A film deposition apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate by performing a cycle of alternately supplying at least two kinds of reaction gases that react with each other on the substrate to produce a layer of a reaction product in a vacuum chamber is disclosed. The film deposition apparatus includes a ring-shaped locking member that may be provided in or around a wafer receiving portion of a turntable in which the substrate is placed, in order to keep the substrate in the substrate receiving portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film deposition apparatus and a film deposition method for depositing a film on a substrate by carrying out plural cycles of supplying in turn at least two source gases to the substrate in order to form a layer of a reaction product.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a film deposition technique in a semiconductor fabrication process, there has been known a so-called Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) or Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD). In such a film deposition technique, a first reaction gas is adsorbed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer (referred to as a wafer hereinafter) under vacuum and then a second reaction gas is adsorbed on the surface of the wafer in order to form one or more atomic or molecular layers through reaction of the first and the second reaction gases on the surface of the wafer; and such an alternating adsorption of the gases is repeated plural times, thereby depositing a film on the wafer. This technique is advantageous in that the film thickness can be controlled at higher accuracy by the number of times alternately supplying the gases, and in that the deposited film can have excellent uniformity over the wafer. Therefore, this deposition method is thought to be promising as a film deposition technique that can address further miniaturization of semiconductor devices.
Such a film deposition method may be preferably used, for example, for depositing a dielectric material to be used as a gate insulator. When silicon dioxide (SiO2) is deposited as the gate insulator, a bis (tertiary-butylamino) silane (BTBAS) gas or the like is used as a first reaction gas (source gas) and ozone gas or the like is used as a second reaction gas (oxidation gas).
In order to carry out such a deposition method, use of a single-wafer deposition apparatus having a vacuum chamber and a shower head at a top center portion of the vacuum chamber has been under consideration. In such a deposition apparatus, the reaction gases are introduced into the chamber from the top center portion, and unreacted gases and by-products are evacuated from a bottom portion of the chamber. When such a deposition chamber is used, it takes a long time for a purge gas to purge the reaction gases, resulting in an extremely long process time because the number of cycles may reach several hundred. Therefore, a deposition method and an apparatus that enable high throughput are desired.
There are two types of the ALD methods. First, the ALD method of the first type is explained, taking an example of using a film deposition apparatus having a wafer receiving portion that is fixed in an evacuatable reaction chamber and on which a wafer is placed.
(1) First, the wafer is transferred into the reaction chamber and placed on the wafer receiving portion. In this case, only one wafer may be placed (a single-wafer process), or plural wafers may be placed (a batch process).
(2) After the wafer(s) is placed on the wafer receiving portion, the reaction chamber is evacuated to vacuum and film deposition conditions are set during evacuation. Specifically, a temperature of the wafer receiving portion (wafer temperature) is set at a temperature suitable for the ALD, and a pressure in the reaction chamber is set at a pressure suitable for the ALD.
(3) After the film deposition conditions are set, a reaction gas A is supplied to the reaction chamber for a predetermined period of time.
(4) Then, supplying the reaction gas A is terminated, and the reaction gas A is evacuated from the reaction chamber, in order to reduce intermixture and reaction of the reaction gas A remaining in the reaction chamber and a reaction B to be subsequently supplied.
(5) The reaction gas B is supplied to the reaction chamber for a predetermined period of time.
(6) The reaction gas B is terminated, and evacuated from the reaction chamber in the same manner as the step (4). This is carried out in order to reduce intermixture and reaction of the reaction gas B remaining in the reaction chamber and the reaction B to be supplied again.
(7) The above steps (3) through (6) are repeated at a predetermined times.
(8) When a film thickness of the film deposited on the wafer reaches a predetermined value, all the reaction gases are stopped; a pressure of the reaction chamber is returned to an atmospheric pressure; and the wafer is transferred out from the reaction chamber.
The ALD method of the first type is advantageous in that the reaction gases A, B can be substantially prevented from being intermixed in the reaction chamber because the reaction chamber can be fully evacuated before supplying the reaction gases A, B. On the other hand, film deposition time is lengthened because this method includes steps of supplying the reaction gas A, evacuating the reaction gas A, supplying the reaction gas B, and evacuating the reaction gas B (namely, the reaction chamber needs to be evacuated to vacuum in order to avoid intermixture of the reaction gases A, B). In addition, because process controlling instruments such as valves and mass flow controllers used in a gas supplying system and valves in a gas evacuation system of the film deposition apparatus need to be opened and closed many times during the film deposition time, the process controlling instruments are subject to maintenance at relatively high frequency, which reduces utilization rate of the film deposition apparatus and productivity.
In order to reduce the film deposition time due to the time-consuming evacuation processes, thereby reducing the frequency of the maintenance of the process controlling instruments and improving the productivity, use of an ALD apparatus with a rotatable susceptor on which plural of the wafers are placed is considered, which is explained in the following as the ALD method of a second type.
A mini-batch type ALD apparatus with the rotatable susceptor is used in the second type. This apparatus includes a reaction chamber whose inside can be maintained at reduced pressures and a turntable rotatably provided in the reaction chamber. The turntable can hold as many wafers as desired depending on a size of the wafer to be processed and a diameter of the turntable.
In the ALD method of the second type,
(1) first, plural wafers are placed on the turntable in the reaction chamber;
(2) after the plural wafers are placed on the turntable, the reaction chamber is evacuated to vacuum, the turntable starts rotating, and the wafers are heated at a predetermined temperature;
(3) a separation gas is supplied at a predetermined flow rate to an area between reaction areas where corresponding reaction gases are supplied;
(4) when predetermined reaction gases are supplied at predetermined flow rates to upper surfaces of the wafers, the upper surfaces of the wafers are exposed alternatively to the reaction gases, thereby carrying out the ALD; and
(5) after a film having a predetermined thickness is obtained on each of the wafers, the reaction gases are stopped, the turntable stops rotating, and the inner pressure of the reaction chamber is returned to the atmospheric pressure.
The ALD method of the second type is advantageous in that the film thickness can be adjusted by the number of rotations of the turntable.
In addition, because supplying the reaction gases A, B and evacuating the reaction gases A, B are carried out at the same time, the number of ON/OFF operations of the process controlling instruments is reduced and thus the process controlling instruments are subject to maintenance at relatively low frequency, which may increase utilization rate of the film deposition apparatus and productivity.
In the ALD method of the second type, plural areas where the corresponding reaction gases are supplied and an area where the reaction gases are evacuated are required in the reaction chamber. In order to avoid intermixture of the reaction gases in the reaction chamber, it can be easily understood that independent reaction areas (compartments) should be created by partition walls. However, bottom ends of the partition walls need to be as close to the turntable as possible in order to sufficiently avoid gaseous communication between the reaction areas. Alternatively, the turntable needs to be intermittently rotated. Namely, the reaction areas are enclosed so that the turntable is raised to contact the partition walls via a sealing member therebetween, and the wafers on the turntable are exposed to the reaction gas in the corresponding enclosed reaction area. In this method, the turntable cannot be continuously rotated, which may increase the film deposition time.
Therefore, a mechanism is required for separating the reaction gases in order to alternatively expose the upper surfaces of the wafers to the reaction gases while avoiding the intermixture of the reaction gases even when the turntable is rotated at higher rotation speed.
Patent Document 1 discloses a method of evacuating reaction gases along with a separation gas through an evacuation opening provided at an upper portion of the reaction chamber between an ejection opening of the separation gas and an area where a reaction gas is supplied.
Patent Document 2 discloses a method of separating the reaction gases by use of air-curtain effect while a wafer supporting member is rotated.
Patent Document 3 discloses a method of rotating a wafer receiving member having a partition wall and a slanted surface where a wafer is placed so that the wafer on the slanted surface can cope with the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the wafer receiving member, so that the wafer passes through process areas and evacuation areas.
Patent Document 4 discloses a method of depositing a film by alternately ejecting two reaction gases.
Patent Document 5 discloses a method of supplying a source reaction gas from a rotatable nozzle to a reaction area including a vacuum evacuation opening and purging the source reaction gas by the rotatable nozzle.
In a film deposition apparatus and film deposition method disclosed in Patent Document 6 (7, and 8), after a source gas (or a reaction gas) is supplied to an area where a wafer is placed, an environment of the area is purged with a purge gas by use of a separation gas nozzle.
Patent Document 9 discloses a turntable on which plural wafers are placed, plural supplying zones (or supplying opening) from which corresponding reaction gases are supplied and that are provided at circumferential intervals, and two evacuation zones (or evacuation opening) provided along the circumferential direction between the plural supplying zones.
Patent Document 10 discloses a clamp ring that fixes a wafer placed in a wafer receiving area of a susceptor (or platen) in order to avoid wafer damage or breakage that may be caused when centrifugal force due to rotation of the susceptor forces the wafer to hit an inner side wall of the wafer receiving area.
Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,542 (FIGS. 6(a), 6(b))
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-254181 (FIGS. 1 and 2)
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Publication No. 3144664 (FIGS. 1 and 2, claim 1)
Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open Publication No. H04-287912
Patent Document 5: U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,314
Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-247066 (paragraphs 0023 through 0025, and 0058, FIGS. 12 and 18)
Patent Document 7: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/218701
Patent Document 8: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/218702
Patent Document 9: Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2008-516428 (or corresponding U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0073276)
Patent Document 10: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H09-115994 (FIGS. 4, 6, and 7)

Film deposition apparatus and film deposition method


Provided is a cell proliferation inhibitor comprising a compound of the formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof:

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a biochemical reaction which is a chain addition of ADP-ribose to glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues of a protein, with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as a substrate. A produced poly(ADP-ribose) chain is composed of about 200 ADP-riboses at longest. A poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family is known as an enzyme which catalyzes the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation reaction.
Of the PARP family, PARP-5a and PARP-5b are called tankyrase-1 and tankyrase-2, respectively. Normally, in many cases, both enzymes are simply called tankyrase collectively. The tankyrase is composed of an ankyrin region which recognizes a protein which is to be poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated; a sterile alpha motif (SAM) region which is involved in self-multimerization; and a PARP catalytic domain which controls the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation reaction.
The tankyrase binds to various proteins through the ankyrin region in the molecule to poly(ADP-ribosyl)ates these proteins. Examples of tankyrase-bound proteins include TRF1, NuMA, Plk1, Miki, Axin, TNKS1BP1, IRAP, McI-1 and 3BP2. The tankyrase poly(ADP-ribosyl)ates these proteins to regulate the physiological functions of the proteins. Hence, inhibition of tankyrase is considered to be effective for the control of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, tissue formation and the like which are the physiological functions of the proteins.
Examples of known tankyrase inhibitory compounds having tankyrase inhibitory activity include the compound XAV939 described in Non Patent Literature 1 (Huang SM. et al., Nature, Vol. 461, pp. 614-620, 2009), the compounds described in Patent Literature 1 (WO 2013/117288) and Patent Literature 2 (WO 2013/182580), NVP-TNKS656 described in Non Patent Literature 2 (Michael D. Shultz et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 56, pp. 6495-6511, 2013), and G007-LK described in Non Patent Literature 3 (Andrew Voronkov. et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 56, pp. 3012-3023, 2013) and Patent Literature 3 (WO 2012/076898).
A microtubule is a protein forming a cytoskeleton, and is involved in formation of a spindle in the phase of cell division period, formation and maintenance of cellular morphology, arrangement of intracellular organelles and transport of substances to the organs, axonal transport in nerve cells, and the like. The microtubule is composed of tubulin dimers each composed of an α-subunit and a β-subunit. A process in which the dimers aggregate to form a microtubule is referred to as polymerization, and a process in which a microtubule reverts to a tubulin is referred to as depolymerization.
As microtubule inhibitors which inhibit microtubules, microtubule depolymerization inhibitors for promoting the polymerization to stabilize and excessively form microtubules, and microtubule polymerization inhibitors for inhibiting the polymerization are known, and these microtubule inhibitors each suppress cell proliferation by disrupting the state of dynamic equilibrium of microtubule polymerization to arrest the cell cycle in the M phase. As such microtubule inhibitors, paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinorelbine, docetaxel, cabazitaxel, eribulin and the like are known. These microtubule inhibitors are commercially available as agents having an antitumor effect on leukemia, malignant lymphoma and malignant tumors.
Such tankyrase inhibitors and microtubule inhibitors are considered to have an effect against fibrosarcoma, ovary cancer, glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, astrocytoma, lung cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocyte cancer, multiple myeloma, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, leukemia, infections with a Herpes simplex virus, an Epstein-Barr virus and the like, fibroses such as pulmonary fibrosis, cherubism, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, skin and cartilage injuries, metabolic diseases and the like, and a suppressive effect on cancer metastasis. Development of a new pharmaceutical product for preventing and/or treating the above-mentioned diseases is desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dihydroquinazolinone compound or pharmacologically acceptable salt, and cell growth inhibitor

Abstract: wherein J1 and J2 each represent CH or N, with the proviso that J1 and J2 are not simultaneously CH; r represents 0 to 4; each R101 is the same or different when r is 2 or more, and R101 represents a C1-6 alkyl group optionally substituted with a halogen atom or the like; s represents 0 to 5; each R102 is the same or different when s is 2 or more, and R102 represents a halogen atom or the like; R103 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C3-6 cycloalkyl group, or a C3-6 cycloalkyl C1-6 alkyl group; and R101 and R103 are optionally linked together to form a five- to seven-membered ring hetero ring when R101 is present at the 8-position.


According to one aspect, a genset includes a gas turbine engine having a low pressure shaft wherein the gas turbine engine is adapted to provide mechanical power to a propulsion type load. The genset further includes a generator having an input power shaft wherein the generator is adapted to receive mechanical power to develop electric power. The genset further includes an output power shaft having a first end coupled to the low pressure shaft of the gas turbine and a second end coupled to the input power shaft of the generator and a plurality of struts wherein the first ends of the plurality of struts are coupled to the gas turbine engine and second ends of the plurality of struts are coupled to the generator at locations substantially aligned with a center of gravity of the generator. A suspension apparatus attaches the gas turbine engine and the generator at mounting locations substantially aligned with a gas turbine engine center of gravity and at mounting locations substantially aligned with the generator center of gravity, respectively.

In known aerospace power applications that develop mechanical power using a gas turbine engine, the engine low pressure (LP) shaft torque and engine weight must be reacted within the overall system for desired aircraft operation. For a traditional aerospace turboprop engine system, this load reaction is addressed in conjunction with the propeller gearbox (PGB) and by properly integrating the components with structural elements of the aircraft.
In some applications it may be desirable to use certain components of a turboprop engine system to produce a system that develops electric power. For example, one may wish to use a generator—that receives mechanical power from a gas turbine engine—to drive an electric motor that assists in aircraft propulsion or to power electric loads, such as in a hybrid power generation system (PGS). In such a case, if the PGB and associated hardware are removed and an electric generator is instead coupled to and driven by the LP shaft, the torque and weight of the generator must be properly reacted to facilitate the operation of the hybrid PGS for either ground or flight applications. In general, the combination of a gas turbine engine and a generator is referred to as a genset.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2005/0178889 discloses a structure for mounting a turboprop engine under an aircraft wing having a rigid structure. The rigid structure comprises a box and the mounting structure comprises at least two lateral connecting rods resisting the engine torque generated by the turboprop engine. The connecting rods are arranged on each side of the box and each includes a forward end connected to a gear box of the turboprop engine and an aft end connected to said box.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,138 discloses a turboprop propulsion aircraft having a plurality of gas turbine engines. Each gas turbine engine comprises a two-stage reduction gearbox with an engine output shaft disposed in line with a propeller drive output shaft to drive a propeller in front of the engine in a tractor mode of propulsion. An input gear reduction stage and an output gear reduction stage share a plurality layshafts mounted in fixed circularly-spaced relation to each other about the axis of the output shafts in the mechanical housing in the aircraft. Each layshaft has a layshaft first end toward the rear, input end of the gearbox, and a layshaft second end toward the output, front end of the gearbox. The layshaft gears are arranged to avoid any net thrust loading of the layshafts. Spur and double helical gears are used in FIG. 4, while spur gears are used in FIG. 6 with suitable helix settings to neutralize end thrust on the layshaft. Cantilever layshaft input gear mounting in rear bearings enables same to share some layshaft output gear load sharing with the front bearing. A torquemeter is situated at the gearbox input end. The engine output gear, gearbox output gear, and propeller all have collinear rotational axes.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2016/0178464 discloses a gas turbine engine torque monitoring system including a gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine electronics. The gas turbine engine includes a torque sensor coupled to a rotatable element of the gas turbine engine, such as a drive shaft. The torque monitoring system analyzes torque signals output by the torque sensor using a combination of frequency domain analysis and time domain analysis, and generates an interpretation of the torque sensor output signals. The gas turbine engine torque monitoring system can initiate a variety of different types of actions in relation to the gas turbine engine based on the interpretation of the torque sensor output signals.
WO 2005/044662 discloses an aircraft propulsion system comprising two uncoupled separately operable turboprop gas turbine engines. Rotary axes of the engines are inclined relative to one another in a horizontal and/or vertical plane and each of which is connected by a drive shaft to a compound gearbox that drives a pair of coaxial contra-rotating airscrew shafts.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2016/0023773A1 discloses mounting of an electric machine co-axially with or mechanically linked to a low-pressure turbine (LPT) shaft. The electric machine can function as a generator or as a motor in different operational phases. Additionally, the electric machine can be located downstream of the LPT or upstream of the low-pressure compressor.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2017/0313431A1 discloses a suspension for a propulsion assembly comprising a gas generator coupled by a coupling mechanism to a thrust generator having a structural torque transmission gearbox. A rigid cradle rigidly supports the thrust generator in a first suspension plane and the gas generator in distinct second and third suspension planes.

Gensets and methods of producing gensets from an engine and generator for hybrid electric propulsion

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.


A method, system and computer program product for managing applications service provider (ASP) transactions between an ASP and an ASP user. The method on which the system and computer program product are based includes receiving an ASP transaction request from the user via a communications network such as the Internet, selecting an ASP for processing the transaction request, and transmitting instructions for performing the transaction request, via the communications network, to the selected ASP. The ASP transaction request may be received by receiving a user identifier from the user or by receiving a document consultation request from the user. Selecting an ASP may include selecting a special service ASP.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to methods, computer-based systems and computer program products for transacting with an applications service provider (ASP), and in particular for selecting an appropriate ASP for completing a user transaction request.
2. Discussion of the Background
An application service provider (ASP) is an entity, typically a company, that offers users remote access to software applications and related services that would otherwise have to be located on the user's local computer. For example, ASPs can provide searchable databases of legal, medical, financial, educational, scientific, or marketing documents to individuals and/or companies via the Internet. Alternatively, some companies may provide in-house type ASPs whereby shared software applications and services are located on a company computer accessible by the employees via a company network. Thus, as used herein, the term "ASP" has a broad meaning that includes a provider that allows a user to use an application not loaded on the user's local computer.
Today, there are a great number of ASPs providing various kinds of documents and services to a user. For example, one ASP may provide legal documents while another provides marketing, educational, scientific, financial, or medical documents. An example of a conventional network of ASPs connected to a user is shown in FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 1, document ASPs 10, 20, 30, and 40 are connected to user 72 via the Internet 50. User 72 includes a personal computer (PC) 80, a printer 90, a local storage device 100 and a medium drive 110, and may be part of a home computer system, for example. In this example, user 72 independently connects to one of the ASPs 10-40 which provides the documents and services needed by the user 72. For example, the user 72 may connect to ASP 30 via the Internet 50 and download documents for viewing on the screen of the PC 80, printing with printer 90, or storing in the local storage device 100 and/or medium drive 110. Where different services are required, the user 72 may have to access a different ASP.
In the conventional system of FIG. 1, the user 72 must search the Internet 50 for the ASP pertaining to the subject matter and services needed by the user 72. While users of ASPs may be knowledgeable professionals such as attorneys and doctors, they may have limited experience and knowledge in searching for and selecting the ASP to meet their needs. Moreover, once the user selects an ASP, the ASP may not be compatible with the user 72. For example the interface environment, such as a graphical user interface, may be unfamiliar or unrecognizable to the user, and documents provided by the ASP may be in a format unrecognizable to the user 72. In this regard, user 72 may have particular difficulty in using multiple ASPs such as the ASPs 10-40. Even, where the user 72 is compatible with many ASPs, accessing and searching the ASPs individually is time consuming and costly due to different procedures and features associated with each ASP 10-40.
One common use of ASPs is for storing and retrieving documents. For example, user 72 may want to store business documents as electronic files in an ASP to save physical and electronic storage space local to the user 72. These business documents can be retrieved by the user 72 by accessing the storage ASP at any time. Moreover, user 72 can obtain large documents such as reference documents and books from a document retrieval ASP as needed. These storage and retrieval ASP services create a further problem in that voluminous documents must be transmitted between the user 72 and the ASP 10-40 via the user=s network connection which has a limited data transfer capacity. This may lead to the communication line between the user 72 and the ASP 10-40 being busy during extended transmission period times.

System, computer program product and method for selecting an application service provider


A system and method for treating an arrhythmia in a heart are provided. The system includes an electronic control unit configured to monitor movement of one or more position sensor over a period of time. The position sensors may, for example, comprise electrodes or coils configured to generate induced voltages and currents in the presence of electromagnetic fields. The positions sensors are in contact with portions of heart tissue and changes in position are representative of motion of that tissue. The electronic control unit is further configured to generate an indicator, responsive to the movements of the sensors over the period of time, of a characteristic of the heart affected by delivery of ablation energy to heart tissue. In this manner, the effectiveness and safety of cardiac tissue ablation for treatment of the arrhythmia can be assessed and a post-ablation therapy regimen determined.

a. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system and method for treating arrhythmias in the heart. In particular, the instant invention relates to a system and method that monitor movement of position sensors on heart tissue to generate indicators of various characteristics of the heart affected by the delivery of ablation energy.
b. Background Art
It is well known to use ablation catheters to create tissue necrosis in cardiac tissue to correct cardiac arrhythmias (including, but not limited to, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia). Arrhythmia can create a variety of dangerous conditions including irregular heart rates, loss of synchronous atrioventricular contractions and stasis of blood flow which can lead to a variety of ailments and even death. It is believed that the primary cause of many arrhythmias is stray electrical signals within one or more heart chambers. The ablation catheter imparts ablative energy (e.g., radiofrequency energy, light energy, ultrasound, or thermal (cryo or heat based) energy) to the heart tissue to create a lesion in the heart tissue. This lesion disrupts undesirable electrical pathways and thereby limits or prevents stray electrical signals that lead to arrhythmias.
Ablation therapy provides significant benefits in resolving cardiac arrhythmias. There are, however, a number of risks associated with ablation therapy including reduced contribution by atria to ventricular filling, stagnation of blood in the atria leading to a hematoma or thrombus, cavitation of blood resulting from heating during ablation which can result in creation of an embolus or thrombus, and coagulation of blood resulting from the presence of a foreign object (i.e., the ablation catheter) which can result in creation of a thrombus. For these and other reasons, it is important to monitor the impact and effectiveness of ablation therapy on cardiac tissue so that risks are minimized and the safety of a patient insured.
The inventors herein have recognized a need for a system and method for treating arrhythmias in the heart that will minimize and/or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies.

System and method for treating arrhythmias in the heart using information obtained from heart wall motion


A share group of servers comprises a first server and a second server. The first server has a server partition and a management processor which is separate from said server partition. Usage rights may be transferred from the first server to the second server by executing machine readable instructions on the management processor which is separate from said server partition.

Most enterprises today depend upon applications run on servers. These applications often demand high levels of reliability and availability from the servers. Further such applications need to be adaptive to scale up and down according to business needs. Providing extra hardware to give the desired reliability, availability and room for future expansion can prove expensive. One development is to allow customers to purchase systems with inactive hardware resources (processors, memory, cell boards/blades, I/O devices, other hardware devices etc), which can be activated either permanently or temporarily by purchasing usage rights (without which one cannot use the hardware component). When a customer wishes to expand the system or requires more hardware resources, they can simply purchase usage rights for the inactive hardware resources. This enables the customer to spread the cost of purchasing new hardware; they may pay a smaller initial fee for the hardware and then pay for the usage rights as they use them for instance. Further, users may be able to transfer usage rights between server partitions according to demand and, in a recent development, transfer usage rights between servers in different physical locations.

Method of managing usage rights in a share group of servers

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method selects a network entity in a communication system. The method includes receiving, in a controller entity of an unlicensed radio spectrum access network, location information of a communication device connected to one of the unlicensed radio spectrum access network and another access network. The method further includes determining a routing area indication based on the location information. The method further includes selecting, based on the routing area indication, a serving network entity, which provides services for the communication device using at least the unlicensed radio spectrum access network and the another radio access network. Furthermore, a computer program, a controller entity and a communication system are configured to execute the method.

A communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities such as one or more communication devices and/or other nodes associated with the communication system. A communication system typically operates in accordance with a given standard or specification setting out what the various entities associated with the communication system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. A standard or specification may define a specific set of rules, such as communication protocols and/or parameters, on which connections between the entities can be based.
Wireless communication systems include various cellular or otherwise mobile communication systems using radio frequencies for sending voice or data between, stations, for example between a communication device and a transceiver network element. National or international authorities or organizations may allocate a radio frequency band, so-called licensed radio frequencies, to mobile communication networks. Examples of mobile communication systems operating on a licensed spectrum may comprise a public land mobile network (PLMN), such as global system for mobile communication (GSM), general packet radio service (GPRS), and third generation (3G) networks, such as universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS). The 3G network may use wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) technology or other air interfaces, such as the enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE), multi-carrier code division multiple access (CDMA2000).
A mobile communication network may logically be divided into a radio access network (RAN) and a core network (CN). A communication device may access the communication network via an access entity, such as a transceiver network element, of the RAN. Examples of radio access networks operating on a licensed spectrum may comprise GSM/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) and UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN).
A single communication system may interface with one or more communication systems, such as with other wireless systems, such as a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) network, wireless local area network (WLAN) and/or fixed line communication systems.
Wireless communication systems may also use unlicensed radio frequencies. Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology provides access to mobile services over unlicensed spectrum technologies. Examples of unlicensed spectrum technologies may comprise Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11, both operating in an unlicensed 2.4 GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) frequency band.
UMA is an extension of GSM/GPRS/UMTS mobile services into customer premises achieved by tunneling certain GSM/GPRS/UMTS protocols between the customer premises and the core network over a broadband IP network. In UMA, unlicensed spectrum technologies may be used to carry another access protocol, such as GSM, GPRS or UMTS, to reach the GSM/GPRS/UMTS core network when the core network is not directly reachable. From a perspective of an end-user, GSM/GPRS/UMTS services are used. UMA is a complement to a traditional GSM/GPRS/UMTS radio coverage, used to enhance customer premises coverage, increase network capacity and potentially lower costs.
A communication device may establish a packet data connection to a UMA network controller (UNC). Each UNC may control a plurality of UMA cells. The UNC may be connected to one or more controlling or switching elements of the mobile communication systems, such as to one or more serving GPRS support nodes (SGSN). In the GSM/GPRS/UMTS, the SGSN is a network element, which typically keeps track of a location of an individual communication device and performs security functions and access control.
It might be desired to provide a way that the UNC, or another controller network element of unlicensed radio spectrum access network, was able to decide with which controlling or switching element of the core network, in particular with which SGSN, to communicate. This might provide advantages in various situations. A particular example may be a situation where a single SGSN is serving both UMA and GPRS/UMTS cells.


A one piece gland is disclosed for attachment to a liner bag. The gland includes a flange and a filling sleeve. The sleeve itself comprises a tubular portion which merges with the flange, an intermediate portion which defines an external groove and an externally threaded free end portion. Loops defining passages are provided between the tubular portion and the flange. The one piece gland forms part of a gland structure which includes an internally threaded cap which includes a pair of loops similar to the loops.

Bulk liquids are transported in various ways. One of these ways is in what is called a liner bag. A liner bag is a relatively large bag of sheet synthetic plastics material containing, for example, up to 1000 liters of liquid. Because the liner bag itself has little mechanical strength, the bag is contained within an outer structure. The outer structure is not liquid proof but supports the bag and prevents it bursting. The bag itself prevents liquid leaks.
Conventionally, a liner bag incorporates one or more of what are commonly referred to as glands. A gland comprises a flange which is welded to the sheet synthetic plastics material of the liner bag and a tubular portion onto which a sealing cap is screwed. The flange and cap form a gland structure and are shipped with the liner bag.
To fill the bag it is necessary to remove the cap. Using the thread onto which the cap was screwed (and which can be an internal thread or an external thread) an intermediate component is attached to the gland. This component is screwed into or onto the gland until the two engage with one another in a leak proof manner. The intermediate component has an external groove.
Liquid is fed into the bag through a hose which has, on the free end thereof, an attachment which is often referred to as a "cam-lock" , "snap-lock" or "tongue and groove" attachment. This attachment includes a sleeve to which the hose is secured. The sleeve has two diametrically opposed holes therein. The attachment further includes two levers which protrude radially outwardly on opposite sides of the sleeve. The levers project into the sleeve through said holes and the levers are pivotally mounted on the sleeve close to their inner ends. The inner ends of the levers are in the form of arcuate cams.
In use, the attachment is placed over the intermediate component so that the cams at the inner ends of the levers lie radially outwardly of the external groove of the intermediate component. Force is then applied to the outer ends of the levers so that their inner ends move inwardly. The cams enter the external groove at diametrically opposed locations thereof. The configuration of the cams is such that a force is exerted in one direction on the intermediate component and a force in the opposite direction on the attachment thereby locking the intermediate component and the attachment to one another in a leak proof manner. The liner bag is then filled.
Once filling is complete, the levers are pushed to their inoperative positions thereby releasing the attachment from the intermediate component by withdrawing the cams from the external groove. Once the attachment is free of the intermediate component, the intermediate component is unscrewed from the gland and the cap screwed back onto the gland.


A motorcycle having a throttle rolloff switch that is operatively associated with the throttle control and the cruise control device to deactivate the cruise control device when the throttle control is rotated to reduce the speed of the motorcycle. The rolloff switch includes a magnetically-sensitive sensor, a magnet positioned in spaced relation to the sensor and movable relative to the sensor, and a coil spring positioned between the sensor and the magnet so that the sensor and the magnet are normally biased in separated relation.

The present invention generally relates to motorcycle cruise control devices and, more particularly, to throttle rolloff switches for disengaging such cruise control devices.
Cruise control devices for motorcycles are well known. Typically, an operator sets the cruise control device so that the speed of the motorcycle is maintained without the operator applying constant pressure to the throttle handgrip. The operator controls the cruise control device through numerous selectors, including switches that turn the cruise control device on or off and that engage or disengage the cruise control device at a desired setting.
When the cruise control device is "off", the device cannot be engaged and, therefore, cannot be used to control the speed of the motorcycle. When the cruise control device in "on", the device can be engaged to control the motorcycle speed, or the device can be disengaged so that the device does not control the motorcycle speed. Once a cruise control device is moved from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition, the device can be re-engaged at the previous speed setting or engaged at a new setting.
The cruise control device may be automatically disengaged by the operation of a throttle rolloff switch. Throttle rolloff switches are operated by rotation of the handgrip to decrease the throttle (i.e., reduce engine power output). One type of rolloff switch includes a pair of electrically-charged contact plates separated by a piece of compressible insulating foam. The switch is positioned within a gap in the throttle conduit such that compression of the conduit will result in compression of the foam, thereby forcing the contact plates closer together.
In operation, when the cruise control device is engaged and the throttle handgrip is rotated to decrease the throttle, the throttle cable is placed under tension, and the conduit surrounding the cable is placed under compression. The compression of the conduit causes compression of the rolloff switch and moves the plates closer together. When the plates make physical contact, a signal is generated to disengage the cruise control device. When the compression on the conduit is released (i.e., when the handgrip is no longer rotated to decrease the throttle), the foam insulation expands and moves the plates apart. The signal is stopped, and the cruise control device can be engaged or re-engaged.


Galvanic isolation device for direct current electrical signals or electrical signals likely to include a direct current component, which includes a transformer (T), reversible switch I for chopping the incident signal applied to one wind of this transformer reversible switch I' for chopping the signal obtained at the other winding of this transformer, controlled either in phase or in phase opposition with each other and filters (F1,F2) for filtering the chopped signals respectively obtained at windings of the transformer.

The present invention concerns a galvanic isolation device.
There are many requirements for galvanic isolation. They are dictated by various considerations:
functional considerations such as the need to carry out measurements at potentials different than that of the processing electronics within a complex system,
safety of persons: floating neutral,
electrical supply availability: impedance grounded neutral,
safety of persons and equipment: high common mode rejection due to atmospherically generated overvoltages or to work on distribution lines,
safe operation: rejection of common mode voltages and currents in the high throughput transmission of binary data.
These requirements are usually well met by current solutions essentially based on the magnetic circuit of a voltage or current transformer or on optical fibre technology.
The transformer is a known and simple means of obtaining galvanic isolation of an alternating current signal referred to a potential which can have any value but which is usually ground potential, a frame ground potential or a fixed potential.
The alternating current signal to be isolated may convey electrical energy from a generator to a receiver or data or energy and data simultaneously.
The transformer is rated for a given frequency or for a frequency band but has the disadvantage that it is not of itself able to transmit a direct current signal and the quality of its operation at low frequencies is generally limited by its dimensions.
The transformer has the advantage of being reversible, however, and of enabling electrical energy to flow in both directions, in other words from either winding to the other in the case of a transformer with two windings.
Also, it accommodates any type of receiver: inductive, capacitive or resistive, which means that it caters for any type of current/voltage phase difference and, for each polarity of an alternating current voltage applied to it, an instantaneous current in any direction and depending in practice only on the load.
Finally, provided that it is adequately rated, it preserves the incident electrical waveform. Thus an alternating current voltage amplitude modulated by a signal conveying data can be transmitted without significant distortion from one winding to the other using the magnetic coupling between the two windings.
Another known way to isolate two electrical circuits is to convert the electrical signal to an electromagnetic signal and then to carry out the reverse conversion.
The intermediate data medium is an electromagnetic wave of higher frequency than the incident electrical signal and which can be in the radio frequency domain or in the domain of visible or invisible light. The electromagnetic wave may be free or guided (by an optical fibre, for example).
The drawback of this method is that it provides no simple and economical way of transporting significant energy to power (for example) a complete electronic system for converting the electromagnetic signal into an electrical signal and then amplifying the resulting electrical signal. Also, a direct current signal can only be transmitted with some uncertainty as to its level, given temperature and time drift in the electrical, electromagnetic and electromagnetic/electrical conversion yield and variation in losses in the transmission medium. To alleviate this drawback a direct current signal must undergo frequency conversion.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is also possible to associate with a transformer 1 an electronic switching circuit ("chopper") 2 and rectifier and filter circuits 3 enabling a direct current signal conveying energy to be transferred from the primary of the transformer to the secondary.
This amounts to frequency conversion in the energy domain.
Any data that may be superimposed on the direct current signal is then simultaneously sampled--in the digital signal processing sense--by the chopper and reconstituted by the rectifier/filter provided that the switching/sampling frequency is at least twice the highest frequency to be transmitted in the frequency spectrum of the signal conveying the data (SHANNON's theorem).
The chopper which chops the direct current signal and samples any superimposed data signal can use components of any technology: GTO thyristors, MOS or bipolar transistors, IGBT, vibrators, etc.
The combination of the chopper and the transformer can also use any available technique: forward, push-pull, flyback, resonant or non-resonant.
Depending on which technique is used, the transformer may or may not have an additional auxiliary demagnetisation winding.
This principle can achieve electrical isolation of a signal:
carrying energy or not, for example to supply power to downstream circuits,
carrying data or not,
having a transmit frequency spectrum extending from zero frequency (direct current) to half the switching/sampling frequency.
Note, however, that the electronic switches used in the chopper are not reversible, that is to say that they cannot chop a current flowing in the opposite direction. If the component enables the reverse flow of current (asymmetric thyristors, MOS transistors, etc) they cannot block it (reverse-bias diodes). Where these components allow simultaneously reverse current flow and blocking of the current, performance is usually very much reduced, as in the case of the bipolar transistor. What is more, the rectifier diode(s) connected to the transformer secondary winding determine a particular direction for the secondary current. These two considerations imply a given direction of the voltage and the current at the primary and at the secondary, ruling out the use of this principle in respect of a voltage whose polarity changes with time; this is a first limitation.
A second limitation results from the fact that the chopper is on one side of the transformer and the rectifier-filter on the other side. This arrangement determines a direction of energy flow as it requires control of the magnetizing current of the transformer on the same side as the chopper, which is associated with the supply.
The use of this principle therefore introduces a two-fold lack of symmetry, in respect of:
the polarity of the voltage and the current,
the direction of energy flow.
There are therefore situations in which no acceptable solution has been found to the problem of galvanic isolation, for the theoretical or technological reasons explained above; this applies when the galvanic isolation must cater for direct current electrical signals or electrical signals likely to include a direct current component and must further be symmetrical with regard to the direction of energy flow, in other words reversible; this is a fortiori the case where the galvanic isolation must also be symmetrical with regard to the polarity of the applied signal.
The techniques outlined above provide no economical means of achieving, for example, electrical isolation of analog or digital telecommunication terminals receiving a remote power feed, and in particular rule out simultaneous implementation of the following functions:
transmission of energy by direct current or at 50 Hz (or 60 Hz) or at 50 Hz (or 60 Hz) superimposed on a direct current,
two-way transmission of data in a wide frequency band: from direct current to frequencies of several hundred kilohertz, for digital transmission at 144 kbauds or from direct current up to 12 kHz, 36 kHz or even 60 kHz for analog transmission,
polarity changes at the isolation input transferrable to the output in the case of a 50 Hz or 60 Hz ringing current, alone or superimposed on a direct current signal whose amplitude is below the peak voltage of the 50 or 60 Hz signal in the case of an analog link; this change of polarity may be the simple interchanging of the two non-dedicated and non-polarized DC power wires in the case of an analog or digital link,
reversibility of the instantaneous direction of power flow at 50 or 60 Hz in an analog terminal calling phase to enable operation on any type of load, especially a capacitive load, and thus to authorize the exchange of reactive energy between the load and the supply,
remote power feed to the electrical circuits of the isolating system itself; for this the efficiency of the isolation must be excellent, especially on standby.


A multichannel fluorosensor includes an optical module and an electronic module combined in a watertight housing with an underwater connector. The fluorosensor has an integral calibrator for periodical sensitivity validation of the fluorosensor. The optical module has one or several excitation channels and one or several emission channels that use a mutual focusing system. To increase efficiency, the excitation and emission channels each have a micro-collimator made with one or more ball lenses. Each excitation channel has a light emitting diode and an optical filter. Each emission channel has a photodiode with a preamplifier and an optical filter. The electronic module connects directly to the optical module and includes a lock-in amplifier, a power supply and a controller with an A/D converter and a connector. The calibrator provides a response proportional to the excitation intensity, and matches with spectral parameter of fluorescence for the analyzed fluorescent substance.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to optical methods and apparatus for measuring fluorescent substances in liquids and more particularly to methods and devices for measuring the fluorescence of chlorophyll, dyes and optical backscatter in natural water or in different solvents.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Chlorophyll a is the most widely used indicator of algal biomass for the purposes of long-term monitoring and management programs, as well as short-term research studies. Its degradation products (i.e., phaeophytin a and phaeophoribide a) can be used to assess the physiological health of algae and its fluorescence properties can be related directly to chlorophyll a concentration. More recently, the biochemical/biophysical characteristics of the chlorophyll-fluorescence process have led to techniques, which in addition to more accurately estimating algal biomass, can almost instantaneously estimate the rate of algal photosynthesis (i.e., growth).
Current laboratory analysis of chlorophyll a requires intensive processing. In-field or rapid laboratory filtration for pigment concentration and extraction, with organic solvents, is required. In recent years chromatographic procedures (HPLC) have been used to accurately resolve individual pigments. Nevertheless, these methods are expensive, difficult, and are limited in their availability from commercial laboratories, with this method used by a relatively few research groups. Furthermore, at present, there appears to be little potential for this technique to be used in situ.
The most commonly utilized in-situ technologies for chlorophyll a determination are spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods of analysis. However, these methods contain absolute accuracy limitations due to relatively poor optical design, causing low spectral resolution for chlorophyll a. Problematic to these device development efforts is that absorption and emission maxims for chlorophylls band c are close to the peak of chlorophyll a, in the red region of the spectrum, allowing for errors to occur when these pigments constitute a significant proportion of the total chlorophyll content and correction for these interferences are not taken into account. Additional errors may be introduced by various accessory pigments and degradation products as well as humic acid and fulvic acid color, which also absorb and fluoresce at wavelengths similar to those for chlorophyll a, b and c, causing significant error when analyzed using broadband florescent techniques. In addition to accessory pigment interference, when utilizing broadband fluorometric analysis of photosynthetic pigments, significant error may also occur from optical backscatter (i.e., suspended inorganic and non-fluorescent organic particles). All of these interferences need to be taken into account during calibration and in the optical and electronic design of fluorometric probes. The claims as part of this present innovation describe a novel optical design that maybe utilized to increase the accuracy and specificity of fluorometric probes.


A system for providing heat to the dump body of a dump truck is disclosed. The disclosed system is suitable for use with truck equipped with a diesel particulate filter. When enabled, the system controls the exit path of exhaust gas such that it is routed to the dump body during normal operating conditions. In one embodiment, when the diesel particulate filter enters a regeneration cycle, high heat is produced. The system then routes the exhaust gas as to bypass the dump body to avoid heat damage from the higher temperature exhaust gas.

A dump truck includes a dump body (or bed) for receiving material therein. Typically, the body can be raised by a hydraulic system so as eject the material from the bed at an appropriate time. Thereafter, the body can be lowered so that additional material may be loaded therein.
During certain weather conditions, the material in the body has a tendency to adhere to the contact surfaces of the body (e.g. during cold weather conditions) thereby resisting ejection of the material from the bed. To overcome this problem, it is known to provide a duct system within the body for receiving a flow of exhaust generated by the truck engine so that the flow of exhaust may be passed through the body, thereby heating the contact surfaces. Examples of such heated-body systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,974,997 by Parsely et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,656 by Kauk et al, the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference, to the extent not inconsistent herewith. By providing heat to the body in the aforesaid manner, the tendency of the material to adhere to the contact surfaces of the body during freezing weather is reduced.
Recently, stricter environmental regulations have been passed. The new regulations will require enhanced filtering of particulates via a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). The DPF traps particulates with a filter. When the filter becomes full, an additional burner activates to burn off the particulates at a higher temperature than that of the exhaust under normal operating conditions.
When the DPF activates (known as the "regeneration" cycle, or "regen" for short), then the exhaust gas increases from the normal 500-900 degrees Fahrenheit to as high as 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature can weaken or damage an aluminum dump body. It can also damage the paint on a steel dump body.
Attempts to address this problem have included a plastic liner to line the dump body. In practice, this has limited effectiveness, since material may undesirably adhere to the plastic liner under certain conditions. An alternative attempt to address this issue includes a separate fuel-powered heater to heat the dump body. This has the disadvantage of extra weight and complexity for an additional heat-generating system, as well requiring additional fuel for supplying the additional heat-generating system. Therefore, what is needed is the ability to heat the dump body of a truck having a diesel particulate filter, without the aforementioned disadvantages.

Apparatus for heating the dump body of a dump truck having a diesel particulate filter


A surgical access port and method for achieving triangulation is disclosed, the surgical access port comprising a housing and an articulation structure. The housing is comprised of a cylindrical member having proximal and distal ends, and defining a longitudinal axis. The articulation structure is comprised of at least two lumens, each of the at least two tubular members disposed in a respective lumen, at least two rotating members disposed along each of the at least two tubular members, an actuating member, and a rigid member connecting each rotating member to each tubular member. The tubular members are configured to receive instruments for use in minimally invasive procedures.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a surgical device for use in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a surgical portal device adapted and configured to receive surgical instruments therein, and to reposition the distal ends of the surgical instruments that are placed through the surgical portal device.
2. Description of Related Art
Increasingly, many surgical procedures are performed through small incisions in the skin. As compared to the larger incisions typically required in traditional procedures, smaller incisions result in less trauma to the patient. By reducing the trauma to the patient, the time required for recovery is also reduced. Generally, the surgical procedures that are performed through small incisions in the skin are referred to as endoscopic. If the procedure is performed on the patient's abdomen, the procedure is referred to as laparoscopic. Throughout the present disclosure, the term minimally invasive is to be understood as encompassing both endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures.
During a typical minimally invasive procedure, surgical objects, such as surgical access devices (e.g., trocar and cannula assemblies) or endoscopes, are inserted into the patient's body through the incision in tissue. In general, prior to the introduction of the surgical object into the patient's body, insufflation gas is used to enlarge the area surrounding the target surgical site to create a larger, more accessible work area. Accordingly, the maintenance of a substantially fluid-tight seal is desirable so as to inhibit the escape of the insufflation gases and the deflation or collapse of the enlarged surgical site. In response to this, various access devices with sealing features are used during the course of minimally invasive procedures to provide an access for surgical objects to enter the patient's body. Each of these devices is configured for use through a single incision or a naturally occurring orifice (i.e. mouth, anus, or vagina) while allowing multiple instruments to be inserted through the device to access the working space beyond the device, generally an internal body cavity.
During procedures employing multiple surgical instruments through a single incision access device, it is advantageous to determine the position of the end effectors relative to each other and/or relative to a fixed reference point. This is desirable when one or more of the instruments includes an end effector that is articulable relative to the surgical instrument. Identifying the position of each end effector relative to the other end effectors and/or a common reference point is advantageous during a surgical procedure.
Some disadvantages of minimally invasive procedures include a lack of direct visualization of the surgical site and reduced dexterity of instruments, as compared to traditional open surgeries.
One surgical technique used to increase the ability of the surgeon to visualize and access critical anatomy is triangulation. Triangulation is a principle in which the positioning of the surgical instruments may be determined by having known initial positions of the instruments with respect to a given point, e.g., another device or instrument, and tracking the change in position from that initial position. One method of triangulation involves holding surgical instruments so that their tips form the apex of an imaginary triangle. By knowing the initial positions of surgical instruments with respect to a given point and by tracking the change in position, the coordinates of the surgical instruments are determinable.
One example, as disclosed by US Patent Application Pre-Grant Publication US2005/0234294, uses an articulating element disposed near a distal region and pivotally coupled to hinges by linkages.
Another example, as disclosed by US Patent Application Pre-Grant Publications US2007/0167680 and US2008/0051631, uses a rod connected to linking members which spread a set of arm members containing surgical devices apart when the rod is actuated.
Another example, as disclosed by US Patent Application Pre-Grant Publication US2008/0188868, uses a collar, a wedge, a balloon or bands to help maintain a divergence between the surgical devices.
Yet another example, as disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,318,013; 5,395,367; and 5,511,564, uses an actuator including an articulated linking comprising a pair of arms pivotably connected to a push rod and to shafts of respective grasping forceps to enable relative spreading of the grasping forceps from a straightened or mutually parallel configuration to a spread use configuration.
In conventional minimally invasive surgical procedures, triangulation is achieved through insertion of multiple instruments through multiple openings. In most minimally invasive surgical procedures through a single incision, straight and rigid surgical instruments are inserted through a single incision. To control the instruments, a surgeon often crosses his hands. The lack of triangulation makes visualization and access of critical anatomy potentially difficult.
Furthermore, the placement of multiple instruments through a single incision increases the potential of interference among those instruments. It would be advantageous to space those instruments apart within the surgical site, without necessitating a larger incision.
Consequently, a continuing need exists for improved minimally invasive surgical devices.


A method for transmitting traffic information includes detecting an occurrence event by a first vehicle terminal; generating a traffic information message including information for the occurrence event by the first vehicle terminal; transmitting the traffic information message through vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication by the first vehicle terminal; receiving and analyzing the traffic information message by the second vehicle terminal which drives in an opposite direction as compared to the first vehicle terminal; retransmitting the traffic information message to a third vehicle terminal located behind the first vehicle terminal depending on an analysis result of the traffic information message by the second vehicle terminal; and outputting an alert based on the event occurrence information of the traffic information message transmitted from the second vehicle terminal to the third vehicle terminal.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a method for providing traffic information between vehicles, more particularly, a method for transmitting traffic information using vehicle to vehicle communication, in order to collect and transmit neighboring traffic information through the vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Using conventional transportation environmental awareness technology, speed information from a proving vehicle such as a taxi or high-pass vehicle, closed circuit television (CCTV) information on a road, a reported accident information, etc. are processed by a traffic center, and the information is transferred to drivers through transport protocol expert group (TPEG), dedicated short range communications (DSRC), a fixed traffic conditions display apparatus (Variable Message Sign: VMS) and the like. However, because conventional technology must pass through the traffic center, the information may not be transmitted in real-time, and thus it may be limited to information such as the average speed of a vehicle or whether a traffic accident has occurred or not. In addition, such information may not be relevant to a receiving vehicle due to a wide range of issues such as lack of accurate position information, and above all, shadow areas may occur for acquisition and delivery of traffic environmental information.
As a vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication standard, there is IEEE 802.11p WAVE, and it is possible to communicate with vehicle/infra within a distance of several hundred meters. Also, basic safety message (BSM) defined in SAEJ2735 is exchanged between vehicles, and this message includes the movement of the vehicle and event information such as location information of the vehicle, a heading direction, a vehicle speed, an acceleration, a braking, and a directional signal, air bag deployment information, etc.
The vehicle having a vehicle to vehicle communication apparatus can exchange the position information and speed of the vehicle, the vehicle information (braking, airbag deployment, deployment of an anti-lock brake system (ABS)), etc. through the vehicle to vehicle communication with neighboring vehicles within a communication radius. However, conventional vehicle to vehicle communication system technology is focused on an impending collision safety such as forward collision warning (FCW), blind spot warning (BSW), etc. using a relative position of the vehicle and vehicle information within a communication radius of the neighboring 1 hop, and the overall traffic information of the road or information for the position which is more than 1 hop communication range is not being offered. Also, the infra directly collects information for each vehicle through a Vehicle to Infra (V2I) communication, or collects the traffic environment through a camera or a radar mounted on the infra, processes it in a center and then can provide it through a infra to vehicle (I2V) communication again, but the real-time characteristic becomes low and above all, it cannot be offered in the site which a V2I communication is not installed.

Method for transmitting traffic information using vehicle to vehicle communication


A semiconductor memory device includes first and second source/drain regions, and first and second semiconductor regions. The first source/drain region of a first conductive type is formed in a first well region of a second conductive type for a pair of first MIS-type transistors of the first conductive type. The second source/drain region of the second conductive type is formed in a second well region of the first conductive type for a pair of second MIS-type transistors of the second conductive type. The first semiconductor region of the second conductive type is formed in the first source/drain region. The second semiconductor region of the first conductive type is formed in the second source/drain region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a manufacturing method for the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device of a full CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) type SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and a manufacturing method for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices are mainly classified into a volatile memory in which a stored data is erased while power supply is turned off, and a non-volatile memory in which the stored data is not erased even if the power supply is turned off. RAM is well known as the volatile memory, and ROM (Read Only Memory) is well known as the nonvolatile memory. The RAM is classified into SRAM (Static RAM) and DRAM (Dynamic RAM). Most of these semiconductor memory devices are formed from MOS-type transistors which are excellent in the density.
Also, especially, the SRAM as the volatile memory has an advantage that it is superior in the high-speed operation and does not necessitate a complex refreshing operation indispensable in the DRAM to update memory data periodically. From this reason, SRAM is used in wide fields. The above-mentioned SRAM has one memory cell which stores 1-bit data basically by a flip-flop formed by combining two inverters. There are some types in SRAM according to specific configuration method of the flip-flop.
The most general SRAM at present is a full CMOS type SRAM (hereinafter, to be referred to simply as CMOS type SRAM), in which one memory cell is formed by combining six MOS-type transistors. As shown in an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 1, one memory cell MC of the SRAM is composed of six transistors, namely, a pair of NMOS transistors as a pair of access transistors (transfer transistors) Q1 and Q2, a pair of NMOS transistors as a pair of driver transistors (drive transistors) Q3 and Q4, and a pair of PMOS transistors as a pair of load transistors Q5 and Q6. A set of the load transistor Q5 as the PMOS transistor and the driver transistor Q3 as the NMOS transistor and a set of the driver transistor Q4 as the NMOS transistor and the load transistor Q6 as the PMOS transistor form a CMOS-type inverters. The input of each inverter and output of the other inverter are connected so as to cross each other to from a flip-flop.
The gates of the access transistors Q1 and Q2 are both connected with a word line WL and the sources of the transistors Q1 and Q2 are connected with a bit line BL and an inversion bit line BL, respectively. Also, the sources of the load transistors Q5 and Q6 are both connected with a power supply voltage VDD whereas the sources of the driver transistors Q3 and Q4 are both connected with a ground voltage VSS (GND). The above-mentioned memory cells MC are arranged in a matrix to form a memory cell array. In this way, the CMOS type SRAM is manufactured. According to the CMOS type SRAM with the memory cell in which the flip-flop is formed by combining two CMOS-type inverters, the SRAM has the advantage of the CMOS-type inverter, and especially can operate at a low consumption power, in addition to the above-mentioned advantage. Thus, the SRAM is used in the wide fields of the memory.
By the way, in the CMOS type SRAM, an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor are formed adjacent to each other on a same semiconductor substrate, as well known. In this case, an NPN-type transistor and a PNP-type transistor are produced parasitically on the sides of the NMOS type transistor and the PMOS type transistor, respectively. For this reason, a phenomenon that extraordinary current flows from the power supply voltage VDD to the ground voltage VSS, i.e., so-called latch-up is caused. In accompaniment with the smaller size of the transistor through the increase of the memory capacity of the SRAM, the latch-up endurance is deteriorated.
As one of the prevention methods of such latch-up, a method is adopted in which the voltages of a P-type well region where NMOS transistors are formed and an N-type well region where a PMOS transistor is formed are fixed. Specifically, the N-type well contact region to be connected with the power supply voltage VDD is formed in the N-type well region whereas the P-type well contact region to be connected with the ground voltage VSS is formed in the P-type well region. In this case, the effect of the latch-up prevention can be improved as much as the N- and P-type well contact regions are frequently arranged to the number of the memory cells. Thus, the latch-up endurance can be improved.
For example, a semiconductor memory device is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2001-358232A), in which each of well contact regions is formed to prevent the latch-up. In a memory cell array MCA of the semiconductor memory device, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of memory cells MC are arranged in a matrix in a direction of x and a direction of y. An n+-well contact region (high concentration n well contact region) 15a is provided for every 32 memory cells MC arranged in the x direction and an p+-well contact region (high concentration p well contact region) 17a is provided for every 2 memory cells MC arranged in the y direction. In this conventional example, the frequency of the arrangement of the high concentration n-well contact regions 15a in the x direction in this example is one to 32 memory cells MC. On the other hand, the frequency of the arrangement of the high concentration p-well contact region 17a in the y direction is one to the two memory cells MC. It should be noted that a plurality of word lines 23 are arranged in the x direction and inter-word-line regions 91 and 93 are alternately arranged between the word lines 23. A symbol A shows the region of one memory cell MC.
As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 of Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2001-358232A), the high concentration n well contact region 15a is connected with branch sections 33a and 33b as a second layer through plug 61. Also, the high concentration n well contact region 15a is connected with the power supply voltage contact pad layer 49 as a third layer through a plug 75. Also, the high concentration n well contact region 15a is connected with the power supply voltage interconnection 57 as a fourth layer through a plug 81. On the other hand, the high concentration p well contact region 17a is connected with the ground voltage local interconnection 37 as a second layer through a plug 61. Also, the high concentration p well contact region 17a is connected with the ground voltage contact pad layer 47 as a third layer through a plug 75. Moreover, the high concentration p well contact region 17a is connected with the ground voltage interconnection 55 as a fourth layer through a plug 81. By adopting such a structure, the high concentration n well contact region 15a is fixed to the power supply voltage potential whereas the high concentration p well contact region is fixed to the ground voltage. Therefore, the latch up can be prevented.
By the way, in the above conventional semiconductor memory device, it is necessary to add each well contact region for the latch up prevention to the regions for an original memory cell in the memory cell array chip. Therefore, the region of the memory cell array chip increases for the well contact regions, resulting in cost up.
That is, the high concentration n well contact region 15a and the high concentration p well contact region 17a for the latch up prevention which are described in the above conventional example do not have relation to the original operation of the memory cell. Thus, by providing the well contact regions 15a and 17a, the chip area is occupied. As a result, the chip area for the array of the memory cells increases.
For example, as shown in the FIG. 11 of the above conventional example, the high concentration p well contact regions 17a are arranged in the x direction between high concentration n-type source/drain regions 11a2 and 11a3. In order to fix the contact region 17a to the ground voltage, the contact region 17a must be connected with the ground voltage local interconnection 37 as the second layer through the plug 61 as mentioned above. Also, the contact region 17a must be connected with the ground voltage contact pad layer 47 as the third layer through the plug 75 and moreover with the ground voltage interconnection 55 as the fourth layer through a plug 81. In this way, in order to fix the contact regions 17a on the ground voltage, a lot of plugs and interconnection become necessary. However, these plugs and the interconnections are unnecessary components in the original memory cell. They become the cause to increase the chip area of the memory cell array, as mentioned above. That is, if the frequency of the arrangement of the well contact regions 17a and 15a is increased for improving the latch-up endurance, the chip area of the memory cell array increases.
In conjunction with the above description, a semiconductor device is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P 2002-343890A). In this conventional example, the semiconductor device has a memory cell which contains a first load transistor, a second load transistor, a first drive transistor, a second drive transistor, a first transfer transistor and a second transfer transistor. The semiconductor device in this conventional example is composed of a first conductive type well region extending in a first direction, a word line extending in the first direction above the first conductive type well region, and a first device forming region provided in the first conductive type well region. The first device forming region contains first to fifth active regions. The third to fifth active regions are provided between the first active region and the second active region. The first active region and the second active region are provided continuously from the third to fifth active regions.
Also, a semiconductor memory device is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P 2003-60088A). In this conventional example, the semiconductor memory device has a first diffusion region of a P-type formed above a stripe-like N well. A second diffusion region of an N-type is formed above a stripe-like P well which is provided adjacent to the N well. An N well contact region is formed above the N well and the P well as a unit with the second well region. A P well contact region is formed above the N well and the P well as a unit with the first well region.

Semiconductor memory device with plural source/drain regions


A photographic lens consists of a first meniscus lens element having a concave surface directed to the image, and a second meniscus lens element having a concave surface directed to the object, arranged in this order from the object side. Both surfaces of the first lens element are spherical, and at least one surface of the second lens element is aspherical. The absolute value of the focal length of the first lens is smaller than the absolute value of the focal length of the second lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photographic lens consisting of two lens groups each group consisting of a single lens element, and an economy camera using the photographic lens.
2. Background Arts
A wide variety of photographic cameras with different functions have been used for various purposes. Lens-fitted photo film units are well known as a cheap convenient camera that allows anyone to enjoy photography with ease. The lens-fitted photo film unit, hereinafter called simply as the film unit, has a unit body that contains a roll of unexposed photo filmstrip, and photographic mechanisms like a photographic lens and a shutter device are incorporated into the unit body. So the film unit permits photography from the moment it is purchased. For the development, it is not necessary to remove the exposed filmstrip from the unit body, but the film unit as the whole may be forwarded to a photofinisher.
In order to provide the film units at low prices, the manufacture cost is cut by making the construction of the film units as simple as possible. For instance, the photographic lens is fixedly held on a lens holder having a constant stop aperture size, and the focus of the photographic lens is adjusted such that photographs with average qualities may be obtained in most cases. A standard type film unit containing a conventional ISO-135 type photo film cartridge uses a photographic lens which is designed to have a focal length of about 32 mm, an f-number of about 9.5/f, and a half view angle of about 34.degree..
Recently, a new type photo film cartridge, called IX-240 type, has been brought into the market. The IX-240 type has a container with a spool that can contain the entire length of a photo filmstrip therein and advance the filmstrip to the outside in response to rotation of the spool. While the filmstrip of the ISO-135 type photo film cartridge has a width of 35 mm, the filmstrip of the IX-240 type photo film cartridge has a smaller width of 24 mm. Correspondingly, the frame size of the IX-240 type is smaller than that of the ISO-135 type. Therefore, a film unit containing the IX-240 type photo film cartridge have a photographic lens which is designed to have a focal length of about 24 mm, an f-number of about 9.5/f, and a half view angle of about 35.degree..
The photographic lenses used in the film units are usually plastic lenses formed from synthetic resins by injection molding, and are constituted of one or two lens elements. Recently, many film units adopt a two-group two-element construction photographic lens. As a popular two-group two-element photographic lens, there are a lens system consisting of two meniscus lenses with their concave surfaces facing each other, and a lens system consisting of a positive meniscus lens as the front lens element and a positive double-convex lens as the rear lens element. In either case, the front lens element disposed on the object side always has a smaller radius of curvature and a larger effective aperture than the rear lens element disposed on the image side.
Generally speaking, spherical lenses are more preferable than aspherical lenses, considering formability and optical accuracy. If, however, all lens surfaces of the two meniscus lens elements are spherical, the spherical aberration of the photographic lens increases so much that it is hard to correct or compensate. Besides, the f-number of the photographic lens is limited to at most 11/f, so that the image surface illuminance is very dark in this configuration.
Therefore, it is usual for the two-group two-element photographic lens to form the front surface of the front lens element alone or the front surface of the front lens element and the rear surface of the rear lens element to be aspherical. According to this configuration, the spherical aberration is well corrected, and the f-number of 9/f is achievable.
On the other hand, in the photographic lens having a double-convex lens as the front lens element, the spherical aberration is easy to correct, even if all lens surfaces are spherical. However, the curvature of the field becomes so bad that the image is damaged conspicuously on the fringe. Therefore, the front surface of the front lens element is formed to be aspherical so as not to worsen the curvature of the field.
Since the front lens must have a smaller radius of curvature and a larger effective aperture, even a slight variation in the forming process can damage optical performance of the lens. Because the aspherical surface is difficult to form with accuracy, it has been hard to maintain the optical performance of the above conventional photographic lens at a desired level.
When inspecting surface accuracy, an interferometer is usually used for spherical surfaces, and a surface roughness meter for aspherical surfaces. Depending upon the results of measurement, conditions of the forming machine are adjusted or corrected. As the inspection with the surface roughness meter takes more time and results less information in comparison with the inspection with the interferometer, it is difficult to precisely measure the surface roughness of the front lens that has a larger effective aperture. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain proper forming conditions.
There is another method of inspecting aspherical surfaces of lenses wherein a Null collector lens is combined with an aspherical lens to inspect, and an image formed through the Null collector lens and the aspherical lens is inspected. The Null collector lens is constituted of an aspherical lens and a glass spherical lens. For inspecting an aspherical lens having a short focal length and a large effective aperture like those used in the photographic lens, the Null collector lens is so difficult to design that this method is not practical.


A shoe guard is worn by an individual over a shoe for use to protect the shoe while the individual is riding a motorcycle. The shoe guard comprises a cover of sufficient size to be positioned over a portion of the shoe and is adaptable to be secured to the shoe, such as by straps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to protective devices to be worn over shoes for the purpose to prevent or inhibit damage to the shoes and more particularly to protective devices worn over shoes for the purpose to inhibit or prevent damage to the shoes caused from riding a motorcycle.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Motorcycles have been used over the years for a variety of different purposes. For example, motorcycles have long been favored by the military as well as by local and federal policing authorities due to the smaller size and improved maneuverability over larger sized vehicles. In recent years, motorcycle use by the general public has significantly increased, which is reflected by a 1995 census of 25 million registered motorcycles in the United States. Motorcycles are used by both men and women of all ages as both a means for transportation as well as for sport and enjoyment.
It has been observed that motorcycle riding can be damaging to both the appearance and structural integrity of shoes. For example, most motorcycles include a gear shift positioned near one pedal which is displaced by a rider's foot in order to change between a number of different gears. Typically, changes to a higher gear are made by moving the rider's foot in an upward direction so that the top of the foot first engages and then lifts the gear shift, while changes to a lower gear are made by movement of the rider's foot in a downward direction so that the lower portion of the foot engages and moves the gear shift downward. As most motorcycle riders for either safety or comfort reasons wear shoes when riding, the engagement with the gear shift is made by a rider's shoe, which can result with damage to the shoe; in particular, the upper portion of the shoe near the toe which is used to contact the gear shift to move the motorcycle into a higher gear. Most commercially available shoes are constructed having a durable lower surface or sole, while the remaining portions of a shoe are usually of a more delicate material than that used for the sole. As a result, damage ranging from dirt to abrasions or cuts can occur in the upper portion of the shoe near the toe due to contact with the gear shift. In addition, damage can also occur to other areas of the shoe; in particular, the inner portion of the shoe facing toward the motorcycle, which can result from impact with other portions of the motorcycle or from debris coming off the ground, such as dust or cinders.
There is a need for a protective covering that can be placed over shoes in order to protect the shoe from damage that can occur when riding a motorcycle.


A rotary transformer for coupling electrical power at a high level into a rotor operable at a high rotational speed without the introduction of undesirable electromagnetic torque and problems of dynamic mechanical instability comprises a stationary primary mounted in surrounding relationship with respect to the rotor, an electromagnetic shield having an exterior surface thereon mounted to the rotor, and a secondary mounted on the exterior surface of the shield. The secondary is connected in an electrical circuit with the load such that the application of an alternating current having a frequency of at least one (1) kilohertz to the primary produces an alternating electromagnetic field having flux lines in the secondary in the secondary oriented generally parallel to the axis of rotation. The alternation of the electromagnetic field induces a voltage in the secondary that generates an electric current to the load. The shield isolates the rotor from the alternating electromagnetic field to prevent eddy current heating of the rotor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a transformer for transferring electrical power into a machine member that is rotating at high speed.
2. Description of Related Art
In rotating mechanical systems there is often a need to transfer electrical power into a load mounted on a rotor operating at high rotational speeds.
A common method of power transfer is magnetic induction. A magnetic field is created with a stator. Movement of a coil mounted on the rotor through the magnetic field created by the stator generates an induced current in the coil according to Lenz's Law. The amount of power transferred is relative to the intensity of the magnetic field and the speed of rotor with respect to the stator. For low power transfer the magnetic field may be created by permanent magnets in the stator. For higher power transfer electromagnets are typically used to create the magnetic field.
The rotor speed determines the amount of power transferred into the rotor. As the electrical load on the rotor changes so does the torque load. This may cause the rotational speed of the rotor to change. Independently controlling the power delivered to the load in the rotor without affecting the rotational speed of the rotor thus presents practical problems.
One method of controlling the power delivery to an electrical load in a rotor independent of rotor speed is by the use of slip rings. Slip rings are typically mounted in an electrically insulated manner on the rotor and employ brushes mounted in an electrically insulated manner on the fixed stator element of the machine. The brushes are typically made of a relatively soft electrically conductive material, such as graphite, and are spring-loaded to maintain adequate contact with the slip rings. The brushes have limited service life due to wear while in use and must be periodically replaced. The rate of wear is a function of both the surface speed of the slip ring against the brush and the current being transferred. The surface speed is a function of the rotational speed and the slip ring diameter. An increase in surface speed accelerates the rate of brush wear. At high current levels and high surface speeds the slip rings tend to erode and must be periodically refurbished.
Due to the limited power transfer achievable, reliability, and environmental issues, slip ring/brush components have been eliminated from many applications.
At low alternating current frequencies, such as fifty (50) or sixty (60) Hertz line frequencies, ferrite or other high coercivity materials may be efficiently used within both the stator and the rotor to couple power into a rotating load. However, to transfer significant amounts of power such high coercivity materials must be physically large and heavy. Large heavy masses of ferrite in the rotor can cause significant dynamic mechanical problems when the rotor is rotated at high speed.
Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, it is believed advantageous to provide a power transfer arrangement for transferring electrical power into a high speed, continuously operating, rotating member in an efficient and maintenance-free manner without introducing undesirable dynamic balance problems.


Capping of copper structures in hydrophobic interlayer dielectric layer, using aqueous electro-less bath is described herein.

The present invention is related to the field of integrated circuits. More specifically, the present invention is related to the formation of cobalt caps on copper interconnects.
Recently, there is increasing interest in the semiconductor industry to reduce the defects on copper interconnects and properly add a cobalt capping layer to each of the copper interconnects. One area of difficulty preventing the accomplishment of low or no defects and even deposition of a cobalt capping layer on each of the copper interconnects is the cobalt wetting problem. The cobalt wetting problem involves the difficulty of electro-less cobalt solutions evenly wetting the top surface of each of the copper interconnects. Also the wetting problem increases the amount of cobalt particles that get adhered to undesired areas on the wafer.

Capping of copper structures in hydrophobic ILD using aqueous electro-less bath