A method for calendering a web such as a paper web in a multi-nip calender or supercalender, in which the web is passed through calendering nips formed by rolls placed in two or more stacks of rolls. The web is passed alternatingly from the corresponding calendering nip in each stack of rolls into the calendering nip in the following stack of rolls. In other words, the web is passed from a first calendering nip in a first stack of rolls to a first calendering nip in a second stacks of rolls, after the first calendering nip in the second stack of rolls to a second calendering nip in the second stack of rolls, from the second calendering nip in the second stack of rolls to a second calendering nip in the first stack of rolls, and after the second calendering nip in the first stack of rolls to further processing.

As is well known, the set of rolls in a supercalender comprises a number of rolls, which have been arranged one above the other as a stack of rolls. The rolls placed one above the other are in nip contact with each other, and the paper web to be calendered is arranged to pass through the nips between the rolls. Supercalenders involve the drawback that in supercalenders the nips are loaded by the force of the weight of the set of rolls, in which case the distribution of the linear load from the upper nip to the lower nip is increasing in a substantially linear way. This has the consequence that the linear load present in the lower nip determines the loading capacity of the calender. Thus, the calender is dimensioned in compliance with the performance of the lowest rolls and, at the same time, some of the loading or calendering potential of the upper nips remains unused. Earlier, attempts have been made to solve this drawback related to the prior art so that attempts have been made to increase the deficient loading of the upper nips so that the supercalender is placed in the horizontal plane or that the stack of rolls in the calender is divided into two stacks of rolls. Such an embodiment has, however, also proved expensive, because a calender of two parts requires a higher number of adjustable-crown rolls. One embodiment in which the set of rolls in the calender has been divided into two stacks of rolls is described in the DE Utility Model Application No. 295 04 034.3. In this prior-art solution, in the calender divided in two stacks of rolls, the paper web is first passed through the calendering nips in one stack of rolls, and after that the paper web is passed into the other stack of rolls, in which the paper web is passed through its calendering nips.
In the way known from the prior art, in supercalenders, first one side, for example the top side, of the paper web has been calendered/glazed, and then the other side, for example the bottom side. In the prior-art solutions, a so-called reversing nip has determined where the side to be glazed is changed. In supercalenders, the glazing takes place most intensively in the first nips, in which case the glazing of the side that is glazed in the later nips to the same glaze level as is reached by the side glazed first requires, relatively speaking, higher linear loads, and this causes a higher loss of bulk in the web. Also, the difficult control of successive glazing often produces unequalsidedness in the paper glaze degree.

Method of calendering a paper web or equivalent


A communication system and method includes unums distributed over at least a single presence and including a selected plurality of ingredients. An unum is established by creating ingredients at the level of its interface and attributes; and at the level of its implementation; and interconnecting ingredients into presences and unums. Communication between ingredients is accomplished within a single presence, across an unum boundary within an agency, or within a single unum across a presence boundary. Trust boundaries are established between presences and unums to establish a predetermined level of communications security in messaging between ingredients.

Objects can have an object oriented programming (OOP) meaning, as used in Smalltalk or C++ . An OOP object includes data (i.e., variables and states which are not directly viewable) and executable code encapsulating a selected program concept (i.e., behaviors and programmatic methods to which the object responds to). A Smalltalk or C++ object distinguishes between a class and an instance. A class is a template described by a class definition (in Smalltalk by an explicit Class object, in C++ by a class declaration). Each instance is described by the class definition for its class. Class definitions are largely code entities. However, instances contain state information which can vary from instance to instance.
However, irrespective of how defined, currently known distributed objects are organized in a hierarchy controlled at a server node. Such a hierarchical distributed object organization is inflexible, because all control is exercised by a server. For network participants not controlling the server, the result is operational impotence.
Currently, individuals developing object oriented distributed systems may follow a model in which state information with respect to selected objects of a distributed system is replicated in each object with respect to selected other objects of a particular distributed system. Another approach to developing object oriented distributed systems follows a model in which state information with respect to selected objects of a distributed system must be explicitly communicated for each object with respect to selected other objects of a particular distributed system. Either approach is accompanied by undesired overhead which hampers operability. The first form or approach to developing distributed object oriented systems has undue overhead due to excessive replication of state information. The second approach to developing distributed object oriented systems is hampered by excessive communications overhead involving objects obtaining state information from each other. It is according desirable to develop a distributed object oriented system which optimizes the sharing and retention of state information between objects which are established for interoperability with each other.

Distributed instantiation system and method


A non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing a cyclic sulfate compound represented by formula (I) is provided, wherein in formula (I), R1 represents a group represented by formula (II) or a group represented by formula (III); R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a group represented by formula (II), or a group represented by formula (III); and in formula (II), R3 represents a halogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a halogenated alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a group represented by formula (IV).

In recent years, lithium secondary batteries are widely used as power sources for electronic devices such as mobile telephones and notebook computers, or for electric cars or electric power storage. Particularly recently, there is a rapidly increasing demand for a high capacity and high power battery with a high energy density, which can be mounted in hybrid cars or electric cars.
Lithium secondary batteries are primarily composed of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, which contain materials capable of absorption and desorption of lithium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent.
Examples of positive electrode active materials used in a positive electrode include lithium metal oxides such as LiCoO2, LiMnO2, LiNiO2, and LiFePO4.
Furthermore, as the non-aqueous electrolyte solution, solutions prepared by mixing a mixed solvent (non-aqueous solvent) of carbonates such as ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate or methyl carbonate, with a Li electrolyte such as LiPF6, LiBF4, LiN(SO2CF3)2 or LiN(SO2CF2CF3)2, are used.
On the other hand, as the active material for a negative electrode that is used in negative electrodes, metal lithium, metal compounds (elemental metals, oxides, alloys with lithium, and the like) capable of absorption and desorption of lithium, and carbon materials are known. Particularly, lithium secondary batteries employing cokes, artificial graphite or natural graphite, which are all capable of absorption and desorption of lithium, have been put to practical use.
Among the battery performances, particularly in relation to lithium secondary batteries for automotive applications, an increase in output power and an increase in service life are required. It has been a considerable challenge to achieve a balance between a reduction of the resistance of a battery under various conditions and an enhancement of the service life performance of a battery.
One of the factors known to cause an increase in the resistance of a battery is a passivation film based on a solvent decomposition product or an inorganic salt, which is formed on the surface of a negative electrode. In general, it is known that since lithium metal is present among the negative electrode active material under the charging conditions, a reductive decomposition reaction of the electrolyte solution occurs at the surface of the negative electrode. In a case in which such reductive decomposition continuously occurs, the resistance of the battery increases, the charge-discharge efficiency decreases, and the energy density of the battery decreases. Furthermore, on the other hand, it is also known in regard to the positive electrode that a deterioration reaction occurs over time, the resistance continually increases, and a decrease in the battery performance is caused. In order to overcome these problems, attempts have been made to add various compounds to electrolyte solution.
As a trial for the purpose, it has been attempted to improve the battery performance by incorporating various cyclic sulfate compounds (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-189042, JP-A No. 2003-151623, JP-A No. 2003-308875, JP-A No. 2004-22523, and JP-A No. 2005-011762).

Cyclic sulfate compound, non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing same, and lithium secondary battery


The invention relates to a light source device having a high-voltage discharge lamp (1) on which a trigger line (10) for triggering the lamp is attached. The high-voltage discharge lamp (1) is formed such that an arc tube (7) having a pair of substantially cylindrical sealing portions (9R, 9L) formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction with a light emitting portion (8) in between is sealed with electrode assemblies (3R, 3L). The trigger line (10) is formed such that its one end (10a) is connected to a power supply lead (6), which is of the electrode assembly (3L) and protruded from the one sealing portion (9L), and its other end (10c) is wound around the outer circumference of the other sealing portion (9R). In the light source device, in order to drastically improve the performance for triggering and retriggering the lamp (1), a vicinity guide portion (C) including a hollow groove (11) and an insert opening (17) is formed on a cylindrical portion of the other sealing portion (9R) at a position away from the light emitting portion (8). The vicinity guide portion (C) allows the trigger line (10) to be disposed at a distance shorter than the distance from the electrode assembly to the outer circumference surface of the cylindrical portion.

Along with decrease in the size and the thickness of liquid crystal projectors and projection televisions, decrease in the size is also intended for the light source device assembled in such equipments, for example, by using a short arc type high pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp capable of obtaining a high luminance emission in a small size. However, since the high pressure discharge lamp of this type has no good starting performance in a cold state or re-starting performance in a hot state, it involved a problem that the rising time of the liquid crystal projector or the projection television was retarded.
Accordingly, while it is required to adopt means for enhancing the starting or re-starting performance of the lamp, since there is no extra space capable of affording an auxiliary starting electrode or the like in the emitting portion of a light emitting tube decreased in the size, starting of the lamp has been promoted by the means of increasing the starting voltage of the lamp and applying a high voltage pulse.
However, when the starting voltage of the high pressure discharge lamp is increased, since a sufficient insulation distance has to be ensured between wirings constituting a lighting circuit, this involves a problem of increasing the size of the lighting circuit to enlarge the installation space for the light source device, and the size of the liquid crystal projector, etc., can not be decreased.
Further, in a case where the pulse voltage of the high voltage pulse applied to the starting voltage is high, noises that cause erroneous operation to the electric circuits such as in a liquid crystal projector may possibly be generated.
In view of the above, for preventing the generation of noises and avoiding increase in the size of the lighting circuit, means for mounting a lamp starting trigger wire 41 capable of starting the lamp at a relatively low voltage to a high pressure discharge lamp 40 has been proposed (refer to patent documents 1, 2, and 3) as shown in FIG. 15.
The high pressure discharge lamp 40 has a constitution in which a pair of electrode assemblies 42R,42L each having electrode 43 connected with a power supply lead 45 by way of a metal foil 44 comprising a molybdenum foil are inserted to both ends of a light emitting tube 46 comprising a quartz glass tube so as to oppose the electrodes 43 to each other in a light emitting portion 47 formed in the central portion of the light emitting tube 46 and fixed to a pair of sealing portions 48R,48L for air tightly sealing the both ends thereof.
Generally, the trigger wire 41 mounted to the high pressure discharge lamp 40 by winding and securing at one end 41a directly to the outer periphery of the power supply lead 45 of the electrode assembly 42R protruded from the sealing portion 48R on one side and wound at the other end 41c in a looped shape around the outer periphery of the sealing portion 48L on the other side. Although not illustrated, it also includes a constitution in which a portion of the trigger wire 41 wired to the sealing portion 48L is spirally wound around lengthily along the outer periphery of the sealing portion 48L or in which two front and back loop portions are formed on the side of the other end 41c of the trigger wire 41 and both of the loop portions are wound separately on the side of the light emitting portion 47 and on the side of the metal foil 44 of the sealing portion 48L respectively (refer to patent document 4).
Further, for preventing that quartz as the material for the light emitting tube 46 is damaged by positive ions drawn to the trigger wire 41, thereby lowering the mechanical strength, it has been considered that the intermediate portion 41b of the trigger wire 41 is preferably not in contact with the surface of the light emitting tube 46 but mounted in a state spaced apart at least by several mm from the surface thereof (refer to patent documents 1 and 2).
[Patent document 1]
Publication of JP-A No. 2004-335457
[Patent document 2]
Publication of JP-A No. Hei 9-265947
[Patent document 3]
Publication of JP-A No. Hei 8-87984
[Patent document 4]
Publication of JP-A No. 2003-526182
However, according to the knowledge of the present inventors, it is confirmed that when the trigger wire 41 in the state as illustrated by a solid line being spaced apart from the surface of the light emitting tube 46 is brought closer to the surface of the light emitting tube 46 as illustrated by a broken line FIG. 15, the starting or re-starting performance can be improved. Further, in the liquid crystal projector and the projection television, since the length of the rising time dominates the value of commercial products, the high pressure discharge lamp used as the light source for them is particularly required to have good stating or re-starting performance and when the importance is attached most to the starting or re-starting performance thereof, the trigger wire 41 is preferably brought closer to the surface of the light emitting tube 46 to mount the intermediate portion 41b in a state in contact with the surface of the light emitting portion 47 of the light emitting tube 46 as illustrated by a broken line FIG. 15.
Then, when the present inventors have conducted a test for practical use on the high pressure discharge lamp 40 in which the intermediate portion 41b of the trigger wire 41 is in contact with the surface of the light emitting portion 47 of the light emitting tube 46 as illustrated by the broken line in FIG. 15, since the intermediate portion 41b of the trigger wire 41 is heated to a high temperature of about 900° C. upon lighting up of the lamp, to cause elongation due to thermal expansion and spaced apart from the surface of the light emitting portion 47 having a smaller heat expansion coefficient than that of the trigger wire 41, this leads to the result that the re-starting performance in the hot state is not preferred.
Particularly, when the trigger wire 41 is in a state in contact with the surface of the light emitting portion 47 not only at the intermediate portion 41b but also at the other end 41c that is wound around the outer periphery of the sealing portion 48L, elongation by thermal expansion of the other end portion 41C is also added to increase the extent that the intermediate portion 41b is spaced apart from the surface of the light emitting portion 47. In addition, although the trigger wire 41 mounted to the high pressure discharge lamp 40 is fixed by being wound and secured at one end 41a to the lead 45, since the other end 41c is not fixed but being merely wound around the outer periphery of the sealing portion 48L, it entirely causes slack or distort tending to be spaced apart from the surface of the light emitting tube 46. In addition, if slacking or distortion should occur, since the intermediate portion 41b does not return to the state in contact with the surface of the emitting portion 47 even when the trigger wire 41 is cooled and shrunk after putting off the lamp, the starting performance in the cold state is also lowered.
Further, as a light source device for a liquid crystal projector or a projection television, while a lamp having a reflection mirror in which a high pressure discharge lamp 40 is provided integrally with a concave reflection mirror 49 by fixing a sealing portion 48L on one side to the bottom portion 50 of the reflection mirror 49 is general, there is also such a constitution that an auxiliary-reflection mirror 52 is mounted to the sealing portion 48R for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting portion 47 of the light emitting tube 46 toward the opening 51 of the concave reflection mirror 49 to the side of the light emitting portion 47 for improving the efficiency of utilizing the light of the high pressure discharge lamp 40, as shown in FIG. 16.
However, since the trigger wire 41 mounted to the high pressure discharge lamp 40 having the auxiliary-reflection mirror 52 mounted thereto cannot but be wired so as to pass the outside of the auxiliary-reflection mirror 52 as an obstacle while avoiding the same (refer to patent document 5), it is impossible to improve the starting or re-staring performance by approaching the trigger wire 41 to the surface of the light emitting tube 46.
[Patent document 5]
Publication of JP-A No. 2005-283706

Light source incorporating a proximity guide portion on an external surface of a sealing portion for securing a trigger wire


In a system for preparing a process flow in a many-kind variable-amount production line including a plurality of production processes, a target process flow block code is retrieved from a process flow block code name storage knowledge unit storing a plurality of process flow block names each composed of a combination of large processes and small processes, so that the target process flow block code is selected by use of a first selector. Similarly, a process flow block code next to the target process flow block code is selected, to prepare a process flow while discriminating an arrangement sequence of thus selected process flow block code in the process flow, with reference to a process flow arrangement sequence knowledge. A small process code is retrieved with reference to a condition key knowledge unit storing at least one item of condition key knowledge for each of the small processes, so as to select a condition key by use of a second selector. The process flow thus prepared is displayed by use of a process flow display, and a completed process flow is stored in units of product kind.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a system for checking a production process procedure in a many-kind variable-amount production line including a plurality of production processes, and more specifically to a production process procedure checking system for discriminating an inconvenient sequence in the production process procedures on the basis of a previously prepared knowledge base, and a system for making or preparing a production process flow in a many-kind variable-amount production line.
2. Description of related art
In the many-kind variable-amount production line including a plurality of production processes, the production process procedure for each product kind have become long and complicated, and therefore, a support system for precisely and quickly making or preparing a complicated production process procedure in the production line, is demanded. In addition, if the production process procedure prepared for each individual product kind is checked by a human operator, a long time is required, and a checking error is inevitable. Because of this, a system for automatically checking the production process procedure prepared for each individual product kind, is also demanded.
Now, an example of a prior art process flow preparing system will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates the example of the prior art process flow preparing system. The shown prior art process flow preparing system includes a code management table 20-5 including process codes each indicating an individual unitary process by a plurality of digits of alphanumeric characters, an attribute management table 20-6 including process conditions each indicating a condition of each individual unitary process, a variable manager 20-4 coupled to these tables, a data selector 20-1 coupled to a variable manager 20-4 for selecting necessary information or data from the tables through the variable manager 20-4, a data display 20-2 coupled to the data selector 20-1 for displaying the data selected by the data selector 20-1, and a data storage unit 20-3 coupled to the data display 20-2 for storing the data.
In preparing or creating the process flow, the process codes and the process conditions are selected in accordance with the production procedure to be made, so as to prepare a flow of the selected processes, and a finally completed process flow is stored in the data storage unit.
When the process flow completed once is modified, and when a new process flow is created, as shown In FIG. 2, the completed process flow is copied, and the process code and the process condition to be added are selected, and then, added to the copied process flow. When a process is removed, similarly, the completed process flow is copied, and the process code and the process condition to be removed are selected, and then, removed from the copied process flow.
Japanese Patent Application Pre-examination Publication No. JP-A-5-266029 (an English abstract of which Is available from the Japanese Patent Office, and the content of its English abstract is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application) discloses one example of the process flow preparing system for preparing the process flow as mentioned above. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Pre-examination Publication No. JP-A-6-176994 (an English abstract of which is available from the Japanese Patent Office, and the content of its English abstract is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application) discloses a production process procedure checking system for discriminating whether or not the prepared process flow is suitable. For reference, the contents of JP-A-5-266029 and JP-A-6-176994 are substantially included in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,417 (the content of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application), since U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,417 claims the Convention Priorities based on applications of JP-A-5-266029 and JP-A-6-176994.
The production process procedure checking system as disclosed by JP-A-6-176994 has an object of quickly checking a long and complicated process flow. For this purpose, the production process procedure checking system has a function of grouping one process to another process as one package, and then checking whether or not there exists a process which is indispensable in the package, whether or not there exists a process which never exists in the package, whether or not there exists a process which is indispensable when a certain process exists.
FIG. 3A illustrates the prior art production process procedure checking system disclosed by JP-A-6-176994 and therefore by U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,417. Here, only portions relating to the present invention will be described. This system includes a package checker 831, a package condition management table 833, a check decision unit 857 and a check management table 859. Under the instructions from the check decision unit 857, while referring to the package condition management table 833, the package checker 831 checks whether or not processes included in each package is normal.
FIG. 3B illustrates the content of the package condition management table 833 included in the prior art production process procedure checking system shown in FIG. 3A. The package condition management table 833 includes, for each one package, the name of the process constituting the package concerned (PROCESS (A), PROCESS (B)), the name of the process indispensable in the package concerned, the name of the package that never exists in the package concerned, the name of the process which is indispensable when a certain process exists (SPECIAL PROCESS), and an error code. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, a thermal oxidation process is never allowed to exist between a lithography (PROCESS (A)) and a resist removal (PROCESS (B)). Therefore, if the thermal oxidation process exists, it is notified that the package is not normal (the error code "005)).
However, the following problems have been encountered in the above mentioned prior art technology.
A first problem is that when the process flow is copied and the process codes and conditions for a plurality of processes are added to or removed from the copied process flow, it is not possible to completely avoid the possibility of an input error. The reason for this is that, for example, when a plurality of processes are added to or removed from the process flow composed of several hundred processes, a correlation with a succeeding process cannot be immediately checked.
In this connection, it may be considered that after the process flow is prepared in accordance with the method disclosed by JP-A-5-266029, the process flow thus prepared is checked in accordance with the method disclosed by JP-A-6-116994. In this case, however, if a portion to be modified is found out after the checking is finished, it is necessary to repeat the checking after making the modification. As a result, a large processing time becomes necessary.
A second problem is that, since a new process flow is prepared by utilizing a copy of the process already prepared, respective process flows for a plurality of different kinds become different in fine process flows, with the result that there occurs the possibility that a suitable process flow cannot be developed for all kinds of products by modifying the equipments in the production line. The reason for this is that, when a plurality of process flows are copied and when the original process flows include a process flow which does not match with an actual situation of the production line, a necessary modification may be omitted unless the process flow designer is aware of the situation forgotten.
A third problem is that, if the condition are selectively inputted for the selected process code as In the method disclosed by JP-A-5-266029, a code input often needs: a long time. The reason for this is considered that, since the process code indicating the process name and the condition code are inputted separately, when there is long process flow, a long time is required for inputting the condition codes, one by one.
In the prior art production process procedure checking system disclosed by JP-A-6-176994. the checking is conducted for each individual process, on the basis of the individual process name and a before-and-behind relation (context) of the individual process name concerned. Therefore, an inference time becomes extremely long when the production process procedure includes several hundred processes, and the knowledge base required for the checking correspondingly becomes voluminous, wit the result that maintenance becomes difficult.
Furthermore, in the prior art production process procedure checking system disclosed by JP-A-6-176994, since the checking is conducted on the basis of the before-and-behind relation (context) of the individual process name as mentioned above, when an attempt is made to insert an additional process into a portion where the arrangement sequence of processes are determined to some degree in the production process procedure, there is possibility that the insertion of the additional process is not inhibited. As a result, the arrangement sequence of processes and the name of processes cannot be made common in various production process procedures.

System for preparing production process flow


In a device encapsulation method, an organic EL device is formed on a substrate. An encapsulation cap is placed on the substrate to surround the device and thereafter an end face of the cap is welded on at least the substrate. A device package is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a device package and a device encapsulation method and, more particularly, to an organic electroluminescence (EL) device package and an encapsulation method of encapsulating an organic EL device in a package.
An organic EL device is formed by interposing a multilayered structure constituted by a light-emitting layer and a hole injection layer/electron injection layer between a pair of electrodes on a substrate. The multilayered structure is constituted by a light-emitting layer made of a fluorescent organic solid such as anthracene and a hole injection layer made of a triphenyl amine derivative or the like; a light-emitting layer and an electron injection layer made of a perylene derivative; or a hole injection layer, a light-emitting layer, and an electron injection layer.
The organic EL device formed in this manner utilizes an emission phenomenon which occurs when electrons and holes injected into the light-emitting layer are recombined. Hence, if the thickness of the light-emitting layer of the organic EL device is decreased, the organic EL device can be driven at a low voltage of, e.g., about 4 V, and has a high response speed.
The fluorescent organic solid as the material of the light-emitting layer of the organic EL device is not resistant to water and oxygen. The characteristics of the electrodes formed on the light-emitting layer directly or through the hole injection layer/electron injection layer tend to be degraded due to oxidation. As a result, if a conventional organic EL device is driven in the atmosphere, its emission characteristics are sharply degraded. To obtain a practical organic EL device, the device must be encapsulated so that water or oxygen does not enter the light-emitting layer, thereby prolonging the service life.
As the encapsulation structure, a structure in which a resin or the like is directly applied to the organic EL device, or a structure in which a gas or liquid is filled in the encapsulation space is available. A filled structure type organic EL device encapsulation method will be described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, an anode 12 and a cathode 14a each formed of an indium-tin oxide (ITO) film, an organic EL device 13, and a cathode 14b formed of a metal film are sequentially formed on a glass substrate 11 to form an organic EL device. An encapsulation cap 15 made of glass is placed on the substrate 11 and adhered with an adhesive 18 to encapsulate the organic EL device.
The encapsulation cap 15 has such a shape that it can maintain a hollow portion 16 to be filled with an inert gas. Because of the poor heat resistance of the organic EL device, the substrate 11 and cap 15 are bonded to each other by using room-temperature curing or the UV curing adhesive 18.
In the conventional encapsulation method described above, an interface is present between the substrate 11 and adhesive 18 and between the cap 15 and adhesive 18. Accordingly, external oxygen or water enters from the outside at the interface to cause degradation of the organic EL device, thus shortening the service life of the organic EL device.

Device package with a thermoplastic encapsulation cap and device encapsulation method


A method tests the configuration of an aggregated DERs system using distributed asset managers in a decentralized hardware-in-the-loop (“HIL”) scheme. The managers contain the model of the asset they are meant to control. The method programs an asset manager with a model of a DERs asset. A plurality of asset managers are connected to a central controller. The plurality of asset managers are also connected to a simplified hardware-in-the-loop platform. The simplified HIL platform is configured to solve a network model, a load model, a non-controllable asset model, and a grid model. The method tests the DERs system control structure by using: (a) the simplified HIL platform to solve the network model, the load model, the non-controllable asset model, and the grid model, and (b) the asset manager to solve the model of the DERs asset, without any simulation between the central controller and the distributed asset managers.

The electricity grid connects homes, businesses, and other buildings to central power sources. This interconnectedness requires centralized control and planning, where grid vulnerabilities can cascade quickly across the network. To mitigate these risks, aggregated distributed energy resources ("DERs") systems ("DERs Systems"), such as microgrids are becoming a popular solution. Microgrids include controlled clusters of electricity generation and storage equipment, as well as loads that provide a coordinated response to a utility need and can also operate disconnected from the main grid. This increases the power system efficiency and reliability.
The US Department of Energy provides a formal definition of a microgrid as a group of interconnected assets, including loads and distributed energy resources, with clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. A microgrid often has distributed generators (e.g., diesel generators, gas turbines, etc.), batteries, as well as renewable resources like solar panels or wind turbines.


In order to perform operations securely, a high potential power supply is connected to a gate electrode of a P-type TFT to which data signals are input. Similarly, a low potential power supply is connected to a gate electrode of an N-type TFT. Thus, a TFT to which data signals are input can be turned OFF during a non-operating period. Switch TFT's are provided between the high potential power supply and the P-type TFT and between the low potential power supply and the N-type TFT so as to turn the TFT OFF as required. Similarly, Switch TFT's are provided between a data signal input terminal and a P-type TFT and between a data signal input terminal and an N-type TFT such that a data signal can be input thereto as required. The switching is controlled by using a latch signal and an inverse latch signal. Therefore, a latch circuit without a level shifter can be produced which can operate with stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus for inputting digital video signals and for displaying pictures. The display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display apparatus using liquid crystal elements as pixels and a display apparatus using light-emitting elements such as electroluminescence (EL) elements.
The present invention also relates to an electric circuit and, in particular, to a latch circuit for holding data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an active matrix type display apparatus is used in many products and is widely spread. The active matrix type display apparatus includes a display apparatus including a semiconductor thin film on an insulator such as a glass substrate and, especially, a liquid crystal display (LCD) using thin film transistors (called TFT, hereinafter). The active matrix type display device has several hundred thousands to several millions of pixels provided on matrix. The brightness of pixels is controlled by TFT's provided in pixels so as to display pictures.
Furthermore, recently, a technology has developed for forming pixels and peripheral circuits integrally on a same substrate by using polysilicon TFT's. This kind of technologies greatly contributes to the reduction in display apparatus size and in power consumption. Recently, the mobile information terminals expand the application field significantly. The display apparatus is required as a display portion of each of the mobile information terminals.
FIG. 2 shows a conventional example (conventional data latch) of a circuit for capturing and holding video data sequentially by using pulses from a shift register. The circuit includes a first clocked inverter 1000, an inverter 1010 and a second clocked inverter 1020. The first clocked inverter 1000 has four TFT's including P-type TFT's 1001 and 1002 and N-type TFT's 1003 and 1004. In FIG. 2, the second clocked inverter 1020 is indicated by a generally used circuit symbol. The construction of the second clocked inverter 1020 is the same as that of the first clocked inverter 1000 shown in FIG. 2. A latch signal (LAT) is input to a gate electrode of the P-type TFT 1001. A high potential power supply (VDD) is connected to a source electrode of the P-type TFT 1001. A source electrode of the P-type TFT 1002 is connected to a drain electrode of the P-type TFT 1001. A data signal (DATA) is input to a gate electrode of the P-type TFT 1002. An output terminal (OUTPUT) of the first clocked inverter 1000 is connected to the drain electrode of the P-type TFT 1002.
On the other hand, an inverse latch signal (LATB) is input to a gate electrode of the N-type TFT 1004. A low potential power supply (VSS) is connected to a source electrode of the N-type TFT 1004. One of a source electrode and drain electrode of the N-type TFT 1003 is connected to a drain electrode of the N-type TFT 1004 on the other hand. A data signal (DATA) is input to a gate electrode of the N-type TFT 1003. An output terminal (OUTPUT) of the first clocked inverter 1000 is connected to a drain electrode of the N-type TFT 1003.
An input terminal of the inverter 1010 is connected to an output terminal (OUTPUT) of the first clocked inverter 1000. An input terminal of the second clocked inverter 1020 is connected to an output terminal of the inverter 1010. An output terminal (OUTPUT) of the first clocked inverter 1000 is connected to an output terminal of the second clocked inverter 1020. A latch signal and the inverse signal (not shown) are connected to the second clocked inverter.
Details of an operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 2 will be described. A digital circuit is used herein. Therefore, input and output potentials are expressed in binary of HIGH and LOW, respectively. Signal potentials of a data signal (DATA), a latch signal (LAT) and an inverse latch signal (LATB) to be input to the circuit are usually the same as the power supply potential of the circuit (HIGH and LOW potentials of input and output potentials are VDD and VSS, respectively). However, the HIGH/LOW potentials do not have to be always the same as the power supply potential (VDD/VSS). The HIGH/LOW potentials may be the same as the power supply potential (VDD/VSS) when they are dealt in binary. For example, the HIGH potential includes a potential lower than VDD and is reduced by the N-type transistor by a threshold value. Potentials, which can return to VDD/VSS by using an amplitude compensating circuit or the like, can be the same HIGH/LOW potential.
An operation will be described where a latch signal (LAT) is LOW while an inverse latch signal (LATB) is HIGH. Here, the P-type TFT 1001 and the N-type TFT 1004 are turned ON. Therefore, VDD is output from the drain electrode of the P-type TFT 1001. VSS is output from the drain electrode of the N-type TFT 1004.
A Data signal (DATA) is input to the gate electrodes of the P-type TFT 1002 and the N-type TFT 1003. Here, when an input potential of the data signal (DATA) is HIGH, the N-type TFT 1003 of the P-type TFT 1002 and the N-type TFT 1003 is turned ON. Therefore, VSS is output to the output terminal (OUTPUT).
On the other hand, when an input potential of the data signal (DATA) is LOW, the P-type TFT 1002 of the P-type TFT 1002 and the N-type TFT 1003 is turned ON. Therefore, VDD is output to the output terminal (OUTPUT).
Here, when a latch signal (LAT) is LOW and an inverse latch signal (LATB) is HIGH, the second clocked inverter 1020 is in a high-impedance state. Therefore, the output of the second clocked inverter 1020 does not conflict with the output of the first clocked inverter 1000.
Next, an operation will be described when a latch signal (LAT) is HIGH and an inverse latch signal (LATB) is LOW. Here, the P-type TFT 1001 and the N-type TFT 1004 are turned OFF. Then, the first clocked inverter 1000 enters into the high-impedance state. The second clocked inverter 1020 functions as an inverter and establishes a loop together with the inverter 1010. Thus, a video signal is captured and is held when a latch signal (LAT) is LOW.
A power supply potential of a TFT circuit needs to be generally about 10 V. On the other hand, a controller IC for generating a data signal outside of the panel operates at a power supply potential lower than that of the TFT circuit. Therefore, the controller IC generally generates signals at a voltage of 3.3 V. When a signal is generated at the low voltage and is input to the TFT circuit as shown in FIG. 2, a level-shift circuit outside or inside of the panel raises the voltage to about 10 V. Then, the signal at 10 V is input to the circuit in FIG. 2. When the voltage is level-shifted outside of the panel, the number of parts of the level-shift IC, the power supply IC and the like are increased. Furthermore, the power consumption is increased. When the voltage is level-shifted inside of the panel, the size of the layout area, power consumption and difficulty in high frequency operation are increased disadvantageously.
The signal at 3.3 V may be directly input to the circuit in FIG. 2 without being level-shifted. However, problems may occur as described below.
For example, the circuit in FIG. 2 may operate at VSS of 0V, VDD of 9V, and LOW and HIGH potentials of data signals (DATA) of 3V and 6V, respectively. Also, HIGH and LOW potentials of the latch signal (LAT) and the inverse latch signal (LATB) are 9V and 0V, respectively. In this case, the HIGH potential is the same as the power supply potential. The threshold values of all of the N-type TFT's are 2V. The threshold values of the P-type TFT's are −2V.
Here, when the latch signal (LAT) is the LOW potential and the inverse latch signal (LATB) is the HIGH potential, the P-type TFT 1001 and the N-type TFT 1004 are completely turned ON. The potential of one of the source electrode and the drain electrode of the P-type TFT 1001 is 9V. The potential of one of the source electrode and drain electrode of the N-type TFT 1004 is 0V. Here, when a data signal (DATA) at the HIGH potential (6V) is input, the N-type TFT 1003 is turned ON. Because the input voltage is low, the P-type TFT 1002 does not enter into the OFF region operation and is therefore turned ON. However, differences between the gate-source voltages of the P-type TFT 1002 and the N-type TFT 1003 and the threshold value are −1V and 4V, respectively. Generally, a current ability of the P-type TFT and a current ability of the N-type TFT are calculated from the mobility and the size of the TFT's. Therefore, the current abilities of the P-type TFT and N-type TFT are designed substantially equal. In this case, the N-type TFT 1003 has a larger absolute value of the difference between the gate-source voltage and the threshold value. Therefore, the N-type TFT 1003 has lower effective resistance than that of the P-type TFT 1002. As a result, a value near 0V is expected from the output terminal (OUTPUT). In this case, a proper operation may be performed logically. However, the P-type TFT 1002 is expected to turn OFF but is turned ON. Therefore, flow-through current flows between the power supplies VDD to VSS. As a result, the current consumption is increased disadvantageously.
The proper operation may not be performed disadvantageously in a following case. For example, a threshold value of the N-type TFT is 5 V and a threshold value of the P-type TFT is −1 V. The latch signal (LAT) is at LOW potential while the inverse latch signal (LATB) is at HIGH potential. In this case, as described above, the P-type TFT 1001 and the N-type TFT 1004 are completely turned ON. The potential of the output electrode of the P-type TFT 1001 is 9V. The potential of the output electrode of the N-type TFT 1004 is 0V. When a data signal (DATA) at the HIGH potential (6V) is input, the difference between the gate-source voltage of the P-type TFT 1002 and the threshold value is −2V. The difference between the gate-source voltage of the N-type TFT 1003 and the threshold value is 1V. When βP=βN, the P-type TFT 1002 has a large absolute value for the difference between the gate-source voltage and the threshold value. Therefore, the P-type TFT 1002 has effectively lower resistance than that of the N-type TFT 1003. As a result, VDD is output from the output for the HIGH data input. Therefore, the proper operation may not be performed.
The threshold values of TFT's may vary in accordance with the process of producing the TFT's. Therefore, when a signal at a lower voltage than the power supply potential is directly input to the circuit in FIG. 2, the threshold values of the opposing P-type TFT 1002 and N-type TFT 1003 may be largely different from a predetermined value. In this case, the operation may not be performed properly.

Electric circuit, latch circuit, display apparatus and electronic equipment

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A flap valve arrangement for one-way control of the flow of fluid in between an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber, and particularly an inlet valve in a piston-type positive-displacement pump, having wall parts which define between them a fluid-flow passage which connects both of the chambers, and a valve flap which is mounted on a first wall part and which is movable across the passage under the influence of fluid forces acting on the flap, into and out of engagement with the second wall part to close and open the passage respectively. The second wall part is provided with openings which form part of the fluid passage and which are open on one side of the wall part directed towards the upstream chamber and on a side of the wall part directed towards the downstream chamber. A plurality of valve flaps supporting elements are disposed between the openings on the side of the second wall part which is directed toward the downstream chamber.

The present intention relates to a nonreturn flap valve arrangement, and particularly to a flap valve arrangement which can be used as an inlet valve in a piston-type positive-displacement pump.
European Patent Application No. 89850427.9 discloses piston-type positive-displacement pumps some embodiments of which include a flap valve which functions as a one-way or nonreturn valve between an inlet and a pump chamber which is alternately contracted and pressurised, by means of the displacement element of the pump (the pump piston), for discharging the fluid in the pump chamber through the pump outlet, and relieved from pressure for the purpose of refilling of the pump chamber with fluid through the inlet.
One edge or one end of the valve flap is mounted on one side of a flow passage which opens into the pump chamber, and the other end or opposite edge which is directed towards the pump chamber is movable across the passage into sealing engagement with the other side of the passage under the influence of the fluid forces acting on the flap.
The flap may be devoid of any intrinsic bias, i.e. may be constructed and arranged so as to have no pronounced tendency to adopt any specific position when no fluid-generated forces act thereon, although the flap may, alternatively, be prestressed to a given, relatively slight degree, such that it will tend to take a given, distinct position in the absence of fluid forces thereon and such that the flap will only move from this given position when acted upon by a force that overcomes the bias inherent in the flap.
During the pump-chamber filling phase, the flap is held in a valve-open position by the fluid flowing into the chamber. When the pressure on the outlet side of the valve, or the pump-chamber side, has essentially equalized in relation to the pressure on the inlet side, the flow of fluid into the chamber will cease, and upon commencement of the discharge phase, the pressure on the pump-chamber side will exceed the pressure on the inlet side. The fluid in the pump chamber will then tend to flow back into the flow passage and cause the flap to take a valve-closing position.
Depending on how the flap is constructed and arranged, a larger or a smaller volume of fluid is able to flow back into the flow passage before the flap has closed the passage completely. This backward flow of fluid is disadvantageous and should be limited to the greatest possible extent. At the same time, the flap should be able to open the flow passage quickly at the commencement of the filling phase, so as to expose a large cross-section area for the flow of the fluid into the pump chamber and so that the pump chamber can be filled rapidly with the minimum drop in pressure across the flow passage. The passage should also be as short as possible, for similar reasons, i.e. should have the smallest possible extent in the flow direction. Furthermore, the mass that needs to be accelerated during the filling phase should be as small as possible. This also applies to the mass which needs to be retarded when the inlet valve is closed.
The desirable large cross-section area of the flow passage can be provided by placing the walls defining the flow passage widely apart so that the passage will have the form of a wide gap. A wide gap requires a long flap, however, and also has to be rather long itself, because the flap has to be long enough to bridge the entire gap without having to move through a wide angle to open and close the passage.
A long flap is disadvantageous because in the closed or bridging position thereof a substantial portion of the flap is unsupported by the walls of the passage. During the phase of the pump operating cycle in which the fluid trapped in the pump chamber is discharged, the flap is subjected to high pressure from the fluid in the pump chamber, and when the flap is made of plastic film or plastic foil as is desirable in many cases, the flap will tend to bulge outwardly towards the inlet.
This outward bulging of the flap can be counteracted by reinforcing the flap in some appropriate fashion, although such reinforcement will complicate manufacture and may, to some extent, create undesirable resistance to the opening movement of the flap.


An electroporation and/or fusion treatment of microscopic objects occurs in a medium between at least two electrodes, with the electrodes being miniaturized electrodes in a microsystem with a channel structure which is set up for the flow-through of the medium with the objects.

The invention concerns a device for the manipulation and treatment of biological objects by means of electrical pulses, particularly for the permeation (poration) and/or fusion of cells or of synthetic formations enclosed in a membrane, such as liposomes or vesicles, or for the permeation of membrane or film materials in miniaturized electrode structures, and manipulation or treatment processes using a device of this type.
For specific biotechnology, medical, or genetic technology tasks, the temporary and reversible increase of the permeability of the envelope of living cells suspended in the fluid is of interest (overview in xe2x80x9cElectromanipulation of Cellsxe2x80x9d, U. Zimmerman, G. A. Neil, CRC, 1996). Besides chemical, virus-based, and laser-induced permeation methods, due to the simplicity and precision of the application, permeation by means of short electrical pulses (electroporation or electropermeation) has developed, with pulsed direct current signals (cf. U. Zimmerman et al. in xe2x80x9cBBAxe2x80x9d, vol. 641, 1982, p. 160 et seq) or choppered HF fields (cf. PCT/US88/03457) being used. In the generally known electroporation devices commercially available until now, the electroporations and/or fusions are performed in chambers with electrodes whose dimensions are significantly larger than the dimensions of the objects treated, with the following disadvantages thereby arising.
Until now, cells could not be permeated in culture media, because these have a high conductivity and, due to the low dielectric constants and conductivity of biological cells, the electrical fields would be formed outside the cells. In addition, the culture media would lead to a high thermal stress of the cells to be treated through resistance heating because of the current flow through the culture medium. The field of application of the typical electroporation devices is furthermore restricted to robust and resistant cells. In addition, optimization of the fusion parameters such as the field strength and pulse frequency is only possible in a restricted way. This results from the size dependence of the maximum induced transmembrane potential VMmax of a cell in an external electrical field E (radius R) according to VMmax=1.5*R*E and the practical size variation of biological objects. This is particularly problematic if different cell types are to be permeated and/or fused simultaneously, or only a few starting cells are available. Finally, the typical electroporation devices do not allow reliable individual cell manipulation or permeation.
Furthermore, it is generally known that biological objects can be manipulated with high frequency electrical fields on the basis of negative or positive dielectrophoresis. This is especially implemented in Microsystems, as it is, for example, described by G. Fuhr et al. in xe2x80x9cNaturwissenschaftenxe2x80x9d, vol. 81, 1994, p. 528 et seq. Thus, at a typical solvent conductivity of approximately 0.3 S/m, biological cells, under the effect of high frequency electrical fields over a large frequency range from approximately 1 MHz to over 120 MHz, show negative dielectrophoresis, i.e. the cells are moved with the electrodes having high frequency fields applied to them to regions of lower field strength. In culture media with conductivities over 1 S/m, animal cells show negative dielectrophoresis over all frequencies.
A device for cell fusion is known from JP 60-251876, in which the biological cells are positioned between planar electrodes under the effect of electrophoretic forces and fused by means of high-voltage treatment. The electrodes are on the channel walls of a microsystem. For fusing, the cells are affixed to the electrode surfaces. The microsystem has small enough dimensions that the cells positioned on opposing electrodes are in mutual contact. This fusion technology has several disadvantages. The positioning of the cells on the electrodes and their removal without leaving residue after fusing are difficult and time-consuming. A specific channel structure can always only be used for a specific cell size. The fusing is not reproducible, because multiple cells may collect between the electrodes.
A flow-through system for cell fusion and for nucleic acid transfer is known from JP 63-152971, in which electrode plates are affixed to two walls of a flow-through chamber. The electrode plates can, depending on the application, have direct current and alternating current voltages applied to them in order to subject cells which are washed through the flow-through chamber to an electrical treatment. The flow-through chamber of this system is manually detachable. It has a size which is significantly larger than the cells to be treated and therefore the same disadvantages as the typical electroporation devices mentioned above with closed chambers (without flow-through). A further disadvantage results in the flow-through system due to the unreproducible, undefined position of the objects to be treated. Correspondingly, no reproducible fusion results can be achieved either.
It is the object of the invention to provide an improved device for manipulation or treatment (particularly through permeation) of microscopic objects, whose field of application in regard to the selection of the ambient or culture media, the optimization of the poration parameter, and/or the handling of the smallest amounts of objects (down to individual objects) is expanded. The invention is particularly to allow performance of reproducible manipulation and/or treatment, e.g. corresponding to a defined protocol and possibly ensuring free observability. The object of the invention is also to provide an improved electroporation process using this type of device.
These objects are achieved by a device, an electroporation device, and/or a process with the features corresponding to patent claims 1, 8, 9 or 13, respectively. Advantageous embodiments of the invention arise from the dependent claims.
The basic idea of the invention consists of leaving the typical macroscopic electroporation arrangements toward microsystems, in which the object treatment is performed as the treatment of free suspended particles in ambient or culture media between miniaturized electrodes. According to a first important aspect of the invention, the electrodes are provided in a microsystem with a channel structure. In contrast to typical electroporation in closed cuvettes, the channel structure is set up as a flow-through system. The objects to be treated are thus guided by the streaming or flowing medium to the electrodes and permeated during flow-through or during a temporary fixed dielectrophoretic positioning of the objects in relation to the electrodes. During the electrical treatment of the objects, they are at a distance from the electrodes in the free suspension. The treatment occurs without contact with the electrodes and/or walls of the microsystem. According to a second important aspect of the invention, the objects are permeated at a sufficiently small distance from the electrodes that, even in highly conductive media, permeation can occur. Electrodes for exercising polarization forces on the basis of negative dielectrophoresis and electrodes for electric poration are provided in the microsystem.
According to a third important aspect of the invention, electrodes are provided which fulfill a double function. A device according to the invention has, e.g., an electrode system which is set up simultaneously to hold the objects in the medium or to guide the objects in a flowing medium and to apply electrical fields to the objects to realize electroporation. In contrast to typical electroporation devices, the electrodes according to the invention form a cage, closed in at least two spatial directions perpendicular to one another, in which the objects are manipulated and subjected to electroporation. The electrodes are set up to generate an inhomogenous electric field in the channel which has a minimum extending lengthwise in the flow direction. The objects to be treated are held in the field minimum with the electrodes, positioned continuously or with interruptions in the channel direction, which simultaneously are focusing and poration electrodes.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrode system is set up in such a way that the poration of the objects occurs according to predetermined poration patterns. For this purpose, the electrodes (pulse electrodes) have field-forming devices such as electrode tips, which are positioned corresponding to the desired poration patterns, or shielding or covering elements, which allow exposure of the electrodes in regard to the medium with the desired poration patterns corresponding to the object(s).
A device according to the invention is preferably designed as a microsystem with channel structures which are equipped in at least one region with an electrode system according to the invention (electroporation region). These types of electroporation regions are advantageously combined in the microsystem with other regions for the treatment or manipulation of the objects, e.g. for collection or separation of specific object types (manipulation region). Microsystems according to the invention are preferably operated as flow-through systems.
The invention has the following advantages. Devices according to the invention allow object permeations in physiological solutions. The applicability of electroporation is thus expanded to media with higher conductivity (e.g. in the range from 0.01 to 10 S/m). For the first time, a reliable, contact-free, and protecting permeation of individual objects or groups of objects in a free solution is made possible. The miniaturizability of the system allows an increase of the electrode durability and a reduction of the electroporation pulse amplitudes (down to the volt to 100 V range), with the required high field strengths nonetheless being attainable. Treating the objects to be treated simultaneously at several positions according to predetermined defined poration patterns is made possible for the first time. A combination of the electroporation techniques, restricted to macroscopic applications until now, with procedural methods of microsystem technology is made possible. The object treatment according to the invention is performed without contact. Restrictions in regard to the adjustment of the microsystem to a specific object size are excluded. In addition, the object treatment is performed without residue. Contaminants on the electrodes are prevented.
Further advantages exist in the increased efficiency and yield of electroporation, the reduced heat production due to minimization of the electrode surface, the possibility of permeating objects of varying size, and the time-effective permeation of objects in flow-through systems at low voltages.
The invention is not restricted to biological cells, but can be appropriately implemented with all interesting synthetic formations with a membrane envelope, such as liposomes or vesicles, or with membrane or film materials.

Microsystem for cell permeation and cell fusion


The closure device (121) includes interlocking fastening strips (130, 131) and a slider (132) slidably disposed on the fastening strips for facilitating the occlusion and deocclusion of the fastening strips (130, 131) when moved towards first and second ends thereof. A slider (132) is provided for facilitating the attachment of the slider (132) onto the fastening strips (130, 131) in the horizontal X axis (102). The slider (132) provides resistance against the removal of the slider (132) from the fastening strips (130, 131) in the horizontal X axis (102) and the vertical Z axis (106).

The use of closure devices for fastening storage containers, including plastic bags, is generally well known. Furthermore, the manufacture of closure devices made of plastic materials is generally known to those skilled in the art, as demonstrated by the numerous patents in this area.
A particularly well-known use for closure devices is in connection with flexible storage containers, such as plastic bags. In some instances, the closure device and the associated container are formed from thermoplastic materials, and the closure device and the side walls of the container are integrally formed by extrusion as a single piece. Alternatively, the closure device and side walls of the container may be formed as separate pieces and then connected by heat sealing or any other suitable connecting process. In either event, such closure devices are particularly useful in providing a closure means for retaining matter within the bag.
Conventional closure devices typically utilize mating fastening strips or closure elements which are used to selectively seal the bag. With such closure devices, however, it is often difficult to determine whether the fastening strips are fully occluded. This problem is particularly acute when the strips are relatively narrow. Accordingly, when such fastening strips are employed, there exists a reasonable likelihood that the closure device is at least partially open.
Such fastening strips are also particularly difficult to handle by individuals with limited manual dexterity. Thus, in order to assist these individuals and for ease of use by individuals with normal dexterity, the prior art has also provided sliders for use in opening and closing the fastening strips, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,199,845, 5,007,142, 5,007,143, 5,010,627, 5,020,194, 5,070,583, 5,283,932, 5,301,394, 5,426,830, 5,431,760, 5,442,838, and 5,448,808.
During assembly of closure devices utilizing sliders, the sliders are often mounted onto fastening strips by moving the slider over the fastening strips in the vertical Z axis. Specifically, if the longitudinal axis of the fastening strips and slider is the X axis, the width is the transverse Y axis and the height is the vertical Z axis, the slider is attached to the fastening strips by moving the slider over the fastening strips in the vertical Z axis. In the past, sliders attached in the vertical Z axis have utilized folding design with the hinge along the X axis such as the sliders in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,010,627, 5,067,208, 5,070,583, and 5,448,808.
Other sliders have used multiple parts which are assembled together such as the sliders in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,007,142, 5,283,932 and 5,426,830.
Another method of installing a slider is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,760.
It would be desirable to have a continuous process for attaching a slider to the end of the fastening strips in the horizontal X axis. Such a device would reduce the manufacturing costs of closure devices utilizing sliders in addition to providing an effective and reliable means of attaching sliders to the fastening strips.

Apparatus and process for assembling a slider


A safety device for gas-fired equipment having a main gas supply control valve and a plurality of gas-taps each associated with a flame-producing burner. The device includes a plurality of switches each associated with a gas-tap and actuatable by the operation of the gas-tap, a plurality of heat responsive sensors each having a switching circuit operationally connected in circuit with a secondary control circuit and a timer, and a central control unit connected in circuit for receiving control signals from the output of each of the secondary control circuits, thereby controlling the state of the main gas supply valve. Upon the detection by a heat responsive sensor of the extinction of a fire from a burner when a gas-tap associated therewith is open, after a predetermined time period, the secondary control circuit connected to the sensor emits a signal to the central control unit for effecting the closing of the main gas supply valve.

The present invention relates to a safety device for gas-fired equipment such as kitchen ranges, baking ovens, heating stoves, gas-powered engines, and the like.
The great, and deserved, popularity of gas as a domestic, as well as industrial, fuel tends to make people forget its dangerous nature which lies less in its toxicity, but in its explosiveness. In fact, the destructive effect of exploding stoichiometric or near-stoichiometric gas/air mixtures rivals that of high explosives. Although such mixtures may be produced by slow leaks from cracked pipes and faulty joints, they are most frequently the result of burner flames being accidentally extinguished by gusts of wind or, more often, by boiling-over kettles and pots, permitting relatively large quantities of gas to escape within a relatively short period of time. Existing safety devices are based on mechanical action produced in or near the combustion zone by heat-sensitive elements, and used with the aid of mechanical linkage members, to control valves. These members are exposed to the corrosive fretting effects of heat and combustion gases on the one hand, and to the interference of sticky, resinous cooking or baking residues, on the other, and become progressively unreliable. Furthermore, none of these devices will give protection against rupture of the supply line at any point between meter (or bottle) and burner.


A control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine are provided for ensuring a stable combustion state and improving the fuel efficiency when an air-fuel mixture is burnt with self ignition while auxiliarily using a spark ignition. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is operated in a plurality of modes including a torch self ignition combustion mode comprises an ECU. In the torch self ignition combustion mode, the ECU controls an internal EGR amount, calculates an actual exhaust closing angle, calculates a target exhaust closing angle, calculates a closing angle deviation, calculates a fuel injection amount for forming a homogeneous air-fuel mixture, calculates a correction coefficient in accordance with the closing angle deviation, and corrects a basic value by the correction coefficient to calculate a fuel injection amount for forming a stratified air-fuel mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine for burning an air-fuel mixture with self ignition while auxiliarily using a spark ignition.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, as this type of control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, one described, for example, in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-16407 is known. This internal combustion engine is of a type which can be operated by switching between a self ignition combustion mode for burning an air-fuel mixture with compression self ignition while auxiliarily using a spark ignition and a normal combustion mode for burning an air-fuel mixture with flame propagation using a spark ignition. This internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas recirculation mechanism, a valve timing varying mechanism, and a valve operation characteristic switching mechanism. This exhaust gas recirculating mechanism recirculates exhaust gases in an exhaust passage to an intake passage as a relatively low-temperature recirculated gas, and comprises an EGR passage, an EGR control valve for controlling a recirculated gas amount, an EGR cooler for cooling down the recirculated gas, and the like.
Also, in the internal combustion engine, a valve timing of an exhaust gas valve is retarded or advanced in response to a change in the phase of an exhaust gas cam shaft with respect to a crank shaft by the valve timing varying mechanism, and operation characteristics of the exhaust gas valve is switched between operation characteristics for the self ignition combustion mode and operation characteristics for the normal mode by the valve operation characteristic switching mechanism. In this way, as the operation characteristics of the exhaust gas valve is switched to the operation characteristics for the self ignition combustion mode, the exhaust gas valve is once opened and closed in an exhaust stroke, and subsequently is again opened and closed in an intake stroke. In this way, exhaust gases discharged to the exhaust passage flow back into a combustion chamber, and remains within the combustion chamber as previously burnt gases until the next combustion cycle. The previously burnt gases remaining in this manner are at higher temperatures than recirculated gases by the exhaust gas recirculating mechanism.
On the other hand, the control apparatus comprises a water temperature sensor for detecting an engine water temperature which is the temperature of cooling water of the internal combustion engine, a throttle valve opening sensor for detecting the opening of a throttle valve, an engine rotational speed sensor for detecting the engine rotational speed, and the like. This control apparatus determines whether or not the internal combustion engine is in a warm operation based on the engine water temperature, and determines operation ranges of the internal combustion engine (i.e., a load range and a rotation range) based on the opening of the throttle valve and the engine rotational speed when the internal combustion engine is in the warm operation. Then, when the operation range of the internal combustion engine is in a hot EGR range (low load and low rotational speed range) or a cold EGR range (middle load and middle rotational speed), the self ignition combustion mode is executed as a combustion mode of the internal combustion engine, and the normal combustion mode is executed when the operation range is in another range.
In this self ignition combustion mode, when the operation range of the internal combustion engine is in the hot EGR range, the valve timing varying mechanism and the valve operation characteristic switching mechanism are driven to control the amount of remaining previously burnt gases, thereby controlling the temperature of gases within a cylinder. On the other hand, when the operation range of the internal combustion engine is in the cold EGR range, the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism is driven to control the amount of recirculated gases, thereby controlling the temperature of gases within the cylinder.
According to the conventional control apparatus for an internal combustion engine described above, when the operation range of the internal combustion engine is in the hot EGR range, the valve timing varying mechanism and the valve operation characteristic switching mechanism are driven to control the amount of remaining previously burnt gases i.e., the temperature of gases within the cylinder, but the valve timing varying mechanism and the valve operation characteristic switching mechanism have response relays and lag times due to their structural characteristics, and therefore fail to appropriately control the temperature of gases within the cylinder, possibly resulting in an unstable combustion state and a lower fuel efficiency. Further, when the operation range of the internal combustion engine is in the cold EGR range, the temperature of gases in the cylinder is controlled by way of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism, but the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism has a relatively large response delay and lag time due to its structural characteristics, and therefore suffers from a large degree to which the combustion state becomes unstable and a large degree to which the fuel efficiency is exacerbated due to a relatively large degree of reducing the control accuracy of the temperature of gases within the cylinder, and in the worst case, can experience flame off, although an auxiliary spark ignition is performed.

Control apparatus and method for internal combustion engine


An electron beam exposure apparatus includes an electron beam source, a stage, and an error detection device. The electron beam source radiates a first electron beam corresponding to first input data and a second electron beam corresponding to second input data. The stage includes a mask on which the first electron beam is radiated. The stage may be configured to move the mask. The error detection device detects an error of the second electron beam and outputs error detection information.

1. Field
One or more embodiments herein relate to beam scanning for errors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits usually includes a process of exposing a circuit pattern on a mask using an electron beam exposure apparatus. During exposure, various errors (e.g., position or size errors) may occur with respect to the electron beam. These errors may be caused by stage shift or mask sliding. Attempts have been made to address these errors. According to one technique, the circuit pattern is exposed to a blank mask, a process is performed, and then measurement is taken in an attempt to detect an error of the electron beam. This technique is costly and time consuming.

Electron beam exposure apparatus and method of detecting error using the same


A circuit configuration for low-power reference voltage generation, is described. The circuit has a programmable voltage source which generates an output voltage which is compared with a reference voltage at predetermined times. Depending on the comparison, at least one signal, which is supplied to a control device, is derived by a calibration device. The control device programs the voltage source in such a manner that the output voltage corresponds to the reference voltage as closely as possible.

The invention relates to a circuit configuration for low-power reference voltage generation.
A multiplicity of circuits for reference voltage generation are known, all of which, however, have a high intrinsic power consumption which reduces the operating period of, particularly, battery-operated applications and devices. In monolithic circuits, band gap references are frequently used which generate a constant reference voltage from a fluctuating voltage supply. However, band gap references themselves need a supply current of over 10 xcexcA. Voltage regulators, too, usually have a band gap reference in order to generate a regulated supply voltage from a fluctuating voltage.
A circuit configuration for voltage generation is known from Published, Non-Prosecuted German Patent Application DE 31 05 198 A1. The circuit configuration described there contains a programmable voltage source which has an operational amplifier connected as an amplifier with a programmable voltage divider connected in its feedback path. The programmable voltage divider is used for setting the gain factor of the amplifier. At the output of the amplifier, an output voltage can be picked up. The circuit configuration also contains a calibration device which contains a potentiometer, a rectifier, a window discriminator and a comparator. At the input of the potentiometer, an alternating voltage is superimposed on an input voltage. The voltage present at the output of the potentiometer is rectified by the rectifier and supplied both to the window discriminator and to the comparator. The window discriminator and the comparator determine by comparisons with predetermined reference voltages whether the output tap of the potentiometer is located in the vicinity of one end of the potentiometer and towards which end it is moving. At the output end, the window discriminator and the comparator generate signals by which they feed a control device in the form of a counter. Depending on the signals fed in, the control device sets the gain factor of the programmable voltage source via a multiplexer.
A further circuit configuration for voltage generation is known from the Published, Non-Prosecuted French Patent Application FR 2 749 457 A3. This circuit configuration is used for converting a digital signal into an analog output voltage. The digital signal is input into decoders, one of which converts the more significant bits and the other one of which converts the less significant bits into analog signals. The analog signals are used for programming a voltage source. The programmable voltage source contains an operational amplifier, at the output of which the output voltage can be picked up. The non-inverting input of the operational amplifier is fed with a voltage that is generated by a voltage divider that contains a plurality of resistors and a plurality of controllable switches. The switches are controlled by the more significant bits of the digital signal. The inverting input of the operational amplifier is connected to the output of the operational amplifier via a feedback branch. A resistor is connected into the feedback branch. In addition, a current is fed into the feedback branch that is generated by a plurality of other controllable switches, transistors and other resistors. The further switches are controlled by the less significant bits of the digital signal. The magnitude of the output voltage is essentially determined by the current feeding the feedback branch and the voltage present at the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. Furthermore, the output voltage feeds a circuit that supplies the output voltage as input quantity to a function. At the output end, the circuit generates a voltage that is applied to control terminals of the other resistors.
Overall, the circuit configuration described above shows that the more significant bits are used for coarse setting of the output voltage and the less significant bits are used for fine setting the output voltage.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a circuit configuration for low-power reference voltage generation which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, which only needs a low supply current.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a circuit configuration for low-power reference voltage generation. The circuit configuration containing a programmable voltage source for generating an output voltage, a calibration device for deriving at least one signal in dependence on a comparison of the output voltage with a reference voltage at predetermined times, and a control device connected to and receiving the signal from the calibration device. The control device is connected to and programs the programmable voltage source so that the output voltage substantially corresponds to the reference voltage.
The invention relates to a circuit configuration for low-power reference voltage generation, in which a programmable voltage source generates an output voltage. The output voltage is compared with a reference voltage at predetermined times. Depending on the comparison, at least one signal, which is supplied to a control device, is derived by a calibration device. The control device programs the voltage source in such a manner that the output voltage corresponds to the reference voltage as closely as possible.
In this configuration, the actual regulated output voltage is generated by the programmable voltage source. A reference voltage source with a high current demand is only needed at the predetermined times when the output voltage is compared with the reference voltage. The programmable voltage source is used for simulating a reference voltage source, as it were, with the advantage that the programmable voltage source can be configured as a very low-power device. An advantage of the method thus relates to the fact that the reference voltage is only needed at certain times and, as a result, it is not necessary to operate a reference voltage source continuously. For example, a band gap reference providing the reference voltage is only switched on at predetermined times and switched off again in-between times. The method considerably lowers the current demand particularly if the programmable voltage source is recalibrated again only at relatively large time intervals.
The programmable voltage source is preferably configured as a programmable voltage divider that is fed by a voltage source. The current consumption of the programmable voltage source can be distinctly lowered particularly by high resistance values of the voltage divider. A further advantage lies in the simple structure of the voltage divider and of the voltage source feeding the voltage divider. If high resistance values are used for the voltage divider, it is not only the current consumption that is lowered but the feeding voltage source is also loaded to a lesser extent.
The voltage divider preferably has a multiplicity of series-connected resistors and individual resistors of the voltage divider can be bridged in each case by a switch. This embodiment can be advantageously constructed in a very simple circuit. As an alternative, the voltage divider can also be constructed as a parallel connection of resistors. In an integrated circuit in the currently available semiconductor and integration technologies, however, this embodiment requires a larger area.
The values of the resistors are preferably graduated in such a manner that the values of in each case series-connected resistors differ by a factor of two and each resistance value is a multiple of a predetermined resistance value. This makes it possible to achieve a finely graduated characteristic of the voltages programmable by the voltage divider. In addition, the ratios between resistors can be achieved more accurately than absolute values, especially in integrated circuit technology.
The control device programs the voltage divider preferably by closing or opening individual switches. The switches are preferably constructed as MOSFET transistors of the enrichment type. This embodiment facilitates an integration of the method with other circuits, particularly in a monolithic CMOS circuit. MOSFET transistors have been found to be successful as switches in digital technology due to their good switching characteristics and their low load path resistance and are thus also suitable for the almost resistanceless bridging of individual resistors of the voltage divider. It is especially MOSFET transistors of the enrichment type which are suitable as switches since these transistors only begin to conduct from a certain control voltage and thus reliably cut off with a control voltage of 0 V and slightly above.
The control device preferably digitally stores the programming of the voltage divider. Digital storage of the programmed setting of the voltage divider can be achieved, on the one hand, by very simply achieved, particularly in integrated circuit technology and, on the other hand, is more reliable than, for example, analog storage which is afflicted with losses and with which adequate long-term stability, for example over a number of weeks, can scarcely be achieved, particularly due to leakage currents.
The control device is constructed particularly preferably as a digital counter with an upcounting and downcounting function. Digital counters are available in a multiplicity of embodiments, can be implemented by simple construction and, in particular, can be constructed as a very low-power device, particularly in CMOS technology.
The digital counter is preferably clocked by a counting clock, the counting pulses of which correspond to the predetermined times for comparing the output voltage.
The times for comparing the output voltage with the reference voltage are preferably predetermined in dependence on fluctuations or changes in the output voltage. In the case of fluctuations with little spacing in time, a calibration must be performed correspondingly more frequently than in the case of fluctuations with a large spacing in time.
The voltage divider is especially preferably followed by a regulating element that is controlled by the voltage divider in such a manner that when the output voltage of the voltage divider drops below a predetermined voltage, the regulating element decreases the current flow. The regulating element is preferably constructed as an n-channel MOSFET transistor of the enrichment type connected as a common-source circuit or, for example, in BICMOS technology as an npn bipolar transistor connected as an emitter-follower circuit. This prevents, on the one hand, the voltage divider from being loaded by too high an output current and, on the other hand, buffer capacitors from becoming discharged via resistors in the circuit, particularly when the supply voltage drops.
Finally, a positive temperature coefficient of the regulating element is preferably compensated for by diodes connected into the voltage divider.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a circuit configuration for low-power reference voltage generation, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Circuit configuration for low-power reference voltage generation


A nucleic acid detecting cassette comprises a fluid holding channel capable of varying the inner volume and holding a reagent, an inlet-outlet port connected to the fluid holding channel and capable of selecting an opened state under which the fluid injection out of the outer portion of the cassette can be achieved and a closed state under which the fluid injection can be interrupted, joining channels connected to the fluid holding channel and capable of selecting an opened state under which the fluid transfer to the other fluid holding channel can be achieved and a closed state under which the fluid transfer can be interrupted, inlet-outlet pads capable of maintaining the inlet-outlet port under a closed state, and joining pads capable of maintaining the joining channels under a closed state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid detecting cassette for detecting nucleic acid, a nucleic acid detecting device utilizing the nucleic acid detecting cassette and a nucleic acid detecting system utilizing the nucleic acid detecting device, particularly, to a nucleic acid detecting closed cassette adapted to an automatic successive processing throughout the entire procedure of detecting the target nucleic acid including the step of putting a sample containing nucleic acid into the nucleic acid detecting cassette, the amplification of nucleic acid and other required processing, and the detection of the target nucleic acid, as well as to a nucleic acid detecting deice and a nucleic acid detecting system each utilizing the particular nucleic acid detecting cassette.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a result of the advent of the technology for amplifying nucleic acid and the improvement in the technology for detecting nucleic acid, the detection of a specified DNA strand has come to be propagated. However, in the amplification of nucleic acid, it may be possible for the environment to be contaminated by the amplified nucleic acid. Also, since complex operations relating to, for example, the temperature conditions, the injection of the solution, and the mixing of the solutions are required for the detection of nucleic acid, the detection of nucleic acid by the application of these technologies is limited to that for the testing and the research.
Proposed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,297 is a throwaway type closed detection container in which a series of operations starting with the processing of a sample containing nucleic acid and ending with the detection of the target nucleic acid are automatically carried out in succession. Also disclosed is a detecting apparatus using the particular detection container. The detection container and the detecting apparatus disclosed in the U.S. patent document quoted above are intended to overcome the above-noted problems so as to make it possible to detect nucleic acid in, for example, a hospital, a clinical laboratory, and a quarantine office.
To be more specific, disclosed in the U.S. patent document quoted above is a channel structure in which a series of steps starting with the amplification and ending with the inspection of nucleic acid, which are carried out by utilizing a pouch type cuvette, can be carried out continuously. However, the pouch type cuvette is unstable in shape so as to give rise to the problem that an undesirable entry of air bubbles is unavoidable in the injecting stage of the solution.

Nucleic acid detecting cassette, nucleic and detecting apparatus utilizing nucleic acid detecting cassette, and nucleic acid detecting system utilizing nucleic acid detecting cassette