A self-contained wastewater treatment system is provided, comprising a vessel having a bottom, side walls and a lid defining a hollow interior for containing wastewater, the vessel being adapted for installation underground; an influent line; an effluent line; and a baffle disposed within the interior, generally between the influent line and the effluent line and extending transversely toward opposing side walls of the vessel. The baffle includes a bottom edge separated by a predetermined distance from the bottom of the vessel to define a flow opening. The position of the baffle defines an upstream aeration chamber and a downstream clarifier chamber within the vessel. The side walls include a downstream end wall, the downstream end wall having a lower inclined wall which intersects the bottom of the vessel adjacent the flow opening. Also included are aeration means for producing aeration within the aeration chamber, positioned to produce a generally circular flow path within the aeration chamber, the circular flow path having a flow path component adjacent the flow opening with a flow direction generally away from the clarifier chamber. The vessel also includes a laundering device adjacent the effluent line for preventing solids from exiting through the effluent line and a weir for allowing clarified water to exit through the effluent line.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wastewater systems, and especially to those wastewater treatment systems which are packaged, containerized units.
II. Description of Prior Art
In the treatment of wastewater, there is often utilized a containerized or packaged unit treatment plant which treats received wastewater on an intermittent or small flow basis, such as from a home, small apartment building, or the like. In the home construction industry, for example, a buried, subsoil sewage treatment vessel or septic tank is often used for primary treatment of wastewater. Such sewage treatment devices usually receive flow intermittently and at low hydraulic loading rates and must treat the intermittent flow to meet environmental and health standards. Oftentimes, the unit is merely a holding or "septic" tank that removes settleable solid waste from the wastewater stream.
It is desirable that wastewater be treated in an economical way using as little energy as possible and as few moving parts as possible, while removing a high percentage of solid material from the wastewater stream, and while lowering the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of the wastewater stream. It is desired that a minimum of sludge removal would be required since sludge disposal presents an extra problem.
Waste material entering the unit is normally heterogeneous in nature, containing solid waste material as well as liquid wastewater. It is desirable that a wastewater treatment apparatus produce a total homogenation of the fluids received from the waste stream so that they may be properly biodegraded.
In aerated treatment systems, there is often a problem of clogging of the aeration assembly, or diffuser, which provides oxygen and mixing to the unit. Such clogging will cause a degeneration of the treatment process or possibly a total stoppage of air flow to the vessel, converting the process conditions from aerobic to anaerobic, thus removing most of the treatment capability. Also, some aeration assemblies are prone to movement within the vessel, due to the particular design of the assembly and the flexibility of the piping used in construction. Movement of the aeration assembly is unwanted for two primary reasons. First, the upward flow of bubbles should be directly underneath the influent line so that all incoming wastewater will be immediately subject to aeration. Second, the upward flow of bubbles should be kept close to the influent wall of the vessel so that the desired circular flow is maintained. Therefore, it is desirable that an aeration unit or diffuser be provided that minimizes or prevents clogging by solid material entering the unit or microbial mass produced by the unit, and that is prevented from movement away from the side wall adjacent the influent line.
Perhaps the most troublesome problems encountered by prior art systems, however, are those pertaining to the accumulation of scum or floating material near the effluent line. For example, the portion of the vessel serving as the clarifier often contains floating material which can escape the treatment system via the effluent line along with clarified liquid. Ideally, such solids should not remain in the clarifier portion at all, but should re-enter the aeration portion of the vessel for further biodegradation. One solution to the problem of effluent solids, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,879, has been to draw the effluent from below the surface of the liquid, and then directing the effluent through multiple turns in an effort to leave as much suspended solids within the vessel. While that device did serve to reduce the solids within the effluent more effectively than its predecessors, environmental laws are becoming increasingly more strict, requiring even further reductions in the amount of solids leaving such treatment systems.
Therefore, there is still a strong need for an innovative wastewater treatment system which: (1) increases the time that settleable solids spend within the aeration section of the treatment vessel, (2) decreases the amount of solids leaving the treatment vessel, and (3) remains as inexpensive and reliable as comparative systems.

Aerobic wastewater treatment system for small flows


In an information processing apparatus capable of performing communication using each of a plurality of communication methods, information used to communicate with an external apparatus of the information processing apparatus by a second communication method among the plurality of communication methods is received from the external apparatus by a first communication method among the plurality of communication methods. The external apparatus is notified, by the second communication method based on the received information, of information about execution of predetermined processing in accordance with a result obtained by determining the status of the communication with the external apparatus by the first communication method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for performing short distance wireless communication, a control method, and a storage medium storing a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recent portable communication terminal is known to perform short distance wireless communication in addition to communication via a communication network. The communication apparatus of the partner of the short distance wireless communication is, for example, a portable communication terminal or an MFP (Multi Function Printer), and image data or the like is transmitted and received. To implement efficient communication considering the communication speed and operability, the short distance wireless communication is performed using two types of communication methods. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-166538 describes exchanging information necessary for a second short distance wireless communication method of the target communication apparatus using a first short distance wireless communication method capable of properly specifying the communication partner, and performing high-speed communication by the second short distance wireless communication method using the information.
The first short distance wireless communication method is, for example, NFC (Near Field Communication), and the second short distance wireless communication method is, for example, Bluetooth® or wireless LAN. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-166538, first, the communication method and the encryption method of the next communication are transmitted using NFC. If communication can be switched, the communication is switched, and printing is performed using the second communication method.
When performing communication by the second communication method based on communication by the first communication method, as in the above-described related art, the communication by the second communication method may be performed for an apparatus different from the apparatus that has performed the first communication method. For example, assume a case in which a print is submitted to a print apparatus by NFC using a portable communication terminal, and the print apparatus obtains an image from a server apparatus and then prints it. In this case, the user of the portable communication terminal may be unable to obtain information about printing.
First, the portable communication terminal contacts the NFC unit of the print apparatus to submit the print job using NFC communication. However, if the user who has submitted the print job moves while carrying the portable communication terminal with him/her, the NFC communication is disconnected. In this case, the print apparatus executes printing but cannot communicate with the portable information terminal. For this reason, the print apparatus may be unable to notify the user of the portable information terminal of the printing progress state or printing execution result.

Information processing apparatus, control method and storage medium storing program for short distance wireless communication


A plastic bag closer slider has a separator normally resting in notches in the tops of slider track strips, when the slider is at a bag-closed stop. As the slider is moved in the bag-opening direction, the separator is cammed downward by ends of the notches to disengage interlocking profile features and open the tag. In another embodiment, notches are omitted. The separator is manufactured with a normally down position but is resiliently biased upward when the bag is closed. As the slider is moved in the bag-opening direction, the pointed end of the separator wedge descends between the strips to open the bag. When the slider is moved in the bag-closing direction, the separator is cammed upward by the drag of the strip tops and the tapering walls of the slider squeeze interlocking profile features together, closing the bag.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to reclosable plastic bags with closing zippers, and more particularly to zipper slider features thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various inventions have been made in the field of zipper-type closures for plastic bags. A problem encountered with some such closures has been the inadvertent separation of the slider from the bag. Another is unreliable opening or closing of the bag, and undue wear on certain features. To assist in the opening of some bags, some type of separator has been used. However, even when the bag is closed, the separator remains in place, enabling certain types of contents, such as powders and liquids, to spill out. One technique which has been used in an effort to overcome this problem, is to provide a notch in the tracks in which the separator can be received when the slider is at the bag-closing end of the tracks, thereby enabling the tracks to be completely closed without the separator maintaining a force in the tracks tending to open the bag. But the problem with such a notch is that it is difficult to make exactly the right length and depth, and it is difficult to install the slider exactly in place over the notch. If any of these elements occurs out of precise tolerance, then the slider will fail to operate properly. While some such efforts have been made in the slide tracks and slider to overcome such problems, the present invention is addressed to further improvement.


Mounting and triggering mechanisms for first person actuation of a camera by an internally mounted remote camera actuator in the form of a handle grip are disclosed for use in any applicable activity, without limitation, such as sporting, recreational, documentary filmmaking and/or photography, or the like.

Challenges associated with conveniently and comfortably composing desired images within the field of hand-held photography have existed nearly since the advent of the hand-held camera. Often, the shape of the camera and positioning of the shutter actuator button (e.g. a capture button as it is referred to herein) and/or other camera controls are not conveniently located for certain applications. For this reason (among potential others), manufacturers of digital cameras have produced secondary remote control devices that can support functions such as triggering, toggling the camera between image recording modes, etc. via a wireless signal, such as for example a WI-FI® signal, an infrared signal, a Bluetooth signal, etc.). A remote control device generally provides more options for the user to actuate a camera. However, using currently available approaches, a user is generally required to use both hands (e.g. one to hold the camera and one to hold and actuate the remote device), which inherently limits the user's ability to engage in certain activities safely or practically. Another potential challenge with currently available approaches to triggering a camera is the inability to do so while the camera is extended away from the user, for example by a boom or extension attachment for achieving different desired viewing perspectives. This issue can be particularly problematic when attempting to capture precise still images while the camera is attached to such an extension away from the user such that the user is unable to easily press the shutter release button. As modern digital cameras do not generally include a mechanical shutter, the term "capture button" is used throughout to generally refer to a button or control that causes a camera to capture one or more still photographic images and/or to begin or stop recording a video and/or audio stream. In addition, the capture button in many cameras and accompanying camera housings are often difficult to press without resulting in shaky and misframed images when used in fast paced image capturing situations such as sporting activities.
Given these challenges and potentially others within the field of hand-held photography, many participants choose not to attempt capturing such images due to the limited ability to achieve the desired images safely and conveniently in many situations.

Hand-held device for mounting and wirelessly triggering a camera


A cardiac pacemaker signal processing circuit adapted to obtain an evoked ECG signal. The circuit senses the electrical signals of the ring and tip electrodes in the unipolar mode from the bipolar lead after the electrical pacing stimulus has been applied to contract the ventricle of the heart. The residual oppositely polarized potentials at the ring and tip electrode, as well as the sensed evoked ECG signals, are added together to cancel out the opposing residual potentials, but to add the common polarized ECG signal. Thus, a high quality evoked ECG signal is obtained, free of the residual potentials, and subsequently utilized by R-wave detection circuits for sensing the QRS complex. The circuit includes compensating signal processing circuits to provide time domain signal processing weighting functions to match exponential time delay of the tip and ring electrodes, and includes amplitude adjusting compensation as well. Thus, the absolute amplitudes of the opposite polarized residual potentials will be adjusted to be equal, are summed, and canceled or nulled at the appropriate time in the time domain. Both biphasic and tripbasic pace pulse techniques are not required, the pace pulse amplitude can be reduced to extend the battery life of the pacemaker. Further, the post pace re-charging cycle is only interrupted and undertaken-passively to, again, reduce current drain on the battery. Classic R-wave detection circuits are adaptable to the signal processing circuit of the present invention.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to pacemakers used for Bradyarrhythmia therapy, and more particularly, to control circuitry which may be disposed in the can of the pacemaker to sense the evoked ECG signal from the heart, or disposed in external equipment such as a Pacing System Analyzer.
II. Background of the Invention
Automatic capture is the feature of being able to ascertain whether or not a pace pulse from a pacemaker has in fact evoked a depolarization of the heart ventricle. When the ventricle depolarizes, the heart evokes a QRS complex which can be sensed and processed to verify that the heart depolarized, or to be processed such that therapeutic action by the pacemaker is facilitated. Many prior art approaches have focused upon altering the shape or polarity of the pacing pulse to the pacing electrodes to reduce polarization voltage upon them shortly after the pacing pulse terminates. This technique is known as biphasic or tripbasic pulse generation. Then, evoked response sensing can ensue much the same as normal intrinsic ECG sensing is done. The disadvantages of these approaches are that they end up using more energy than a single pulse, all the while to facilitate a feature of automatic capture-output regulation, which desires to lower device current drain by lowering the output amplitude closer to its minimum, known as the pacing threshold. Further, these approaches do not always adequately overcome the residual polarization on the bipolar electrode leads, which potentially can inhibit and degrade the sensing and analysis of the evoked ECG signal. Typically, potentials of 100 millivolts or more can remain across the bipolar electrodes after a depolarization of the ventricle. In contrast, the normal evoked ECG response can be as low as 5 millivolts. Thus, the ability to sense a low voltage ECG signal by using the bipolar lead electrodes can be difficult when the electrodes remain polarized.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,610 to Callaghan et al., teaches an apparatus and method of detection of cardiac evoked potentials. This invention teaches applying a stimulation pulse in a unipolar mode to the tip electrode, wherein the ring electrode is used to sense the evoked ECG signal, also in a unipolar mode. The evoked ECG signal is sensed by the ring electrode during a predetermined window after generation of the pacing pulse. A charge dump circuit is taught for discharging the polarization potential of the tip electrode prior to the window for sensing the evoked ECG signal. Accordingly, signal interference caused by residual polarization of the first electrode is reduced. However, this device still requires biphasic and tripbasic pulse generation, which is more complicated and requires more energy than desired. This technique reduces the useful life of the internal pacemaker battery.

Electrode charge-neutral sensing of evoked ECG


An engine brake for a multicylinder internal combustion engine includes valves that can be periodically opened briefly, in each case outside the exhaust stroke. In the vicinity of the applicable valve drive, a hydraulic piston is provided that is triggered synchronously with the engine rpm via an associated control line by a hydraulic pressure distributor fed by a pump. To improve the accuracy of control over the entire engine rpm range, the various valves are assigned a central positive displacement pump that runs synchronously with the camshaft rpm and whose outlet line leads to the hydraulic pressure distributor, which has a distributor disk. In engine braking operation, an alternating connection of the applicable control line to either the pump outlet line or a low-pressure region of the hydraulic control circuit is effected synchronously with the engine rpm by means of the distributor disk.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine more particularly, to an engine brake for a multicylinder internal combustion engine brake for a multicylinder internal combustion engine, with valves that can be briefly opened periodically, in each case outside the exhaust stroke.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, not only exhaust brakes but so-called decompression brakes have gained a foothold for engine braking systems; they make the compression work of the compression stroke useful for braking by blowoff in the region of the ignition top dead center. This is done by slight or brief opening of the outlet valve or of an additional small valve; metering of the braking output can be done by controlling the opening times. Various models of these decompression brakes have been introduced, for instance in a special printing of ATZ Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift (Automobile Engineering Journal) 90 (1988), No. 12, in the article entitled "Die Motorbremse von Nutzfahrzeugen--Grenzen und Moglichkeiten zur Weiterentwicklung" (Engine Brakes in Utility Vehicles--Limits and Opportunities for further Development). One model for instance provides that with the engine brake turned on, the outlet valves are also opened at the end of any given compression stroke, via telescopingly extendable valve tappets. The telescoping extension of the valve tappets is done via positive displacement pistons, which are driven by a cam located on the inside, while the return of the valve tappets to the normal length is done via unlockable check valves, which are opened and closed simultaneously by a central, pneumatically triggered control disk. However, the known control circuit has a relatively complex structure in terms of circuitry and equipment, which also makes its assembly complicated and expensive. Controlling the valves exactly in terms of time also presents difficulties, especially at high rpm.
German Patent 30 26 529 discloses a decompression engine brake for a multicylinder internal combustion engine, in which a controllable telescoping part embodied as a piston, which is disposed in the valve tappet and is hydraulically actuated, is provided in the valve linkage of the applicable outlet valves, in order to vary the effective length of this linkage in the direction of an opening movement of the outlet valve. Triggering the telescoping part is done via individual control lines, to each of which one positive displacement piston is assigned. The positive displacement pistons ar guided radially in a housing and are driven by an inner cam, which is rotated synchronously with the camshaft. For each individual pump piston, one unlockable check valve is provided; a central, pneumatically triggered control disk serves to open and close all the check valves simultaneously.
Because in this known case a separate pump with a control circuit is assigned to each individual cam drive, the structure in terms of circuitry and apparatus is relatively complex. This not only makes assembly of the components required for the engine brake difficult, but with this known apparatus it also becomes difficult to control the valves correctly in terms of time, especially at high rpm, and thus to meter the engine brake correctly.
European Patent Disclosure A 83058 discloses an engine brake in which a central pump is used. However, for each engine valve to be actuated, one dispenser piston and one receiver piston are provided; the receiver piston actuates the engine valve, and the dispenser piston is actuated indirectly by the camshaft. A hydraulic valve is connected to the output side of the pump, but it has solely an activation and filling function for the engine brake system. Accordingly, this hydraulic valve simply performs the function of turning the engine brake on and off. Because of the provision of a separate dispenser and receiver piston for each engine valve, the structure of the engine brake continues to be relatively complex.

Engine brake for a multicyclinder internal combustion engine


An apparatus for the fast and efficient transfer of integrated circuits between three locations: an input location, a test site location, and an output location. The apparatus includes a front and a rear work press assembly for transferring integrated circuits between the locations and for applying pressure during testing. The work press assemblies is constructed of a variable length shaft coupled to an arm extension which is coupled to a work press. The work press assemblies can each move between three horizontal positions, a first horizontal position associated with the input location, a second horizontal position associated with the test site location, and a third horizontal position associated with the output location. The work press assemblies move independently of one another. While one work press assembly is applying pressure to an integrated circuit during testing at the test site location, the other work press assembly is transferring a tested integrated to the output location and then move back past the test site location to the input location to pick up an untested integrated circuit. The work press assemblies each move horizontally in a separate but parallel planes to one another so that they may pass each other without colliding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor test equipment, and more specifically to an apparatus for the fast and efficient transferring of integrated circuits between three locations: an input location, a test site location, and an output location where tested IC's are sorted according to test results.
2. Prior Art
Once fabricated, integrated circuits must undergo a plurality of tests to determine the circuits reliability and electrical characteristics. An apparatus such as the TES tri-temp SMD Handler model IPS-8990 is used in the prior art to transfer integrated circuit to and from a test location. Relevant parts of the apparatus are shown in FIG. 1.
Integrated circuits to be tested are stored in a tray 12. A pick and place assembly 14 loads a specified integrated circuit 13 from the input tray 12 and places it into the load slide 16. The loadslide then moves to the right and transfers the IC from the input chamber to the test chamber 18. Located in the test chamber 18 of the JLSI handler are three assemblies, a left pick and place assembly 20 and a middle pick and place assembly 22, and a work press assembly 24. The left pick and place assembly 20 moves integrated circuits from the load slide 16 to a turntable location 26 of turntable 28. A plurality (the exact number depends on the specific product) of integrated circuits may be stored in turntable 28 at any one time. Once an integrated circuit is loaded into turntable 28 at location 26, it is either heated or cooled so that testing may take place at an elevated or lowered temperature. The integrated circuit 13 is heated or cooled as it makes a revolution in turntable 28. Once the integrated circuit 13 has made a full revolution in turntable 28 and arrives once again at location 26, it is transferred by middle pick and place assembly 22 to test site location 30. At test site location 30 is a tester, such as a Trillium tester which conducts the actual electrical tests and characterization of the integrated circuit.
The middle pick and place assembly 22 only provides the integrated circuit to test site 30 from the turntable 28. Work press assembly 24 applies pressure to the integrated circuit 13 while it is being tested at test site location 30. Such pressure is necessary to carry out the test. Once testing is completed, work press assembly 24 transfers the integrated circuit 13 to the unload slide 32 where it is transferred from test chamber 18 and into storage area (output chamber) 34. In storage area 34 the integrated circuit is removed from the unload slide 32 by pick and place assembly 36 and placed into one of several storage bins 38. The integrated circuit is sorted depending upon its electrical characteristics. Once placed in the storage tray 38 the I.C. has completed its testing.
FIGS. 2(a-e) illustrate how integrated circuits are inefficiently transferred between locations in the test chamber by the prior art handler. FIG. 2a is a side view of test chamber 18 of the handler. Shown are the two pick and place assemblies 20 and 22 and the one work press assembly 24. It is important to note that the three assemblies 20, 22, and 24 are rigidly coupled to one another. Each of the assemblies is a fixed distance (four inches) from one another. The assemblies are fixed together as a single apparatus 42. The apparatus 42 resides in a single plane and slides in a horizontal direction on guide shaft 4. Also shown in FIG. 2a are the four IC locations within the test chamber 18 of the handler: the load slide 16 location, the turntable 26 location, the test site location 30, and unload slide 32 location. Each of these locations lie in a single plane and like the assemblies 20, 22, and 24 are spaced four inches apart from one another. Integrated circuits are moved by the assemblies 20, 22, and 24 between the locations in the test chamber 18.
FIG. 2a details the position of the assemblies at the start of a test cycle. At the start of the cycle it is assumed that the test pipeline is full of integrated circuits so that there is an integrated circuit at each of the four locations and the turntable has a full compliment of integrated circuits. At the start of the test cycle, work press assembly 24 has an integrated circuit A which has just completed testing in Trillium tester located at the test site 30. The middle pick and place assembly 22 has an integrated circuit B which has just completed a heating rotation in turntable 28, and the left pick and place assembly has an integrated circuit C from load slide 16.
During time T1 the entire apparatus 42 which includes assemblies 20, 22, and 24 slides over horizontally four inches as shown in FIG. 2b. In this way the left pick and place 20 holding integrated circuit C is positioned over the turntable at turntable location 26. Middle pick and place 22 holding integrated circuit B is positioned over test site location 30 and work press assembly 24 holding integrated circuit A is positioned over the unload slide 32.
During time T2 individual assemblies of the apparatus 42 move to the position illustrated in FIG. 2c. During time T2 the apparatus 42 remains in the position illustrated in FIG. 2b, however, the middle pick and place and the left pick and place change their respective positions in the vertical direction. The left pick and place 20 lengthens its shaft such that integrated circuit C can be placed at turntable location 26. Middle pick and place 22 lengthens its shaft so that untested integrated circuit B can be placed down into the test site well 30 for testing. The work press 24 places tested integrated circuit A into unload slide 32. Also during time T2, after the integrated circuits have been placed in their respective positions, each of the assemblies shortens its shaft length so that the apparatus 42 may slide on guide shaft 40 back four inches to its original position. It is important to note that integrated circuit B is not tested at this time. In order to test an integrated circuit the work press assembly 24 must be available to apply pressure to the integrated circuit during testing.
During time T3 the apparatus 42 slides back to the initial position as illustrated in FIG. 2d. While the apparatus 42 slides from the second position four inches back to the initial position, neither the pick and place assemblies 20 and 22 nor the work press assembly 24 is carrying an integrated circuit. Also during T3 turntable 28 rotates one position so that a new integrated circuit C', which has undergone heat treatment, is now available at turntable location 26. Also at this time, a new integrated circuit, circuit D, moves on load slide 16 from the input chamber to the test chamber 18.
During time T4 integrated circuit B is finally tested as illustrated in FIG. 2e. At the beginning of time T4 each of the shafts of the assemblies lengthen. The left pick and place 20 lengthens to pick integrated circuit D which recently moved into the test area on load slide 16. The middle pick and place 22 lengthens its shaft to pick up integrated circuit C' which has recently completed its heat or cold treatment rotation in turntable 28. The work press 24 lengthens its shaft so that it can apply pressure to integrated circuit B while it is being tested by the Trillium tester at the test site location 30. The work press assembly 24 applies pressure to integrated circuit B during the entire course of testing. The actual testing time can vary in length depending upon the complexity of the integrated circuit and the types of tests conducted. During the entire test time, the apparatus 42 remains in the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2e. During testing pick and place assemblies shorten their respective shafts to the up position. Once testing of integrated circuit B has completed, work press assembly 24 shortens its shaft. The apparatus is now back to the position as shown in FIG. 2a. The test cycle is complete at this time.
Integrated circuits continue to be serially manipulated in the above fashion. The total time required for a single test cycle is Ttotal=T1+T2+T3+T4. The total test handler cycle time can be broken into two parts, the index time and the actual test time. The index time is the time required to transfer parts between the different locations while the Trillium tester is not testing integrated circuits (i.e. the time from the end of the test to start of test). In the prior art the index time is (T1+T2+T3+T4-the test time) which is approximately 3.2 seconds. The actual test time of an integrated circuit for a part varies from 2 to 20 seconds depending upon the types of tests and the complexity of the circuit. Unfortunately, during the index time of the test cycle the testing apparatus (trillium tester) sits idle.
Testing machines, such as Trillium testers, are extremely expensive. It is, therefore, beneficial to reduce the index time of handlers as much as possible so that expensive testing machines may be utilized more efficiently.
Thus what is needed is a method and apparatus to efficiently transfer integrated circuits to and from a tester so that the tester can spend more time testing and less time sitting idle.

Apparatus for efficient transfer of electronic devices


An apparatus for Digital Imaging in the Head Region of a Patient includes an X-ray source and an X-ray sensor, supported on a rotary arm supported on a structure by a motor driven translation and rotation means. The rotary arm is provided with adjustment means for varying the distance between the source and the sensor. A control unit, that controls the source, the sensor, the adjustment means, and the translation and rotation means Collision detection means provided in the source and sensor detect a possible collision of the source and/or sensor with the patient during the motion of the source and/or sensor and the control unit responds to such detected possible collision.

US 2007/0030950 A1 discloses a combined panoramic and computed tomography (=CT) apparatus for dental imaging. The apparatus includes an X-ray source and an X-ray sensor unit provided either with a panoramic sensor part or a CT sensor part for detecting X-rays, which are generated from the X-ray source and pass through a patient. The apparatus further includes a rotary arm for arranging the X-ray source and the X-ray sensor unit thereon in such a way as to be opposed to each other. The rotary arm is held by a supporting member. Driving means are provided that allow to vary the distance between the X-ray source and the X-ray sensor unit arranged opposed to each other with respect to the rotary arm.
The known apparatus can conduct panoramic imaging and CT imaging, and provides the optimum enlargement ratio according to whether the apparatus is operated in the panoramic imaging or the CT imaging mode. The optimum enlargement ratio is achieved by varying the distance between X-ray source and the X-ray sensor unit.
The known apparatus is only optimal for adult patients having a normal size. The imaging of smaller persons particularly children, however, may require modifications.
Proceeding from this related art, the present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for digital imaging in the head region also optimized for smaller patients, in particular children.
This object is achieved by an apparatus having the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and refinements are specified in claims dependent thereon.

Apparatus for digital imaging in the head region of a patient


In a shift register provided with flip-flops that operate in synchronism with a clock signal, and a switching means, which is opened and closed in response to an output of the preceding stage of each of the flip-flops, is installed. The clock signal is selectively inputted by the switching means, and the selected clock signal is inverted and used as a shift register output from each of the stages. Moreover, two kinds of clock signals, each of which has a duty ratio of not more than 50% and which have no overlapped portions in their low-level periods, are used so as to prevent the outputs of the shift-register from overlapping each other. Thus, it is possible to provide a shift register which is preferably used for a driving circuit of an image display device, can miniaturize the driving circuit, and can desirably change the pulse width of the output signal, and also to provide an image display device using such a shift register.

Conventionally, in a data signal line driving circuit and a scanning signal line driving circuit of an image display device, shift registers have been widely used so as to provide synchronized timing that is applied upon sampling inputted video image data, or so as to form a scanning signal to be applied to the scanning signal lines.
In the data signal line driving circuit, a sampling signal is generated so as to write video image data derived from a video image signal in pixels through a data signal line. In this case, when a sampling signal has an overlapped portion with a sampling signal from the preceding stage or the succeeding stage, the resulting video image data fluctuates greatly, causing erroneous image data to be outputted to the data signal line. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a conventional shift register 101 has a circuit construction, for example, as shown in FIG. 32.
The shift register 101, shown in FIG. 32, consists of n stages, and each stage is provided with a D-type flip-flop 102, a NAND circuit 103, inverters 104a and 104b and a NOR circuit 105. To the shift register 101, two clock signals SCK and SCKB which have phases different from each other, and a start pulse SSP are inputted.
Each of the clock signals SCK and SCKB is prepared so as to have half the sampling cycle of the inputted video image signal, and in synchronism with the clock signals SCK and SCKB, pulses are successively outputted from the shift registers 101 on the respective stages. With respect to the i-numbered stage (1≦i≦n), an output Qi−1 of the D-type flip-flop 102 on the (i−1)-numbered stage and an output Qi of the D-type flip-flop 102 on the i-numbered stage are inputted to the NAND circuit 103 on the i-numbered stage so that an output signal NSouti is obtained.
Moreover, in order to prevent a sampling signal Si on the i-numbered stage and a sampling signal Si+1 on the (i+1)-numbered stage from overlapping each other, the output signal NSOUTi is not only directly inputted to one of the input terminals of the NOR circuit on the i-numbered NOR circuit 105, but also inputted to a delay circuit constituted by inverters 104a and 104b on two steps. Since the output of the delay circuit is inputted to the other input terminal of the NOR circuit 105, it is possible to shorten the width of the sampling signal Si outputted from the NOR circuit 105 on the i-numbered stage.
The same process as described above is carried out on each of the shift registers 101 on the respective stages so that as illustrated in FIG. 33, sampling signals. S1 to Sn having no overlapped portions with each other are obtained.
Next, referring to FIGS. 34 and 35, an explanation will be given of a conventional shift register 111 installed in a scanning signal line driving circuit.
The scanning signal line driving circuit outputs a scanning signal to each of the scanning signal lines so that video image data is successively written in pixels arranged on a display section. At this time, the pulse output has to be stopped so that the (i+1)-numbered scanning signal is not overlapped with the i-numbered scanning signal or so that a process for refreshing the video image data that has been written on the i-numbered data signal line is carried out.
Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 34, the conventional shift register 111, installed in the scanning signal line driving circuit, consists of n stages, and each stage is provided with a D-type flip-flop 112, a NAND circuit 113 and a NOR circuit 114. Moreover, to the shift register 111, two clock signals GCK•GCKB, which have phases different from each other, a start pulse GSP and a pulse width control signal PWC are inputted.
In the shift register 111, pulses are successively outputted from the respective stages in synchronism with the clock signals GCK•GCKB. With respect to the i-numbered stage (1≦i≦n), an output Qi−1 of the D-type flip-flop 112 on the (i−1)-numbered stage and an output Qi of the D-type flip-flop 112 on the i-numbered stage are inputted to the NAND circuit 113 on the i-numbered stage so that an output signal NOUTi is obtained. The output signals NOUT1 to NOUTn, thus obtained, are outputted in the same cycles as the respective scanning signals GL1 to GLn.
In the shift register 111, the pulse width control signal PWC is further inputted to one of the input terminals of the NOR circuit 114 on each stage. Moreover, to the other input terminal of the NOR circuit 114 on the i-numbered stage is inputted the output signal NOUTi of the NAND circuit 113 on the i-numbered stage. Consequently, a scanning signal GLi is outputted from the NOR circuit 114 from the i-numbered stage.
The same process as described above is carried out on each of the shift registers 111 on the respective stages so that as illustrated in FIG. 35, sampling signals GL1 to GLn having no overlapped portions with each other are obtained. Therefore, the (i+1)-numbered scanning signal GLi+1 is not overlapped with the i-numbered scanning signal GLi so that a process for carrying out a refreshing process, etc. on video image data that has been written on the i-numbered data signal is provided.
Here, as illustrated in FIG. 36, in the above-mentioned D-type flip-flops 102•112, when a signal A is inputted through the D terminal and two clock signals CK and CKB are inputted through the other terminal, a signal B is outputted from the Q terminal.
However, the conventional shift registers 101•111 require circuits as shown in FIGS. 32 and 34, resulting in a problem of a bulky driving circuit.
In recent years, there have been ever-increasing demands for image display devices having a wider display screen and a narrower frame width with high precision; therefore, it is necessary to make the area of the driving circuit smaller. Moreover, in applications other than image display devices, there are high demands for simplified circuit construction of shift registers. Moreover, with respect to a conventional shift register used for a data signal line driving circuit, an arrangement as shown in FIG. 37 is proposed. In the shift register shown in FIG. 37, an S clock signal SCK is applied with a cycle half the sampling cycle of the inputted video image signal, and an output of the shift register section P1S is successively outputted in synchronism with the clock signal.
With respect to an n-numbered stage of the shift register P1S, an output Qn on the n-numbered stage (SSRn) and an output Qn−1 on the (n−1)-numbered stage (SSRn−1) are used in a NAND_Sn so as to obtain NSOUTn.
A sampling signal on the n-numbered stage is allowed to have a narrower sampling signal by using a NOR_San which takes NOR between the NSOUTn and the sampling pulse width control signal SPWC for controlling the sampling pulse width, so as not to overlap the sampling signal on the (n−1) stage. The same process is carried out on each of the outputs of the shift registers PlS so that, as illustrated in a timing chart in FIG. 38, a sampling signal having no overlapped portion is obtained. In this case, the pulse width control signal SPWC has a frequency twice the frequency of the S clock signal SCK.
Moreover, with respect to a conventional shift register used for a scanning signal line driving circuit, an arrangement as shown in FIG. 39 is proposed. In the shift register shown in FIG. 39, a scanning signal, writes a video image signal applied to a data signal line on pixels arranged on a display section, is successively outputted. In this case, with respect to the n-numbered scanning signal, its output has to be stopped so that it is not overlapped with the (n−1)-numbered scanning signal or so that a process for refreshing the video image data that has been written on the (n−1)-numbered data signal line is carried out.
More specifically, referring to a circuit diagram of FIG. 39 and its timing chart of FIG. 40, an explanation will be given of the operation. In FIG. 39, the output of the shift register P1G is successively released in synchronism with a G clock signal GCK. With respect to an n-numbered stage of the shift register P1G, an output (Qn) on the n-numbered stage (GSRn) and an output (Qn−1) on the (n−1)-numbered stage (GSRn−1) are used in a NAND_Gn so as to obtain NOUTn. The NOUTn are respectively outputted with the same cycle as the scanning signal.
As described earlier, with respect to the n-numbered scanning signal, its output has to be stopped so that it is not overlapped with the (n−1)-numbered scanning signal or so that a process for refreshing the video image data that has been written on the (n−1)-numbered data signal line is carried out or so that a precharging process, etc. is carried out. For this reason, a scanning pulse width control signal GPWC is inputted, and this and NOUTn are used in a NOR_Gn so as to obtain GLn. The GLn forms a scanning signal for driving the n-numbered scanning signal line. At this time, the pulse width control signal GPWC has a frequency twice the frequency of the G clock signal GCK.
Here, in the flip-flop circuit (D-flip-flop) constituting the shift register of FIG. 37 and FIG. 39, as illustrated in FIG. 36, the circuit construction is designed so that, when a signal A is inputted to the D-terminal with two clock signals CK and CKB being inputted through the other terminals, a signal B is outputted.
In general, the power consumption increases in proportion to the frequency, the load capacitance and the square of the voltage. Therefore, for example, in circuits that are connected to an image display device, such as those for generating video image signals for the image display device, or in image display devices, there is a tendency to reduce the driving voltage as small as possible.
For example, in a circuit using monocrystal silicon transistors such as the above-mentioned generation circuit for video image signals, the driving voltage is set to, for example, 5 V or 3.3 V, or a value not more than this value, in most cases.
In contrast, in a circuit using polycrystal silicon thin-film transistors so as to ensure a wider display area, such as pixels, a data signal line driving circuit or a scanning signal line driving circuit, since a difference of threshold voltages between substrates tends to reach as high as several volts (for example, 15 V), the reduction of the driving voltage has not been sufficiently achieved. Therefore, in the case when an input signal lower than the driving voltage of a shift register is inputted to a shift register, a level shifter for voltage-raising the input signal is installed in the shift register. In general, with respect to the input signal for the level shifter, two kinds of signals having two phases are used, and the two kinds of signals have respectively reversed phases.
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 37 and 39, for example, when an input signal having an amplitude of approximately 5V is inputted to each of shift registers PlS and P1G, two level shifters Ls of the three in the Figure voltage-raises clock signals SCK and GCK to reach the driving voltage (15 V) of the shift registers P1S and P1G. The outputs of these level shifters Ls are inputted to flip-flops SSR1 to SSRx and GSR1 to GSRx that constitute the shift registers P1S and P1G. In synchronism with the outputs of the level shifters Ls thus applied, the shift registers P1S and P1G are allowed to have respective outputs.
However, in various circuits using conventional shift registers as shown in FIGS. 37 and 39, that is, for example, in a data signal line driving circuit, logical circuits (NOR, etc.) are required so as to prevent the sampling signals from overlapped each other, resulting in a large driving circuit; and for example, in a scanning signal line driving circuit, logical circuits (NOR, etc.) are also required so as to prevent the scanning signals from overlapping each other, resulting in a large driving circuit.
Moreover, each of the above-mentioned pulse width control signals SPWC and GPWC has a frequency that is twice the frequency of each of an S clock signal SCK and a G clock signal GCK, resulting in a greater driving frequency.
Moreover, in the shift registers P1S and P1G, after the clock signals SCK, SCKB (with a phase reversed to SCK) and GCK, GCKB (with a phase reversed to GCK) have been shifted in their levels, they are supplied to respective flip-flops constituting the shift register; therefore, the resulting problem is that the greater the distance between the flip-flops SSR1 to SSRx and the distance between the GSR1 to GSR2, the greater the transmission distance, causing an increase in the power consumption. In other words, as the transmission distance becomes longer, the capacitance of the transmission-use signal lines becomes greater, with the result that the level shifters LS require a greater driving capability, thereby resulting in an increase in the power consumption.
Moreover, as in the case when the driving circuit containing level shifters LS is constructed by using polycrystal silicon thin-film transistors, when the level shifter LS has only an insufficient capability, a buffer BUF having a great driving capability needs to be installed immediately after the level shifter LS so as to transmit signal waveforms that are free from rounding; this further causes an increase in the power consumption.
In recent years, there have been ever-increasing demands for image display devices with high precision having a wider display screen and narrower portions other than the display area; therefore, the frequency of clock signals has to be increased, and in response to this, it is required that the number of the stages of the shift registers P1S and P1G be increased and that the area of the driving circuit be minimized.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A cooling fluid pump is for a cooling a marine engine. The cooling fluid pump comprises a pump chamber that contains an impeller. An upstream inlet passage supplies cooling fluid to the pump chamber. A downstream outlet passage discharges cooling fluid from the pump chamber. An impeller shaft rotates the impeller, causing flow of cooling fluid through the pump chamber from the inlet passage to the outlet passage. A drain passage connects the pump chamber to the inlet passage such that at least when the impeller is not rotating, the drain passage drains cooling fluid that settles by gravity in the pump chamber back to the inlet passage.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,476,135 and 7,329,162, which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose cooling systems for a marine vessel, which are configured to allow all cooling water to flow out of the cooling circuit naturally and under the influence of gravity when the marine vessel is removed from the body of water. All conduits of the cooling circuit are sloped downwardly and rearwardly from within the marine vessel to an opening through its transom. Traps are avoided so that residual water is not retained within locations of the cooling system after the natural draining process is complete. The opening through the transom of the marine vessel is at or below all conduits of the cooling system in order to facilitate the natural draining of the cooling system under the influence of gravity and without the need for operator intervention.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,585,196 which is incorporated herein by reference discloses a cooling system for a marine propulsion device that provides a transom opening that is sufficiently low with respect to other components of the marine propulsion device to allow automatic draining of all cooling water from the system when the marine vessel is removed from the body of water in which it had been operating. The engine cooling passages and other conduits and passages of the cooling system are all located at positions above the transom opening. The system provides automatic draining for a marine cooling system that is an open system and which contains no closed cooling portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,469, which is incorporated herein by reference discloses a cooling system for a marine engine which divides a flow of cooling water into first and second streams downstream of a pump. The first stream flows through a first cooling system which is controlled by a pressure sensitive valve. The second stream flows through a second cooling system which is controlled by a temperature sensitive valve.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,821,171, which is incorporated herein by reference discloses a cooling system for a marine engine which conducts water from a coolant pump through the cylinder head and exhaust conduit prior to conducting the cooling water through the cylinder block. This raises the temperature of the water prior to its entering the cooling passages of the cylinder block.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,064 which is incorporated herein by reference discloses an engine cooling system is provided with a manifold that is located below the lowest point of the cooling system of an engine. The manifold is connected to the cooling system of the engine, a water pump, a circulation pump, the exhaust manifolds of the engine, and a drain conduit through which all of the water can be drained from the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,870 which is incorporated herein by reference discloses a draining system for a marine propulsion engine which is provided in which a manifold is located at a low portion of the cooling system to allow all of the water within the cooling system to drain through a common location, or manifold. A rigid shaft is connected to a valve associated with the manifold and extended upwardly from the manifold to a location proximate the upper portion of the engine so that a marine vessel operator can easily reach the upper end of the shaft and manipulate the shaft to open the valve of the manifold. In this way, the valve can be opened to allow all of the water to drain from the engine without requiring the marine vessel operator to reach toward locations at the bottom portion of the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,201 which is incorporated herein by reference discloses a marine engine cooling system provided with a valve in which a ball moves freely within a cavity formed within the valve. Pressurized water, from a sea pump, causes the ball to block fluid flow through the cavity and forces pumped water to flow through a preferred conduit which may include a heat exchanger. When the sea pump is inoperative, the ball moves downward within the cavity to unblock a drain passage and allow water to drain from the heat generating components of the marine engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,059 which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a corrosion resistant coolant pump for placement in the cooling system of a marine drive, which includes a corrosion resistant member mounted to and rotatable with a drive shaft interconnected with and rotatable in response to the engine crankshaft. The corrosion resistant member is preferably a cup adapted for receiving and enclosing an end of the drive shaft, with a portion of the cup extending into a cavity formed in the coolant pump housing. The cavity is in communication with marine drive cooling system. An impeller is connected to the cup and housed within the cavity for pumping coolant through the system. The cup is interconnected with the drive shaft so as to be rotatable in response thereto, thereby driving the impeller in response to rotation of the drive shaft. A sealing mechanism is provided about the cup for sealing the cavity and preventing contact of coolant with the drive shaft. With this construction, a carbon steel drive shaft can be utilized in a salt water coolant environment, thereby eliminating the need for constructing the entire drive shaft of a corrosion resistant material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,715 which is incorporated herein by reference discloses a pressure actuated drain valve for automatically draining the cooling water from a marine drive engine when the engine is stopped. The drain valve includes a spring-loaded diaphragm which moves to a closed position when the engine water pump is operating to close an outlet from the engine cavities to be drained. The diaphragm automatically moves to its open position when the engine water pump is off to open the outlet to allow cooling water to drain from the engine cavities.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,306 which is incorporated herein by reference discloses a marine propulsion auxiliary cooling system is provided by an electric auxiliary water pump pumping sea water to cool the engine and/or fuel line after turn off of the engine to prevent vaporization of the fuel, or in response to another given engine condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,779 which is incorporated herein by reference discloses marine drives having water cooled engines utilize a water pump mounted over the drive shaft and internal to the drive shaft housing to provide engine cooling, the pump having stamped metal housing parts and a flexible impeller.

Cooling fluid pump for cooling a marine engine


A system, computer program product and a method for detecting manufacturing process defects, the method may include: obtaining multiple edge measurements of one or more structural elements after a completion of each one of multiple manufacturing phases; generating spatial spectrums, based on the multiple edge measurements, for each one of the multiple manufacturing phases; determining relationships between bands of the spatial spectrums; and identifying at least one of the manufacturing process defects based on the relationships between the bands of the spatial spectrums.

There is a growing need to improve nanometric metrology methods and processes.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Method, computer program product and system for detecting manufacturing process defects


An article of footwear includes an upper, a first sole member, and a second sole member. The first sole member is connected to the upper. Together, the first sole member and the upper define a cavity. The first sole member includes an outer surface and a textured inner surface, the textured inner surface defining a pattern of shapes. The second sole member is positioned in the cavity. The second sole member includes a textured lower surface directly engaging the textured inner surface of the first sole member. The textured lower surface of the second sole member is complementary to the textured inner surface of the first sole member.

Articles of footwear are provided in various forms and configurations. For example, articles of footwear may be provided as shoes, boots, sandals, etc. These respective articles of footwear, may be configured for various uses as a dress footwear, athletic shoes for a field, athletic shoes for a court, running shoes, walking shoes, work shoes, etc. Comfort and durability are important design considerations for each of these shoe configurations. The sole of the footwear, including the outsole, midsole and insole are all components that factor significantly into user comfort.
In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide a sole for an article of footwear that is comfortable for the user. It would be of further advantage if the sole were configured to provide performance qualities for the user, such as improved stability, sound and energy dampening, as well as reduced weight. It would also be advantageous if the footwear could be manufactured relatively easily and at a reasonable cost.

Article of footwear with interlocking midsole member


The image correction method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) generating an absorption correction map by replacing a CT value of each pixel of a CT image with a corresponding linear absorption coefficient and replacing the linear absorption coefficient in a bone region with the linear absorption coefficient of water or a soft biological tissue; and (b) generating a corrected image by multiplying a value of each pixel of a nuclear medical image obtained with respect to substantially the same tomographic plane as a plane in which the CT image has been obtained by a corresponding pixel of the absorption correction map.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image correction method, an image correction apparatus, and an image correction program.
2. Related Background of the Invention
Nuclear medical images obtained by a nuclear medical inspection such as positron emission tomography (hereinafter, referred to as "PET") and single photon emission computed tomography (hereinafter, referred to as "SPECT") are widely used for diagnosing various diseases including cancer.
A nuclear medical image can be obtained by administering a medicine labeled with a radioisotope (hereinafter, referred to as a "radiopharmaceutical") to a subject and detecting the gamma rays directly or secondarily emitted from the administered medicine using a gamma camera etc. In other words, a nuclear medical image is obtained by imaging the distribution of the administered radiopharmaceutical, so that it is suited for the detection of a lesion having a specific function. For example, 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose, which is one of radiopharmaceuticals, has a property of being accumulated on a tumor at which sugar metabolism is raised, so that it becomes possible to specifically detect a tumor at which sugar metabolism is raised.
As described above, the nuclear medical inspection has an advantage of being capable of obtaining nuclear medical images applicable to diagnosis of various diseases by using various radiopharmaceuticals, however, there is a problem in that the image quality of a nuclear medical image is lower than that of a biological tomographic image that can be obtained by other methods such as CT imaging. For example, there is a problem of deterioration in image quality caused by the absorption of gamma rays depending on the distance from a radiation source or a problem of the lowness of contrast at a lesion.
To cope with the former problem, that is, the deterioration in image quality caused by the absorption of gamma rays, there has been proposed a method for correcting a nuclear medical image using an absorption correction map generated from a CT image and taking into account the linear absorption coefficient and the depth from the body surface (Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization method (hereinafter, referred to as an "OSEM") (for example, refer to Non-patent Document 1 and Non-patent Document 2).
[Non-patent Document 1] Patton, J. A., Delbeke, D. and Sandler, M. P., "Image Fusion Using an Integrated, Dual-Head Coincidence Camera with X-Ray Tube-Based Attenuation Maps.", The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, (USA), Society of Nuclear Medicine, 2000, 41, 8, p. 1364–1368.
[Non-Patent Document 2] Hudson, H. M. and Larkin, R. S., "Accelerated Image Reconstruction Using Ordered Subsets of Projection Data", IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, (USA), IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society et al., 1994, 13, 4, p. 601–609.

Image correction method, image correction apparatus, and image correction program


A method of forming concurrently openings in a substrate or wafer or a portion of substrate or wafer openings therein at least one of the openings has a relatively high aspect ratio and another one of the openings has a relatively low aspect ratio, the method comprising: bonding the substrate or wafer or a portion of substrate or wafer to a carrier substrate; forming a ring trench in the substrate or wafer or in a portion of the substrate or wafer, the ring trench having an outer perimeter that corresponds an outer perimeter of the another one of the openings having said relatively low aspect ratio and having an inner perimeter spaced from the outer perimeter by a predetermined distance; forming an opening in said substrate or wafer or in a portion of substrate or wafer having said high aspect ratio concurrently with the forming of the ring trench; and separating the substrate or wafer or in a portion of the substrate or wafer from the carrier substrate.

There exists a need in the art for manufacturing a carrier wafer comprising an integrated circuit and a through-wafer cavity, such as described for example in US application Ser. No. 16/158,212, which discloses Metal-Embedded Chip Assembly for Microwave Integrated Circuits (MECAMIC) devices and processes and allows embedding at the wafer level microelectronics transistor chiplets into a wafer that has pre-fabricated interconnects and integrated circuits such as passive components. In other words, a MECAMIC device decoupling the front end fabrication of the device from the back-end interconnect fabrication of the device. This allows for much a faster manufacturing of the device, at lower cost, and a scaling up of transistor technologies to circuits without cost and cycle time burden.
The at least one integrated circuit of a MECAMIC device, formed on an upper surface of the carrier wafer may require a through-wafer via for electrical connection to the lower surface of the carrier wafer. Such vias have generally a small diameter (of the order of a few tens of microns) and a high aspect ratio (they are higher than they are wide). On another hand, the through-wafer cavities of the carrier wafer are often much wider than they are high, and have a low aspect ratio. It is well known that an etching process may have different etching rates in the lateral and vertical directions.
FIG. 1 is a SEM depicted an example of width-dependent etch rates—this is a vertical cross section of a silicon wafer etched with patterns of different widths. The etch rate between 60 μm wide and 10 μm patterns (6× ratio) is 2×. The figure highlights the challenges faced by forming simultaneous features of different sizes. In this image (a SEM cross section of an DRIE etched silicon wafer), the trenches range from 10 to 60 μm wide and the etch depth varies by 2×.
As is illustrated in FIG. 1, for a given etching process, a deeper etch (and hence a longer etch time) results means a wider etch. Thus, there exists a technical problem in the prior art in that two distinct etching processes have been required for etching, in a common carrier wafer, vias which are relatively narrow and thus have a relatively high aspect ratio and cavities which are relatively wide and thus having a relatively low aspect ratio. Indeed using the same etching process to etch both low aspect ratio cavities and highaspect ratio vias leads either to an incomplete depth etch of the vias, or to an over-etch of the cavities, laterally, which is likely to lead to detrimentally damaging frontside patterns of the wafer; and/or to detrimentally affecting the planarity of the frontside of the wafer. Alternatively, using multiple etching processes is time consuming and costly.
There exists a need for an efficient method for etching in a given carrier wafer, with a single etching process, vias having a high aspect ratio and cavities having a low aspect ratio.

Methods to design and uniformly co-fabricate small vias and large cavities through a substrate


A method and arrangement are described herein for power control for the F-DPCH (Fractional-Dedicated Physical Control Channel) for a 3rd generation mobile telecommunication system applying HSDPA, in particular for a user equipment in soft handover.

The present invention relates to 3rd generation mobile telecommunication systems including High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), as specified, e.g., in the documents 3GPP TR 25.848 "Physical Layer Aspects of UTRA High Speed Downlink Packet Access" or 3GPP TR 25.899 "High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) enhancements" both issued by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project. In HSDPA every user is allocated a dedicated channel (DPCH) in both directions to exchange higher layer signaling information between user equipments (UE) and Radio Network Controller (RNC). As there can be a large number of HSDPA users in a cell, this might lead to a waste of the OVSF (Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor)-codes in the downlink. In order to save such OVSF-codes the concept of Fractional Dedicated Physical Channels (F-DPCH) has been introduced, e.g. in said document 3GPP TR25.899. Several HSDPA users are to share the same F-DPCH on which only dedicated pilots and TPC-commands are transmitted, i.e. the DPCCH (TPC and pilot bits) of several users are time multiplexed on one OVSF-code. The corresponding SRBs (Signalling Radio Bearers) are mapped onto HSDPA leading to a more efficient usage of the channelisation codes.
The F-DPCH, however, does not contain any transport channel, which implies that the outer loop power control cannot be based on the transport block errors. One solution to this problem could be that the user equipment derives the SIR (Signal-to-Interference Ratio) target for the inner loop power control based on the uplink TPC Bit Error Ratio (UL TPC BER) (UL TPC commands are transmitted on the downlink). This is applicable for a single link case. However, in soft handover the user equipment may not experience the same UL BER on different radio links and, thus, it is not specified how a user equipment in soft handover derives the SIR target for the inner loop.
The user equipment may set its SIR target in a way that all radio links are able to maintain the TPC BER below or equal to the target TPC BER that is set by the network. This means that the user equipment derives its SIR target for the inner loop based on the worst link, i.e. the link having the highest TPC BER.


There are provided an oxygen absorbable laminate comprising an internal layer, an oxygen absorbable layer and an external layer, in which at least one surface of the oxygen absorbable laminate is roughened and subjected to a water incorporation treatment; and a production method thereof. The oxygen absorbable laminate can effectively exert oxygen absorbability even when used for dried foods and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oxygen absorbable laminate and a production method thereof. More specifically, it relates to an oxygen absorbable laminate which can effectively exert oxygen absorbability even when used in dried foods and the like; and a production method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, in order to prevent a degradation in the quality of foods and the like, there are known packaging containers such as packaging bags comprising a laminate film having resin layers to which an oxygen absorber utilizing an oxidation-reduction reaction has been added.
However, when such packaging bags are simply used for packaging dried foods and the like, it is difficult to supply, from the outside of the bags, water necessary to cause an oxidation-reduction reaction to exert oxygen absorbability. As a result, the oxygen absorbability is not effectively exerted.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 051786/1997 discloses a packaging material for dried foods which is obtained by bringing a metal iron powder-containing sheet material into contact with water and allowing the resulting material to cure in a sealed system, and a production method thereof comprising winding up the metal iron powder-containing sheet material into the form of a coil after the contact with water, welding-sealing the coil-like material by using a material having oxygen barrier properties and allowing the material to cure.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 151783/1999 discloses a laminate for packaging which is obtained by preparing a laminate which comprises an external layer comprising continuous layers of a thermoplastic resin, an oxygen-barrierable intermediate layer, an oxygen absorbable intermediate layer and an internal layer comprising continuous layers of a moisture-resistant thermoplastic resin, winding up the laminate on a roll with 0.2 to 25 g/m2 of water uniformly present on its surface and allowing the rolled laminate to age in an oxygen-blocking atmosphere.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 21083/1995 discloses a film product comprising an oxygen absorbable resin composition to which a hydrophilic filler has been added in order to supply a required amount of water.
More specifically, the film product is obtained by melting an oxygen absorbable resin composition to which 50 to 400 parts by weight of fine iron powders of at least 100 meshes, at least 2 parts by weight of sodium chloride fine powders of at least 100 meshes and at least 5 parts by weight of hydrophilic filler based on 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin have been added to form the composition into a film, immersing the film in a water bath or humidified bath at room or elevated temperatures, removing water from the film and drying the film.
However, since the conventionally known oxygen absorbable film product has a smooth surface, it is difficult for the product to contain water in the amount required to exert oxygen absorbability effectively in a series of water incorporation treatments comprising applying water to the film, winding it up into a roll form and allowing the wound roll to age.
Further, when the conventional water-absorbed oxygen absorbable film product is simply used under low-moisture atmosphere, it fails to fully exert the oxygen absorbability for preventing a degradation in the quality of foods and the like, and this is particularly noticeable when the film product is used for packaging dried foods.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an oxygen absorbable laminate which can effectively exert oxygen absorbability even when used in dried foods and the like for which oxygen absorbability is not effectively obtained, and a production method thereof.
The present inventors have made intense studies on the problems and found that there is a correlation between the surface roughness of a surface of the oxygen absorbable laminate and the water content of the laminate after the water-applied laminate is rolled up and allowed to age and that the water content can be increased qualitatively and significantly by roughening at least one surface of the laminate.
Further, they have also found that in the case of an oxygen absorbable laminate in which the resins constituting an internal layer and an oxygen absorbable layer are ethylene resins, by making the resin density of the internal layer higher than the resin density of the oxygen absorbable layer, the laminate can exhibit stable oxygen absorbability even under low-moisture atmosphere.
According to the present invention, there is provided an oxygen absorbable laminate comprising an internal layer, an oxygen absorbable layer and an external layer, in which at least one surface of the oxygen absorbable laminate is roughened and subjected to a water incorporation treatment. As a result, water is retained in the oxygen absorbable layer, and the above problem can be solved.
That is, by roughening one or both surfaces of the oxygen absorbable laminate, the water content when water is applied to the laminate and the resulting laminate is rolled up and allowed to age is increased effectively. Consequently, the laminate can effectively exert oxygen absorbability even when used for dried foods and the like.
However, the present invention can also apply to any materials other than dried foods.
Further, the roughened surface preferably has an arithmetic average roughness (Ra) (in accordance with JIS B0601) of 0.4 to 20 xcexcm.
By having such roughness, the water content when water is applied to the laminate and the resulting laminate is rolled up and allowed to age is increased securely and quantitatively. Therefore, the laminate can effectively exert excellent oxygen absorbability over a long time period even when used for dried foods and the like.
Further, in the oxygen absorbable laminate of the present invention, the water content is preferably 0.5 to 25 g/m2 after water is applied to the laminate and the resulting laminate is rolled up and allowed to age.
Due to such water content, the laminate can quantitatively exert oxygen absorbability even when used for dried foods and the like.
The water content is specifically defined by the following expression (1).
W1=(W2xe2x88x92W3)/Axe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
W1: water content (g/m2)
W2: weight (g) of oxygen absorbable laminate after aging
W3: weight (g) of oxygen absorbable laminate after drying (temperature: 70xc2x0 C., pressure: 1xc3x9710xe2x88x923 Pa or lower, time: 24 hours)
A: area (m2) of oxygen absorbable laminate
Further, in order to form the roughened surface, inorganic particles and organic particles, or either of these particles are preferably added to at least one of the internal layer, oxygen absorbable layer and external layer.
By adding such particles, a surface with the controlled roughness is formed easily and securely on a surface of the internal layer and/or a surface of the external layer, thereby increasing the water content of the oxygen absorbable laminate securely.
Further, a flattening layer is preferably provided between the oxygen absorbable layer and the external layer.
By providing the flattening layer, even when pits and projections are formed on a surface of the oxygen absorbable layer by the oxygen absorber particles contained therein or when the oxygen absorber particles are present on the surface of the oxygen absorbable layer, the flattening layer absorbs these particles, thereby not only preventing deterioration of the outer appearance but also facilitating the bonding between the oxygen absorbable layer and the external layer.
In the oxygen absorbable laminate of the present invention, the internal layer and the oxygen absorbable layer preferably comprise ethylene resins and the relationship between the resin density (d1) of the internal layer and the resin density (d2) of the oxygen absorbable layer is preferably d1 greater than d2.
By making the internal layer and oxygen absorbable layer of ethylene resins as constituents of the oxygen absorbable laminate and having the relationship d1 greater than d2 between the resin density (d1) of the internal layer and the resin density (d2) of the oxygen absorbable layer, the moisture retainability can be improved by preventing water entered the oxygen absorbable layer from dissipating to the outside of the layer and the permeability of oxygen to the above oxygen absorbable layer via the internal layer can be improved. This oxygen absorbable laminate can then exert more excellent oxygen absorbability.
In addition, in the oxygen absorbable laminate of the present invention, the density (d1) of the ethylene resin constituting the internal layer is preferably 0.915 g/cm3 to 0.950 g/cm3. This resin density allows more remarkable improvement in the above properties.
Further, in the oxygen absorbable laminate of the present invention, a water-vapor permeability coefficient (H1) of the ethylene resin constituting the oxygen absorbable layer is preferably higher than or equal to a water-vapor permeability coefficient (H2) of the ethylene resin constituting the internal layer.
By satisfying such a relationship between the water-vapor permeability coefficients, water entered the oxygen absorbable layer is blocked by the internal layer, thereby preventing the dissipation of water from the oxygen absorbable layer to the outside thereof more effectively.
Further, in the oxygen absorbable laminate of the present invention, an oxygen permeability coefficient (O1) of the ethylene resin constituting the oxygen absorbable layer is preferably higher than or equal to an oxygen permeability coefficient (O2) of the ethylene resin constituting the internal layer.
By satisfying such a relationship between the oxygen permeability coefficients, oxygen reaches the inside of the oxygen absorbable layer effectively, thereby exerting excellent oxygen absorbability.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a production method of an oxygen absorbable laminate comprising an internal layer, an oxygen absorbable layer and an external layer, comprising the steps of:
roughening at least one surface of the oxygen absorbable laminate,
applying water to the above oxygen absorbable laminate,
winding up the above water-applied oxygen absorbable laminate into a roll form, and
allowing the above water-applied rolled oxygen absorbable laminate to age.
The method allows easy production of the oxygen absorbable laminate which has good moisture retainability in the oxygen absorbable layer and effectively exerts oxygen absorbability even when used for packages of dried foods and the like.
Further, when the production method of the oxygen absorbable laminate of the present invention is carried out, water is preferably applied to the oxygen absorbable laminate after the laminate is cured.
By producing the oxygen absorbable laminate in such a manner, the peeling of the oxygen absorbable laminate is securely prevented when water is applied to the surface of the laminate.
Further, when the production method of the oxygen absorbable laminate of the present invention is carried out, the roughened surface preferably has an arithmetic average roughness (Ra) (in accordance with JIS B0601) of 0.4 to 20 xcexcm.
By producing the oxygen absorbable laminate in such a manner, the water content is increased securely and quantitatively after water is applied to the laminate and the laminate is allowed to age. Therefore, the laminate can effectively exert excellent oxygen absorbability over a long time period even when used for dried foods and the like.
Further, when the production method of the oxygen absorbable laminate of the present invention is carried out, inorganic particles and organic particles or either of these particles are preferably added to at least one of the internal layer, oxygen absorbable layer and external layer to roughen a surface of the above oxygen absorbable laminate.
By adding such particles, the surface of the oxygen absorbable laminate can be roughened easily without subjecting the surface to a mechanical treatment and the like.

Oxygen absorbable laminate and production method thereof


A sampling device (1) comprises a sampling container (4) for reception of a sample volume and a connecting piece (7) adapted to be connected to a fitting (2) mounted on a processing installation. The connecting piece (7) has a sample passage which is provided with a stationary valve part (12) and a corresponding valve member (14) which is displaceable between a closed and an open position. The stationary valve part (12) and the displaceable valve member (14) are integrated in the sampling container (4). The valve member (14) is spring-loaded towards its closed position and adapted to be automatically displaced to its open position upon connection of the connecting piece (7) with the fitting (2).

The present invention relates to a sampling device comprising a sampling container for reception of a sample volume and a connecting piece adapted to be connected to a fitting mounted on a vessel or pipe of a processing installation or the like, the connecting piece having a sample passage which is provided with a stationary valve part and a corresponding valve member which is displaceable between a closed position, in which it abuts the stationary valve part and closes the sample passage, and an open position, in which the sample passage is open.
EP 0141 940 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,452 discloses a sampling container being connected through a pipe to a manually operated sampling valve which may be screwed into a fitting mounted on a conduit forming part of a chemical plant installation. The fitting is also provided with a manually operated valve in order to close the outlet from the conduit when the sampling valve is not connected to the fitting. To take a sample, firstly the sampling valve must be screwed into the fitting, the two valves must be opened and subsequently closed, and the sampling valve must be disconnected from the fitting. Obviously, this procedure is time-consuming, and furthermore there is a risk of forgetting to close one of the valves after having taken a sample, whereby possibly hazardous product could escape from the sampling system. Additionally, the configuration of the sampling container and its connected valve is awkward to handle and susceptible to damages if dropped, which may result in product spillage. Furthermore, the device is suitable for the sampling of fluids only, as products such as powder or granules would clog up the passages through the valves and the pipe.
DE 40 34 700 describes a dual-valve system for the taking of a fluid sample from a pipe system. A first valve member in the form of a truncated cone is arranged in a pipe rotatably about an axis perpendicular to the direction of flow in the pipe and has a through passage in-line with the pipe opening when set to its open position. In this open position, a sample may be taken from the pipe through a second valve arranged in a connection piece inserted in the lower side of the truncated cone. After having taken a sample, both valves are closed, and the internal product-contaminated surfaces which are situated between the two closed valves are cleaned by means of a spray device. However, this procedure is most cumbersome and time-consuming. Furthermore, the system also has the disadvantage that the second valve must be closed manually in order to prevent spillage of the product sampled. The sampling container protrudes radially from the second valve and makes the device awkward in use.
DS 43 01 174 discloses a sampling valve having a semi-cylindrical valve member arranged rotatably in a bore extending tangentially to the inner surface of a pipe wall. An external sampling container is screwed into a fitting which is mounted on the outside of the pipe wall and is in fluid connection with the bore through a passage. When the valve member is in its open position, a fluid may pass from the pipe to the sampling container. After removing the sampling container from the fitting, the container is open to the surroundings and consequently product may be spilled.
DE 197 35 586 shows a sampling valve having an outlet opening through the wall of a pipe and a corresponding valve member which by means of a spindle is manually operable from the outside of the pipe. A sampling container for the reception of a fluid may be held under the outlet opening when the valve is opened.


A vehicle safety system automatically detects the presence of a person sealed in the trunk of an automobile by sensing the CO2 respiration of the person. Visible, audio and radio alarms are generated in response to the detection of a person in the trunk. If the vehicle is stopped, the trunk will automatically open and allow the person to escape.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns safety systems for operating automobiles and, more particularly, to such a system that detects the presence of a person in a closed trunk and releases the person under safe operational conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been well publicized reports of young children inadvertently locking themselves in the trunk of a vehicle, such as an automobile. Tragically, children can die under such circumstances, typically as a result of heat prostration while trapped in the sealed trunk.
It has been suggested that a trapped person could actuate an inside release mechanism to open the trunk. However, it is not certain that a young child would understand how to operate such a mechanism and it is therefore possible that the child would not be able to free himself by this means. There is therefore a need for a system that detects the presence of a person, particularly a small child, within a trunk and signals the need to open the trunk. It would also be advantageous for such a system to automatically trigger a trunk to open and release the trapped person when it is safe to do so, for example when the vehicle is stopped.
There is therefore a great need for an automatic trunk safety system. The apparatus and system of the invention has been developed to meet this need with simple, relatively low cost and reliable components that are easily integrated with the electronic control systems of existing vehicles. The above-mentioned features and other features of the invention will become apparent from a review of the following drawings, specification and claims.

System for detecting and releasing a person locked in the trunk of a vehicle


A power device control circuit enters a gate driving signal into a gate terminal of a power device. The power device control circuit includes: a control signal input circuit that receives a power device control signal for control of the power device; a driving system control circuit connected to the control signal input circuit; a driving circuit with a plurality of driving systems, the driving circuit driving the power device in response to a driving circuit control signal received from the driving system control circuit; and a timer circuit that makes switching between the driving systems in response to the driving circuit control signal after elapse of a given period of time from receipt of a predetermined signal, specifically the power device control signal, thereby changing the driving power of the driving system control circuit to drive the power device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power device control circuit and more specifically, relates to a power device control circuit that enters a gate driving signal into a gate terminal of a power device.
2. Description of the Background Art
For drive of a power device such as an IGBT, a power device control circuit controls a gate signal of the power device to perform switching of the power device.
During turn-on of the power device, transition from OFF condition to ON condition of the power device involves turn-on time. This turn-on time is time required for electrical charges to be accumulated in a gate-to-emitter capacitance and a gate-to-collector capacitance. In response to charging of these capacitances, a gate voltage is increased to reach a threshold voltage, thereby placing the power device in ON condition.
There is a period when a gate-to-emitter voltage is constant during increase of the gate-to-emitter voltage. This period is called a mirror period when the gate-to-collector is charged. After elapse of the mirror period, the gate-to-emitter voltage starts to increase again to reach the threshold voltage.
It is preferable that the turn-on time have the shortest possible length in consideration of energy loss caused by switching loss. Shortening the turn-on time necessitates shortening of the aforementioned mirror period. The power device can be turned on while the mirror period is shortened by increasing a current and a voltage to be applied to a gate.
However, increasing a current and a voltage to be applied to the gate during switching increases EMI (electromagnetic interference) noise, resulting in the fear of adverse effect on a peripheral device and the like.
As described above, it is difficult to achieve both suppression of switching loss and suppression of EMI noise. So, conventionally exerted control is intended to reduce EMI noise at the expense of switching loss.
According to known technique responsive to this problem, reduction in EMI noise and reduction in switching loss are both achieved by monitoring the gate voltage of a power device during switching of the power device, and changing a gate resistance in response to the rate of change of a gate-to-emitter voltage (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-166655). Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-166655 exerts control to change the resistance value of the gate resistance during a mirror period to a value lower than that determined at the start of turn-on. This causes a small current to flow into a gate in the initial stage of the turn-on to reduce noise such as EMI noise, while changing a current to flow into the gate to a large current in the mirror period when noise is less likely to be generated, thereby achieving both shortening of switching time and noise reduction.
In the instant specification, a gate-to-emitter voltage is hereinafter simply called a gate voltage.
The aforementioned technique of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-166655 requires a circuit to monitor the gate voltage and a circuit to protect the previous circuit from a surge voltage and the like, leading to the problems of scale increase of a control circuit and cost increase.
Control to monitor the gate voltage and feed the gate voltage back to the control circuit involves a certain period of time for the feedback, making it impossible to respond to high-speed switching.

Power device control circuit and power device circuit


A flexible, silicone mold having a bowl and a peripheral rim that defines an opening to the bowl. Two substantially flat grasping zones are disposed along substantially opposite ends of the rim and the grasping zones have sufficient dimensions to permit control of the geometry of the rim and also to permit control of the horizontal positions of the two grasping zones.

Flexible silicone molds for food preparation have long been known. The following patents and published patent applications disclose exemplary molds: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,182,454; 3,844,525; 5,300,747; 2001/0043977, EP 0 992 195; EP 1 197 149; FR 1 590 193; FR 2 747 885; FR 2 747 886; FR 2 786 667; FR 2 786 668; FR 2 827 494; CH 443 870; and GB 1 159 021.
Molds made entirely of silicone are highly practical, because they permit easy release of products from the molds. They can also be easily cleaned after use.
However, molds made fully of silicone can pose handling and/or safety problems. A conventional silicone mold according to the prior art comprises a flexible silicone bowl, and a peripheral rim defining an opening. Because of their unduly high flexibility at the level of the rim of the opening, it is difficult to handle a mold and move it from one location to another, especially when filled with liquid. Very high flexibility of the rim can also produce deterioration of the food preparation during mold release. This difficult handling is particularly dangerous when the mold contains hot products or liquids.
The solutions proposed by the prior art to solve this difficult and/or dangerous handling problem have a tendency to reinforce the rim of the mold over the opening's entire periphery. This reinforcement is generally accomplished by adding to the rim a rigid ring over the entire periphery of the opening. This ring can be made of different materials and be of different shapes.
The solutions of the prior art, however, are not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, the mold loses its flexibility and is more difficult to clean after use. Its space requirements are always at least equal to the space requirements of the ring.
Moreover, the flatness, geometry and horizontal position of the rim are difficult to evaluate by a user of the mold. Owing to the fact that the reinforcement ring has a straight circular cross section, the user has no means to evaluate the flatness or horizontal position of the rim when holding the mold with two hands. A liquid contained in the mold can therefore be spilled during movement of the mold from one location to another. A user can no longer change the geometry of the rim, for example, for better mold release.