A system and method are provided for mounting, removing and retaining brake pads in disc brakes, such as air-operated disc brakes utilized on commercial vehicles, in a manner which does not require the use of separate brake pad retaining devices while providing positive retention of the brake pad. A preferred embodiment includes a brake caliper mount having brake pad abutment surfaces having radially-oriented and lateral grooves which permit a brake pad with corresponding projections on is lateral sides to be inserted through an opening of the brake caliper into the radially-oriented grooves until the backing plate projections are aligned with the lateral groove, and advancing the brake actuator behind the brake pad to place the brake pad in an operating position in which the actuator prevents the brake pad from realigning with the radially-oriented grooves until the actuator is retracted to permit brake pad extraction.

The present invention relates to disc brakes for vehicles, and in particular to a system and method for mounting, removing and retaining brake pads in disc brakes, such as air-operated disc brakes utilized on commercial vehicles.
Pneumatically-operated disc brakes have been undergoing development and deployment on commercial vehicles since at least the 1970's, and are beginning to replace drum-style brakes due to advantages in areas such as cooling, fade resistance and serviceability. German Patent Publication No. DE 40 32 886 A1, and in particular FIG. 1 of this document, discloses an example of such an air disc brake. In this design, a pneumatic diaphragm chamber (pneumatic actuator) is attached to a rear face of the disc brake caliper housing, and applies a brake actuation force through a linear actuator rod to a brake actuator lever within the caliper. The brake's actuator lever in turn transfers and multiplies the force applied by the actuator rod to one or more spindles, which force brake pads against a brake disc or rotor. The terms "brake disc," "rotor" and "brake rotor" are used interchangeably herein.
As shown in FIG. 1 of DE 40 32 886 A1, the actuator is located inboard of the brake caliper, in large part because commercial vehicle wheel rims are sized to only provide adequate clearance for the drum-type brakes historically employed on such vehicles. Because the resulting space envelope between the wheel and its axle is limited, the actuator must be located into the space adjacent to the wheel. For the same reason, brake pads must be configured to conform to the limited available radial space, and thus have typically been located and retained on one of the brake caliper or brake caliper carrier/mount using transverse suspension pins and/or using leaf spring-type metal strips disposed over the outer radius of the brake pads. Brake pads have also been retained by capturing the brake pads between the caliper mounting frame and the portion of the brake caliper which straddles the brake disc. (As one of ordinary skill will recognize, the same brake pad support function may be provided by a brake caliper carrier/mount designed to support the brake pads or by a brake pad carrier which is separate from the caliper mounting structure. For convenience in this description, the terms caliper carrier, caliper mount and brake pad carrier may be interchanged without intending to limit the brake par supporting structure to any specific brake pad and brake caliper carrying structure.)
Conventional commercial vehicle air disc brakes have typically required the installation of ancillary brake pad retention mechanisms, and/or use of the brake caliper itself to retain the brake pads during service. Both of these approaches, and in particular use of the brake caliper as the retention means, requires disassembly of the pad retention mechanism and/or removal of the brake caliper in order to replace worn brake pads and install new brake pads. As a result, brake pad replacement in previous air-operated disc brake designs has been a labor-intensive, and therefore costly, process.
A further problem with prior art brake pads is the tendency for the brake pad to rotate and/or vibrate during brake operation. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when a brake pad 101 is applied against a friction surface of a brake disc (not illustrated) which is rotating in direction DR, the brake disc's rotation induces motion and reaction forces between the brake pad 101 and its adjacent mount abutment surfaces (not illustrated for clarity). Specifically, at the leading edge 102 of the brake pad the brake pad attempts to move upward in direction LU in response to the friction forces along the face of the brake pad (illustrated here by force arrows across the face of brake pad 101). At the trailing edge 103 of the brake pad, the brake pad attempts to move downward in direction TD. However, because the brake pad 101 is constrained by adjacent mount abutment surfaces, the overall motion of the brake pad is generally a rotation about an axis parallel to the brake disc rotation axis. This motion may be unilateral during the brake application, or may manifest itself as a moderate-to-severe oscillation of the brake pad in its mount, significantly increasing wear of the abutting brake pad and mount surfaces.
In order to prevent undesired rotation and/or vibration of the brake pad within its mounting (for example, rotation about the brake application direction), the brake pad backing plate and the adjacent mounting bracket horns supporting the brake pads in the circumferential direction required a relatively tall radial height to minimize the amount of brake pad rotation before a corner of the backing plate contacted the adjacent mount horn (a motion referred to as "pad kick" or "pad turnout"). This relatively tall structure in turn would require the brake caliper, which is installed over the brake pads and mounting bracket, to have its corresponding opposing inner surfaces radially outboard of the mount horns be relieved enough to accommodate the outer corners of the brake pad and/or mount horns. A problem with this thinning is that because the maximum outer radius of the brake caliper is typically constrained by very tight clearance to the inside of the adjacent wheel rim, the brake caliper arms straddling the brake disc between the application side and the reaction side of the caliper may end up being thinner than desired in this region in order to accommodate both the tall carrier mount horn and the close-fitting wheel rim. This can lead to very high tensile and bending stresses in the thin region, and an undesired reduction in fatigue life and service life.
The present invention addresses these and other problems by providing a brake pad mounting and retention arrangement and method of installation and removal which provides greater ease in in-situ brake pad installation and removal, without brake caliper removal or other significant brake disassembly work. This solution is of particular significant in highly space-constrained commercial vehicle air disc brake applications, where brake pad servicing without significant brake disassembly work caliper was not previously believed to be commercially practical.
In one embodiment of the present invention the brake caliper mount pad support horns are provided with a narrow vertical groove or slot on the side of the horns facing away from the brake disc. This groove is arranged to permit the brake pad, having features of corresponding thickness one its lateral sides, to slide in the radially-inward direction down the groove, until the brake pad reaches the installed position. The horns further have lateral grooves at or near their bases extending parallel to the brake disc rotation axis, arranged to receive the side features of the brake pad, such that the brake pad may advance toward the brake disc when pushed forward by the brake caliper's actuator. During service, the brake pad is positively retained in the brake by the combination of: (i) the lateral grooves in the mount horns, preventing lifting of the brake pad out of the caliper and undue rotation of the brake pad (i.e., twisting or "tipping" of the pad in the caliper as the rotating brake disc attempts to raise one end of the brake pad while pushing down on the other end of the brake pad); (ii) the brake disc, which prevents the brake pad from advancing so far as to emerge from the mount horn lateral grooves; and (iii) by the brake application device, which prevents the brake pad from retreating so far as to reach the mount horn vertical grooves and slide out the top of the caliper.
This arrangement also facilitates easy and rapid brake pad changes, as all that is required to remove the brake pads after wheel removal is to fully withdraw the brake application device, slide the brake pad backing plate axially to reach the mount horn vertical groove, and then simply lift the brake pad out of an opening in the top of the still-installed brake caliper. A new brake pad may then be inserted into the vertical groove until the backing plate's lateral features are aligned with the lateral grooves, followed by advancing the brake application device a sufficient distance behind the brake pad to prevent its backing out of the lateral grooves.
The present invention also provides the ability to significantly lower the height of the mount horns, thereby permitting the brake caliper thickness in high-stress regions to be made thicker to increase strength and caliper service life. The geometry of the relatively compact grooves and corresponding engaging features on the brake pad backing plates ensures the amount of brake pad rotation within the carrier is significantly limited as compared to prior art arrangements. Accordingly, because there is no longer a need to provide relatively tall mount horns to limit pad rotation (as the grooves now limit pad rotation), the horns may be made shorter. With the reduction in horn height, the newly-found additional clearance between the horn and the inner surface of the brake caliper in the regions over the horns allows the caliper to be made thicker in these highly-loaded areas. The addition of caliper material in these regions provides additional load-bearing cross-sectional area, with corresponding reduction in local stress levels and increase in caliper fatigue life.
Preferably the brake pad, mount and/or brake caliper may be provided with vibration-damping features, such as spring-loaded brackets on the backing plate lateral extensions or a spring member engaging tabs on the upper surface of the backing plate and on the caliper or caliper mount.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Disc brake pad mounting and retention system and method


A linear solenoid has a moving core, a main coil, and a magnetically attractive core. The moving core is supported to be capable of sliding in an axial direction of the moving core. The main coil winds around the moving core and forms a tubular shape. The magnetically attractive core magnetically attracts the moving core based on magnetic force caused by the main coil. The linear solenoid may further have a secondary coil disposed separately from the main coil so that the secondary coil intersects with the moving core at a position corresponding to the secondary coil when the moving core moves toward the magnetically attractive core.

Conventionally, a linear solenoid is known, for example, to be used for an electromagnetic valve (see JP 2013-047554 A corresponding to US 2013/0048890 A1). Such conventional linear solenoid has a moving core, an exciting coil, and a magnetically attractive core. The moving core is supported to be capable of sliding in an axial direction of the moving core. The exciting coil winds spirally around the moving core. The magnetically attractive core magnetically attracts the moving core based on magnetic force provided by the exciting coil.
When the exciting coil is energized, the magnetically attractive core magnetically attracts the moving core. By attracting the moving core, a movable member such as the moving core and a valve moved by the moving core hits a fixed member such as a stopper and a valve seat, and a hitting noise such as an operation noise (e.g., a clicking noise) is caused. The hitting noise may be worrisome or annoying for a person. Therefore, the hitting noise due to an operation of the linear solenoid is required to decrease.


A metal diaphragm valve is disclosed, which has an improved locking mechanism capable of locking the valve in closed position. The mechanism comprises a roller that is snugly disposed in a cutout formed in the bonnet made integral with the knob which drives the diaphragm through a reciprocating plunger. The roller is made rotatable on a horizontal plane with the bonnet which is in turn turned by the knob. When the knob is turned, for an angle of 90 degrees, from the fully-opened position of the valve to the fully-closed position, the roller slips into a groove formed in a stationary member provided in the bonnet. When the roller fits into the groove, the operator can tactically feel the drop and hear a clicking sound, confirming that the valve is closed.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a metal diaphragm valve which is widely used in the fluid pipings for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and in more particular to such a device with safety means which can lock the valve in closed position.
2) Description of the Prior Art
A number of metal diaphragm valves with lock mechanism is widely used, which are capable of holding the valve in closed position. Of those conventional valves is mostly known the type which has a largely diamond-shaped knob to regulate the diaphragm for improved performance. It is so designed that the rotation of the knob is converted to a vertical reciprocation in a plunger that moves the diaphragm into contact with or away from a valve seat, thereby regulate the flow of fluid through the diaphragm.
With respect to FIGS. 4 and 5, which illustrate such a valve 23, a knob 21 is made rotatable on a horizontal plane between a first position where the valve is fully opened and a second position where the valve is fully opened. The first and second positions may be spaced by a rotational angle of 90 degrees. The flow of fluid through the diaphragm is precisely regulated by turning the knob 21 for a specific angle of degree between the first and second positions. The conventional locking mechanisms for these valves normally comprise a pair of stoppers 18 and a stopper pin 19 movable between the stoppers.
It is noted, however, that the prior-art lock mechanisms have difficulties in that the knob 21, when not fully turned to the closed position, tends to accidentally rotate by a casual touch of a hand or an object that happens to come near it. The diaphragm unwontedly lifts off from the valve seat to allow flow of the fluid, resulting in an serious accident.

Metal diaphragm valve with lock mechanism


A separator including a porous substrate, and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and including a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer. A continuous or discontinuous patterned layer is formed on the surface of the porous coating layer to allow an electrolyte solution to permeate therethrough. The continuous or discontinuous patterned layer may be formed with continuous grooves to allow an electrolyte solution to permeate therethrough. Due to this structure, the wettability of the separator with an electrolyte solution is improved, shortening the time needed to impregnate the electrolyte solution into the separator.

Recently, there has been growing interest in energy storage technologies. As the application fields of energy storage technologies have been extended to mobile phones, camcorders, notebook computers and even electric cars, efforts have increasingly been made towards the research and development of electrochemical devices. In this aspect, electrochemical devices have attracted the most attention. The development of secondary batteries capable of repeatedly charging and discharging has been the focus of particular interest. In recent years, extensive research and development has been conducted to design new electrodes and batteries for the purpose of improving capacity density and specific energy of the batteries.
Many secondary batteries are currently available. Lithium secondary batteries developed in the early 1990's have received a great deal of attention due to their advantages of higher operating voltages and much higher energy densities than conventional batteries using aqueous electrolyte solutions, such as Ni—MH batteries, Ni—Cd batteries and H2SO4—Pb batteries. However, such lithium ion batteries suffer from safety problems, such as fire or explosion, encountered with the use of organic electrolytes and are disadvantageously complicated to fabricate. In attempts to overcome the disadvantages of lithium ion batteries, lithium ion polymer batteries have been developed as next-generation batteries. However, additional research is still urgently needed to improve the relatively low capacities and insufficient low-temperature discharge capacities of lithium ion polymer batteries in comparison with lithium ion batteries.
Many companies have produced a variety of electrochemical devices with different safety characteristics. It is very important to ensure the safety of such electrochemical devices. The most important consideration for safety is that operational failure or malfunction of electrochemical devices should not cause injury to users. For this purpose, safety regulations strictly prohibit the dangers (such as fire and smoke) of electrochemical devices. In connection with the safety characteristics of a lithium secondary battery including a separator, overheating of the lithium secondary battery may cause thermal runaway or puncture of the separator may pose an increased risk of explosion. In particular, a porous polyolefin substrate commonly used as a separator of a lithium secondary battery undergoes extreme thermal shrinkage at a temperature of 100° C. or higher due to its material characteristics and production processes including elongation. This thermal shrinkage behavior may cause short circuits between a cathode and an anode.
Various proposals have been made to solve the above safety problems of electrochemical devices. For example, Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-2007-231 discloses a separator which includes a porous organic-inorganic coating layer formed by coating a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer on at least one surface of a porous substrate. However, it takes a long time for an electrolyte solution to be impregnated into the separator including the porous organic-inorganic coating layer because the separator exhibits a low affinity for the electrolyte solution. The impregnation of the separator with an electrolyte solution is particularly time-consuming in a large-capacity electrochemical device, which makes the fabrication of the electrochemical device difficult. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to improve the impregnation properties of separators with electrolyte solutions.

Separator and electrochemical device comprising the same


A ferroelectric memory device comprises a word line, first and second bit lines cross to the word line, a memory cell including a first transistor a gate of which is coupled to the word line and one of source and drain of which is coupled to the first bit line, a second transistor a gate of which is coupled to the word line and one of source and drain of which is coupled to the second bit line, and a ferroelectric cell capacitor coupled to the other of source and drain of the first and second transistor, and first and second capacitors each coupled via a switching transistor to a respective one of the first and second bit lines, wherein first and second voltages complementary to each other are applied to the first and second bit lines, via the first and second capacitors, respectively.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-316749, filed Oct. 17, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a ferroelectric memory device.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a ferroelectric memory device in which nonvolatile properties of held data has been achieved by a ferroelectric material for a memory cell capacitor.
Conventionally, there has been developed a ferroelectric memory device employing a ferroelectric material for a memory cell capacitor. Such a ferroelectric memory device requires a shorter time for a write operation as compared with a nonvolatile flash memory. Additionally, the voltage and power consumption have advantageously been lowered. However, the following problems have arisen with a conventionally proposed ferroelectric memory device.
FIG. 17 shows an exemplary configuration of a conventional ferroelectric memory device having a 2T2C type cell structure. In the case of this ferroelectric memory device, a memory cell MC (per bit) include two MOS transistors (M) and two ferroelectric capacitors (C). Thus, there is a problem that a cell area is increased.
FIG. 18 shows an exemplary configuration of a conventional ferroelectric memory device having a 1T1C type cell structure. In the ferroelectric memory device, a memory cell MC (per bit) include one MOS transistor (M) and one ferroelectric capacitor (C). Thus, a memory cell area of this structure is smaller than a memory cell area of the above described 2T2C type cell structure. However, there has been a problem that a reference potential (RPL) is required, and its design is difficult.
In addition, a large capacity cell plate drive line (PL) is provided in a conventional ferroelectric memory device, thus requiring a large driver circuit for driving the cell plate drive line. Occasionally, the area of this driver circuit has consumed about 15% of the chip size.
In recent years, there is proposed a ferroelectric memory having a plurality of unit cells coupled in series (hereinafter, referred to as a TC parallel unit serial connection type ferroelectric memory device). Each unit cell is configured so as to couple electrodes at both ends of a capacitor (C) between a source and a drain of a cell transistor (T), respectively.
FIG. 19 shows an exemplary configuration (cell structure) of a conventional TC parallel unit serial connection type ferroelectric memory device. In the figure, the electrodes of the ferroelectric capacitor C are coupled to the source and drain of an NMOS transistor M, respectively, to configure a memory cell MC. Then, a configuration is provided such that a plurality of the memory cells MC are coupled in series.
However, in the TC parallel unit serial connection type ferroelectric memory device, a memory cell MC (for example, MC7 and MC7xe2x80x2), proximal to cell plate drive lines PL and /PL, has respective different antenna ratios at both ends of the ferroelectric capacitor C. That is, the wire length between memory cells MC7 and MC7xe2x80x2 and adjacent memory cells MC6 and MC6xe2x80x2 is in the order of micrometers. In contrast, the cell plate drive lines PL and /PL have wire lengths in the order of millimeters. Because of this, for example, if a high voltage static electricity is applied to the outside of a chip when the power is turned OFF, there occurs a difference in potential induced between both electrodes of the ferroelectric capacitor C of the memory cells MC7 and MC7xe2x80x2. As a result, a high voltage is temporarily applied to the ferroelectric capacitor C of the memory cells MC7 and MC7xe2x80x2, which could cause data destruction or lowered signal strength.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ferroelectric memory device comprising: a word line; first and second bit lines cross to the word line; a memory cell including a first transistor a gate of which is coupled to the word line and one of source and drain of which is coupled to the first bit line, a second transistor a gate of which is coupled to the word line and one of source and drain of which is coupled to the second bit line, and a ferroelectric cell capacitor coupled to the other of source and drain of the first and second transistor; and first and second capacitors each coupled via a switching transistor to a respective one of the first and second bit lines; wherein first and second voltages complementary to each other are applied to the first and second bit lines, via the first and second capacitors, respectively.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ferroelectric memory device, comprising a plurality of word lines, first and second bit lines cross to the plurality of word lines, cell blocks each including a plurality of memory cells coupled in series and each including a plurality of transistors whose gate is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of word lines, and a plurality of ferroelectric cell capacitors coupled between the source and drain of the plurality of transistors, respectively, one end of the series-coupled memory cells being coupled to the first bit line, and the other end thereof being coupled to the second bit line; and first and second capacitors coupled to the first and second bit lines, respectively, via a switching transistor, wherein first and second voltages complementary to each other are applied to the first and second bit lines via the first and second capacitors, respectively.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ferroelectric memory device, comprising a plurality of memory cells coupled in series and including a plurality of cell transistors whose gate is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of ferroelectric cell capacitors coupled between the source and drain of the plurality of cell transistors, respectively, and wherein one end of the plurality of memory cells is coupled to a bit line, and the other end thereof is coupled to a plate line, the plurality of cell transistor being configured by a depression type NMOS transistor.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ferroelectric memory device, comprising a plurality of memory cells coupled in series and including a plurality of cell transistors whose gate is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of ferroelectric cell capacitors coupled between the source and drain of the plurality of cell transistors, respectively, and wherein one end of the plurality of memory cells is coupled to a bit line, and the other end thereof is coupled to a plate line, the plurality of cell transistor being configured by a PMOS transistor.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ferroelectric memory device, comprising one end of a memory cell including a cell transistor and a ferroelectric cell capacitor coupled to the cell transistor being coupled to a bit line, and the other end thereof being coupled to a plate line, a protective transistor being provided between the other end of the memory cell and the plate line.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ferroelectric memory device, comprising a plurality of memory cells coupled in series and including a plurality of cell transistors whose gate is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of ferroelectric cell capacitors coupled between the source and drain of the plurality of cell transistors, respectively, and wherein one end of the plurality of memory cells is coupled to a bit line, and the other end thereof is coupled to a plate line, a protective transistor being provided between the other end of the plurality of memory cells and the plate line.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ferroelectric memory device, comprising a plurality of memory cells coupled in series and including a plurality of cell transistors whose gate is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of ferroelectric cell capacitors coupled between the source and drain of the plurality of cell transistors, respectively, and wherein one end of the plurality of memory cells is coupled to a bit line, and the other end thereof is coupled to a plate line, and an electrostatic barrier layer including an electrically conductive layer provided above the plurality of ferroelectric cell capacitors.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ferroelectric memory device, comprising a plurality of memory cells coupled in series and including a plurality of cell transistors whose gate is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of ferroelectric cell capacitors coupled between the source and drain of the plurality of cell transistors, respectively, and wherein one end of the plurality of memory cells is coupled to a bit line, and the other end thereof is coupled to a plate line, and a plurality of electrostatic barrier layers each including an electrically conductive layer and provided above the plurality of ferroelectric cell capacitors.


A client device of a data storage system is configured to generate an aggregate object class request, or view class request, that relates to multiple objects stored by an object storage device. The aggregate object class request represents a view of the object model stored by the object storage device in a format that is specific to the perspective of the client device. In response to receiving the aggregate property file, such as from the client device, the object storage device accesses the property files associated with each of the metadata tags, retrieves the corresponding object data, and identifies the object data to the client device. With such a configuration, use of the aggregate object class request allows the client device to receive object data associated with multiple object classes with a single request or call to the object storage device.

Certain conventional data storage systems use the Common Information Model (CIM) to represent elements of a data storage system (e.g., disks, LUNs, RAID groups, subsystems, etc.). These data storage systems are managed remotely by a conventional client application running on a client computer device across a network. In order for the client device to obtain information regarding certain aspects of the data storage system, the client device issues a request for certain CIM objects maintained by the data storage system (i.e., CIM objects of a particular type).
Conventional data storage systems typically include a server device configured to, in part, store an object data model having a set of hierarchically arranged object classes. Each object class has an associated property file which characterizes instances of a CIM object class within the hierarchy. For example, conventional client side computer devices store client side property files that map to a hierarchical object data model. These can include property files for CIM classes of objects representing disks, storage processors, RAID groups, and enclosures associated with the data storage system.
In these conventional data storage systems, in response to receiving the requested CIM objects, the client device can display the CIM objects in several different ways. For example, the client device can display each of the objects as a particular component (e.g., as a button, a link, or a table) of a class of objects, thereby allowing an end user to interact with a data storage system element (e.g., disk, logical unit number or LUN, host, etc.) represented by the corresponding displayed objects.

Object building for an aggregate object class request


A welding torch includes a torch housing and, preferably, a tube bend fastenable thereto. A drive unit for feeding a welding wire is arranged in the torch housing and is formed by at least a drive roller and a pressure roller, as well as a drive motor. Part of the torch housing is designed as a component of the drive unit. A rotor, in particular a motor shaft, of the drive motor is fastened to the torch housing via a bearing or bearings to stabilize and position the rotor. A welding wire feed drive motor includes bearings, a rotor, in particular a motor shaft and a rotor winding or rotor magnets, and a stator pack, in particular stator winding or stator magnets. At least a part of the motor shaft, in particular the retention zone of a drive roller, is electrically insulated from the stator housing or base body.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a welding torch including a torch housing and, preferably, a tube bend capable of being fastened thereto, wherein a drive unit for feeding a welding wire is arranged in the torch housing and the drive unit is formed by at least one pair of rollers, in particular a drive roller and a pressure roller, as well as a drive motor.
2. Prior Art
From the prior art, it is known that drive motors used in welding torches are designed as independent assemblies. In those cases, the drive motor has its own stator house, which carries or incorporates all elements like the stator windings or stator magnets, the rotor with the stator pack, in particular rotor windings or rotor magnets, the bearings for the rotor, the end shield and a motor plate. That independent drive motor assembly is fastened to the torch housing. In order to increase the feeding power, a gearbox is fastened to the motor shaft, with a drive roller being attached to the latter to enable wire feeding with an associated pressure roll. This involves the disadvantage of requiring additional or more space, since that stator housing has to be realized in a particularly stable manner for the fixation of the bearing. Another disadvantage resides in that no optimum cooling of the drive motor is feasible, since the forming rotor heat is taken up by the stator housing and no optimum heat removal takes place on account of small cooling surfaces or respective transition resistances to the welding torch.
Another variant embodiment comprises a freely located, aircooled drive motor. Since in that case cooling is effected via the stator housing, it is disadvantageous that only a very small cooling surface is available.
GB 911 649 A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,336 A, GB 1 134 664 A, GB 1 080 125 A and GB 1 093 736 A, for instance, describe welding torch constructions including drive motors which are designed as independent assemblies including their own stator housings.

Welding torch with a torch housing and drive for welding rod transport


The present invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The graphitized vapor-grown carbon fibers used as an anode in the present invention have a specific surface area of at most 5 m.sup.2 /g and an average aspect ratio of 2-30. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises an anode comprising a cathode comprising a lithium-containing complex oxide, an anode comprising the graphitized vapor-grown carbon fibers, and an electrolyte comprising a lithium salt and a solvent. The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high capacity maintained over a broad temperature range, good cycle characteristics, a high safety and an improved load characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, more particularly to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with improved safety and load characteristics.
2. Description of Related Art
Vapor-grown carbon fibers may be produced by thermally decomposing carbon compounds at a temperature of 800.degree.-1300.degree. C. in the presence of ultrafine iron and nickel as catalyst. These vapor-grown carbon fibers are characterized by being easily converted into graphite by heat treatment. For example, graphitized vapor-grown carbon fibers obtained by heat treatment at a temperature exceeding 2800.degree. C. have fewer crystal defects, a network of carbon hexagonal lattices growing tubularly around the axis of a fiber, further similar networks layered on the network outwardly and concentrically, like growth rings of a tree. Therefore, these graphitized vapor-grown carbon fibers are highly strong and elastic, and thermally and electrically conductive.
One of the applications of these graphitized vapor-grown carbon fibers is in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, in which these carbon fibers are used as an electrode active material.
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is normally comprised of an anode, separator, cathode and electrolyte. As materials used for the anode, reference may be made to natural graphite, artificial graphite, hardly-graphitizable carbon which is so-called hard carbon, mesocarbon microbeads, pitch carbon fibers and vapor-grown carbon fibers. As materials used for the cathode, reference may be made to a lithium-containing complex oxide such as lithium cobaltate (LiCoO.sub.2), lithium manganate (LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, LiMnO.sub.2) and lithium nickelate (LiNiO.sub.2). For the electrolyte there may be used a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising a mixture of a lithium salt and an organic solvent. As the lithium salt reference may be made to LiClO.sub.4, LiPF.sub.6, LiBF.sub.4, LiAsF.sub.6 and LiCF.sub.3 SO.sub.3. As the organic solvent reference may be made to ethylene carbonate (hereinbelow often referred to as EC), propylene carbonate (hereinbelow often referred to as PC), dimethyl carbonate (hereinbelow often referred to as DMC), diethyl carbonate (hereinbelow often referred to as DEC) and methylethyl carbonate (hereinbelow often referred to as MEC).
Recently, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having excellent cycle properties have attracted attention as large-sized batteries for electric vehicles and domestic electricity storage systems.
In a lithium ion secondary battery, lithium is generally precipitated at the surface of the anode thereof in the form of needles and they sometimes pierce a separator placed between the cathode and the anode when the battery is overcharged, charging current is too heavy, or the like, so that short-circuits can easily be formed. As a result, the lithium ion secondary battery may burst or ignite. Furthermore, overcharging may cause the electrolyte to be decomposed, so that the cycle life of the lithium ion secondary battery may be reduced. On the other hand, overdischarging the battery makes a conductor having an electrode coated with active materials become dissolved, so that the cycle life of the lithium ion secondary battery is highly reduced. In order to avoid these problems, lithium ion secondary batteries are equipped with a safety device for preventing overcharging and overdischarging.
An organic solvent including a linear carbonate which has a low viscosity, e.g. a mixture of a cyclic carbonate such as ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate with a linear carbonate, has conventionally been employed as the organic solvent for the purpose of improving a lithium ion secondary battery's properties at low temperature and cycle characteristics. Prior art lithium ion secondary batteries using such a solvent as the above-mentioned have a problem in safety. The problem in safety is that the charged batteries are broken by gases formed by decomposition of the solvent in the batteries, and then ignited, because of a high temperature of the lithium ion secondary battery caused by a heavy current when, for example, the above-mentioned short-circuits are formed, artificial short-circuits are formed in a nailing test, or the like. One of the causes is that the linear carbonate has a low boiling point and a high vapor pressure, and another that an exposed area or active reaction area of a fracture of graphite crystal in the anode promotes the decomposition of the solvent, particularly an electrolytic decomposition of propylene carbonate which leads to production of gases, in other words acts a catalyst in the decomposition, and further that if the anode has an insufficient designed capacity, then lithium will be precipitated at the anode.
Prior art lithium ion secondary batteries have unsatisfactory electric conductivity as well as poor cycle characteristics. Therefore, the art has demanded secondary batteries having good cycle characteristics as well as high stability at a high load, i.e., having a high capacity in charging and discharging at a major current.
In order to improve conductivity of the electrodes, particularly the anode, a small amount of materials for improving conductivity has been added to the electrodes. This addition, however, lowers the relative amount of active materials in an electrode, which leads to a decrease in a capacity of the battery. Further, the present inventors found that such addition itself increased unsafeness of the battery. The reason is considered to be as follows. Materials for improving conductivity have a very great specific surface ratio, which differs widely from that of vapor-grown carbon fibers. Therefore addition of a very small amount of the materials to an electrode will increase an average specific surface ratio of the active materials in the electrode.

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery


In an automatic analysis device, when an external force acts on a probe guard 26 in a horizontal direction, the probe guard 26 moves in a direction escaping from the external force around a center portion 47 of a test body container installing mechanism 1, and the probe guard 26 is separated from a fixed position. An outer circumferential wall 29 of the probe guard 26 invades a test body sampling mechanism track 28, and thus a risk that a sampling nozzle 23 of a test body sampling mechanism 5 invades the test body container installing mechanism 1 is avoided by the outer circumferential wall 29. When the probe guard 26 is separated from the fixed position, this is detected, and thus the operation of the test body sampling mechanism 5 and the test body container installing mechanism 1 is stopped.

In an automatic analysis device for clinical inspections, a probe is mounted in order to suction or discharge a test body and a test reagent. The probe has a thin tip end and a sharp shape in order to dispense a small amount of test body and test reagent.
In the automatic analysis device, a structure or a countermeasure for reducing a contact risk with a probe tip end portion is required in order to ensure safety of an operator. As an example thereof is a probe guard which is a component disposed in the vicinity of a track of the probe in order to limit access to the probe tip end portion or to call attention to the probe tip end portion.
In PTL 1, as the probe guard, a test body tentacle prevention plate for guarding a finger of the operator from a sample probe is disclosed. The test body tentacle prevention plate is in the shape of a flat plate, and a vertical wall preventing the sample probe from being in contact with the finger of the operator is formed on the flat plate. Then, the test body tentacle prevention plate has a structure in which when the operator presses the test body tentacle prevention plate to an upper portion by using a hand, the test body tentacle prevention plate is moved to the upper portion of a sample disc while being rotated, and this is detected, and thus the movement of the sample probe is stopped.


Methods and apparatus for processing an online payment for an item. In one implementation, the method includes receiving information from a user corresponding to online payment for an item. The information from the user is received through a graphical user interface, and includes an authorization to pay for the item using an electronic check. The method further includes creating an electronic image of an authorized demand draft based on the authorization received from the user. The electronic image of the authorized demand draft is created directly from the information provided by the user through the graphical user interface.

The development of the Internet has created new online markets and marketplaces. For example, a user (e.g., a consumer) with an Internet connection can search for a variety of items (including, for example, physical products, services, digital media or content, and the like) provided by online merchants. Users can typically pay for items using a number of different online payment processing options. One common online payment processing option includes payment through credit cards. In a typical credit card payment purchasing scheme, a user accesses a website (e.g., of a merchant or other provider of items) and provides required personal information and a credit card number. The merchant submits a charge to a corresponding credit card company, and completes the online payment purchase with the user once the credit card company authorizes the charge. Online merchants, however, are exposed to high costs associated with fraud and charge back fees, and bear liability because typically no credit card signature is required when a user pays online using a credit card.
Another online payment processing option includes payment using electronic checks (referred to herein also as e-checks) through a funds transfer system associated with the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. The ACH network is an electronic funds transfer system governed by NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association) which sets operating rules that provide for inter-bank clearing of electronic payments for participating depository financial institutions. However, as with the credit card payment purchasing scheme, payments made using e-checks through a funds transfer system associated with the ACH network can be charged back or reversed long after a transaction date. In addition, not all financial institutions (including banks) participate in the ACH network. Other conventional e-check payment systems typically require merchants (or other check processors) to buy special check printing equipment and proprietary checks, so that the merchants can print out and then deposit physical paper copies of the consumer check. Merchants, however, must typically wait a long period of time (e.g., 5-7 days) for a printed check to clear.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved online consumer payment solution. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and apparatus for online check processing


A method for forming a thermal oxide layer on the surface of a semiconductor substrate exposed during a semiconductor fabricating process. The thermal oxide layer is to be thin to minimize silicon substrate defects caused by volume expansion. A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) layer is then formed on the thin thermal oxide layer, creating a required thickness. The thin thermal oxide layer and the CVD material layer are formed in the same CVD apparatus. As a result, a process can be simplified and a particle-leading pollution can be prevented.

Thermal oxidation is used for various semiconductor fabrication process steps such as forming isolation trench including forming a pad oxide layer and trench oxidation, or forming a thermal oxide layer which serves as a buffer during ion implantation. Thermal oxidation also includes an oxidation process after gate patterning, and includes an oxidation process for forming a capacitor dielectric layer. Thermal oxidation is typically performed in a furnace at a high temperature (800° C. to 1100° C.) of an oxidizing ambient, and can be classified into wet and dry thermal oxidation depending on the oxidizing ambient. During thermal oxidation, a silicon substrate is consumed (0.44 micrometer with respect to every 1 micrometer of growing thermal oxide layer) and a volume expansion occurs (2.2 times the consumed silicon). Such a volume expansion results in the formation of shallow pits in the silicon substrate because of excessive thermal oxidation after trench etching for device isolation.
Unfortunately, thermal oxidation is indispensable for semiconductor fabrication. For example, if thermal oxidation is not performed following gate patterning, the characteristics of a gate oxide layer can be degraded even if defects are not created in a semiconductor substrate. Further, during the formation of a shallow trench isolation ("STI") structure, if thermal oxidation is not performed following gate patterning, junction leakage currents (N+/P leakage currents) can increase.
FIG. 11 shows the distribution of cumulative junction leakage currents with and/without thermal oxidation. In FIG. 11, a P-type substrate is grounded and a voltage of 2.5V is applied to an N+ area (1015 atoms/cm2). As shown, the characteristics of leakage currents without oxidation was poor as compared to that of leakage currents with oxidation. FIG. 12 shows the degradation of a gate oxide layer without the thermal oxidation process. As can be seen, the gate oxide layer is thinner at the edge of an active region than at other regions.
It is ideal that thermal oxidation proceed with minimal thickness and the silicon substrate be conserved to reduce stress resulting from volume expansion. By contrast, a thicker thermal oxide layer is typically required following the formation of a trench in a substrate. If the thermal oxide layer is not sufficiently thick, a tunneling phenomenon might occur. That is, when a nitride liner is formed in the following process, such a thin thermal oxide layer deteriorates the device characteristics. In other words, impurities are generated from defects at the interfaces between the nitride liner and the thermal oxide layer, or within the thermal oxide layer itself, and they are diffused into a silicon substrate (i.e., trench upper edge) through the thermal oxide layer ("tunneling phenomenon"), degrading device characteristics. Therefore, the thermal oxide layer during the STI technique must have a sufficient thickness to trap the impurities.
In the STI technique, a profile of the trench upper edge is changed according to the degree of thermal oxidation because the amount of consumed silicon is variable to the thickness of the thermal oxide layer. That is, the greater the thickness of the thermal oxide layer is, the worse the profile of the trench upper edge. A thick thermal oxide layer of, for example, 200 Å is formed to prevent impurities from penetrating a trench. As shown in FIG. 13, the profile of the trench upper edge becomes sharp and a gate oxide layer becomes thinner at the edge than at other regions, which makes it hard to form a conformal gate oxide layer. Accordingly, the reliability of the gate oxide layer cannot be ensured. If a strong electric field is applied, the gate oxide layer can be broken down.
In another approach, a thin thermal oxide layer of, for example, 100 Å is formed in the trench so as to reduce consumption of the silicon substrate. As shown in FIG. 14, the profile of the trench upper edge is rounded, which makes it possible to prevent a gate oxide layer from being formed too thinly. As mentioned above, if a nitride liner is formed in the following process, impurities can penetrate a silicon substrate. This is because such a thin thermal oxide layer cannot sufficiently trap the impurities.
For this reason, in the trench isolation technique, a thermal oxide layer formed on a trench sidewall must have a sufficient thickness to trap the impurities.
Therefore, it is inevitable that a semiconductor substrate suffer from defects created by the volume expansion because a thermal oxide layer has to be formed having a sufficient thickness.


A method for manufacturing a multilayer electronic component having an element body in which a functional part and a conductor part are laminated. The green multilayer body 11 is formed on the temporary holding film 62 formed on the release substrate. The green multilayer body 11 is formed by repeating the first step forming a green functional part using the first ink containing the functional particles and the second step forming the green conductor part using the second ink containing the conductive particles. The temporary holding film 62 has conductivity.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multilayer electronic component.
Many and various electronic components are mounted on electronic devices for information processing, signal conversion, etc., or in power supply circuits and the like. As such electronic components, the multilayer electronic component, having a structure in which functional layers exhibiting the properties of the electronic component and electrode layers electrically connected to terminals are laminated, is known.
In recent years, higher performance, miniaturization, etc. are also required for electronic components due to the demand for high performance, miniaturization and the like of electronic devices. As the electronic components are miniaturized, the ratio (yield) of the number of the manufactured electronic components satisfying a predetermined standard (performance) sharply decreases. This is because as the size of the electronic component is reduced, the formation accuracy of a multilayer body deteriorates, greatly affecting properties (performances) of the electronic component, and the number of electronic components having properties within the predetermined maximum tolerance decreases.
As a method of manufacturing a conventional multilayer electronic component, a method using a method called "roll-to-roll" in which a predetermined pattern is formed on a plastic film using a printing technique to obtain an element is exemplified.
Specifically, a sheet is formed on a plastic film using slurry containing a material constituting a functional layer, and an electrode is printed on the sheet using a paste containing a conductive material constituting an electrode layer. Subsequently, the sheet on which the electrodes are formed is laminated to obtain a green compact in which the sheet and the electrode are laminated. Then, the resultant green compact is cut as required, separated, and then subjected to a heat treatment, whereby a multilayer electronic component is manufactured.
However, with the above described method, a positional displacement of the electrodes is liable to occur at the time of lamination and at the time of cutting, which is a factor of deteriorating the formation accuracy of the multilayer structure of the functional layer and the electrode layer in the obtained multilayer electronic component.
Further, there is a limit in improving the forming accuracy by the conventional roll-to-roll method, and in particular, there is a problem that the properties (for example, the electrostatic capacity in the multilayer ceramic capacitor, the electric resistance in the NTC thermistor, etc.) of the small sized multilayer electronic component is difficult to keep within a predetermined standard level, and as a result, the yield is lowered.
As a method for improving the forming accuracy, for example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a method of manufacturing a multilayer electronic component in which a ceramic layer and an electrode layer are formed by jetting liquid droplets using a ceramic slurry and a functional material paste containing a conductive material by an ink jet method. According to this method, it is described that the positional displacement can be suppressed, and the lamination step and the cutting step are unnecessary.
The following Patent Document 2 discloses an ink suitable for manufacturing a multilayer electronic component by jetting liquid droplets using an ink jet system.
However, when the green multilayer body is drawn directly on the flat medium such as conventionally used PET film or metal plate using the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, bleeding, repelling, etc. of the ink may occur, the drawability may become inferior, or the drawn multilayer body may stick to the medium. Thus, it was difficult to form the green multilayer body in a desired shape.
Also, when releasing the green multilayer body from the medium, the green multilayer body may be damaged. Therefore, in order to release the medium while avoiding breakage of the green multilayer body, it is necessary to divide the green multilayer body to form green chips and then to release individually, resulting that the process becomes complicated.
Patent Document 1: JP H09-232174 A
Patent Document 2: JP 2015-216319 A

Method for manufacturing multilayer electronic component


An apparatus for detecting an oscillation of a servo controller of an optical disk is provided. An oscillation detector, electrically coupled to the servo controller of the optical disk, is provided and is configured to receive an error signal associated with the servo controller. The oscillation detector is further configured to compare an amplitude, a width and a period of the error signal with a reference amplitude, a reference width and reference period to determine if an oscillation is present in the error signal. Related methods and computer program products are provided.

A servo controller of an optical disk device typically controls an actuator to trace tracks of a disk and maintains a predetermined distance between the actuator and the disk. The servo controller is configured to detect the frequency characteristic of the actuator to feed it back (feedback loop).
However, the frequency characteristic of the actuator may vary due to, for example, a defect of the actuator or deterioration of the optical disk. This may decrease frequency margin or gain margin of the entire loop and, thereby, may cause oscillation. The oscillation may cause the actuator to be displaced from the track of the disk or an undesirable variation of the distance between the actuator and the optical disk. The likelihood that the actuator will be displaced by the oscillation and/or an undesirable variation of the distance between the actuator and the optical disk may be present may be reduced by, for example, pre-checking and corresponding actions.

Methods, apparatus and computer program products for detecting oscillation of a servo controller


A portable imaging system transportable by a user between a first and second location for scanning an image for later production of an image product. The system includes (a) a first and second member movable between an open and closed position; (b) a scanning area accessible when the system is in the open position for receiving and scanning the image to produce a digital image; (c) memory for storing the digital image; and (d) a communication port adapted to transmit the digital image from the portable imaging system to a device for later production of the imaging product comprising the digital image. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a display for displaying the digital image.

To enjoy images captured on photographic film using a camera, a user must first have the exposed photographic film processed. This is typically accomplished by the user dropping off the exposed photographic film cartridge at a local retailer, such as a drugstore. At the retailer, the user can interact with the clerk, or use a system which is available for receiving undeveloped film and for delivering prints and the developed film to a customer. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,936 (Klees), commonly assigned and incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, a user can operate a stand alone photofinishing system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,253 (Meyers), commonly assigned and incorporated herein by reference, which dispenses a print of the images.
It is a common desire to share and preserve personal photographs since they provide cherished memories of one's life. Therefore, there are occasions where a copy of the photograph is needed to share the memories
Some people enjoy creating scrapbooks to share and preserve photographs. A scrapbook is a collection of scrapbook pages, each of which is a unique collection of at least photographs, paper crafts, and journaling. In general, each scrapbook page or a group of pages are based on a theme, and all of the components that make up that page(s) are in context with the theme. For example, a scrapbook page having a "holiday" theme would comprise photographs taken during that particular holiday, and paper craft depicting the holiday, for instance, a valentine heart cut out of red construction paper or a purchased die cut. In addition, the person making the scrapbook page would record information about the holiday, including who was shown in the photographs on the page(s) in the form of journaling. All of the components of a scrapbook page are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner which best depicts the essence of the theme. The components are typically glued in place, and the assembled scrapbook page is inserted into a scrapbook album. A purpose of making a scrapbook page versus simply placing photographs in a standard photo album is to create a unique, personalized family heirloom which tells a story and will be cherished for a lifetime.
The scrapbook business has grown over the past several years. Today, there are scrapbook specialty stores, magazines devoted to the craft, and a plurality of websites offering on-line merchandise sales and creative tips. However, on the other hand, the type of still photograph included in a scrapbook has gone relatively unchanged over 100 years.
If making a scrapbook page for a scrapbook album, the user may want a copy so as to not use his/her only copy of the photograph for the scrapbook page. Indeed, the resulting scrapbook page may be considered a "photograph" which the user desires a copy of.
Another occasion to need a copy of a photograph is to share treasured moments or heritage. Photographs of relatives may be cherished family photographs which the user desires to share with other members of the family. For example, a parent may send a copy of a photograph of their child's birthday party to a grandparent who lives out of town.
Scanners are available for scanning a photograph for conversion of the photograph for storage in digital form, such as on a floppy disk, compact disc, or memory card. Scanners are available for use with a home personal computer, however, such scanners are expensive, may not be easy to use by the novice computer operator, and may not provide a high resolution scan. In addition, the expense of the computer, scanner, and software is significant. Further, images printed on a home computer are typically inkjet prints, which may or may not include desired archival properties and quality.
Kiosks, such as the Kodak Picture Maker from Eastman Kodak Company, are available at retail locations for making reprints of photographs or prints of digital images. These kiosks generally include a scanner for scanning the photograph and creating a digital copy of the original photograph. The kiosk generally includes a dedicated computer system for simplifying the process of obtaining a copy/reprint of a photograph. However, there may be instances when a user is unable or unwilling to take a photograph to a retail location to make a reprint. For example, the photograph may be a cherished snapshot belonging to another person who is unwilling to be separated from the photograph for fear that the cherished shapshot will be lost or damaged. Or, there may be numerous photographs to be scanned and the user may be limited by time or location to travel to the kiosk.
Accordingly, a need continues to exist for a kiosk that is portable and suitable for use by a user at various locations, including a home environment. The portable kiosk must be able to convert photographs to a digital form, and store the digital form for later printing. In addition, the portable kiosk must be easy to use by a novice, sporadic user who may not be proficient at using an electromechanical device.

Portable system for capturing images and information


Disclosed are systems, devices and methodologies for handling wafers in wafer processing operations through use of wafer carriers. In an example situation, a wafer carrier can be configured as a plate to allow bonding of a wafer thereto to provide support for the wafer during some processing operations. Upon completion of such operations, the processed wafer can be separated from the support plate so as to allow further processing. Various devices and methodologies related to such wafer carriers for efficient handling of wafers are disclosed.

Field
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of semiconductor wafer processing technology, and more particularly, to systems and methods for debonding a wafer from a carrier plate.
Description of the Related Art
In certain wafer processing operations, a wafer can be mounted to a plate for support and to facilitate handling of wafer. Such a mounting process is sometimes referred to as a bonding process, and can be achieved by, for example, using an adhesive.
Once the plate is no longer needed, the wafer and the plate can be separated in a process sometimes referred to as a debonding process. To facilitate such a process, the bonded assembly of the wafer and plate can be heated to soften the adhesive for easier separation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Devices for methodologies related to wafer carriers


A switching system for plural electrical loads connected to a common power line and each individually energized by a separate user actuated line switch between the respective load and the line. A separate normally closed, electrically opened safety switch is series connected with each of the line switches. Separate sensors, preferably diodes, are connected respectively to each load and each sensor also connected to electrically open each of the remaining safety switches upon sensing voltage to its respective load. Preferably the safety switches are electromagnetic relays.

The invention relates to an arrangement for the exclusive connection of a selectable specimen from a plurality of loads, each of which can be switched on via an individual activation switch between the poles of a voltage source.
Arrangements of this type are required if there is a need to prevent various electrical loads being set in operation at the same time, whether it is unintentional or deliberate. In many cases, switching on of more than one load simultaneously can lead to undesirable results, for instance when, a common current supply source is overloaded, or if loads which are switched on simultaneously interfere with one another in their operation or effect. Devices for example, which serve for the spatial adjustment of objects of various sizes, frequently contain a corresponding plurality of electrical drives, the simultaneous activation of which could not be dealt with by the adjustment mechanism or which would make control more difficult for the user or which would overload the current supply source beyond the desired amount. This can arise in motor vehicles, for instance in the devices for adjusting the seat or the steering column.
Various devices are known for the mutual interlocking of any number of switch devices such that only one of the switch devices can be switched on, see for instance, known devices described in DE-PS 1 040 111, DE-AS 20 08 460 and 20 57 296 and also DE 30 26 619 C2. In the devices described there, the switch devices are respectively electromechanical relays, each of which contain further contacts besides the main contact forming the actual circuit break, for instance for the lock of the relay and/or for closing and opening of additional auxiliary circuit breaks which interrupt, upon actuation of the relay, the exciting currents of the respective other relays.
In a known device described in DE-AS 1 640 995, the simultaneous activation of several relays is prevented by a resistor which is switched on before a common exciting current-supply transmission line to the relays. A large drop in voltage occurs across the resistor, upon simultaneous actuation of two or more switches, such that the residual voltage remaining between the transmission lines no longer suffices to allow a relay coil to respond. This embodiment may function without additional relay contacts, but it is sensitive to fluctuations in the supply voltage and requires very exact designing of the electrical components.
A further disadvantage in the above-mentioned known arrangements is that actuation of the switch devices is only possible via contact switches.

Arrangement for the exclusive connection of electrical loads


A technique is provided in which an offset magnetic field of a memory cell of a MRAM is reduced more effectively. The MRAM of the present invention is composed of a free layer (11) which has a reversible free spontaneous magnetization, a fixed layer (6) which has fixed spontaneous magnetization, and a spacer layer (10) formed of non-magnetic interposed between the free layer (11) and the fixed layer (6). The fixed layer (6) is formed such that orange peel effect and magneto-static coupling effect does not substantially influence on the free layer (11).

A specific attention has been paid to a magnetic random access memory (to be referred to as "MRAM" hereinafter) as a non-volatile memory capable of a writing operation in a high speed, and also having a large number of times of rewrite.
As shown in FIG. 1, a memory cell of a typical MRAM contains a magnetic resistance element 104 composed of a pinned layer 101 having a fixed spontaneous magnetization, a free layer 102 having a spontaneous magnetization which can be reversed, and a non-magnetic material spacer layer 102 which is interposed between the pinned layer 101 and the free layer 102. The free layer 102 is formed in such a manner that the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the free layer 102 can be set in parallel to or in anti-parallel to that of the spontaneous magnetization of the pinned layer 101.
The memory cell stores 1-bit data as the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the free layer 102. The memory cell can take two states, namely a "parallel" state and an "anti-parallel" state. In the "parallel" state, the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the free layer 102 and that of the spontaneous magnetization of the pinned layer 101 are parallel to each other. In the "anti-parallel" state, the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the free layer 102 and that of the spontaneous magnetization of the pinned layer 101 are anti-parallel to each other. The memory cell stores the 1-bit data by setting any one of the "parallel" state and the "anti-parallel" state to "0", and by setting the other to "1."
A reading operation of data from the memory cell is carried out by sensing a change in resistances of the memory cell due to a magneto-resistance effect. The directions of the spontaneous magnetizations of the pinned layer 101 and the free layer 102 give an influence to resistances of the memory cell. When both the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the pinned layer 101 and the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the free layer 102 are parallel to each other, the resistance of the memory cell is a first value "R". When both the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the pinned layer 101 and the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the free layer 102 are anti-parallel to each other, the resistance of the memory cell is a second value "R+ΔR". Thus, the directions of the spontaneous magnetizations of the pinned layer 101 and of the free layer 102, namely, the data which has been stored in the memory cell can be discriminated by sensing the resistances of the memory cell.
A writing operation of data into the memory cell is carried out by supplying currents to signal lines (typically, a word line and a bit line) which are arranged in a memory cell array, and by reversing the direction of the spontaneous magnetization of the free layer 102 through application of a magnetic field which is produced by the currents.
A ferromagnetic layer of the free layer 102 has a magnetic field-magnetization characteristic (H-M characteristic) symmetrical with respect to the applied magnetic field essentially (namely, as nature of a bulk of the ferromagnetic). Therefore, a resistance value of the memory cell ideally represents a symmetrical characteristic with respect to a write magnetic field which is applied to the memory cell for data write, as shown in FIG. 2A.
However, as shown in FIG. 2B, an actual resistance value of the memory cell represents an asymmetrical characteristic with respect to the write magnetic field. That is to say, the characteristic has an offset magnetic field "Hoff". Presence of the offset magnetic field "Hoff" implies that the write magnetic fields used to write data of "1" and "0" are different from each other. The offset magnetic field "Hoff" is not preferable since a memory operation margin is reduced, and a current required for writing data is increased.
As a cause of this offset magnetic field, the Orange Peel Coupling effect (or Neel's coupling effect) is known. J. C. S. Kools et al. report the generation of the offset magnetic field due to the Orange Peel Coupling effect in "Effect of finite magnetic film thickness on Neel's Coupling in spin valves" (Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 85, p. 4466 (1999)).
As shown in FIG. 3, the orange peel coupling effect is caused by a non-flatness of the surfaces of the pinned layer 101 and the free layer 102. In the manufacturing steps of the memory cell of the MRAM, it is practically difficult to make the surfaces of the pinned layer 101 and the free layers 102 completely flat. In an actual case, the surfaces of the pinned layer 101 and the free layer 102 are waved. Waving of both the pinned layer 101 and the free layer 102 produces an interlayer coupling field between the spontaneous magnetizations of the pinned layer 101 and the free layer 102. This interlayer coupling field causes the offset magnetic field in the memory cell.
As another cause of the generation of the offset magnetic field, the Magneto-Static Coupling effect is known. This magneto-static coupling effect is also called as a "fringe effect". As shown in FIG. 4, the magneto static coupling effect is caused since magnetic poles are generated at ends of the pinned layer 101. A magnetic field "HMS" which is generated by the magnetic poles is applied to the free layer 102. As a consequence, an asymmetrical characteristic is led in a reversion magnetic field by which the direction of spontaneous magnetization of the free layer 102 is reversed. This asymmetrical characteristic of the reversion magnetic field becomes the cause that the memory cell has the offset magnetic field.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,172 discloses the technique for eliminating the offset magnetic field in the memory cell by utilizing that the direction of the magnetic field generated based on the orange peel coupling effect and the direction of the magnetic field generated based on the magneto-static coupling effect are opposite to each other so that the orange peel coupling effect and the magneto-static coupling effect are cancelled.
FIG. 5 indicates the structure of the memory cell of the MRAM disclosed in the above-described U.S. patent. This structure is composed of a substrate 112, a lower electrode stacked layer film 114, a spacer layer 116, and an upper electrode stacked layer film 118. The lower electrode stacked layer film 114 is composed of a bottom layer 120, an anti-ferromagnetic layer 122, a pinned ferromagnetic layer 124, a ruthenium layer 126 and a fixed ferromagnetic layer 128. The upper electrode stacked layer film 118 is composed of a free ferromagnetic layer 130 and a protection layer 132. Both the pinned ferromagnetic layer 124 and the fixed ferromagnetic layer 128 have the spontaneous magnetizations whose directions are fixed, whereas the free ferromagnetic layer 130 has the spontaneous magnetization whose direction can be reversed.
The above-described US patent discloses that cancellation of the orange peel coupling effect and the magneto-static coupling effect can be achieved by satisfying the following equation:M1T1<M2T2.In this equation, a symbol "T1" indicates a film thickness of the pinned ferromagnetic layer 124, and a symbol "M1" indicates a magnetization of the pinned ferromagnetic layer 124. Also, a symbol "T2" indicates a film thickness of the fixed ferromagnetic layer 128, and a symbol "M2" indicates a magnetization of the fixed ferromagnetic layer 128. The above-described equation can be satisfied under the following conditions:T1<T2 and M1=M2,T1=T2 and M1<M2,or T1<T2 and M1<M2.
However, as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the magneto-static coupling effect is not uniform within the free layer 102. FIG. 6B shows a calculation result of the magnetic field applied to the free layer 102 due to the magneto-static coupling effect in a rectangular memory cell having the shape shown in FIG. 6A. The magnetic field received by the free layer 102 is large near the ends of the pinned layer 101, and is small on a position separated far from the ends of the pinned layer 101. As described above, the magnetic field received by the free layer 102 is not uniform, and it is difficult that the orange peel coupling effect is canceled by the magneto-static coupling effect over the entire inner portion of the memory cell.
Furthermore, recent progress in very fine technique for the MRAM may makes it difficult to cancel the orange peel coupling effect by the magneto-static coupling effect in each of large numbers of memory cells contained in the MRAM. The free layer is made thinner in accompaniment with the finer memory cell in the MRAM, so that the orange peel coupling effect influences strongly. In addition, dimensions of pinned layers are decreased, so that the magneto-static coupling effect influences strongly. The deviations of the magnitude of the orange peel coupling effect and that of the magneto-static coupling effect dependent on the manufacturing process increases. As a consequence, the deviations of these effects in every memory cell increase. The increase of these deviations may makes it difficult to cancel the orange peel coupling effect and the magneto-static coupling effect in each of the memory cells, and disturbs that the offset magnetic field is eliminated in each of these memory cells contained in the memory cell arrays of the MRAM.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications (JP-P2000-332318 and JP-A-Heisei 10-188235) disclose a structure of a magneto-resistance element used to provide a highly reliable magnetic head having a high sensitivity by controlling an external magnetic field applied to a free layer. However, these conventional examples do not describe that an offset magnetic field of the free layer of the magneto-resistance element is eliminated. The magnetic head requires that the free layer is located at a proper bias point, but do not require that the offset magnetic field of the free layer is eliminated.
Under such a circumstance, a technique for effectively reducing an offset magnetic field in a memory cell is demanded. In particular, the techniques are demanded in which the offset magnetic field can be uniformly reduced over the whole of internal portion in the memory cell, and the offset magnetic field can be eliminated in each of the memory cell without being adversely influenced by a manufacturing deviation.


Methods and implant materials are provided for treating urinary incontinence. The methods may include providing a composition that includes at least one pharmaceutically active formulation capable of retropubic fat dissolution; and introducing the composition into the retropubic space, preferably via a minimally invasive procedure, to contact adjacent tissue and promote dissolution of retropubic fat therein and consequent induction of adhesions. The implant material for treating urinary incontinence may include at least one pharmaceutically active detergent for promoting retropubic fat dissolution; and a biodegradable carrier material, wherein the implant material is sized and shaped for placement within a patient's retropubic space. The implant material may further include an auxiliary adhesion-promoting material.

Urinary incontinence is a prevalent condition with significant social, economic, quality of life, and medical consequences. The reported prevalence has been variable depending upon the manner in which the problem has been defined. When referring to incontinence of any degree, an overall prevalence of 29 percent of women has been reported. Incontinence of severe degree was reported in 7 percent of women. Age is a significant factor with relatively few young women reporting daily leakage, but daily or severe leakage occurs in 10 percent of middle-aged women. Various classification schemes for urinary incontinence have been described, a non-limiting example of which includes the types of incontinence referred to as stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, overflow incontinence, continuous incontinence, and situational incontinence.
A frequent clinical problem is the type of incontinence referred to as "stress urinary incontinence" or "stress incontinence." Stress incontinence has been described as the "involuntary leakage of urine on effort or exertion." It is the most common type of incontinence for which women seek the advice of a clinician. Causes of stress urinary incontinence include urethral hypermobility, intrinsic sphincter deficiency, and combinations thereof.
Urethral hypermobility involves the rotational descent of the bladder neck and proximal urethra during increases in abdominal pressure. Descent of these structures below the pelvic floor allows the disproportionate transfer of abdominal pressure to the bladder relative to the urethra. As the bladder pressure exceeds the urethral closure pressure, leakage ensues. Leakage will typically occur during physical activity such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or exercise.
Intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) denotes an intrinsic malfunction of the urethral sphincter, regardless of its position or descent during physical stress. Thus, the urethral closure pressure is inadequate to maintain continence even when the urethra is positioned appropriately. Conditions often associated with an increased risk of ISD include previous urethral or periurethral surgery, neurological problems, radiation, and estrogen deficiency.
Physical therapy has been recommended as a first line approach in the treatment of stress incontinence. When physical therapy has been unsuccessful, various surgical procedures have been employed. In recent decades, surgeons have based their recommendations regarding the most suitable type of surgical procedure on the distinctions between urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency. It has been common practice to recommend a suspension procedure for the former and a sling or bulking procedure for the latter. More recently this approach has been called into question because many women have contributing components of both disorders.
Suspension techniques commonly used for the treatment of urethral hypermobility include the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure and the Burch procedure. The Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz (MMK) procedure suspends the bladder by placing sutures at the periosteum of the pubis or pubic symphysis. The Burch procedure achieves support by suturing to Cooper's ligament. Although cure rates of 80 percent have been reported, these procedures traditionally require open surgical exposure and hospitalization for recovery. The laparoscopic Burch procedure offers a minimally invasive approach; however, the effectiveness is less satisfactory.
Suburethral sling procedures also are used to treat incontinence. These procedures provide stabilization of urethral position and/or compression of the urethra by placing a strip of tissue or other material beneath the urethra. The strip of material has sometimes been described as a hammock or backboard. A compressive sling is required when urethral function is very poor. Autologous fascia has been used for this procedure, although xenografts (such as porcine dermis) and synthetic materials also have been used. There are concerns regarding both autologous and xenographic materials, however, with regard to durability. And there is the possibility of severe long-term complications from use of synthetic materials.
Another method of treatment commonly used for treating ISD involves the injection of bulking agents into the periurethral tissue. Various injectable substances have been used, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), collagen, silicone, and carbon coated beads; however, an ideal material has yet to be developed. Bovine collagen, generally recognized as the most widely used agent, has had disappointing long-term effectiveness, while use of PTFE has raised concerns about the unintended migration of non-degradable implanted particles to other parts of the body.
More recently, the TVT (Tension-free Vaginal Tape) procedure has become a popular treatment for stress incontinence. TVT procedures involve the implantation of a proprietary polypropylene mesh tape at the mid-urethral level. The simplicity of the implantation procedure allows the procedure to be done in a relatively short period of time on an outpatient basis. Although the initial reports indicate low rates of complications, recent reports indicate that complications with the TVT procedure have been significantly underreported. Notably, passage of the instruments and sling material through the retropubic space in close proximity to important anatomical structures is performed without visualization during the procedure, sometimes resulting in complications such as bladder perforation, major vascular injuries, bowel injury, and nerve entrapment. In addition, there is concern about the potential for developing long-term complications from the permanent and synthetic implant material in this location. Such complications may include urethral erosion, vaginal extrusion, and voiding dysfunction. Although the TVT procedure easily may stabilize a hypermobile urethra, it is important to weigh the convenience of the implantation procedure against both the risks of the procedure and the potential long-term complications that may arise from a permanent implant.
The TOT (trans-obturator tape) procedure recently has gained popularity as an alternative to the TVT procedure. This procedure involves the passage of a propylene mesh tape through the obturator membrane instead of the retropubic space to avoid some of the problems associated with the TVT procedure. There is a scarcity of data, however, regarding the long-term safety or effectiveness of this procedure. In addition, the occurrence of protracted upper leg pain has been reported as a troubling complication in some patients.
Thus, a need remains for improved techniques for treating stress urinary incontinence. It would be particularly desirable to provide methods and devices that are minimally invasive and provide long-term correction or continence improvement, while avoiding the use of permanent (e.g., non-degradable) implant structures.

Method and implant material for treatment of urinary incontinence


A rack shaft is supported at three positions including a gear housing receiving an engagement portion between a rack gear and a pinion near one end in an axial direction with respect to a rack housing corresponding to a support body thereof, a housing near the other end, and a hollow tube housing in an approximately center portion of the rack shaft. A bush made of a resin and constituted by a cylinder body is used for supporting the rack shaft by the hollow tube housing in the approximately center portion of the rack shaft. The bush is provided with a plurality of cut grooves extending in an axial direction thereof, and is provided with a curve forming portion substantially supporting the rack shaft and extending toward an inner side in a center portion in the axial direction thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rack and pinion type power steering apparatus characterized by a rack bush sidably supporting a rack shaft and an attaching structure of the bush.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a rack and pinion type steering apparatus, a structure is well known in which a rack shaft is slidably supported to a rack housing corresponding to a support body of the rack shaft at two positions. These structures comprise a gear housing position corresponding to a position close to one end of the rack shaft corresponding to an engagement portion between a rack gear of the rack shaft and a pinion, and the other housing position corresponding to a position close to the other end. The rack shaft is supported to the rack housing at these positions via a rack bush made of synthetic resin, rubber or the like (refer, for example, to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-177606 (patent document 1) (page 4, FIG. 1)).
The slidable support of the rack shaft 01 to the rack housing 02 described in the patent document 1 mentioned above is accomplished at two positions comprising one end portion 05 corresponding to a position at which a rack gear 03 in both ends portions of the rack shaft 01 and a pinion 04 are engaged with each other, and the other end portion 06 of the rack shaft 01, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Each of first and second rack bushes 07 and 08 used in the support of the one end portion 05 and the other end portion 06 of the rack shaft 01 is made of a synthetic resin or the like. These rack bushes 07 and 08 are provided with three support portions which support the rack shaft 01 in a contact manner, slightly protruding from the inner peripheral surfaces thereof and are not clearly illustrated, in the inner peripheral surface. These three support portions in the first bush 07 and the second bush 08 are arranged in the inner peripheral surfaces of the respective bushes 07 and 08 in such a manner that a phase in a peripheral direction of the peripheral surface of the rack shaft 01 is shifted with each other.
In this case, the support of the rack shaft 01 by the rack bushes 07 and 08 in two positions comprising the one end portion 05 and the other end portion 06 of the rack shaft 01 mentioned above is executed by using the bushes 07 and 08 provided with a specific support structure. The support position of the rack shaft 01 includes the engagement portion between the rack gear 03 and the pinion 04 corresponding to the support portion of the one end portion 05 of the rack shaft 01, and the other end portion 06 which is relatively distant from the engagement portion. The support of the rack shaft 01 at two relatively distant positions in both ends of the rack shaft 01 generates an oscillation of the rack shaft 01 in spite of the use of the bushes 07 and 08 provided with the specific support structure mentioned above. The generation of the oscillation in the rack shaft 01 makes it difficult to secure a proper engagement between the rack gear 03 and the pinion 04, and it is very difficult to inhibit a gear engaging sound from being generated due to the engagement of the gears.
Under these circumstances, it is desirable to improve the rack and pinion type power steering apparatus mentioned above. The improvement involves a selective setting of a proper support position to the housing by the rack bush of the rack shaft and the support structure of the rack bush and the rack shaft by the bush, in the slidable support to the housing by the rack bush of the rack shaft. It is thereby possible to effectively inhibit an oscillation of the rack shaft from being generated, to intend to make the engagement between the rack gear of the rack shaft and the pinion proper, and to effectively inhibit the gear engaging sound generated when the gears are engaged.

Rack and pinion type power steering apparatus


There is described a system and a method for assisting a user manipulating an object during a surgery, the method comprising: tracking the object in a sterile field in which surgery is being performed at a location using a tracking device which generates tracking data; processing the tracking data using a processing device located outside the sterile field to generate position and orientation information related to the object; and sending the position and orientation information related to the object to a displaying device positioned in the sterile field adjacent to the location at which the surgery is being performed, for display to the user.

Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) systems typically have a tracking device to track in space an object involved in a surgery, such as an implant or a surgical instrument. A computer system for outputting information related to the object being tracked is also generally used. Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) systems may display information about the object being tracked on a single displaying device, with or without images acquired by the CAS system.
Some more recent CAS systems involve imageless tracking as opposed to commonly used image-based systems. The displaying device is however typically located outside the surgical sterile field and away from the surgical table. With this configuration, the medical personnel involved in the surgery, or present in the room, may view the information being displayed. A user performing or involved the surgery must move his/her head and/or divert his/her sight from the surgical field of view or the location at which the surgery is being performed in order to look at the displaying device. Possible involuntary movements of the arms and hands of the user may occur at this moment and create an undesired displacement of the object being manipulated or an error in performing actions required during surgery.
The displaying device of typical CAS systems is also for the use of everyone in the operation room. The information displayed is the same for everyone and not necessarily targeted at a specific task of a specific viewer/user.

Computer-assisted surgery system and method