Disclosed are stable, homogeneous dispersions, comprising (a) from about 20 to 90% by weight of a first composition comprising (i) about 60-95% by weight of a first polar solvent, (ii) about 0-40% by weight of one or more second polar solvents, and (iii) water soluble components of a first natural product; and (b) from about 10 to 60% by weight of a second composition comprising: (i) one or more apolar solvents, and (ii) oil soluble organic components of a second natural product; and (c) from about 0.01 to 80% by weight of a non-surface active lipid phosphate or a surface active agent. Also disclosed are methods of forming the stable, homogeneous dispersions of the invention, comprising forming a first composition comprising water soluble components of a first natural product; forming a second composition comprising oil soluble organic components of a second natural product; mixing the compositions and subjecting the mixture to high pressure high shear processing to form a stable, homogeneous dispersion.

This invention is directed to the field of compositions comprising natural product extracts for use in personal care products or pharmaceuticals.
Natural products and natural product extracts are often used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Natural products, particularly botanically sourced natural products, have demonstrable beneficial properties on the skin and hair. Extracts of these natural products have demonstrated antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, enzyme stimulation or inhibition, pigmentation enhancement or control, photoprotective and many other physiological benefits.
Typically, the solvent systems used to produce these extracts are polar in nature, and most typically are water or glycols or a combination thereof. These polar solvents enable the extraction of only a similarly polar material from the biomass of the natural product material. Similarly, apolar solvents have been used to remove the apolar fractions from the biomass of the natural product materials. There is currently no single universal solvent capable of only extracting both the desired polar and apolar fractions. As a result, typical natural product extracts only provide a portion of the physiologically or aesthetically beneficial components.
It has not been possible to date to combine an aqueous extract with a lipid or other apolar phase into a single system without the use of surface active agents and special processing conditions to form emulsions or dispersions. Surface active agents permit the mixing of a hydrophilic phase and a hydrophobic phase by lowering the surface tension between the two phases, thereby creating micellar structures which, when mixed with a suitable processing procedure, produce stable systems. However, these surface active agents may be irritating to users, and the processes used to prepare the emulsions or dispersion make them difficult to reproduce.
Since many bioreactive or aesthetic components of the natural product are located within the structure of the cell wall or other organelles within the cell, a suitable process is required to extract the desired components from the cell. Simple solvent extraction is usually insufficient to remove the protected material from the cell. The cell wall barrier must be perturbed or ruptured sufficiently to allow diffusion to occur into the extracting solvent. A method is therefore needed to rupture cell walls and membranes to maximize the removal of the physiologically active or aesthetically pleasing materials. Examples of such process conditions include the use of heat, high shear mixing, ultrasonic waves, microwaves, high pressure and prolonged polar or apolar dialysis.
It is preferred to combine the process described above with the use of separate polar and apolar solvents to remove the maximum amount of all of the materials of interest. It is further preferred to combine both the polar and apolar extracts into a single, homogeneous preparation without the use of surface active agents which can cause irritation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of obtaining a composition comprising both the hydrophobic and hydrophilic components of a natural product or blend of natural products.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a single composition having both oil soluble and water soluble components of a natural product extract, in order to take advantage of synergy which is often associated with the use of multiple components of a natural product.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a greater functional activity due to the presence of a full complement of polar and apolar materials with physiologically beneficial or aesthetically pleasing properties.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition having greater potency and stability of the desired components, in comparison to prior art compositions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide better delivery of the physiologically beneficial active agents to sites within the skin or hair, where the active agents are needed for activity.
It is another object of the present invention to provide ease of manufacture of a finished system containing the full complement of extracts, yielding cost savings and greater reproducibility with consistent quality standards.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a greater versatility to compositions of natural product extracts that can be achieved by preparing prior art homogeneous or heterogeneous complexes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition useful for personal care, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, having low irritation due to the absence of surface-active agents that lower the surface tension between immiscible phases.
Applicants have discovered methods of forming stable, homogeneous compositions comprising both polar and apolar fractions of natural product extracts. The applicants have now discovered that aqueous or aqueous/glycolic extracts can be successfully mixed with apolar extracts (e.g. silicone extracts) using high pressure, high shear processing to produce a single, stable homogeneous system that contains the entire complement of polar and apolar fractions from a selected natural product.
The invention is directed to stable, homogeneous dispersions comprising a water-soluble natural product extract and an oil soluble natural product extract. In certain embodiments, the dispersion does not comprise a surface active agent.
In one embodiment, the invention is directed to stable, homogeneous dispersions comprising a first composition which contains one or more polar solvents and water (or polar solvent) soluble components of a first natural product; and a second composition comprising one or more apolar solvents and oil (or apolar solvent) soluble organic components of a second natural product. Optionally, the dispersion may also comprise from about 0.01 to 8% by weight of a non-surface active lipid phosphate or a surface active agent.
In preferred embodiments, the invention is directed to stable, homogeneous dispersions comprising
(a) from about 20 to 90% by weight of a first composition comprising:
(i) about 60-95% by weight of a first polar solvent;
(ii) about 0-40% by weight of one or more second polar solvents; and
(iii) water soluble components of a first natural product; and
(b) from about 10 to 60% by weight of a second composition comprising:
(i) one or more apolar solvents; and
(ii) oil soluble organic components of a second natural product; and
(c) from about 0.01 to 8% by weight of a non-surface active lipid phosphate or a surface active agent.
In particular embodiments, the first polar solvent may be water and the second polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of water; a mono, di, tri or polyhydroxy alkyl derivative; a mono, di, tri or polyhalogenated alkyl derivative; a mono, di, tri or poly alkyl ether derivative; and a mono, di, tri or poly carboxyl alkyl derivative. The apolar solvent may be one or more of an oil (such as a vegetable oil); a mono, di, tri or polyalkyl ester or ether of a mono, di, tri or polyhydroxy compound; a saturated, unsaturated, linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon; a saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched C8 to C30 fatty acid; a branched, linear, or cyclical silicone or silicone derivative; or a homopolymer or heteropolymer fluid formed by the polymerization of alkylene oxide monomers.
The dispersion may comprise components from any of the natural products which are known to contain physiological properties. Examplary natural products are mulberry, lavender, licorice root, arnica, eyebright and grape root. The invention contemplates the use of water and oil soluble components of natural products which may be obtained by any of the methods known to those skilled in the art.
The invention is also directed to methods of forming the dispersions of the invention. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of obtaining a first natural product extract comprising a polar solvent and water based components of a natural product; obtaining a second natural product extract comprising an apolar solvent and oil soluble components of a natural product; combining the first and second extracts to form a composition; optionally adding about 0.01 to 8% by weight of a non-surface active lipid phosphate or a surface active agent; and subjecting said mixture to high pressure high shear processing to form a stable, homogeneous dispersion.
Preferred rates of high pressure, high shear processing are at a pressure of about 11,000 to about 27,000 psi, and at a shear rate which is sufficient to form a dispersion having an average particle size of from about 200 to about 1,000 nm.

Stable, homogeneous natural product extracts containing polar and apolar fractions


A service processing method is applied to a system including a first distributed node and at least two second distributed nodes to ensure correct service processing. The first distributed node communicates with a controller using the second distributed nodes. The service processing method performed by the first distributed node, includes obtaining a first operation request, where the first operation request includes a first service object, allocating a first identification code to the first operation request according to a preset rule, where the first identification code identifies a processing sequence of the first operation request for the first service object, and sending the first operation request and the first identification code to the controller using a second distributed node such that the controller determines, according to the preset rule and the first identification code, whether the first operation request needs to be processed.

A software defined network (SDN) is a system architecture for optimizing and simplifying network operations. After an SDN technology is introduced into the cloud computing field, an SDN controller accesses a distributed cloud platform towards the north such that a more intelligent service function can be implemented. After the SDN is introduced into the cloud computing field, a system architecture may be shown in FIG. 1. An administrator manages devices and resources on the distributed cloud platform using a cloud platform interface provided by the distributed platform. The distributed cloud platform includes multiple distributed nodes. The distributed nodes are classified into two types, a node that provides a northbound interface capability, for example, a distributed node 1, and a node that provides a service processing capability and a southbound interface capability, for example, a distributed node 2, 3, or 4. The distributed cloud platform is interconnected to the SDN controller towards the south, and controls a large amount of network data using the SDN controller. Therefore, the distributed cloud platform is aware of a super network device instead of numerous network devices.
In the current system architecture, because the cloud platform interface is unaware of presence of the distributed cloud platform, each cloud platform interface instance accesses the cloud platform using one distributed node. Certainly, it is totally feasible that different cloud platform interface instances access the cloud platform using different distributed nodes. The cloud platform interface shown in FIG. 1 accesses the cloud platform using the distributed node 1. Therefore, all operation requests delivered using the cloud platform interface first pass through the distributed node 1, and then are forwarded by other distributed nodes (for example, distributed nodes 2, 3, and 4) to the SDN controller for processing.
In the foregoing network architecture, when two operation requests having a mutual update relationship are sent in sequence for a same service object, because the distributed node 1 sends the two operation requests in sequence to the controller using different distributed nodes (for example, distributed nodes 2 and 3), to ensure a correct processing result, it needs to be ensured that a first sent operation request arrives at the controller first such that a subsequently sent operation request is finally effective. However, on the distributed cloud platform, because nodes on the platform have distributed features and different nodes have different processing capabilities, generally, it cannot be ensured that the first sent operation request arrives at the controller first. If the subsequently sent operation request arrives at the controller before the first sent operation request, the first sent operation request is finally processed, and in this case, the first sent operation request is finally effective. Consequently, a processing result is incorrect.


A phase-change memory cell having a reduced electrode-chalcogenide interface resistance and a method for making the phase-change memory cell are disclosed: An interface layer is formed between an electrode layer and a chalcogenide layer that and provides a reduced resistance between the chalcogenide-based phase-change memory layer and the electrode layer. Exemplary embodiments provide that the interface layer comprises a tungsten carbide, a molybdenum carbide, a tungsten boride, or a molybdenum boride, or a combination thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the interface layer comprises a thickness of between about 1 nm and about 10 nm.

High resistance at an electrode-chalcogenide interface in chalcogenide-based phase-change memories requires that either a higher operating voltage be used or that a reduced drive voltage be available for chalcogenide phase changing. Additionally, the high local temperatures that are associated with the operation of phase-change memory (in excess of 600 C) make probable an electrode-chalcogenide reaction that adversely affects device performance.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration, elements depicted 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. The scaling of the figures does not represent precise dimensions and/or dimensional ratios of the various elements depicted herein. Further, if considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding and/or analogous elements.

Electrode materials and interface layers to minimize chalcogenide interface resistance


In the valve, fuel, flowing down as a valve side flow along the side of the valve, further flows down toward an orifice plate through a fuel path which closes and opens upon forward and backward movement of the valve, and is injected as a mist from each orifice. The valve moves forward and backward by sliding on a valve surrounding portion through a guide portion constituted by plural sliding guides arranged between the valve and valve surrounding portion. Since the sliding guides are tapered from the valve to the surrounding portion, the side flow from the guide portion has a flow velocity distribution biased toward the surrounding portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel injector for supplying fuel into an internal combustion engine and more particularly to an orifice type fuel injector which injects fuel through orifices in an orifice plate.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, automobile emission gas regulations have been tightened and demand for reduction of harmful hydrocarbon components in emission gas from internal combustion engines has been growing. For reduction of hydrocarbon components in emission gas, it is useful to encourage atomization of fuel injected as a mist from a fuel injector mounted in a vehicle's internal combustion engine and it is also useful to suppress adhesion of fuel to the wall surface of the intake pipe by accurately orienting a fuel injection from the fuel injector toward a target point (an intake valve).
An orifice type fuel injector is available as a fuel injector which promotes atomization of injected fuel and improves the directivity of fuel injection. The orifice type fuel injector, which includes an orifice plate with orifices therein, causes the fuel to flow horizontally along the orifice plate and leads the horizontally flowing fuel into the orifices from which it is injected. Through this process, atomization of injected fuel is encouraged and a high directivity of fuel injection is achieved (for example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
The orifice type fuel injector has a problem that fuel injections from the plural orifices in the orifice plate and fuel atomization conditions are not uniform. This problem of nonuniformity is attributable to a guide portion which guides forward/backward movement of the valve to control fuel injections from the orifice plate.
The fuel injected from orifices in the orifice plate is first supplied as a valve side flow, a flow along the side of the valve. The fuel in this valve side flow passes through a fuel path which opens or closes as the valve moves backward and forward to leave or touch a nozzle body etc., and then flows down to the orifice plate and spouts out through the orifices. In this fuel supply structure, the valve is designed to move backward and forward to open or close the valve by sliding on a valve surrounding portion provided so as to surround the valve; and sliding of the valve is done through a guide portion formed by arranging plural sliding guides between the valve and the valve surrounding portion.
The fuel flowing down along the valve side as a valve side flow passes through the guide portion while it is flowing down. In this process, under the influence of the sliding guides, an eddy of the fuel occurs beneath the guide portion and under the influence of this eddy, nonuniformity in the flow velocity of the fuel flowing down toward the orifice plate occurs in the valve circumferential direction. If, as a result of this nonuniform flow velocity in the valve circumferential direction, the flow velocity of fuel injected from the orifices in the orifice plate should differ from hole to hole, fuel injections and fuel atomization conditions would be not uniform.
However, the problem of flow velocity nonuniformity in the valve circumferential direction attributable to the sliding guides normally occurs as a static flow velocity distribution in which high and low flow velocities are distributed depending on the arrangement of sliding guides. Therefore, the influence of flow velocity nonuniformity in the valve circumferential direction can be reduced by adopting a structure which matches the static flow velocity distribution. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique which takes advantage of this finding to make fuel injections from orifices and fuel atomization conditions uniform.
In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, unlike the conventional structure having a guide portion (sliding guide) on the valve, a guide portion is provided in a valve seat and plural orifices in a jet adjusting plate (orifice plate) are arranged in a way to match the arrangement of guides. In other words, the guide portion is located in the valve seat fixed with respect to the jet adjusting plate and thus the positional relation between the guides and the orifices in the jet adjusting plate is fixed, thereby offering a structure which matches the above static flow velocity distribution; and furthermore given this fixed positional relation, orifices are so arranged as to match the arrangement of guides, thereby offering another structure which matches the static flow velocity distribution. This reduces the influence of flow velocity nonuniformity in the valve circumferential direction.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 11(1999)-200998
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2006-513371
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent No. 3134813


A hydrogel wound dressing is provided which is clear, non greasy, water soluble and odor free. The wound dressing additionally does not exhibit any thickening properties and is of a viscosity such that it will adhere to the wound bed to facilitate natural healing yet will also be easily removable with water and will not stick to the wound or gauze, allowing for removal of bandages without tearing of delicate regenerated skin. The wound dressing also contains humectant properties such that the wound is kept hydrated to prevent any scabbing or drying out so that the wound is allowed to heal from the inside out.

Treatment of superficial wounds such as Stage I-IV pressure ulcers, stasis ulcers, first and second degree burns, cuts, abrasions and other minor irritations of the skin present several inconveniences for both health care personnel and patients. Such wounds are highly susceptible to bacterial infections and thus maintenance of cleanliness of the healing surface is desirable. Additionally, foreign particles may become incorporated into the wound surface as it heals over. Response to this problem has lead to wound dressings covering the injured area as it heals.
Conventional wound dressings usually involve a fabric or felt of absorptive material such as gauze in direct contact with the wound. Such conventional dressings are normally covered in order to avoid or reduce bacterial contamination but the dressing itself is not efficient in this respect. They do have the general advantage of absorbing exudate from the wound, but on the other hand, tend to stick to the wound surface thus inhibiting healing. Furthermore, removal of the dressing is commonly painful and disruptive where such adherence has occurred. Thus, benefits of covering the wound are accompanied by a host of other problems as the wound begins to scab over. Additionally scabbing often entraps foreign material hindering healing and will limit movement of the patient when the injury occurs in an area of the skin which is stretched in response to joint movement, such as the knee. Ideal healing occurs from the inside out.
A recent advancement has been the use and development of hydrogel polymer wound dressings, including polysaccarides, proteins and polypeptides. These gels prevent drying and eventually scabbing of the sore due to a markably strong bonding of water with the polymer molecule. A particular feature of these hydrogel dressings is that they resist entry of bacteria and thus maintain cleanliness of the healing surface, whereas fabric coverings being porous tend to permit bacterial invasion. The gel form of the wound dressing is beneficial in that it is easily deliverable from soft tubes. However even with hydrogels there is always the conflict between desirable properties for would dressing and packaging, i.e. between a gel which is easy to package but too soft and flowable which will simply run out of the wound and not adequately adhere, and on the other hand the more viscous products which are difficult to package and dispense from containers, and too sticky causing tissue damage or which hinder wound cleansing.
Current wound dressings in use include petroleum jellies. These dressings however can form a dry film leading to the problems earlier discussed as to sticking to the gauze bandage and tearing of the delicate regenerated skin upon removal. Another conventional dressing includes paraffins and petroleums. These however are not water soluble and present difficulties in removal during wound cleansing.
The advancements in the area of water hydrated compounds for use as wound dressings has also presented difficulties. One such hydrophilic material which would seem promising is glycerin; however, use of glycerin alone is not workable in that it is not viscous enough. When placed on a wound, glycerin, particularly after water absorption, will simply fall out of the wound. Other such gels as disclosed in Smith et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,530 tend to be viscous enough to adhere to the wound but go too far in the other direction in that they posses thickening properties when applied to the wound such that upon removal during cleansing they often tear delicate regenerated tissue.
A common problem even for hydrogels, is that the product must be able to adhere to both moist and dry skin and yet be easily removable during wound washing. If one emphasizes water solubility in formulation to allow easy washing removal, wound adherence is compromised along with the desirable protectant function from contamination. Moreover increased water solubility often means "drying out" which creates further problems in wound healing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrogel polymer based wound dressing of a viscosity such that it will adhere to the wound to provide moistness and yet is easily water soluble and non thickening such that it may be removed without tearing delicate regenerated tissue.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a clear viscous hydrogel which will protect the wound bed from foreign contaminants and bacteria to enhance the natural healing process.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a wound dressing which may be easily dispensed in gel form from a soft tube container.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a wound dressing which will promote healing of the wound from the inside out by keeping the wound moist to prevent drying and scab formation as well as effective protection from infection.
Further objects of the invention will come apparent in the description of the invention which follows.


A method of forming fine pitch hardmask patterns includes forming a hardmask layer on a substrate and forming a plurality of first mask patterns on the hardmask layer. A buffer layer is formed on the plurality of first mask patterns, and has an upper surface defining recesses between adjacent first mask patterns. Second mask patterns are formed within the recesses formed in the upper surface of the buffer layer. The buffer layer is partially removed to expose upper surfaces of the plurality of first mask patterns, and the buffer layer is then partially removed using the first mask patterns and the second mask patterns as an etch mask to expose the hardmask layer between the first mask pattern and the second mask pattern. Using the first mask patterns and the second mask patterns as an etch mask, the hardmask layer is etched to form hardmask patterns.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming hardmask patterns and to a method of forming fine patterns of a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method of forming fine pitch hard mask patterns while using double patterning to overcome a resolution restriction of the exposure facility.
2. Description of the Related Art
To fabricate highly integrated semiconductor devices, one typically needs highly miniaturized patterns. For example, to integrate many elements within a small area, the individual elements should be smaller. The smaller dimensions may be obtained by reducing the pitch of the pattern. The pitch of the pattern is the sum of the width and the gap between adjacent patterns. However, with the significant decrease of design rules of semiconductor devices, a limit in forming patterns with a fine pitch may have been reached due to resolution restrictions of photolithography processes. The resolution restrictions of photolithography are especially significant when forming an isolation region that defines an active region in a substrate, and when forming a line and space pattern (hereinafter referred to as "L/S pattern").
To overcome the resolution restrictions of photolithography, spacers with a fine feature size have been formed on both side surfaces of one pattern, and a spacer pattern formed according to the spacers has been used as a hardmask, to pattern a film by etching. However, when the spacer pattern is used as a hardmask, a pair of right and left spacers formed on the sides of one reference pattern may become uneven. Generally, the spacers are made thicker than their desired thickness to ensure an even thickness of the right and left spacers. As a result, it may become difficult to remove the spacers after using them as a hardmask. Also, a hard mask in the form of the spacer is typically centered around the pattern to surround the pattern. Therefore, when a line pattern is formed using the spacers, separate trimming is required to separate the spacers as an individual line pattern.
Thus, there is a need for a method for forming fine pitch hard mask patterns and forming fine patterns of a semiconductor device using the same which overcomes the resolution restrictions of photolithography.

Method of forming fine pitch hardmask patterns and method of forming fine patterns of semiconductor device using the same


Synthesis of biphosphonate compounds can be advantageously carried out in a solvent/diluent comprising a compound of formula (3)

1-hydroxyalkylidene-1,1-biphosphonic acids of the general formula (1)
including salts and hydrates thereof, represent an important class of pharmaceuticals, useful for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis. In the general formula (1), the Z represents a methyl group or a substituted methyl group, particularly substituted by a nitrogen-containing substituent. More particularly, the biphosphonic acids listed below have been the subject of considerable research efforts and many of them are marketed as pharmaceutically active compounds in various pharmaceutical compositions, mostly as hydrated sodium salts:
etidronic acidZ = methylpamidronic acidZ = 2-aminoethylalendronic acidZ = 3-aminopropylneridronic acidZ = 5-aminopentylolpadronic acidZ = 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethylibandronic acidZ = 2-(N-methyl-N-pentylamino)ethylrisedronic acidZ = pyridin-3-ylmethylzoledronic acidZ = 2-imidazol-1-ylmethylminodronic acidZ = (imidazo[1,2a]pyridin-2yl)methyl
In a known general process for making the compounds of formula (1), an acid of the general formula (2)Z—COOH  (2)is reacted in a solvent (or in a diluent) and at an enhanced temperature with a phosphonation agent, which may be a mixture of phosphorous acid and a halophosphorous compound (such as phosphorous trichloride PCl3, phosphorous pentachloride PCl5, phosphorous oxychloride POCl3, and the like), and the resulting complex mixture of cyclic pyrophosphonate intermediates (the nature of which has been suggested, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,517) is hydrolyzed by heating the mixture with water or a non-oxidizing aqueous acid to form a biphosphonic acid. The obtained biphosphonic acid is then optionally isolated, or is optionally converted into a corresponding salt and then isolated.
There are many prior art documents dealing with this general process. Many of the used diluents do not fully dissolve the reaction components (e.g., the compound of formula (2) and/or the phosphonation agent), so that the resulting reaction mixture is a poorly stirred polyphasic mass, the work-up of which is quite complicated. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,761, wherein the reaction proceeds in chlorobenzene, U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,083, wherein the diluent is an aromatic hydrocarbon, US 2006/0258625, which used diphenyl ether, or WO 2007/083240, which used a phenolic compound as a diluent. Solubilization may be achieved in some cases by using methane sulfonic acid (U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,007 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,651), polyalkylene glycols (U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,959, WO 98/34940), triglycerides or alkyl/aralkyl ethoxylates (WO 02/090367), however, these solubilization agents complicate the elaboration of the reaction mixture as well.
In general, the main problems in the known synthetic process are high viscosity and, in some embodiments, polyphasic character of the reaction mixture comprising the cyclic pyrophosphonate intermediates which leads to poor heat transfer and problems with subsequent work-up; use of high boiling solvents/diluents that may be difficult to remove from the reaction mixture or from the isolated product; and formation of side products arising from the excess of the phosphonation agents. These disadvantages are manifested, in particular, in a large scale production.
Thus, there is a need to improve the conditions of reaction between the compound of formula (2) and the phosphonation agent yielding the biphosphonates of the formula (1). In particular, there is a need to find a solvent/diluent, which is readily available, does not cause solidification of the reaction mixture, and can be easily removed from the product.

Process for making 1-hydroxyalkylidene-1,1-biphosphonic acids

Abstract: wherein R is hydrogen or a C1-C6 alkyl group; each of R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl group or both R1 groups are linked to form a C1-C3 alkylene group; and R2 is hydrogen, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C1-C6 alkoxy group, or is linked together with R to form a C3-C7 carbon ring.


A ballistic projectile resistant barrier apparatus combines the advantages provided by both high hardness material barriers and multiple laminate layer barriers. An outer tier of the barrier is comprised of a plurality of interconnected hard tiles. Each of the tiles has an outer, front surface designed that, upon impact by a ballistic projectile, the projectile is immediately deflected from its initial path. Subsequent tiers of the barrier are comprised of layers of a flexible material interspersed with layers of a ballistic liquid or at least one layer of ballistic fiber. When tiles are impacted by a projectile, the impacted tile is pushed into the laminate layers of the barrier, thereby substantially multiplying the area of the barrier that resists the impact force of the projectile as the projectile enters the barrier.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a ballistic projectile resistant barrier with improved ballistic projectile resistance. The barrier is lightweight and can be worn as a garment or draped over an object to provide ballistic projectile protection to stationary or mobile entities, military or civilian.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In the early development of ballistic projectile barriers such as flak jackets or vehicle armor, it was a commonly agreed upon theory that the barrier must be at least as hard, or harder than the ballistic projectile to be stopped. It was necessary that the barrier be very strong with a high degree of structural integrity so that impact of the projectile with the barrier would deform the projectile into a flattened shape, thereby transferring the kinetic energy of the projectile into a larger surface area. This would allow the barrier to absorb the impact energy of the projectile while preventing penetration of the barrier. The levels of barrier thickness and hardness were adjusted in designing barriers that were impenetrable to various ballistic threats.
Another commonly accepted theory in the development of ballistic projectile barriers relies on multiple layers or laminates of a flexible material in constructing the barrier. The multiple material layers allow a degree of movement of each layer in the barrier. The movement allows a degree of stretching to occur when a layer is impacted by a projectile, which takes advantage of the material tensile strength and transfers some energy of the impact into each layer of material. The kinetic energy of the impacting projectile is more effectively spread into a larger surface area through the thickness of the barrier, with the surface area increasing on each consecutive material layer of the barrier.
Materials commonly used in laminate barriers are made of woven aramid fibers that are saturated and bonded with a matrix of thermosetting plastic resin. This produces a barrier that very effectively takes advantage of the high tensile strength of the aramid fibers.
The prior art ballistic projectile barriers that employ hard materials such as ballistic steel are disadvantaged in that they are very heavy. In high mobility applications, for example in flak jackets worn by soldiers, the increased weight of the ballistic barrier is a significant disadvantage. In addition, with the complex designs used in ballistic barriers today, the use of ballistic steel is further disadvantaged in that it is not easily fabricated.
Ceramic barriers are less dense than steel and therefore weigh less per thickness of the barrier than steel. Ceramic materials can also be produced with extremely high levels of hardness. Thus, the ceramic materials have many advantages over ballistic steel, but are very expensive and are also very difficult to fabricate in many applications.
Laminate barriers using woven layers of aramid fibers are manufactured using very complex methods. These methods of manufacture are time consuming and, in addition to the materials used, can be very expensive. Laminate barriers are most disadvantaged by their lack of hardness and their susceptibility to penetration by armor-piercing projectiles.

Ballistic projectile resistant barrier apparatus


An array of fiber optic splicing cassettes. The array has first and second side plates connected to one another by first and second axes. The fiber optic splicing cassettes each have a base and first and second curved slots in the base. Each of the first slots is moveably engaged on the first axis, and each of the second slots is moveably engaged on the second axis. In this way each of the cassettes may be moved between an open position and a closed position by simultaneously moving the first and second slots in one of the cassettes relative to the first and second axes.

The use of optical fibers has become more and more dominant in the telecommunication field. This results in a growing number of optical fibers to be handled, especially to be spliced and connected and distributed, and therefore systems for the management or organization of optical fibers are used to a growing extent. It is necessary to have an optimum organization of the fibers and furthermore the capabilities to conduct modifications and changes in a controlled manner whereby these changes should preferably be carried out so that if at all possible only those optical fibers that have to be changed and modified are moved while all other optical fibers essentially remain untouched so that undesired disturbances are avoided. This is particularly important since in the telecommunication area to a growing extent data are transmitted besides the pure transmission of voice signals, and interference with or interruption of these signals would be very disadvantageous.
These systems for the management or organization of the optical fibers are typically used in central office locations and are placed into modular optical distribution frames or racks, typically 483.6 mm (19 inch) racks.
Usually a large number of protected optical fibers enter the distribution frame or rack and have to be distributed, which can be achieved by splicing. The ends of the incoming optical fibers are spliced to individual optical fibers of a short length, the other end of which is already connected to an optical connector. The two ends are spliced together with well-known techniques and the excess length is arranged in specially designed cassettes, which typically contain a certain number of optical fibers. The further distribution is then achieved through a connection to another position in the entire distribution network through the equivalent of so-called jumper fibers.
Due to the high number of connections to be established, and the limited number of connections to be made within each cassette, it is necessary to use a large number of these cassettes. WO 95/07481 and WO 94/23324 present examples of arrays of cassettes. WO 95/07481, in particular, shows the way the fibers may be handled and distributed. Typically the cassettes are placed on rails or racks into which they are placed side by side so that they can be moved at a certain angle. This allows one to flip the cassettes like pages of a book so that any desired individual cassette can be reached in order to achieve any kinds of modifications. These can be the addition of new connections or the change of connections, a repair and the like. These systems are widely in use but it was recognized that they present some problems. For example, when choosing a certain cassette to be accessed, a high number of other cassettes must be moved, which as mentioned above results in the undesirable movement of a fairly large number of optical fibers. As also stated above, this becomes more and more critical because a pure voice signal data transmission is becoming more and more important, and bit errors are getting more and more critical. In other words, moving fibers can cause signal transmission errors.
Attempts have been made to overcome this problem, as described in WO 95/09375 and WO 95/07486. Here an arrangement is used in which the cassettes are arranged on top of each other or in a side by side arrangement, however, this is achieved so that they are fixed together through typically a common axis and the systems are designed so that an individual cassette can be moved out of the stack around the common axis so that this individual cassette becomes accessible for the above described needs. The advantage of this solution is that all fibers in the other cassettes are completely untouched and thus undisturbed. However, all of the fibers within the cassette that is moved also move, because the fibers do not pass directly by the common axis and therefore changes are unavoidable. Furthermore it is not always possible to obtain a complete access to the entire cassette in systems such as the ones described.
FR 2 789 497 shows a configuration in which the cassettes are arranged in a similar manner with a common axis, however, the cassette is provided with a curved slot, which simultaneously allows a rotation of the cassette and a longitudinal movement so that better access is obtained. This longitudinal movement depends on the specific construction and is not pre-determined. Products as described in FR 2 789 498 are believed to be available from the NEXANS Company of Bezon Cedex 95872, France.


A method for transmitting choices to a caller has steps of (a) interacting by voice with a caller using a communication device; (b) encountering a point in the interaction that a choice between two or more options is to be provided to the caller; (c) determining if the caller's communication device is capable of receiving a text message; (d) selecting a compatible text message comprising the options; (e) associating with the text message a text message destination address to the caller's device; and (f) transmitting the text message to the caller's device. The interaction may be by IVR or by a live agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of telephony communications including data network telephony (DNT) and pertains particularly to methods and a system for dynamic addition of a visual channel during a voice interaction.
2. Discussion of the State of the Art
In the art of telephony, there are call centers that specialize in processing telephone calls. A state-of-art call center has access to a central telephone switch and a local area network (LAN) supporting telephony equipment such as telephones, computing appliances, servers, and the like. In most such call centers, an interactive voice response (IVR) unit is accessible to the center for intercepting calls destined for the center.
The IVR unit is typically adapted for customer self service. However, IVR units may be used to screen callers for routing to live agents within the call center or working remotely from the center but connected to the center by a wireless or wired carrier network.
In IVR interaction, a voice application is played for the caller and the caller interacts with menu options that the caller hears the voice platform play. Interaction with such enunciated voice menus can be difficult. This is partly due to confusion because of the recitation of many options presented serially to the caller through the voice interface. Often a caller must replay the menu and listen to the available options again and again before selecting one. This creates delay in the system that could lead to delay in call processing and to reduction of call processing efficiency.
Therefore, what is clearly needed is a system for enabling dynamic addition of a visual channel to a voice transaction in process so that menu options may be presented over the visual channel and may display at the caller's end, enabling quicker, more efficient and error free interaction with the system. Such a system would reduce call processing delays and increase overall call processing efficiency within the call center.

Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.


The present invention is directed to a spreader bar. The spreader bar has an elongate central member having a hollow interior, and a pair of elongate end members wherein each elongate end member is partially disposed within the hollow interior of the central elongate member so that a first portion of the elongate end member is within the hollow interior of the elongate central member and a second portion of the elongate end member is external to the hollow interior. The second portion of each elongate end member extends to a distal end. The spreader bar has a pair of sling guides wherein each sling guide is attached to the distal end of a corresponding elongate end member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a new and improved spreader bar for use in lifting operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Spreader bars are commonly used in industry for lifting large objects with a single hook that is attached to the lift cables of a helicopter, crane or other lifting device. A lifting hook is commonly provided with a pair of slings that depend from the helicopter or crane hook at angles in a bridle fashion. Each of the slings contacts a respective end portion of the spreader bar and then continues downwardly wherein it is attached to a load that is to be lifted.
One particular problem with spreader bars relates to the size of the spreader bar relative to the particular load that is to be lifted. Some prior art spreader bars have telescoping sections to adjust the spreader bar to different lengths to accommodate different loads. Such telescoping spreader bars have operated well in lifting relatively light loads of a few thousand pounds but have exhibited problems in lifting very heavy loads. Another problem of prior art spreader bars is related to transportation and storage of the spreader bar. Many prior art spreader bars are extremely heavy when compared to the strength of an average worker. Therefore, it is difficult for a single worker to move, lift and transport many of the prior art spreader bars.
The prior art reveals several different spreader bar apparatuses and similar devices. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,079,760 and 6,296,288 disclose a spreader bar that comprises a plurality of bar sections that are connected end-to-end to form a lifting bar with a central longitudinal axis and with left and right end bar end members. U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,649 discloses a spreader bar that includes an elongated bar member that has end portions which support a flexible lifting member. U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,085 discloses a spreader bar that has a rigid elongated support bar. End caps are connected to the rigid elongated support bar in order to use the spreader bar in a lifting operation. The end caps have sockets that fit over the ends of the bar. U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,088 discloses a lifting frame and a single-piece spreader bar. The end caps have sockets that fit over the ends of the bar. U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,544 discloses compression cap assemblies that are used with the ends of a spreader bar. U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,314 discloses a pipe lift cap assembly comprising a pair of first and second cap members that can be removably attached to respective ends of a pipe or casing. The end caps have sockets that fit over the ends of the bar. U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,849 discloses a spreader bar assembly that has a pair of separate elongated spreader bars. Each spreader bar is supported independently by alternate radially branching lines. U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,493 discloses a spreader bar assembly that utilizes a single rigid member. U.S. Pat. No. 3,829,145 discloses a spreader bar extension that comprises a rectangular upper framework. U.S. Pat. No. 2,020,174 discloses a vehicle hoist frame that comprises two tubular rods that are interconnected at the center by a pivot. Each tubular rod has a plate-disc at the center of the tubular rod. Each disc has a slot in the shape of the arc of a circle.
What is needed is a new and improved spreader bar apparatus that has the required strength for military and commercial applications, but which is compact, light-weight and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

USA as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


A simplified rotating gutter and bracket system wherein the arcuate gutter is reinforced along its length with multiple stabilizing rings that increase torsional strength. At least some of the stabilizing rings of the gutter are provided with protrusions called engagers. The engagers are placed relatively high on the gutter/stabilizing ring annulus, thus allowing a maximum degree of rotation before the user becomes hampered by the close proximity of a building.. The bracket contains an arcuate portion adapted to receive a gutter of slightly smaller diameter. The arcuate portion of the bracket is attached to the house or building via an attachment portion and house fasteners. Preferably, the bracket is fitted over a stabilizing ring. The arcuate portion of the bracket may also be provided with a slot therein, through which the engager will protrude when the gutter is assembled with the bracket.. The gutter is rotated within the bracket with the aid of a pole hook used to apply force to the gutter via the engager. The gutter may be rotated a full 180.degree., but is prevented from disengaging from the bracket because the arcuate portion is of sufficient arc to hold the gutter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotating rain gutter and bracket system that can be easily cleaned of accumulated debris by rotating the gutter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A well-known problem with rain gutters is that they also collect all the debris that falls on a roof. Left unattended, rain gutters will quickly clog up with leaves and twigs, thus hampering their effectiveness. Hence, it is necessary to regularly clean a rain gutter for maximum performance. Additionally, children often lodge balls and other toys in gutters and need some easy, go a safe mechanism for dislodging toys.
One method of cleaning a rain gutter is to turn it over so that the debris will fall out. Several rotating rain gutter systems have been devised and can be classified in three basic categories. First, there are those gutter systems that rotate a gutter about a point close to the house attachment point (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,072,285; 5,417,015). Second, there are gutter systems that rotate about a point farthest removed from the house (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 538,108; 4,696,131; 4,837,987; 5,184,435; 5,274,965). Thirdly, there are those gutter systems that rotate at a point in between--that is, they rotate about the central horizontal axis of the gutter itself.
Gutters of this third type have been described. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,635 by Nelson describes a bracket and pulley system that holds a gutter. The gutter is placed inside a disc which is connected to the pulley system. The disc is held inside a bracket mounted to the fascia of a house and allowed to rotate freely therein. When the pulleys are activated, they rotate the disc, thus rotating the gutter held thereby. This system is disadvantaged by the complicated nature of the bracket and pulley system. Complex parts are more difficult and expensive to manufacture, install and maintain. Further, there is no means of preventing the disc, and thus the gutter, from disassembling itself from the rest of the system should the gutter be banged from underneath or vigorously over-rotated. Also, the gutter may only be rotated from the point where the pulley is attached.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,108 by Kerester describes a gutter and bracket system where the gutter is held by arcuate brackets attached to the fascia of a house. An arcuate (semi-cylindrical) gutter rests inside the bracket on roller bearings. The gutter is rotated from one end via a pulley system. This gutter system solves the problem of dislodging the gutter accidentally from the bracket by contemplating a bracket of sufficient arc to prevent the gutter from being dislodged. For example, a bracket with a 270.degree. arc will not allow a 180.degree. arc gutter to fall out of it, even if rotated a full 360.degree.. However, there is no means of torsionally stabilizing the gutter, which will tend to twist when rotated from one end, particularly as the bearings degrade and as the weight of the gutter increases with debris and increased length. Further, the device again employs a complicated pulley and bracket system. The use of roller bearings is expensive and subject to degradation as the system is exposed to dirt and water. Also, the gutter may only be rotated from the end point where the pulley is attached.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,237 by Owens describes a gutter system that attaches to the overhang of a roof. The bracket is J-shaped and thus open on top. A small lip is provided to prevent the gutter from being knocked free of the bracket, but it is possible to flex the bracket and dislodge the gutter. A semi-disc-shaped adapter with an outside edge adapted to fit the arcuate J-shaped bracket and an inside edge adapted to hold a standard gutter is provided. This adapter functions as the interface between the J-shaped bracket and gutters of standard design. A small loop is provided on the adapter at a point near the bottom-most part of the adapter for turning the gutter. An end-cap and down spout are also provided for conducting rainwater down off the house. In order to clean this gutter, the user must first disconnect the end cap, then reach for the loop with a long pole hook, apply force to the loop and turn the gutter. This system is disadvantaged because the loops are located 15-30.degree. from the bottom-most point of the gutter. Thus, the user will not have much rotational freedom before being obstructed by the wall of the house. In fact, the gutter of this invention may only be rotated 90.degree., rather than a full 180.degree.. Furthermore, it is still possible to dislodge the gutter from the bracket and there is no means of providing torsional stability to the gutter.
These and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved rotating rain gutter and bracket is provided.


A system and method are provided for automatically adjusting priority assigned to execution of applications, tasks, or workspaces to thereby improve performance relative to other such applications, tasks or workspaces in a computerized multitasking graphical user interface environment. A display of a plurality of visual indicators is provided, each of which corresponds to a differing task. By selection of one of the indicators, the priority given to execution of the task is altered as the task is thereby moved into a focused state as a result of such selection. A window manager interposed between a server and application registers in the server the adjusted state of a particular application as being either set in focus or cleared. An application may detect from the server a window-id corresponding to the application for which an adjustment in priority is desired. A mapper function, lookup table, or the like for mapping window-id to a corresponding process-id is obviated as a result of employing messaging/signalling. The amount of CPU resource then directed to the particular application as a result of the priority alteration is thereby in turn altered. In this manner, a focused application is dynamically provided with more CPU resource relative to remaining tasks, applications, or suites thereof associated with a workspace executing in the multitasking environment.

With the advent of increased processing power, improved video support, and multitasking operating systems in modern computer systems, it has become commonplace for computer applications to execute multiple tasks in graphical user interface (GUI) environments. Such a GUI, as distinct from a command-line interface, typically employs one or more graphical windows such as windows 2-4 depicted in FIG. 1 which provide the workspace for the end user. End users desirably interact with such workspaces by means of pointing devices, keyboards, and the like. More particularly, the user may interface with the computer system by interacting with various graphical images such as icons, cursors, etc. through keyboard entry and pointing device movements, etc. well known in the art.
In the course of development of such GUI environments and as a result of the improvements noted above, it soon became apparent that it would be desirable for several GUI applications represented by the windows of FIG. 1 to be capable of running simultaneously in a user's GUI desktop. A representative example of such an application and desktop, respectively, would be the "Motif" GUI application running in a GUI desktop known as "CDE", or the common desktop environment. Motif is a software package developed through the Open Systems Foundation (OSF), and the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) is a desktop environment distributed by the IBM Corporation, among others.
As is typical in such environments, the user is most interested at a given time only in a single active task or application (although other such tasks or applications might nevertheless also be executing concurrently). In accordance with conventional parlance, this notion of one of many tasks being active and of most interest is referred to as the task or associated window being in "focus". Naturally, because the user is most interested in this particular task, he or she desires that the computer systems provide the best response for this task as opposed to other tasks which may be also executing concurrently in a multitasking operating system.
Unfortunately, however, it is the nature of such multitasking systems that all windowed tasks executing therein (a representative example of which is the Unix operating system distributed by the Novell Corporation) operate with equal priority or access to the cpu(s) in he computer system.
Put differently, in accordance with prior art technique, all applications or tasks essentially were executed at the same CPU priority. One serious drawback with this was that if a highly CPU-intensive application was then iconified, e.g., defocused and pushed down in the stack, it nevertheless continued to consume its substantial share of the CPU processing ability, thereby essentially stealing processing time from a different currently focused window for which the user was desiring the most response.
As multitasking operating systems developed, the art progressed even further to the point that multiple workspaces, e.g., virtual screens, depicted in FIG. 2 are now provided, each such desktop space 6-9 or virtual screen being capable of executing an associated different entire suite of running GUI applications. In like manner to the previously described situation with respect to an individual task or application associated with a window, it became commonplace for present computer systems to cause each of such multiple workspaces (in addition to the individual windowed applications or tasks of FIG. 1) to execute with equal priority notwithstanding that a user was most interested in and desired the best response from a particular one of the workspaces and the application(s) or task(s) associated therewith. However, as in the case of individual applications or tasks being relegated to having the same priority regardless of which was "focused" at the time, this same drawback obtained in the case such multiple workspaces. In other words, notwithstanding that a particular such workspace such as workspace 6 of FIG. 2 was of primary interest at a given time to a user and thereby focused, the art nevertheless gave equal priority to the remaining workspaces 7-9, thereby consuming CPU resource that could better be directed to the workspace of current interest, e.g., workspace 6.
For all the foregoing reasons, a solution was highly desired and sought after which could remedy the foregoing situation and address the problem of non-focused applications, tasks, and workspaces consuming CPU resource at the expense of a particular application, task, or workspace which the user was interacting with and thereby in need of better performance for.

System and method for task prioritization in computerized graphic interface environments

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a friction-stir welded structure in which corrosion resistance of a peeling region is ensured when a film coating is peeled away from a steel sheet. In a sub-frame, an aluminum alloy member is laid over a steel member that has been electropainted, and the overlaid part where the member is laid over is friction-stir welded at inner and outer welds. The aluminum alloy member has an aluminum layered part which together with the steel member constitutes the overlaid part due to being laid over the steel member, and aluminum extending parts provided to the aluminum layered part. The aluminum extending parts have aluminum extending parts that are orthogonal to the extending direction of the inner and outer welds and that protrude outward from the steel member.

Friction-stir welding is known as a method for joining different materials such as an aluminum alloy member and a steel plate (see e.g., patent literature 1 below). In friction-stir welding the aluminum alloy member and the steel plate together, the steel plate is first placed on a back-up jig and then the aluminum alloy member is brought to overlap the steel plate. Next, a joining tool is pressed against a joining part where the aluminum alloy member overlaps the steel plate, as the tool rotates, such that a joining pin (a projection) penetrates the joining part. In this state, the joining tool is moved along the joining part to subject the joining part (i.e., the aluminum alloy member and the steel plate) to friction-stir welding.
A steel plate is plated with a zinc to form a zinc film protecting the steel plate from corrosion, after which the zinc film is coated with a resin-based coating through electrodeposition to form the resin-based coating film. When the steel plate with the resin-based coating film is friction-stir welded to an aluminum alloy member at the joint therebetween, the resin-based coating film placed on the back-up jig can be stripped due to heat generated during the friction-stir welding. When the resin-based coating film is stripped from the steel plate, it is difficult to ensure corrosion resistance of the stripped region.
To address that problem, it is thought that after the steel plate is friction-stir welded to the aluminum alloy member, the steel plate and the aluminum alloy member are subjected to electrodeposition to form a resin-based coating film thereon. The aluminum alloy member may have threaded portions etc., for example. Thus, the electrodeposition to form the resin-based coating film on the steel plate and the aluminum alloy member involves the cost for masking process to cover the threaded portions etc. Therefore, there is a need for practical use of a technique for ensuring corrosion resistance of a region of the steel plate even if the region is stripped of the resin-based coating film when the steel plate is friction-stir-welded to the aluminum alloy member after the resin-based coating film is formed on the steel plate through electrodeposition.


An electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and a drain layer adjacent the semiconductor substrate and having a plurality of drains. The drain layer includes a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type adjacent the semiconductor substrate, and at least one second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type adjacent the first semiconductor layer. Moreover, a plurality of first column regions of the first conductivity type extends through the at least one second semiconductor layer to contact the first semiconductor layer. A plurality of second column regions of the second conductivity type delimits the plurality of first column regions. Furthermore, a plurality of body regions of the second conductivity type are adjacent respective ones of the plurality of second column regions.

As it is well known, power MOS devices with a breakdown voltage BV between 200 and 1000V have a high output resistance (Ron), mainly due to the resistance of the epitaxial drain layer which may be necessary to withstand high voltages, and which depends on the dopant concentration of the epitaxial layer itself.
However, the possibility is also known of obtaining power MOS devices with a low output resistance and a high breakdown voltage BV by modifying the epitaxial layer concentration.
A known MOS device meeting this need is shown in FIG. 1, globally indicated with 3. Such a MOS power device 3 is of the so called multi-drain type and it comprises a heavily doped semiconductor substrate 1, in particular of the N+ type, whereon a semiconductor epitaxial layer 2 of the same N type is formed.
The epitaxial layer 2 forms a common drain layer for a plurality of elementary units forming the MOS power device 3. Each elementary unit comprises a body region 4, in particular of the P type, formed on the epitaxial layer 2.
In the epitaxial layer 2, below each body region 4, there is a column region 5, in particular of the P type, which extends downwards for the whole thickness of the epitaxial layer 2 towards the semiconductor substrate 1.
In particular, each column region 5 is aligned and in contact with a respective body region 4 of an elementary unit of the MOS power device 3. Both the N epitaxial layer 2 of the MOS power device 3 and the column regions 5 have a constant concentration along their whole vertical extension. In particular, these column regions 5 are formed by means of P dopant implantation carried out in the epitaxial layer 2.
The MOS power device 3 also exhibits, inside the body regions 4, heavily doped source regions 6, in particular of the N type. A lateral channel region 6a of the power device 3 is then formed by a portion of the body regions 4 adjacent to the surface of the epitaxial layer 2, and between the source regions 6 and the epitaxial layer 2 itself.
The surface of the epitaxial layer 2 is then covered with a thin gate oxide layer 7 and with a polysilicon layer 8. Openings are provided in the polysilicon layer 8 and in the thin gate oxide layer 7 to expose portions of the surface of the epitaxial layer 2 aligned with each source region 6. An insulating layer 9 completely covers the polysilicon layer 8 and it partially covers the source regions 6, so as to allow a source metallic layer 10 to contact the source regions 6 and the body regions 4. A drain metallic layer 10A is also provided on the lower surface of the semiconductor substrate 1.
It is to be noted that the presence of the column regions 5 thus allows the reducing of the resistivity of the epitaxial layer 2 without decreasing the breakdown voltage BV of the MOS power device 3 as a whole. With this type of device, it is thus possible to reach a predetermined breakdown voltage BV with a resistivity of the epitaxial layer 2 lower than that used in conventional MOS devices, and, in consequence, to obtain power MOS transistors with reduced output resistance.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, MOS power devices 3 formed by means of a plurality of elementary units provided with column regions 5 exhibit a breakdown voltage BV, when the resistance of the epitaxial layer 2, shown by the curve A, varies, and is lower than the so called silicon ideal limit, shown by the curve B.
To better understand the dynamics of these known devices, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, a method is now described by which the MOS power device 3 of the multi-drain type of FIG. 1 is formed.
In particular, on the heavily doped N+ semiconductor substrate 1 an epitaxial layer 2 is formed comprising, at the bottom, a first N epitaxial layer 2a with a dopant concentration corresponding to a resistivity ρ.
A first photolithographic mask is formed on the first epitaxial layer 2a wherein a plurality of openings are formed. Through these openings a first P dopant implant step is carried out for forming first implanted regions 5a, as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, on the first epitaxial layer 2a, a second N epitaxial layer 2b is formed with a dopant concentration corresponding to the resistivity ρ.
A second mask is then formed on the second epitaxial layer 2b wherein a plurality of openings are formed aligned with the first implanted regions 5a. Through these openings a second P dopant implant step is carried out in the second epitaxial layer 2b for forming second implanted regions 5b.
It is possible to include any number of masking steps and subsequent dopant implantation for forming a plurality of aligned implanted regions that are placed in a succession of epitaxial layers overlapped onto each other.
As shown in FIG. 5, on the second epitaxial layer 2b, a third N epitaxial layer 2c is then formed, having a third dopant concentration corresponding to the resistivity ρ.
On the third epitaxial layer 2c, a third mask is then formed wherein a plurality of openings are formed aligned with the second implanted regions 5b. Through these openings a third P+ dopant implant step is then carried out in the third epitaxial layer 2c for forming the body regions 4 of the MOS power device 3, as shown in FIG. 1.
By means of a further masking step, a further N dopant implant step is then carried out in the third epitaxial layer 2c for forming source regions 6 of the MOS power device 3 inside the body regions.
A diffusion thermal process is then carried out to make the implanted regions 5a, 5b, the body regions 4, and the source regions 6 of the MOS power device 3 diffuse so that the implanted regions 5a, 5b form a single column region 5 aligned and in electric contact with the body region 4.
The process is then continued with conventional manufacturing steps including the formation of the thin gate oxide layer 7 and the polysilicon layer 8 on the surface of the epitaxial layer 2. Openings are then provided in the polysilicon layer 8 and in the thin gate oxide layer 7 until portions of the surface of the epitaxial layer 2 aligned with each source region 6 are exposed. The insulating layer 9 is formed until it completely covers the polysilicon layer 8 and partially covers the source regions 6, so as to allow a source metallic layer 10 formed on the MOS power device 3 to contact the source regions 6 and the body regions 4. A drain metallic layer 10A is finally formed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 1.
It is to be noted that the presence of the column regions 5 in contact with the body regions 4 empties the drain region 2, allowing the MOS power device 3 thus formed to withstand a predetermined voltage applied from the outside to the device even in the presence of high dopant concentrations on the epitaxial layer 2.
Moreover, the breakdown voltage BV the MOS power device 3 thus obtained succeeds in withstanding varies, being the resistivity in the epitaxial layer 2 equal with the dopant concentration in the column regions 5 (which are, in the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-5, of the P type).
However, the area occupied by the column regions 5, useful for the cut-off step, is not used during the conduction of the MOS power device 3: the lateral widening from the column regions 5 limits the electric performances in conduction of the MOS power device 3 thus formed.
The lateral extension and the shape of the column regions 5 is however determined by the temperature used in the diffusion thermal process for the formation of the column regions 5.
To reduce the width from the column regions 5, it is then helpful to contain the thermal balance during the diffusion thermal process, thus decreasing the lateral diffusion of the implanted regions 5a and 5b in the epitaxial layers. However, to make the thermal process with limited thermal budget diffusion allows the implanted regions 5a and 5b to form a single electrically continuous P column region 5, it is helpful to reduce the thickness of each single epitaxial layer 2a, 2b wherein each of such implanted regions 5a, 5b is formed. However, reducing the thickness of each single epitaxial layer 2a, 2b decreases the thickness of the drain region 2 and thus the final breakdown voltage BV the MOS power device 3 obtained can withstand.
Using thermal processes with reduced thermal budget and thus reduced thicknesses for the drain epitaxial layer 2, to obtain MOS power devices which can withstand a predetermined voltage equal to that which can be obtained with devices formed with greater thermal budgets, the number of the epitaxial layers forming the drain epitaxial layer 2 and the relevant implant steps forming the P column regions 5 is to be increased. This approach remarkably increases the manufacturing costs of the MOS power devices 3 thus formed.
Moreover, these power devices 3, in order to operate correctly, may include an edge structure connected to the device itself.
In fact it is known that during its cut-off operation, the drain region is depleted thus an electric field is present which may not have an uniform distribution, especially in correspondence with portions of edge of the device. This type of distribution implies the presence of higher electric field values in some regions rather than in others, mainly next to edge surfaces of the device.
Thus, to reduce the electric field value in the edge portion, an implanted dedicated region of P type is formed adjacent to the edge portion of the device 3 extending in depth along the whole drain layer 2 and which contributes to make the device 3 withstand a high voltage.
Although addressing the issue of reducing the electric field value in the edge portions of the power device 3, such solution includes a properly provided implantation step.

Process for manufacturing a power device on a semiconductor substrate and corresponding device


A method of detecting a non-fixed object in a system (12) includes applying a light emitting or generating substance to multiple objects. The objects are illuminated with an object illuminator (13). At least one of the objects (10) is determined to be a nonmember within a known pattern of objects and is identified to be a non-fixed object in response to illumination of the objects.

Aircraft safety is an ongoing concern for aircraft producers. An unknown loose object on board an aircraft may cause an aircraft to malfunction or not operate as designed thereby decreasing safety of the aircraft. Unknown loose objects are referred to as foreign object debris (FOD) in the art. FOD are difficult to detect and many hours of searching for FOD occur during production of an aircraft, to assure the aircraft is free from loose objects, before the aircraft leaves a production facility or is operated. Moreover, because the detection of FOD relies almost solely on visual inspection, it can be subject to human error. Furthermore, confined nature of an aircraft structure hinders vehicle through inspection.
FOD are of various size and shape and can go undetected in large aircraft. A large aircraft has various cavities, pockets, and crevices that cause the process of detecting FOD to be difficult. For example, a small FOD item, such as a rivet or nut, lying in a dark crevice may go undetected during the search of a large aircraft. The larger the amount of undetected FOD the increased likelihood of an aircraft system malfunctioning.
A current method exists for locating a component that requires a supplemental restraining device on a portion of a gas turbine engine, as described in Garrity U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,656 entitled "Method of Assembly and Inspection for a Gas Turbine Engine", hereinafter referred to as Garrity. In Garrity a fluorescent material is applied to components of a gas turbine engine that require a supplemental restraining device before assembly thereof. An electromagnetic radiation is directed at the gas turbine engine to illuminate the fluorescent material. Upon illumination of the fluorescent material, a confirmation is made as to whether the components that requires a supplemental restraining device do in fact have a supplemental restraining device properly installed. As known in the art and as taught by Garrity, in order to properly install a supplemental restraining device, such as a lock-wire, to a component, the component must be fixed, otherwise the supplemental restraining device does not serve its intended purpose. Garrity unfortunately, is only directed at fixed components, on a gas turbine engine, that require proper installation of a supplemental restraining device as to prevent the components from becoming unfastened.
One known method of detecting foreign object debris is described in Wagoner et al., U.S. patent application entitled "A Method for Detecting Foreign Object Debris", hereinafter referred to as Wagoner. Wagoner teaches a method of detecting a non-fixed object, such as a loose fastener, within an aircraft. A light emitting substance is applied to the non-fixed object. A non-fixed object illuminator is used to illuminate the light emitting substance. The non-fixed object is detected due to the wavelength-specific light generated from illumination of the light emitting substance. Upon detection of the non-fixed object, the object is fastened or is determined to be FOD and is removed from the aircraft.
There are associated disadvantages with known FOD detecting methods. One disadvantage is that during inspection of an aircraft for FOD, using the known FOD detecting methods, some inspection areas can exist that are difficult to access or view and in some situations at least to some extent can not be inspected. Another disadvantage with exiting methods is that by continuously detecting FOD using an ultraviolet light source, eyestrain or ocular fluorescence can result that can lower a users ability to detect FOD. Furthermore, use of an ultraviolet lamp can be hazardous when there are defects in filters of existing FOD detecting systems that are used to eliminate more harmful ultraviolet wavelengths. Yet another disadvantage is that the existing systems use ultraviolet lamps that are large and can consume approximately 100 watts of power, thus generating a heat load and a potential burn or fire hazard.
There is a current desire to increase ability to detect FOD in a more effective and efficient manner than that used in Wagoner. It would therefore be desirable to develop an improved method for detecting FOD that reduces the time and costs involved in manufacturing of an aircraft which does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages with known existing techniques.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pattern method and system for detecting foreign object debris


Control equipment for guiding a drill rod. The control equipment including a frame and two guide jaws provided with guide surfaces and mounted movably in relation to the frame. The drill rod is set between the guide jaws during drilling. Actuators move the guide jaws in relation to the drill rod. Synchronization means are coupled between the guide jaws, such that the guide jaws always move in opposite directions to one another and at the same speed. A detector detects that the guide surfaces of the guide jaws are in contact with the drill rod.

The invention relates to control equipment for guiding a drill rod, the control equipment comprising a frame, two guide jaws provided with guide surfaces and mounted to be linearly movable in relation to the frame, between which guide jaws the drill rod is to be set during drilling, and actuators for moving the guide jaws transversely to the drill rod axis for moving them away from one another, and correspondingly, towards one another in order for guiding the drill rod.
Drilling rigs often employ drill rods of different diameters, typically two different drill rods. During drilling the drill rods must be guided and for that there are typically employed two separate controllers, i.e. one for each rod diameter. Each guide requires a separate hydraulic system for operating the controller, and consequently the operator must also have separate control means for each guide, respectively. Further, the use of double devices increases the weight of the equipment, and in particular in a location disadvantageous to the equipment, i.e. at the end of a feed device.
From U.S. Pat. No. 7,814,994 is known a solution which employs one device for supporting rods of different diameters. This solution comprises generally V-shaped guide jaws on either side of the drill rod and they are both fed with a specific hydraulic cylinder towards the drill rod until they come into contact with the drill rods. This device works unreliably to some extent, because the guide jaws may move differently, and there is no certainty whatsoever about the actual position of the guide jaws. In addition, in the solution of the publication the guide jaws in the guide position are in continuous contact with the drill rod, which causes unnecessary friction and wear.

Control equipment for controlling drill rod


Systems and methods for rapid mold tooling fabrication using active self-shaping non-Newtonian fluids is provided. The rapid mold fabrication system includes one or more molding units between which molds are formed using compression or injection molding process. Each molding unit includes an array of hydraulic pillars that controllably adjust the position of mold preform layers, and an expandable fluid chamber between the end of the pillars and the preform layer against which a mold is formed. A control system is also provided for controlling the volume of STF within the chamber and for transitioning the STF from a liquid to a solid phase through application of an electrical stimulus. A method is also provided for manufacturing a mold using the system. A method is also provided for measuring the geometric properties of objects using the rapid mold fabrication system.

With the increase demand of industrial manufactured goods, rapid prototyping and tooling has become more valuable than ever. However, compression or injection molding part manufacturing processes have always had the challenge of requiring a specific mold tooling design for each part.
Mold tooling design is critical for a successful molding process and this includes dimensioning, sprue gates location, dimensioning of shear edges, cooling and ejecting techniques, and the like. However, the main limitation of conventional mold design is tailoring the dimensions for each part and material. For instance, if a manufacturer decides to change the material used or the dimensions of a final product, a completely new design-for-manufacturing (DFM) process must be performed to obtain a mold for creating the updated final product.
Moreover, the advanced technologies for precision mold design suffer from several issues that occur in, but not limited to, injection molding and they are attributed to having no control over the mold dimensions during the process. For example, flow lines, sink marks, vacuum voids, and warping are major hindrances in such manufacturing process.
More recently, additive manufacturing (AM) is used for rapid mold tooling and prototyping by the use of polymeric or metallic three-dimensional (3D) printing materials. However, the time needed to construct a passive 3D printed mold is still subjected to time consumption. Additionally, the 3D printed mold requires internal supports for any hollow structures which requires an additional step of removing these supports.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure is presented.

Active self-shaping non-Newtonian fluid based system and method for rapid mold tooling


To improve brightness of an image to be perceived by a user and enhance visibility there is provided a light guide plate including an incident diffraction grating which diffracts incident imaging light, an exit diffraction grating through which the imaging light goes out, and an intermediate diffraction grating existing in optical paths from the incident diffraction grating to the exit diffraction grating. In this light guide plate, a periodic linear corrugated pattern is formed as the incident diffraction grating, and when an imaginary line is established that passes through an incident point of imaging light onto the incident diffraction grating and is parallel with a periodic direction of the corrugated pattern, the intermediate diffraction grating has a first region on one side of the imaginary line and a second region on another side of the imaginary line.

The present invention relates to a light guide plate and an image display device with a light guide plate combined with diffraction elements, the display device being of small size and light weight and capable of displaying augmented reality images.
An augmented reality image display device allows a user to view not only a projected image, also have a surrounding view at the same time. The projected image can be superimposed on a real world that is perceived by the user. Other applications of such display include video games and wearable devices like eyeglasses among others. By wearing an image display device in the form of eyeglasses or goggles with a translucent light guide plate and a projector assembled together in them, the user can visualize an image that is supplied from the projector, superimposed on a real world.
Versions of image display devices of this kind are described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2017-528739, U.S. Patent Publication 2016/0231566A1, and Published PCT International Application WO99/52002. In these patent literatures, a light guide plate is comprised of plural diffraction gratings with a periodic corrugated structure formed on a substrate made of glass. Light emitted from a projector is coupled into a light guide plate by an incident diffraction grating and propagates while being reflected totally internally in the light guide plate. The light is further converted into several light beams replicated by another diffraction grating and the beams propagate, reflected totally internally in the light guide plate, and finally go out of the light guide plate. A subset of the outgoing beams converges into an image on the retina through the pupil of the user and such image is perceived as an augmented reality image superimposed on a real world.
In the case of a light guide plate using such a corrugated type diffraction grating, a wavenumber vector K of light emitted from the projector becomes K0 when the light is refracted upon entering the light guide plate according to Snell's law. By the incident diffraction grating, the wavenumber vector of the light is further converted to a wavenumber vector K1 that allows for total reflection of the light internally in the light guide plate. When the light is diffracted through one or more other diffraction gratings provided in the light guide plate, the wavenumber vector changes, such as K2, K3, and so on, each time the light is refracted repeatedly. Assuming the wavenumber vector of light beams finally outgoing from the light guide plate is K′, |K′|=|K|, where K′=K if the projector is present on the opposite side to the eyes across the light guide plate. On the other hand, if the projector is present on the same side as the eyes across the light guide plate, the light guide plate acts like a reflective mirror with regard to wavenumber vectors. Assuming that a normal vector of the light guide plate corresponds to a z direction, comparison of wavenumber vector components x, y, and z can be expressed as Kx′=Kx, Ky′=Ky, Kz′=−Kz.
A light guide plate functions to guide light waves while replicating light emitted from the projector into several beams so that plural outgoing beams will be perceived by a user as image information equivalent to an original image. The thus replicated beams in a set spread spatially, having wavenumber vectors equivalent to light having image information emitted from the projector. A subset of the replicated beams in a set enters the pupil and converges into an image on the retina, thus being visualized together with outside world's information, and it is thus possible to provide information based on augmented reality in addition to outside world's information to the user.
Light having image information varies in wavenumber vector magnitude depending on its wavelength. Because a corrugated type diffraction grating has a constant wavenumber vector, a diffracted wavenumber vector K1 differs depending on the wavelength of an incident light beam and light propagates at a differing angle through the light guide plate. A refraction index of a glass substrate that makes up the light guide plate is approximately constant relative to wavelength and a range of conditions for guiding light waves while reflecting them totally differs depending on the wavelength of an incident light beam. Hence, to allow a user to perceive an image at wide viewing angle, it is required to put multiple light guide plates which differ per wavelength one on top of the other. Generally, as for the number of light guide plates, three plates, corresponding to R, G, and B, respectively, or a range of two to four plates, one more or less than the mentioned number, is considered adequate.
An image display device that is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2017-528739 is an image display device for enlarging input light within two dimensions and this device is equipped with three linear diffraction gratings. One of them is an incident diffraction grating and other two diffraction gratings are representatively placed on the upper and rear surfaces of a light guide plate, overlapping one another, and function as a replicating grating and an exit grating.
In an image display device that is described in U.S. Patent Publication 2016/0231566A1 and Published PCT International Application WO99/52002, three diffracting gratings serving as an incoupling grating, a deflecting grating, and an exit grating are placed in a light guide plate within which their areas do not overlap one another. U.S. Patent Publication 2016/0231566A1 discloses a diffraction grating with an overhang structure to increase the diffraction efficiency of an incident diffraction grating.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-94175 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-200467 disclose a technology that uses two incoupling and exit holograms which are of a reflective volume type as diffraction gratings which are formed in a light guide plate. Hereon, these volume type holograms include multiple diffraction gratings respectively dedicated for multiple wavelengths, formed in a space, and diffract light beams of multiple wavelengths at a same angle, unlike the abovementioned corrugated typed diffraction grating. Therefore, with one light guide plate, it is possible to allow a user to perceive an RGB image. On the other hand, these holograms are characterized in that a viewing angle is relatively narrow, because only a one-dimensional replication function is provided, whereas the abovementioned corrugated typed diffraction grating can realize a wide viewing angle, because it replicates a light beam in two-dimensional directions in the light guide plate.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2008-523435 discloses a technology of an exit pupil extender that is advantageously suited for such an image display device.

Light guide plate and image display device


In a network constructed according to a network planning parameter, access scheduling is performed on a User Equipment UE in accordance with a type of a service of the UE; statistics on an indicator of performing access scheduling on the UE are acquired; and it is determined whether the indicator meets a requirement in network capacity planning; and when the indicator meets the requirement, a target planning parameter is determined as the network planning parameter; otherwise when the indicator does not meet the requirement, the network planning parameter is adjusted until the indicator meets the requirement in network capacity planning. Network capacity for multiple services is planned according to service features, improving accuracy of network capacity planning.

A purpose of capacity planning is to arrive at a number of users that can be accommodated within a coverage, that is, to arrive at system capacity or the number of covered users.
With a traditional capacity planning method, which is relatively simple, the system capacity is obtained via a ratio between cell capacity and a user rate in a scene, and then the number of covered users is obtained further via a traffic model. However, such capacity planning produces a user scale with certain limitations.
With the traditional method, first no feature in network operation is taken into account producing a static simple estimation by obtaining a current result according to an input parameter, instead of an optimized solution; secondly, multi-service-related capacity is estimated only by rough capacity superposition, without taking into account actual service characteristics; finally, no iterative estimation is performed according to different scenes, and no effect of network operation is reflected.
No effective solution has been proposed for accurate network capacity planning.

Capacity planning method and device for wireless broadband network