A locking quick-release bike hub skewer for securely engaging an axle of a bike includes a security lock for preventing theft. A cam member is housed within a quick-release skewer housing and is completely restrained from rotation via a tri-tumbler locking apparatus. The cam member is arranged in a combination lock type design and, therefore, cannot be rotated. In dialing in a proper lock combination, a series of locking pins which would otherwise prevent rotation of the cam about the bike""s axle are aligned such that the cam member is allowed to freely spin. A pivoting lever is also provided not only for aiding in compressing the cam member against the axle, but also for removing compression of the cam member against the axle which aids in the removal of the quick-release hub once a proper lock combination has been dialed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to quick release hub assemblies and, more particularly, to a locking quick-release bike hub skewer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of modern technology and materials in the production of bicycles and the popularity of bicycling as a sport or hobby has resulted in a rising number of consumers who purchase high-end cycling equipment, products and accessories. Bicycles that cost in upwards of $1000-$2000 are not uncommon and it is not out of the ordinary to find items such as seats, pedals or handlebars that cost in upwards of $100 to $200. The high value of these items has made them an increasingly popular target of thieves. Furthermore, the modern technology of quick-release mechanisms has actually made stealing these items easier, allowing for their theft without the use of tools. Chains and locking mechanisms often are not effective in preventing theft due to the ability of thieves to cut through them or otherwise defeat them. Furthermore, the use of heavy locks on bicycles that seek to achieve the lightest weight possible is counterproductive.
Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which one can protect a bicycle from theft in an effective manner that is not unnecessarily burdensome.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. The following patents describe a quick-release skewer system for mounting specialized bicycle wheels on bicycle forks with safety flanges: U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,925 issued in the name of Stewart; U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,259 issued in the name of Wilson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,852 issued in the name of Wilson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,487 issued in the name of Sheils; U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,451 issued in the name of Liu; U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,627 issued in the name of Morroni; U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,761 issued in the name of Brilando et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,387,215 issued in the name of Wagner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,401 issued in the name of Terry, Sr et al. discloses a hub assembly for a bicycle with a quick-release feature that can be adapted for quick-release hub assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,131 issued in the name of Novotny discloses a quick-release skewer with trailer attachment points.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,915 issued in the name of Stahl describes a lever arm lock for a quick-release hub assembly.
Consequently, a need has been felt for providing a device which allows for the usefulness and convenience of a quick-release mechanism for protecting a bicycle without compromising security in a manner which is quick, safe, easy and efficient.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bike quick-release skewer which allows for quick and easy removal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bike quick-release skewer which doesn""t require the use of tools.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bike quick-release skewer which allows for quick maintenance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bike quick-release skewer which prevents accidental movement, flip, or rotation of a pivoting lever when the bike is ridden thus preventing the wheel from dropping out of the fork accidentally and preventing mishaps and injuries.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bike quick-release skewer which is ideal for racing and/or competition.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tri-tumbler locking apparatus which provides enhanced security.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tri-tumbler locking apparatus which locks wheel hub onto bicycle frame.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tri-tumbler locking apparatus which prevents theft.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device which is lightweight, yet strong and durable.
Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a locking quick-release bike hub skewer is provided which includes a security lock for preventing theft. The present invention comprises a cam member which is completely restrained from rotation via a tri-tumbler locking apparatus. Arranged in a combination lock type configuration, the cam member cannot be rotated and, therefore, the quick-release mechanism cannot be released without dialing in a correct combination. In dialing in a proper lock combination, a series of locking pins which would otherwise prevent rotation of the cam about the bike""s axle are aligned such that the cam member is allowed to freely spin. A pivoting lever is also provided not only for aiding in compressing the cam member against the axle, but also for removing compression of the cam member against the axle so as to facilitate removal of the quick-release hub therefrom once a proper lock combination has been dialed.
The use of the present invention allows for the usefulness and convenience of a quick-release mechanism for protecting a bicycle without compromising security in a manner which is quick, safe, easy and efficient.


The invention provides a semi-transparent reflective liquid crystal display device in which bright display, high contrast, and less viewing-angle dependency are possible in a transmission mode. In the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, a polarizing plate can be disposed on the upper side of a liquid crystal cell in which a semi-transparent reflective layer is formed on a lower substrate and the thickness of a liquid crystal layer in a transmissive display region can be made to be different from the thickness of a liquid crystal layer in a reflective display region by a layer-thickness adjusting layer. A uniaxially stretched phase difference film can be interposed between the polarizing plate and the liquid crystal cell, and a liquid crystal film fixed in nematic hybrid alignment can be interposed between the phase difference film and the liquid crystal cell. A polarizing plate can be disposed on the lower side of the liquid crystal cell, a uniaxially stretched phase difference film can be interposed between the polarizing plate and the liquid crystal cell, and a liquid crystal film fixed in nematic hybrid alignment can be interposed between the phase difference film 6 and the liquid crystal cell.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device. More particularly, the invention relates to a semi-transparent reflective liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of Related Art
Related art liquid crystal display devices can be broadly classified into three types, namely, a transparent type capable of image display in a transmission mode, a reflective type capable of image display in a reflection mode, and a semi-transparent reflective type capable of image display in both the transmission and reflection modes, and can be used as displays in notebook personal computers, televisions, and other devices because of their features, for example, thin style and light weight. In particular, semi-transparent reflective liquid crystal display devices can be used in various portable electronic apparatus because they adopt a combination of a transmission display mode and a reflection display mode, and can perform bright display with less power consumption even in a bright place or in a dark place by switching the display mode according to ambient brightness.
One type of such a semi-transparent reflective liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display device in which a reflective layer made of a film of aluminum or the like, having slits (apertures) to transmit light, is provided on the surface of a lower substrate facing a liquid crystal layer to function as a semi-transparent reflective layer.
FIG. 11 shows an example of a semi-transparent reflective liquid crystal display device using this type of semi-transparent reflective layer.
In such a liquid crystal display device 100, a liquid crystal layer 103 is held between a pair of transparent substrates 101 and 102. A reflective layer 104 and an insulating film 106 are stacked on the lower substrate 101, and a lower electrode 108 made of a transparent conductive film of indium tin oxide (hereinafter "ITO") or the like is formed thereon. An alignment film 107 is formed to cover the lower electrode 108. On the other hand, a color filter 109 having R (red), G (green) and B (blue) pigment layers is formed on the upper substrate 102, and a flattening film 111 is stacked thereon. Upper electrodes 112 made of a transparent conductive film of ITO or the like are formed on the flattening film 111, and an alignment film 113 is formed to cover the upper electrodes 112.
The reflective layer 104 is made of a metal film having a high reflectance, such as aluminum, and is provided with light-transmitting slits 110 corresponding to pixels. The slits 110 allow the reflective layer 104 to function as a semi-transparent reflective layer (hereinafter the layer is referred to as a "semi-transparent reflective layer"). A forward scattering plate 118, a phase difference film 119, and an upper polarizing plate 114 are arranged in that order on the outer surface of the upper substrate 102, and a phase difference film 115 and a lower polarizing plate 116 are arranged in that order on the outer surface of the lower substrate 101. A backlight 117 (an illumination device) is disposed under the lower surface of the lower substrate 101 and further under the lower polarizing plate 116.
In order to use the liquid crystal display device 100 shown in FIG. 11 in a bright place and in a reflection mode, external light, such as sunlight or illumination light, incidents from the upper side of the upper substrate 102, passes through the liquid crystal layer 103 and is reflected by the surface of the semi-transparent reflective layer 104 on the lower substrate 101, then passes again through the liquid crystal layer 103, and emits out of the upper side of the upper substrate 102. During the use in a dark place and in a transmission mode, light emitted from the backlight 117 disposed under the lower substrate 101 passes through the slits 110 of the semi-transparent reflective layer 104, passes through the liquid crystal layer 103, and emits out of the upper side of the upper substrate 102. Such light contributes to the display quality in each mode.
When the transmissive, reflective, and semi-transparent reflective liquid crystal display devices are viewed from the oblique direction, particularly in a transmission mode, problems regarding the viewing angle, for example, deterioration in display contrast, changes in display color, and tone reversal, are inevitable because of refractive index anisotropy of liquid crystal molecules. Therefore, it is advantageous to solve or address the above problems.
In related art transmissive liquid crystal display devices using a TN mode (twist angle of liquid crystal is 90°), as a method for addressing or solving the problems, the arrangement of optical compensation films between a liquid crystal cell and upper and lower polarizing plates can be manipulated.
One example is a structure in which optical compensation films having discotic liquid crystal aligned in hybrid alignment are disposed between a liquid crystal cell and upper and lower polarizing plates. Another example is a structure in which optical compensation films having liquid crystal polymers aligned in nematic hybrid alignment are disposed between a liquid crystal cell and upper and lower polarizing plates. This is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2640083, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-194325, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-194371.
In semi-transparent reflective liquid crystal display devices, it is necessary, on the principle of display, to provide circularly polarizing plates, each including one or more stretched films and a polarizing plate, on the upper side of a liquid crystal cell and between a semi-transparent reflective layer and a backlight in the transmission mode.
In order to increase the viewing angle in the transmission mode of the semi-transparent reflective liquid crystal display devices, a method using an optical compensation film of nematic hybrid alignment in the circularly polarizing plate disposed between the semi-transparent reflective layer and the backlight can be used. This is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-31717.

Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus


A semiconductor memory device has a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells connected to multiple word lines and between multiple pairs of bit lines. A main sense amplifier reads cell information onto a pair of bit lines from one memory cell selected via a word line and outputs the read cell information after amplification. A pre-sense amplifier, connected to each pair of bit lines, amplifies a potential difference between the pair of bit lines based on the cell information and outputs the amplified potential difference to the main sense amplifier prior to outputting of the read data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data reading circuit for a semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The integration and operation speed of recent semiconductor memory devices has become higher and faster, respectively, and a great effort has been made to reduce their supply voltage in order to ensure lower power consumption. A data reading circuit for use in such a semiconductor memory device should have a faster reading speed without failing to reduce the supply voltage.
FIG. 1 illustrates an SRAM of a pulse word type, which selects a word line in synchronism with a clock signal. A pulse generator 1 generates an internal clock signal CLK based on an input external clock signal CK. A column decoder 2 sends a column select signal to a column selector 3 based on a column address signal ADc which is input externally.
A row decoder 4 receives the clock signal CLK and a row address signal ADr. When the clock signal CLK goes to an H (High) level, for example, the row decoder 4 selects one of multiple word lines WL based on the row address signal ADr.
Memory cells C are connected to each of the word lines WL and between individual pairs of bit lines BL and /BL. Based on the word line WL selected, cell information is read from the memory cells C, connected to the selected word line WL, to the individual pairs of bit lines BL and /BL.
The column selector 3 selects one pair from plural pairs of bit lines BL and /BL based on the column select signal and transfers the cell information read on this bit line pair BL and /BL to data buses DB and /DB. A main sense amplifier 5 amplifies the cell information output onto the data buses DB and /DB and outputs the amplified information as data OUT and /OUT.
The aforementioned clock signal CLK is input to a precharge circuit 6, which is provided between each pair of bit lines BL and /BL. When no word line WL is selected, i.e., when the clock signal CLK has an L (Low) level, the precharge circuit 6 is enabled and the potential of each bit line pair is reset to V.sub.cc /2, for example, where V.sub.cc is a high-potential voltage supply.
To increase the memory capacity of this SRAM, the memory cell array becomes miniaturized more and more. The miniaturization of the memory cells C decreases the load drive performance of the memory cells C. The micronization of the memory cell array has resulted in a greater parasitic capacitance and greater parasitic resistance of the bit lines BL and /BL.
To drive the bit lines BL and /BL with large parasitic loads by the memory cells C having a smaller load drive performance and to improve the reading speed, the amplitude of cell information to be read on the bit lines BL and /BL may be suppressed, and a differential amplifier having a high input sensitivity may be used for the main sense amplifier 5.
FIG. 2 shows a main sense amplifier 5a for use in an SRAM, the bit lines BL and /BL of which are driven by cell information with a small amplitude. The bit lines BL and /BL are connected to the high-potential voltage supply V.sub.cc via respective load resistors R1. The resistance of each load resistor R1 is set so as to suppress the amplitude of the bit lines BL and /BL to approximately 100 mV to 50 mV by voltage-dividing the supply voltage V.sub.cc by this load resistance R1 and the ON resistance of the transistor that constitutes each memory cell C.
In the main sense amplifier 5a, NPN transistors Tr1 and Tr2 have their bases respectively connected to the data buses DB and /DB and collectors connected via respective resistors R2 to the voltage supply V.sub.cc.
The emitters of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are connected to a low-potential voltage supply V.sub.ss via an N channel MOS transistor Tr3, the gate of which is supplied with an enable signal LE via an inverter circuit 6a. Read data OUT and /OUT are output from the collectors of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2.
If the main sense amplifier 5a is constituted by a differential amplifier comprised of bipolar transistors as in this case, when the enable signal LE becomes an L level, the transistor Tr3 is turned on to enable the main sense amplifier 5a. Consequently, the minute potential difference between the data buses DB and /DB originated from the read cell information is amplified by the operation of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 and is output as the read data OUT and /OUT.
As the supply voltage V.sub.cc gets lower, the input sensitivity of this main sense amplifier 5a falls. The resistance of the load resistor R1 for setting the amplitude of the bit lines should be set in accordance with a change in the supply voltage V.sub.cc or changes in the parasitic capacitance and parasitic resistance of the bit lines. Further, it is very troublesome and practically difficult to set the resistance of the load resistor R1 so that the amplitude of the bit lines BL and /BL is optimized in accordance with the input sensitivity of the main sense amplifier 5a.
In view of the above, one structure has been proposed that allows the memory cells C to effect the full amplitude operation of the bit lines BL and /BL according to the potential difference between the high-potential voltage supply V.sub.cc and the low-potential voltage supply V.sub.ss based on the operation of reading cell information from the memory cells C.
FIG. 3 shows the specific structure of a main sense amplifier 5b, which is used in this type of bit line full amplitude system. In this main sense amplifier 5b, a differential amplifier is comprised of MOS transistors. P channel MOS transistors Tr4 and Tr5 have sources connected to the high-potential voltage supply V.sub.cc and gates connected together to the drain of the transistor Tr4 and the drain of an N channel MOS transistor Tr6.
The transistor Tr6 has a gate connected to the data bus DB and a source connected to the drain of an N channel MOS transistor Tr8. The transistor Tr5 has a drain connected to the drain of an N channel MOS transistor Tr7, the gate of which is connected to the data bus /DB. The source of the transistor Tr7 is connected to the drain of the transistor Tr8.
The enable signal LE is input via an inverter circuit 6b to the gate of the transistor Tr8, the source of which is connected to the low-potential voltage supply V.sub.ss. An output signal OUT is output from the drains of the transistors Tr5 and Tr7, and an output signal /OUT is output from the drains of the transistors Tr4 and Tr6.
While the potentials of the bit lines BL and /BL are increased to the potential difference between the high-potential voltage supply V.sub.cc and the low-potential voltage supply V.sub.ss, the main sense amplifier 5b operates and outputs the output signals OUT and /OUT with full amplitudes when the amplitudes of the potentials of the bit lines BL and /BL become equal to or higher than a predetermined value. While the main sense amplifier 5b operates slower than the main sense amplifier 5a shown in FIG. 2, it can secure the operational margin with respect to the low supply voltage more easily.
The data reading operation for an SRAM of such a bit line full amplitude system will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 4. Assume that the individual bit lines BL and /BL are precharged to V.sub.cc /2, and specific bit lines BL and /BL are selected by the column selector 3 based on the column select signal. When the clock signal CLK goes high in this situation, a specific word line WL selected by the row decoder 4 based on the row address signal ADr goes high.
Consequently, cell information is read to the bit lines BL and /BL from the memory cell C selected by that word line WL producing a potential difference between the bit lines BL and /BL. This potential difference gradually increases.
When the enable signal LE falls to an L level to enable the main sense amplifier 5b, the main sense amplifier 5b amplifies the potential difference between the bit lines BL and /BL and inverts the read data OUT and /OUT with the full amplitudes, for example.
When the clock signal CLK falls to an L level, the selected word line WL goes low from the H level and the potentials of the bit lines BL and /BL are reset to V.sub.cc /2 by the precharge circuit 6.
In the SRAM of the bit line full amplitude system, the micronization of the memory cell array reduces the load drive performance of each memory cell C and increases the parasitic capacitances and parasitic resistances of the bit lines BL and /BL. This elongates the time from the rising of the word line WL to the H level to the point where the amplitudes of the bit lines BL and /BL become high enough to satisfy the input sensitivity of the main sense amplifier 5b based on the operation of the memory cells C. Therefore, the data reading speed cannot be increased sufficiently, disadvantageously.


Provided herein is a method of treating or preventing a disease or disorder (e.g., MS) in a subject in need thereof, comprising (a) administering to the subject a first dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a fumarate agent (e.g., DMF) for a first dosing period; (b) administering a vaccine; and (c) administering to the subject a second dose of the pharmaceutical composition for a second dosing period.

TECFIDERA™ has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). TECFIDERA™ contains dimethyl fumarate (DMF), which has the following structure:

The starting dose for TECFIDERA™ is 120 mg twice a day orally. After 7 days, the dose is to be increased to the maintenance dose of 240 mg twice a day orally. TECFIDERA™ can be taken with or without food.
Vaccines are an important class of medications that are frequently used for treating or preventing various diseases, such as infectious diseases. Patients having MS can receive one or more vaccines prior to or during treatments with DMF. One objective of the present invention is to provide a method of treating or preventing multiple sclerosis in patients who receive a vaccine.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dimethyl fumarate and vaccination regimens


An add-on vehicle light monitor includes a light pipe formed of a light coupling transparent material and having an input end and an output end. The light pipe is configured to be supported upon the vehicle body at a position in which the input end is approximate to the to-be-monitored light source and the output end is viewable by the vehicle driver or operator. In one embodiment, an aperture is formed within the vehicle taillight lens to permit the input end to be inserted into the vehicle light assembly. In an alternate embodiment, the input end is fabricated so as to be flush mountable to the light assembly lens without the need for forming an aperture therein.

To provide safe operation of motor vehicles and trailers, fabricators generally provide a plurality of lights and signalling devices to aid the driver and improve the vehicle visibility. Such lighting systems typically include a plurality of forwardly directed headlights which aid the driver in viewing the operating environment in dark situations such as night driving. In addition, vehicles and trailers as well as other similar devices operated upon roadways include a plurality of rearwardly directed brake lights or taillights together with a plurality of frontal and rear signal lights commonly referred to as "turn signal lights".
Taillight or brake lights assemblies are primarily operative to warn other vehicle operators of anticipated activities being undertaken by the driver as well as increasing the general visibility of the vehicle from the rear. Such taillights are generally red in color and include means for operation at different illumination conditions in response to the presence or absence of brake actuation by the vehicle driver. Turn signal lights are generally provided at both the front and rear of the vehicle and are often integrated into the brake light assemblies of the vehicle. Such turn signal lights have in recent years been distinguishable from taillights or brake lights by the use of an amber or clear lens system. Signal lights are operated by the vehicle operator in anticipation of a turn in either direction and thus provide warning for operators of other vehicles.
The safe operation of the motor vehicle requires that the operator periodically inspect the vehicle for operative lights and so on. However, between normal inspections, the operator remains generally unaware of various types of malfunctions which may occur within the turn signal indicating lights or taillight and brake light systems. Faced with the obvious safety problems created by inoperative turn signal lights and taillight and brake light systems, of which the driver is generally unaware, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide and develop various indicator check systems directed toward providing reliable indication to the vehicle operator of lighting system malfunctions.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,569,933 issued to Longenecker, et al. sets forth a SIGNALLING SYSTEM WITH INDICATING MEANS for use on vehicles which indicates the condition of the lighting system thereof. The system includes fiber optic coupling means extending between the vehicle light system and indicating means positioned within the vehicle for observation by an operator thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,761,706 issued to Frey sets forth an INDICATING SYSTEM FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS FOR VEHICLES utilizing a fiber optical light conductor set in which a light conductor is arranged on each vehicle side and has one end thereof adjoining a light source. The remaining ends of each light conductor are supported at the rear window of the vehicle to be observable by the vehicle operator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,273 issued to Tinder, et al. sets forth a REMOTE AUTOMOTIVE LIGHT DIVERTING SYSTEM in which a light pipe including a light diverting section in which light following through the light pipe in a longitudinal direction is diverted at least generally radially out from the light pipe is utilized. The light pipe collects rays emanating from the vehicle light system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,442 issued to Mark sets forth a COMBINATION HOODSCOOP AND TACHOMETER includes a rear facing surface visible to the driver which is equipped with indicating instruments such as a tachometer, a pair of directional signal indicators, a pair of parking lamps indicators and a pair of high beam head lamp indicators. The hoodscoop may include a removable back plate to accommodate a decorative panel as an alternative arrangement.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have, in some sense improved the safety of motor vehicles through providing some monitoring capability for the turn signal and taillight and brake light systems, there are often found to be expensive and complex. In addition, such systems are generally adapted to be installed within the vehicle or trailer during the fabrication process. As a result, there remains a great number of motor vehicles which will continue to operate upon the world's roadways for many years which lack the provision of such safety light monitoring apparatus. There arises, therefore, a continuing need for an improved low cost system for monitoring the operation of motor vehicle turn signal and taillight or brake light systems. In particular, there remains a need for economical after market or add-on apparatus which may fulfill such safety monitoring and which may be readily utilized on existing vehicles and trailers to improve the overall safety of the world's highways and roadways.


The apparatus incorporates a h.f. source (2), a plasma enclosure ( 4 ) having gas supplies, a vacuum pump (50), elements for coupling the source to the plasma enclosure, which is of a non-radiating type and which is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped with first and second dielectric material faces parallel to the direction of the magnetic field and a third face having a rectangular opening (14) parallel to said field for forming a ribbon-like plasma, a treatment enclosure containing a mobile sample holder (18) communicating via the opening with the plasma enclosure. The coupling means have two linear waveguides (30, 38 ) with a rectangular cross-section oriented in the wave propagation direction and located on either side of the plasma enclosure, a horn (36) for coupling one of the guides to the plasma enclosure, whose cross-section widens in the magnetic field direction, the other guide being provided with a short-circuit (46).

The present invention relates to a plasma apparatus for the chemical treatment of samples, to an industrial machine having one or more such apparatuses and to a process using said apparatus.
In particular, the apparatus permits the surface treatment, deposition and chemical etching of thick or thin layers over large sample surfaces at speeds at least 10 or 100 times higher than those obtained with the hitherto known deposition and etching procedures.
It is more particularly used in the microelectronics field for the production of integrated circuits and semiconductor lasers, in the integrated optics field and in the solar field for the photovoltaic conversion of light energy. The integrated circuits to which the invention applies are e.g. circuits for the control of liquid crystal flat-faced screens.
In general, the invention applies to all industrial fields requiring the deposition or etching of thick or thin layers, as well as the chemical cleaning of layers or substrates. These layers and substrates can be dielectrics, metals or semiconductors.
At present there are various etching and deposition apparatus types using a plasma. Generally such apparatuses have a superhigh frequency wave source, a tightly sealed treatment enclosure containing a receiver or a support for supporting the sample to be treated, elements for coupling the superhigh frequency source to the treatment enclosure, gas supplies for forming the plasma and means for pumping the treatment enclosure.
Certain deposition and etching apparatuses also have means for creating a magnetic field in the treatment enclosure, which interacts with superhigh frequency waves in order to ionize the different gases used. These apparatuses make use of the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) effect. Such an apparatus is more particularly described in "Elongated microwave electron cyclotron resonance heating plasma source" by M. Geisler et al, J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A8 (2), March/April 1990, pp 908-915.
The apparatus according to the invention does not use the magnetic field and therefore the ECR effect. Among non-ECR effect apparatuses, there are plasma assisted chemical vapour deposition apparatuses and machines (PECVD). These machines have been developed for the production of active matrix flat-faced screens and generally use a frequency of 13.56 MHz.
These machines suffer from the disadvantage of using low electron density plasmas not making it possible to obtain a total dissociation of the gases. In order to avoid the diffusion of a non-dissociated gas towards the different deposition plasmas, each plasma is isolated in a vacuum chamber dedicated to the deposition to take place. Each vacuum chamber is equipped with a pumping unit making it possible to obtain a vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-4 Pa and which is usually of the turbomolecular type.
These deposition machines are of a complex nature and are very expensive (10 to 20 million French francs).
Moreover, the complexity of such equipment involves regular maintenance, which significantly reduces the machine availability time. Finally, these machines are generally very large and take up large surface areas in white room-type zones, so that their application is limited.
Another known non-ECR effect apparatus is described in EP-A-398 832. Although this treatment apparatus is less cumbersome than PECVD machines, it still suffers from a certain number of disadvantages. In particular, its construction is complex, so that its manufacturing costs are high. Moreover, due in particular to the plasma forming gas injection mode, it does not make it possible to obtain etching or deposition effects on large surfaces (exceeding 1 dm.sup.2) in a homogeneous manner.

Chemical treatment plasma apparatus for forming a ribbon-like plasma

France Telecom Etablissement Autonome de Droit Public


A method and system for providing an end-user with Internet access and allocating a cost associated with that access among the end-user and Internet sites 18 accessed by the end-user. A supervisory program module 58, such as a "JAVA" applet, resides on an originating station 24, such as a personal computer, operated by the end-user. The supervisory program module 58 may be activated by transmitting the supervisory program module to the originating station 24 from an Internet point of presence 22 operated by a local access provider. Alternatively, a trigger may be transmitted from the point of presence 22 to the originating station 24 to activate a supervisory program module 58 already residing on the originating station 24. The supervisory program module 58 monitors the duration of connections with specific Internet sites, and transmits messages to the point of presence 22 indicating the duration of these connections. The local access provider uses the information received in these messages to allocate a cost associated with the access, such as the cost associated with using a telephone network 30, among the end-user and Internet sites accessed by the end-user. Unique keys and time stamps are used as security measures. Unique keys are random identification numbers or codes generated by the point of presence 22. Time stamps are clock readings are generated by the originating station, the point of presence, or other network components, are used as security measures.

The information age is upon us. The proliferation of computers has brought sweeping changes in the way our society lives, works, and interacts. For businesses, the information age presents tremendous new opportunities and challenges. On-line communications unite geographically dispersed resources and disseminate complex information with ever increasing speed and efficiency. In this fast-growing market place known as cyberspace, receiving and transmitting information in a timely and cost-effective manner is of immense importance. At the heart of cyberspace lies the Internet.
Formerly a little known resource available only to the military and a small community of academics, the Internet has in recent years become a mainstream commercial communication resource. The Internet provides a real-time, paper-free, cost-effective mode of communication and resource sharing through which sellers of goods and services can reach millions of potential customers. E-mail and remote access to computer servers are currently widely used tools for reaching computer literate potential customers. But the market place of cyberspace is in its infancy. On-line teleconferencing, interactive television, video web sites, virtual reality, and myriad other technological advances are sure to develop.
The participants in the Internet are a wide variety of machines, organizations, and individuals, all able to communicate and share information. Physically, the Internet is an interconnected collection of thousands of computer networks, tens of thousands of computers, and tens of millions of individual stations operated by end-users. The Internet works because all of these computers share compatible communication protocols and addressing schemes that make e-mail, remote resource access, file transferring, and file sharing possible throughout the system.
The backbone of the Internet is a group of networks forming an international grid of high-speed, high-capacity data communication lines interconnecting a number of massive computers that serve as large-scale processing points or nodes. These backbone networks are interconnected with each other through a plurality of interconnection points known as network access points. The backbone nodes are collectively responsible for capturing and sorting incoming information, routing information to its intended destination, and forwarding data between backbone nodes.
The Internet was originally used only for academic and governmental purposes. In recent years, however, the Internet has been opened to commercial traffic--and commercial traffic has boomed. In the United States, commercial access to the Internet may be obtained at tens of thousands of hosts located throughout the country. A host is a computer connected to the Internet and configured with Internet routing software. A host may be a massive super computer, a main-frame processing machine, a minicomputer, a workstation, or even a personal computer. Hosts serve three principal functions. First, they send and receive Internet communication traffic. Second, they provide the gateway between the Internet and end-users. And third, they provide web servers that operate as repositories of information and resources that may be accessed over the Internet. For example, these web servers provide "home pages" to be visited, files to be read or downloaded, applications to be shared, and the like.
The physical structure of Internet is therefore tremendously complex, but to the end-user it appears to be a virtually seamless network in which the computer on the desk next door may be accessed as easily as that of a commercial supplier in another city, or that of university in another country. To access any Internet site, an end-user need only transmit the site's universal resource locator (URL) created in accordance with the standardized Domain Name System (DNS). The Internet hosts and nodes respond to the URL by connecting the end-user's station with the Internet site associated with the requested URL.
At present, the operator of each Internet site is responsible for paying the cost of obtaining a communication channel with the Internet. Once an end-user establishes a communication channel with the Internet, connections may be made with other Internet sites by transmitting URLs in accordance with the DNS system. An Internet site may therefore be established by providing a host and obtaining a communication channel between that host and the Internet.
Although commercial users must now pay a fee to use the Internet, the Internet is immensely popular with commercial users and individuals, at least in part, because it is very cost effective. At present, each commercial user typically pays the cost of physically obtaining a connection to the Internet, plus a relatively modest monthly Internet connection fee based on the capacity of the connection and in some cases the actual data transfer volume. In general, no connect-time-based, destination-based, or other incremental charges are currently imposed for browsing, e-mail, and resource sharing. Thus, a dedicated connection to the Internet effectively serves as a flat-rate international browsing, messaging, and resource sharing service.
An Internet site may be connected to the Internet through a wide range of physical communication channels providing various levels of information carrying capacity. The minimum service available that gives the Internet site access to the full array of Internet services 24 hours-a-day is a single "dial-up" Internet communication channel typically costing about $15-30 per-month. Higher capacity communication channels are available at higher cost. For example, optical fiber, wireless, and leased telephone lines ranging from 56 kilo-bits-per-second to 1.544 mega-bits-per-second (T1) are typical options available to an Internet site. Internet access charges for these communication channels at present cost roughly $500-5,000 per month. In addition to these access charges, the operator of an Internet site must also pay the cost of obtaining a physical communication channel with the Internet.
Many Internet sites are operated by commercial suppliers that sell products and services. These commercial suppliers may use the Internet to cost-effectively communicate with existing and prospective consumers. To a commercial supplier, the cost of maintaining an Internet site is a cost of doing business, much like postage, electricity, and advertising. Indeed, the Internet may be one of the most cost-effective marketing resources available to a commercial entity.
Other Internet sites are points of presence operated by local access providers that, in turn, provide Internet access to millions of end-user Internet sites. Obtaining access through a local access provider is currently the least expensive way for an individual end-user to access the Internet. These points of presence therefore operate as gateways between the Internet sites of commercial suppliers and millions of end-users. A local access provider recovers the cost of its Internet communication channel and earns its profits through Internet access fees charged to its customers. For example, an local access provider may charge an end-user a flat rate of $25 per-month, or $5 per-month plus 5 cents per-connect-minute.
Between an individual end-user and a local access provider's point of presence lies a communications network, such as a telephone network, a cable television network, a wireless communications network, or the like. This communications network is typically operated by a for-profit enterprise. An end-user therefore pays a cost for using the communications network. In the United States, most homes and businesses are already connected to a telephone network. These telephone networks are therefore convenient options for end-users desiring communication channels with the Internet. Other communications networks, however, may equivalently be used to provide Internet access.
The economics of using a communications network, particularly the telephone network, is therefore an important factor in the operation of the Internet as a commercial resource. For an end-user lucky enough to have a local access provider's point of presence located within the same telephone exchange area, the Internet is only a local telephone call away. For other less fortunate end-users, long-distance telephone charges are incurred. For these end-users, even moderate Internet use of a few hours a week can result in significant long-distance telephone charges.
These long-distance telephone charges confer a significant competitive advantage on a local access provider having a point of presence in a particular telephone exchange area. To compete effectively within that local exchange area, another local access provider would have to locate a point of presence within that telephone exchange area. But locating a separate point of presence in every telephone exchange area would avoid economies of scale that could be enjoyed by providing a centralized point of presence. Moreover, it may be advantageous to locate a centralized point of presence near an Internet interface to minimize the cost of obtaining a physical communication channel between the point of presence and the Internet.
A local access provider can address this long-distance telephone charge problem by purchasing a nation-wide toll-free telephone service from a long-distance carrier. The local access provider can then locate its point of presence in an advantageous location from a physical connection standpoint, and allow end-users to obtain toll-free telephone connections with the point of presence. The cost of the toll-free telephone service is typically rolled into the local access provider's monthly access charges. Virtually any end-user in the United States with telephone service may therefore obtain Internet access by paying a local access provider a negotiated rate for Internet access.
At present, this "all or nothing" option, wherein either an end-user or a third party pays the entire cost of providing the end-user with Internet access, is the only cost-shifting option available. A more flexible allocation methodology for costs associated with Internet access is not currently available. From the commercial supplier's standpoint, this Internet access paradigm presents a significant drawback. Namely, the Internet cannot be used to reach a potential customer that is not willing to pay at least the cost of obtaining Internet access via a local access provider. Many potential customers users therefore remain unconnected, and there is no effective way for a commercial supplier to use the Internet to reach these unconnected potential customers.
This drawback limits the effectiveness of the Internet as a marketing tool because, in some cases, a commercial supplier may be willing to bear the entire cost of communicating with a particular end-user via the Internet. For example, a commercial supplier is typically responsible for marketing costs associated with commercial television advertisements, direct mail advertisements, billboard advertisements, and the like. This commercial supplier may also be willing to pay the entire cost associated with providing a particular end-user with access to its Internet site. This commercial supplier may not, however, be willing to pay the cost associated with providing the end-user with access to other Internet sites, such as those operated by its competitors.
Other Internet site operators may also be willing to bear the entire cost of providing a particular end-user with access to a specific Internet site. A city or county, for example, may wish to provide residents with free access to a web server providing information regarding road closings, weather conditions, emergency services, garbage pick-up, and the like. Similarly, a church may wish to provide parishioners with free access to a web server providing information regarding devotional services, social functions, and the like. Many organizations could similarly make effective use of a selective supplier-paid Internet access regime.
More generally, many advantageous cost allocation methodologies, such as split-cost allocations, time-based allocations, and destination-based allocations would be possible if an end-user's cost of Internet access could be allocated based on various allocation parameters including Internet sites accessed. Thus, there is a need for flexible methods and systems for allocating costs associated with Internet access.

Method and system for allocating costs in a distributed computing network

BellSouth Intellectual Property Management Corporation


An improved charge transfer stage with an expanded output voltage range and high charge transfer efficiency is described. The charge transfer stage can be implemented as an output stage in a four phase clock negative charge pump system. The charge transfer stage comprises a PMOS pass transistor coupling the transfer stage input and output, a resistor between the transfer stage input and the pass transistor gate, a clock terminal, a capacitor configured PMOS transistor coupling the clock terminal to the gate of the pass transistor, and a diode from the transfer stage output to ground. When the transfer stage input goes low, charge is coupled through the resistor to pre-charge the gate of the pass transistor. The resistor has a higher junction breakdown voltage than a transistor which allows the gate of the pass transistor to be driven to a larger voltage. To provide sufficient charge to turn on the pass transistor, a logic high level greater than the power supply, such as 2 VCC, can be used for the clock signal coupled through the capacitor configured transistor to the gate of the pass transistor. To prevent the 2 VCC logic high level from forward biasing the p-n junction formed by the source and drain of the PMOS capacitor configured transistor with the well, the source, drain and well are coupled together. The charge transfer stage also includes a p-n junction diode coupled from the output of the stage to ground.

Charge pumps are commonly used in flash and other types of memory devices to provide voltages outside of the range of ground to the power supply voltage. In some flash memory devices, charge pumps are used to generate large negative voltages, such as -11 V, to erase or program memory cells. Other flash memory devices use large positive voltages to erase or program memory cells.
An eight stage charge pump using a four phase clock is illustrated in FIG. 1. The charge pump system is comprised of eight charge pump stages 110-117, an output circuit 118, and a four phase clock generator 119. The four clock signals generated by clock 119 are labeled .phi.1, .phi.1A, .phi.2 and .phi.2A. The eight charge pumps are connected in series so that the output of each charge pump provides a larger magnitude output voltage than the previous charge pump. The charge pump system of FIG. 1 is a negative charge pump system. A conventional circuit for charge pump stages 110-117 is illustrated FIG. 2. A conventional circuit for output stage 118 is illustrated in FIG. 3. A timing diagram of the clock signals in the charge pump system is shown in FIG. 4.
The charge pump system of FIG. 1 transfers negative charge from one charge pump stage to the next charge pump stage, and ultimately to NOUT 132. The system also transfers positive charge back through preceding charge pump stages to ground. The FIG. 2 charge pump circuit includes clock terminals OCK 220 and GCK 222, capacitor configured PMOS transistors P204 and P205 coupled to the clock terminals, PMOS pass transistor P201 coupled to IN 226 and OUT 224, and diode configured pull-down PMOS transistor P206. In operation, at stage 114 when the .phi.1 clock signal coupled to OCK 220 goes high at time t3 shown in FIG. 4, positive charge is coupled through the large capacitor formed by capacitor configured PMOS transistor P205 to node 224. At this time, the clock signal coupled to GCK 222 is low and PMOS pass transistor P201 is on. Positive charge is thereby coupled through transistor P201 and IN 226 to the preceding charge pump stage, stage 113.
When the .phi.2A clock signal goes high at GCK 222 in stage 114 at time t5, positive charge is coupled through the small capacitor formed by capacitor configured PMOS transistor P204. This positive charge increases the voltage of node 210 and turns off PMOS pass transistor P201. When the positive charge coupled through P204 increases the voltage of node 210 beyond a threshold voltage above the OUT 224 voltage, this turns on PMOS transistor P203. Transistor P203 couples the excess positive charge from node 210 to IN 226. The positive charge is incrementally coupled through each of the preceding charge pump stages and eventually to ground. Transistor P203 turns off when the node 210 voltage is reduced to within a threshold voltage of the OUT 224 voltage. At this point the node 210 voltage is still high enough to keep transistor P201 off.
When the .phi.1 clock signal goes low at OCK 220 in stage 114 at time t6, it couples negative charge to node OUT 224. With transistor P201 off this negative charge is coupled to the next charge pump stage, stage 115, through OUT 224. This process of transferring positive charge to the preceding stage, and negative charge to the next stage is repeated at each charge pump stage.
The conventional output stage 118 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes PMOS pass transistor P301, three diode configured PMOS transistors P307-P309, a capacitor configured PMOS transistor P302 and a discharge PMOS transistor P303. In operation when the OCK clock signal at the preceding charge pump stage goes low, for example, signal .phi.2 at time t2 shown in FIG. 4, this couples negative charge to the IN 324 node. This negative charge is coupled through diode configured transistor P303 to pre-charge node 310. Node 310 is thereby pre-charged down to a diode drop above the IN 324 voltage. At time t4, when the .phi.2A signal goes low, this couples negative charge to node 310. The drop in the node 310 voltage turns PMOS pass transistor P301 on which allows the negative charge from IN 324 to pass through to OUT 326. At time t5 .phi.2A goes high at the output stage GCK terminal. This couples positive charge to node 310. When the node 310 voltage rises a threshold voltage above the IN 324 voltage, PMOS transistor P303 turns on. Node 310 then discharges through transistor P303 until the node 310 voltage is brought up to a threshold voltage below the IN 324 voltage. This process is repeated, and after a number of clock cycles, a large negative output voltage is provided at NOUT 132.
As the magnitude of the negative output voltage increases in the charge pump, the junction breakdown voltage limits the output voltage range. The voltage at the gate, node 310, of PMOS pass transistor P301 must be a threshold voltage below the OUT 326 voltage to turn transistor P301 on. The threshold voltage V.sub.T for PMOS transistors increases with the bulk (substrate) to source voltage according to the equation V.sub.T =V.sub.TO -g(sqrt(.phi.+V.sub.BS)-sqrt(.phi.)), where V.sub.BS is the bulk to source voltage, V.sub.TO is threshold voltage for V.sub.BS =0, g is the bulk threshold parameter and .phi. is the strong inversion surface potential. As the negative output voltage at each stage is increased the bulk to source voltage increases, and therefore a larger negative voltage is required at the gate of transistor P301 to turn the transistor on. Furthermore, to drive the output voltage negative quickly the node 310 voltage should be driven lower than the threshold voltage. In one semiconductor process, the junction breakdown voltage is -13 V. The node 310 voltage is then self-limited to -13 V. With a threshold voltage of -2.5 V, the conventional output stage of FIG. 3 would be unable to provide a -11 V OUT 326 voltage because of the inability to drive node 310 beyond -13 V. The junction breakdown voltage limits the current drive capability of PMOS transistor for output voltages near -11 V because of the inability to provide a sufficiently large overdrive voltage at node 310. Attempts to drive node 310 to a negative voltage larger than -13 V could cause the p+ source to n-well junction of PMOS transistor P303 to breakdown, which could in turn cause a latch-up condition or an operational error.
Thus an improved charge pump stage that overcomes these and other problems of the prior art would be highly desirable.


An abrasive drive shaft atherectomy device for removing stenotic tissue from an artery. The device includes a flexible, elongated drive shaft having a central lumen for receipt of a guide wire therein and around which the drive shaft may be rotated. The drive shaft is made from one or more helically wound wires. Wire turns of the proximal segment of the drive shaft have a generally constant diameter. Wire turns of a segment of the drive shaft near its distal end have an enlarged diameter. At least part of the enlarged diameter segment includes an external coating of an abrasive material to define an abrasive segment of the drive shaft which, when rotated at high speeds, is usable to remove stenotic tissue from an artery. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes a bushing disposed in the enlarged diameter segment for supporting the enlarged diameter turns of the drive shaft. A gap may be provided in the turns of the drive shaft to permit imaging therethrough by an ultrasound imaging device disposed in the central lumen of the drive shaft. Preferably the drive shaft is made from inner and outer coaxial wire layers helically wound in opposite directions so that the outer layer tends to radially contract and the inner layer tends to radially expand when the drive shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction. In one such embodiment, a toroidal collar is positioned between the inner and outer layers of the enlarged diameter abrasive segment of the drive shaft.

A variety of techniques and instruments have been developed for use in the removal or repair of tissue in arteries and similar body passageways. A frequent objective of such techniques and instruments is the removal of atherosclerotic plaques in a patient's arteries. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the buildup of fatty deposits (atheromas) in the intimal layer (under the endothelium) of a patient's blood vessels. Very often over time, what initially is deposited as relatively soft cholesterol-rich atheromatous material hardens into a calcified atherosclerotic plaque. Such atheromas restrict the flow of blood, and therefore often are referred to as stenotic lesions or stenoses, the blocking material being referred to as stenotic material. If left untreated, such stenoses can cause angina, hypertension, myocardial infarction, strokes and the like.
Several kinds of atherectomy devices have been developed for attempting to remove some or all of such stenotic material. In one type of device, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,134 (issued to Auth), a rotating buff covered with an abrasive cutting material such as diamond grit (diamond particles or dust) is carried at the distal end of a flexible drive shaft. The ability of diamond dust covered buffs to remove human soft tissue at high surface speeds (e.g., small diameter buffs rotated at about 200,000 rpm) has been known for some time and has been utilized in dentistry since at least the early 1980's to remove soft gum tissue (see, e.g., "Premier Two Striper.RTM. Gingival Curettage" (Abrasive Technology, Inc. 1982); "Premier Two Striper's Crown & Bridge Techniques" (Abrasive Technology, Inc. 1981); H. Gilmore, et. al, Operative Dentistry (C. V. Mosby Company 1982, 4th ed.), pp. 64-65, 69, 348-350; R. Tupac, et al., "A Comparison of Cord Gingival Displacement With the Gingitage Technique," Journal of Prosthetic (Nov. 1981, pp.509-515); and Premier Presents Two Striper.RTM. Dental Diamond Instruments (Abrasive Technology, Inc. 1989). The buff in the Auth device and in such dental devices is rotated at speeds in the range of 20,000 to 200,000 rpm or more, which, depending on the diameter of the buff, can provide surface speeds of the abrasive particles on the buff in the range of 40 ft/sec. Auth claims that at surface speeds below 40 ft/sec the abrasive buff will remove hardened atherosclerotic material but will not damage normal elastic soft tissue of the vessel wall. Auth also admits that at surface speeds above 40 ft/sec the abrasive burr will remove both hardened and soft tissue. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,134 at col. 3, lines 20-23.
Unfortunately, not all atherosclerotic plaques are hardened, calcified atherosclerotic plaques. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the soft plaques are very often quite close to the mechanical properties of the soft wail of the vessel. Thus, one cannot safely rely entirely on the differential cutting properties of such abrasive burrs to remove atherosclerotic material from an arterial wall, particularly where one is attempting to remove all or almost all of the atherosclerotic material. See, e.g., Atherectomy, A Physicians Guide, (Strategic Business Development, Inc., 1990), pp. 89, 94-96. Furthermore, in clinical practice, the Auth buff is virtually always rotated at speeds of at least about 155,000 rpm. At such speeds a diamond dust covered buff with a diameter of 1.5 mm achieves a surface speed of 40 ft/sec, the very speed at which the differential cutting effect becomes limited, at best (i.e., the buff removes both hard and soft tissue).
Thus, a significant drawback has been recognized in use of the Auth-type of buff. Although under some conditions the differential cutting properties of such buffs are effective to protect healthy tissue, in many circumstances the buff nevertheless can abrade at least a portion of the healthy tissue, creating a risk of perforation. This is particularly true at higher rotational speeds. A majority of atherosclerotic lesions are asymmetrical (i.e., the atherosclerotic plaque is thicker on one side of the artery than on the other). Moreover, pressure of the buff against the atherosclerotic plaque is achieved only by the use of a buff having a diameter slightly larger than the opening through the stenotic passageway. Thus, since the stenotic material will be entirely removed on the thinner side of an eccentric lesion before it will be removed on the other, thicker side of the lesion, during removal of the remaining thicker portion of the atherosclerotic plaque the buff necessarily will be engaging healthy tissue on the side which has been cleared---indeed, lateral pressure by such healthy tissue against the buff is required to keep the buff in contact with the remaining stenotic tissue on the opposite wall of the passageway. Thus, in clinical practice (balancing safety and residual stenosis), physicians typically used an undersized buff and are not able to remove the entire stenosis--e.g., on a patient having a coronary artery with an original diameter estimated to be 3 mm, rarely would a physician use a buff diameter of more than about 2 mm. See, e.g., Atherectomy, A Physicians Guide, (Strategic Business Development, Inc., 1990), p. 96. These risks are enhanced at high rotational speeds where the differential cutting phenomenon is significantly diminished.
Typically, fluoroscopy is utilized to assist the physician in placing the Auth-type buff in the general location of a stenosis in an artery. This imaging technique does not provide cross-sectional imaging of the artery and, thus, significantly limits the ability of the physician to monitor in real-time the actual removal of stenotic tissue. As a result, the physician's ability to thoroughly remove the stenotic lesion is limited. Unfortunately, conventional intravascular ultrasound imaging equipment, which allows cross-sectional imaging of the arteries, cannot be used simultaneously with the Auth-type device for two reasons. First, the Auth buff itself completely occludes the stenotic portion of the artery during the procedure and therefore leaves no room for an intravascular ultrasound catheter to be positioned in the arterial passageway next to the buff. Second, the Auth-type buff is not sonolucent and therefore will not permit ultrasonic imaging from inside of the buff.
In addition, the Auth device has three drawbacks due to the fact that a separately manufactured abrasive buff must be attached to (or near) the distal end of the flexible drive shaft:
(1) First, the connection between the buff and the drive shaft is critical, in that it must be secure against failure. This requirement therefore adds to the cost of producing the device. PA1 (2) Second, the size of the burr, particularly the diameter of the buff, necessarily limits the ability of the device to safely initiate opening of very tight stenotic lesions, particularly those located more distally in branches of major coronary arteries. PA1 (3) Third, since the buff is made from a solid, inflexible metal, when it is used in tortuous arteries the length of the buff must be kept relatively short in order to allow the buff to navigate the bends and curves of the artery. For a buff of a given diameter, the length of the buff defines how rapidly the transition from its smallest diameter (close to the diameter of the drive shaft) to its maximum diameter must occur. A longer burr may have a more gently sloping profile, while a shorter buff must have a steeper profile. Thus, the inflexibility of the Auth-type buff requires the buff to be relatively blunt. PA1 (1) the invention does not require a separately manufactured buff to be attached to the drive shaft; PA1 (2) the overall diameter of the abrasive segment for a given drive shaft can be made significantly smaller than an abrasive buff for the same diameter drive shaft, thereby allowing treatment of extremely tight stenotic lesions, particularly those located more distally in major coronary arteries or branches of such arteries; PA1 (3) the abrasive segment can be made flexible and can be made longer (than an Auth-type buff of the same diameter), thus allowing the abrasive segment to have a very gently sloping profile, permitting, as a result, treatment of even very tortuous arteries; and PA1 (4) the invention permits use of intravascular ultrasound imaging to monitor the removal of stenotic tissue as it is being removed, thus reducing the risk of perforation, particularly at high rotational speeds where the differential cutting phenomenon is significantly reduced.

Abrasive drive shaft device for rotational atherectomy


A head treatment device comprises a frame mountable on the head of a user, wherein the frame has at least one treatment area that will generally not obstruct the vision of the user when wearing the frame. The frame defines a vision area around at least one eye of the user when the user is wearing the device such that the user can see through the vision area. The device further comprises a treatment mechanism attachable to the treatment area of the frame, wherein the treatment mechanism extends between the face of the user of the device and the frame. A mounting device is associated with the treatment mechanism to connect the treatment mechanism to the treatment area of the frame, wherein the head treatment device is used to treat the head of the user through association of the head of the user with the treatment mechanism.

Ice and cooling therapies have become a standard medical treatment of post-operative care, traumatic wounds, sports injuries and other injuries to the body. The benefits of cooling therapy include decreased blood loss, bruising, swelling, pain sensation and an increase in the rate of recovery. Alternatively, there are instances when heat therapy is desired.
The eye area is subject to swelling and "puffiness" through genetic predisposition, the aging process, sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, smoke, allergies, and late nights. Cosmetic eyelid surgery is the third most popular elective cosmetic procedure in the United States of America. Consistent with other injuries and post-surgery procedures, physicians recommend immediate post-operative cooling to the affected areas. Furthermore, in everyday living to soothe the eye area and head area, individuals may wish to apply heat, cold or therapeutic mixtures around the eye areas or to their faces and heads.
Cool pad therapy can be beneficial in providing comfort to the eye, temple, and sinus areas related to headaches, allergy symptoms, eye strain, fatigue, edema, swelling, hangover discomfort, hot or cold climate relief, and after aesthetic treatments including Botox, fillers, massage, surgery, and lasers. Heat pad and pads with natural and prepared mixtures can also be beneficial.


A fiber optical audio preamplifier receives audio signals from an audio source, amplifies the audio signals, and transfers the signals to a power amplifier. The fiber optical audio preamplifier has at least one first signal converter. Each first signal converter acquires one audio signal from one audio source and converts the audio signal to a modulated light signal. At least one fiber optic volume control device that includes a variable optical attenuator that is connected to receive the modulated light signal. A control signal for sets an attenuation factor of the variable optical attenuator for attenuating the modulated light signal to control volume of the audio signal. One second signal converter is in communication with each fiber optic volume control device to receive the attenuated modulated light signal and demodulate the attenuated modulated light signal to recover the audio signal for transmission to the power amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to sound reproduction systems. More particularly, this invention relates to preamplification devices that receive audio signals from sound generation sources such as compact disc players, digital video disk players, microphones, and acoustic pickups or transducers on musical instruments, amplify the audio signals for transfer to a power amplifier and then to a speaker for sound reproduction. Even more particularly, this invention relates to the preamplification of audio signals by way of an optical preamplification device.
2. Description of Related Art
Audio/Visual systems such as home entertainment systems or sound reproduction systems for theaters and auditoriums must transfer audio and/or video signals from sound and video generation equipment to speakers or video displays. The sound generation equipment is often connected to a preamplifier. The audio signals from the sound generation equipment often has a very low amplitude, which, if transmitted for relatively long distances on a cable, would be highly attenuated and distorted. To compensate for this attenuation, the preamplifier amplifies and conditions the audio signal for transmission of the audio signal on a cable to a power amplifier. The preamplified audio signal can then be transmitted on a cable to the power amplifier. It is more desirable to transmit the audio signal from preamplifier to the power amplifier for longer distances. The power amplifier being closer to the sound reproduction transducers or speakers to minimize losses in the cables. Further, a preamplifier selects an input audio signal from multiple audio sources; controls output volume level; adjusts (amplify or attenuate) the output signal level to the optimal level for the input of power amplifier. A good preamplifier must have a broad range of frequency response, so the source signal won't be degraded.
One of the most common connector utilized for connecting audio and video systems, is what is commonly referred to as an "RCA" connector, variations of which are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,564,942 (Lee) and 5,676,565 (Vagnoni). The "RCA" connector consists of a cylindrical member adapted for connection at one end to a cable and having a pin and a contact, or ground, sleeve projecting from the other end. The pin engages in a corresponding socket in a terminal, or jack, to form the "positive" connection. The contact sleeve extends over a cylindrical flange of the jack in an interference fit to form the "negative", or ground, connection. As a result, current can flow to the audio/visual reproduction devises from the audio/visual generation equipment connected to the other end of a cable connected between two of the "RCA connectors. The "RCA connector" is a common term that is also referred to commonly as "audio jack connectors", "phono-connectors", and the like.
Audio/visuals systems used in theaters, auditoriums, and recording studios generally use a three-pin XLR connector such as those manufactured by ITT Industries, Cannon, Santa Ana, Calif., 92705-5612. These audio/visual systems commonly utilize a "balanced" circuit that requires two signal conductors. The XLR connector incorporates from two to seven contacts and a shielding to provide a ground referencing for the cabling.
In auditorium and theaters, the cables from the preamplier may very long distances (>10 meters). At this great a distance from the speakers or the video displays, the signal quality is degraded. Electronic noise from induced spurious electronic signals, from ground differentials, and from the electrical characteristics of the cables themselves contributes to the lower quality signal. This limits the distance of that the audio and/or video generation devices are from the speakers and/or the video displays.
"A Digital Multiplexed Fiber Optic Transmission System for Analog Audio Signals", Lee, et al., WESCANEX '91' IEEE Western Canada Conference on Computer, Power and Communications Systems in a Rural Environment, May 30, 1991, pp.: 146-149, provides for distribution of multiple high-fidelity audio signals over distances up to several kilometers in commercial and institutional settings. A fiber-optic system for six channels employs time division multiplexing to transmit six audio signals over a single optical fiber. The transmission circuitry is simplified by the use of a second fiber to transmit the system clock frequency.
"Fiber Optic Link For Digital Audio Interface", Sakura, et al., IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, August 1988, pp.: 667-670, Volume: 4, Issue: 3, describes a fiber optic link for digital audio interfaces that is able to transmit 3 Mb/s biphase signals up to 10 m with the pulse-width distortion at less than + or −25 ns.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,139 (Curtis, et al.) describes a powered volume control for distributed audio system for multiple remote speakers. An amplifier or signal conditioner is provided having a dual channel amplified signal from a high impedance source. The amplified or conditioned signal is provided to a plurality of remotely located powered volume controls having high input impedance and further having internal amplifiers which provide a dual or mono-channel amplified signal having an amplitude or magnitude determined by a user variable adjustment device. The amplified signal is then provided to one or more remote speakers. Each volume control is designed for in-wall installation in a single-gang wall box and may be covered by an ornamental face plate. The system is also designed to utilize existing four conductor speaker wire for installation or retrofitting existing distributed audio systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,169 (Juszkiewicz, et al.) teaches an audio communications and control system that includes a plurality of audio devices each of which includes a device interface module for communication of digital audio data and control data from at least one of the devices to at least one other of the devices. A universal data link is operatively connected to each of the device interface modules. The device interface modules and universal data links are operative in combination to connect the devices together in the system and provide full duplex communication of the digital audio data and control data between the devices.
U.S. Patent Application 2003/0035556 (Curtis, et al.) provides an audio distribution system is provided for communicating audio signals between one or more audio sources and a plurality of remote speakers. The system includes at least one audio source for generating an audio signal, and amplified volume controls placed remotely from the audio source. The volume controls are operative to receive and amplify the audio signal to power associated speakers. A power supply is also placed remotely from one or more of the volume controls, for generating a power supply to power all volume controls. An audio/power distribution network is connectable to the audio source, power supply and volume controls, for communicating the audio signal and power supply signal throughout the network. A plurality of audio/power distribution nodes are connected to the audio/power distribution network for interfacing the audio source, power supply and volume controls to the distribution network. The power supply and audio source may be connected to any of the distribution nodes to provide audio signal and power to each of the volume controls.

Laser audio preamplifier, volume control, and multiplexer


Systems and methods for circuits with substantially equal propagation delay while providing different drive strengths are disclosed. These systems and methods may allow for a circuit with a drive strength that is some ratio of an arbitrary strength full drive strength circuit. Additionally, these circuits may have substantially the same input capacitance and feedback current as the baseline drive circuit. The input of such a circuit may be coupled to three nodes, one of which is an inverter coupled to the logic to be driven, the second of which is dummy logic, and the third of which is an inverter the output of which is left floating.

With the advent of the computer age, electronic systems have become a staple of modern life. Part and parcel with this spread of technology comes an ever greater drive for more functionality from these electronic systems. A microcosm of this quest for increased functionality is the size and capacity of various semiconductor devices. From the 8 bit microprocessor of the original Apple I, through the 16 bit processors of the original IBM PC AT, to the current day, the processing power of semiconductors has grown while the size of these semiconductors has consistently been reduce. In fact, Moore's law recites that the number of transistors on a given size piece of silicon will double every 18 months.
As semiconductors have evolved into these complex systems utilized in powerful computing architectures, almost universally, the frequency at which these semiconductors devices operate has been increasing. These modern high-performance systems are designed with a target clock frequency. The clock frequency determines the processing speed of the system.
The continuous quest for higher semiconductor performance has pushed clock frequencies deep into the gigahertz frequency range, reducing the period of the clock signal well below a nanosecond. As the working frequency of advanced semiconductor systems has entered the gigahertz domain, designing clock distribution networks for these semiconductor devices becomes much more challenging.
Clock distribution networks are used to distribute a clock signal to the circuits on a semiconductor device that require that clock. An embodiment for one methodology for distributing clock signals within a semiconductor device, known as a clock distribution tree is depicted in FIG. 1. A clock signal may be produced by a phase locked loop (PLL) 110 on semiconductor device 100. Areas 120, 130 on semiconductor device 100 may utilize the clock signal produced by PLL 110. Thus, the clock signal produced by PLL 110 may be distributed to areas 120, 130 by a clock distribution tree. As clocks are used to drive processors or to synchronize the data distribution between or among gates or circuits in areas 120, 130, design of these clock distribution networks have become an important part of semiconductor design.
In particular, clock skew, which is defined as the time difference between clock transitions within a system, can have a large impact on the overall performance of a semiconductor. As speeds are increasing, clock periods are getting shorter, and, hence, skews are becoming more of a problem. The primary objective of a clock distribution tree is therefore to minimize the signal skew at sinks with minimal phase delay, wire length, area and power consumption. Deviations of the clock signal produced by PLL 110 from a target delay can cause incorrect data to be latched within a register in areas 120 or 130, resulting in the malfunction of semiconductor 100. These deviations of the delay of a signal from a target value are described as delay uncertainty. The uncertainty of the clock signal delay is caused by a number of factors that affect a clock distribution tree, examples of which include process and environmental parameter variations. Effects such as the non-uniformity of the gate oxide thickness and imperfections in the polysilicon etching process can cause variations in the current flow within a transistor, thereby introducing delay uncertainty. In addition, variations in the geometric parameters of the interconnect wires introduce uncertainty in the signal characteristics.
More specifically, the length of the clock distribution tree between PLL 110 and areas 120, 130 introduces signal delay. Inserting buffers along an interconnect line in the clock distribution tree between PLL 110 and areas 120, 130 may help alleviate the dependence of the signal propagation delay on the line length of clock distribution tree between PLL 110 and areas 120, 130, permitting an interconnect line between PLL 110 and areas 120, 130 to behave more akin to a simple capacitive line.
Typically, clock buffers are inserted in a bottom-up approach, starting from the leaves of the clock distribution tree (i.e. the clocked elements) at the lowest level and advancing towards the root of the clock distribution tree. When an intermediate node in the tree is reached, the total load from that node to the bottom of the clock distribution tree is the summation of the capacitive load of the interconnect lines and the clocked elements which exist from that node to the bottom of the clock distribution tree. The magnitude of this downstream load may determine the size of the inserted buffer.
FIG. 2 represents one embodiment of the semiconductor device of FIG. 1 with buffers inserted in the clock distribution tree. Buffers 250, 260 are utilized in conjunction with the clock distribution tree in order to distribute a clock generated by PLL 210 to clocked elements in areas 220, 230 and any clocked elements downstream of these areas 220, 230.
One embodiment of a circuit suitable for implementing buffers 250, 260 is presented in FIG. 3. A clock signal is input to inverter 310 which drives the clock signal through the clock distribution tree to downstream logic 320, including clocked elements. Thus, circuit 300 may drive the clock signal into capacitance load C of logic 320. Suppose, however, the capacitance load of the logic into which buffer 260 is driving a signal is half the capacitance load of the logic into which buffer 250 is driving a signal. In this case, the inverter of buffer 260 may be half the strength of the inverter of buffer 250. This means that the input impedance of buffer 260 may be roughly half of that of buffer 250. In order for buffers 250, 260 to be more effective, however, ideally buffers 250, 260 would be easy to implement, and have the same input impedance in order to achieve the same timing signal propagation while simultaneously having different output driveability to optimize power consumption.
Thus, a need exists for circuits which have substantially equal propagation delay and timing skew where these circuits are operable to provide different drive strengths.

Method and system for a circuit for timing sensitive applications


A wireless communication terminal for identifying types of received short messages using indicator icons, and a method for displaying indicator icons using the same. The wireless communication terminal comprises a storage unit for storing indicator icons corresponding respectively to types of serviceable short messages such that they are identifiable according to the types of the serviceable short messages, a display unit for displaying the indicator icons corresponding respectively to the types of the short messages on a screen, a communication unit for communicating with an external communications device and receiving a short message transmitted from the external device, a determiner for determining a type of the short message received by the communication unit on the basis of the indicator icons stored in the storage unit, and a controller for extracting one of the indicator icons corresponding to the determined short message type from the storage unit and controlling the display unit to display the extracted indicator icon on the screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal that is capable of providing a short message service and a method for displaying indicator icons using the same, and more particularly to a wireless communication terminal that is capable of setting indicator icons according to the types of serviceable short messages and displaying one of the set indicator icons corresponding to the type of a received short message to enable a user to more readily identify the received short.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the rapid advance of the communication industry and the rapid growth of mobile communication services, mobile communication terminals (referred to hereinafter as wireless communication terminals) have practically become a necessity of life. In order to meet users' various requests for improved functions, such wireless communication terminals have a variety of functions, in addition to a basic mobile wireless telephony function. Such additional functions may be, for example, a short message service (SMS), an MP3 function, wireless Internet, a camera, a TV, VOD (Video on Demand), etc.
Consequently, the number of users sending and receiving short messages using wireless communication terminals has recently increased rapidly. The short message service has gained considerable popularity among users because its usage fee is much lower than that for a voice call service. Here, the short message service includes a text message service and a voice message service. The text message service is a service used when a sender edits a text and/or image using a wireless communication terminal and/or computer and sends the edited result to a wireless communication terminal of a recipient. The voice message service is a service, which is provided by a base station to transmit a message, sent to a voice mailbox by a sender, to a wireless communication terminal of a recipient.
In general terms, a conventional wireless communication terminal, upon receiving a short message, displays an indicator icon on an icon display area of a screen so that a user can confirm the reception of the short message. However, the conventional wireless communication terminal displays the same indicator icon on the screen irrespective of the type of the received short message. At this time, the displayed indicator icon generally has an "envelope" figure. As a result, it is impossible for the user to identify the type of the received short message only by seeing the indicator icon displayed on the screen.
On the other hand, provided that the conventional wireless communication terminal has an external screen, upon receiving one text message, it can display a part of the contents of the received message on the external screen. However, if a new short message is received under this condition, then the wireless communication terminal displays some of the contents of the received new message on the screen instead of the contents of the message being currently displayed on the screen. For this reason, the user has the inconvenience of having to identify the type of a short message received and stored in a short message inbox by conducting a key operation using menu keys provided in the wireless communication terminal, in order to determine whether the received short message is a text message or voice message.
The conventional wireless communication terminal has a further disadvantage in that it is impossible for the user to recognize the number of short messages received, but not confirmed by himself/herself, and/or short messages newly received in his/her absence through the indicator icon displayed on the screen. For this reason, the user must check the short message inbox using the menu keys in the wireless communication terminal to recognize the number of non-confirmed short messages, or short messages newly received in his/her absence.

Wireless communication terminal for identifying and indicating short message types using indicator icons and method thereof


The present invention relates to a light-emitting device that is capable of preventing an increase in forward voltage while improving optical output characteristics, and to a method for manufacturing same. The light-emitting device comprises: a first conductive semiconductor layer; an active layer which is in contact with the first conductive semiconductor layer; a second conductive semiconductor layer which is in contact with the active layer and which has a patterned groove on a surface opposite the surface that is in contact with the active layer; a current-blocking layer which is formed on a bottom of the groove; a transparent conductive layer which is formed along a surface opposite the surface of the second conductive semiconductor layer that is in contact with the active layer, a sidewall of the groove, and the current-blocking layer; a reflective layer which is formed on a surface opposite the surface of the transparent conductive layer that is in contact with the second conductive semiconductor layer; a support substrate which is formed on a surface opposite the surface of the reflective layer that is in contact with the transparent conductive layer; and an electrode that is patterned on a surface opposite the surface of the first conductive semiconductor layer that is in contact with the active layer.

A light-emitting device is a device to emit light to outside by converting electric energy into light energy. As an example of such light-emitting device, there is a light-emitting diode (LED).
Recently, gallium nitride (GnN)-based LEDs are implemented as LEDs of red, green and blue (RGB) which can implement high brightness and white light owing to a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of GaN, a growth method such as a molecular-beam epitaxial growth (MBE), and novel processing technology.
Such GnN-based LEDs are applied to a display, a backlight unit, an indoor/outdoor lighting device, etc. As the GnN-based LEDs are applied to an optical source for illumination, concern over LEDs of high output is increased.
The conventional LEDs of a horizontal structure have a low thermal conductivity because they are formed on an insulating substrate such as a sapphire substrate. Further, in the conventional LEDs of a horizontal structure, a process of removing part of an active layer is required for an ohmic contact between the active layer and an electrode, since an electrode is formed in a horizontal direction. This may cause a light-emitting area to be reduced, and a forward voltage may be increased due to current crowding.
In order to solve such problems, LEDs of a vertical structure is being spotlighted.
In the LEDs of a vertical structure, two electrodes and electrode pads are positioned at upper and lower sides of the LEDs as a sapphire substrate is removed by a laser lift-off (LLF) process. Under such structure, a current flows in one direction to enhance light-emitting efficiency and brightness.
However, in a case where the current is concentrated to a central part below an 'n'-type electrode formed on an 'n'-type semiconductor layer in the LEDs of a vertical structure, photons generated by recombination between electrons and holes in the active layer are concentrated to the central part below the 'n'-type electrode. Then a large amount of the generated photons are absorbed to the 'n'-type electrode. In this case, an effective light emission region, a region rather than the 'n'-type electrode may be reduced, thereby lowering light-emitting efficiency and brightness of the LEDs of a vertical structure.
In order to solve such problems, has been developed a structure to form a current-blocking layer (an insulating region) by depositing an insulating material or injecting ions on/into part of a 'p'-type semiconductor layer in the LEDs of a vertical structure.
Such current-blocking layer induces a current flow concentrated to a region below the 'n'-type electrode in a vertical direction, to a horizontal direction (effective light emission region). Accordingly, light-emitting intensity in the effective light emission region is increased, and thus light-emitting efficiency and brightness are enhanced. However, the current-blocking layer reduces an ohmic contact area in the 'p'-type semiconductor layer due to its insulating characteristic, resulting in increase of a forward voltage.

Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing same

KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION


A method for monitoring a brake system for motor vehicles. The system can be actuated both by a vehicle driver and independently of the vehicle driver in what is known as a brake-by-wire mode. The hydraulic actuation device can be actuated by means of a brake pedal and has a main brake cylinder to which wheel brakes are connected, at least two brake circuits, a simulation device, which comprises at least one elastic element and gives the vehicle driver a comfortable pedal feeling, an electrically controllable pressure-providing device, which is formed by a cylinder/piston assembly, the piston of which can be actuated by an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the first measurement variable (PDBE) characterizing a position of the piston is detected. The detected measurement value of the first and second measurement variable (SDBE, PDBE) are compared to a predetermined characteristic map of the first and second measurement variables in order to monitor a functional status of the brake system.

"Brake-by-wire" brake systems are becoming ever more increasingly used in automotive technology. Such brake systems frequently comprise, besides a brake master cylinder operated by the vehicle driver, an electrically controllable pressure generating device, with which operation of the wheel brakes or the brake master cylinder occurs in the "brake-by-wire" operating mode. In order to provide a pleasant pedal feel for the vehicle driver in the "brake-by-wire" operating mode, the brake systems usually comprise a brake pedal feel simulation device. In such brake systems, the wheel brakes can also be operated without the active involvement of the vehicle driver by means of electronic signals which can be output e.g. by an electronic stability program (ESP) or a distance control system such as adaptive cruise control (ACC).
EP 1 950 112 A1 discloses a "brake-by-wire" brake system for motor vehicles having a brake-pedal-operated brake master cylinder, a pedal travel simulation device and a cylinder-piston assembly, whose piston can be operated by means of an electromechanical actuation device. The brake system comprises a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure generated by the cylinder-piston assembly and a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure generated by the brake master cylinder. In the application, no further details will be provided as to how the functioning of the brake system can be monitored.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for monitoring a brake system and a corresponding brake system, which can detect a fault in the brake system with high reliability, e.g. a leak or air ingress.
This object is achieved according to the method and brake system in accordance with this invention.

Method for monitoring a brake system and brake system