A whipstock and whipstock anchor that allows for select orientation of the whipstock, retrievability of the whipstock, and also resetting of the whipstock in select orientation. The whipstock is for use in drilling a cased subterranean well with a drill bit. The whipstock includes a first device that directs the drill bit. The first device is supported at a desired location along the well casing by a second device. The first device and second device incorporate mechanisms that allow selective orientation of the first device with respect to the second device. The orientation of the second device in its location along the well casing can be accurately detected, and the mechanisms that allow selective orientation of the first device with the second device can be adjusted to provide an accurate, desired orientation for diverting a drill bit or other tool as it contacts the first device. The first device of the whipstock is retrievable and may be run multiple times to the same wellbore location to provide multiple orientations for creating wellbore bends and branching.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to whipstock mechanisms for use in drilling subterranean wells, and more particularly, relates to a whipstock device and an anchor for the whipstock, which anchor may be run into the wellbore with the well casing and allows for select setting and orientation of the whipstock downhole and for retrieval of the whipstock, as desired. The invention includes both the apparatus and method of operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Whipstocks are commonly known and used equipment in the drilling of subterranean petroleum wells. A whipstock is a device which is positioned downhole within a wellbore to change the direction of the drilling bit. Whipstocks are often used in instances in which particular wellbore direction is desired, to direct the drill bit during drilling operations. The whipstock is placed in the wellbore at a desired location where a whipstock anchor retains and prevents downward movement of the whipstock. Drilling while employing a whipstock has been commonly referred to as directional drilling because the whipstock causes the drill bit to be directed in a desired direction causing the wellbore path to deviate in a desired configuration.
It is very important in drilling subterranean wells to obtain a well hole particularly directed along a desired path. Direction of the well hole is often of utmost importance, in particular, in the case of subterranean petroleum wells. Petroleum (i.e. oil and natural gas) is often found in very unsymmetrically shaped subsurface formations. Only if a petroleum well hole is directed into specific locations within the surface formations will the well be successful for producing petroleum from the formation.
In addition to advantages of directing well holes into specific subsurface formations, it is often advantageous to have the capability to selectively cause a well hole to deviate in its subterranean path. Deviation of the well hole is important, for example, in many of the newer well drilling practices, such as horizontal drilling. In horizontal drilling, a vertical wellbore is drilled to a desired subsurface level, at which level the wellbore is directed generally horizontally through a subsurface formation. Many other diversely configured wellbore arrangements are desired for particular applications due to differing sedimentary properties and desired well production arrangements.
As previously mentioned, whipstocks have been employed in the past to cause the direction of wellbore drilling to deviate in desired directions. In those applications, a whipstock has typically been located within a wellbore at a desired location and permanently affixed there within the wellbore. Whipstocks have been fixed within the wellbore by a packer means or some other means for wedging the devices for securement at the desired locations. The prior art whipstock mechanisms have at least two significant problems. First, the prior art whipstocks are typically not easily selectively oriented. Second, the prior art whipstocks have not generally been easily retrievable from within the wellbore.
Orientation of the prior art whipstocks is a problem because it is hard, if not impossible, to selectively fix and/or detect orientation of the whipstock when located and secured downhole within a wellbore. A number of prior art means have been employed to orient whipstocks. These means include radioactive detection means or a gyroscope type means. Those prior art means for orienting a whipstock typically have been employed to orient the whipstock device in a permanent packer located in the wellbore. In those arrangements, the whipstock is secured with the permanent packer within the wellbore. The orientation of the whipstock is, thus, dictated by the placement and orientation of the packer. Select packer orientation has been hard, if not impossible, to achieve in the prior art devices. This is because the packer must be manipulated from the surface, generally very remote from the packer location downhole, to the desired orientation. Accuracy of the orientation is, therefore, generally limited. Though the prior art means have achieved some degree of orientation accuracy of whipstocks, greater accuracy is desired. Additionally, only a single orientation of the prior art whipstock device is possible at each packer location because a single orientation is set at the outset by design of the whipstock and packer mechanisms. Even further, orienting a whipstock in these prior art manners is complicated by the fact that these orienting means and packers often become lodged in the wellbore other than as desired. Orientation of the prior art whipstocks, due to the operations and configurations of the prior art orienting means, is, thus, quite problematic.
As for retrieval, the prior art whipstock orienting means and the prior art whipstocks have typically not been retrievable once placed and secured within a wellbore. Previously, a whipstock has been set within the wellbore on what is referred to as a permanent packer. In locating and securing the whipstock downhole in a wellbore, the permanent packer is first set. The whipstock is then run into a receptacle therefor incorporated with the permanent packer. The permanent packer typically has been set in an orientation detected from the surface. Such a permanent packer is not easily retrievable from the wellbore, so retrieval of the whipstock and other manipulations thereof are complicated.
The present invention is an orienting, retrievable whipstock anchor which allows a whipstock to be selectively located and oriented within a wellbore. The invention provides quite accurate location and orientation of the whipstock, and so overcomes the problems with the prior art operations and equipment for whipstock orientation downhole in a wellbore. Additionally, the invention allows for retrieval and resetting of the whipstock, as desired. Because the prior art whipstock devices have not overcome these problems of orientation and retrieval, the present invention which overcomes these problems is a significant improvement in the technology and art.


A system and method detects and terminates a repetitive non-reentrant ventriculo-atrial synchronous (RNRVAS) rhythm. The system and method is particularly adapted for use in an implantable cardiac stimulation device including a pulse generator that delivers atrial and ventricular pacing stimulation pulses to a heart which implements an AV delay and an atrial escape interval. The system includes a sensing circuit that senses cardiac activity of the heart and a detector responsive to the sensing circuit that determines if an RNRVAS rhythm is present. When an RNRVAS rhythm is present, a therapy control circuit lengthens the atrial escape interval for at least one cardiac cycle. In addition, the VA delay interval may be shortened by the same amount to maintain a consistent ventricular pacing rate.

The present invention generally relates to an implantable cardiac device. The present invention more particularly relates to an implantable pacemaker capable of detecting and providing therapy for repetitive non-reentrant ventriculo-atrial synchronous (RNRVAS) rhythms.
Implantable cardiac devices are well known in the art. They may take the form of implantable defibrillators or cardioverters which treat accelerated rhythms of the heart such as fibrillation or implantable pacemakers which maintain the heart rate above a prescribed limit, such as, for example, to treat a bradycardia. Implantable cardiac devices are also known which incorporate both a pacemaker and a defibrillator.
A pacemaker may be considered as a pacing system. The pacing system is comprised of two major components. One component is a pulse generator which generates the pacing stimulation pulses and includes the electronic circuitry and the power cell or battery. The other component is the lead, or leads, which electrically couple the pacemaker to the heart.
Pacemakers deliver pacing pulses to the heart to cause the stimulated heart chamber to contract when the patient""s own intrinsic rhythm fails. To this end, pacemakers include sensing circuits that sense cardiac activity for the detection of intrinsic cardiac events such as intrinsic atrial events (P waves)and intrinsic ventricular events (R waves). By monitoring such P waves and/or R waves, the pacemaker circuits are able to determine the intrinsic rhythm of the heart and provide stimulation pacing pulses that force atrial and/or ventricular depolarizations at appropriate times in the cardiac cycle when required to help stabilize the electrical rhythm of the heart.
Pacemakers are described as single-chamber or dual-chamber systems. A single-chamber system stimulates and senses the same chamber of the heart (atrium or ventricle). A dual-chamber system stimulates and/or senses in both chambers of the heart (atrium and ventricle). Dual-chamber systems may typically be programmed to operate in either a dual-chamber mode or a single-chamber mode.
A popular mode of operation for dual-chamber pacemakers is the DDD mode. Specifically, DDD systems provide atrial pacing during atrial bradycardia, ventricle pacing during ventricular bradycardia, and atrial and ventricular pacing during combined atrial and ventricular bradycardia or heart block also known as AV block. In addition, DDD systems provide an atrial synchronous mode. This enables ventricular activity to track atrial activity to more closely approximate the normal response to exercise, or other physiological activity demanding a faster heart rate, by permitting a rate increase to occur commensurate with the rate of the sensed P waves. This advantageously increases cardiac output and facilitates maintenance of AV synchrony.
Many dual-chamber pacemakers further incorporate a physiologic sensor. Such sensors are employed to detect the patient""s degree of activity for regulating the heart rate. Hence, as the patient becomes more active, requiring increased cardiac output, the stimulation rate of the pacemaker is increased. When the patient becomes less active, requiring reduced cardiac output, the stimulation rate of the pacemaker is in turn decreased.
Dual-chamber pacemakers implement two main timing intervals to support their operation. These intervals are referred to as the AV delay interval and the VA interval, also referred to as the atrial escape interval. The AV delay interval is the time from an atrial pacing pulse or a detected P wave, if atrial activity is sensed, to when the next ventricular pacing pulse is to be delivered in the absence of a preoccurring R wave. Such pacing is referred to as atrial synchronous ventricular tracking and atrioventricular sequential pacing.
Similarly, the VA interval or atrial escape interval is the time from a detected R wave or a ventricular pacing pulse to when a next atrial pacing pulse is to be delivered absent a preoccurring P wave. This pacing is referred to as atrial demand pacing.
One condition that may occur during atrial synchronous pacing is a pacemaker mediated tachycardia (PMT). A PMT can result when the atrial sensing circuit detects a retrograde P wave (a P wave induced by a ventricular pacing pulse retrogradedly conducted from the ventricles back to the atria). When this occurs, the pacemaker initiates an AV delay interval and subsequently provides a ventricular pacing pulse at the end of the AV delay interval or the maximum tracking rate interval, which ever ends later. Repeated cycles of this stimulation pattern are sustained by the heart tissue retrograde conduction and by the pacemaker anterograde conduction.
Methods for preventing PMT are well known in the art. One such known method involves the use of a post ventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) initiated by a ventricular pacing pulse or the detection of an intrinsic ventricular event which prohibits the atrial sensing circuit from sensing the retrograde P wave. The length of the PVARP is generally selected to be longer than the retrograde response time and may be divided into a first or absolute refractory period wherein no sensing is permitted, followed by a second or relative refractory period during which atrial sensing is permitted but the pacemaker is not permitted to respond to an atrial event sensed by the atrial sensing circuit. Hence, an atrial event sensed during the relative refractory period will not initiate an AV delay interval.
Unfortunately, the PVARP intended to prevent a PMT may lead to another rhythm referred to herein as a xe2x80x9crepetitive non-reentrant ventriculo-atrial synchronousxe2x80x9d (RNRVAS) rhythm. It is based on the ability of a patient""s heart to sustain retrograde conduction and the coincidence of timing intervals in both the patient and the pacemaker. As with a PMT, RNRVAS can be initiated by any phenomenon that would lead to AV disassociation and might trigger a PMT. A most common trigger mechanism is a premature ventricular contraction (PVC) which is generally defined as an R wave which occurs immediately succeeding a previous R wave or ventricular paced complex without an intervening P wave or atrial pacing pulse. A PMT is not initiated because the PVARP is programmed to a sufficient duration preventing the retrograde P wave from being tracked. However, if the pacing rate is high either due to a high programmed base rate or a physiologic sensor-driven rate being high, the atrial escape interval may time out and deliver an atrial pacing pulse at a time when the atrial myocardium is still physiologically refractory from the retrograde P wave. Hence, even though the atrial pacing output may be well above the atrial capture threshold, it will not capture the atria because it occurs at a time when the atrial myocardium is in its physiologic refractory period and cannot be depolarized. Hence, the RNRVAS rhythm results due to a combination of the high pacing rate and the non-detected retrograde P wave which causes the atrial tissue to not yet be recovered at a time when the atrial pacing pulse is delivered at the end of the atrial escape interval. A more detailed description of the manner in which the RNRVAS rhythm may be initiated follows subsequently in the detailed description of FIG. 3.
This rhythm is consistent with normal pacemaker function and represents a mismatch between the physiologic parameters of the patient""s heart with the parametric settings of the pacemaker. The RNRVAS rhythm can result in significant symptoms such as a significant decrease in both blood pressure and cardiac output, palpitations, dizziness and lightheadedness.
The present invention provides a system and method for detecting and treating a repetitive non-reentrant ventriculo-atrial synchronous (RNRVAS) cardiac rhythm. The system and method are adapted for use in an implantable cardiac stimulation device including a pulse generator that delivers atrial and ventricular pacing stimulation pulses to a heart. The device provides the ventricular pacing pulses on demand following an AV delay interval after at least an atrial pacing pulse and the atrial pacing pulse follows an atrial escape interval after a natural or paced ventricular event. In accordance with a broader aspect of the present invention, when an RNRVAS rhythm is recognized and detected, a therapy control circuit lengthens the atrial escape interval for at least a next cardiac cycle. This allows more time for the atrial myocardium to recover on a physiologic basis so that when an atrial pacing pulse is delivered by the pulse generator at the end of the extended atrial escape interval, the atrial pacing pulse will be able to capture the atria.
Preferably, as the atrial escape interval is increased, the AV delay interval is decreased by the same amount. This maintains the present ventricular stimulation rate of the heart.
Following the next cardiac cycle, the atrial escape interval may be shortened and the AV delay interval increased to programmed or rate dependent values. This permits the system to determine if the applied therapy was successful in terminating the RNRVAS rhythm.
In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, when an RNRVAS rhythm is detected, the therapy control circuit may increase the atrial escape interval for a predetermined number of cardiac cycles. If the RNRVAS rhythm thereafter persists, the system may pause for a preset time or until the cardiac rate falls below a predetermined rate. After the pause, the system is once again ready to detect and treat an RNRVAS rhythm. This further aspect of the present invention may be particularly beneficial for patients suffering from high grade AV block and who exhibit retrograde conduction.
To detect an RNRVAS rhythm, the system may register an atrial-ventricular complex type for each cardiac cycle. The complex types preferably include AR complexes wherein atrial pacing pulses are followed by R waves and AV complexes wherein atrial pacing pulses are followed by ventricular pacing pulses. A change from an AR complex to an AV complex may denote a loss of atrial capture and hence may be used to detect an RNRVAS rhythm. A further criteria may include the condition that the cardiac rate be higher than a predetermined rate in addition to the AR complex to AV complex change.
The complex discrimination may be achieved by the system noting the delivery of atrial and ventricular pacing pulses and the detection of R waves. Alternatively, the complex discrimination may be achieved through morphology detection capable of discerning a fully inhibited morphology and a fully paced morphology. Upon RNRVAS rhythm redetection, a morphology other than a fully paced morphology or a fully inhibited morphology would indicate a fusion beat and atrial capture with subsequent intact AV nodal conduction.
For patients with high degree AV block and who are therefore paced continually with AV complexes, the detection criteria may alternatively be an increase in cardiac rate to above a predetermined rate.
Still further, RNRVAS rhythm detection may be achieved by morphology detection of atrial evoked responses, atrial loss of capture, and atrial fusion beats. Here, if an atrial loss of capture determined through morphology detection is preceded by a ventricular pacing pulse, the RNRVAS rhythm may be declared and appropriate therapy initiated.
Still further, an RNRVAS rhythm may be detected by sensing atrial activity during the post ventricular atrial refractory period. A retrograde P wave occurring during this time will render the atria refractory requiring therapy to provide an atrial pacing pulse at a time when the atria are fully recovered. A further condition to this manner of detection may be the delivery of AV pacing complexes at a rate above a predetermined rate.

Implantable cardiac device providing repetitive non-reentrant ventriculo-atrial synchronous (RNRVAS) rhythm therapy using VA interval extension and method


A filter for filtering micro-emboli from a patient's blood during an angioplasty procedure is disclosed which comprises a plurality of curved wires connected to a rod between a first connector fixed with respect to the rod and a second connector slidingly mounted on the rod. Two layers of filter material are connected to opposite sides of the wires, and each layer includes perforations which are offset from the perforations in the other layer. When the rod and the wires are disposed within a catheter, the inner wall of the catheter compresses the wires toward the rod and when the rod is extended from the catheter, the wires resume their curved shape and pull the sliding connector along the rod toward the fixed connector.

Arteriosclerosis is a condition in which plaques develop on the inner walls of blood vessels and restrict the flow of blood there through. Organs downstream of this constriction can be starved of oxygen, and the heart must work harder to pump blood through a circulatory system that includes such blockages. When the blockage occurs in the coronary arteries which feed the heart, a heart attack can result. Similarly, blockages in the carotid arteries can restrict the flow of blood to the brain with obvious negative consequences.
These blockages are often found in locations that are difficult to access. For example, the coronary arteries and some portions of the carotid arteries are protected by the rib cage. At one time, major surgery was required to reach these locations. However, several methods have been developed for treating plaques in these areas, which methods involve the insertion of a catheter into a patient's blood vessel at a location that is easy to reach, and guiding the catheter through the vessel toward the blockage. A variety of tools can be passed through the catheter to treat the blockage, such as lasers or other cutting tools. However, one of the more common tools is a balloon which is placed in the constricted area of the vessel and inflated once or a number of times in order to push the plaque back against the arterial wall to open the artery. This procedure is called balloon angioplasty and is a common treatment for arteriosclerosis today.
In order to get a balloon to the location of the blockage, a catheter must be placed into a patient's artery. This is done by inserting a needle into an easily accessible artery and threading a guide wire through the needle and into the patient's artery. The needle is withdrawn over this guide wire and an arterial sheath is place over the needle and into the artery to protect the artery and surrounding tissue during the procedure. A guiding catheter is placed over the guide wire and maneuvered through the artery to a position near the site of the blockage. When the end of the guiding catheter arrives at a location near the blockage, the guide wire is removed, and the catheter is flushed with saline and anchored in place in a suitable manner. A balloon catheter, having an associated guide wire is then inserted into the guiding catheter and pushed through the catheter, out of the distal end of the catheter, and guided to the site of the blockage. The guide wire is pushed past the blockage and the balloon is positioned within the blockage and inflated to compress the buildup in the artery. When the procedure is complete, the balloon catheter is removed from the guiding catheter and then the guiding catheter is removed as well. This procedure has had a high success rate and is the preferred method for treating certain types of blockages.
One of the dangers associated with this procedure is that a part of the plaque could break off and enter the patient's blood stream during treatment. While no part of the plaque is actually cut away during a balloon angioplasty procedure, small pieces of plaque known as micro-emboli can and do sometimes break free. These materials are often too large to pass easily through the body's capillaries and can become lodged therein and block the flow of blood. If the blockage occurs in the brain or the lungs, it can be harmful or even fatal. Therefore, a variety of techniques are used to stop these particles before they travel too far.
Heretofore, various filters have been used to trap these particles. Some, such as the filter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,978 to Ginsburg comprise a wire mesh for straining objects from the bloodstream. However, this strainer must be inserted into a blood vessel through its own opening, downstream from the treatment site and separate from the opening used for the balloon catheter or similar device. This makes this filter difficult to use and creates additional discomfort for the patient. Others, such as the filter shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,908 to Simon are intended to be permanently attached to the inner wall of a blood vessel. However, it is often desirable to remove the filter after a procedure is complete, and this would not be practicable using the Simon filter. In addition, the wire mesh strainers disclosed in these patents might be capable of stopping relatively large pieces of material, such as those generated when a plaque is severed from an arterial wall by a cutting instrument, but are not suitable for stopping the micro-emboli that can occur during a balloon angioplasty procedure. Neither these nor any other known devices provide a simple and effective option for dealing with such micro-emboli while at the same time functioning to block any larger pieces of material that might break free. It would therefore be desirable to provide a blood filter for trapping micro-emboli that could be deployed immediately before a procedure was commenced and removed shortly thereafter and which could be inserted and removed through the same catheter used in connection with the procedure.


A carbon nanotube film includes a first carbon nanotube group that is an aggregate of carbon nanotubes crosslinked to each other to form a network structure and a second carbon nanotube group that is an aggregate of carbon nanotubes having a diameter different from a diameter of the carbon nanotubes in the first carbon nanotube group, wherein the first carbon nanotube group and the second carbon nanotube group are in admixture.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube film and a production process thereof.
The invention also relates to a capacitor which is an electrical element utilizing such a carbon nanotube film.
2. Related Art
Carbon nanotubes have been expected to find wide application as next-generation materials that exhibit a variety of characteristics derived from its specific shape and structure.
Carbon nanotubes are in the form of a one-dimensional tube developed by winding a graphene sheet composed of 6-membered carbon ring. Carbon nanotubes having one graphene sheet are called single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and carbon nanotubes having multiple graphene sheets are called multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT).
SWCNT is said to have a diameter of about 1 nm. MWCNT is normally said to have a diameter of about tens of nanometers. They are extremely finer than materials which have been heretofore called carbon fiber (diameter: from tens of nanometers to 1,000 nm).
Carbon nanotubes are also characterized in that they have a length on the order of micrometer (μm) and a very large aspect ratio of length to diameter.
Further, carbon nanotubes have 6-membered carbon rings aligned helically and thus are a material having so extremely rare characteristics that both metallic properties and semiconductivity are exhibited. In addition, carbon nanotubes have an extremely high electrical conductivity and thus allow the passage of current at a density of 100 MA/cm2 or more.
Carbon nanotubes are excellent in mechanical characteristics as well as electrical properties. In some detail, since carbon nanotubes are composed of only carbon atoms, they exhibit a Young modulus of more than 1 TPa and thus are extremely rigid despite its very low weight.
Thus, carbon nanotubes have various excellent properties and thus are a material which is extremely attractive as industrial material. Carbon nanotubes have found application in the art of electronic devices (electronic elements) such as flat panel display and transistor.
As actual methods for processing and film-forming carbon nanotubes according to device design there are known film-forming/patterning methods involving chemical vapor deposition method (CVD method), electrophoresis method, screen printing method with a mixture with a binder, or the like.

Carbon nanotube film, production process thereof and capacitor using the same


Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems that reduce acoustic echoes in audio signals in accordance with changing conditions at first and second locations that are linked together in a communication system. In one embodiment of the present invention, a first digital signal encoding sounds produced at the first location is output from the first location, and a second digital signal encoding an acoustic echo and sounds produced at the second location is output from the second location. The method computes a control state that depends on the signals transmitted between the first and the second locations and computes an approximate acoustic echo based on the control state.

Increasing interest in communication media, such as the Internet, electronic presentations, voice mail, and audio-conference communication systems, is increasing the demand for high-fidelity audio and communication technologies. Currently, individuals and businesses are using these communication media to increase efficiency and productivity, while decreasing cost and complexity. For example, audio-conference communication systems allow one or more individuals at a first location to simultaneously converse with one or more individuals at other locations through full-duplex communication lines in nearly real time, without wearing headsets or using handheld communication devices. Typically, audio-conference communication systems include a number of microphones and loudspeakers, at each location, that can be used by multiple individuals for sending and receiving audio signals to and from other locations.
In many audio-conference communication systems, audio signals carry a large amount of data, and employ a broad range of frequencies. Modern audio-conference communication systems attempt to provide clear transmission of audio signals, free from perceivable distortion, background noise, and other undesired audio artifacts. One common type of undesired audio artifact is an acoustic echo. Acoustic echoes can occur when a transmitted audio signal loops through an audio-conference communication system due to the coupling of microphones and speakers at a location. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary, two-location, audio-conference communication system. In FIG. 1, the audio-conference communication system 100 includes a near room 102 and a far room 104. Sounds, such as voices, produced in the near room 102 are detected by a microphone 106, and sounds produced in the far room 104 are detected by a microphone 108. The microphones 106 and 108 are transducers that convert the sounds into continuous analog signals that are represented by x(t) and y(t), respectively, where t is time.
The microphone 106 can detect many different sounds produced in the near room 102, including sounds output by the loudspeaker 114. An analog signal produced by the microphone 106 is represented by:y(t)=s(t)+f(x(t))+v(t)where
s(t) is an analog signal representing sounds produced in the near room 102,
v(t) is an analog signal representing noise, or extraneous signals created by disturbances in the microphone or communication channel 110, that, for example, may produces an annoying buzzing sound output from the loudspeaker 116, and
f(x(t)) is an analog signal that represents an acoustic echo.
The acoustic echo f(x(t)) is due to both acoustic propagation delay in the near room 102 and a round-trip transmission delay of the analog signal x(t) over the communication channels 110 and 112. Sounds generated by the analog signal y(t) are output from loudspeaker 116 in the far room 104. Depending on the amplification, or gain, in the amplitude of the signal y(t) and the magnitude of the acoustic echo f(x(t)), a person speaking into the microphone 108 in the far room 104 may also hear an annoying, high-pitched, howling sound emanating from loudspeaker 116 as a result of the sound generated by the acoustic echo f(x(t)).
Designers and manufacturers of audio-conference communication systems have attempted to compensate for acoustic echoes in various ways. One compensation technique employs a filtering system that reduces the acoustic echo. Typically, filtering systems employ adaptive filters that adapt to changing conditions at an audio-signal-receiving location. However, stand alone adaptive filters either fail to account for, or are often slow to adapt to, the widely varying acoustic path between loudspeaker and microphone. As a result, transmitted signals encoding conversations may be interrupted by numerous, brief periods of silence. Designers, manufacturers, and users of audio-conference communication systems have recognized a need for acoustic echo methods and systems that can reliably remove an acoustic echo from audio signals and that can rapidly adapt to the changing conditions at both audio-signal-receiving locations.

Methods and systems for reducing acoustic echoes in communication systems

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method and system are provided in which static lists facilitate arbitrary grouping of items of data independent of their locations and in ways that are meaningful to the user. A static list is a set of items defined by a root item, a direction, and the entry relationships with that root item in that direction. The static list also defines the properties that each entry relationship in the list is required to have. Verbs are provided to manage a static list. A verb is an action that may be performed on the items in the static list, and includes, among others, move, copy, add, remove, and delete. A view is provided to specify characteristics for displaying data from a static list, including visibility, order, and formatting, among other characteristics.

As the use of electronic media to store text, music, pictures, and other types of data grows and the restrictions on data storage capacities lessen, computer users find themselves faced with enormous numbers of files to manage. Conventional file systems, such as those based on a file allocation table, or FAT file system, can make management of files difficult. For example, the traditional directory access to files that is provided with conventional file systems assumes that the users wishes to maintain their files in a hierarchical directory tree. However, besides being location dependent, a hierarchical organization may not be the most advantageous way to access the files from the user's point of view.
In the context of the Windows® operating system user interface, one technique for making access to files easier is the shortcut. A shortcut that provides a link to a file may be created on the desktop or in a folder, and is a quick way to start a program or open a file or folder without having to go to its permanent location. But shortcuts may not be reliable since they are not updated to reflect changes in the location or status of the underlying file. For example, moving the file to a different directory results in an error when accessing the shortcut.
Another technique for making access to files easier is the playlist. Media players offer users playlists as a way to organize certain types of files for later playback. For example, in the Windows Media Player®, the playlist contains references to music files for playback through the media player in a designated order. But playlists suffer from the same drawback as shortcuts in that the references in the playlist are not updated to reflect changes in the location or status of the underlying files. If a music file is moved or deleted, the user must hunt through all of his or her playlists to update or remove the outdated references.
Both the shortcut and playlist model of accessing files are further limited by their inability to provide to the user with alternative ways to access items other than through another folder, or in a certain order.

System and method for managing data using static lists


The described technology is generally directed towards cross-stream transactions in a streaming data storage system, which allows a writer application to commit multiple events to distinct data streams in a single transaction. The system creates a cross-stream transaction for a writer application, and the writer application adds events to the cross-stream transaction, indicating which destination data stream(s) each event's data is to be appended. The system adds the event to a subordinate transaction created for each specified data stream. Upon committing the cross-stream transaction, the system coordinates the committing of the subordinate transactions to their respective data streams. Alternatively, an application writer can request that an event be committed to multiple writer-specified data streams via a cross-stream micro-transaction, in which the streaming data storage system obtains the appropriate segment store instances and segments for each data stream, and coordinates the direct appending of the event to the appropriate segments.

Contemporary data storage systems store data in a storage abstraction referred to as a data stream, or more simply a stream. A stream is identified with a name, and can store continuous and potentially unbounded data; more particularly, a stream comprises a durable, elastic, append-only, sequence of stored events. New events are added to a tail (front) of a stream. One stream may be divided into one or more segments, with an event appended to a segment based on a routing key associated with the event that determines to which segment the event data is written.
One implementation of a streaming data storage system supports transactions, in which an event writer application can add multiple events to a transaction that is created for a data stream. Once the transaction contains the appropriate events, the writer requests the system to commit the transaction's events as a unit into the data stream. If instead the transaction is aborted, the transaction is removed from the system.
While a transaction can contain events that route to different segments, such a transaction is limited to the segments of a single data stream. However, a more advanced application (job) may write events to more than one data stream.

Cross-stream transactions in a streaming data storage system


An apparatus 10 for exposing a curved grating pattern of monochromatic light on a photoresist coated semiconductor wafer 12 includes an argon gas laser 14 that outputs a monochromatic light beam 16. This monochromatic light beam 16 is filtered and collimated to produce a monochromatic light beam with a planar wavefront 24. A portion of this planar wavefront passes through a cylindrical lens array 26 and a first baffle slit 30, producing multiple cylindrical wavefront 34 that is incident upon a hypotenuse face 38 of a right angle prism 40. Another portion of the planar wavefront passes through a second baffle slit 32, producing a smaller planar wavefront 36 that is also incident upon the hypotenuse face 38 of the right angle prism 40. A destructive interference between a reflected multiple cylindrical wavefront 92 and a direct planar wavefront 90 inside the prism 40 produces a curved grating pattern of monochromatic light on an adjacent prism face 42. This curved grating pattern of monochromatic light is projected toward the semiconductor wafer 12, thereby exposing the photoresist coated wafer surface 48 with the curved grating pattern.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention generally relates to apparatus and methods for fabricating integrated circuits and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for fabricating a curved grating in a broad area surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode device.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Since the early 1970's, surface emitting laser diode devices having a variety of different waveguide grating structures have been explored. Of those explored, distributed Bragg reflector (hereinafter DBR) laser diode devices and distributed feedback (hereinafter DFB) laser diode devices have attracted the most interest. DBR laser diode devices have gratings at the ends of an electrically pumped region to provide a feedback of photon radiation back into the pumped region. DFB laser diode devices have a continuous grating along one side of an electrically pumped region to provide a feedback of photon radiation back into the pumped region. To date, mainly DBR devices have been demonstrated. However, due to a high thermal resistance from a substrate side heat sink bonding configuration, these devices have had to be operated in a pulsed mode. Furthermore, when manufacturing a DBR device, precision mechanical cleaving of the end gratings is required. More recently, DFB devices have been demonstrated. These devices offer the promise of reliable high-power continuous wave operation due to an epitaxial side heat sink bonding configuration. Furthermore, surface emitting DFB laser diode devices generally require only conventional integrated circuit fabrication techniques during their manufacture.
To date, surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode devices have been fabricated with a second order linear grating etched into a cladding layer surface of a semiconductor wafer. This type of grating can be fabricated by creating an optical standing wave on a photoresist coated wafer surface using two-beam interference. The wafer is then subjected to an ion milling process and a chemical etching process to transfer the photoresist exposed grating pattern into the cladding layer surface of the wafer.
A surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode device having a second order linear grating that is fabricated according to the above-described technique produces unidirectional, monochromatic, coherent visible light through stimulated emission in its semiconductor materials. Such a device has a positively doped side and a negatively doped side that are joined at a junction, and the second order linear grating is etched into an outer surface of the positively doped side. The surface of the grating, upon which a highly conductive material is disposed in order to create an electrically pumped region, provides a means by which coherent photon energy fields may be diffracted. The second order grating design permits deflections of coherent photon radiation to be directed normal to an output window etched into the negatively doped side of the junction through first order diffraction, and directed parallel to the surface of the grating through second order diffraction. The first order diffraction produces a beam of unidirectional, monochromatic, coherent visible light at the output window, whereas the second order diffraction provides a feedback of photon radiation to the electrically pumped region that is adjacent and parallel to the surface of the grating. Much has been 7ritten on the subject of surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor lasers in recent years and some good descriptive background articles on these devices are Surface Emitting Distributed Feedback Semiconductor Laser, Applied Physics Letters, Volume 51, Number 7, pp. 472-474, August 1987, and Analysis of Grating Surface Emitting Lasers, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, Volume 26, Number 3, pp. 456-466, March 1990.
Along the length of a surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode device having a second order linear grating, a longitudinal mode near-field output intensity profile is double-lobed and antisymmetric with a zero intensity null at the output window center. A corresponding longitudinal mode far-field output intensity profile is double-lobed and symmetric about the output window center. These longitudinal mode output intensity profiles have been substantiated in actual device measurements, although in these measurements it has been found that spontaneous emission partially fills the near-field intensity null at the output window center. Nonetheless, the longitudinal mode output intensity profiles associated with a surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode device having a second order linear grating are acceptable for many applications due to a consistent mode relationship between the first and the second /rder diffracted photon radiation along the length of the electrically pumped region.
Along the width of a surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode device having a second order linear grating, however, a lateral mode near-field output intensity profile and a lateral mode far-field output intensity profile are not acceptable for many applications due essentially to self-guiding and filamentation effects. Such effects result in the lateral mode near-field output intensity profile having an increasing number of lobes as the width of the electrically pumped region increases. Furthermore, there is a 180.degree. near-field phase shift between each near-field lobe. The corresponding lateral mode far-field output intensity profile displays a double-lobed pattern centered about the location of each 180.degree. near-field phase shift.
The reason that the lateral mode output intensity profiles associated with a surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode device having a second order linear grating are not acceptable for many applications is that it is often required that the width of the electrically pumped region be increased, or a broad area electrically pumped region be created, in order to increase the output beam power of the device. Such an increase in the width of the electrically pumped region, although allowing an increase in the power applied to the device, will result in an increase in the number of lateral mode far-field lobes, which is unacceptable for many applications. It is therefore desirable to create a broad area surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode device that provides an increase in output beam power, while concentrating that output beam power into a single lateral mode far-field lobe.

Apparatus and method for fabricating a curved grating in a surface emitting distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode device


A router bit with a position stop is disclosed. The router bit includes a body with a collar extending outwardly from it and a shaft extending outwardly from the collar. At least one cutter blade is mounted to the body and the cutter blade may be used to cut a profile into a workpiece. The collar has a first diameter, the shaft has a second diameter and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. The collar has a face formed a spaced distance or height from the transition point between the collar and the body. The face rests against the upper surface of a chuck when the shaft is secured in the chuck. This allows the body and hence the cutter blades to be held a predetermined distance above the upper surface of the chuck. A second router bit may be provided to cut a complimentary second profile in a second workpiece. The second router bit includes a collar that positions the cutter blade of the second router bit in the chuck at a complimentary height with respect to the cutter blade of the first router bit. When the first and second workpieces are brought together, the profiles of the two workpieces are able to interlock in such a way that the workpieces are both functionally and aesthetically aligned with each other.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to router bits. More particularly, the invention relates to a router bit having a mechanism for setting the position of the cutter blades relative to the upper surface of a chuck in a rotary tool. Specifically, the invention relates to a router bit having a body and shank, where the shank includes a collar adapted to rest on the upper surface of the chuck and to thereby maintain the cutter blades of the router bit at a set distance from the upper surface of the chuck.
2. Background Information
Routers are used for a variety of woodworking purposes including cutting of complimentarily shaped profiles such as tongue and groove joints, finger joints and the shaped edges of a table and leaf for a drop-leaf table. In order to cut such complimentarily shaped profiles, a first router bit is attached to the router by inserting the shank of the bit into the bore of a chuck on the router. The shank is locked into place by tightening the collet in the chuck and the tool is then brought into contact with a first workpiece, such as a piece of wood or plastic. The first router bit is then rotated by the router motor so that a first profile is cut into the first workpiece. The operator then removes the first router bit and a second router bit is inserted and secured to the router. The second router bit is of a different cutting configuration to the first router bit. The second router bit is rotated and brought into contact with a second workpiece. The second router bit cuts a second profile into the workpiece. The first and second profiles are complimentarily shaped and are adapted to enable the first and second workpieces to be brought into in interlocking engagement.
One of the most common problems experienced by carpenters or other users when performing this task is that the first and second router bits must be inserted into the collet to exactly the same degree so that the depth of the cuts in the two workpieces matches exactly. If this is not achieved, then when the two profiles are brought together to interlock with each other, one workpiece will tend to be slightly vertically displaced relative to the other. This causes the interlock of the two workpieces to be either aesthetically displeasing or nonfunctional.
A second problem experienced by carpenters or users when using presently known router bits is that the bits tend to vibrate quite a lot and this makes precision work with the router or rotary tool more difficult. Additionally, the router bit may be prone to premature failure because of the combination of vibration in the router bit and the force exerted on the bit by the user during cutting.
There is therefore a need in the art for a mechanism for ensuring that a router bit may be inserted into the collet of a router at a predictable depth. There is furthermore a need in the art for a mechanism for ensuring that complimentarily shaped router bits may be inserted into a router at a predictable and substantially constant depth. There is also a need in the art for a router bit that vibrates less during cutting and that is less prone to premature failure.


To provide a suspending scenario generation method which is executed in a storage system including a management server provided with a storage device and a job scheduler for executing an operating scenario for managing the storage device, and generates the operating scenario and a suspending scenario for suspending execution of the operating scenario, the method including the steps of: obtaining a parameter input for a template for the operating scenario selected by a user; generating the operating scenario based on the parameter inputted for the operating scenario; after the parameter input for the operating scenario, obtaining a parameter input for generating a suspending scenario for suspending the operating scenario generated with the parameter; and generating the suspending scenario based on the parameter inputted for the suspending scenario.

This invention relates to a method of using a job scheduler to automatically execute templated storage management applications, and more particularly to generation of a suspending scenario.
Applications using information processing devices include various templated applications. For example, in applications for managing storage that is a large-scale storage device, one templated application needs to periodically backup voluminous data. A job network is known as a technique which enables automatic execution of those templated applications and reduces processing load on an operator. A job network is a technique involving preparing a jobnet construct file where a job execution sequence has been determined in advance, and making one or a plurality of information processing devices execute each job automatically according to the jobnet construct file. Job execution sequences include the type of job to be executed, the time when the job should be executed, the destination to which results will be outputted, and links between the jobs themselves.
In order to execute the intended templated applications exactly, the jobnet construct file must be edited accurately and in minute detail (refer to JP 2001-166928 A).

Suspending scenario generation method, server device, and program therefor


The present invention provides a detent mechanism adapted to be mounted on a container which is to contain one or more articles, notably CD cases, which container has an access aperture through which the article(s) can be inserted into or moved from the container. The detent mechanism is adapted to retain the article within the container and is formed from a mounting member adapted to be carried externally in the container, preferably at or adjacent the access aperture of the container. A latch member is adapted to be carried externally of the container by the mounting member and is movable between a retracted position at which at least the distal end of which is adapted to retain an article within the container. The latch member is also movable to a extended position in which latch member permits removal of the article through the access aperture by being located out of the line of travel of the article as the article is withdrawn from the container. A locking member, such as a spring loaded pin, is movable from an operative position at which it retains the latch member in its retracted position and an inoperative position in which it permits extension of the latch member.

Compact discs, audio and video tapes are usually put up for sale in a plastic case or the like, which carries information about the disc or tape as well as carrying sales promotional material or artwork to attract a purchaser. The case is often displayed at the point of sale in an open access rack or other display so that a would-be purchaser can browse through the display and select the discs or tapes he wishes to purchase. However, in order to reduce the risk of theft from such an open access display, the actual disc or tape is not held within the displayed case, but is stored separately. Therefore, when the disc or tape is purchased, the sales person has to identify the disc or tape from the empty case, to locate the disc or tape in the store and to marry the disc or tape up with the empty case. This is time consuming and may also require that the sales person leaves the sales counter un-manned whilst locating the disc or tape in the store.
In order to reduce these problems, it has been proposed to fit the case into a display container fitted with a lock mechanism which secures the case for the disc or tape within the container so that a thief cannot readily gain access to the disc or tape without breaking the container or removing the container from the shop. The container can be fitted with alarm means so that it cannot be removed from the display or shop without actuating an audible or visual alarm. Typically, the container is locked by means of a spring loaded pin which engages a recess or the like in a wall of the case. The pin is retracted by applying a strong magnet to the pin mounting, for example at the sales counter, so as to release the case from the container. However, such mechanisms are either bulky and obtrusive, or can be accessed externally so that the security of the container is compromised. Furthermore, the pin must register with a recess in the wall of the case and this limits the range of cases which can be used within a given container, notably where the design of the case is altered by the manufacturer. The pin must also be retracted when the case is loaded into the display container, which again is time consuming.
In my PCT Application No GB 92/00633, I have described and claimed a novel form of security container which reduces the above problems and which is adapted to contain one or more articles, which container has access means whereby the article(s) can be inserted into or removed from the container, the container being provided with a detent mechanism adapted to retain the article within the container, which detent mechanism comprises:
a. a sole plate member located adjacent the interior of one wall of the container and adapted to move axially substantially parallel to the plane of that wall and to bear against a face of the article which is to be inserted into or removed from the container through said access means; PA1 b. a biassed member adapted to move between an operative position at which the member engages the sole plate member so as to retain it against axial movement, and an inoperative position at which the biassed member permits axial movement of the sole plate member; and PA1 c. a stop member, preferably carried by said sole plate member, adapted to engage said article and to retain said article within the container when said biassed member engages the sole plate member in its operative position. PA1 a. a mounting member adapted to be carried externally of the container and, preferably, adjacent the access aperture of the container; PA1 b. a latch member adapted to be carried externally of the container by the mounting member and adapted to move between a retracted position at which at least the distal end thereof is adapted retain an article within the container, preferably by engaging the article, and an extended position at which the latch member permits removal of the article through the access aperture by being located out of the line of travel of an article as the article is withdrawn from the container; and PA1 c. a locking member adapted to move from an operative position at which it retains the latch member in its retracted position and an inoperative position at which it permits extension of the latch member. PA1 a. a plate member adapted to be located externally upon the container and adjacent the access aperture to the container so as to form part of, or to be mounted parallel to, a wall of the container; PA1 b. a housing member carried by said plate member externally of the container; PA1 c. a latch member carried by said housing and adapted to move axially externally of and substantially parallel to the plane of the said wall of the container between axially retracted and extended positions, said latch member having a recess intermediate the ends thereof and at at least the distal end thereof a stop member adapted to engage an article located within the container when the latch member is in its axially retracted position within the housing, the latch member being configured so that when the latch member is in its axially extended position the stop member is carried clear of the line of travel of the article as the article is withdrawn from the container; and PA1 d. a biassed locking member adapted to move from an operative position at which it engages the said recess so as to retain the latch member in its axially retracted position and an inoperative position at which it permits axial extension of the latch member. PA1 a. a latch member mounted on the exterior surface of one of the walls of the container in the vicinity of the access aperture, said latch member being capable of adopting a position to inhibit the removable of the article through the access aperture or a position to permit the removal of the article through the access aperture; PA1 b. guide means for guiding the latch member for sliding and pivotable movement in relation to the said exterior wall of the container to move from one position to the other; and PA1 c. a spring loaded locking member which is moveable between a locking position whereby movement of the latch member is restrained and a release position whereby movement of the latch member is permitted. Preferably, the guide means also provide the mounting means by which the latch member is mounted on the container.
Preferably there is a second stop member carried by the sole plate member which is adapted to engage said article as it is inserted into the container, whereby the sole plate member is moved axially by said article as it is inserted into the container so that the first stop member prevents removal of the article from the container when the sole plate is carried by the article to the position at which the sole plate member is engaged by the biassed member.
I have now devised a simplified form of the detent mechanism which can be made in a modular form so as to fit a number of different forms of existing container without the need to modify those containers. The simplified form of detent mechanism can be applied to the container during manufacture thereof, or can be applied as a retro-fit component with little or no modification to existing containers.


A load-testing circuit is used for simulating maximum standard load currents for different types of USB ports. The load-testing circuit includes a first electronic switch, a second electronic switch, and a current selection module including a plurality of current branch circuits. When one of the current branch circuits is activated, a voltage at a third terminal of the first electronic switch is supplied to a first terminal of the second electronic switch through the activated current branch circuit to turn on the second electronic switch. A current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the activated current branch circuit.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to load-testing circuits, and particularly to a load-testing circuit for USB ports.
2. Description of Related Art
USB ports include four different types, such as type 1.0, type 1.1, type 2.0, and type 3.0. The maximum standard load currents of the USB ports respectively are 100 mA, 150 mA, 500 mA, and 900 mA. Typically, one load-testing circuit can simulate only one maximum standard load current. As a result, different load-testing circuits must be designed for different types of USB ports, which is inconvenient and costly.

ShenZhen Goldsun Network Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.


A vehicle steering assembly includes a mounting plate having a slot and a raised contact surface adjacent to at least part of the slot and a bracket coupled to the mounting plate, adapted to support at least a portion of a steering column. A coupler extends through the slot, and has a head overlying at least a portion of the contact surface, and engages with the bracket to retain the position of the steering column mount relative to the bracket. The combined thickness of all members between the head and the connecting portion is greater when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface. A greater clamping force is applied by the coupler to all members between the head and the connecting portion when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface.

A steering column of a vehicle typically is secured to the frame of the automobile to ensure safe operation of the automobile. Generally, this is accomplished by bolting the steering column to the instrument panel which may be further secured to the frame of the automobile. However, it can be desirable to allow the steering column to disengage from or move relative to the instrument panel, such as by permitting the steering column to collapse or be displaced, upon the application of a force during an accident.
To permit movement of the steering column under sufficient force, polymer capsules have been proposed to support a mounting bracket of the steering column and are designed in such a way as to break-away under a given force. Thus, the steering column is allowed to axially collapse or move upon the application of a sufficient force in the event of an accident.
Other mechanisms to permit movement or collapse of the steering column have been formed out of stamped metal components suitably welded, or otherwise connected together, to form a deformable support system for the steering column and steering wheel. One problem with such metal mechanisms is that the stamped components can deflect, or deform, under normal operating loads. The mechanisms may also be somewhat complex and require a plurality of steps to manufacture and assemble them.

Energy absorbing support for a vehicle steering assembly


Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a magnetic head that includes negative expansion material. According to one embodiment, the magnetic head includes a read element, a substrate, and at least a partial layer of negative expansion material to control, at least in part, a fly height between an air bearing surface associated with the magnetic head and a disk surface. The material is manganese nitride based and non-insulating and the layer of negative expansion material is parallel to the substrate, according to one embodiment.

Manufacturing disk drives is a very competitive business. People that buy disk drives are demanding disk drives that are capable of storing data at ever higher densities. A magnetic head is used to read data from a disk and to write data to a disk. A slider is typically used to position the magnetic head over the appropriate location on a disk.
The density that data can be stored on and read from a disk is directly proportional to the height that the slider's air bearing surface flies over the disk (also commonly known as "fly height"). For example, the closer that the slider can fly over a disk the more data that can be stored and read from the disk. However, the probability that a slider will come into contact with a disk increases as the fly height decreases. Contact between the slider and the disk can result in permanent damage to the disk.

Magnetic head that includes negative expansion material

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


Embodiments of the invention are directed to a nano sheet semiconductor device fabrication method that includes forming a gate spacer along a gate region of the nanosheet FET device. Channel nanosheet is formed such that each one has a desired final channel nanosheet width dimension (Wf). An inner spacer is formed between the channel nanosheets. Forming the gate spacer and the inner spacer includes, subsequent to forming the channel nanosheets to the desired Wf, conformally depositing a layer of the spacer material along a sidewall of the gate region, along sidewalls of the channel nanosheets, and within a space between the channel nanosheets. The gate spacer is formed from a portion of the layer of the spacer material along the sidewall of the gate region. The inner spacer is formed from a portion of the layer of the spacer material within the space between the channel nanosheets.

The present invention relates in general to fabrication methods and resulting structures for semiconductor devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to fabrication methods and resulting structures for forming the offset gate spacers (or outer spacers) and the inner spacers in sub-44 nm CPP (contacted poly/gate pitch) nanosheet transistors, wherein a relatively small amount of space (e.g., below about 10 nm) is available between the gates of adjacent nanosheet transistors during fabrication steps.
In contemporary semiconductor device fabrication processes, a large number of semiconductor devices, such as silicon channel n-type field effect transistors (nFETs) and silicon germanium channel p-type field effect transistors (pFETs), are fabricated on a single wafer. Non-planar transistor device architectures, such as nanosheet (or nanowire) transistors, can provide increased channel density and performance over planar transistors. Nanosheet transistors, in contrast to conventional planar FETs, include a gate stack that wraps around the full perimeter of multiple nanosheet channel regions for improved control of channel current flow. Nanosheet transistor configurations enable fuller depletion in the nanosheet channel regions and reduce short-channel effects.

Gate spacer and inner spacer formation for nanosheet transistors having relatively small space between adjacent gates

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A wedge assembly for supporting automotive doors, particularly pivoted tail gate doors and sliding van doors, which is mounted between surfaces that are not horizontal so that the load applied to the assembly includes a vertical component. The assembly includes a striker member and a wedge member, the former being mounted on the vertical side pillar of an automotive door frame, and the latter being mounted on the side pillar of a pivoted tail gate or sliding door. The assembly provides both vertical and lateral support for the door and door frame and prevents misalignment between the two which can otherwise develop over the life of the vehicle.

The assemblies disclosed therein are primarily intended to support crush loads applied vertically downward on the assembly.
The present invention relates to wedge assemblies for supporting doors, particularly tail gate doors and sliding van doors in motor vehicles.
During normal use over time, automotive doors and door latching systems may rattle and thereby generate stress that contributes to metal fatigue at the hinge and at the latch locations. In order to obviate these unwanted consequences, wedge assemblies have been used between the door frame and the door to prevent such vibrations from occurring. One such assembly is a spring-biased wedge assembly set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,100 and assigned to the present assignee, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In that assembly a slide member is captured by a base plate which is mounted to the door of a vehicle, such that the slide member or wedge element is slidable along a pair of spaced parallel and inclined cam surfaces on the base plate. The wedge or slide is pulled towards a start or extreme position at one end of the cam surfaces by a spring and can thus be forced down the cam surfaces against the action of the spring by the vehicle surface which it strikes when the door is closed. Such devices are designed to be supported on a horizontal surface of the door of a vehicle and cooperate with an exposed metal surface of the automotive frame. It has been found that the wedge or sliding element, which is usually molded plastic, is subjected to severe stress from continuous contact with the metal door frame, such that the sliding element can become structurally weakened and deformed over time even contributing to the very misalignment which it was designed to prevent.
Also, in the case of horizontally pivoted tail gate doors that swing down for closure, an enormous amount of torque load is experienced along the length and width of the door, giving rise therefore to twist and weakening of the hinge or mounting points of the door. Similarly, in the case of sliding doors for vans that experience compound motions when brought to closure, an equally large amount of torque may be generated via the considerable dimensions of such doors. There is a need then for a wedge assembly which can overcome these detrimental forces or torque loads and so provide proper closure between such doors and their door frames and thus maintain a rigid relation between the two that will prevent misalignment.

Wedge and striker assembly for automotive doors and door frames


The invention relates to a radial shaft seal for sealing a shaft (2), which is guided through a housing wall opening (3). The seal comprises at least one first membrane-like, annular sealing element (15) with a sealing lip (22) which can be positioned against the shaft (2) in a sealing manner; a metallic, annular supporting element (16), onto which the sealing element (15) is pulled; and a centring surface (19) formed at the outer circumference of the edge area (18). In order to increase the lifespan of the seal, said seal can be surrounded by an adapter part (6) made from undulating curved sheet metal, which can be inserted flush into the housing wall opening (3). The adapter part (6) has a central, cylindrical opening (8) which is provided with a shoulder (11) at the rear end thereof in the compression direction. The centring surface (19) of the supporting body (16) has an allowance for the cylindrical opening (8) of the adapter part (6), and is pushed into said opening in a press-fitting manner. A second membrane-like sealing element (17), which can be firmly pressed between the shoulder (11) and the supporting body (16), is arranged between the supporting body (16) and the shoulder (11) provided in the opening (8) of the adapter part (6).

The invention relates to a radial shaft seal for sealing a shaft passing through a housing wall opening, comprising at least one membrane-like, annular sealing element with a sealing lip that can be positioned against the shaft in sealing fashion, a metallic, annular supporting element on which the sealing element is mounted, an edge area provided on the supporting element, which runs around the outer circumference and is not covered by the sealing element, and a centring surface provided on the outer circumference of the edge area.
A radial shaft seal with the features mentioned in the opening paragraph is known from DE 198 41 123 B4. In this known radial shaft seal, which has already proven highly successful in practice to date, both the centring surface of the circumferential edge area of the supporting element and the outer circumferential area of the sealing element are positioned against the inner wall of the housing wall opening through which the shaft passes.
The material of the sealing element preferably consists of a highly wear-resistant, elastomeric material. This material is extremely resistant to a large number of substances. The pump housings used for coolant pumps in automotive engineering are often made of thermosetting plastics. In this context, elevated operating temperatures can lead to the evolution of ammonia gas, formaldehyde gas and the like, which react with elastomeric materials and can lead to hardening of the material.


A sensor used to detect an opening angle of, for example, a throttle valve comprising: a pivotable valve axle arranged so as to be pivoted through a pivoted angle; a magnet; a first magnetic circuit, through which a first magnetic flux branched from a total magnetic flux developed from the magnet is passed; a second magnetic circuit, through which a second magnetic flux branched from the total magnetic flux developed from the magnet is passed; a pair of first and second Hall effect devices, the first Hall effect device being interposed in the first magnetic circuit so as to output a first signal according to the first magnetic flux passing therethrough and the second Hall effect device being interposed in the second magnetic circuit so as to output a second signal according to the second magnetic flux passing therethrough; and a calculation circuit, in response to the first and second signals of the first and second Hall effect devices, for calculating a level of a detection signal (So1, So2) of the sensor from the first and second signals outputted from the first and second Hall effect devices and for outputting the detection signal, the level of the detection signal being linearly varied according to the pivoted angle of the valve axle.

The present invention relates generally to a pivoted angle (angular displacement and its direction) sensor arranged for detecting an angle (and its direction) through which a valve axle is pivoted which is applicable to an engine throttle valve opening angle sensor.
In an automotive vehicle in which an electronically controlled fuel injection system is mounted, an opening angle of an engine throttle valve installed within an intake air passage (pivoted angle) of the engine is detected and the detected opening angle is supplied to an engine control unit having a microcomputer to achieve highly accurate controls of a fuel injection quantity or timing, or of another engine controlled parameter.
Generally, a potentiometer having a resistor body and a brush is used to detect the above-described opening angle of the throttle valve. The brush of the potentiometer is linked to a pivotable axle (valve axle of the throttle valve) and is slid on the resistor body in accordance with a pivotal angular displacement of the throttle valve, thus a variation in a resistance value of the resistor body is detected as the opening angle of the throttle valve. Since the throttle valve opening angle sensor using the potentiometer is of a contact type, a reliability is relatively low and a wear-out of the brush due to a long term use may occur.
On the other hand, a Japanese Patent Application First Publication No. Heisei 2-298814 published on Dec. 11, 1990 exemplifies a previously proposed pivoted angle sensor of a non-contact type using a magnetoresistance element (device). A magnetic field by means of a permanent magnet is developed around the fixed magnetoresistance element. When the magnet is pivoted thereon with the valve axle, the magnetic field is varied with the magnetoresistance element as a center. A change in the pivoted angle, at this time, is detected as a change in the resistance value of the magnetoresistance element. Consequently, the throttle valve opening angle can be detected according to the change in the resistance value of the magnetoresistance element.
However, in the previously proposed pivoted angle sensor using the magnetoresistance element, a spatial distance between an arc portion of a magnetic material installed on the permanent magnet and the magnetoresistance element is largely varied according to the pivotal movement of the valve axle (the magnet) so that an output signal from the magnetoresistance element gives a characteristic of a triangular function to the pivoted angle of the throttle valve axle. Consequently, it is difficult to obtain a desired linear characteristic for the detection of the throttle valve opening angle (pivoted angle).
Furthermore, it is difficult to correct a large variation in an output signal from the magnetoresistance element due to a temperature change in a magnetomotive force of the magnet and an aging effect and a temperature change that the magnetoresistance element has.

Sensor arranged for detecting angular displacement and direction of valve axle


A system and method for controlling HVAC equipment in a residential setting. The system may include an outdoor temperature sensor positioned to measure outdoor temperatures, an indoor air temperature sensor to measure indoor space air temperatures, a supply duct air temperature sensor positioned to measure supply duct air temperatures, a return duct air temperature sensor positioned to measure return duct air temperatures, an air blower current sensor positioned to measure air blower currents, and/or an air compressor current sensor positioned to measure air compressor currents, and a controller operable to receive the measures of outdoor temperature, indoor space air temperature, supply duct air temperature, return duct air temperature, air blower current, air compressor current, and measures of solar irradiation intensity and wind speed. The controller may be programmed with instructions to input the measures into a thermal model for outputting signals for implementing changes in the system.

To date, significant efforts have been devoted to the development of fault detection and automatic commissioning technologies for roof-top and built-up units in buildings. However, such technologies are primarily intended for commercial buildings, rather than for residential homes. Home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) operation costs are based on many factors (e.g., see FIGS. 1 and 2). For residential homes, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been developing adaptive fault detection and diagnosis techniques for air conditioners and heat pumps since 2014, but the work is still ongoing. Commercially available products in this market include smart thermostats sold by Nest™, Trane™, Honeywell™, Ecobee™, and Acculink™ Although each of these has its own unique features, these thermostats share a common attribute, in that all of them are remotely accessible through the Internet. These thermostats, however, do not possess a number of important capabilities to enhance performance, save energy, and reduce certain costs. It is to addressing these deficiencies that the novel embodiments of the present disclosure are directed.

Monitoring system for residential HVAC systems

The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma


In an apparatus for forming concrete pathways, a mold includes a plurality of openings for receiving concrete therein. The mold openings define separate and distinct concrete cavities. Concrete pathways, are formed by placing the mold of the invention on a surface for receiving the concrete in the concrete cavities. Upon removal of the mold, the concrete segments retain the shape of the mold cavities and are slightly separated from each other. The procedure is repeated to form a pathway of a desired length and configuration.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for forming concrete pathways, particularly, a plastic mold for configuring geometric designs for sidewalks, patios, gardens and the like.
The formation of sidewalks or concrete pathways typically requires excavation of a pathway, the assembly of wooden or metal forms which normally are required to restrain the sides of the concrete after pouring and then disassembly of the wooden or metal forms once the concrete has cured. Thus, conventional concrete forming methods are costly both in terms of labor and materials.
Concrete forming devices known in the prior art employ a mold to form the concrete to a desired shape. As the concrete begins to cure, the mold is removed and the next concrete member or section is formed. The use of such mold devices allows concrete sections of relatively uniform shape to be continuously formed having the cross-sectional configuration of the mold. Such prior art devices include U.S. Pat. No. 2,893,098 to Tilley which discloses a mold for applying simulated masonry to walls and the exterior surfaces of buildings. U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,773 to Davis discloses a concrete forming device of rather complex construction. A mold component of the device includes movable lower side edge portions which are resiliently biased downwardly to accommodate surface irregularities for confining the concrete in the mold.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,141 to Russell discloses an apparatus for forming embankments of trapezoidal shape. The trapezoidal-shaped shield apparatus is opened at the top and bottom, and rearwardly. Concrete is introduced into the top of the shield for forming each segment of the embankment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,773 to Noack discloses a simulated interlocking stone paving block. The concrete paving blocks are formed with a mold. U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,480 discloses a textured brick form. U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,303 to Schumaker discloses an apparatus for forming concrete pathways. The apparatus continuously moves along the path as concrete is poured through a hopper extending upwardly from the top of the apparatus.
As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,303 a critical problem with prior art slip-forming devices used in the construction of concrete pathways is that the concrete that is discharged from such devices tends to crack or fracture. The tendency to crack during setting is particularly acute in applications requiring a concrete aggregate that contains an amount of water sufficient to insure the formation of a smooth surface as the concrete member is being discharged from the form. Frequently, an entire concrete section must be removed and repoured due to the cracking and/or fragmentation following setting.
The concrete forming apparatus of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices by providing a mold to rapidly (usually within two minutes) form an entire section of concrete comprising a plurality of discrete concrete segments substantially smaller in dimension than formed by prior art devices thereby reducing the likelihood of cracks or fractures. The mold is configured such that two sides of the apparatus will always interlink with a previously formed section to provide for an apparent seamless unbroken association between the new section and the previously formed section. The discrete concrete segments may be left separated from and independent of each other with earth or some other material utilized as a stabilizer or the segments can be bound together as a unit by the mold and each adjacent unit can be bound to a previously formed unit, if accomplished before the concrete sets up. The binding process is accomplished by (1) removing the form immediately after filing each cavity with concrete, (2) distributing a small amount of concrete between each segment, and (3) replacing the mold and applying downward pressure to the mold thereby distributing the added concrete evenly throughout the mold matrix and binding each segment to an adjacent segment at its lower extremity. Binding of each segment can also be accomplished by evenly spreading a layer of concrete on the surface of the ground prior to placing the mold and filling its cavities in the conventional manner. This allows for a concrete underlayment and attachment of the discrete segments. The present invention also overcomes the disadvantages of prior art by allowing partial segments of the mold to be utilized in the forming of curves, flares, and circles that interconnect in an apparent seamless manner thereby allowing for maximum flexibility in the design of pathways and other ground covering.

Mold device for forming concrete pathways


A solid polymer electrolyte includes a polymer having a sulfonic group and shows high proton conductivity in a wide range of temperatures and humidities and is excellent in hot water resistance and chemical stability. A proton conductive membrane is composed of the electrolyte. The polymer electrolyte includes a polymer having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1a) or (1b):

Recently, solid electrolytes are used more often than the conventional electrolyte (aqueous) solutions. This is because firstly those solid electrolytes have good processability in application in electric and electronic components, and secondly there are trends for overall size and weight reduction of such components and further for power saving.
Proton conductive materials, both inorganic and organic, are known in the art. However, inorganic proton conductive compounds, such as uranyl phosphate hydrate, come with many difficulties when superposed as a conductive layer on a substrate or an electrode. For example, sufficient contact cannot be achieved in the interface between the conductive layer and the substrate or the like.
On the other hand, the organic proton conductive compounds include organic polymers that belong to the so-called cation exchange resins such as sulfonated vinyl polymers (ex. polystyrene sulfonic acid), perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid polymers represented by Nafion® (DuPont) and perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid polymers, and that are obtained by introducing sulfonic or phosphoric groups in heat resistant polymers such as polybenzimidazole and polyether ether ketone (see, for example, Polymer Preprints, Japan, Vol. 42, No. 3, p. 730 (1993); Polymer Preprints, Japan, Vol. 42, No. 7, p. 2490-2492 (1993); and Polymer Preprints, Japan, Vol. 43, No. 3, p. 735-736 (1994)).
These organic polymers are generally used in the form of film. Their solvent solubility and thermoplasticity enable them to form a conductive membrane jointly on an electrode. However, many of the organic polymers are still insufficient in proton conductivity. In addition, they have poor service durability, reduce the proton conductivity at high temperatures (100° C. or above), have high humidity dependence, and are unsatisfactory in adhesion with the electrode. Further, because of the water-containing structure of these polymers, the conductive membranes are excessively swollen during operation, resulting in lowered strength and deformation. Accordingly, the organic polymers cause many problems in application to the electric and electronic components.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,675 proposes a solid polymer electrolyte comprising a sulfonated rigid-rod polyphenylene (namely, a sulfonated compound based on a polyarylene structure). This polymer mainly contains a polymer composed of phenylene chains that is obtained by polymerization of an aromatic compound, and the polymer has been sulfonated by reaction with a sulfonating agent to introduce the sulfonic groups. Although increasing the amount of the sulfonic groups introduced improves the proton conductivity, it also results in remarkably deteriorated mechanical characteristics such as toughness (for example, break elongation and folding resistance) and hot water resistance of the sulfonated polymer.

Polymer electrolyte and proton conductive membrane

Abstract: wherein A is a divalent electron-withdrawing group, B is a divalent electron-donating group or a direct bond, Ar is an aromatic group, Z is an oxygen or a sulfur atom, X is a hydrogen or a fluorine atom, j is an integer of 1 or greater, k is an integer of from 1 to 4, l is an integer of from 0 to 10, m is an integer of from 1 to 10, and n is an integer of from 1 to 8.


Two semiconductor substrates are first bonded together by means of a metal bump, while respective one-side surfaces on which device patterns are formed are faced each other, and a resin is then filled into a gap between the respective one-side surfaces and thereafter each of the semiconductor substrates is polished and thinned to a prescribed thickness. Furthermore, a via hole and an insulating film are formed; part of a portion in contact with the metal bump, of the insulating film, is opened; the inside of the via hole is filled with a conductor; and an electrode pad is formed on the conductor, to thereby form structures. Finally, a required number of structures are electrically connected with each other through the electrode pad and stacked to thereby obtain a semiconductor device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and its manufacturing method and, more particularly, to a technique adapted to eliminate drawbacks arising in association with a thinning in performing three-dimensional mounting intended for the high density design and multiple-pin design of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, various methods have been proposed as techniques for accomplishing the high density design and multiple-pin design of semiconductor devices. As one method, for example, there is an available method which involves fabricating a printed wiring board of multilayer structure by means of a build-up method and mounting elements such as semiconductor chips on the multilayer printed wiring board so as to obtain a device.
Also, as another method, there is an available method which involves, instead of fabricating a printed wiring board of multilayer structure, fabricating a printed wiring board by forming wiring patterns on both sides of one insulative substrate, fabricating a device by mounting elements such as semiconductor chips on the wiring patterns of one surface of the printed wiring board, and performing three-dimensional mounting by stacking such devices. According to this method, it is necessary to electrically interconnect the respective semiconductor chips mounted on each of the printed wiring boards. To this end, in each of the printed wiring boards are formed through holes which pierce the printed wiring board, and wiring patterns formed on both surfaces of the printed wiring board are electrically interconnected through plated films (conductor layers) formed on the inner surfaces of the through holes.
Also, as still another method of performing three-dimensional mounting, there is a conceivable method which involves: using a silicon (Si) substrate as a base material layer; forming a hole with a required depth in the silicon substrate; forming required device patterns (including circuit patterns, wiring patterns, or the like) after filling the hole with a conductor by plating, or the like, so that the device patterns are electrically connected to the conductor; covering the device patterns with insulating films formed of polyimide resin, or the like; exposing the conductor by polishing the back surface of the silicon substrate by means of a back-grinding method, or the like; fabricating a device by providing metal bumps (external connection terminals) on the exposed conductor; and stacking a required number of devices.
Likewise in this method, it is necessary to electrically interconnect each of the devices, and to this end, it is necessary to form through holes in the insulating film of the device, plate the inner surfaces of the through holes, and electrically connect device patterns via the plated film to metal bumps of an upper-positioned device.
As described above, various techniques have been proposed as techniques for accomplishing the high density design and multiple-pin design of semiconductor devices. Among these, in the technique utilizing a build-up method, the thickness of the printed wiring board is considerably increased because the printed wiring board is fabricated to have a multilayer structure. Accordingly, the scale of the whole semiconductor device in final form becomes large, resulting in a problem in that it is not possible to fully meet the recent requirement for thinning design.
Also, the method which involves forming a device by means of an insulative substrate and stacking a required number of devices, is favorable in terms of the high density design and multiple-pin design, compared with the above technique utilizing a build-up method, because a plurality of semiconductor chips are mutually three-dimensionally mounted. However, this method has a drawback in terms of the thinning design in the same manner as described above, because semiconductor chips are interposed between printed wiring boards.
On the other hand, the method which involves forming a device by means of a silicon substrate and stacking a required number of devices, is favorable in terms of the thinning design, because the thickness of the silicon substrate is reduced by polishing the back surface thereof. However, this method poses the following problems:
Namely, in this method, a mechanical polishing such as a back-grinding method is performed to make the silicon substrate thin, and accordingly, there is a limit to the thickness of the silicon substrate to be thinned due to mechanical shocks of the mechanical polishing. If the silicon substrate is made excessively thin, a problem would arise in that cracks occur in the silicon substrate and, in some cases, the silicon substrate may be broken or damaged.
Also, the surface on one side of the silicon substrate, on which device patterns are formed, is formed of an insulating film of polyimide resin, or the like, while the surface on another side is formed of a conductor. Namely, the two surfaces have different coefficients of thermal expansion, which causes a difference in stresses generated between the one surface and another surface. As a result, for example, when polishing treatment is performed, a problem arises in that the silicon substrate is warped.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A cable connector having an outer tube, a first inner tube, a metal ring, a second inner tube and a grip portion is provided. The outer tube has an upper receiving space and a lower receiving space. The first inner tube is disposed in the upper receiving space from up to down. The metal ring is utilized for covering the first inner tube. The second inner tube is disposed in the lower receiving space from down to up. The grip portion is disposed between the outer tube and the first inner tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cable connector, and more particularly, to a cable connector having a grip portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, when insert a cable into a cable connector, it will require additional tools to make the cable connector clamp the cable. As a result, there is a lot of inconvenience when using the cable connector.
In view of this, it is important to provide a cable connector which can be fastening the cable simultaneously while the cable is inserted into the cable connector.