A semiconductor physical quantity sensor includes a substrate and a beam structure having movable electrodes and spacing a given distance from an upper surface of the substrate. First fixed electrodes and second fixed electrodes are fixedly provided on the upper surface of the substrate. Each first fixed electrode faces one side of the corresponding movable electrode, while each second fixed electrode faces the other side of the corresponding movable electrode. A laminated structure of a lower layer insulating film, conductive films and an upper layer insulating film is arranged at an upper portion of the substrate. The conductive layers form a first wiring pattern for the first fixed electrodes, a second wiring pattern for the second fixed electrodes and a lower electrode. The first wiring pattern is electrically connected to the first fixed electrodes via openings formed in the upper layer insulating film and anchors of the first fixed electrodes, respectively. The second wiring pattern is electrically connected to the second fixed electrodes via openings formed in the upper layer insulating film and anchors of the second fixed electrodes, respectively. The lower electrode is electrically connected to the beam structure via an opening formed in the upper layer insulating film and an anchor of the beam structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor physical quantity sensor, having a beam-structure movable portion, for measuring a physical quantity, such as acceleration, yaw rate or vibration, and a method of producing such a sensor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a physical quantity sensor, such as an acceleration sensor, employs a so-called flexure beam so as to detect movement of a mass portion coupled to the beam upon application of a physical quantity to the mass portion.
There has been a demand for reduction in size and price of physical quantity sensors, such as acceleration sensors for use in automobile suspension controls, automobile air bags or the like. U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,604 or Japanese Second (examined) Patent Publication No. 6-44008 corresponding to the former discloses a differential capacitive semiconductor acceleration sensor having a polysilicon beam structure with electrodes, which may satisfy such a demand. The sensor of this type will be explained hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 34-36. FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the sensor, FIG. 35 is a sectional view taken along line XXXV--XXXV in FIG. 34, and FIG. 36 is a sectional view taken along line XXXVI--XXXVI in FIG. 34.
Beams 132 rest above a silicon substrate 130, each extending between corresponding anchors 131 fixed on the substrate 130. A mass 133 is suspended by the beams 132, and movable electrodes 134 are projected from the mass 133. On the silicon substrate 130, a pair of fixed electrodes 135a and 135b are arranged relative to each of the movable electrodes 134. Specifically, the movable electrode 134 is interposed between the pair of fixed electrodes 135a and 135b so as to face them at opposite sides thereof. The movable electrode 134 and the corresponding fixed electrodes 135a and 135b form a pair of capacitors having capacitances C1 and C2, respectively, which serve to achieve a servo control of the movable electrode 134. The anchors 131, the beams 132, the mass 133 and the movable electrodes 134 are made of polysilicon, and the beams 132, the mass 133 and the movable electrodes 134 are disposed spacing a given distance from the surface of the silicon substrate 130. The fixed electrodes 135a and 135b are fixed on the substrate 130 at their ends through anchors 136, respectively. The foregoing members are formed on the silicon substrate 130 using a surface micro-machining technique.
An operation of the acceleration sensor thus structured for detecting acceleration will be briefly explained hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 35.
When acceleration is zero, each of the movable electrodes 134 is located at the middle point between the corresponding fixed electrodes 135a and 135b, and the capacitance C1 of the capacitor formed by the movable and fixed electrodes 134 and 135a and the capacitance C2 of the capacitor formed by the movable and fixed electrodes 134 and 135b are set equal to each other. Further, when acceleration is zero, a voltage V1 applied across the capacitor formed by the movable and fixed electrodes 134 and 135a and a voltage V2 applied across the capacitor formed by the movable and fixed electrodes 134 and 135b are also set equal to each other so that each movable electrode 134 is attracted to opposite sides, that is, toward the fixed electrodes 135a and 135b, with electrostatic forces F1 and F2 of the same magnitude, respectively. On the other hand, if acceleration is applied in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate 130 so as to displace the movable electrode 134 relative to the fixed electrodes 135a and 135b, the capacitances C1 and C2 are caused to have different values so that the electrostatic forces F1 and F2 become unequal to each other. Then, the magnitudes of V1 and V2 are so controlled as to cause the electrostatic forces F1 and F2 to have values which displace the movable electrode 134 to the middle point between the fixed electrodes 135a and 135b to render C1 and C2 equal to each other. When C1 and C2 are rendered equal to each other, the applied acceleration and the electrostatic force (that is, a differential between F1 and F2) are balanced so that the magnitude of acceleration can be derived based on the controlled magnitudes of V1 and V2.
Fabrication of the acceleration sensor shown in FIG. 34 will be explained hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 37 and 38. In FIG. 37, a sacrificial layer (silicon oxide film) 138 is deposited on a silicon substrate 137, and openings 139 are formed at given regions in the sacrificial layer 138. Then, a polysilicon film 140 is deposited on the sacrificial layer 138 including the openings 139 and patterned into a given shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 38, the sacrificial layer 138 is removed by etching to form an air gap 141 so that a beam structure of the polysilicon film 140 is achieved.
As described above, in the foregoing acceleration sensor shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,604, the beam structure is formed of polysilicon, that is, polycrystalline silicon. However, mechanical materiality values of polycrystalline silicon are unknown so that the mechanical reliability thereof is less ensured as compared with monocrystalline silicon. Further, the beam structure is subjected to camber or warp due to internal stresses or a stress distribution generated upon formation of the polycrystalline silicon film on the silicon oxide film formed on the monocrystalline silicon substrate. This causes the fabrication of the beam structure to be difficult, causes the spring constant of the sensor to be changed, or the like.
On the other hand, the mechanical reliability may be improved by using an SOI (silicon-on-insulator) substrate and monocrystalline silicon as a beam structure. The sensor of this type will be explained hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 39-41. FIG. 39 is a plan view of the sensor, FIG. 40 is a sectional view taken along line XXXX--XXXX in FIG. 39, and FIG. 41 is a sectional view taken along line XXXXI--XXXXI in FIG. 39.
In this acceleration sensor, a vibration mass 147 is coupled to stationary supporters 146 via flexible beams 145 so that the vibration mass 147 is allowed to displace. The vibration mass 147 is formed of monocrystalline silicon doped with P (phosphorus). The stationary supporters 146 are fixed on a monocrystalline silicon substrate 148 in an electrically insulated state. The vibration mass 147 is provided with movable electrodes 149 extending in parallel to each other. The members 145, 146, 147 and 149 constitute a beam structure 150. Fixed electrodes 151 and 152 are arranged facing the movable electrodes 149, respectively, so as to define capacitances between the movable electrodes 149 and the fixed electrodes 151 and between the movable electrodes 149 and the fixed electrodes 152. With this arrangement, if acceleration is applied in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate 148, such as in a direction Y in FIG. 39, the movable electrodes 149 displace relative to the fixed electrodes 151 and 152 via the flexible beams 145 so that the capacitances therebetween change.
Fabrication of the acceleration sensor shown in FIG. 39 will be explained hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 42-46. In FIG. 42, in order to form an SIMOX layer on the monocrystalline silicon substrate 148, oxygen ions (O.sup.+ or O.sub.2.sup.+) of 10.sup.16 -10.sup.18 dose/cm.sup.2 are implanted in the substrate 148 at 100 keV-1,000 keV, and the ion-implanted substrate 148 is subjected to heat treatment at 1,150.degree. C.-1,400.degree. C. Through the foregoing process, an SOI substrate having a silicon oxide layer 153 of about 400 nm in thickness and a surface silicon layer 154 of about 150 nm in thickness is formed. Then, as shown in FIG. 43, the silicon layer 154 and the silicon oxide layer 153 are partly removed through photolithography and etching. Further, as shown in FIG. 44, a monocrystalline silicon layer 155 is epitaxially deposited in thickness of 1 .mu.m-100 .mu.m (normally, 10 .mu.m-20 .mu.m). Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 45, after formation of a metal film on the monocrystalline silicon layer 155, the metal film is formed into electrodes 156 of given shapes through photolithography for connection to a measuring circuit. Further, as shown in FIG. 46, the reactive vapor phase dry etching is applied to the monocrystalline silicon layer 155 so as to form the fixed electrodes 151 and 152, the movable electrodes 149 and so on. Finally, the silicon oxide layer 153 is removed through the HF liquid phase etching so as to provide the movable beam structure 150.
However, if the servo control as performed in the acceleration sensor shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,604 is performed using the SOI substrate, it is necessary that the silicon substrate is formed with wiring using an impurity diffusion layer for crossing a first fixed electrode energization line and a second fixed electrode energization line. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 47 and 48, a silicon substrate 160 is provided with a comb-shaped movable member 157 having rod electrodes 157a extending in parallel to each other above the silicon substrate 160. On the silicon substrate 160, first fixed electrodes 158 and second fixed electrodes 159 are further arranged such that each of the first fixed electrodes 158 faces one side of the corresponding rod electrode 157a while each of the second fixed electrodes 159 faces the other side of the corresponding rod electrode 157a. Further, the second fixed electrodes 159 are connected to each other (formed into a comb-shaped electrode) on the silicon substrate 160, while the first fixed electrodes 158 are electrically connected to each other through an impurity diffusion layer 161 formed on the silicon layer 160. However, in this case, leakage current is generated at the impurity diffusion layer 161 so as to render it difficult to detect acceleration with accuracy. Particularly, the acceleration detection is liable to be influenced by the leakage current at high temperatures.
In general, the silicon oxide film is used for the insulating layer. However, in the sacrificial layer etching process for rendering the beam structure movable, it is difficult to control the etching amount in a transverse direction upon removing the silicon oxide film (sacrificial layer). Accordingly, it is difficult to control lengths of the beams so that spring constants of the beam structures may differ from each other. Specifically, it is difficult to accurately control the concentration and the temperature of an etchant at constant values, and it is also difficult to accurately control the termination of etching. Thus, when leaving portions of the silicon oxide layer (sacrificial layer) as the anchors, it is difficult to process the beams into a given shape.


Methods for prophylaxis of or treating or preventing migraine or migraine headaches, or other headache disorders include administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of citalopram, escitalopram, or a racemic or optically pure citalopram metabolite, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, polymorphs, or hydrates thereof.

Migraine is a common, debilitating disorder that affects approximately 15% of the adult population. There are two major types of migraines, migraine without aura, which occurs in 85% of migraineurs, and migraine with aura. Other symptoms associated with migraines include nausea, vomiting, gastrokinetic changes and hypotension.
Current treatments for migraine generally involve two classes of compounds. The first, the ergot alkaloids and related compounds such as ergotamine tartrate, ergonovine maleate, and ergoloid mesylates (e.g., dihydroergocomine, dihydroergocristine, dihydroergocryptine, and dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE 45)), are thought to act as alpha adrenergic blocking agents with direct stimulating effects on the smooth muscle of peripheral and cranial blood vessels and to produce depression of centralvasomotor centers. The second class of compounds, typified by sumatriptan succinate (distributed under the name IMITREX™ by Glaxo Wellcome, and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,470) are thought to act as serotonin agonists specific for the 5-HT1 receptor subtype. They have some activity as serotonin agonists, though not with the specificity of sumatriptan.
All of these compounds have serious adverse effects and require supervised administration at efficacious doses. All are administered as injections, the ergot alkaloids as an intramuscular injection, and sumatriptan as a subcutaneous injection. Intravenous injection of either may result in coronary vasospasm, and all are contraindicated for patients suffering from uncontrolled hypertension due to these vasoconstrictive properties. Patients taking either type of compound frequently complain of nausea, chest tightness and other adverse effects; unwanted side effects of sumatriptan include coronary vasospasm, hypertension and angina. Recent evidence suggests that the observed sumatriptan-mediated contraction of coronary arteries may be due to the stimulation of the 5-HT1B (formerly 5-HT1Dbeta.) subtype of the 5-HT receptors (Kaumann, A. J. Circulation, 1994, 90:1141-1153).
Furthermore, it has been reported that of the 50 to 70% of patients who experience migraine symptom relief within two hours after receiving conventional antimigraine agents, 30-50% experience migraine symptoms again within the next 24 hours. These subsequent headaches are typically termed "rebound," "relapse," "recurrent" or "secondary" headaches.
A variety of analgesics have also been administered to migraine patients. For example, K. M. A. Welch (New Eng. J. Med. 329:1476-1483 (1993)) sets forth the following dosages of analgesics as being useful: aspirin, 500-650 mg; acetaminophen, 500 mg; naproxen sodium, 750-825 mg; tolfenamic acid, 200-400 mg; and ibuprofen, 200 mg. However, these agents are rarely effective in providing complete relief of symptoms and, after initial remission, migraine symptoms often return. The problems that occur with migraine headaches may also be present in other types of headache as well. In all cases, an ideal therapy would reduce or eliminate the symptoms associated with the initial attack and minimize the frequency of later recurrences.
Given the incidence of migraine in the population and the potential side effect liability of current methods of treating migraine, there remains a need for other methods and therapeutic agents for treatment of migraine.
Other types of primary headache disorders include tension headache, cluster headache and miscellaneous-type headache (The International Headache Society, Classification and Diagnostic Criteria for Headache Disorders, Cranial Neuralgias and Facial Pain). Existing therapies for headache disorders include, for example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, narcotics, beta-blockers, antidepressants, and anxiolytics. However, existing therapies fare not truly effective, or they are associated with undesirable side effects, thus there continues to be a need for therapeutic agents for treatment of other headache disorders, such as tension headache and cluster headache.

Treatment or prophylaxis of migraine or headache disorders using citalopram, escitalopram or citalopram metabolites


A DNA molecule coding for a food protein, such as ovalbumin or casein, modified so that the codons for phenylalanine have been omitted or replaced by codons for one or more other metabolisable amino acids. Also a modified edible protein coded for by such a DNA molecule. Such modified proteins are useful in the nutrition of patients suffering from phenylketonuria.

This application is a 371 of PCT/GB94/01046 filed on May 16, 1994, which claims benefit of GB9310472 filed on May 20, 1993.
This invention relates to an edible protein which has been modified so that it is phenylalanine free, to DNA coding for it, and to a method of producing it. Such a protein is a useful nutrient in the treatment of diseases which are associated with difficulty in metabolising phenylalanine. A particular example of such a disease is phenylketonuria (PKU).
PKU is a genetically acquired disease that occurs in a relatively fixed proportion of new births in a human population. A defect in the enzyme carrying out the pterin-dependent hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine prevents the body from metabolizing the amino acid phenylalanine. This amino acid occurs in varying proportions in all proteins in foodstuffs and is, in the correct amount, essential for human protein synthesis, and therefore for the growth and maintenance of the body. Patients with PKU cannot remove excess phenylalanine from the blood and tissues and the failure to achieve this control over phenylalanine levels leads to grave neurological damage, especially in the growing child.
PKU patients are at present fed with a synthetic diet which contains a metabolically-correct amount of phenylalanine along with a mixture of the other amino acids needed for growth. Such a diet is unpalatable and is presented in liquid form only and therefore has difficulty in achieving patient compliance.
An object of this invention is to provide an edible protein which when pure contains no phenylalanine and which can form the basis for a diet containing the optimal nutritional phenylalanine content for PKU patients. This object may be achieved by taking the gene from a known nutritional protein and modifying it so that the codons coding for phenylalanine are deleted or are replaced by codons coding for another amino acid.
An alternative approach is to synthesise by chemical means DNA coding for a phenylalanine-free polypeptide, starting either from fragments of genes coding for existing proteins, or from the nucleotides themselves.
According to one aspect of the invention we provide a DNA molecule coding for a food protein, modified in that the codons coding for phenylalanine have been deleted or replaced by codons coding for one or more other amino acids.
According to another aspect of the invention we provide an edible polypeptide which comprises a food protein modified in that the phenylalanine residues have been omitted or have been replaced by one or more other amino acids also occurring in protein.
We further provide a nutrient material comprising an edible polypeptide as defined above and other edible substances.
The food protein is preferably a common food protein such as ovalbumin or caesin.
We also provide a nutrient material comprising an edible protein or modified food protein as hereinbefore defined, and other edible substances.
The protein according to the invention is phenylalanine free when pure, but the diet of the patient must contain some phenylalanine, i.e. the amount required for metabolism, but with substantially no excess.
An obvious approach would be to add an appropriate proportion of normal food proteins, which contain phenylalanine, to a pure phenylalanine-free protein according to the invention.
On the other hand, proteins are notoriously difficult to purify to a high level. If only partially purified, the phenylalanine-free protein will be accompanied by other protein products of the host organism containing their normal amounts of phenylalanine. Thus, if the modified protein is only partly purified (which is much easier than complete purification), a protein mixture containing overall a reduced proportion of phenylalanine will be obtained. By controlling the degree of purification, a protein mixture containing a metabolically-appropriate proportion of phenylalanine can be produced. This invention also provides such a mixture.
Although codons for phenylalanine may simply be deleted from the gene for a food protein, in order to preserve as far as possible the tertiary structure of the protein the codons coding for phenylalanine are preferably replaced by codons coding for another amino acid, preferably those having the most similar properties, e.g. tyrosine.
We also provide an expression vector into which has been incorporated DNA for an edible protein or modified food protein as described herein. The expression vector is preferably a Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression vector because this yeast has a long history as a human foodstuff and is amenable to genetic manipulation. Other yeasts, e.g. Pischia pastoris, may also be used.
We further provide a host, for example a yeast such as S. cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris, transformed by such an expression vector.
Ovalbumin and caesin have been selected as preferred food proteins to be modified in accordance with this invention because they are naturally-occurring proteins which are commonly used as human foodstuffs, are widely acceptable, and also because the modified proteins are likely to behave in a similar manner to the native proteins when cooked or subjected to other food processing steps. A wide variety of other food proteins may, however, also be chosen.
Preferably, apart from omitting or substituting codons coding for phenylalanine, the DNA molecule coding for the edible protein is modified as necessary to ensure that the codon for each amino acid is the codon of preference for the selected host, e.g. S.cerevisiae.

Phenylalanine-free protein and DNA coding therefor


A multi-beam scanning electron beam device (100) is described. The multi-bea scanning electron beam device having a column, includes a multi-beam emitter (110) for emitting a plurality of electron beams (12,13,14), at least one common electron beam optical element (130) having a common opening for at least two of the plurality of electron beams and being adapted for commonly influencing at least two of the plurality of electron beams, at least one individual electron beam optical element (140) for individually influencing the plurality of electron beams, a common objective lens assembly (150) for focusing the plurality of electrons beams having a common excitation for focusing at least two of the plurality of electron beams, and adapted for focusing the plurality of electron beams onto a specimen (20) for generation of a plurality of signal beams (121, 131,141), and a detection assembly (170) for individually detecting each signal beam on a corresponding detection element.

A modem semiconductor device is component of approximately 20-30 pattern layers that collectively implement the intended functionality of the designer. In general, the designer describes the chip functionality with high level, behavior design languages like VHDL, and then a series of EDA tools translate the high-level description into a GDSII file. The GDSII file contains a geometrical description of polygons and other shapes that describe the patterns of the different layers. The GDSII file accompanied with process design rules for the fabrication process to be used to make the device describes the intended geometry on the layout with the relevant tolerances.
Modern photolithography presents several challenges, including those associated with moving from 90 nm to 45 nm and 32 nm while keeping the stepper wavelengths at 193 nm. This requires further transformation of the intended layout geometry to a post resolution enhancement technique (RET) version of the GDSII file. The new GDSII file includes pattern modifications for optical proximity corrections (OPC) and mask technology. The complex set of OPC corrections, mask-making and stepper conditions is required to print the intended geometry on the wafer.
In light of the above, semiconductor technologies have created a high demand for structuring and probing specimens within the nanometer scale. Micrometer and nanometer scale process control, inspection or structuring, is often done with charged particle beams. Probing or structuring is often performed with charged particle beams which are generated and focused in charged particle beam devices. Examples of charged particle beam devices are electron microscopes, electron beam pattern generators, ion microscopes as well as ion beam pattern generators. Charged particle beams, in particular electron beams, offer superior spatial resolution compared to photon beams, due to their short wavelengths at comparable particle energy.
For semiconductor manufacturing, throughput can be a significant limitation in tools for scanning a geometry in its entirety. Assuming a CD-SEM resolution of 1 nm, a 10 mm2 die contains 10E14 pixels. Accordingly, for covering the entire layout, a parallel architecture is desired.
Electron beam systems for multiple electron beams, which may be used for a fast wafer inspection, are generally realized by either an array of conventional single beam columns having a spacing in the range of a few centimeters or by a single column with an array of beams. In the latter case, the beam array has relatively small electron beam spacing in a range of 10 μm-100 μm. Thereby, a high number such as hundreds or even thousands of beams can be used. However, individual corrections of the beams are difficult.
In order to provide a tool that utilizes electron beam optics to scan the entire geometry of the chip layer within resolution and desired signal to noise ratio (SNR), which enables extraction and verification of the wafer pattern geometry against the design-intended GDSII file, i.e. the original GDSII file, improved and different system designs have to be considered.

Multi-beam scanning electron beam device and methods of using the same


This invention relates to sprayable aqueous silicone emulsions which form silicone elastomers upon the removal of water having improved smoke and fire resistant properties. The aqueous silicone emulsion comprises water, a product of a diorganosiloxane polymer and a crosslinker, a surfactant and a filler selected from the group consisting of aluminum trihydrate, fumed titanium dioxide, magnesium oxide, ceramic fillers and zinc borate. The silicone emulsion has a viscosity of 10,000 to 120,000 mPa s and exhibits pseudo plastic rheology which facilitates its application by spraying. A softening agent may also be added for modulus control.

The literature teaches that aqueous silicone emulsions are dispersions of siloxane polymers in water. Crosslinking of the siloxane polymers may take place either before or after the evaporation of the water although crosslinking prior to the evaporation of water is more common. Upon the evaporation of water, the silicone emulsions produce silicone elastomers in the form of coatings, seals, caulks, etc.
Generally, silicone elastomers from aqueous silicone emulsions have excellent resistance to weathering, moderate high temperature stability and good low temperature properties. Due to their property profile, silicone elastomers from aqueous silicone emulsions find use as sealants, caulks and additives and are used widely in building construction.
One of the many problems which one encounters with constructing a building is how to seal the many openings that occur through normal construction in a manner which will decrease the spread of flame and the movement of smoke from one part of a building to another in the event of a fire. These openings may occur where two or more structural components of the building meet such as wall-floor joints, wall-wall joints, wall-ceiling joints etc., as well as openings in structural components which are made to accommodate objects such as cables, cable trays, conduits, mechanical piping, ducts and the like which necessarily must pass through the ceilings, walls etc.
In addition to needing a composition having smoke and fire resistant properties, another problem is applying the composition. Current techniques for achieving a smoke barrier typically utilize sealants or closed-cell foams which are pumped, gunned or trowelled into the joints. This is a laborious process and in certain cases the joints may be inaccessible to common sealing or application techniques.
One objective of this invention is to prepare an aqueous silicone emulsion which forms a silicone elastomer upon the removal of water having improved smoke and fire resistant properties.
Another objective is to prepare an aqueous silicone emulsion exhibiting pseudo-plastic rheology, which facilitates its application by spraying and permits a uniform film to be applied to vertical or horizontal surfaces without runs or drips.

Sprayable silicone emulsions which form elastomers having smoke and fire resistant properties


A gutter system for a vehicle storage compartment includes a bed floor for supporting cargo in a vehicle and a storage compartment having an opening defined in the bed floor. A gutter at least partially surrounds the opening. The gutter includes a main gutter channel disposed adjacent and along an inward side of the opening and lateral gutter channels disposed adjacent and along lateral sides of the opening. At least one discharge channel fluidly connects to the main gutter channel and extends laterally outwardly therefrom to facilitate drainage from the main gutter channel.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle storage system, and particularly relates to an improved gutter system for providing drainage to or around a vehicle storage compartment.
Various types of storage compartments and enclosures have previously been devised for meeting the requirements of particular vehicle applications. For example, previous solutions to storage problems in vehicles include trunks, cargo beds, cargo areas, etc. Pickup trucks and like vehicles typically provide a relatively large open storage area (i.e., the load carrying bed) for the vehicle size and are thus often the vehicle of choice for those needing to carry or haul considerable amounts of cargo. However, a significant disadvantage to these types of vehicles is that they often provide relatively little storage space that is securable and protectable, and also conveniently located.
Various solutions have heretofore been proposed to compensate for insufficient storage space in these types of vehicles. For example, tool boxes are available for mounting transversely across the beds of these types of vehicles for access from either side. Shells and caps, typically installed as after-market items, are also available to form enclosures over the load carrying bed. However, all of these solutions have disadvantages, which include expense, inconvenience, customized installation, and functional and space compromises.
One storage solution is to provide a storage compartment in the bed floor of a vehicle. In such an arrangement, the lid of the storage compartment can form a portion of the bed floor and be openable to provide access to the storage compartment. The lid can be provided with a locking mechanism to provide secure storage in the storage compartment.
Storage compartments provided in vehicle beds present an issue concerning drainage. In particular, the lid associated with the storage compartment and forming a portion of the bed floor is provided in a horizontal orientation when closed, as is the opening defining access to the storage compartment. Therefore, a need arises in directing drainage away from the storage opening to prevent the same from entering the storage compartment.

Gutter system for vehicle storage compartment


An insulating film having dielectric constant not greater than 2.7 is provided above a semiconductor substrate. A via comprises a conductive material, which is provided in a via hole formed in the insulating film. A first interconnection comprises a conductive material, which is provided in an interconnection trench formed on the via in the insulating film. A first high-density region is formed in the insulating film, and has a cylindrical shape surrounding the via, an inner surface common to the boundary of the via hole, and a film density higher than the insulating film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. For example, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device using materials having low dielectric constant (low-k material) as interlayer insulating film.
2. Description of the Related Art
In semiconductor devices having multi-layer interconnection structure, it is know that low dielectric constant materials are used as an interlayer insulating film in order to reduce interconnection (wiring) capacitance. Generally, in order to realize a material having low dielectric constant such as dielectric constant k not greater than 2.7, the material is formed with pore to have a low density.
The following problems arise if the semiconductor devices having multi-layer interconnection structure are manufactured using a porous film (or low density film having a film density not greater than about 1.5) containing the foregoing pore.
First, a low-k film has low strength; for this reason, there is a possibility that the film cracks during processing. In addition, the shape of via and interconnection formed in the low-k film is fragile in its surroundings, leading the structure to be unstable.
Second, the low-k film has low density; for this reason, there is a possibility that process gas and water content permeate from the side of a via hole formed in the film. As a result, the permeated gas desorbs in the film; therefore, this affects the next process.
Thirdly, the low-k film receives damage by dry process such as RIE (reactive ion etching) and ashing, used for processing contact holes and interconnection trenches.
The damage given to the low-k film means a state that the original bond of the low-k film is broken down. For example, in a SiOCH-based low-k film, Si—CH3 and Si—C bonds are broken. As a result, Si-dangling bond is formed, or Si—OH and Si—NH are formed. In the portion having received the damage, the bond is broken; as a result, C (carbon) concentration is reduced. With the reduction of C concentration, the film density is also reduced; for this reason, the portion readily absorbs process gas and water content. The absorbed water content and gas diffuses in the low-k film. This affects the electrical characteristics of the low-k film. More specifically, the effective electric constant of the low-k film increases, leak current is induced between interconnections in the film, and Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown (TDDB) occurs. These are factors of reducing breakdown voltage reliability. The gas remaining in the low-k film desorbs, and thereby, other films are peeled off. The damaged region having reduced C concentration may be melted due to HF and NHF3-based chemical liquids frequently used in the process of manufacturing the semiconductor device. For this reason, it is difficult to achieve dimension control on the surroundings of the damaged region.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive component and a display that presents a sequence of content item. A user may scroll through the sequence by applying a touch input that continuously moves across at least two thresholds. So long as the input stroke remains uninterrupted, the display will advance through the sequence each time the stroke crosses one of the two thresholds.

Electronic devices with touch-sensitive interfaces are commonly used to store and access large volumes of similar items. For example, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, tablet computers, e-books and the like have touch screens and are used for storing contact lists, photographs, videos, and other content. Moving between a large number of similar items on a touch-sensitive interface can be difficult. The user must perform the same command or gesture over and over again. When users are required to repeatedly place a finger on the screen, perform a gesture, lift the finger off of the screen and return to a starting point to repeat the gesture again, the process can detract from the user's enjoyment of the content and also cause the user to suffer discomfort and strain.
This document describes improved methods and systems of navigating through a sequence of content items on a device having a touch-sensitive input component.

Method and system for advancing through a sequence of items using a touch-sensitive component


A delivery system for an interventional device includes an elongate catheter body, a catheter shaft extending within the elongate catheter body and configured to releasably attach to the interventional device, and at least one flexible element attached to a distal portion of the catheter shaft. The at least one flexible element has an expanded configuration in which the at least one flexible element extends beyond an outer circumference of the elongate catheter body and a collapsed configuration in which the at least one flexible element collapses within an inner circumference of the elongate catheter body. The at least one flexible element is configured to act as a tactile stop when pulled proximally against the elongate catheter body and/or to fold over the interventional device to act as a retraction aid.

A variety of endovascular catheter-based interventional devices or tools have been developed to modify the mitral valve in order to treat mitral insufficiency. Many of these interventional devices require a steerable catheter delivery system in order to achieve the desired position and alignment over the mitral valve. Often, these delivery systems are inserted into the femoral vein and are then crossed through the interatrial septum to a position in the left atrium. The interventional device is then inserted into the catheter and positioned in such a way as to allow modification of the mitral valve. Various modifications are possible, whether it be through a leaflet apposition device, an annulus-modification device, a chordal shortening device, a regurgitation blocking device, or the like.
Referring to FIG. 1A, one exemplary leaflet apposition device, a mitral valve clip 99, includes two arms 66a,b that open to grasp the leaflets and then close to a smaller angle in order to bring the leaflets closer together to resolve mitral regurgitation. Barbed grippers 97 further hold the tissue in place once activated. During delivery, the arms 66a,b are closed to a tight angle in order to allow the clip 99 to fit within and be advanced through the guiding catheter 98, as shown in FIG. 1B.
During use of the mitral valve clip 99, there are instances in which the physician/user needs to retract the mitral clip back into the guiding catheter 98 and remove it from the patient. This can occur, for example, if the mitral clip 99 is unable to grasp the leaflets, if a different size of mitral clip 99 is desired, or if the mitral clip 99 malfunctions. To retract the clip 99, extra precautions can be taken to minimize the risk that one of the clip arms 66a,b catches on the outside of the guiding catheter 98. For example, the clip arms 66a,b can be closed very tightly, one or more curves in the guiding catheter 98 can be straightened, and the clip arms 66a,b can be rotated while looking under fluoroscopy. Even with these extra precautions, however, it is still possible for the clip 99 to get temporarily or permanently caught on the soft distal tip of the guiding catheter 98, as shown in FIG. 2. This can result in extra time and difficulty for the physician, polymer embolization (from the physician's maneuvers to try to release the clip), clip damage, patient injury, and/or surgery to remove the clip from the patient.
Further, for delivery of leaflet apposition devices, such as a mitral valve clip, a two-catheter steering and delivery system is often used because curving the catheter in two different planes is required. In these systems, the two catheters, one inside the other, are designed to curve in two different planes. The delivery catheter is required to be torquable and to advance and retract within the two steering catheters. Use of a two catheter steering and delivery system, however, can be difficult to use and expensive and can also limit the size of the device being delivered.
Single catheter steering and delivery systems, however, run the risk of getting portions of the interventional devices becoming stuck on the inner diameter of the catheter. For example, barbed grippers 97 of the mitral valve clip 99 might catch on the curved diameter of the guiding catheter 98, as shown in FIG. 3. If this happens, polymer can be released into the patient an/or removal of the mitral valve clip 99 from the single catheter steering and delivery system can be prevented, requiring removal of the whole system from the patient, possibly by open surgery.
A delivery system that addresses some or all of these problems is described herein.

Delivery system for mitral valve leaflet apposition device


Disclosed herein is a display stand including: a base member having a pair of side surface sections, a front end section, and a back end section; a pair of arm sections; first hinge sections by which respective first end portions of the pair of arm sections are connected respectively to the pair of side surface sections of the base member so that the pair of arm sections can be turned relative to the base member; and second hinge sections by which second end portions of the pair of arm sections are connected to a display so that the display can be turned relative to the pair of arm sections.

In recent years, flat type displays (flat display panels), such as liquid crystal displays, have come to be the mainstream of displays. This kind of flat type display is used in a variety of modes, such as a mode in which the display is used with the display screen set in a nearly vertical state (e.g., in a substantially upright state) or a mode in which the display is used with the display screen set in a nearly horizontal state (e.g., in a state of being laid flat).
Monitor devices are known wherein the inclination of a monitor main body can be adjusted, e.g., as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 2003-280533, 2009-69554, and Hei 6-259168 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The monitor devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have a structure in which link members or arms are interposed between the back surface of the monitor main body on the side opposite to the display screen and a base member of a stand so that the inclination of the monitor main body can be adjusted.
To be more specific, the monitor device described in Patent Document 1 has a stand that includes a base member for supporting the monitor main body and link members interposed between the monitor main body and the base member. In particular, the monitor device includes base hinges for turnably connecting one-side ends of link members to the base member, monitor hinges for connecting the other-side ends of the link members to the back surface on the side opposite to the display screen of the monitor main body so that the monitor main body can be turned, and auxiliary link members by which turning of the link members relative to the base member is transmitted to the monitor main body.
The monitor device described in Patent Document 2 has a stand including a base section for supporting the lower surface of a monitor main body by contacting the lower surface, and two arm sections interposed between the back surface of the monitor main body and a back end portion of the base section. More specifically, the monitor device includes base hinge sections for interconnecting one-side end portions of the arm sections and a back portion of the base section so that the two arm sections can be turned relative to the base section, and monitor hinge sections for interconnecting other-side end portions of the arm sections and the back surface of the monitor main body so that the two arm sections can be turned relative to the monitor main body.
Patent Document 3 discloses a display device including a display section and arms 4 provided between the display section and a stand which supports the display section, wherein the arms 4 turnably support the display section at hinge sections 2a and 2b and turnably support the stand 3 at hinge sections 3a and 3b. In addition, it is disclosed in Patent Document 3 that ball casters are provided on the bottom surface of the stand for supporting the display section so as to permit the display section supported by the stand to be easily moved sliding on a mounting base such as a desk, and that braking means provided on the bottom surface of the stand can be actuated and canceled by operating a lever.
Meanwhile, display screens in recent years have come to be able to display images with high definition, and there are many cases where the viewer wants to view in detail the contents of the displayed images by bringing the viewer's face close to the display screen. In such a situation, generally, the viewer may lean forward so as to bring his or her face closer to the display screen of the display mounted on a desk.
In this case, when the display screen of the display is laid flat in a nearly horizontal state by use of a mechanism disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the viewer can peer into the display screen from above, so that the viewer can view in detail the images displayed on the display, while being seated on a chair and taking a natural posture.
According to the configurations of the monitor devices or display devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, however, the hinge sections and the link members or arm sections are interposed between the back surface of the display and the base section or the stand, so that the height from the desk surface to the display screen would be comparatively large. This leads to the problem that the viewer's viewing operation or viewing posture in viewing the displayed images may become unnatural, thereby obstructing a long-time operation.
When a display supported by a stand can be easily moved sliding on a mounting base as in Patent Document 3, the display can be drawn closer the viewer's side, so that unnaturalness in the viewing operation or viewing posture for the user to view the displayed images can be lessened. Particularly, if the display supported by the stand with its display screen laid in a substantially horizontal state can be drawn closer to the user to a condition in which a lower end section of the display screen in an erected state (hereafter referred to as the lower end section of the display screen, for simplicity) protrudes from the desk surface, the unnaturalness in the viewing operation or viewing posture for the user to view the displayed images can be further reduced.
In Patent Documents 1 to 3, however, a mode of use in which the display supported on the stand is drawn closer to the user to such an extent that the lower end section of the display screen protrudes from the desk surface is not assumed; therefore, if such a mode of use were adopted, it would be impossible to support the display in a stable manner.
In Patent Document 1, therefore, since the monitor hinges for connection between the link members and the monitor main body are provided in the vicinity of a lower end section of the monitor main body, if the display screen is kept laid in a substantially horizontal state and the lower end section of the display screen is protruded from the desk surface, a part of the base section must necessarily also protrude from the desk surface, possibly leading to the monitor device falling from the desk. Thus, there is a safety problem.
Besides, in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, the monitor main body or display connected to the base through arms is supported stably by realizing a condition wherein a lower end section of the monitor main body or display is engaged with the base section or stand. Also in the cases of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, therefore, if the display screen is kept laid in a substantially horizontal state and the lower end section of the display screen is protruded from the desk surface, a part of the base section or stand would protrude from the desk surface, leading to a safety problem, as in the case of Patent Document 1.
In addition, recently, there have been known displays having a coordinate input device called a touch panel wherein a flat display panel and coordinate input means such as a touch sensor are combined with each other. In such a touch panel, a user's input operations onto the display screen should be taken into account, and it is important to stably support the touch panel, also at the time of performing an input operation onto the display screen.
Particularly, recent liquid crystal displays have been enlarged in size, and enlarged touch panels have come to be used accordingly. As an installation mode, at the time of input operations using a position indicator such as a pen (stylus) or a finger, a mode wherein the touch panel is used in the state of being laid in a nearly horizontal state is advantageous from the viewpoints of stability and ease of input operations, particularly in the cases of the above-mentioned enlarged touch panels.
In the cases of the stands disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, however, the monitor hinges and the link members or arm sections are interposed between the back surface of the display and the base section, as mentioned above. Therefore, if the distance (height) from the desk surface to the display screen is enlarged, the problem of difficult input operations onto the touch panel would occur, like in the case of the viewing operation.
In addition, in the case of input operations on a screen at a position in an upper area on the large-type display screen, the distance from the operator to the screen position would be remote, so that the operator would have to perform the operation while leaning forward or taking a half-standing or standing posture. Therefore, a considerable burden is applied to the operator's body in the cases where such operations are frequent.
In view of this, if the touch panel can be operated in a state of being drawn closer to the operator, input operations at screen positions in an upper area on the display screen can be performed without need for the operator to lean forward or take a half-standing or standing posture. Thus, operation efficiency is enhanced, and the burden on the operator's body is alleviated.
In the configuration of the support stand for the monitor main body or display disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, however, when the operator tries to operate the touch panel by drawing the touch panel closer to the operator and protruding the lower end section of the display from an end portion of the desk, the support state based on the stand would become unstable, possibly leading to a problem in input operations onto the touch panel.


A method of simulating rolling tire comprises the steps of: modeling the tire in finite elements to make a tire model which comprises a first element having a viscoelastic property; modeling a road in finite elements to make a road model; executing a numerical simulation in which the tire model is made to roll on the road model at a predetermined condition; obtaining six kinds of strains in time sequence from the first element of the tire model with rolling, the six kinds of strains including three kinds of normal strains along a tire meridian direction, a tire circumferential direction and a tire thickness direction, and three kinds of shear strain along the tire meridian direction, the tire circumferential direction and the tire thickness direction; and calculating energy loss of the first element based on the six kinds of the strains.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of simulating rolling tire capable of precisely predicting energy loss.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rolling resistance of a tire largely exerts an influence upon fuel economy of a vehicle, and it is conceived that a contribution rate of the rolling resistance to the fuel economy is about 10%. Thus, in order to improve the fuel performance of a vehicle, it is important to analyze the rolling resistance of a tire. To evaluate the rolling resistance of a tire, it is conventionally necessary to actually prototype a tire and test the tire. However, such a method requires enormous amounts of time, costs and labor. Therefore, it is required to further enhance the developing efficiency.
In "Development of Analyzing Technique of Rolling Resistance of Tire" (the society of automotive engineers of Japan, academic session preprint 852074, written by Youichi KOBAYASI, et al) (document 1, hereinafter), there is described a static analysis for analyzing the rolling resistance by a tire model into contact with a road model without rolling. In this analysis, energy loss of an element of a viscoelastic material of the tire model is calculated using a following equation:Ui×Vi×tan δi
wherein                Ui represents energy density Ui or the element,        Vi represents volume of the element and        tan δi represents loss tangent defined for the element.
Further, in "Tire Science and Technology, TSTCA, vol. 27, No. 1 January-March 1999 P. 22 (Tire Temperature and Rolling Resistance Prediction with Finite Element Analysis) (document 2, hereinafter), there is also described a static analysis of tire model. In this analysis, energy loss per unit volume of the tire model is calculated mainly using "dynamic loss modulus G" and an amplitude of strain.
According to these two methods, the distribution of strain when the tire model is gently brought into contact with a road surface is regarded as the variation of strain received by arbitrary element when the tire rotates once. Therefore, according to the methods described in the two documents, it is necessary to use such a tire model that the cross section shape and material properties of whole elements are uniform in the tire circumferential direction. Thus, if the tire model has a tread portion provided with a lateral groove extending in the axial direction of the tire and the cross section shape of the tire is not continuous in the tire circumferential direction, or if the tire has material properties which are varied in the circumferential direction, precise energy loss can not be calculated by the above methods.
In the document 1, strain energy density is used to calculate the energy loss. If the strain energy density is used, since the direction of deformation of each element of the tire model is not taken into consideration, a logical contradiction arises frequently. As shown in FIG. 14 for example, when strain ε is in an element "e" generated in the direction X at time point A and strain ε is generated in the direction y at next time point B, both strains are the same strain energies and no energy loss is generated according to the strain energy system. In the reality, however, since the direction of deformation is varied, energy loss is generated.
According to the document 2, the amplitude of strain is used to calculate the energy loss. However, this method has a serious problem that since attention is merely paid to the maximum amplitude of strain, when there are two or more peaks in hysteresis of strain as shown in FIG. 7 for example (such a case is generated frequently), the energy loss is calculated smaller than the actual value.


A BT offline data download system and method, and a computer storage medium with instructions to perform BT offline data download are provided. The system may include an offline download task management server that may receive a download task. The system may also include an offline download scheduling server that may perform arrangement and combination processing on the download task. An offline download server may then download data according to the download task. The data may correspond to a subset of files after the arrangement and combination processing, and store the downloaded data in a storage server. A download client device may download, from the storage server, the downloaded data of the subset of files corresponding to the download task. The subset of files may be selected by a user to be obtained at the download client device.

Typically, in an offline download, a server of a downloader, instead of a client device, may download a file in response to a command from a user. If resources available for the file to be downloaded are scarce, the user may spend a long time to download the file via the client device, for example if download speed is low. By adopting the offline download, the server of the downloader is responsible for downloading the file, instead of the client device. In this case, the user may suspend, or shut down the downloader at the client device, thereby saving the time and electric charge. After the offline download is completed, the user may further download the file from the server of the downloader to the client device at a higher speed.
A typical offline download may include submitting, by a client, an offline download request. The offline download request may contain a download link address of a file. The download link address may be a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) link, an eMule link, a Bit torrent file, Magnet protocol link or any other download link address of the file. An offline task management server, upon receiving the offline download request submitted by the client, may send the offline download request to an offline task scheduling server. The offline task scheduling server may schedule an offline download server cluster, according to the offline download request, to perform the offline download. After the offline download is completed, the downloaded file may be stored in a cloud storage server, and the completion of the download may be reported to the offline task scheduling server. The offline task scheduling server may, in turn, inform the client to get the downloaded file from the cloud storage server. Bit Torrent (BT) is a content distribution protocol, which adopts a highly efficient software distribution system and peer-to-peer technology to share files, and is typically used in case of large files. BT also provides an upload service for the user. Further, BT may allow redistributing a download process across several nodes in the network. According to the Bit Torrent protocol, an issuer may create a .torrent file, i.e. BT torrent file as the file to be issued. The BT torrent file may contain references to one or more files that would be downloaded when a user selects the BT torrent file as a download target. The BT torrent file may also contain a download source for each file referred in the BT torrent file. The download sources may be the target from which the files in the BT torrent file need to be downloaded.
However, in a traditional offline download, if a user adds a BT torrent file for download, the server may download all files corresponding to the BT torrent file completely, which may extend the download time and may occupy substantial disk space.

BT offline data download system and method, and computer storage medium

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


In an internal combustion engine, fluctuations in combustion torque are suppressed to reduce vibration and prevent deterioration of ride comfort of a driver. Therefore, a control device of an internal combustion engine 100 having a plurality of cylinders 150 (a first cylinder 151, a second cylinder 152, a third cylinder 153, and a fourth cylinder 154) includes a combustion state detection unit for detecting whether the plurality of cylinders 150 are in a normal combustion state or a flame-out state, and a control device 1 which controls driving of a fuel pump 131 that is a load of a combustion torque generated by the cylinder 150. The control device 1 suppresses the driving of the fuel pump 131 at a predetermined combustion timing of the cylinders 151 to 154 of the flame-out state in a case where it is determined that any one of the cylinders 151 to 154 among the plurality of cylinders 150 is in the flame-out state.

In recent years, to improve fuel efficiency of a vehicle, there is developed a control device of an internal combustion engine in which a technique of operation with an air-fuel mixture thinner than a theoretical air-fuel ratio, or a technique of taking part of post-combustion exhaust gas is incorporated.
In this type of control device for an internal combustion engine, the amounts of fuel and air in the combustion chamber deviate from the theoretical values, so that the combustion in the combustion chamber becomes unstable. As a result, in the vehicle, the vibration caused by the increase in the fluctuation of the combustion torque (engine torque) of the internal combustion engine increases, and the ride comfort of a driver deteriorates.
PTL 1 attempts to stabilize combustion in a case where the air-fuel ratio is lean by controlling an ignition device based on the in-cylinder pressure and a volume before ignition.

Control device of internal combustion engine


A method and system for dynamic call type detection for circuit and packet-switched networks. A network endpoint, such as a gateway, will receive an incoming signal and make an examination of the signal to detect characteristics of the signal. Upon detection of a characteristic of the signal, the gateway will generate a data packet, identifying the characteristic, and send the packet to a receiving network endpoint. The initial gateway will continue to examine the incoming signal and continue to send packets identifying characteristics of the signal as more characteristics are detected. The receiving gateway may then begin reproducing the signal in part by generating a signal that has the characteristics as indicated by the data packets. Once the initial gateway no longer receives the incoming signal, and determines that an event has occurred, the gateway will send a packet to the receiving gateway to inform it of the event.

Telephone companies provide telephony service to their customers using systems known generically as either circuit or packet switched systems. Circuit switched systems send data signals continuously over telephone lines to provide both Internet access and conventional analog telephony or simply plain old telephone service ("POTS"). Packet switched systems, such as the Internet, serve as a transport medium for carrying voice and data in a data packet form. One of the main differences between these technologies is that the circuit switched systems have a continuous circuit whereas packet switched systems transmit bursts of packets and are therefore discontinuous.
Currently, there is a growing trend to transition from use of circuit switched networks to packet switched networks. For example, the voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), is becoming a popular method for making a telephone call over a packet switched network. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standard H.323 is a current standard for transmitting voice over the Internet. Session Initiation Protocol ("SIP") is another popular protocol. In these networks, voice may be compressed by standard means such as G.723.1 or G.729.A and used for transmitting compressed speech.
Unfortunately, however, signaling within a packet switched network can have more stringent constraints than within a circuit switched network to limit bandwidth consumption. In one instance, when modems communicate through a packet network, the modems exchange control signals during the communication. The packet switched network endpoint that communicates with a given modem will receive the control signal and send it through another endpoint that then communicates the signal to the other modem. However, the packet network endpoint may have to wait long periods of time to detect or identify certain signals received from the modem. For example during modem answer sequences, typical standards recommend and/or require waiting a specified amount of time to detect certain signals before proceeding to the next sequence (e.g., an answer tone (like "ANS") detection is typically detected for 1 second by a modem before a training sequence can begin). Also, some signals are sufficiently complex and require significant amounts of time to simply generate all the information contained in the signal (e.g., an ANSam signal includes a 180 degree phase reversal every 450 ms). Other transmission standards as set forth in RFC 2833, the full disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, also impose limitations for communicating signals within and between the network endpoints.
Additionally, during the time that a packet network endpoint waits to identify the signal, vocoders in the endpoint may destroy the incoming signal. Care should be taken to ensure that the FAX or Voice Band Data terminations at the circuit-switched endpoints can function properly even with these known limitations of packet networks. For example, when transmitting these signals inband, over a lossy network with a lossy compressed codec, signal information is destroyed. This should be minimized or avoided altogether during the answer phase and training phase of a voice band modem or FAX transmission. The packet network should not cause the modulating endpoint to misidentify the signal sent from another modulating endpoint.

Method and system for dynamic call type detection for circuit and packet switched networks


Multilevel color page image rendering via multi-bit output devices including the rounding of tone levels, dual tone scan patterns and the selecting or generating of halftone cells and electrophotography engines and image processors for rendering multilevel tone density objects such as font and line art.

Generally, rendering addresses the processing of image data pertaining to an object for purposes of displaying the rendered object to a viewer such as human visual processing. When the display of the rendered object is via a printed rendering, properties of the printer may limit the gradations in tone and continuity of the object as expressed in pixels. A means of achieving apparent tonal graduations is via the application of halftoning. Halftoning may be described as applying a high frequency/low frequency dichotomy having a low frequency attribute and a high frequency attribute. For example, the low frequency attribute may be a local area of the output image designated as a halftone cell. Each equal-sized cell relates in size and location to a corresponding area of the continuous-tone input image. Within each cell, the high frequency attribute may be a centered, variable-sized, halftone dot or pixel composed of ink or toner.
Single level digital halftoning uses a raster image or bitmap within which each monochrome picture element, or pixel, may be on or off as to the application of a colorant, that is, tone or no tone, ink or no ink, may be applied. For a particular color, including black, the ratio of the colored area to the non-colored area of the output cell corresponds to the luminance or gray level of the input cell. From a suitable distance, human visual processing averages both the high frequency apparent gray level approximated by the ratio within the cell and the low frequency apparent changes in gray level between adjacent equally-spaced cells and centered dots. To achieve this effect, the digital halftone cell contains groups of monochrome pixels within the same-sized cell area. A higher screen frequency halftone may be applied to text quality, for example, via an eight-by-eight sized cluster dot screen. But such halftoning does not maximize output pixel coverage and so may result in broken shapes and missing lines, particularly for fine rendering of fonts and lines of light gray levels. There remains a need for improved rendering quality for color multi-function-printers.
Printing devices that are capable of printing objects rendered in pixels having two or more density levels, that is two or more gray levels, have a second means of approaching the appearance of a continuous tone scale over the binary state afforded single level halftoning. Accordingly, multilevel halftoning, i.e., the application of two or more density levels for toning or pigmenting may be applied in conjunction with halftoning to generate refined renderings.

Font and line art rendering for multi-bit output devices


This application is directed to a stent delivery system for introducing a flexible, generally cylindrical, self-expandable stent. The system comprises a catheter having distal and proximal ends, the catheter defining at least one lumen extending there-through and having at least three longitudinally displaced openings or sets of openings extending from a lumen to the surface of the catheter; a stent which comprises a generally cylindrical, expandable structure having proximal and distal ends and a flexible member extending proximally from the proximal end of the structure, the stent being wound circumferentially around the catheter, and having restraining member holding each of the proximal and distal ends of the stent to the catheter, and one or more restraining member holding at least a portion of the flexible member to the catheter surface; and one or two release wires positioned in and extending longitudinally through at least one lumen, the release wires cooperating with the restraining member so that as the release wire or wires are withdrawn proximally, the proximal and distal end sections of the stent are released in such a manner that coils of the stent unwind.

Coronary angioplasty has gained wide acceptance as a routine management of coronary stenosis. The technique of the procedure and the manufacture of balloons has improved over the years; however, in spite of such improvements, acute coronary occlusion of a coronary artery, which accounts for about 6% of the cases, continues to be a major concern. Despite improvements in technology and experience, it is still difficult to predict the occurrence of this critical complication.
Accordingly, there is a serious need for treatment for acute occlusions. Several treatment modalities, such as long balloon inflations with the use of a perfusion balloon, laser balloon angioplasty, and, more recently, a temporary stent, have been suggested. However, when such measures fail or become less effective, the patient may require emergency coronary bypass surgery, with which an increased rate of morbidity and mortality is associated.
Temporary stents have been suggested as a method to apply radial force on the occluded segment, thus facilitating free blood flow through the artery to the muscle and tissue at that time. If prolonged radial force is applied, perhaps for up to a few hours or days, then vessel closure may reverse. Possible mechanisms of such reversal are that a dissection flap is tacked to the vessel wall, or that elastic recoil occurs, such as during the first few hours after PTCA is performed.
Despite the theoretical advantage of a temporary stent, there are problems in providing a stent that is readily removable and at the same time easy to insert, flexible, and safe. Most of the known stents intended for coronary and peripheral artery use are not readily removable and require arduous removal techniques or surgical intervention.


A flexible display device includes a flexible display panel including: a plastic film; a pixel circuit on the plastic film; a light emitting element; and an inorganic layer. Openings are in the inorganic layer along a cutting line for cutting the flexible display panel.

(1) Field
The present disclosure relates to a flexible display device.
(2) Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display may have a bending characteristic when a flexible substrate, such as a plastic film, is used instead of a rigid substrate, such as glass.
That is, a flexible OLED display includes a plastic film, a pixel circuit that is formed on the plastic film, and, for example, a light emitting element, such as an organic light emitting diode.
A plurality of inorganic layers, such as an interlayer insulating layer, a gate insulating layer, a buffer layer, and/or a barrier layer, may be formed on the plastic film.
In a manufacturing process of a flexible display device, a plastic film is positioned on a rigid carrier substrate, such as glass, and after forming a pixel circuit, an organic light emitting diode, and a plurality of inorganic layers on the plastic film, the plastic film including the pixel circuit, the organic light emitting diode, and the plurality of inorganic layers is separated from the carrier substrate. Such plastic film may also be referred to as a flexible display panel.
After being processed as such, the flexible display panel is cut to a panel size.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible display panel illustrating a cutting region thereof.
For a simplified drawing, the pixel circuit and the light emitting element are not illustrated in FIG. 1; however, the plurality of inorganic layers that are formed on the plastic film are illustrated.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the plastic film 2 laminated with a plurality of inorganic layers 12, 14, 16, and 18 is cut, an upper protection film 6 and a lower protection film 4 are laminated on top and bottom surfaces of the plastic film 2 (e.g., on top and bottom surfaces of the display panel).
In order to cut the flexible display panel with the upper and lower protection films 6 and 4 respectively laminated thereon, a mechanical cutting method is used to forcibly cut the flexible display panel during which the flexible display panel is pressed due to contact from a cutting knife (e.g., the mechanical cutting method applies pressure to the flexible display panel).
As such, when the flexible display panel is cut by a mechanical cutting method, cracks may occur in the inorganic layers depending on an amount of impact or force delivered to the panel at the time of cutting.
Further, because the cutting knife penetrates through the upper and lower protection films, the flexible display panel may bend when being cut, and when this occurs, cracks due to such bending may occur in the flexible display panel.
The cracks occurring in the flexible display panel are linearly formed at (e.g., around) a cutting line (e.g., the cracks extend in a generally linear direction).
Accordingly, the linearly formed cracks can be transmitted to (e.g., may extend or migrate to) an active region of the panel when performing a subsequent process or a reliability test, thereby causing shrinkage and/or reduced performance of the panel.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


There is provided a soft nonwoven fibrous loop material for use in hook and loop fastening systems. The nonwoven fibrous loop material of the invention contains an open fibrous loop layer comprised predominately of polypropylene polymer, copolymer or blend fibers. The nonwoven fibrous loop layer material is autogeneously bonded to a backing layer formed of polypropylene polymers or copolymers having a percent isotacticity of less than 70%, optionally with additional layers present provided so that the overall nonwoven fibrous loop material is a laminate having a circular bend stiffness of less than about 9 Newton and having tensile strength of at least 1500 g/2.54 cm-width.

The present invention relates to sheets of laminated loop material adapted to be cut into discrete loop patches for use in hook and loop fastening components for low cost applications, particularly disposable diapers and the like.
Nonwoven loop materials intended for use in low cost applications, particularly in respect to disposable garments such as surgical gowns or disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, have increased in popularity in recent years. This has resulted in intensive development efforts to provide a material that is both high performance for the intended user and low cost. The focus of these efforts has been on providing a low cost loop material which adequately functions to provide a resealable mechanical closure for a limited number of repeated applications. For these uses, it is not necessary that the loop material have sufficient integrity to enable long term repeat attachment and release cycles or resistance to washing. However, the loop material should provide a relatively high peel and secure closure for a limited number of use cycles. Knitted, woven or stitch-bonded and like traditional fabric materials have been proposed in these limited use garment loop applications. Generally, these traditional fabric materials provide more integrity than is needed for the limited use garment field, and are more expensive than required. Lower cost versions of these traditional loop fabric materials have lower fiber density per unit area and hence are lower performance. In response, it has been proposed in a number of patent applications to use nonwoven fabrics of a wide variety of types to form relatively low cost but high, short term performing loop materials. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,231 is an early patent that proposed the use of a nonwoven web, such as produced by a carding process, to form a loop material. In this patent, the nonwoven web is fed between two corrugating members which provide the nonwoven web material with loft or z-direction orientation. The corrugated web is given integrity in the x and y directions by extruding a thermoplastic backing layer onto tip portions of the corrugated nonwoven material, which is still maintained at this point in the corrugated state between at least one of the corrugating members and a nip backing member. Optional additional layers can be brought in, which additional layers can be printed to provide desired print patterns on the loop material. The process described in this patent provides highly advantageous low cost loop structures. However, particularly when bringing in an additional printed backing layer, the loop material tends to become excessively rigid, particularly when the loop materials are formed from the preferred polypropylene resins described. When a loop material is intended to be used in a disposable, absorbent garment, softness is an extremely important property in order to avoid discomfort for the wearer, as well as providing a conformable form-fitting garment. The use of polyethylene fibers and films or bi-component bonding fibers and the like can provide loop materials with increased softness, however, often at a significant cost increase, increased problems with manufacturability, and/or decreased loop performance. From the standpoint of cost and performance, it is preferable that the nonwoven web material be formed primarily from polypropylene fibers. However, polypropylene fibers present difficulties in providing a soft loop material in that a polypropylene backing or backing film layer is generally required in order to provide adequate fiber anchorage, and polypropylene backing films are relatively stiff.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,281 describes a method for forming nonwoven loop materials by micrexing or creping a specific nonwoven material while simultaneously bonding it to a film or nonwoven backing material. The specific end product loop materials exemplified are described as being soft where the nonwoven web is formed from melt-spun fibers of a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene and the film backing layer is a blend of polypropylene with about 16% polyethylene. However, this process suffers from the disadvantage that the nonwoven loop material must be prebonded in order to survive the creping process which process results in significant shear forces on the web during creping. Prebonding decreases the penetrability of the web to hook materials, decreasing performance in the hook and loop laminate structure. The shear forces can also cause fibers to shed or become dislodged in the web. Creping also results in a web with uneven or irregular corrugations which results in uneven bonding to the backing layer. Further, the polypropylene film backing material specifically suggested is still relatively stiff.
A number of other patents have proposed the use of nonwoven materials for use in forming loop structures including, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,122, wherein a nonwoven web or series of filaments are bonded to a material in an oriented unstable state. The unstable oriented material is subsequently allowed to recover gathering the nonwoven web or fibers to form upstanding loop structures. WO 96/04812 describes a similar method for forming a loop material where the backing is an elastomeric material and the nonwoven web forming the loops is bonded to the backing with a specific bond pattern. This loop material would suffer from numerous disadvantages, such as being generally dimensionally unstable when elastic materials are provided as the backing; relatively low levels of bonding to, e.g., a nonwoven polypropylene loop material; require high cost backing materials; and are somewhat difficult to manufacture. A similar approach is described in WO 95/33390 where the backing is an elastomeric adhesive material. This elastomeric adhesive film described allegedly provides an unstable film material capable of retracting to form the attached nonwoven web into loops and also provide a certain level of bonding to the nonwoven material. This approach would generally suffer from the identical problems associated with the WO 96/4812 published application described above and also has generally poor adhesion properties.
Other nonwoven loop fastening materials are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,470,417 and 5,326,612 which relate to non-corrugated, nonwoven materials having specific bonding patterns and layer structures used to form loop materials.
Despite the extensive levels of activity and development efforts in using nonwoven fabrics for forming loop materials, there is still a need for providing a low cost, high performance nonwoven loop material which is also easy to manufacture, has good fiber to backing adhesion, and is soft and conformable with additionally having the ability to be bonded to a further layer having desirable properties such as a printing pattern while remaining relatively soft.


Semiconductor devices, semiconductor device assemblies, and methods of making such semiconductor devices and semiconductor device assemblies. Material may be removed from a semiconductor device having a first thickness to obtain a second thickness and a carrier may be attached to the semiconductor device having a third thickness with the third thickness plus the second thickness substantially equaling the first thickness. The carrier has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that differs from the CTE of the semiconductor device. The addition of the carrier to the semiconductor device may change the overall warpage or CTE of a semiconductor device assembly. The semiconductor device assembly be include a redistribution layer between the semiconductor device and a substrate. A material may encapsulate the carrier and the semiconductor device. The carrier may provide electromagnetic shielding. A coating may be applied to external surface of the semiconductor device assembly to provide electromagnetic shielding.

Semiconductor processing and packaging techniques continue to evolve to meet industry demands for increased performance and reduced size. Electronic products, such as cell phones, smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistances, laptop computers, as well as other electronic devices, require packaged semiconductor assemblies having a high density of devices while having a relatively small footprint. For example, the space available for memory devices, processors, and other devices, continues to decrease in electronic products providing a need to increase the density of semiconductor devices. One method to increase the density of semiconductor devices is stacking of semiconductor devices to form a semiconductor device assembly.
During the process of forming a semiconductor device assembly, the assembly may go through various processes having an elevated temperature. For example, the temperature during a reflow process to create solder joints, or interconnections, between semiconductor devices may reach an elevated temperature, such as 260 degrees Celsius. A semiconductor device assembly may be comprised of various components such as, but not limited to, a substrate, semiconductor devices, and mold compound. Each of the components may have different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), which may create potential problems. As the semiconductor device assembly is subjected to an elevated temperature, the semiconductor device assembly may experience warpage due to the different CTEs of the individual components of the assembly. Warpage may provide a large amount of stress on the components of the assembly. If the warpage is too large, the warpage may create reliability issues with the interconnections within a semiconductor device assembly. CTE mismatch may also create problems in connecting a semiconductor device assembly to a board or substrate.
Additional drawbacks and disadvantages may exist.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for stress reduction in semiconductor package via carrier


A support cradle for a computer tomorgraph, in which the rotating body together with the X-ray emitter and the X-ray detector, which is situated opposite said emitter, can be ratably mounted. The support cradle includes a suitable pedestal that has two vertical supports, in addition to a gantry, which is mounted between the vertical supports and can be rotated about a horizontal transverse axis. According to the invention, the support cradle comprises a cooling device that is simple to manufacture. Said device is configured at least partially as a hollow section. A cavity in the support cradle acts as a conduit for supplying or evacuating a coolant.

A support cradle or stand is provided for a computed tomography system. A computed tomography system has such a support cradle or stand. A computed tomography system is an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image of an object being examined, in particular a patient, using radiological diagnostic methods.
A conventional computed tomography system, of the kind known for instance from European Patent Disclosure EP 0 292 690 A1, includes a rotating body with a central opening, into which the object being examined is positioned. The rotating body includes an X-ray emitter for passing X-radiation through the object being examined, and an X-ray detector, diametrically opposite the X-ray emitter, for making an X-ray image. The rotating body is supported rotatably on a support cradle. By rotating the rotating body, the object being examined can be exposed to radiation from many directions. From the information in the X-ray images, a three-dimensional image of the object being examined is created using electronic data processing.
The dissipation of the heat that occurs in the X-ray emitter and the X-ray detector may be difficult. Local air cooling, for instance by a fan, may be used only to a limited extent if at all in a computed tomography system. The draft necessarily created is unwanted for health reasons. Supplying and evacuating a gaseous or liquid coolant using rigid or flexible coolant lines may be complicated and expensive, especially since such lines must not hinder the required rotatability of the rotating body.
For this reason, a computed tomography system is often equipped with a complex cooling system. For instance, from the aforementioned EP 0 292 690 A1, a computed tomography system is known. A first cooling loop cools the X-ray emitter. The first cooling loop exchanges the absorbed heat with a second cooling loop, which is placed partly in an annular chamber formed between the rotating body and the support cradle. Cooling air flows through the annular chamber, and this cooling air is itself cooled by means of a third cooling loop, which is water-driven.
From German Patent Disclosure DE 42 17 874 A1, a mobile radiological diagnostic system is also known. An X-ray emitter and an X-ray detector are secured, diametrically opposite one another, on a support cradle that includes a C-arch. For cooling the X-ray emitter, a double hose is provided, which extends partly inside the support cradle.

Integrated coolant conduction for a computer tomograph


A locomotive headlamp assembly for the thermal control and/or thermal management of heat in a LED lamp enclosure is provided. A seamless retrofit is provided for existing Incandescent (Quartz Halogen) lamps that are in current use. The thermal control of the locomotive headlight generally includes a headlight that has the ability to replace existing Incandescent (Quartz Halogen) lamps with the energy savings of LEDs using interactive circuitry to maximize performance and energy savings and also the thermal management to ensure longer life on LEDs.

Currently, in headlight development, lamps, such as, Quartz Halogen PAR56 is being replaced with LED technology. The development of smaller and more powerful LEDs has enabled a more compact headlight that can now match the candela light output required by the railroad industry. However, LED replacement lights require changes and alterations to the locomotive fixture and locomotive electronics, due in part to the fluctuating voltage and conditions of the locomotive. Thus, a need exists for a LED headlight that can adapt as a retrofit without changes to the locomotive fixture and locomotive electronics. That is, a need exists for a LED headlight that is stable with the fluctuating voltage and conditions of the locomotive. A need further exists for an assembly including removal of heat from the sensitive electronics and LEDs in the headlight.


A system includes a network, multiple different types of survey sensors connected to the network, and a controller connected to the network. The multiple different types of survey sensors are configured to communicate different types of measurement data over the network to the controller.

Subterranean surveying is used to perform characterization of subterranean elements in a subterranean structure. Examples of subterranean elements of interest include hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs, fresh water aquifers, gas injection zones, and other subterranean elements.
One type of subterranean surveying includes seismic surveying, in which seismic sources (e.g., air guns, vibrators, explosives, etc.), and seismic sensors (e.g., hydrophones, geophones, accelerometers, etc.) are deployed. The seismic sources are used to produce seismic waves that are propagated into the subterranean structure, with some of the seismic waves reflected from the subterranean elements of interest. The reflected seismic waves are detected by the seismic sensors.
Other types of subterranean surveying include electromagnetic (EM) surveying that uses EM (artificially created or naturally occurring) sources and EM sensors, gravity surveying that uses gravity sensors to make local gravity measurements of the earth which can lead to an indicator of the earth's density, and others. Other survey types include mixed source/receiver combinations, e.g., seismic sources with EM receivers or EM sources with seismic receivers.
The hardware for performing the various different subterranean surveys have tended to be custom designed for each specific type of measurement of interest (e.g., seismic measurement, EM measurement, or gravity measurement). As a result, conventional surveying solutions do not provide for an efficient manner of considering (acquiring and recording) different types of measurement data that may be available.

System having a network connected to multiple different types of survey sensors