect modules and boards that must be upgraded in service. Many of these interconnect applications are beyond the scope of reliability using traditional solder interconnection technology as combined temperature gradients, packaging LW size and packaging mass prompt conditions for premature thermomechanical solder failure outside the scope of contact reliability requirements needed for system performance, and do not support the ability to provide field replacement of individual module elements. Thus, land grid array (LGA) connectors that provide removable and repluggable socketing capability of modules and boards are the required interconnect methodology.
LGA connectors that are used to electrically connect printed circuit boards to modules or other circuit boards provide high density, high performance interconnections that provide field upgrade and replacement capabilities. However, interfaces created between connector contacts and board surfaces are subject to potential reliability degradation from the entrance of corrosive environmental gases and particulate debris into the LGA contact areas. Of particular concern is the reliability of LGA interconnects that must be recreated because of the necessity to provide an in-service field upgrade or module replacement. As mating or separation and remating of LGA contact interfaces prompts significant potential for intermittent interconnection conditions to be created from both the presence of corrosion products or particulate debris on board and module surfaces which can create insulating layers or contact standoff conditions that inhibit reliable electrical contact formation.
To inhibit or eliminate significant potential for both corrosive gas ingress and particulate cross contamination within a land grid array (LGA) site designated for a system upgrade or required in-service module replacement, LGA connectors can be designed with in situ gaskets which seal the perimeter of the LGA contact areas of the connector to provide a barrier against particulate cross contamination and corrosive gas ingress. The gasket attaches to the frame or external walls of the LGA connector via insertion into a molded channel created within the connector frame or housing or can be affixed to the LGA frame or external connector housing using pressure sensitive adhesive films. The gasket provides interference atop card and/or module surfaces, but is sufficiently compliant such that loading of individual contacts to intended normal forces or to LGA connector frames, housings or incorporated contact standoffs is not impacted after connector actuation. These peripheral gaskets are compatible additions to frames or housings on a variety of LGA connector types including LGA connectors possessing metallic C-spring or D-spring contact members, LGA connectors comprised of wire xe2x80x9cfuzz buttonxe2x80x9d contacts, or LGA connectors possessing individual contact members comprised of metal filled polymeric elastomers.
The invention provides for significant reduction of cross contaminations by particulates and corrosive gases within an LGA connector system itself, thereby eliminating or reducing the need for secondary fixturing within the system packaging configuration, or by providing contamination reduction potential in systems where the addition of secondary fixturing to address contamination is not possible due to multiple design constraints. Moreover the use of secondary fixturing, such as gaskets or shields, on bulk printed circuit board assemblies or modules for contamination reduction creates problems when rework of individual board or module elements is required after card assembly and test, since the bulk of gasket materials are not compatible with elevated temperature operations or liquid exposure operations required for soldering and solder rework, heat sink removal operations, post solder wash, card bake, and adhesive cure operations.
Thus, removal of secondary gaskets is required prior to rework. Unfortunately, secondary gasket removal prompts a potential for organic cross contamination onto LGA pad contacts present on boards or modules as secondary gaskets are commonly affixed with adhesives that also must be removed prior to other rework operations. By providing the gasket on a disposable element, rework operations are vastly simplified and added cleanliness control for rework operations during assembly of boards and modules is also realized. In addition, by providing a gasket element on the connector itself, contamination control is also obtained in designs where room for additional shielding in secondary format is not practical.
Currently a typical LGA presents a matrix of 750 to 5000 contacts with the upper limit expected to be extended to 7500 in the near future. Since each contact in an array requires a contact force of 1 xc2xd to 4 ounces to assure that adequate electrical contact and operational reliability are achieved, the total clamping force for a 1000 LGA matrix of contacts would be from 90 to 250 pounds. The in situ gasket must have characteristics that not only seal the printed circuit board/connector interface against contamination, but must also not interfere with the even distribution of force across the matrix of contacts. The gasket material must preferably deform and seal without elasticity that would produce localized forces that disturb the equality of force applied to each contact. Preferably, the gasket material is secured to the LGA connector and deforms inelastically so that a seal is formed without introducing a restorative force that would increase the total clamping force required to achieve the minimum adequate force at each contact interface. The seal could also be effected by a deadsoft, malleable metal which possess no elasticity or memory that would tend to restore the metal to or approach an original configuration.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display apparatus, the method including removing a bubble by irradiating a laser in a cross direction to the bubble that occurs in a thin-film transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a display unit having a structure in which an emission layer formed of an organic material is interposed between two electrodes, wherein at least one of the two electrodes is connected to a thin-film transistor. When a voltage is applied between the two electrodes via the thin-film transistor, a hole that is injected from one electrode and an electrode that is injected from the other electrode are combined in an emission layer so that an exciton is generated from the combination and emits light and thus an image is realized when the exiton is turned from an exited state to a ground state.
The above information disclosed in this Related Art section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Flexible organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

Samsung-ro, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do


A semiconductor memory device accurately reads out data from a normal unit cell when a short bridge occurs between the normal unit cell and a dummy unit cell. A sub dummy bit line pair DBL/DBLB is interposed between a sub normal bit line and a sub word line driver region (or a strap region). A direct contact (DC) between the dummy unit cell and a sub dummy bit line is eliminated. A data storage capacitor of the dummy unit cell normally connected to a sub dummy bit line DBLB by way of a buried contact is also removed. Thus, operational errors caused by short bridges created between normal and during unit cells are eliminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly a semiconductor memory device having sub dummy bit lines and sub dummy word lines.
2. Description of the Related Art
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) includes a plurality of bit lines and word lines perpendicularly intersecting each other. A plurality of unit cells each including one transfer transistor and one data storage capacitor are formed at every intersection of the bit lines and word lines. As DRAM density increases, the area available of the chip for the unit cell and peripheral circuitry is reduced.
Referring to FIG. 1, a common layout for a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of main memory cell arrays 200. Each memory cell array 200 is divided into a plurality of sub memory cell arrays 300 that each include multiple unit cells 105. A column decoder 103 and a row decoder 101 are arranged respectively at the left and bottom sides of the main memory cell array 200. A peripheral circuit region 100 is used for peripheral circuitry that controls operation of the unit cells 105.
Referring to FIG. 2, a layout of the sub memory cell array 300 and peripheral circuitry includes a sense amplifier region 400, a strap region (not shown), and a sub word line driver region 500 interposed between the adjacent sub memory cell arrays 300. The strap region is a metal wire region formed over the unit cell 105 and a gate polysilicon layer that compensates for time delays in a connected word line. In the sub word line driver region 500, a plurality of driver elements drive the sub word lines.
The strap region and the sub word line driver region 500 raise several manufacturing problems. The sub memory cell array 300 has a higher topology than the adjacent strap region and the adjacent sub word line driver region 500. The different topologies make it difficult to carry out precise layout processes. A diffused reflection of an optical beam during the photolithographic process make it difficult to produce a desired layout for the unit cells 105 on the borders of the sub memory cell arrays 300.
In order to solve such problems, the borders of the sub memory cell array 300 includes sub dummy word lines DWL and sub dummy bit lines DBL that perpendicularly intersect each other. Dummy cells are located at every intersection of the sub dummy word lines DWL and the sub dummy bit lines DBL. The sub dummy word line DWL is usually biased to a ground voltage VSS and the sub dummy bit line DBL is usually biased to a bitline precharge level VCC/2.
Due to process defects, a data storage capacitor connected to the sub dummy bit line DBL may unintentionally be electrically coupled to a data storage capacitor connected to a sub normal bit line NBL. This process defect between nodes causes an undesirable short bridge 121, as shown in FIG. 4. The short bridge 121 causes failures when carrying out performance tests such as burn-in testing.
FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of the sub memory cell array 300 including the sub dummy word lines DWL and the sub dummy bit lines DBL. The sub dummy bit line DBL is interposed between the sub word line driver region 500 and the sub memory cell array 300. The sub dummy bit line DBL is coupled to transfer transistors 108 by way of direct contact (DC) 107. The transfer transistors 108 and the data storage capacitors 119 constitute dummy unit cells 115a, 115b, 117a and 117b. A normal unit cell 113 has the same structure as the dummy unit cells 115a, 115b, 117a and 117b.
FIG. 4 is a detail circuit diagram of the sub memory cell array 300 showing the dummy unit cell 115b operatively connected to a normal unit cell 116a via the short bridge 121. The transfer transistor 108 of the dummy unit cell 115a has a drain connected to the sub dummy bit line DBL by way of the contact 107, a gate connected to a word line WL0, and a source connected to the data storage capacitor 119 by way of a buried contact. Similarly, the transfer transistor 108 in the dummy unit cell 115b has a drain connected to the sub dummy bit line DBL, a gate connected to a word line WL1, and a source connected to the data storage capacitor 119.
The transfer transistor 108 of the normal unit cell 116a has a drain connected to the normal bit line NBLB, a gate connected to the word line WL2, and a source connected to the data storage capacitor 109. The transfer transistor 108 of the normal unit cell 116b has a drain connected to the normal bit line NBLB, a gate connected to the word line WL3, and a source connected to the data storage capacitor 109.
Process defects can cause the storage capacitor 119 of the dummy unit cell 115b to connect to the storage capacitor 109 of the normal unit cell 116a via the short bridge 121.
When a row address strobe RAS is driven from the logic high level to the logic low level, the dynamic RAM receives an external row address. The row address is processed and transferred to the row decoder 101 shown in FIG. 1, activating a selected one of the word lines WL0-WLn. A few upper bits of the address transferred to the row decoder 101 are used as control signals for controlling the sense amplifier 400 of FIG. 3. The short bridge 121 is not a desired element that exits in the sub memory cell array 300. If a word line WLi (where i=0-n) is activated, data stored in the data storage capacitor 109 is loaded onto the normal bit line NBLB via the transfer transistor 108. The data on the bit line pair BL/BLB is amplified by the sense amplifier 400 and transferred to an input/output line I/O. The data is then transferred to off-chip data processing circuitry.
In the case where the sub memory cell array 300 includes the short bridge 121, the sense amplifier 400 cannot sense (i.e., read out) the data accurately. Namely, the data storage capacitor 109 of the normal unit cell 116a shares the data (i.e., the charge) with the storage capacitor 119 of the dummy unit cell 115b. When the word line WL1 is activated, the data stored into the storage capacitor 109 of the normal unit cell 116a is transferred to the dummy bit line DBL via the transfer transistor 108 of the dummy unit cell 115b. As a result, the data stored in the storage capacitor 109 of the normal unit cell 116a will have an invalid voltage level of VCC/2. If the word line WL2 is activated shortly thereafter, data with the invalid voltage level will be loaded on the normal bit line NBLB. The sense amplifier 400 cannot accurately sense the invalid data.

Semiconductor memory device having sub dummy bit line and sub dummy word line


A vehicle horn with an electronic solid state energizing circuit is described. The horn has an electromagnet for driving a diaphragm assembly which has a resonant frequency of mechanical vibration. The energizing circuit generates a DC pulse train for energizing the coil of the electromagnet to drive the diaphragm. The circuit has an adjustment for setting the pulse repetition rate of the pulse train substantially equal to the resonant frequency. It also has an adjustment for independently setting the duty cycle of the pulse train. The circuit further includes a compensator for varying the duty cycle inversely with changes in the supply voltage. An electronic power switch is connected in series with the vehicle battery and the horn coil through an unswitched power circuit. A horn switch is connected in an on/off circuit which connects the battery to a control circuit for generating the pulse train and applies it to the electronic power switch.

For many years, the electric horns commonly used on automotive vehicles have been of the type which generate sound by vibration of a diaphragm driven by an electromagnet motor. The horn typically comprises a housing with the diaphragm peripherally clamped thereto forming a motor chamber. The coil of the electromagnet is mounted within the chamber and a magnetic pole piece on the housing extends axially of the coil. A magnetic plunger on the diaphragm extends toward the pole piece for imparting motion to the diaphragm in response to periodic energization of the coil. The diaphragm provides a resilient suspension of the plunger for reciprocating motion relative to the coil; it has a spring characteristic whereby the diaphragm and the mass carried by it have a resonant frequency of mechanical vibration. The coil is energized from the vehicle battery through a mechanically actuated switch which is alternately opened and closed by movement of the plunger with the diaphragm. A vehicle horn of this kind is described in the Wilson et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,123 granted Mar. 21, 1989.
Although vehicle horns of the type just described have been eminently successful in the automotive industry for many years, there have been certain problems which, for a long time, have seemingly defied solution. One such problem is that the life of such a horn is often limited by the life of the switch contacts which are known to deteriorate over long periods of service and lead to failure of the horn. Another such problem is that of manufacturing the horn with sufficiently exacting mechanical and electrical relationships so as to obtain a high degree of operating efficiency. Particularly, such horns have not been readily adjustable to obtain operation at the maximum achievable sound pressure level for a given input power.
A vehicle horn which employs a solid state driver circuit for the horn coil is disclosed and claimed in copending patent application Ser. No. 431,696 filed Nov. 3, 1989 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,853 by Y. S. Yoon and assigned to the assignee of this application. In that horn, the driver circuit is adapted to energize the horn coil to cause vibrations of the diaphragm at its resonant frequency. The solid state driver has an electronic timer adjustable to the frequency of the diaphragm assembly and switches a solid state power output stage to drive the diaphragm synchronously with the timer frequency. A driver output stage comprises a power MOSFET or a Darlington pair.
The vehicle horns of the type referred to above, are typically fitted with either a resonant projector or a resonator to propagate sound pressure waves into the atmosphere. The resonant projector is a trumpet-like device comprising a spiral passageway to define an air column of increasing cross-section from the inlet end at the diaphragm to the outlet end at a bell. A horn with this acoustic coupling device is commonly known as a "seashell" horn. It generates sound by the free vibration of the diaphragm. The resonator is a vibratory plate of circular configuration which is mounted at its center on the diaphragm and plunger. In this device, the horn is energized so that the plunger strikes the pole piece during each cycle of diaphragm motion; the force of the strike is transferred to the center of the circular resonator causing it to vibrate at its natural frequency and generate sound pressure waves which are propagated directly into the surrounding atmosphere without any intermediate coupling device. This type of horn is commonly known as a "vibrator" horn. The two horns produce distinctly different sounds. A vehicle is usually provided with a pair of seashell horns or a pair of vibrator horns. To produce the desired sound one horn of each pair is designed for relatively low frequency and the other for high. For the vibrator horns this is typically three hundred fifty hertz and four hundred forty hertz. For seashell horns it is four hundred and five hundred hertz.
In such vehicle horns, it is desired to operate the horn so that the diaphragm is vibrated at its natural resonant frequency. This provides the maximum sound pressure level output from the horn for a given input power. Also, for the purpose of minimizing the power required to drive the horn, it is desired to have the air gap between the plunger and the pole piece at a minimum value consistent with the desired vibrational motion of the diaphragm. For a seashell horn, there is free vibrational motion of the diaphragm, i.e. without any physical contact of the plunger with the pole piece; on the other hand, in the vibrator horn, the vibrational motion of the diaphragm is limited, i.e. the plunger physically strikes the pole piece during each cycle of diaphragm vibration. To achieve this, the stroke length of the plunger must be correlated with the length of air gap which exists between the plunger and pole piece when the diaphragm is at rest.
In the manufacture of vehicle horns of the type having an electromagnet driven diaphragm with a plunger actuated switch contact, it has been a common practice to set the air gap between the plunger and pole piece at a determined length, within manufacturing tolerances, during fabrication of the horn. After assembly the horn is tested and, if necessary, certain adjustments are made. One of the tests, sometimes called the "buzz point" test is for the purpose of determining whether the horn will produce a desired sound quality over the full range of voltage variation likely to be encountered in vehicle operation. In this test the voltage applied to the horn is increased from a value below rated voltage to a value higher than rated voltage. The horn is checked audibly for a "buzz point" voltage, i.e. the voltage at which undesired striking of the plunger against the pole piece occurs. As noted above, no striking is desired for the seashell horn whereas striking with a moderate force is desired for the vibrator horn. An adjusting screw for the switch contacts is adjusted to increase or decrease the time duration of voltage applied to the horn coil. The horn current is also measured during the buzz point test to make sure it is within an acceptable range. If the switch contacts can be adjusted so that the buzz point does not occur when the applied voltage is below a specified value and if the current is not excessive, the horn is acceptable.
The solid state driver circuit set forth in the above-mentioned patent application Ser. No. 431,696 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,853, constitutes a significant improvement in respect to elimination of the switch contacts and achieving horn operation with the diaphragm vibrating at its resonant frequency. It allows operation which produces the maximum sound pressure level for a given driving power applied to the horn. However, it does not lend itself to independent adjustment of driving frequency, i.e. pulse repetition rate and input power to the horn. Further, the driving frequency, and driving power varies with changes in the voltage supplied to the horn by the vehicle electrical system.
A general object of this invention is to provide a vehicle horn with a solid state energizing circuit which permits adjustment for operation with high efficiency at maximum sound pressure level and to overcome certain disadvantages of the prior art.

Vehicle horn with electronic solid state energizing circuit


A pipette for use with a pipette tip includes a housing, a pin on the bottom end of the housing holding a pipette tip having first means for form-fit connection and a second means for form-fit connection which can be shoved onto the pin, constricting the pin, and/or expanding the tip before form-fit connection with the pin, a drive apparatus, at least one locking sleeve arranged concentric to the pin which is guided toward the pin in the housing, wherein the locking sleeve has a locked position having a pin in the inside constricted by shoving on a pipette tip, and/or is bordered on the outside by a tip shoved onto the pin, preventing a release from the pin, and the locking sleeve is upwardly displaceable out of the locked position so that the pin, and/or the tip is released, and the tip is removable from the pin.

Pipettes are utilized in particular in scientific and industrial laboratories with medical, molecular biological and pharmaceutical areas of application for dosing selected volumes of liquids. The liquids can in particular be homogeneous (single phase) liquids consisting of a single liquid component, or a homogeneous mixture of a plurality of liquid components (solutions). Furthermore, the liquids can be heterogeneous (multiphase) mixtures of a liquid with another liquid (emulsions), or a solid (suspensions).
Pipettes have a stick-shaped pipette housing with a pin (attachment) on the bottom end for clamping on a pipette tip. The pin is frequently a conical, cylindrical or sectionally conical and cylindrical projection, and is also termed a "working cone". A pipette tip is a hollow tube with a tip opening in the bottom end and a mounting opening in the top end with which the pipette tip can be clamped to the pin. The liquid is drawn into the pipette tip and discharged therefrom. The drawing and discharge of liquid is controlled by means of the pipette. Fixed volume pipettes serve to pipette constant volumes. With variable pipettes, the volume to be dosed is adjustable. A mechanical counter is used to display the set volume. To set the volume, the stroke of a drive apparatus is adjustable by means of a setting apparatus that is coupled to the counter. After use, the pipette tip is detached from the attachment, and can be exchanged for a fresh pipette tip. In this way, cross-contamination of the subsequent pipetting is avoided.
Air cushion pipettes have a plunger/cylinder system in the pipette housing that is connected by a channel to a through-hole in the pin. Pipette tips for air cushion pipettes (air cushion pipette tips) do not have an integrated plunger. By displacing the plunger by means of the drive apparatus in the cylinder, an air cushion is moved for aspirating liquid into a pipette tip clamped onto the pin, and ejecting it therefrom. A disadvantage with air cushion pipettes are dosing errors arising from the change in the length of the air cushion from the weight of the aspirated liquid, and the differences in temperature, air pressure and humidity. Contamination of the pipette with aerosols can also be problematic.
Positive displacement pipettes are used with pipette tips with integrated plungers (positive displacement pipette tips). This type of pipette has a pin for fastening the pipette tip, and a drive apparatus that can be coupled to the integrated plunger (tip plunger) for moving the plunger. The plunger comes directly into contact with the liquid so that the effects of an air cushion do not exist. Positive displacement pipettes are in particular suitable for dosing liquids with a high vapor pressure, high viscosity or high density, and applications in molecular biology in which freedom from aerosols is important in order to avoid contamination.
Air cushion or positive displacement pipette tips for single use or reuse consist of plastic or of glass.
With the Biomaster® 4830 positive displacement pipette by Eppendorf AG, the drive apparatus has a stroke rod to displace a plunger in a pipette tip that has a hollow lower stroke rod part, and an upper stroke rod part inserted from the top into the lower stroke rod part. The upper stroke rod part is connected to an operating element that projects out of the upper end of the pipette housing. A Mastertip® pipette tip by Eppendorf AG can be clamped onto a pin of the pipette. By pressing the operating element, the stroke rod can be shifted downward so that an upper end of the plunger rod of a tip plunger of the pipette tip is pressed into the bottom stroke rod part. When displacing the stroke rod downward to a bottom stop, a spring apparatus is pretensioned. After the operating element is released, the spring apparatus displaces the stroke rod to an upper stop, wherein the tip plunger is entrained and liquid can be aspirated into the pipette tip. The aspirated liquid can be discharged by pressing the operating element to the bottom stop again. To release the pipette tip, the user must press with greater force on the operating element so that another spring apparatus compresses, the upper stroke rod part in the lower stroke rod part is displaced downward and presses the plunger out of the lower stroke rod part, and the pipette tip is pressed off of the pin.
To release the pipette tip from the pipette, the spring effect of the spring apparatuses must be overcome. This can be fatiguing for the user, in particular if the pipette tips have to be exchanged frequently. Furthermore when dispensing highly viscous liquids and when quickly dispensing liquids from the pipette tip, it can occur that the pipette tip is released from the pin due to the increased flow resistance in the tip opening.
EP 0 992 288 B1 describes a pipette with an ejection apparatus for a pipette tip in which a traction gear, pressure gear or linkage is integrated. Due to the transmission ratio of the gear, the ejection rod acting on the pipette tip travels a shorter path than the drive rod connected to an ejection button so that the ejection force is greater than the force for actuating the ejection apparatus. The ejection apparatus is in the pipette housing on the side next to the drive apparatus for the displacement apparatus, whereby the pipette has a large overall volume. The pipette has the ejection button in addition to the operating button so that the user must grasp in order to eject the pipette after pipetting.
DE 103 55 914 B3 describes a pipette with an ejection apparatus that converts an axial movement of the actuating button into an axial and rotary movement of the ejector relative to the attachment. This reduces the applied force for actuating the ejector.
EP 1 689 528 B1 describes a pipette with a tip removal mechanism that contains a ramp member which is rotatable, has a circle-forming ramp surface and contains one or more segments, wherein the ramp surface has a high point and a low point in each segment. While rotating the ramp surface over a single segment, this forces an ejection element of the ejection apparatus to first move toward the tip and then to reverse. The known ejection apparatus is also arranged on the side next to the drive apparatus which makes the overall volume of the pipette large. Moreover, the ejection apparatus has a separate actuating button. This is designed as an electric pushbutton which controls a motor that rotates the ramp member by a gear. The structural complexity of the ejection apparatus is great.
DE 27 11 124 C2 describes a pipette that is connectable via a bayonet lock to a pipette tip. The pipette tip must be manually removed from the pipette. This may result in contamination.
DE 10 2006 036 764 B4 describes a pipette tip which has a latching element to latch with a mounting shaft, and a sealing region for sealing against the mounting shaft. In the region of the latching element, the pipette tip has a wall weakened by at least one slot running in the axial direction of the pipette tip. This can facilitate the sealing fixation of the pipette tip on the mounting shaft and the removal of the pipette tip from the mounting shaft. When pipetting highly viscous liquids and when pipetting quickly, the pipette tip can be pressed off of the shaft.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A driving method of a surface discharge plasma display panel includes a resetting step, an addressing step and a sustained discharging step. In the resetting step, a first voltage is applied between the scan electrodes and the address electrodes to accumulate wall charges in the respective pixel by a facing discharge, and the wall-charges accumulated by the facing discharge are removed. In the addressing step, a second voltage is applied between a corresponding scan electrodes and selected address electrodes so that a facing discharge occurs, to form wall-charges in the selected pixels. In the sustained discharging step, a third alternating-current voltage is applied between the scan electrodes and the common electrodes so that a surface discharge occurs in the selected pixels.

FIG. 1 shows an electrode pattern of a conventional surface discharge plasma display panel. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a pixel of FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional surface discharge plasma display panel includes address electrodes A1, A2, A3, . . . , Am, a first dielectric 21, a luminescent material 22, scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn−1, Yn, 231, 232, common electrodes X, 241, 242, a second dielectric 25, and a protective layer 26. Each of the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn−1, Yn, includes an indium tin oxide (ITO) scan electrode 231 and a bus scan electrode 232. In the same manner, each of the common electrodes X, 241, 242 includes a common ITO electrode 241 and a common bus electrode 242. Gas for forming plasma is sealed between the protective layer 26 and a first dielectric 21.
The address electrodes A1, A2, A3, . . . , Am are coated on a lower substrate (not shown) of a first substrate in a predetermined pattern. The first dielectric 21 is coated on the address electrodes A1, A2, A3, . . . , Am. The luminescent material 22 is coated on the first dielectric 21 in a predetermined pattern. Depending on circumstances, without forming the first dielectric 21, the luminescent material 22 may be coated on the address electrodes A1, A2, A3, . . . , Am, in a predetermined pattern. The scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn−1, Yn, 231, 242 and the common electrodes X, 241, 242 are formed on an upper substrate (not shown) of a second substrate, such that they intersect with the address electrodes A1, A2, A3, . . . , Am. The respective intersections each define a corresponding pixel. The second dielectric 25 is coated on the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn−1, Yn, 231, 232 and the common electrodes X, 241, 242. The protective layer 26 for protecting the panel from a strong electrical field is coated on the second dielectric 25.
In the prior art driving method of a surface discharge plasma display panel, a relatively high voltage is applied between the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn−1, Yn, 231, 232 and the common electrodes X, 241, 242 to accumulate wall charges in the respective pixel by a surface discharge, and the wall-charges accumulated by the surface discharge are removed, in a resetting step. The conventional driving method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,344.
FIG. 3 depicts a conventional driving method of a surface discharge plasma display panel.
In a first reset interval (a-b), a pulse of voltage Vaw, a pulse of voltage Vs+Vw, and 0 V are applied to the address electrodes Am, the common electrodes X, and the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn, respectively. Here, the voltage Vs+Vw obtained by adding the voltage Vw to the scan voltage Vs is higher than the voltage Vaw. Accordingly, a relatively high voltage Vs+Vw is applied between the common electrodes X and the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn, so that a surface discharge occurs between the common electrodes X and the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn ('a' of FIG. 3). Positive (+) wall-charges are accumulated in the positive layer 26 of FIG. 2 under each of the scan electrodes 231, 232 of FIG. 2, and negative(−) wall-charges are accumulated in the positive layer 26 under the common electrodes 241, 242 of FIG. 2.
The voltage of the wall-charges accumulated during the first reset interval (a-b) is a re-dischargeable voltage. In a second reset interval (b-c), 0 V is applied to the address electrodes Am, the common electrodes X, and the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn. Accordingly, due to the wall-charges accumulated during the first reset interval (a-b), a surface discharge occurs between the common electrodes X and the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn. The wall-charges of all pixels then removed.
In an address step, in a state in which a pulse of voltage Vax is applied to the common electrodes X, scan pulses of a voltage −Vy are sequentially applied to each of the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn. When the scan pulse is not applied, a negative voltage−Vsc which is a level lower than the voltage −Vy of the scan pulse is applied. When a pulse of the address voltage Va is applied to an address electrode Am selected while the scan pulse is applied to a scan electrode Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn, for example, during interval (c-d) for the scan electrode Y1, a facing discharge is performed in a corresponding pixel. This is because a voltage for facing discharge Va+Vy is applied between the corresponding scan electrode Y1, Y2, . . . , or Yn and the selected address electrode Am. At this time, when a negative voltage −Vsc which is lower than the voltage −Vy of the scan pulse is applied, the facing discharge stops. Positive(+) wall-charges are than accumulated under the scan electrodes 231, 232 of the selected pixel.
In a first sustaining discharge interval (g-h), a pulse of the voltage Vs/2 which is ½ the scan voltage Vs, 0V, and a pulse of the sustaining discharge voltage Vs, are applied to the address electrodes Am, the common electrode X, and the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn, respectively. That is, in a state in which positive(+) wall-charges are accumulated under the scan electrode Y1, Y2, . . . , or Yn of the selected pixel, when a relatively high negative-voltage is applied between the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn and the common electrodes X, a surface discharge occurs in the selected pixel. When the surface discharge is performed in the selected pixel, plasma is formed in a gas layer of a corresponding region, and a luminescent material 22 of FIG. 2 is excited by an UV-ray to emit light.
In a second sustaining discharge interval (i-j), a pulse of the voltage Vs/2 which is ½ the scan voltage Vs, and pulse of the sustaining discharge voltage Vs, and 0V, are applied to the address electrodes Am, the common electrodes X, and the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn, respectively. That is, in a state in which wall-charges are accumulated, when a relatively high negative voltage is applied between the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn and the common electrodes X, a surface discharge occurs in a selected pixel. Positive(+) wall-charges are then accumulated under the scan electrodes 231, 232 of the selected pixel, and negative(−) wall-charges are accumulated under the common electrodes 241, 242. When the surface discharge is performed in the selected pixel, plasma is formed in a gas layer of a corresponding region, and a luminescent material 22 is excited by a UV-ray to emit light. The operations of the first and second sustained discharge intervals are repeated during the sustaining discharge period, to thereby maintain the emission of light at the selected pixel.
In the conventional driving method, in the resetting step (interval a-c of FIG. 3), a pulse of a relatively high voltage Vs+Vw is applied between the common electrodes X and the scan electrodes Y1, Y2, . . . , Yn, so that a surface discharge occurs. Accordingly, the light of relatively high brightness is emitted from the unselected pixels, to thereby decrease the contrast of a display screen.

Method of driving surface discharge plasma display panel


A feedback control mechanism for a fermentation of yeast cells to make recombinant proteins uses a respiratory quotient measurement which adjusts the levels of oxygenation and/or fermentable sugar feed. The feedback control mechanism permits well controlled cultures that produce good amounts of product while avoiding toxic accumulation of ethanol. Additionally, recombinant proteins so produced have excellent qualitative properties, such as excellent homogeneity and proper inter-subunit assembly.

The yeast Pichia pastoris has previously is a suitable production host for the manufacture of recombinant proteins of therapeutic utility. Examples include the production of Human Serum Albumin and the Kallikrein inhibitor, Ecallantide (Reichert, J. mAbs 4:3 1-3, 2012). Pichia pastoris has been used for the production of recombinant monoclonal antibodies having correctly assembled heavy and light chains (U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,863). The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) promoter can drive expression in yeast of an antibody lacking N-glycosylation in yeast (U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,863). Recent work by Baumann et. al. (BMC Genomics 2011, 12:218), using the GAP system to produce recombinant antibody Fab fragment has shown that this system, previously thought to be constitutive, exhibits increased expression under hypoxic conditions using glucose as the source of carbon and energy. Hypoxic conditions are those that allow the dissolved oxygen level in a fermentation to drop to very low levels while still supplying oxygen to the culture through aeration and agitation. This results in mixed aerobic and fermentative metabolism.
The use of hypoxic conditions in a fermentor can result in the toxic accumulation of ethanol, and care must be exercised to control the process such that toxic levels do not accumulate. Baumann accomplished this by measuring the level of ethanol in the fermentor and adjusting the glucose feed rate to reduce its accumulation. However this method is not very scalable, as technology for reliably measuring ethanol in large scale fermentors is not widely available.
There is a continuing need in the art for efficient and accurate production of recombinant proteins, especially antibody molecules, antibody fragments, and antibody constructs.

Fermentation process for antibody production


A semiconductor device includes a first DRAM section formed on a semiconductor substrate and composed of a plurality of first memory cells and a second DRAM section formed on the semiconductor substrate and composed of a plurality of second memory cells. The operating speed of the first DRAM section is higher than that of the second DRAM section, and the capacitance of each said first memory cell is larger than that of each said second memory cell.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device in which a CMOS logic section and a plurality of DRAM sections used for different applications are formed together on the same semiconductor substrate, and more particularly relates to a DRAM-embedded system LSI having a reduced power consumption and an increased processing speed while ensuring a sufficient signal holding characteristic.
(2) Description of Related Art
In recent years, DRAM-embedded system LSI (large scale integrated) chips have been attracting public attention. In a DRAM-embedded system LSI chip, a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) logic section and a general-purpose DRAM (dynamic random access memory) section as a memory device, which used to be formed on separate chips, are formed together on the same chip to satisfy a demand for diversified semiconductor devices (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-232076).
For example, a DRAM-embedded system LSI chip used for an image processing application, or the like, includes a DRAM section as a memory device for storing an image information signal, and a CMOS logic section for retrieving necessary information from the DRAM section and performing an arithmetic operation based on the retrieved information, and the DRAM section and the CMOS logic section are formed together on the same chip.
A DRAM-embedded system LSI chip as described above realizes a higher communication speed than that realized by older techniques where data or information is exchanged between a CMOS logic section and a DRAM section that are formed on separate chips. A semiconductor device in which a CMOS logic section and a plurality of DRAM sections are formed together on the same chip includes, for example, a CMOS logic section formed on a silicon substrate and a DRAM section including trench capacitors or stacked capacitors. In this relation, the trench capacitors represent cell capacitors (memory cell capacitors) of a particular type formed in the silicon substrate, and the stacked capacitors represent cell capacitors of a particular type formed on the silicon substrate.
It was technically difficult to form a CMOS logic section and a DRAM section together on the same chip because they had large areas. However, with recent miniaturization techniques, a DRAM-embedded system LSI chip having a chip size less than or equal to 100 mm2 has been realized. Now, a plurality of CMOS logic sections and a plurality of application-specific DRAM sections are formed on the same chip, whereas a single chip accommodated only one CMOS logic section and one application-specific DRAM section with older techniques.

Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An interconnection plate apparatus provides high frequency signal paths for communication among multiple pc boards and/or high frequency system components. The apparatus includes an interconnection plate which is a conductor having cross-sectional channels at which transmission line structures are formed. The transmission line structure includes a through-plate conductor concentrically surrounded by a through-plate insulator concentrically surrounded by the channel walls. An RF ground ring is positioned between the interconnection plate and a pc board at the transmission line structure. The interconnection plate provides a common ground reference and a common ground path for each board mounted to the interconnection plate. The ground ring structures assure a stable ground connection between the interconnection plate and the pc board ground planes. Different transmission line structures implement different signal transformation functions. The transmission line structure may simply pass the signal. In one embodiment, however, the transmission line structure serves as a low-pass filter.

This invention relates to off-board communication path structures for high frequency signal transmissions. More particularly, this invention relates to an interconnection plate between pc boards in which a high frequency transmission line structure is formed through a cross-section of the plate.
Communication paths for high frequency signals in the gigahertz range are often designed to minimize signal reflection at path media transitions. Signal reflection is undesirable as the signal is attenuated resulting in power loss. Accordingly, it is well known to match impedances among different media forming a high frequency signal path. In particular, impedance-matched transmission line structures are formed for on-board and off-board communications. Of interest here are path structures for off-board communication.
Conventional off-board communication path structures achieving transmission line effects for high frequency signals include semi-rigid cable assemblies. A semi-rigid cable assembly includes an outer semi-rigid metal tube concentrically surrounding an insulator concentrically surrounding an a central coaxial conductor. Typically, the cable assembly is terminated with a pair of mating connectors, one of which is attached to the semi-rigid cable and the other soldered to the pc board.
Such cable assemblies are bulky, awkward structures. Packaging of systems employing these assemblies require excess space for routing each cable. To reduce the associated packaging, fabrication and assembly costs, a less spacious, more compatibly-shaped structure is desired. A high frequency signal path structure is needed which achieves transmission line effects at a lower cost.

Interconnection plate having high frequency transmission line through paths


An Internet of Things washing machine control method comprises the steps of, when a power module of the washing machine detects a startup signal, starting up the washing machine, and enabling a communication module to start to connect with the Internet; judging whether the communication module is successfully connected with the Internet, if yes, activating a remote control function and entering the next step, and if no, directly entering the next step; judging whether the washing machine receives an operating command of running a clothes washing program, if yes, executing the operating command and entering the next step, and if no, directly entering the next step; judging whether to shut down the washing machine, if yes, entering the next step, and if no, returning to the step; sending a shutdown signal to the power module, shutting down the washing machine, and powering off the communication module.

Along with the development of Internet of Things technologies, a remote control technology of a washing machine is also quickly enhanced. Communication between the washing machine and the Internet can be achieved by adding a wireless communication module to the washing machine; and remote control of the washing machine can be achieved by installing an APP (Application) client on intelligent terminal equipment.
At present, a remote control method of the washing machine in the prior art comprises the steps as follows: an electric plug of the washing machine is connected with a power supply, meanwhile a communication module is powered on, the washing machine is in an Internet-connected standby state and waits for being started up by a user via an intelligent terminal. After washing is completed, the user shuts down the washing machine via the intelligent terminal, the communication module is not powered off, the washing machine is still in the Internet-connected standby state, and thus the intelligent terminal can control the washing machine in real time.
However, the operating frequency of a general household washing machine is relatively low, i.e., two to three times per week; if the washing machine is always in the Internet-connected standby state to achieve real-time remote control of the washing machine, a huge waste of energy is caused certainly, and a potential safety hazard that the washing machine catches fire is also increased; and if the communication module of the washing machine needs to be powered off by unplugging the electric plug manually, the remote control also has limitations, and the user experience is poor.
Therefore, the present disclosure is provided.

Internet of things washing machine control method, control system, and washing machine

QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.


In a method for identifying cells, line graphics are converted into vectors (12) having a canonical form without vector overlaps or crossings. Connecting vectors (22, 24, 26, 30, 32) are associated, including (i) forking vectors (22) having common starting points, and (ii) meeting vectors (24) having common ending points. A set of vectors is identified including at least two forking vectors and two meeting vectors cooperatively defining a cell.

The following relates to the document processing arts. It is described with example reference to applications involving the detection and delineation of cells in tables having separating gridlines. However, the following is applicable more generally applicable to detection and segmentation of gridlines and rectangles generally, and to apparatuses, methods, applications, and so forth employing same.
Document analysis relates to processing of documents to extract useful information. Table or tabular processing is an important area of document analysis. Tables or tabular presentations may contain valuable information such as quantitative results, synthesis, correlation, or other presentation of factual information, or so forth. Automated analysis of tabular information is difficult, however, because the information is typically grouped into table cells whose recognition depends upon spatial location in the document, relative alignment of cells with other cells, and similar layout-based considerations. In contrast, document analysis techniques tend to focus upon textual analysis that is typically relatively independent of document layout.
In some tables or tabulations, the cells are delineated by horizontal and vertical gridlines. These gridlines beneficially guide the eye of the human viewer to identify individual cells and, in some arrangements, selected groups of cells. Some automated table analysis techniques employ image analysis of such gridlines to assist in identifying table cells. For example, a gridline identified by image analysis may be taken as an indication of a boundary between table cells.
The robustness and reliability of such image analysis-based cell identification techniques has been limited by uncertainties in the image analysis, such as in thresholding typically used to distinguish gridline pixels from surrounding pixels. Moreover, deviations of the table grid from an ideal Cartesian grid-type layout can be problematic. For example, in some cases a group of cells may be merged across two or more rows, two or more columns, or so forth so that the merged cell does not "line up" with the general layout of rows and columns of the table grid. Similar problems can arise if a cell is split into two or more rows, two or more columns, or so forth.
Moreover, the above image analysis-based approaches are typically not directly applicable to documents whose graphical content is stored in an abstract format such as portable document format (PDF) or scalable vector graphics (SVG) format. In such abstract vector-based representations, there are typically many different (that is, redundant) ways for a given table grid to be represented. For example, each minimal cell (that is, each cell that does not contain any sub-cells) may be represented by four boundary vectors, with vector redundancy at each table cell boundary. Alternatively, horizontal vectors extending across all columns of the table may represent gridlines separating table rows, and similarly vertical vectors extending across all rows of the table may represent the gridlines separating table columns. This representation has no vector redundancy, but also does not have one-to-one correlation between grid vectors and individual minimal table cells. There are many other possible grid representations with various levels of vector redundancy.
One approach for processing documents stored in an abstract graphical representation such as SVG or PDF is to convert the abstract graphical content into a bitmapped representation, and then to process the bitmap using the aforementioned image analysis techniques to identify gridlines and table cells. However, this approach is computationally inefficient due to the intermediate bitmapping process, and also introduces the aforementioned difficulties of image analysis-based techniques.

Methods and apparatuses for finding rectangles and application to segmentation of grid-shaped tables


An optical image reader is provided. The image reader includes, for example, a targeting system for an imager, which includes a light device having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), each for emitting light, and a device for shaping a single targeting light based on the outputs of the plurality of LEDs. The image reader includes, for example, an image system for capturing image of an indicia on an object, which includes a targeting light source for providing a targeting light to the indicia on the object; and an optical system for focusing reflection from the object, having a liquid focus lens element having a variable focus, and a controller for controlling the focus of the focus lens. The image reader includes, for example, a system for capturing an image of an indicia on an object, which includes an image sensor for sensing reflection from the object, and an ambient light sensor for sensing the reflection from the object prior to the sensing by the image sensor to calculate a first estimate for exposure of the image sensor.

Handheld imagers are well known in the art. The imagers typically include a targeting system having a light source for illuminating a target object, an image sensor for sensing reflection from the object, and a signal processor for processing the output from the image sensor.
Considerable effort has been made into the handheld imagers. However, many issues still remain with regard to, for example, response time, power consumption, quality of imagers.


An alignment film printing device, configured to improve coating quality of an alignment film, includes at least one printing unit, and the printing unit each includes: a cylinder body with an opening at a bottom and an extract opening on a top; a vacuum extractor connected with the extract opening; a plunger provided inside the cylinder body, and configured to draw the alignment fluid from the opening to the cylinder body; a vacuum tester provided at the extract opening and configured to monitor a vacuum degree inside the cylinder body and above the plunger; a range finder provided inside the cylinder body and configured to monitor a distance from the plunger to a top of the cylinder body; and a control device in signal communication with the vacuum extractor, the vacuum tester and the range finder respectively and configured to control a volume of the alignment fluid drawn into the cylinder body according to test values of the vacuum tester and the range finder.

At present, an alignment film is coated by using an alignment film transfer printing device, specifically, spraying an alignment fluid on a transfer printing roller, making the alignment fluid that is sprayed on the transfer printing roller evenly distributed by means of a blade, and then coating the alignment fluid into display areas of a substrate by using a supporter and an alignment transfer printing plate.
However, in operation of the above alignment film transfer printing device, because the alignment film transfer printing plate is made of an elastic material, and the alignment film transfer printing plate produces elastic deformation upon being pressed on the substrate during transfer printing process, it is difficult to control edge precision of the alignment film and inaccurate to control the thickness of the alignment film, thereby affecting coating quality of the alignment film.

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.