A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes pixels having uniform parasitic capacitance values. Each pixel comprises at least one thin film transistor. The gate electrode of the thin film transistor is formed from part of a gate line, so as to reduce the overall area occupied by the transistor. A drain electrode is formed over and within the width of the gate line and parallel to the source electrode, and having a surface area less than the underlying portion of the gate line. In addition, the source electrode and the drain electrode are isolated, but electrically connected to a semiconductor layer, from the gate electrode. A drain electrode extension is connected with the drain electrode and a pixel electrode, and projects outward over both width edges of the gate line. The drain electrode and drain electrode extension are dimensioned with sufficient margins with respect to the gate line to account for misalignments between the drain electrode and the gate line. In this way, the difference in pixel brightness due to differences in parasitic capacitance is removed by eliminating the possibility of alignment errors from varying the parasitic capacitance between pixels. Moreover, the area which the thin film transistor occupies is respectively widened compared with the prior art and the number of corrections to be made on each wiring layer is decreased because the cross steps of the gate electrode and the source electrode that occur on the underlying layer are reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display in which each of the pixels comprising the liquid crystal display has the same parasitic capacitance.
2. Description of Related Art
A TFT-LCD (thin film transistor liquid crystal display) is a display in which thin film transistors serve as switching elements for a plurality of pixels so as to control an electro-optic effect of liquid crystal material. The display includes a multiplicity of pixels, each having a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode and a storage capacitor; a color filter device wherein the common electrode and the color filter are formed; and liquid crystal material sealed in the color filter device. In this type of LCD, each pixel generally contains a number of capacitors, such as, for example, a liquid crystal capacitor formed by a TFT matrix circuit glass plate and a color filter glass plate with the liquid crystal layer in between; a maintenance capacitor formed by the pixel electrode and a maintenance electrode; and a parasitic capacitor formed by a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode.
The parasitic capacitance will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1, which is a cross-sectional view of a conventional TFT.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the thin film transistor comprises a gate electrode 2, a source electrode 6 and a drain electrode 7 formed on transparent glass substrate 1. A gate isolation layer 3 covers gate electrode 2, and, on gate isolation layer 3, a channel layer 4 is formed with amorphous silicon such that it is situated above the upper part of gate electrode 2.
Channel layer 4, being connected with source electrode 6 and drain electrode 7 through contact layer 5, is composed of n.sup.+ -amorphous silicon. Drain electrode 7 is further connected with a pixel electrode 8.
As shown in FIG. 1, which is a cross sectional view of a TFT in FIG. 2, a portion "b" of drain electrode 7 overlaps gate electrode 2 to form a capacitor. This is what is commonly called a parasitic capacitor, the capacitance of which is called parasitic capacitance.
This parasitic capacitance has the following effect. When voltage is applied to the gate electrode of the TFT, an alternating current signal, shifted between source electrode 6 and drain electrode 7, is transitionally transmitted to the liquid crystal capacitor, the parasitic capacitor, and to the storage capacitor. The parasitic capacitance of a TFT is normally greater than that of a MOSFET, such that the wave pattern of this alternating current signal becomes anti-symmetrical. Resulting from this anti-symmetrical signal phenomenon is an offset voltage problem and undesired flickering.
To attempt to overcome these problems, a compensating voltage is applied to an electrode situated at the opposite end of the liquid crystal layer. However, by undertaking this countermeasure, other problems arise. For example, when a plurality of pixels are formed on a TFT substrate, parasitic capacitors are formed in each of the pixels as a result of overlapping portions of drain electrode 7 with gate electrode 2, as shown in FIG. 1. Further, when the drain electrode and the gate electrode are misaligned, due to slight alignment errors during processing, such as misalignment during patterning layers using a photolithographic process, the parasitic capacitance values can be vary from pixel to pixel. This problem is exacerbated when the voltage applied to the opposite electrode is unable to compensate for the offset voltages caused by all of the different parasitic capacitance values and is only able to compensate for some of the different parasitic capacitance values.
Therefore, in addition to compensating for the offset voltages arising from the parasitic capacitance, it is necessary to form pixels having equal parasitic capacitance in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. The method as described in FIG. 2 is suggested in Korean Patent Public Information and Public Announcement Number 94-6989.
In the conventional method shown in FIG. 2, each pixel comprises, at least, one pair of TFTs. The two transistors are formed symmetrically with respect to middle line (A--A) which is parallel to data line 14. Gate electrode 12 for both TFTs is formed such that it perpendicularly extends from two different parts of a single gate line 11 and is symmetrical with respect to middle line (A--A). Drain electrode 13, connected with the pixel electrode (not drawn), is symmetrical with respect to, and formed along, middle line (A--A), parallel to data line 14. So, the left part of drain electrode section 13, with respect to the middle line (A--A), acts as a drain electrode for the left TFT, and the right part of drain electrode section 13 acts as a drain electrode for the right TFT.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 2, the conventional structure includes source electrodes 16 and 15 of the left and right TFTs, respectively. Source electrode 15 of the right TFT is formed perpendicularly to data line 14 and parallel with drain electrode 13, and source electrode 16 of the left TFT is formed perpendicularly to data line 14. The line connecting source electrode 15 of the right TFT with data line 14 crosses portions of gate electrode 12, then is angled toward the upper side and formed in parallel with drain electrode 13. Reference numeral 17, not described, indicates a channel layer formed by a semiconductor material.
A drawback of this conventional structure is that the area occupied by the TFTs increases. Further, when arranging pixels in a vertical stripe pattern, aperture efficiency decreases. Moreover, because the line connecting source electrode of the left transistor with the data line is formed to cross the two gate electrodes, the area of the gate electrode which is superposed by the source electrode increases, and as a result, a time constant of each wiring layer increases.

Liquid crystal display device having uniform parasitic capacitance between pixels


An electronic book is provided including a plurality of PCMIA cards each with read only memory having a unique text permanently stored therein. Further provided is a portable unit comprising at least one speaker for allowing the transmission of audio signals upon the receipt thereof, a PCMCIA interface slot formed in the housing for allowing the downloading of the text of the PCMCIA card, and a speech processor/synthesizer connected to the speaker for transmitting audio signals thereto upon the receipt of text stored in the PCMCIA card. Such audio signals are representative of speech corresponding with the text. Further provided is a control mechanism adapted to download the text located within the PCMCIA card via the PCMCIA interface and further transmit the same to the speakers and the display whereby the audio signals are continuously transmitted and a user may view the text via the display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to laptop computers and more particularly pertains to a new electronic book for providing coincident visual and audible reading of electronically stored literature.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of laptop computers is known in the prior art. More specifically, laptop computers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art laptop computers include U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,091; U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,417; U.S. Pat. Des. 359,306; U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,974; U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,333; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,697.
In these respects, the electronic book according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing coincident visual and audible reading of electronically stored literature.


Spatial notification systems and methods are described. In one respect, a spatial notification system includes a spatial information requesting circuit configured to transmit a request for spatial information, the request including a spatial location. The spatial notification system further includes an association circuit configured to associate received spatial information with notification information and a notification delivery system. The spatial notification system also includes a transmitter configured to transmit at least a portion of the spatial information and associated notification information to a notification delivery system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to notification systems and methods. More specifically, location based event notification systems and methods are described.
2. Description of the Related Art
Events having a potential impact on subjects not directly associated with the event happen almost every day. Some events may simply pass; others may be noteworthy and require a response. Some events happen by accident such as a traffic collision, by design such as a building implosion or military strike, or by nature such as a fire, earthquake, volcanic eruption, or tornado. Events may be associated with a location such as a terrestrial location or a location in space. For certain classes of events, the effect of the events may be predicted and modeled to assist in responding. One aspect of a response may be notifying entities that may be affected by the event.
Atmospheric dispersion prediction and modeling of the effects of an event is a common practice with many algorithms and tools available for accomplishing this such as, for example, the Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres (ALOHA) toolset jointly developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Atmospheric dispersion modeling may include mathematical simulation of how air pollutants disperse in the ambient atmosphere. In some instances, the modeling may be performed with computer programs to solve mathematical equations and algorithms which simulate the pollutant dispersion. The dispersion models may be used to estimate or to predict the downwind concentration of air pollutants or toxins emitted from sources such as industrial plants, vehicular traffic or accidental chemical releases.
A common practice is to depict the results of an area dispersion predication and modeling calculation as a set of shapes, with each shape depicting a specific range of concentration of an atmospheric dispersion. For example, if a chemical tanker truck is involved in an accident whereby the tank is compromised, chemicals may be leaked into the environment. How this chemical will move in the atmosphere may be modeled.
In some implementations, the information forming the basis for the model (e.g., type of chemical, location of the accident, weather conditions) may be manually entered into the modeling system to obtain the shapes. Accurately and efficiently entering model information is an important aspect of preparing an appropriate response to such events. Furthermore, over time the model may change as conditions regarding the event change. For example, more details about the location may become available which may impact the model output. As another example, the weather may change thereby affecting the model. Maintaining an accurate model as time progresses in an efficient manner is another important aspect of managing such events.
As part of responding to an event, a notification delivery system may be employed. The notification delivery system may be configured to communicate information to an identified group of interested parties. For example, in the chemical tanker accident scenario, providing information to residents or a school near the accident may be desirable. Notification delivery systems generally include an interface to receive an indication of who should receive certain notification messages. As with the modeling information, entering the indication of who should receive which notifications efficiently and accurately is a further important aspect of responding to such events.
Accordingly, improved systems and methods for efficient and accurate notification of relevant entities for predicted and/or modeled location based events are desirable.

Location based event notification systems and methods


The present invention is a powdered stain remover formulation which when mixed with water exhibits bleaching and stain discoloration properties together with the required detergency, and also exhibits mildewcide and bacteriocidal properties. The formulation includes calcium hypochlorite; a surfactant to promote detergency by emulsification, such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate and a polyacrylic acid salt, such as sodium polyacrylate, to further promote cleaning by chelation. The stain remover formulation is applied to the stained surface by spraying, rolling or brushing. In this manner, water stains, tobacco, soot, mold, mildew and other stains are readily removed from the desired surface, such as sprayed textured walls and ceilings, tiles, masonry, fiberglass and plastic furniture. Importantly, this is done so without any further need to rub or wipe the surface

The removal of discoloration stains, such as water stains, mold, mildew, tobacco and soot, from walls, ceilings, shower curtains, tiles and like surfaces, is a particularly annoying problem. The removal of such stains on sprayed textured ceilings and walls is even more troublesome. A variety of detergent compositions are available for removing the stains, but require extensive rubbing or wiping which usually destroys the texture or finish, particularly for textured ceilings and walls. Liquid bleach products are also available to remove those stains, but unless great care is exercised, they also destroy the finish or texture of the surface. Although an option, repainting or replacing the stained surface is possible, but is typically cost prohibitive.
The present invention relates to a formulation which has been found to be particularly successful when used for removal of such stains wherein the labor required for removal is significantly reduced. Indeed, by simply spraying, brushing or rolling the formulation on the desired surface, the stains are removed without the need for further rubbing or wiping.

Stain remover for textured walls and ceilings


A communication system using fast macrodiversity switching (FMS) and frequency hopping (FH) for wireless signals including downlink signals to and uplink signals from mobile stations. Frequency hopping sequences are determined for the uplink and downlink signals for the mobile stations. A plurality of transceiver stations employ broadcast channels and dedicated channels for communications with the mobile stations. A zone manager controls fast macrodiversity switching of dedicated channels among the mobile stations while broadcast channels remain unswitched. The zone manager extracts frequency hopping information to form predictions of dedicated channel collisions, and based upon the predictions, controls the dynamic switching of dedicated channels to avoid collisions.

The present invention relates to the field of mobile wireless communication systems and more specifically to methods and apparatus for communication with mobile telephone users (cellular and personal communication systems), mobile wireless data communications, two-way paging and other mobile wireless systems.
In a mobile wireless network, mobile stations (MS) are typically in communications with one base transceiver station (BTS) through up and down radio links. Such ground-based radio links suffer from strong local variations in path loss mainly due to obstructions and line-of-sight attenuation. As MS move from one point to another, their signal path losses go through shadow fading fluctuations that are determined, among other things, by the physical dimension of the obstructions, antenna heights and MS velocity. These variations in path loss must be taken into account in the design of the uplink and downlink radio link resource allocation.
While communicating with a specific home BTS, MS are frequently within the communications range of other BTS. Statistically, due to the distribution of physical obstructions, the shadow fading path loss fluctuations to such other BTS tend to be only weakly correlated with the path loss fluctuations on the link between the MS and home BTS. Frequently, an MS, at any one time and location, has a lower path loss to a different BTS than the serving BTS with which it is communicating.
In high capacity wireless networks, efficient use of spectrum resources is of utmost importance. Dividing network layouts into ever smaller cells and tightening up frequency reuse, is one way to increase spectrum efficiency, but cannot be applied practically everywhere. Prior art studies on frequency reuse in wireless networks using time division multiplexing, such as GSM, show that frequency hopping (FH) can be used to randomize interference. Frequency hopping improves the carrier-to-noise/interference-ratio of radio links and decreases the frame erasure rate (FER). Thus, frequency hopping allows the loading factor in a network to be increased without increasing bandwidth. The benefits of FH become more pronounced as the pool of frequencies used in a region is increased.
For a set of n given frequencies, GSM allows 64×n different hopping sequences that are described by the MAIO (Mobile Allocation Index Offset) and the HSN (Hopping Sequence Number). The MAIO may have as many values as the number of frequencies in the set and the HSN may take 64 different values. Two channels bearing the same HSN but different MAIOs never use the same frequency on the same burst. Two channels using the same frequency list and the same time slot with different HSNs, interfere randomly for 1/nth of the bursts. The sequences are pseudo-random, except for the special case of HSN=0, where the frequencies are used one after the other in order. Pseudo-random sequences have statistical properties similar to random sequences.
Usually, channels in one cell bear the same HSN and different MAIOs since it is desirable to avoid interference between channels in a cell. Since adjacent cells use disjointed frequency sets, they are not interfering. In distant cells using the same frequency set, different HSNs are used in order to gain from interferer diversity. In GSM, the Common Channels do not use frequency hopping. The common channels (FCCH, SCH, BCCH, P AGCH and RACH) use a fixed frequency.
In addition to frequency hopping, fast macrodiversity switching (FMS), as described in the above-identified cross-referenced applications, has been shown to improve carrier-to-noise/interference-ratio in networks where shadow fading, or slow fading, is present by adaptively switching radio channels to the path with the lowest path loss.
Networks suitable for using FMS or FH typically consist of multiple geographically distributed receivers ("collector resources") and transmitters ("broadcaster resources") and multiple mobile stations that communicate with collector resources on uplinks and with transmitter resources on downlinks. Frequently, collector and transmitter resources are co-located in base transceiver stations (BTS). Furthermore, multiple BTSs communicate with one or more base controller stations (BSCs) which in turn are connected via communications links with the Public Switched Telephone Network, with the Internet and/or with other facilities.
According to the above-identified cross-referenced applications, mobile users in FMS enabled networks may be communicating on uplink and downlink traffic channels with more than one BTS. In GSM, a traffic channel is defined as having a specific time slot and carrier frequency. Initially, an MS call is setup with one of the multiple BTSs. This BTS is called the home BTS (hBTS) for the call. When during the course of the communications, the radio link path-loss between a particular mobile station, MS, and its hBTS—due to a shadow fading event—becomes higher than the path loss between the particular MS and another BTS belonging to a set of assisting BTSs (aBTS) for the particular MS, the traffic channel is switched from the hBTS to an aBTS. This aBTS then becomes the serving BTS for the MS typically at least for the duration of the shadow fading event.
When an MS is served by an aBTS during FMS operation, the aBTS communicates with the MS on the same radio channel that was established for the hBTS. Such communications may disturb the network frequency plan and may lead to an undesirable change in the interference environment. This change in the interference environment can occur in all FMS enabled networks, including those using FH, and tends to be independent of the frequency reuse plan.
FH has been found to be most beneficial in 1/3 and 1/1 frequency reuse plans. In both these reuse plans, all available traffic channels are used by every BTS in the network. In 1/3 frequency reuse plans, the pool of available frequencies is divided into three frequency sub-pools, and one such frequency sub-pool is assigned to each of the three sectors in every BTS. The one or more of radio resources in each sector share the frequency sub-pool assigned to the sector using FH for all time slots. Cyclical or random FH may be applied, both with the objective to avoid the simultaneous, or overlapping transmission of bursts within a sector using the same frequency. Such simultaneous, or overlapping transmissions of bursts (co-channel bursts) are called collisions (co-channel interference). Furthermore, the frequency hopping sequences in each sector are designed to minimize simultaneous or overlapping transmission of bursts in adjacent frequency channels (adjacent channel interference).
In 1/1 frequency reuse, the entire pool of available traffic radio channels is used by all radio resources in all sectors of all BTSs. To minimize collisions between traffic channels in different BTSs, each BTS is assigned one specific frequency hopping sequence (FHS). All radio resources within the three sectors of a BTS use the same FHS. To avoid collisions between the traffic channels within the BTSs, each radio resource is assigned one specific mobile allocation index off-set (MAIO). These MAIOs are chosen such that the hopping sequences of all radio resources are orthogonal, thereby avoiding collisions between traffic channels in the BTSs. The FHSs assigned to the plurality of BTSs are not orthogonal. Therefore collisions may occur between traffic channels used in different BTSs.
Byway of one example, in a network with 1/1 frequency-reuse, a mobile station, MSi communicating on a traffic channel, TCH1, with a base transceiver station, BTS1, using hopping sequence, FHS1, and offset, MAIOi, can have collisions with another mobile station, MSj, communicating on traffic channel, TCHj, with base transceiver station, BTSj, using hopping sequence, FHSj, and offset, MAIOj. When such collisions happen, MSi and MSj receive simultaneous or overlapping downlink bursts from BTSi and BTSj at the same frequency. Likewise, BTSi, and BTSj receive uplink bursts at the same frequency. Depending on the alignment of the downlink bursts in time, and depending also on the relative signal power levels at the MSi and MSj locations, the mobile stations may not be able to detect one or more bursts correctly. Similarly, the BTSi and BTSj may not be able to detect bursts correctly dependent on alignment and power levels of received bursts.
This problem is exacerbated when FMS and FH are is employed in the same environment. In the above example, when a BTS is a home hBTSi for MSi, BTSj is a home hBTS for MSj, and when during a shadow fading event, BTSj becomes the assistant serving aBTS for MS1, collisions occur between the traffic channel TCHj, used for communications with MSj being served by BTSj, and traffic channel TCHi, used for communications with MSi, also served by BTSj.
While many different wireless networks have been proposed, there is a need for improved wireless networks that achieve the objectives of improved performance and higher density of Mss when both FH and FMS are employed.

Predictive collision avoidance in macrodiverse wireless networks with frequency hopping using switching


The present invention provides an antenna duplexer comprising a transmitting filter and a receiving filter which are mounted on a package, a transmitting signal input pad and a transmitting signal output pad which are connected to input and output ends of the transmitting filter, a receiving signal input pad and a receiving signal output pad which are connected to input and output ends of the receiving filter, and at least one grounding pad. The pads are arranged, on a surface of the package, along at least two sides of four sides of a quadrangle. The transmitting signal input pad and the receiving signal output pad are disposed at diagonal positions of the quadrangle and are furthest away from one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to antenna duplexers mounted on portable telephones, etc.
2. Description of Related Art
As shown in FIG. 3, an antenna duplexer 80 comprises an antenna terminal ANT to be connected to an antenna, a transmitting signal terminal Tx to be connected to a transmitting circuit, and a receiving signal terminal Rx to be connected to a receiving circuit. The antenna terminal ANT is connected to the transmitting signal terminal Tx and the receiving signal terminal Rx via a branchpoint 10. A transmitting filter 51 comprising a surface acoustic wave device is interposed on a signal line connected to the transmitting signal terminal Tx through the branchpoint 10 while a receiving filter 41 comprising a surface acoustic wave device is interposed on a signal line connected to the receiving signal terminal Rx through the branchpoint 10 (see JP-A-340781/1999).
Furthermore interposed between the branchpoint 10 and the receiving filter 41 is a phase-matching strip line 7 for phase rotation, to match the phases between the transmitting filter 51 and the receiving filter 41 (see JP-A-307383/2000). Incidentally the phase-matching strip line 7 is interposed between the branchpoint 10 and the filter having a higher pass band of the transmitting filter 51 and the receiving filter 41.
FIG. 4 shows the construction of the antenna duplexer 80 which is enclosed in a package. The transmitting filter 51 and the receiving filter 41 are mounted on a surface of a multilayer ceramic package 82. Arranged into two rows in the surrounding area of the filters 51, 41 are a transmitting signal input pad 9a and a transmitting signal output pad 9b to be connected to input-output terminals of the transmitting filter 51, a receiving signal input pad 9c and a receiving signal output pad 9d to be connected to input-output terminals of the receiving filter 41, and a plurality of grounding pads 91 (see JP-A-340781/1999).
With the antenna duplexer, when a signal is to be transmitted, the signal received by the transmitting signal terminal Tx passes through the transmitting filter 51 and thereafter is fed from the antenna terminal ANT to an antenna. In this case there occurs a phenomenon that the signal received by the transmitting signal terminal Tx sneaks around to the receiving signal terminal Rx, so that there is a need to take sufficient isolation measures against the phenomenon.
Accordingly with the conventional antenna duplexer, various isolation measures are heretofore taken to a signal path from the transmitting signal terminal Tx to the receiving signal terminal Rx via the transmitting filter 51 and the receiving filter 41. However, the conventional antenna duplexer has not yet achieved the sufficient isolation effect, and therefore there is still room for more improvement.


The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the detection of an object moving in the monitored region of a camera, wherein measured values are compared with reference values and an object detection reaction is triggered when the measured value deviates in a predetermined manner from the reference value. In this respect, both the measured values and the reference values are derived from differences which exist between at least two different image regions.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the detection of an object moving in the monitoring range of a camera.
A reference image with an object-free monitored region is usually recorded and stored with such methods or apparatuses. Images of the monitored region are then continuously recorded and compared with the stored reference image during the actually occurring monitoring. If deviations result here, the presence of an object is assumed and a corresponding reaction triggered, for example a switching off of a machine. The comparison of the recorded images with the stored reference image takes place, for example, in such a way that the brightness of pixels of the reference image and of the actually recorded image which mutually correspond with respect to their spatial position are compared to one another and then a reaction is triggered if the determined brightness of a specific number of pixels of the actually recorded image does not agree with the corresponding brightness values of the pixels of the reference image.
A problem in the use of known apparatuses and known methods of this kind is the fact that the camera and/or parts of the monitored region can move, for example as a consequence of permissible vibrations or oscillations, which can then result in changes in the images recorded and, with an object-free monitored region, in an unwanted triggering of reactions. Being more specific, it is for example possible for a hazardous region of a machine to be monitored using the camera with the intention being to switch off the machine whenever a person moves into the monitored region. Such a person causes brightness differences in the images recorded during the monitoring with respect to an object-free reference image so that when persons intrude into the monitored region, a stopping of the machine can take place in a desired manner. If, however, a vehicle now drives past the monitored machine, for example, and produces vibrations which move either the camera or the machine slightly, an—unwanted—stopping of the machine will also take place in this case due to the differences between the images recorded and the reference image, even though no person is located in the monitored region.

Apparatus and a method for the detection of objects


A heat exchanger includes exchanger tubes which are narrow in flow direction of an outer exchanger medium. Always two adjacent exchanger tubes are connected to each other by fins which are either U-shaped individual or are components of a meander-like fin strip. The tube sides are connected to bases of the individual fins or to contact portions of the fin strips by welding, particularly by fusion welding on the inner surfaces of the tube sides. The exchanger tubes are formed by two tube shells which are welded together at the longitudinal edges thereof after two adjacent tube shells have been connected to each other by the fins. The ends of the tubes are placed in tube plates. The resulting heat exchanger is completely galvanized and does not require support structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger including exchanger tubes equipped with fins which extend transversely of the sides of the tubes. The exchanger tubes have an elongated cross-section in the flow direction of the outer exchanger medium. The exchanger tubes have a length which is several times greater than the width thereof. The exchanger tubes are arranged in a row extending transversely of the flow direction of the outer exchanger medium and the tubes are with the ends thereof attached to tube plates.
2. Description of the Related Art
German patent 34 19 734 discloses a heat exchanger which is capable of exchanging heat, for example, between gases and liquids or between gases and condensing vapors. Such a heat exchanger is used predominantly for cooling air or condensing vapors by means of air.
Steel fins are used especially in connection with exchanger tubes of steel. The steel fins are dip-galvanized. Such fins are punched in appropriate machines from plates or strips, are provided with holes adapted to the cross-section of the exchanger tubes and are subsequently pushed in the longitudinal direction onto the exchanger tubes. The subsequent galvanization by dipping not only has the purpose of protecting the exchanger tubes and the fins, but simultaneously produces the metal-to-metal connection of the exchanger tubes with the fins.
The exchanger tubes which are slender in the flow direction of the outer exchanger medium and are essentially oval, are arranged in at least one row next to each other between two tube plates. The tube ends are attached to the tube plates. In addition to the tube plates, stable support structures are used for connecting the exchanger tubes.
In the above-described exchanger tubes whose cross-section is non-circular, the fins as well as the sides of the tubes connected to the fins are subjected to bending moments which occur, especially when vacuum exists in the exchanger tubes.
If a certain width of the sides of the tubes, for example, approximately 200 mm, is exceeded in such exchanger tubes, and if the fin dimensions and rib spacings are conventional, i.e., having a thickness of approximately 0.35 mm, a height of approximately 15 mm and a spacing of approximately 2.5 mm, and the sides of the tubes have a conventional thickness of about 1.5 mm, it may easily occur that the permissible bending stresses of the thin fins are exceeded and distorsions of the fins are caused as a result. Moreover, the connection between the exchanger tubes and the ribs which is usually effected by zinc may be damaged. This damage results in the significant disadvantage that the flow of heat between the exchanger tubes and the fins is disturbed, without the reason for this problem being visible or apparent.
In manufacturing the known heat exchanger, the machine procedures of punching out the fins and sliding the ribs onto the exchanger tubes must be carried out with high precision, so that it is ensured that the zinc provides as close as possible a connection between the exchanger tubes and the fins. These procedures are very complicated and cumbersome. Since, in addition, the fins are slid over the exchanger tubes, a significant amount of material is cut out of the fins to provide for the cross-section of the exchanger tubes. A large quantity of this material which has ben cut out is inevitably discarded unused as scrap material.
Another property of the known heat exchanger is the fact the heat exchanger tubes are galvanized individually. For this purpose, each exchanger tube must be pressed flat and tightly welded at the ends thereof, so that only the outer surfaces are pickled and passivated and the inner surfaces are not galvanized. This is also cumbersome and complicated. After the exchanger tubes have been galvanized, it is necessary to remove the ends which have been pressed flat and welded. This also requires an additional operation and produces essentially useless waste material.
Subsequently, it is necessary to join the individual exchanger tubes together by means of the support structures already mentioned above in order to obtain the heat exchanger which must be constructed so as to be self-supported over the length thereof.
Accordingly, the manufacture of a heat exchanger of the known type is relatively cumbersome and requires time-consuming work steps. In addition, the manufacture becomes more difficult because of measures required for avoiding damage to the surface protection applied by means of dipping during the assembly of the heat exchanger.
Moreover, due to the inner negative pressure and/or the outer excess pressure, significant forces act on the large-area sides of the slender exchanger tubes. Consequently, when a certain degree of slenderness is exceeded, the sides of the tubes are pressed-in if suitable measures, such as, supports, are not provided. In this connection, an embodiment of the known proposal provides that the sides of the tubes are supported relative to each other by means of at least one internal transverse web.


A tactilely setable data input structure for a battery-operated, computer-run wrist watch operable in a time mode and a calculator mode comprising: a watch casing housing battery and clock calculator electronics and at least one visible display having multiple units therein. A first button is located on a first side edge of the housing for operating the electronics to cause the visible display to shift between a calculator and a time display upon depression thereof. A second and third button on said first side edge of the housing and a fourth, fifth and sixth button on an opposite side edge of the housing from the first edge. The second through sixth buttons are connected to the electronics to create digits zero through nine or no digit in a first unit of the display dependent on the combination of specific buttons simultaneously pressed, wherein at least two of the digits zero through nine are created by the pressing of only two buttons, and wherein release of the buttons creating the digit shifts the register to an adjoining unit of the display for creation of a digit in a second unit of the register; and wherein pressing of different button combinations from those creating the digits zero to nine, activates the calculator electronics to any one of the mathematical functions of adding, subtracting, dividing or multiplying digits previously entered into the display by a subsequent sequence of digits to be entered into the display, and wherein entry of a new number after release of these different button combinations initially clears the display to allow for the insertion of the new number.

This invention relates to electronic wrist watches with calculator mechanisms and provides for a six-button operation of all time and calculator functions. By locating three buttons on each side of the wrist watch casing, an operator can operate the watch tactilely without viewing of the watch. By utilizing simultaneous pressing of specific buttons, all watch and calculator functions and entry can be handled by the pressing of between one to three buttons, a task easily done with a user's thumb, index and forefinger.
Electronic wrist watches with built-in calculators are well-known as evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,266,278 of May 5, 1981 to Ebihara et al.; 4,232,382 of Nov. 4, 1980 to Heinsen et al.; 3,803,834 of Apr. 16, 1974 to Reese; 4,086,655 of Apr. 25, 1978 to Taiminmoto et al.; and 4,062,181 of Dec. 13, 1977 to Zurcher. These calculating wrist watches all suffer from the fact that the keyboard for numeral entry and mathematic functions (add, subtract, multiply, divide,=) is equipped with a plurality of closely spaced buttons on the face of the watch. Each number and each function has its own button. Consequently, as the buttons are close together, great care must be exhibited in data entry to insure accuracy. In addition, when buttons are close together, sometimes a tool (e.g., a pencil point, paper clip end, etc.) has to be used for pressing the buttons as a user's finger is too wide to insure only pressing of a single button. Likewise, viewing of the individual buttons is required in order to insure proper entry of data or mathematical function.
It is well-known in watches to have dual time zone capability for travelers so they can get one clock register for home time and one clock register for local time. By pressing of a button, the watch display can shift between these clock registers. Quite often, home time utilizes a twelve-hour AM-PM clock while the local time utilizes a twenty-four hour clock. It is also well-known to include a stopwatch register in these electronic watches, and by the proper pushing of buttons, one can shift from time to stopwatch operation. Also alarm setting features are quite common in these watches.
It is also well-known to include memory registers in calculators for the storage of numbers, such that e.g., multiplication of a series of different numbers by a constant number can be obtained by reference to a constant number stored in the memory.
In the above time and calculator functions, a method and procedure for the input of data and the change of function is normally obtained by the pushing of individual buttons for digit entry and individual buttons for shifting between registers and functions.
The instant invention accomplishes the data input for the above types of watches by shifting between registers and function with simplicity utilizing only six buttons which are spaced far apart so as to be able to be easily pushed by the thumb, fore and index fingers of one hand. By providing for no more than the pushing of three keys to accomplish data input, register recall, and mathematical and time function and display, tactile operation of the wrist watch can be affected so that the user need not view the watch face for data entry, register recall, mathematical or time function selected. By having the data entry utilize buttons on opposite sides of the watch face, a squeezing action of buttons between a thumb and fingers of a hand is obtained, which renders actuation easily and tactilely.
Rapid action is obtained by memorizing the buttons for actuation. This is of course simpler than a typewriter keyboard since fewer discrete combinations are required.
A type of electronics to obtain such operations can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,285 to Heinsen et al. which type of electronics can be utilized with the instant invention and which electronics is incorporated by reference hereinto as an example of electronics necessary to operate a watch calculator of the above known type. The instant application is not dependent on the electronics to be used, but rather with a logic system that allows tactile input to such electronics.

Tactile actuated electronic computer wrist watch


This invention relates to a rubber modified acrylic and/or vinyl resin comprising the mini-emulsion polymerization product of at least one rubber compound substantially dissolved in at least one acrylic monomer and/or vinyl monomer.

Pressure sensitive adhesives are widely used in the adhesive industry. Large quantities of pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are used in the production of masking tape and labels. Conventional PSAs may contain natural rubber or other similar elastomeric compounds and are either solvent-based or water-based. In solvent-based PSAs, the solids are dissolved in an organic liquid. In water-based PSAs, the solid components are dispersed in water.
In response to safety and environmental concerns, the use of water-based PSAs has grown. Though most water-based PSAs exhibit good shear strength, their solvent-based counterparts exhibit superior shear strength. In addition, natural rubber latex often exhibits poor mechanical stability and thus limits the methods by which it can be applied.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,388 describes a process for the preparation of aqueous homogeneous polymer emulsion which comprises mixing, generally with agitation or under shear conditions, water, surfactant, at least one polymer, e.g. cellulosic compounds, and at least one monomer, e.g. acrylics, methacrylics, styrene, etc., the polymer being soluble in said monomer, to form a dispersion of polymer-monomer particles in water; then subjecting said dispersion to conditions such that the monomer within the particles become polymerized by free radical polymerization thereby forming a substantially homogeneous blend of at least two polymers within the particles of the emulsion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,518 describes a process for incorporating a polymer soluble in one or more of the monomers into an emulsion polymer. The monomer mix is subjected to high shear to form small droplets in the range of 10 to about 500 nm to form a mini-emulsion. The incorporated polymer level is limited to 0.5-5.0% based on the combined weight of monomer and polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,904 describes a process for incorporating a hydrophobe (greater than 30 weight % based on combined weight of monomer and polymer) into a microparticle. Their system requires the use of a functional polymer (eg. hydroxyl group) and the use of a cross-linking agent (e.g. melamine formaldehyde or a blocked polyisocyanate).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,715 describes a process for forming a hydrophobically modified core polymer as part of a core-shell polymer. The core is made by mixing a hydrophobic polymer, monomer(s), water, and surfactant then subjecting to high shear to form surfactant stabilized particles (droplets) between 100 and 300 nm. This core material is polymerized. Then a hydrophilic shell is formed using conventional emulsion polymerization with at least one hydrophilic monomer.
WO 98/42761 describes a process for modifying natural rubber by swelling existing natural rubber latex particles with small quantities of vinyl and/or acrylic monomer, then initiating reaction of the monomer in the swollen latex particles. The process is most similar to a seeded emulsion polymer process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,199 describes the use of myrcene to promote grafting of natural rubber latex to alkenyl aromatic and alkenyl nitrile monomers. The grafted and non-grafted portions of the final product are separated and made into sheeting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,579 describes a method for blending various latexes, curing agents, tackifiers, and plasticizers followed by a heated curing step for use in pressure sensitive adhesive applications.
Japanese Patent 05287121 describes a process for modifying a natural rubber latex by adding small amounts of acrylic and vinyl monomers plus additional water and surfactant, then polymerizing the acrylic monomers through the addition of heat and an initiator. The acrylic monomers graft to the natural rubber forming an acrylic-modified natural rubber latex. However, these processes start with natural rubber in latex form and do not provide for pre-dissolution of rubber(s) into acrylic and/or vinyl monomer(s), forming of a mini-emulsion, and subsequent polymerization to form a hybrid latex.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,065 (Yang) describes a process for incorporating a low molecular weight tackifier by pre-dissolution in monomer followed by incorporation into a latex under conventional emulsion polymerization conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,378 (Clark et al.) describes water-based latexes of a acrylic-modified alkyd or uralkyd resin or hybrid resin which can be prepared by emulsion polymerization as well as by mini-emulsion polymerization.
There exists a need in the art for water-based adhesives that afford both excellent shear strength and mechanical stability without the production of undesirable scrap levels. The invention, as described below, addresses such a need.

Rubber modified acrylic and/or vinyl hybrid resins


In one embodiment, the present invention relates to amine-functionalized polyisobutylenes. Methods for preparing the amine-functionalized polyisobutylenes are also described. Furthermore, the invention relates to microemulsion coating compositions comprising the amine-functionalized polyisobutylenes which can be applied to various surfaces, especially metallic vehicle surfaces, wherein the compositions form a protective barrier on the surface and improve the drying rate, protection and shine of the surface. The coating compositions have a long service life and withstand numerous washing cycles. Moreover, the coating compositions when applied to surfaces, hydrophobize the same and allow for easy removal of water by increasing the contact angle of water droplets and thus reducing the “footprint” thereof.

In the commercial automatic vehicle wash setting, it is desirable to apply a vehicle or automotive wash aid such as a drying agent and/or synthetic spray wax after the car is washed and rinsed. The drying agents or spray waxes are typically applied by spraying them onto the surface of the automobile during or after the rinse cycle. The drying agent-spray wax compositions electrostatically bond to the automobile surface. Depending on the hydrophobicity of the composition, the residual water which clings to the surface tends to form beads or is "beaded". Depending on the characteristics of the drying agents and/or spray wax, the water will run off the surface at a certain rate, especially if during the drying step jets of air are directed tangentially to the automobile's surface. Prior art drying agents and spray waxes typically utilize an oil based hydrophobe which tend to have poor durability and result in a greasy film which can be left on the windshield or glass surfaces of an automobile.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,009 to Nagy et al. relates to coating compositions which can be applied to surfaces to improve the drying rate, protection, and shine. However, Nagy et al. cannot anticipate nor teach or suggest the instant amine-functionalized polyisobutylenes or compositions including the same.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,590 to Hei et al. relates to a touchless car wash composition that can be made from a concentrate and diluted to use concentration using commonly available service water can comprise an ether amine or diamine in particular a fatty ether amine or diamine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,272 to Vicenzi relates to an automobile spray wax composition incorporating an aromatic compound having at least one of two linear C8 to C20 alkyl substituents, and a preferred embodiment thereof including a compound identified and characterized by a CAS registry number of 68988-79-4.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,419 to Popa et al. relates to a method for treating and protecting a substrate, said method comprising coating the surface of said substrate with a composition comprising a blend of                (a) a polydimethylsiloxane polymer having a viscosity at 25° C. of 5 to 100,000 cS; and        (b) a polyisobutylene oligomer having a number average molecular weight of 200 to 550. The treatment imparts an appearance to the surfaces of plastic, rubber or leather substrates whereby surface gloss is reportedly enhanced, but not excessively, as is the case for a comparable all-silicone treating agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,325 to Swenson et al. relates to emulsion compositions which are used as auto spray waxes or rinse or drying aids in automatic car washes. The inventive emulsion replaces mineral seal oil of prior art emulsions with more environmentally acceptable simple esters of natural fatty acids having the general structural formula:
wherein R—C is from an acid moiety having approximately 12-26 carbon atoms, and R′ is from an alcohol moiety having approximately 1-5 carbon atoms. In an additional embodiment, the emulsion composition can include an amine oxide coupling solvent or solubilizer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,329 to Tarr relates to water repellent compositions including a silico-titanium polymer, a cationic, surface-active quaternary ammonium compound, and a spreading agent which provides odor detection properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,702 to Kummer, et al. relates to a proposed fuel or lubricant composition which contains one or more polybutyl or polyisobutylamines of the general formula:
where R1 is a polybutyl- or polyisobutyl radical derived from isobutene and up to 20% by weight of n-butene and R2 and R3 are identical or different and are each hydrogen, an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, a primary or secondary, aromatic or aliphatic aminoalkylene radical or polyaminoalkylene radical, a polyoxyalkylene radical, or a hetaryl or hetercyclyl radical, or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a ring in which further hetero atoms may be present.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,401 to Shore is related to the cleaning of the surface of an object, such as an automobile, during which the surface is subjected to a detergent and then rinsed with water and dried by beading, an optical brightener is injected into, or contained in, the detergent and/or the rinsing water and/or the beading material. The inclusion of the optical brightener reportedly improves the appearance of the cleaned object, giving it luster and causing it to gleam, but also materially accelerates or improves the beading.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,301 to Gammon relates to microemulsion defoamer compositions which are oil in water colloidal dispersions reportedly useful in defoaming aqueous systems such as in paper machines and latex paints. These compositions are prepared by mixing a water dispersible organic material, ethylene oxide condensate, coupling agent, water, basic material and antigelling agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,075 to Basadur relates to a composition for reportedly improving the efficiency of automatic carwash establishments by facilitating the drying of cars and for imparting a protective coating to hard surfaces such as the exterior of cars which comprises non-volatile mineral oil, amine-functional polydimethylsiloxane (AFDS) and cationic emulsifier at critical levels and in critical proportions. A method for applying a protective coating to hard surfaces is also provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,409 to Ayres et al. relates to an ice-preventive and de-icing material for application to metallic objects, such as railway switches and the like, which is in the form of a reportedly viscous, stable, oil-in-water emulsion, comprising about 5% to 30% of the lubricant oil or grease, which is substantially insoluble in water, as the disperse phase; about 2 to 20% of a cationic or non-ionic surface active agent as an emulsifying agent; and the balance an aqueous solution, as the continuous phase, containing about 2 to 5% of the total composition of a water-absorbing, viscosity-maintaining compound and a sufficient amount of a freezing point depressant for water to lower the freezing point of the water which the composition comes into contact and thereby prevent the formation of ice on the protected object or remove ice from the protected object, provide lubrication of parts where required and prevent adhesion of parts as needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,718 to Clumpner relates to an emulsifier system for forming a stable oil and water emulsion which contains mixtures of difatty ethoxylated quaternized amidoamines in which the fatty acid residues are derived from soya and coconut oil.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,551,168 to Atherton et al. relates to a reportedly protective polish composition for auto laundries of a dicoco dimethyl quaternary amine, an ethoxylated tertiary amine and an emulsifiable mineral oil.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,933 to Yates relates to wax containing automobile polishes reportedly made detergent resistant by incorporating therein the reaction product of a hydroxyl endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having a viscosity in the range of 10 to 15,00 cs., and a silane selected from the group consisting of those having the general formulaeR″n(R′O)3-nSi(CH2)3NHR′″ and R″n(R′O)3-nSiRNHCH2CH2NH2wherein R′″ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical, R″ is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation and contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, n has a value of from 0 to 2, R′ is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation and contains 3 to 4 carbon atoms, the weight ratio of the siloxane to the silane being in the range of about 1:1 to 20:1.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,440,063 to Chestochowski et al. relates to an emulsion composition for use in automatic car washes comprising a monoester (C6-C12 moieties), an acetic acid salt of a fatty amine, a hydrotrope, a short chain alcohol and water; processes for removing water from automobiles utilizing said emulsion compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,213 to Clark relates to preparations for treating cleaned surfaces. In one aspect, this invention relates to emulsified formulations for rinsing previously cleaned automobiles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,201 to Boyle et al. relates to cleaning and coating formulations. More particularly, this invention relates to oil-in-water emulsions reportedly suitable for simultaneous cleaning and coating of finished surfaces.

Amine-functionalized polyisobutylenes for improved hydrophobizing microemulsions


A scalability card for use with a plurality of computer blades. The computer blades are releasably securable in a parallel configuration, wherein each blade includes a circuit board and a processor operatively coupled to the circuit board. Each processor is in electronic communication with a scalability connector on a floating plate that is loosely secured to the computer blade. Furthermore, each scalability connector is preferably disposed in a common plane extending perpendicular to the plurality of parallel computer blades. The scalability card includes a plurality of electronically interconnected scalability connectors arranged for rough alignment with the scalability connectors of each computer blade. In addition, the scalability card preferably includes at least one alignment feature for engaging each floating plate and, therefore, providing fine alignment of the scalability connector on each floating plate to one of the scalability connectors of the scalability card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processor scaling between processors in separate chassis.
2. Background of the Related Art
Processors may be interconnected to achieve greater performance. The greater performance may include faster memory access or increased data handling capacity. An interconnection between two or more processors may be referred to as a bus, such as with the front side bus (FSB), or a point to point interconnect, such as with the Intel Corporation's QUICK PATH INTERCONNEC™ (QPI). When an interconnection is made between processors, the processors are referred to as being scaled and a cable used to complete the interconnection is referred to as a scalability cable.
Processor scalability requires a high signal quality electrical connection between the processors. When the processors being scaled are mounted on the same circuit board, such electrical connection may be made with conductive traces that extend from the socket for one processor to the socket for another processor. However, when the processors being scaled are located in different housings, the electrical connection must be allow for mechanical compliance of each housing. For example, mechanical compliance is required to allow each housing to be properly inserted into a chassis and also to resist damage from shock and vibration.

Processor scaling across multiple computer blades

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to molecular sieves having the structure of ITQ-32 is synthesized from a reaction mixture substantially free of fluoride ions and comprising 4,4-dimethyl, 1-cyclohexyl-piperazinium cations in its pore structure, as well as methods of making such molecular sieves and methods of using them.

ITQ-32 is a molecular sieve having a two-dimensional pore system comprising cages linked through windows of 8-membered rings of tetrahedrally coordinated atoms. Although the widest cross section of the large cages is circumscribed by 12-rings, these 12-rings can only be accessed by diffusion through the 8-ring channels. ITQ-32 has been assigned the framework type IHW by the Structure Commission of the International Zeolite Association.
ITQ-32 is of interest for the separation of small molecular species like carbon dioxide and methane because of the small dimensions of its pores (3.5 Å×4.3 Å). This and other separations using ITQ-32 are described in, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0202416.
The characteristic X-ray diffraction pattern of ITQ-32 and its synthesis in the presence of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyldecahydrocyclobuta[1,2-c;3,4-c′]dipyrrolidinium and 4,4-dimethyl,1-cyclohexylpiperazinium cations as organic structure directing agents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,582,278. However, the synthesis mixtures described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,582,278 require the presence of fluoride ions, which in commercial scale operations is disadvantageous in that they may lead to extra safety and cost considerations. There is, therefore, interest in synthesizing ITQ-32 in the absence of fluoride ions.
According to the present invention, it has now been found that ITQ-32, particularly in a borosilicate form, can be prepared in the absence of fluoride. The fluoride-free synthesis can be effected using 4,4-dimethyl,1-cyclohexylpiperazinium as the organic structure directing agent. The synthesis can be accomplished in the absence of alkali metal cations thereby obviating the need for ion-exchange of the product after calcination to remove the occluded organic structure directing agent.

Synthesis and use of molecular sieve ITQ-32

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


The present invention relates to a unique, compact hydrogen electrochemical system which eliminates the need for explosion-proof equipment. This system merely separates the electrical equipment from the hydrogen source with a wall, but employs a positive pressure, of about 0.1 inches water column, air purge throughout the system to prevent the introduction of hydrogen gas to the electrical equipment and to recover and use waste heat.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to hydrogen electrochemical systems. In particular, this invention relates to a unique, compact hydrogen electrochemical system, especially a system for producing greater than about 100 standard cubic feet per hour (scfh) hydrogen or a fuel cell system for generating greater than about 1 kW (kilowatt) of electricity, including the attendant enclosures, ventilation and thermal conditioning equipment, allowing for adequate isolation and operation of the generator.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Hydrogen, under ordinary conditions, is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic gas comprised of diatomic molecules. There are many industrial uses of hydrogen including manufacturing ammonia and methanol, desulfurization of petroleum products, hydrogenation of fat and oils, production of electricity, and reduction of metallic oxide ores. Hydrogen, a flammable gas that diffuses rapidly in air, has a flammable range of approximately 4 percent to 94 percent by volume (vol. %), in air, at atmospheric pressure. Spark temperatures as low as 500.degree. C. will initiate explosion of a hydrogen-air mixture. Consequently, the production and use of hydrogen is tightly controlled and regulated.
Laboratory scale, less than about 1 scfh hydrogen, are comparatively simple and compact hydrogen generating systems. In the commercial environment, however, strict regulations governing the production of hydrogen, in amounts exceeding about 100 scfh for example, has increased the complexity, expense, and space requirement for these systems.
Hydrogen electrochemical systems of the prior art, including water electrolyzer systems for example, are commercially available in open metal frame structures. Systems of moderate and large capacity (greater than about 100 scfh of hydrogen) are typically integrated with separate power, control, ventilation, and heat exchange equipment when installed in a building or facility as a hydrogen generating system. Due to the risk of an explosion of any uncontained hydrogen gas, the National Electric Code (Article 501), requires the use of explosion-proof methods when employing electrical equipment in hazardous environments. These methods include the use of explosion-proof housings, components, and certain energy limiting, "intrinsically safe", zener barrier devices, and often require housing of the generator and associated equipment in special ventilated buildings or weatherized structures.
The hydrogen generator systems of the prior art, which require explosion proof components and/or specialized housing, suffer from the fact that these components are more costly to procure and install, and typically require significantly higher cost and effort to deploy than their non-explosion proof commercial counterparts.
What is needed in the art is a compact, reduced cost, hydrogen electrochemical system configuration which meets the applicable codes and regulations, and can be utilized in hydrogen generating systems and various fuel cell systems.

Hydrogen electrochemical system environment


Compiling source code to reduce run-time execution of vector element reverse operations, includes: identifying, by a compiler, a first loop nested within a second loop in a computer program; identifying, by the compiler, a vector element reverse operation within the first loop; moving, by the compiler, the vector element reverse operation from the first loop to the second loop.

Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for compiling source code to reduce run-time execution of vector element reverse operations.
Description of Related Art
Computer systems have evolved into extremely sophisticated devices and computer systems may be found in many different settings. Advances in both hardware and software (e.g., computer programs) have drastically improved the performance of computer systems. Modern software has become very complex compared to early computer programs. Many modern computer programs have from tens of thousands to many millions of instructions. The execution time and thus, performance, of a computer program is very closely related to the number and complexity of instructions that are executed as the computer program runs. As such, as the size and complexity of computer programs increase, the execution time of the computer program increases as well.
Unlike early computer programs, modern computer programs are typically written in a high-level language that is easy to understand by a human programmer. Special software tools known as compilers take the human-readable form of a computer program, known as "source code", and convert it into "machine code" or "object code" instructions that may be executed by a computer system. Because a compiler generates the stream of machine code instructions that are eventually executed on a computer system, the manner in which the compiler converts the source code to object code affects the execution time of the computer program.
The execution time of a computer program, especially complex computer programs, is a function of the number, arrangement and type of instructions within the computer program. Many different optimizations have been developed so the code produced by compilers has better run-time performance.


The present invention discloses a semiconductor device package structure with redistribution layer (RDL) and through silicon via (TSV) techniques. The package structure comprises an electronic element which includes a dielectric layer on a backside surface of the electronic element, a plurality of first conductive through vias across through the electronic element and the dielectric layer, and a plurality of conductive pads accompanying the first conductive through vias on an active surface of the electronic element; a filler material disposed adjacent to the electronic element; a first redistribution layer disposed over the dielectric layer and the filler material, and connected to the first conductive through vias; a first protective layer disposed over the active surface of the electronic element, the conductive pads, and the filler material; and a second protective layer disposed over the redistribution layer, the dielectric layer, and the filler material.

In recent years, the high-technology electronics manufacturing industries launch more feature-packed and humanized electronic products. These new products that hit the showroom are lighter, thinner, and smaller in design. In the manufacturing of these electronic products, the key component has to be the integrated circuit (IC) chip inside any electronic product.
Rapid development of semiconductor technology has led to rapid progress of a reduction in size of semiconductor packages, the adoption of multi-pin, the adoption of fine pitch, the minimization of electronic components and the like. The purposes and the advantages of wafer level package includes decreasing the production cost, decreasing the effect caused by the parasitic capacitance and parasitic inductance by using the shorter conductive line path, acquiring better SNR (i.e. signal to noise ratio). Furthermore, the size of a wafer-level package product is close to the size of a chip, and therefore, the size of the chip determines the package volume.
Conventionally, the function of chip package includes power distribution, signal distribution, heat dissipation, protection and support. As a semiconductor becomes more complicated, the traditional package technique, for example lead frame package, flex package, and rigid package techniques, cannot meet the demand of producing a smaller chip with high density elements on the chip.
The chip-scale package (CSP) has been conventionally formed by a method in which a semiconductor wafer is cut into semiconductor chips, then the semiconductor chips are mounted on a base substrate serving as a package base at predetermined positions and bonded thereto, and they are collectively sealed with a resin, thereafter the sealing resin and the base substrate are cut into pieces together at the parts between the semiconductor chips. In another conventional method, a semiconductor wafer (not yet being cut into semiconductor chips) is mounted on a base substrate and bonded thereto, then the semiconductor wafer and the base substrate are cut simultaneously, and the cut and divided semiconductor chips and package bases are sealed with a resin.
Further, the operability, performance, and life of an IC chip are greatly affected by its circuit design, wafer manufacturing, and chip packaging. For the present invention, the focus will be on chip packaging technique. Since the features and speed of IC chips are increasing rapidly, the need for increasing the conductivity of the circuitry is necessary so that the signal delay and attenuation of the dies to the external circuitry are reduced. A chip package that allows good thermal dissipation and protection of the IC chips with a small overall dimension of the package is also necessary for higher performance chips. These are the goals to be achieved in chip packaging.
There are a vast variety of existing chip package techniques such as ball grid array (BGA), wire bonding, flip chip for mounting a die on a substrate via the bonding points on both the die and the substrate. The inner traces help to fan out the bonding points on the bottom of the substrate. The solder balls are separately planted on the bonding points for acting as an interface for the die to electrically connect to the external circuitry. Similarly, pin grid array (PGA) is very much like BGA, which replaces the balls with pins on the substrate and PGA also acts an interface for the die to electrically connect to the external circuitry.
Both BGA and PGA packages require wiring or flip chip for mounting the die on the substrate. The inner traces in the substrate fan out the bonding points on the substrate, and electrical connection to the external circuitry is carried out by the solder balls or pins on the bonding points. As a result, this method fails to reduce the distance of the signal transmission path but in fact increase the signal path distance. This will increase signal delay and attenuation and decrease the performance of the chip.
However, in the manufacturing method, wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) has an advantage of being able to print the redistribution circuit directly on the die by using the peripheral area of the die as the bonding points. It is achieved by redistributing an area array on the surface of the die, which can fully utilize the entire area of the die. The bonding points are located on the redistribution circuit by forming flip chip bumps so the bottom side of the die connects directly to the printed circuit board (PCB) with micro-spaced bonding points.
Although WLCSP can greatly reduce the signal path distance, it is still very difficult to accommodate all the bonding points on the die surface as the integration of die and internal components gets higher. The pin count on the die increases as integration gets higher so the redistribution of pins in an area array is difficult to achieve. Even if the redistribution of pins is successful, the distance between pins will suffer yield and reliability issues owing to the huge size of the package. The further disadvantages of the former method are higher costs and time-consuming for manufacture.
Therefore, the present invention provides a new structure and method for a package that minimizes the thickness of package structure for a wafer level package to overcome the aforementioned problem.

Package structure and manufacturing method thereof

Advanced Chip Engineering Technology Inc.


A process for flexible rate charging for existing connections permits flexible rate charging for services delivered through telecommunication networks. A variable price agreement is accomplished between a service provider and a service user within a predetermined framework, and adherence thereto is checked through the use of an independent verification system.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for flexible rate charging for a service during an existing connection in a telecommunication network.
Within the scope of the deregulation of telecommunication markets, many different providers are entering the market and are competing with one another in different areas (network operators, service providers, information providers). Clearly, a trend is developing away from the sale of so-called network services such as connections between subscribers, with particular quality characteristics (data rate, error rate, etc.) and toward the marketing of information services such as consulting services, data searches, etc.. Modern telecommunication networks which allow subscribers access to the information providers are oriented, with regard to charging for services, toward characteristics of the connection that is produced (distance, time of day, day of the week, data rate, error rate, etc.). Those parameters that are charge relevant from a network standpoint can be derived by the network at the time that the connection is produced and can be used to determine the rate to be applied.
In the event of the sale of services, e.g. information, consulting, etc. by a service provider to the user of the service, there is a business relationship between the service user and the service provider in addition to the general business relationship between telecommunications subscribers and network operators.
In order to provide a successful marketing of services, the business relationship between the service provider and the user must follow the usual practices of the market:
First of all, that includes a flexible pricing structure as a function of supply and demand, i.e. the provider must be able to adapt its pricing structure to its business interests independently without the inclusion of a third party, e.g. the network operator.
Since the supply is independent of the services of the network operator, within the scope of its business relationship with the user, the service provider should be able to ask its price and when the user is interested, should be able to make the price directly applicable.
It is furthermore required that as needed, the user can remain totally anonymous in relation to the service provider, as is customary, for example, in the purchasing of goods for cash.
For security reasons, e.g. user protection, protection against misuse, the user should be protected against monetary charges brought about by errors and by intentional or unintentional misuse.
The currently used embodiments are based on both of the following approaches:
Online charging according to a predetermined rate schedule. The rate to be applied is derived according to predetermined rules (e.g. from connection parameters or from user inputs having possible variants that are fixed at the beginning of the call). Consequently, only a limited scope is available to the service provider for variable modifications within the framework of an existing connection to a user since the parameters are already fixed at that point.
Offline charging through the use of separate account tendering for the service provided. In that connection, the provider can in fact freely set its price, but the business relationship requires that the user be known to the service provider in order to make the account tendering possible.

Process for flexible rate charging for existing connections


A system according to one embodiment includes a tape cartridge, the tape cartridge comprising: a housing; a magnetic recording tape in the housing; and a non-tape nonvolatile memory coupled to the housing, the nonvolatile memory being for storing therein an index comprising file system information for a plurality of files stored on the magnetic recording tape. A method for storing data on a tape cartridge according to one embodiment includes writing a plurality of files to a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge; and writing an index to a non-tape nonvolatile memory of the tape cartridge, the index including information about locations of data of the plurality of files on the magnetic recording tape.

The present invention relates to tape-based data storage, and more particularly, to storing data on a magnetic tape and storing an index in a nonvolatile memory associated with the magnetic tape.
Data storage drives, such as data tape drives, record information to and read information from media, such as the data tape of a tape cartridge. Data storage drives are often used in conjunction with, for example, a data storage and retrieval system. One example of such a system is an automated data storage library with robotic picking devices, wherein removable media cartridges are selectively transported between storage cells and data storage drives in an automated environment. Herein, automated data storage library, data storage library, tape library system, data storage and retrieval system, and library may all be used interchangeably.
A digital storage tape may contain multiple files. Files and data stored on tape are written to the tape sequentially, in a linear fashion. Unlike hard drives or solid state nonvolatile storage such as flash memory or other nonvolatile memory (NVM), tape does not allow direct-access write of data. In general, tape data can only be written linearly, in append-only mode. For example, the Linear Tape-Open (LTO) standard uses shingling to write tracks to increase tracks density. However, due to shingling, the in-place rewrite of a file or a data block stored in one track would destroy what has been written in the neighboring track.
File management of data on tapes has traditionally been different from that of direct-access storage media. In the latter, file system data structures are commonly used, keeping information such as a hierarchical directory structure, file names, file attributes (e.g., such as size, access information, access rights permissions), and a list of the physical storage blocks containing the file contents, etc. However, since such file system structures must be updated with information when any changes are made to files stored on the media, such file system structures are not well-suited to tapes, which do not allow rewrite of the file system information. While tape-based file system implementations do exist, however, as reading the file system information requires positioning the tape to the end of the recorded data, and any update requires rewriting of a new copy of the entire set of file system structures at the end of the tape data.
One common approach to managing data on tape requires a storage system to manage the tape while storing a separate index of the tape content on an unrelated disk device or other remote direct-access storage media. For example, tape is no longer self-describing. Data stored on the tape cannot be accessed because the tape file index is left in the storage system's database once the tape is taken out of the scope of the storage system. The longevity of the data is limited by the longevity of the storage system, including all its software, databases and hardware it is running on. Hence, while the tape media may preserve the bits intact for years, there is no guarantee that the files will survive as long since their data may no longer be interpretable.
Another approach to storing files on tapes is via utilities such as TAR (Tape ARchive). The TAR program combines a set of source files into a single data set which is written to tape. The TAR file consists of a header, which describes the TAR file contents and retains file metadata, and the body of the TAR file which consists of the source files concatenated together. The TAR program makes the tapes self describing which avoids the dependency on an external index. However, TAR files are not appendable once written. An appended tape therefore may consist of several TAR files. Indexing such a tape will require multiple seeks and reads. Also there is the risk of data loss if a TAR file header is corrupted or its format becomes obsolete or its header and content storage format are found incompatible by the TAR utility attempting to open it, e.g., there are multiple variations of TAR which are not fully compatible with each other. Since the source files are concatenated in the data area, the TAR file header is required to determine the source file boundaries.
Very large TAR files are often challenging to handle during transfer on a network between disk and tape systems. In some practices, the large TAR file is first divided into blocks of certain size, such as 32GB, and the blocks are transferred and written to tape in sequential order. To restore a file from such a tape, all of the blocks have to be read from tape, the complete TAR file has to be reassembled, and only then may the file be accessed by the TAR utility. This process involves one or more copy operations of the entire TAR file, requires a large temporary storage area for TAR assembly.

Primary storage media with associated secondary storage media for efficient data management


Herein disclosed are an editing apparatus, an editing method, and an editing program allowing quick editing of video data. In order to clip a section in the video data and play it to be broadcasted as a replay, receiving a request to start playback from a desired position, an in-point is set in response to the request, and an out-point is set in response to a request to finish playback. Then, other video data from the video data of a section between the in-point and the out-point is generated.

In recent years, nonlinear video editing apparatuses have become increasingly popular due to an improvement in processing speed of CPUs, an increase in speed and capacity of hard disk drives (HDDs), as well as an improvement in data compression coding technology. A nonlinear video editing apparatus digitizes, encodes and stores a video from a camera, a video tape recorder or the like, as video data in an HDD.
With the nonlinear video editing apparatus, the video data is edited in such a manner that the encoded video stored in the HDD is read, decoded and played back, and an operator edits the video data while watching the video on a monitor. For example, video data to be edited is played back, and the operator sets a starting position (in-point) and an ending position (out-point) of a scene to be clipped in the video data while watching the video that is being played. The in-point and the out-point are associated with the video data and stored as editing information, and a clip of the clipped scenes is generated based on this information (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H09-233430, for example).
With the above nonlinear video editing, it is not necessary to actually copy or cut original video data to generate a clip. When playing a clip, specifying the clip causes video data from the in-point to the out-point to be decoded and played back, referring to the editing information.

Editing apparatus, editing method, and editing program


A video coding method using inter-layer prediction or referencing is provided. A video decoder receives data from a bitstream carrying data for video pictures in a plurality of different layers. At least one of the plurality of layers comprises temporal sublayers that correspond to levels in a hierarchical temporal prediction structure. Each temporal sublayer is associated with a temporal identifier. The video decoder receives an inter-layer prediction constraint parameter constraining a maximum temporal sublayer used in inter-layer prediction. The video decoder reconstructs a first picture in a first layer by referencing data of a second picture in a second layer. A temporal identifier of the referenced data satisfies the received inter-layer prediction constraint parameter.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section.
High-efficiency video coding (HEVC) is an international video coding standard developed by the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC). The input video signal is predicted from the reconstructed signal, which is derived from the coded picture regions. The prediction residual signal is processed by a linear transform. The transform coefficients are quantized and entropy coded together with other side information in the bitstream. The reconstructed signal is generated from the prediction signal and the reconstructed residual signal after inverse transform on the de-quantized transform coefficients. The reconstructed signal is further processed by in-loop filtering for removing coding artifacts. The decoded pictures are stored in the frame buffer for predicting the future pictures in the input video signal.
In HEVC, a coded picture is partitioned into non-overlapped square block regions represented by the associated coding tree units (CTUs). A CTU can be partitioned into multiple non-overlapped coding units (CUs) using the recursive quadtree (QT) structure to adapt to various local motion and texture characteristics. A CTU may also be partitioned into one or multiple smaller size CUs by a quadtree with nested multi-type tree using binary and ternary split. The resulting CU partitions can be in square or rectangular shapes.
One or more prediction units (PU) are specified for each CU. The prediction unit, together with the associated CU syntax, works as a basic unit for signaling the predictor information. The specified prediction process is employed to predict the values of the associated pixel samples inside the PU. A CU can be further partitioned using the residual quadtree (RQT) structure for representing the associated prediction residual signal. The leaf nodes of the RQT correspond to the transform units (TUs). A transform unit is comprised of a transform block (TB) of luma samples of size 8×8, 16×16, or 32×32 or four transform blocks of luma samples of size 4×4, and two corresponding transform blocks of chroma samples of a picture in 4:2:0 color format. An integer transform is applied to a transform block and the level values of quantized coefficients together with other side information are entropy coded in the bitstream.
The terms coding tree block (CTB), coding block (CB), prediction block (PB), and transform block (TB) are defined to specify the 2-D sample array of one color component associated with CTU, CU, PU, and TU, respectively. Thus, a CTU consists of one luma CTB, two chroma CTBs, and associated syntax elements. A similar relationship is valid for CU, PU, and TU. The tree partitioning is generally applied simultaneously to both luma and chroma, although exceptions apply when certain minimum sizes are reached for chroma.
A Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) unit is a logical data unit in coded video bitstream encapsulating a syntax structure, which in turn may contain an indication of the type of data to follow and bytes containing that data in the form of a raw byte sequence payload (RBSP). Each NAL unit has a NAL unit header (NUH). NAL units that are used to carry compressed video data for video coding layers (VCLs) are referred to as VCL NAL units. NAL units may also be used to carry only parameters without actual video data. These are referred to as non-VCL NAL units.
The header of each NAL unit also indicates the type of the NAL unit in a syntax element nal_unit_type. For example, nal_unit_type can be used to indicate the type of picture being carried by the NAL unit, picture types such as gradual decoding refresh (GDR) picture, intra random access picture (IRAP), instantaneous decoding refresh (IDR) picture, random access decodable leading (RADL) picture, random access skipped leading RASL) picture, etc.
A coded video may have multiple layers of data in multiple sub-streams to enable scalable video coding. The different sub-streams carrying different layers are encapsulated in different NAL units, and the header of each NAL unit (NAL unit header or NUH) identifies the layer of the NAL unit in an syntax element nuh_layer_id. Different values of nuh_layer_id indicates different layers, and VCL NAL units and the associated non-VCL NAL units that belong to the same layer have the same nuh_layer_id.


Disclosed are three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and electronic systems including the same. The three-dimensional semiconductor memory device comprises a first structure and a second structure in contact with the first structure. Each of the first and second structures includes a substrate, a peripheral circuit region on the substrate, and a cell array region including a stack structure on the peripheral circuit region, a plurality of vertical structures that penetrate the stack structure, and a common source region in contact with the vertical structures. The stack structure is between the peripheral circuit region and the common source region. The common source regions of the first and second structures are connected with each other.

The present inventive concepts relate to a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device and an electronic system including the same, and more particularly, to a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device in which structures are joined with each other, each of which includes a cell array and a peripheral circuit, and an electronic system including the three-dimensional semiconductor memory device.
A need may arise to have a semiconductor device capable of storing a large amount of data in an electronic system which may need data storage. Semiconductor devices have been highly integrated to meet high performance and low manufacturing cost, which are desired by customers. Integration of typical two-dimensional or planar semiconductor devices is primarily determined by the area occupied by a unit memory cell, such that it is greatly influenced by the level of technology for forming fine patterns. However, the expensive processing equipment needed to increase pattern fineness may set a practical limitation on increasing the integration of the two-dimensional or planar semiconductor devices. Therefore, there have been proposed three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices having three-dimensionally arranged memory cells.

Three-dimensional semiconductor memory device and electronic system including the same


Method of driving a capacitive actuator of a fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine for achieving a constant stroke of the actuator, in which the amounts of energy that are supplied to the actuator are determined in dependence on the fuel pressure acting on the actuator.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of driving a capacitive actuator of a fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine in a manner such that a constant stroke or displacement is obtained.
Various methods of driving capacitive actuators, in particular piezoelectric actuators, are known. When driving with a prescribed, constant amount of energy, the actuator may either execute a corresponding stroke or displacement or exert a specific force.
In the case of the valve concepts used for fuel injection valves and the tuning chosen at the same time, when there is low fuel pressure a low amount of energy is required to ensure a specific motion (elongation) of the capacitive actuator or the valve needle. When there is high fuel pressure, a great force is required at an early time in order to achieve rapid opening of the valve. This leads to the following problems when driving the actuator with a constant amount of energy:
The characteristic curves of the amounts of fuel for various fuel pressures cross one another, which makes the use of adaptive methods more difficult. At moderate and high fuel pressure, ensuring a very small amount of fuel is made more difficult, since the minimum driving time of the actuator cannot go below a certain value. In the operating range predominantly used, a higher amount of energy is supplied to the actuator than is required. This influences the service life of the actuator and the mechanical drive elements of the fuel injection valve and consequently their reliability.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known methods of this general type in such a way that it is possible to supply the actuator with the amount of energy required for a desired stroke in every operating range and, as a result, to extend the service life of the actuator and of the mechanical drive elements of the fuel injection valve and to consequently increase their reliability.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of driving a capacitive actuator of a fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine for achieving a constant stroke of the actuator, which includes determining an amount of energy that is supplied to the actuator in dependence on the fuel pressure acting on the actuator.
Rather than supplying a constant amount of energy to the actuator for a driving operation to achieve a desired stroke, the amount of energy is determined in dependence on the fuel pressure.
A constant stroke or displacement of the actuator in the entire operating range of the internal combustion engine is desirable in order to restrict the number of parameters required for determining the amount of injected fuel which is to be supplied to the internal combustion engine.
A desired amount of energy is supplied to the actuator by applying a charging voltage which is assigned to this amount of energy and is additionally dependent on the capacitance of the actuator at the time, or, when the charging voltage is known, by applying this voltage for a prescribed charging time.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method of driving a capacitive actuator of a fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.


The invention provides compositions and methods for the detection and quantification of Wolbachia antibodies, antibody fragments, and polypeptides.

Wolbachia is a bacterium that forms intracellular, inherited infections in insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, including nematodes such as Dirofilaria immitis, Onchocerca volvulus and Brugia malayi. The bacteria reside in cytoplasmic vacuoles and appear to be necessary for development, reproduction and long-term survival of nematodes. Wolbachia appear to play an important role in inflammatory pathogenesis of lymphatic filariasis.
Onchoceriasis (river blindness) is caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. Manifestations of onchoceriasis result primarily form the intense inflammatory reaction to Wolbachia, which emerges from microfilaria in the eye. The use of doxycycline to kill Wolbachia can cause sterility in adult worms.

Compositions and methods for detection of