A CMOS imager with two adjacent pixel active area regions without the presence of an intervening trench isolation region that typically separates two adjacent pixels and their associated photodiodes is provided. The shared active area region isolates the two adjacent photodiodes and provides good substrate to surface pinned layer contact without the presence of n− type dopant ions and due to the presence of p-type dopant ions. As a result, the size of the imager can be reduced and the photodiodes of the two adjacent pixels have increased capacitance.

The semiconductor industry currently uses different types of semiconductor-based imagers including charge coupled devices (CCD) and CMOS imager devices. Because of the inherent limitations in CCD technology, CMOS imagers have been increasingly used as low-cost imaging devices. A fully compatible CMOS sensor technology enabling a higher level of integration of an image array with associated processing circuits is beneficial for many digital applications.
A CMOS image sensor circuit includes a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells including a photoconversion device, for example, a photogate, photoconductor, or a photodiode for accumulating photogenerated charge in a doped portion of the substrate. A readout circuit is connected to each pixel cell and includes at least an output transistor, which receives photogenerated charges, typically from a doped floating diffusion region, and produces an output signal which is periodically read-out through a row select access transistor. The imager may optionally include a transistor for transferring charge from the photoconversion device to the floating diffusion region or the floating diffusion region may be directly connected to or part of the photoconversion device. A transistor is also typically provided for resetting the diffusion region to a predetermined charge level before it receives the photoconverted charges.
Exemplary CMOS imaging circuits, processing steps thereof, and detailed descriptions of the functions of various CMOS elements of an imaging circuit are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,630 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,868 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,366 to Rhodes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,652 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,524 to Rhodes, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,205 to Rhodes. The disclosures of each of the foregoing patents are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
In a conventional CMOS imager, the active elements of a pixel cell perform the necessary functions of: (1) photon to charge conversion; (2) accumulation of image charge; (3) transfer of charge to the floating diffusion node accompanied by charge amplification; (4) resetting the floating diffusion node to a known state before the transfer of charge to it; (5) selection of a pixel for readout; and (6) output and amplification of signals representing the reset state and a pixel charge signal. Photo-charge may be amplified when it moves from the initial charge accumulation region to the floating diffusion node through a transfer transistor. The charge at the floating diffusion node is converted to a pixel output voltage by the source follower output transistor.
A known three-transistor (3T) CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) design used in many applications contains a photodiode for producing charges which are stored at a diffusion region, a reset transistor for resetting the diffusion region charge, a source follower transistor having a gate connected to the diffusion region for producing an output signal, and a row select transistor for selectively connecting the source follower transistor to a column line of a pixel array. In a four-transistor (4T) CMOS configuration, a transfer transistor is employed to gate charges from the photodiode to the diffusion region.
FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic side sectional view of a portion of a CMOS image sensor four-transistor (4T) pixel employing a n+ highly-doped floating diffusion region 10.
The CMOS image sensor pixel 100 generally comprises a charge collection region 35 of a photodiode 11 for collecting charges generated by light incident on the pixel, and a transfer transistor having a gate 60 for transferring photoelectric charges from the collection region 35 to the floating diffusion region 10. The floating diffusion region 10 is electrically connected to the gate of an output source follower transistor 40. The pixel 100 also includes a reset transistor having a gate 50 for resetting the floating diffusion region 10 to a predetermined voltage before charge is transferred thereto from the photodiode 11, the source follower transistor 40 which receives at its gate an electrical signal from the floating diffusion region 10, and a row select transistor 70 for selectively outputting a signal from the source follower transistor 40 to a column line 71 in response to a decoded row address driver signal applied to the gate of the transistor 70.
The exemplary pixel 100 of FIG. 1 employs pinned photodiode 11 having charge collection region 35 for converting photons to charge on a semiconductor substrate 2. The pinned photodiode 11 is termed such since the potential in the photodiode 11 is pinned to a constant value when the photodiode 11 is fully depleted. The pinned photodiode 11 has a photosensitive p-n junction region comprising a p− type surface layer 4 and a n− type photodiode region 35 e.g., a charge collection region, within a p− type type 6. The p− type region 6 is formed within semiconductor substrate 2. The two p− type regions 4, 6 cause the n− type photodiode region 35 to be fully depleted at a pinning voltage. Impurity doped source/drain regions having n− type conductivity are provided about the transistor gates 50 and 60. The floating diffusion region 10 adjacent to transfer gates 51, 61 is a common source/drain region for a transfer transistor having gate 60 and the reset transistor having gate 50.
In a typical CMOS image sensor, trench isolation regions 8 formed in a p-well active layer 6 and adjacent to the charge collection region 35 are used to isolate the pixels. The gate stacks for the pixel transistors are formed before or after the trench isolation regions are formed. The order of these preliminary process steps may be varied as is required or convenient for a particular process flow.
A transparent insulating layer 99 is typically formed over the pixel 100. Conventional processing methods are then carried out to form, for example, metal conductor 15 in the insulating layer to provide an electrical connection/contact to the floating diffusion region 10, and other wiring to connect gate lines and other connections in pixel 100. For example, the entire substrate surface may be covered with a passivation layer of e.g., silicon dioxide, BSG, PSG, or BPSG, as a transparent insulating layer 99, which is planarized and etched to provide contact holes, which are then metallized to provide contacts to diffusion node 10.
In conventional CMOS image sensors, electrons are generated from light incident externally and accumulate in the n− type photodiode region 35. These charges are transferred to the floating diffusion region 10 by the gate 60 of the transfer transistor. The source follower transistor 40 produces an output signal from the transferred charges.
A maximum output signal is proportional to the number of electrons extracted from the n− type photodiode region 35. The maximum output signal increases with increased electron capacitance or acceptability of the photodiode. The electron capacity of pinned photodiodes typically depends on doping levels and the dopants implanted to form regions 4, 6, and 35. In particular, regions 4 and 35 dominate the pinned photodiode's 11 capacitance. Accordingly, increasing the pinned photodiode's 11 capacitance is useful to allow capture of greater levels of photoconverted charges.
Reducing dark current of the photodiode 11 is also important in CMOS image sensor fabrication. Dark current is generally attributed to leakage in the charge collection region 35 of the pinned photodiode 11, which is strongly dependent on the doping implantation conditions of the photodiode. In particular, high dopant concentrations in p-type electrical connection region 23 typically increases dark current.
CMOS imagers further suffer from poor signal to noise ratios and poor dynamic range as a result of the inability to fully collect and store the electric charge collected in the region 35. Since the size of the pixel electrical signal is very small, the signal to noise ratio and dynamic range of the pixel should be as high as possible.
There is, therefore, a need for an active pixel photosensor for use in a CMOS imager which increases a pinned photodiode's capacitance and resistance to dark current. A method of fabricating such an active pixel photosensor is also desired.

Pixel design to improve photodiode capacitance and method of forming same


Disclosed herein is a top anti-reflective coating composition comprising a bissulfone compound, as a photoacid generator, represented by Formula 1 below:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an anti-reflective coating composition used in a photolithography process, which is one fabrication process for a semiconductor device, and a method for forming the pattern of a semiconductor device using the anti-reflective coating composition. More specifically, the present invention relates to a top anti-reflective coating composition usable in immersion lithography for the fabrication of a sub-50 nm semiconductor device, and a method for forming a pattern of a semiconductor device using the top anti-reflective coating composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Photolithography is a process for the transfer of a semiconductor circuit pattern formed on a photomask to a wafer, and is one of the most important processes in determining the fineness and integration density of circuits in the fabrication of semiconductor devices.
In recent years, as the integration density of semiconductor devices has increased, new techniques have been developed that have been adapted to fine processing required in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. Under these circumstances, there is an increasing need for a fine processing technique in a photolithography process. That is, as the circuit line widths become finer and finer, the use of short-wavelength light sources for illumination, such as KrF, ArF, F2 and EUV excimer lasers, and high numerical aperture lenses is required. EUV, F2, ArF and KrF lasers in that order are preferred as light sources because of their short wavelengths.
Particularly, a number of studies on the development of sub-50 nm devices have been actively undertaken. In response to these studies, recent attention has been directed toward the development of suitable processing equipment and materials associated with the use of F2 and EUV as exposure light sources. Technical solutions for the use of F2 are satisfactory to some extent, but there are the following problems: 1) high-quality CaF2 is difficult to produce on an industrial scale within a short time, 2) since soft pellicles are likely to be deformed upon exposure to light at 157 nm, their life is short, and 3) hard pellicles incur considerable production costs, and are difficult to produce on a commercial scale due to the nature of light refraction.
On the other hand, since suitable light sources, exposure equipment, and masks are required to use EUV lasers, they are not yet suitable for practical use. Accordingly, the formation of finer high-precision photoresist patterns using a photoresist, and adapted for the use of an ArF excimer laser has now become a key technical task. Under these circumstances, immersion lithography has recently drawn attention.
Dry lithography is a current lithography process, and is an exposure system wherein air is filled between an exposure lens and a wafer. In contrast to dry lithography, immersion lithography, which corresponds to an NA scaling technique, is an exposure system wherein water is filled between an exposure lens and a wafer. Since water (with a refractive index (n)=1.4) is used as a medium for a light source in the immersion lithography, the NA is 1.4 times larger than that in the dry lithography using air (refractive index (n)=1.0). Accordingly, immersion lithography is advantageous in terms of its high resolution.
A problem encountered with the fabrication of a sub-50 nm semiconductor device is that alteration in the critical dimension (CD) of a photoresist pattern inevitably takes place, during a process for the formation of an ultra fine pattern, by standing waves, reflective notching, and diffracted and reflected light from an underlying layer due to the optical properties of the underlying layer on an overlying photoresist and due to variation in the thickness of the photoresist. To prevent the reflected light from reaching the underlying layer, a light-absorbing material, called an "anti-reflective coating", at a wavelength band of light used as an exposure light source is introduced between the underlying layer and the photoresist. A bottom anti-reflective coating interposed between the underlying layer and the photoresist has been used to date. With the recent increase in the fineness of photoresist patterns, a top anti-reflective coating (TARC) has also been introduced in order to prevent the photoresist pattern from being disrupted by the reflected and diffracted light. Specifically, as the miniaturization of semiconductor devices makes photoresist patterns extremely fine, the use of a bottom anti-reflective coating alone cannot completely prevent the patterns from being disrupted by scattered reflection. Accordingly, a top anti-reflective coating is introduced to prevent the disruption of the patterns.
However, since conventional top anti-reflective coatings for use in dry lithography are water-soluble (in the case of using KrF or ArF laser), they cannot be applied to immersion lithography. In other words, since water is used as a medium for the light source in immersion lithography, it easily dissolves the conventional top anti-reflective coatings.
Accordingly, an ideal top anti-reflective coating for use in immersion lithography must satisfy the following requirements: 1) the top anti-reflective coating must be transparent to a light source; 2) the top anti-reflective coating must have a refractive index between 1.5 and 1.65, depending on the kind of underlying photosensitive film (i.e. photoresist) to be used; 3) when the top anti-reflective coating composition is coated on an underlying photosensitive film, it must not dissolve the photosensitive film; 4) the top anti-reflective coating must not be soluble in water upon light exposure; 5) the top anti-reflective coating must be soluble in a developing solution; and 6) the top anti-reflective coating must enable the formation of a vertical pattern.
The above-mentioned stringent requirements make the development of a suitable top anti-reflective coating for use in immersion lithography difficult. Particularly, a new concept top anti-reflective coating composition is needed to satisfy the requirement of 6).
Thus, there exists a strong need for the development of a top anti-reflective coating for use in immersion lithography which is water-insoluble and enables the formation of a vertical pattern upon formation of a semiconductor pattern.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Top anti-reflective coating composition, method for forming the pattern of a semiconductor device using the same, and semiconductor device comprising the pattern

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 are independently, a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, oxoalkyl or oxoaryl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or a halogen-substituted straight, branched or cyclic alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, oxoalkyl or oxoaryl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Since the top anti-reflective coating composition dissolves a portion of a photoacid generator present at the top of an underlying photosensitizer, particularly, upon formation of a top anti-reflective coating, it can prevent the top from being formed into a thick section. Therefore, the use of the anti-reflective coating composition enables the formation of a vertical pattern of a semiconductor device.


Systems and methods for positioning a wire for advancement through a vessel wall, and advancing it through one or more vessel walls, generally include a delivery catheter and an alignment catheter or a receiving catheter, and a guidewire. In some variations, the systems and methods may be used to bypass an occlusion or other barrier that may prevent advancement of a wire or tools through an endoluminal space. In these variations, the systems and methods include a delivery catheter, a bypass catheter, a receiving catheter, and a guidewire. The delivery and receiving catheters each generally include a side aperture, a deflection surface, and an alignment element, and the bypass catheter generally includes two side apertures, two deflectors, and two alignment elements. In some variations, the systems and methods may assist in treatment of a patient suffering from critical limb ischemia.

During some percutaneous procedures, it may be necessary or desirable to advance tools from a first vessel (e.g., a vein or artery) to a second, nearby vessel (e.g., a second vein or artery). This may be especially desirable in procedures to form a fistula between the two vessels. A fistula is generally a passageway formed between two internal organs. Forming a fistula between two blood vessels can have one or more beneficial functions. For example, the formation of a fistula between an artery and a vein may provide access to the vasculature for hemodialysis patients. Specifically, forming a fistula between an artery and a vein allows blood to flow quickly between the vessels while bypassing the capillaries. In other instances, a fistula may be formed between two veins to form a veno-venous fistula. Accordingly, it may therefore be useful to find improved ways to access or and form a path between two vessels that may be used during fistula creation.
Additionally, it may be necessary or desirable to form a path between two blood vessels to avoid or bypass an occlusion or barrier within one of the vessels to effectuate treatment of a variety of diseases. People may suffer from occluded vessels for a number of reasons, including peripheral vascular disease (PVD), which may progress into critical limb ischemia (CLI) if left untreated. CLI is characterized by chronic pain, as well as tissue loss that may ultimately result in amputation. Amputations are not only costly, they also lead to a significant loss in quality of life for the amputee, and in some unfortunate cases, result in a patient's death. Accordingly, it may therefore be useful to find improved ways to access and create alternate paths for blood flow around an occlusion.
To form a path between two vessels or between a vessel and a cavity, it may be necessary or desirable to deliver a guidewire or a needle from a first vessel lumen or cavity to another vessel lumen or cavity with high accuracy. This may prevent unnecessary or inaccurate punctures. For example, during passage of a guidewire from the abdominal inferior vena cava into the aorta, the guidewire should be accurately delivered from the vena cava to the aorta to prevent potentially damaging inaccurate or unnecessary punctures in the vena cava and/or the aorta. Additionally, high accuracy systems and methods may also assist with delivery of a guidewire or needle to small vessels, as accessing and puncturing vessels may become more difficult as vessel diameter decreases. In larger vessels, it may be difficult to create a path between vessels if the tools are not located close enough to the vessel walls or if the vessel walls themselves have too much space between them. Thus, at times, it may be beneficial to move the vessels closer together before a path between the vessels is created, or for the tools used to be located close to the vessel walls, as this may result in a decreased travel distance for the guidewire or needle to create a desired path and/or may result in fewer alignment errors. Accordingly, it may be useful to find accurate systems and methods for delivering a wire to a target location and for creating a pathway between vessels. Additionally, systems and methods that decrease the distance between vessels or between tools and vessel walls during path formation may be useful.
In some instances, increased system complexity or utilization of multiple modes of visualization may be undesirable in the clinical setting. Accordingly, it may be useful to develop systems and methods that are simple and do not require significant time or effort for alignment for successful delivery into a desired location.

Devices and methods for advancing a wire


An active matrix drive organic EL display panel comprising an organic TFT with a configuration that prevents the occurrence of current leak, and a manufacturing method thereof are proposed. The organic EL display panel comprises: a substrate; an organic EL element comprising in order from the substrate, a first display electrode, an organic functional layer and a second display electrode; and an organic TFT for driving and controlling the organic EL element comprising in order from the substrate a gate electrode, a gate insulation film, source/drain electrodes, and an organic semiconductor layer. The organic EL display panel further comprises: a first bank having a first window section for demarcating a light emitting region on which the organic functional layer is provided on the first display electrode and a second window section demarcating a transistor region on which the organic semiconductor layer is provided between the source/drain electrodes; and a second bank located in the perimeter of the second window section and protruding in a direction that intersects with the main surface of the substrate.

Organic electroluminescence display devices (hereinafter referred to as organic EL display devices) preferably have a display with an active matrix drive system in order to achieve screen brightness uniformity and screen rewrite speed. These displays are comprised of an emission unit comprising organic electroluminescent elements (hereinafter referred to as organic EL elements) in each pixel and a drive unit comprising thin-film transistors (hereinafter referred to as TFT).
The organic EL element comprises in order from above the substrate, a first display electrode, an organic functional layer including a light emitting layer, and a second display electrode.
Furthermore, the TFT normally comprises in order a gate electrode made of a thin metal film formed on a glass substrate, a gate insulation layer that covers the gate electrode, a pair of source/drain electrodes separated from and facing towards the gate insulation layer, and a semiconductor layer which forms a channel between the source and drain electrodes. The semiconductor layer comprises inorganic materials such as a-Si (amorphous silicon) and p-Si (polysilicon) and the like.
Organic EL display devices which use a TFT of this construction are normally manufactured using a thin film forming process which requires high temperature processing and vacuum equipment such as CVD (chemical vapor deposition) or sputtering, in addition to a high precision photolithography process. Therefore the burden of equipment costs and running costs is extremely high.
Therefore research and development into organic thin-film transistors (hereinafter referred to as organic TFT) which use a semiconductor layer made of organic compounds has been performed (see Patent document 1). When manufacturing an organic TFT, the method for forming the organic semiconductor layer generally uses a vacuum vapor deposition method if the organic compound of the semiconductor layer is a low molecular weight material, and uses a printing method if high molecular weight materials are used. However, the merits of using organic materials in the semiconductor layer of the transistor are (1) creating a vacuum condition is not required when manufacturing the semiconductor layer, and (2) the semiconductor layer can be manufactured at low processing temperatures so a resin substrate can be used, and in order to be able to take full advantage of these merits, printing methods have been attempted in order to manufacture organic TFT. One of these manufacturing methods is the inkjet method.
The inkjet method sprays very fine droplets containing organic material that form an organic semiconductor layer from fine nozzles toward the coating subject while controlling with an electric signal, in order to form a thin film with the desired shape. Note, the coating subject has the desired shape and has a preformed water repellent bank with an opening corresponding to the shape of the organic TFT semiconductor layer, and the droplets which are sprayed towards this opening are repelled by this bank and are arranged inside the opening.
Patent Document Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2002-343578

Organic electroluminescent display panel and manufacturing method thereof


A hydraulic controller includes: a pair of liquid chambers; and an on-off valve capable of opening and closing a flow channel on the side of the liquid chamber with a higher hydraulic pressure out of the pair of liquid chambers. The flow channel can provide communication between the pair of liquid chambers. A baffling device is provided in the liquid chamber with a lower hydraulic pressure, to baffle hydraulic fluid flowing from the liquid chamber with the higher hydraulic pressure. Thus, it is possible to reduce operating noise resulting from operation of the on-off valves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic controller comprising: a pair of liquid chambers; and an on-off valve capable of opening and closing a flow channel on the side of the liquid chamber with a higher hydraulic pressure out of the pair of liquid chambers, the flow channel being capable of providing communication between the pair of liquid chambers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a hydraulic controller is used, for example, to control brake hydraulic pressure in a vehicle braking system, and is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-308085.
The conventional hydraulic controller uses an on-off valve for a hydraulic booster in order to operate wheel brakes with boosted pressure. When an on-off valve is opened, brake fluid in the liquid chamber with a higher pressure flows into the liquid chamber with a lower pressure via a small-diametered flow channel. Since the lower-pressure liquid chamber is wider than the small-diametered flow channel, the brake fluid flowing from the flow channel into the lower-pressure liquid chamber causes an abrupt pressure change, thereby producing operating noise.


A blister pack includes a housing having a plurality of cavities and a cover sealed to the housing and enclosing the cavities. The cover including a base layer, at least one security element, and a heat protective layer. The heat protective layer includes one of an amorphous polymer and a semi-crystalline polymer.

Coatings, i.e., films, are widely used as physical barriers to seal items into their packaging. Often, they are known as "lidding films", such as when used in connection with blister packs in the packaging of pharmaceutical medicaments. As is understood by those of ordinary skill, the presence of the film serves to provide a physical barrier to the egress of, e.g., the medicament from the individual blister cavities in the aforementioned blister pack. Puncturing of the physical film is therefore required before any of the product housed within the closed cavities may be dispensed. Such a physical barrier not only securely holds the product against undesired egress, but also provides a measure of tamper-evident security protection, as an intended user may observe any deterioration of the physical barrier and know thereby that tampering or damage may have affect the sealed product.
Beyond concerns over the physical integrity of the packaging as accomplished by the lidding/sealing barrier, additional various mechanisms have been created so as to give a visual indication of, e.g., the source of the packaged goods, and/or the unadulterated condition of the goods themselves. Thus, in certain industries, such as the pharmaceutical or electronics industries, security insignia and other visual markings are often imprinted or deposited onto the physical barrier/film to serve as an indication of whether, e.g., the drugs contained in a blister pack are authentic and unadulterated. To this end a number of security elements designed to deter would-be counterfeiters may be incorporated into, or deposited upon, the film. One such known security deposition are holographic or other fine-structured imagery or elements. As will therefore be appreciated, a premium is placed on maintaining the integrity of the security elements.
Problems exist, however, for packaging that utilizes, e.g., holographic or other deposited and/or imprinted security elements, in that these elements are often distorted or otherwise damaged during the heat sealing process that is integral to many packaging procedures. That is, in many known packaging systems that utilize a lidding or physical barrier, e.g., medicament blister packs, the progenitor physical barrier/film is first imprinted or deposited with various security elements, e.g., holographic elements, before the imprinted film is thereafter sealed to the blister pack. The sealing process typically involves utilizing a heated sealing die to press upon, and thereby seal, the physical barrier/film to the packaging of the blister pack.
It has long been known that this type of sealing process may tend to destroy the integrity of any, e.g., holographic element(s) imprinted or deposited upon the physical barrier/film, and so the relevant art is replete with differing die structures, each having specialized cavities and areas of differing heat profiles, all in an effort to protect those areas of the physical barrier/film having security elements from localized, excessive heat and the resultant degradation that would otherwise be incident upon these security elements during the sealing process.
As will be appreciated, the use of specialized sealing dies adds many levels of complexity and expense to the manufacturing and sealing process.
For their part, those of ordinary skill in the deposition or imprinting of security elements, i.e., holographic elements, have long utilized a series of various coatings and films so as to cover the deposited security elements from physical degradation during manufacture and shipping. That is, security forms/elements are typically deposited or imprinted upon, e.g., a lidding sheet or other substrate when positioned on a planar platen, before being rolled up for eventual storage and/or shipping. These rolls of coated substrate can be quite large, weighing over a ton or more, and so induce a great amount of pressure upon the surface of the coated substrate, including upon the holographic elements thereon.
A collection of known chemical coatings/films have long been recognized as being able to protect any deposited or imprinted forms/elements from frictional and pressure damage, and these coatings are typically applied for this purpose during the deposition stage, so as to protect the security forms/elements from damage when the substrate is rolled and thereafter stored or shipped.
The present invention has recognized that some of the coatings typically utilized to protect security elements from damage during shipping may also provide sufficient heat resistance to security elements when so coated with the same.
Thus, it is a primary aspect of the present invention to propose a method and apparatus that can effectively protect deposited or imprinted security elements from damage during a heat sealing process, without the need for structurally complex and expensive sealing dies.

Method and apparatus for heat resistant coatings


The present invention defines an anti-theft device for use with a variety of personal property, including bicycles, motorcycles and other small vehicles employing a three-part assembly of high-impact glass-filled nylon which attaches to vehicle frames of various size. The fastening means is hidden and sound channels are utilized to enhance an audible alarm and to prevent muffling of an interior speaker, activated by partial cutting or disconnection of a cable of known resistance. The cable is inserted in a case assembly with differing positions depending on whether the user wishes to set the alarm or store the cable out of the way if not energized. The alarm may be silenced by incrementally turning a key and removing a cable. The same key is positioned to allow arming of the alarm by insertion of the cables in the proper orientation. Further, the same key, turned another increment allows removal of the front cover of the assembly exposing the power source and electronics and allowing the unfastening of the assembly from the frame.

Various methods have been employed for years to secure items of personal property, bicycles, motorcycles and similar vehicles against theft. With the particular current interest in bicycles as well as technological advances in materials and components, bicycles are becoming more sophisticated and more expensive, some costing many hundreds to several thousands of dollars each. The problem of bicycle and motorcycle theft is exacerbated by the light weight and portability of the vehicles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,212 issued to Meyers et al. ("the Meyers' patent") combines several recent schemes for preventing bicycle theft. The Meyers' patent also contains a good description of the state-of-the-art of bicycle anti-theft devices, and is incorporated by reference herein.
The "U" lock is widely used as a mechanical deterrent to theft by virtue of its strength. Such locks are used to lock the vehicle frame to a permanent or fixed object. Great force is needed to cut through or break a "U" lock. In the Meyers' patent, a cable with conductive core is utilized as a second means of theft deterrent. When the circuit created by the cable is broken, an alarm sounds either alerting the bicycle owner of an attempted theft, or scaring the thief away by drawing attention to the vehicle.
The Meyers' patent provides yet another mode of protection in that a motion sensor may be set to detect any movement of the bicycle and again, triggers an alarm upon such detection. Such schemes are flawed in that in the case of bicycles, many times while secured in a location with the owner away, the bicycle may be subject to motion by various causes. For example, other riders securing their bicycles may bump the bicycle, or wind may affect the stability of the bicycle. Such influences often trigger the alarm, thereby wasting precious battery power and increasing the possibility that when an actual attempt to take the bicycle is made, no power is left to sound the alarm when really needed.
Other alarms also utilize circuitry which detects discontinuity when the cable of the lock is cut. The drawback to such an alarm is that typically, the alarm does not sound until the cable is cut, and at such a point, the bicycle is already free to be placed in a truck or such vehicle, particularly since a bicycle or motorcycle can be spirited away in less than 1 minute. In many cases, bicycle thieves are petty thieves who cut the cable and ride away on the stolen bicycle. The unwanted attention of an alarm which is activated before the bicycle is set free of its locking cable, particularly when the alarm is securely fixed to the bicycle so that the alarm continues to sound whether the bicycle is ridden away or put into the bed of a pickup truck or other vehicle, constitutes a serious deterrent to theft.
What is needed then, is an anti-theft device with an alarm sensitive cable which is easily replaceable, and which does not have an easily overridden audible alarm. Further, an alarm is needed which detects the initial attempt to cut the cable, sounding the alarm before the bicycle can be spirited away, and moreover, which may reside on the bicycle, keeping the attention of a passersby as the bicycle is moved.
In the prior art, represented by the Meyers' patent, once the locking cable is cut, it is very often not easily replaceable. Also, cables such as those in the Meyers' patent may be defeated by short-circuiting the cable. Such a propensity for getting around the main security means of a locking device renders such a device vulnerable to educated thieves. What is needed then is a circuitry which does not allow subversion by means such as short-circuiting.
The known prior art also involves various schemes to indicate that a system is armed, sometimes without a circuit being armed, but just employing a visual indication of activation to ward off potential thieves. However, professional thieves quickly become acquainted with such products in the market so that fake alarms may be easily recognized, and therefore, ignored. What is needed is both an indication for potential thieves as well as the vehicle owner that a system is real, functioning, and having plenty of power.
The problem with many such indications manifests itself as a constant drain on the power source. A particularly ironic scenario involves an alarm system which is deprived of power by passive systems such that when called upon to sound an alarm, the battery dies during a portion of the alarm duration, or dies altogether, never allowing the alarm to sound at all. What is needed then is a means of conserving power without compromising the detection ability or annunciation intensity of the anti-theft device. Such an anti-theft device can be adapted to a variety of applications, like expensive instruments, costly computers or electronic equipment, and the like.


In a wrist watch equipped with a receiving device, an antenna 19 having an antenna winding 19b, wound around an antenna core 19a with the end thereof being fixed, and having a conductible antenna terminal sheet 19d secured to an antenna winding frame 19c is inserted from a notch 10k in a dial 10 and secured with a screw 35 to an antenna support plate 33 which is secured to a circuit substrate 22, there by conducting the antenna 19 and the watch module. The construction ensures simplification of the watch module structure and easy conduction and securing of the antenna and the watch module and secured, with little influence on the receiving performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure for an analogue-type electronic wrist watch, and, in particular to a structure for an electronic wrist watch equipped with a receiving device which has a built-in antenna for receiving a signal; to a mode switching structure for a multifunctional analogue wrist watch; and to a gear train modification mechanism for escaping from a condition in which it is impossible to reverse a step motor for a watch with a hand sector display.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years there has been a remarkable growth in portable devices using radio signals, and these have been commercialized in many fields. The field of wrist watches has been no exception, and, those utilizing radio signals, including radio-equipped watches, have been commercialized, although the number is not great. However, to use radio signals, not only it is necessary to have parts which are completely different from conventional timepiece parts, but methods to ensure that the receiving performance is not adversely affected must also be taken into consideration.
Among such parts, the antenna, which has a particularly significant influence on the performance of receiving radio signals, also is rather large in comparison with the parts of conventional wrist watches. There are also placement restrictions with respect to reception performance. In addition, there is also a space problem; i.e., installing the antenna inside the timepiece makes it difficult to make the wrist watch small.
Furthermore, enclosing the antenna in a metal casing must be avoided for ensuring good reception performance, posing a problem of design restrictions.
As a method to eliminate the above-mentioned problem areas, products with a structure in which the antenna is separated from the timepiece module have been commercialized. In one such structure the antenna is provided in a band, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (kokai) No. 126408/1990. In another such structure the antenna is provided in the outer periphery of the timepiece casing so as to design the body of the wrist watch small and thin, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (kokai) No. 38034/1989.
However, in the structures wherein the antenna is provided in the band or in the outer periphery of the watch casing, it is inevitable that the antenna must pass through the watch module into the casing. This is a major restriction from the aspect of both structure and reliability, if water proofing structure is provided for this part considering the environment in which the watch is used.
Also, in the case where the antenna is provided in the band, it is impossible to use a metal band because of the reception performance. A special watch band such as a leather band or the like must therefore be used. This causes the problem of restrictions in the type of watch band when designing the overall watch. In addition, replacement of the watch band must accompany the replacement of the antenna as well, increasing the overall costs. In the same manner, when the antenna is provided in the external periphery of the casing, there are significant restrictions on the design, because of linearity of the antenna and depending on the structure in which the antenna is fixed and inserted.
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide, with due consideration to the drawbacks of such conventional structures, an electronic wrist watch equipped with a receiving device wherein the connection between the antenna and the watch module is simple, there is no influence on the reception performance of the antenna, and there are also very few restrictions on the design of the watch.
Beside the above-mentioned antenna reception function, there are various other functions, such as a stop watch function, a timer function, and the like, provided to a multifunctional analogue wrist watch in addition to the main function of indicating normal time. It is common for these to carry out the specified functional operation through an ON/OFF switch for electrical contacts by manipulating an external operating member such as a push-pull button or the like.
However, the number of hands and external operating members in the watch is restricted. As the number of functions increases it is only natural to use the same hands for double duty in indicating the functions. Furthermore, in the external operating member, various functional operations are also performed using the same external operating member. Accordingly, with a multifunctional analogue wrist watch with a large number of functions, using the timepiece mode for each of these functions in turn, it is difficult to decipher what the hand is intended to indicate because the functions of the hands and the external operating members differ depending on the mode. There is therefore the problem that errors occur in the operation of the external operating member.
As a method of eliminating the above-mentioned problem areas, there are commercial products provided with a mode hand or the like to indicate the details of the function of the watch. This mode hand is driven by the operation of the external operating member to decipher the details of the hand and the details of the operation of the external operating member by indicating the watch mode for the function which is in current use.
However, in the operation of the external operating member in the above manner, a mode switching structure which indicates the mode for the function with a mode hand or the like is complicated in comparison with a switch structure using an ON/OFF operation of an electric contact. In addition, there are restrictions on the stroke of the external operating member when switching the mode, imposing structural restrictions.
Furthermore, a multifunctional analogue wrist watch is provided with plurality of gear trains and step motors for driving the various functions. The step motors are comparatively large, so that there are space restrictions when positioning the mode switching structure. In addition, from the aspect of design, there are considered various locations for the mode hand, the function hands, and also for the external operating member. There is therefore the problem that the above-mentioned mode switching structure gives rise to major restrictions with respect to the timepiece structure.
Accordingly, a second object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional analogue watch with only minor restrictions in the location of the mode hand and the external operating member, specifically, only minor restrictions in timepiece design, yet providing a highly reliable mode-switching structure.
In addition, in order to satisfy a variety of needs of consumers, analogue electronic watches to which are added a chronograph, a multihand display calendar, a monthly display, and the like are on the market. In some analogue electronic watch of this type, a step motor is designed to turn both forward and in reverse so as to drive the hands sectorially within the display portion.
However, in the case of the electronic watch, a special pulse has to be applied to drive the step motor both forward and in reverse. Specifically, the structure is such that, in one pulse of reverse rotation, initially a forward drive pulse is applied and after the rotor is swung to the forward rotation side, the pulse for reverse use is applied.
In addition, for sector display using the forward and reverse rotations of the step motor, a stopper is always provided in a middle part of the rotary member in order to prevent the hands from moving beyond the specified range due to run away of the circuit chip. Accordingly, a reliable drive is indispensable when the week is revised, even when this stopper has been contacted. However, in the case where the stopper is contacted and the rotor halts, the stopper may prevent the rotation of the rotor in the forward direction depending on the position at which the rotor stops. A situation is therefore reached where reverse rotation is impossible.
Regarding a gear train modification mechanism for an electronic watch with a sector week display of the above-mentioned type, Japanese Patent. Laid-open (kokai) No. 8789/1991, filed by the applicant of the present invention, provides, in order to enable the step motor to escape from a condition in which the reverse rotation is impossible, a rotary member for any one of slowing-down gear trains from the rotor of the step motor to a hand wheel for a sector display section. The step motor forces the rotary member to rotate in the direction to change the rotation to reverse from forward by means of the modifying member which is linked to the external operating member, so that the step motor can rotate to escape from the condition in which reversal is impossible.
However, using the conventional device described above, it is necessary to move the modifying member in the reversing direction of the step motor to extricate the step motor from the condition in which reverse rotation is impossible. Specifically, because the modifying member must be moved to the side at which the rotary member normally acts, there is the possibility of the modifying member entering the normal action range of the rotary member.
Accordingly, even when the hand is acting normally, there is concern that the hand will be inadvertently caused to move due to pressure from the external operating member. In particular, in an electronic watch of the type with two hands provided on the same shaft for a sector display, this method of using the modifying member for the rotation requires two modifying members, making the structure of the timepiece complicated.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a simple modifying mechanism whereby the position of the hands is unaffected, except by the operation for extricating the step motor from the condition in which reverse rotation is impossible.

Electronic watch with an antenna for a receiving device


An overload current limiting circuit includes an output control circuit responsive to a logic input signal for generating a control signal for driving an output device to produce at an output terminal a signal representative of the logic input signal; and a sense circuit for sensing voltage at the output terminal indicative of a current overload and diverting a portion of that current to change the control signal to the output device to limit the overload current.

Overload current limiting circuits, especially short circuit current limiting circuits are used in digital output drivers which use large transistors to drive output loads to specified voltage levels at adequate speed. As a result of the drive and timing requirements digital output drivers can deliver excessive current, if, because of a fault there is established a low impedance path to a supply reference voltage level on a system coupled to the output of a large transistor.
One example of such a high current condition is where an output driver is being driven by a logic high and therefore its output is coupled to a logic high rail by an output transistor. If the output is then shorted to logic low by a fault condition the pull up transistor may supply excessive current. This excessive current could damage its output transistor and therefore this current should be limited. It should be noted that short circuit conditions can also occur to logic high rails when being driven low and indeed shorts resulting in excessive currents can occur to different voltage levels than supply rails.
Various attempts have been made to reduce overload currents in order to prevent damage to the circuits and components. In one approach, a digital comparison is made of the output voltage on a digital buffer versus its input voltage and then the driver is put into a low current state either by "three stating" the output or flipping over the output driver to drive it to the correct logic level. A disadvantage of this approach is that after removing of the short circuit condition an explicit reset function has to be carried out to return the output voltage/logic state to its normal value.
In another approach two sense amplifiers are designed to have certain trip points to detect a high current state when faulted to a low or high output voltage. This approach requires a parallel weaker secondary driver device to enable the circuit to correct the logic state after removal of the high current state. A disadvantage is the fact that at least one of the secondary drivers is on at all times in normal operation. Another design monitors the output voltage of a digital output driver versus its input logic state and "three states" the output if a fault condition is detected. A refresh loop periodically refreshes the fault detection circuitry thereby returning the output to the correct state after the fault condition has been removed. But the refresh loop is relatively complex and consumes extra power and requires substantial area.
In still another approach, the output current is mirrored in a parallel sense path. If the sense current is greater than a reference value, the drive of the output transistor is restricted. The current feedback paths in these circuits are relatively complex, consume considerable power, and require careful design for stability. In addition, an analog reference current must be generated which is in itself a substantial task.
In still another approach, the gate drive of an output transistor is clamped when it is delivering high current in a fault state by using two series connected transistors. These transistors both conduct to clamp the voltage at the output node of the digital buffer. However, it is difficult to totally shut off this large driving transistor without consuming high current in the sensing path and if the gate drive is limited too much, the output node will remain clamped even when the short circuit is removed.


The present invention provides compounds of formula I

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are important in the transmission of biochemical signals across the plasma membrane of cells. These transmembrane molecules characteristically consist of an extracellular ligand-binding domain connected through a segment in the plasma membrane to an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain.
The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family consists of four distinct receptor tyrosine kinases referred to HER1, HER2, HER3, and HER4. These kinases are also referred to as erbB1, erbB2, etc. HER1 is also commonly referred to as the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. With the exception of HER3, these receptors have intrinsic protein kinase activity that is specific for tyrosine residues of phosphoacceptor proteins. The HER kinases are expressed in most epithelial cells as well as tumor cells of epithelial origin. They are also often expressed in tumor cells of mesenchymal origin such as sarcomas or rhabdomyosarcomas. RTKs such as HER1 and HER2 are involved in cell proliferation and are associated with diseases such as psoriasis and cancer. Disruption of signal transduction by inhibition of these kinases would have an antiproliferative and therapeutic effect.
The enzymatic activity of receptor tyrosine kinases can be stimulated by either overexpression, or by ligand-mediated dimerization. The formation of homodimers as well as heterodimers has been demonstrated for the HER receptor family. An example of homodimerization is the dimerization of HER1 (EGF receptor) by one of the EGF family of ligands (which includes EGF, transforming growth factor alpha, betacellulin, heparin-binding EGF, and epiregulin). Heterodimerization among the four HER receptor kinases can be promoted by binding to members of the heregulin (also referred to neuregulin) family of ligands. Such heterodimerization as involving HER2 and HER3, or a HER3/HER4 combination, results in a significant stimulation of the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor dimers even though one of the receptors (HER3) is enzymatically inert. The kinase activity of HER2 has been shown to be activated also by virtue of overexpression of the receptor alone in a variety of cell types. Activation of receptor homodimers and heterodimers results in phosphorylation of tyrosine residues on the receptors and on other intracellular proteins. This is followed by the activation of intracellular signaling pathways such as those involving the microtubule associated protein kinase (MAP kinase ) and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase). Activation of these pathways have been shown to lead to cell proliferation and the inhibition of apoptosis. Inhibition of HER kinase signaling has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation and survival.
All protein kinases contain a structurally conserved catalytic domain of approximately 250–300 amino acid residues1. FIG. 1 shows an X-ray structure of HER12 which encompasses the highly conserved features of all members of the protein kinase family. The protein kinase fold is separated into two subdomains, or lobes. The smaller N-terminal lobe, or N lobe, is composed of a five-stranded β sheet and one prominent α helix, called helix αC. The C lobe is larger and is predominantly helical. The two lobes are connected through a single polypeptide strand (the linker/hinge region), which acts as a hinge about which the two domains can rotate with respect to one other upon binding of ATP and/or substrate. ATP is bound in the deep cleft between the two lobes and sits beneath a highly conserved loop connecting strands β1 and β2. This phosphate binding loop, or P loop, contains a conserved glycine-rich sequence motif (GXGXφG) where φ is usually tyrosine or phenylalanine. The glycine residues allow the loop to approach the phosphates of ATP very closely and to coordinate them via backbone interactions. The conserved aromatic side chain caps the site of phosphate transfer. ATP is anchored to the enzyme via hydrogen bonds between its adenine moiety and the backbone atoms of the linker region, and the ribose ring to residues at the start of the C-terminal domain.
Optimal phosphotransfer requires the precise spatial arrangement of several catalytic residues that are absolutely conserved among all known kinases. Asp813 and Asn818 (HER1 numbering as given in reference 2 or numbered as Asp837 and Asn842 as found in REFSEQ: accession NM—005228) emanate from a highly conserved loop structure at the base of the active site, called the catalytic loop. Asp813 interacts with the attacking hydroxyl side chain of the substrate, while Asn818 engages in hydrogen bonding interactions that orient Asp813. Asn818 and another absolutely conserved catalytic residue, Asp831 (numbered as Asp855 as found in REFSEQ: accession NM—005228), are also required for the binding of two divalent metal cations involved in coordination of the triphosphate group.
Numerous structures of complexes with ATP, its analogs, or small-molecule inhibitors bound to different protein kinases have provided a clear description of the organization of the catalytic domain and the ATP-binding cleft and of the similarities and differences that exist within the binding region3. It is now clear that there are regions within the binding cleft that are not occupied by ATP, and that these show structural diversity between members of the kinase family. FIG. 2 shows the interactions of ATP with the hinge region of human cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)4. The generic regions of all known kinase ATP binding sites are delineated in the figure as: (1) the adenine binding region; (2) the ribose pocket; (3) the phosphate binding pocket; (4) a mostly hydrophobic region 1, behind the adenine ring, and (5) region 2, a cleft or a tunnel adjacent to the ribose pocket and the N3 nitrogen of adenine which points towards a surface-exposed area of the kinase domain. The available structures of kinase/inhibitor complexes indicate that one can take advantage of the regions not occupied by ATP, e.g. regions 1 and 2, for increasing binding interactions and hence binding potency and potentially because of sequence differences between kinases in these regions also modulate selectivity.
A combination of crystallography, modeling, screening and medicinal chemistry efforts has led to the understanding of the binding mode of the pyrrolotriazine chemotype in the ATP binding site. Based on an X-ray crystal structure of the pyrrolotriazine chemotype inhibitor in VEGFR-2, it has been shown that the pyrrolotriazine ring binds in the adenine pocket and makes several key interactions with the hinge region similarly to ATP. In this binding mode, the C5 group is directed into the highly conserved ribose-phosphate pockets. The C4 group, depending on its chemical constituency, can be directed into the specificity region 1 and the C6 group is directed into the specificity region 2. Modeling of enumerated examples of this chemotype in HER1 shows that the C5 group claimed in this invention can at the least occupy the ribose-phosphate pocket and interact with at least one or more of the absolutely conserved residues involved in phosphate binding, e.g., Asn818 and Asp831 (HER1 numbering).
The conserved nature of the kinase catalytic core structure makes it an excellent target for the generic kinase inhibitor template afforded by the pyrrolotriazine ring and the C5 group. This template can be successfully derivatized to make specific and potent kinase ATP-competitive inhibitors by targeting the poorly conserved areas of the ATP-binding site.
It has surprisingly been found that compounds of the invention and other compounds such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,457,105, 5,616,582 and 5,770,599, which contain a small aniline derivative as the substituent off of the C4 position of the bicyclic ring, exhibit both HER1 and HER2 activity.

Pyrrolotriazine compounds as kinase inhibitors

Abstract: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The formula I compounds inhibit tyrosine kinase activity of growth factor receptors such as HER1, HER2 and HER4 thereby making them useful as antiproliferative agents. The formula I compounds are also useful for the treatment of other diseases associated with signal transduction pathways operating through growth factor receptors.


A low emissions combustion system for a gas turbine engine, including a generally annular combustor with a plurality of tangential fuel injectors to introduce a fuel/air mixture. The annular combustor includes a skirt shaped flow control baffle from the inner liner and air dilution holes in the inner liner underneath the flow control baffle and also in the cylindrical outer liner. The fuel injectors extend through the recuperator housing and into the combustor through an angled tube and then through a tangential guide in the cylindrical outer liner of the combustor housing. The fuel injectors generally comprise an elongated injector tube with the outer end including a coupler having at least one fuel inlet tube. Compressed combustion air is provided to the interior of the elongated injector tube from either holes or slits therein which receive compressed air from the angled tube around the fuel injector which is open to the space between the recuperator housing and the combustor. Flame stabilization occurs outside the injector tube at full power and flashback occurs such the flame stabilization occurs within the injector tube at low power.

In a gas turbine engine, inlet air is continuously compressed, mixed with fuel in an inflammable proportion, and then contacted with an ignition source to ignite the mixture which will then continue to burn. The heat energy thus released then flows in the combustion gases to a turbine where it is converted to rotary energy for driving equipment such as an electrical generator. The combustion gases are then exhausted to atmosphere after giving up some of their remaining heat to the incoming air provided from the compressor.
Quantities of air greatly in excess of stoichiometric amounts are normally compressed and utilized to keep the combustor liner cool and dilute the combustor exhaust gases so as to avoid damage to the turbine nozzle and blades. Generally, primary sections of the combustor are operated near stoichiometric conditions which produce combustor gas temperatures up to approximately four thousand (4,000) degrees Fahrenheit. Further along the combustor, secondary air is admitted which raises the air-fuel ratio and lowers the gas temperatures so that the gases exiting the combustor are in the range of two thousand (2,000) degrees Fahrenheit.
It is well established that NOx formation is thermodynamically favored at high temperatures. Since the NOx formation reaction is so highly temperature dependent, decreasing the peak combustion temperature can provide an effective means of reducing NOx emissions from gas turbine engines as can limiting the residence time of the combustion products in the combustion zone. Operating the combustion process in a very lean condition (i.e., high excess air) is one of the simplest ways of achieving lower temperatures and hence lower NOx emissions. Very lean ignition and combustion, however, inevitably result in incomplete combustion and the attendant emissions which result therefrom. In addition, combustion processes cannot be sustained at these extremely lean operating conditions.

Low emissions combustion system for a gas turbine engine employing flame stabilization within the injector tube


A new TOILET ATTACHMENT AND AID for MAKING USE OF A TOILET EASIER FOR ELDERLY AND INFIRMED PERSONS. The inventive device includes a curved main portion dimensioned for straddling and conforming to a front portion of a toilet bowl. The curved main portion has an upper edge, a lower edge and opposed side edges. A pair of footrests are integrally formed with the opposed side edges of the curved main portion. A urine guard is integrally formed with the upper edge of the curved main portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to TOILET ATTACHMENTS and more particularly pertains to a new TOILET ATTACHMENT AND AID for MAKING USE OF A TOILET EASIER FOR ELDERLY AND INFIRMED PERSONS.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of TOILET ATTACHMENTS is known in the prior art. More specifically, TOILET ATTACHMENTS heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art TOILET ATTACHMENTS include U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,514 to Sakamoto; U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,797 to Kristoffersen; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 353,659 to Hall; U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,240 to Welles; U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,024 to Welles; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,725 to Oliver.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new TOILET ATTACHMENT AND AID. The inventive device includes a curved main portion dimensioned for straddling and conforming to a front portion of a toilet bowl. The curved main portion has an upper edge, a lower edge and opposed side edges. A pair of footrests are integrally formed with the opposed side edges of the curved main portion. A urine guard is integrally formed with the upper edge of the curved main portion.
In these respects, the TOILET ATTACHMENT AND AID according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of MAKING USE OF A TOILET EASIER FOR ELDERLY AND INFIRMED PERSONS.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that that uses geographic data to identify correlated geographic synonyms in search queries. A correlated geographic synonym occurs when two terms that are possible synonyms should not be considered synonyms because they are associated with related geographic context. During operation, the system receives a term and a possible synonym for the term. The system then determines whether the term and the possible synonym are both present in a geographic data set. If so, the system uses the geographic data set to determine whether the possible synonym is a correlated geographic synonym for the term.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of information retrieval, and more specifically to the task of identifying valid synonyms for query terms to facilitate retrieving documents which relate to the query terms.
The relentless growth of the Internet makes locating relevant information on the World Wide Web (the Web) an increasingly challenging task. While search engines can help users locate and retrieve a document of interest on the Web, users often fail to select effective query terms during the search. The problem of finding desired query results becomes increasing challenging as the amount of information available on the Web continues to grow.
For example, a user may enter the query [Web hosting+fort wayne] when the city of Fort Wayne is usually referred to as Ft. Wayne. Or, a user may enter [free loops for flash movie] when most relevant pages use the term "music," rather than "loops" and the term "animation" rather than "movie." Thus, documents that satisfy a user's informational needs may use different terms than the specific query terms chosen by the user. This problem is further aggravated as the number of terms in a query increases. For queries longer than three or four words, there is a strong likelihood that at least one of the terms is not the best term to describe the user's intended search. It is therefore desirable for a search engine to automatically modify and/or expand user queries to include synonyms for query terms, so that retrieved documents can better meet the user's informational needs.
This task has proven to be difficult. A simple approach is to use pre-constructed synonym information, for example, from a thesaurus or a structured lexical database. However, thesaurus-based systems have various problems, such as being costly to construct and being restricted to one language.
Some systems consider how often users substitute terms for one another during query sessions to determine whether the terms are synonyms. However, such substitutions can create false synonyms that are not meaningful, and which lead to unrelated or non-useful query results.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and an apparatus that identifies potential synonyms without the above-described problems.

Using geographic data to identify correlated geographic synonyms


A wide field-of-view simulator heads-up display provides images to a user along an optical axis. A HUD CRT provides images of a predetermined design wavelength, while rear projection screen CRTs provide out-of-window scenery that does not contain the predetermined design wavelength. A curved holographic combiner is mounted on the optical axis with a reflective hologram on a concave surface covered with a urethane overcoat. The convex surface has an antireflective coating. A tilted beamsplitter cooperates with a folding mirror in a relay optical system for providing a virtual image of the HUD CRT for reflection from the holographic combiner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a wide field-of-view (FOV) simulator heads-up display (HUD) and, more particularly, to a low-cost system having a selective holographic reflector combiner with a low-cost relay optical system.
2. Description of Related Art
Holographic information display systems for use in aircraft wherein an image of information can be projected onto a combining glass in the pilot's FOV to permit viewing the information, while continuing to view the outside scene through an aircraft canopy, have been well known. The information to be presented by the HUD includes instrument panel information, flight symbology, sensor video, etc. It has thus become quite common in high performance aircraft to utilize a combiner within the pilot's FOV to permit the pilot to continue viewing the terrain or outside scenery while monitoring the necessary information being generated by the aircraft.
In view of the high cost of operating such aircraft and the requirements for the pilots to have high proficiency, there has developed a need to use simulators for the training of pilots. These simulators seek to emulate the environment of the cockpit and include the HUDs that the pilot will experience in actual flight. Usually a simulator will adopt the same HUD that has been designed for high performance aircraft, and attempts will be made to modify this HUD design to accommodate the simulator environment. Thus the optics can be somewhat modified and a cathode ray tube (CRT) image source can be repositioned. Usually to reduce any retooling costs and design costs, the basic structure of the aircraft HUD and its optical and mechanical design philosophy will generally be carried forward in the simulator environment.
Examples of HUDs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,548, U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,204, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,803.
The prior art is still seeking to provide a low-cost simulator HUD that can simulate the high performance of an aircraft HUD while maintaining the focus of the imagery near or on the surface of the scenery as represented by a dome or very close rear projection screen.

Wide FOV simulator heads-up display with selective holographic reflector combined


A method and apparatus to process an analog encoder signal. The apparatus includes an analog encoder pattern generating unit, an analog encoder pattern storage unit, a digital/analog converting unit, a comparing unit, a recent state latch unit, a present state determining unit, and a gray code converting unit. The method includes generating an analog encoder pattern by sampling and quantizing a quasi-sinusoidal wave signal output from an analog encoder during initialization; determining a recent state and a present estimated state by comparing the analog encoder pattern with the quasi-sinusoidal wave signal; and generating quadrature signals from the recent state and the present estimated state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a method and apparatus to process an analog encoder signal, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus to process an analog encoder signal, which divides one period of an analog sinusoidal wave signal output from an analog encoder into a predetermined number of states, samples the analog sinusoidal wave signal, compares the analog sinusoidal wave signal with an output signal of the analog encoder, determines a present estimated state based on a recent state, and generates a quadrature signal to control a motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, with rapid development in automatic control systems, processing signals output from various sensors is becoming more and more important to realize precise control operations.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional apparatus for calculating a position of a printing paper. The apparatus includes an analog encoder 100, a quadrature signal generator 110, an inverter 120, a multiplexer (MUX) 130, an analog/digital (A/D) converter 140, and an absolute position calculator 150.
Referring to FIG. 1, the analog encoder 100 is connected to an axis of a motor and rotated together with the axis, and outputs two quasi-sinusoidal wave signals, each of which has a predetermined number of periods per rotation of the analog encoder 100, by a phase difference of 90°.
The quadrature signal generator 110 is connected to an output terminal of the encoder 100, receives a quasi-sinusoidal wave signal 101 from the encoder 100, and generates a quadrature signal 111 for obtaining coarse positional information, which is required to divide one period of the output signal into a plurality of states.
The inverter 120 obtains the output signal 101 from the encoder 100 and outputs an inverted output signal 121 of the output signal 101.
The MUX 130 receives the output signal 101, which is a quasi-sinusoidal wave signal, from the encoder 100 and the inverted signal 121 and outputs only one analog signal 131 based on the coarse positional information.
The A/D converter 140 converts the analog signal 131 into a digital signal 141 and transmits the digital signal 141 to the absolute position calculator 150.
The absolute position calculator 150 receives the digital signal 141 output from the A/D converter 140 and the quadrature signal 111 output from the quadrature signal generator 110, obtains the coarse positional information from the digital signal 141 and precise positional information from the digital signal 141, and calculates a precise position of the motor as the motor rotates.
However, in the conventional case, analog/digital (A/D) converted values should be read in short periods to realize a precise control operation. This increases the burden of a central processing unit (CPU).

Method and apparatus to process an analog encoder signal


A press roll in cooperation with a mating roll defines a roll nip for the treatment of a moving web of material with the press roll and mating roll being oriented to provide a non-vertical pressing plane. The press roll includes a rotatable roll casing and a yoke located within the roll casing. The roll casing and the yoke defining an intermediate space therebetween. Certain press roll parameters such as the dimensions and material of the roll casing and the yoke and/or the degree of filling of the intermediate space with a liquid are selected such that gravity induced flexures of the roll casing and the yoke occurring in a median plane perpendicular to the pressing plane are approximately equal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a press roll which together with a mating roll defines a roll nip for the treatment of a moving web of material such as for dewatering of a web of paper in a paper machine.
2. Description of Related Technology
The press roll of the invention is based in part upon pressing apparatus which are known in the art, such as a compression roller for paper producing machinery disclosed in German patent publication 25 02 161 C, corresponding to Wolf, U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,607 (Dec. 27, 1977). These known apparatus typically include a press roll and a mating roll defining a roll nip. Such an apparatus may be oriented so that the median axes of the press roll and the mating roll lie in a non-vertical pressing plane and at least one of the two rolls is a "shoe roll."
A "shoe roll" may include a hollow, rotatable metallic roll casing disposed adjacent to the roll nip, a stationary yoke located within the roll casing and a shoe which transmits a pressing force from the yoke to the roll casing. Between the yoke and the shoe a pressure chamber may be provided in order to receive a pressure medium, such as hydraulic liquid for pressing the shoe against the roll casing. A lubricant film is also typically provided between the shoe and the roll casing in order to prevent metallic contact therebetween.
A consequence of providing a press roll with a hollow roll casing is that the roll casing flexes or bends under the action of the pressing force. The amount of bending preferably should be controlled so that variations in the pressing force along the width of a web of material being treated (i.e. along the length of the roll casing) is controlled as well. For example, if the press roll is mounted on a paper machine, the amount of bending of a roll casing should be controlled in order to provide a constant pressing force along the width of a web of paper being conveyed between the press roll and the mating roll.
In the compression roller disclosed in German patent publication 25 02 161 C and U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,607, it is assumed that the pressing plane (i.e. the plane containing the median axes of the press roll and the mating roll) is vertical. However, for the "shoe" type press roll according to the invention, a non-vertical pressing plane is assumed. For example, the pressing plane may be horizontal. When the pressing plane is not vertical, problems may arise because the pull of gravity on the press roll and the mating roll is not in the pressing plane and is rather at an angle thereto. Therefore, the lines of flexure resulting from the effect of gravity in the roll casing and the yoke may not be in agreement with each other. More particularly, the gravitational pull at the approximate center of the press roll in a median plane called the "shoe plane" (which is perpendicular to the pressing plane) may result in a maximum bend or flexure of the roll casing which is not equal to a maximum bend of flexure of the yoke. Because the shoe necessarily bends along its longitudinal axis in an amount approximately equal to the flexure or bend of the yoke, there may result a misfit between the outer surface of the shoe and the inner surface of the roll casing. As a result of this misfit there is a danger that the shoe may come into direct contact with some points on the inner surface of the roll casing which would cause an increase in frictional forces and wear.

Press roll having components exhibiting approximately equal gravity induced flexure


A high pass filter is disposed to an output part of a gain control amplifier. A gain control signal change detector detects a change of a gain control signal from the gain control amplifier. Upon detection of a change of the gain control signal, a counter and a clock generator generate a cancel pulse which has a certain width, and using the cancel pulse, a first switch cuts an AC signal which is fed to the gain control amplifier. Further, using the same cancel pulse, a second switch reduces the time constant of the high pass filter. Through this operation, a transient response of a DC offset is eliminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a DC-offset transient response cancel system which cancels out a transient response of a DC offset which deteriorates the voice quality in a direct conversion system, i.e., a system which will be the mainstream system in the future for mobile telephones. A transient response of a DC offset worsens a bit error rate and makes it impossible to correctly decode a transmitted signal.
2. Background Art
Over the recent years, more and more mobile telephone systems are shifting from heterodoxy conversion systems to direct conversion systems which operate at low power and are advantageous to size reduction. However, a direct conversion system has a problem of a DC offset from which a heterodoxy conversion system is free.
A prior art on direct conversion systems will now be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram which shows the prior art on a direct conversion system. In FIG. 4, denoted at 1 is a low noise amplifier (linear amplifier). Denoted at 2 is a first capacitor for capacitance-coupling. Denoted at 3 is a demodulator which down-converts a high frequency signal (RF signal input) which is a received signal. Denoted at 4 is a first gain control amplifier (hereinafter referred to as a "GCA"). Denoted at 5 is a second capacitor for capacitance-coupling (having the capacitance of 200 pF for instance). Denoted at 6 is a first resistor (having the resistance value of 2000 kΩ for instance) which forms a high pass filter together with the second capacitor 5. Denoted at 7 is a second GCA. Denoted at 8 is a third capacitor for capacitance-coupling (having the capacitance of 200 pF for instance). Denoted at 9 is a second resistor (having the resistance value of 2000 kΩ for instance) which forms a high pass filter together with the third capacitor. Denoted at 10 is a third GCA. Denoted at 11 is a GCA control circuit which controls the gains of the GCA 4, the GCA 7 and the GCA 10 in accordance with a gain control signal GCV. Denoted at 24 is a first bias power source which applies through the first resistor 6 a bias voltage upon a signal after capacitance-coupling. Denoted at 25 is a second bias power source which applies through the second resistor 9 a bias voltage upon a signal after capacitance-coupling.
Operations of the direct conversion system having such a structure above will now be described. First, the RF signal amplified by the low noise amplifier 1 is capacitance-coupled by the first capacitor 2 and then fed to the demodulator 3. The demodulator 3 down-converts the RF signal, and the RF signal is accordingly frequency-converted to baseband and becomes an I/Q−BB (in phase/quadrant phase−baseband) signal. Thus frequency-converted signal is amplified by the GCA 4 to a desired level, capacitance-coupled by the second capacitor 5 and the first resistor 6, and then fed to the GCA 7 in a condition that the signal has a DC value set by the bias power source 24.
The signal is further amplified by the GCA 7 to a desired level, capacitance-coupled by the third capacitor 8 and the second resistor 9, and then fed to the GCA 10 in a condition that the signal has a DC value set by the bias power source 25.
The signal is amplified by the GCA 10 again to a desired level, and outputted as an RX−I/Q output (receipt−in phase/quadrature phase signal output).
The gains of the GCA 4, the GCA 7 and the GCA 10 are controlled via the GCA control circuit 11, referring to the gain control signal GCV which changes in accordance with the level of the RF signal.
FIG. 6A shows one example of the inside of the GCA control circuit 11. In FIG. 6A, denoted at 26 is a gain control signal generator for the GCA 4. Denoted at 27 is a gain control signal generator for the GCA 7. Denoted at 28 is a gain control signal generator for the GCA 10. The gain control signal generators 26, 27 and 28 generate gain control signals respectively for the GCA 4, the GCA 7 and the GCA 10 in accordance with the gain control signal GCV. The signal timing is as shown in the timing chart in FIG. 6B.
The GCA control circuit 11 maybe an analog control circuit which controls while referring to a voltage for instance, or a logic control circuit which controls serially for example.
However, the prior art above gives rise to a problem when a DC offset is created in the circuit because of a variation among elements. In short, owing to the capacitance-coupling, static operations lead to no problem. Despite this, when the input level of the RF signal abruptly changes, that is, when the gains of the GCA 4, the GCA 7 and the GCA 10 suddenly change as the gain control signal GCV suddenly changes, a DC-offset transient response is created. The waveforms at the respective portions will now be described with reference to FIG. 5A. FIG. 5A shows a base band part alone. For simplicity of illustration, AC components are omitted from the waveforms which are shown in FIG. 5A.
An example that the gains of the GCA 4, the GCA 7 and the GCA 10 grow at some moment will now be described on the assumption that the GCA 4, the GCA 7 and the GCA 10 have positive input offsets which are attributed to variations. First, as the gain of the GCA 4 changes, the DC level rises at that moment, and therefore, the output from the GCA 4 becomes as denoted at a waveform 12. As the DC value having the waveform 12 passes the capacitor 5, the DC value becomes as denoted at a waveform 13. Since a baseband signal exists even at frequencies close to DC, for the purpose of lowering the cut-off frequency of the high pass filter, the time constants of the capacitor 5 and the resistor 6 must be large. Because of this, the waveform 13 needs time until the DC level reaches a steady value. In other words, after momentarily growing following the DC value having the waveform 12, the DC level gradually returns to the original DC value. In the GCA 7 as well, the DC value becomes as denoted at a waveform 14 since the DC level grows in response to a change in gain. As the DC value having the waveform 14 passes the capacitor 8, the DC value becomes as denoted at a waveform 15 through similar operations to those described above. Also in the GCA 10, the DC value becomes as denoted at a waveform 16 since the DC level grows in response to a change in gain. On this occasion, the time the DC value takes before settling at a steady value after changing is a transient response. A DC-offset transient response arises in this manner. The timing of each waveform is as shown in the timing chart in FIG. 5B.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


High strength biomedical materials and processes for making the same are disclosed. Included in the disclosure are nanoporous hydrophilic solids that can be extruded with a high aspect ratio to make high strength medical catheters and other devices with lubricious and biocompatible surfaces. Polymers may be entrapped in pores of materials to provide a durable modification of the materials.

Biomaterials with high strength, low thrombogenicity, and lubricious surface properties are useful in the medical arts. The properties of materials can generally be improved with surface treatments so that the bulk material properties are preserved and the surface has properties that a preferable relative to the properties of the bulk material. However, despite such treatments, thrombus formation on medical devices may still restrict flow through and around the device, which can adversely affect infusion and aspiration, often requiring the use of expensive thrombolytic medications or even device replacement to resolve the blockage. For example, seconds after a catheter is placed into the bloodstream, blood proteins (e.g., fibrinogen and collagen) and host cells (e.g., platelets) begin to deposit on the device surface. Thrombus formation restricts flow through and around the device and can become friable and dislodge into the bloodstream, which has resulted in deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in several major clinical studies. Complications seen with such devices lengthen hospital stays and increase patient morbidity and mortality.
Accordingly, improved devices and methods are needed.

High strength porous materials incorporating water soluble polymers


A delay line for deployment in an equalizer to insert a delay in a signal received by the delay line employs a plurality of cascaded delay stages where the delay per stage provided by an active unit-gain amplifier in each stage that provides sufficient impedance mismatch between the delay stages without substantial deterioration of the frequency response of the client signal undergoing deterioration of the frequency response of the client signal undergoing delay.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to equalizers employed in data and clock recovery in telecommunication systems, more particularly to delay line implementations employed in a feed-forward equalizer (FFE) or a decision feedback equalizer (DFE), and most particularly to an active delay line employed in such equalizers.
2. Description of the Related Art
The demand for bandwidth in optical telecommunication networks has pushed operating network transmission rates for long-haul backbone to 10 Gb/s, which is more susceptible to chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion. This will become more of a problem with the advent of backbones operating at transmission rates of 40 Gb/s. Optical domain dispersion compensation modules (DCMs) have been traditionally employed to restore the transported signals at the optical receiver to be sufficiently discemable at a CDR circuit and make highly competent decisions as to binary 1's and 0's in the signal data stream. The primary source of signal dispersion is signal pulse broadening due to fiber dispersion on the transported signal. In general, these DCMs include optical dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) which is capable of providing dispersion compensation for multiple signals received at the receiver as a WDM or DWDM signal. However, in certain cases, such as when only a few signal channels are in operation, such as due to less than all channels in a system concurrently operating for a period of time due to initial stages of network deployment so that the expensive nature of DCMs will raise network costs, particularly at the time of initial network installation.
Instead of deploying optical domain solutions, another traditional approach is the electrical domain solution employing electronic dispersion compensation circuits which are also referred to as adaptive equalizers. They are of particular interest because they potentially offer lower cost and greater flexibility in system design as well as a way to mitigate fiber impairments imposed on the transport WDM/DWDM signal without any required foreknowledge of the optical link or span characteristics and parameters.
As known in the art of equalizers, there are two different types: the feedforward equalizer (FFE) and the decision feedback equalizer (DFE). At network transmission rates at 10 GB/s, FFE is typically implemented as a delay line plus a buffer or a transversal filter since they can compensate for many types of linear distortion. These type of filters may be as long as 8.4 mm on an equalizer chip. Such equalizers have a delay line comprising a series of connected passive delays where taps are provided between the delays and the taped delayed outputs are multiplied by equalization coefficients or weights and are then summed to generate an equalized output. Other delay line architectures have been proposed such as the adaptive distributed circuit type comprising two transmission lines with intermediate gain stages which amplify the output signals from the first transmission line by a gain proportional to a corresponding equalization coefficient or weight. A problem with these types of equalizers is that the delay lines are comparatively large, taking a lot of IC chip real estate.
What is desired is an adaptive equalizer that is more cost effective by being more compact as implemented in MMIC.


A video signal output apparatus is provided. Video format information that can be displayed on a video display apparatus is detected by an I/O unit from an input data. A comparing unit compares the detected video formats with video formats that can be converted by a converting unit, and then common video formats are set as selectable video formats and output as menu video. A user sees the menu video and selects a video format. Simultaneously with the converted digital video data, video format information is also inserted into the output data and then outputted. Accordingly, the video display apparatus switches the video format of the screen. The user can select a most suitable video format from the menu screen by only connecting the apparatuses, and then the video format of the video display image apparatus is also switched automatically.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a video signal output apparatus capable of converting an input video format to a plurality of video formats and outputting the converted video formats.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a video apparatus corresponding to a plurality of video formats is increasing due to the development of digital signal processing technology and the digitization of the video signals. Digital broadcasting is also increasingly popular and various media for recording digital video signals are also being developed. Therefore, from now on, tremendous demand for transmitting ends and receiving ends for the video signals will be increased.
The main formats used for the commercial broadcasting are 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p and 1080i, etc., for example. However, not all of the video signal output apparatus and the video display apparatus correspond to all the aforementioned formats.
Therefore, when apparatuses are connected, the combination of displayable video formats is more often restricted. Namely, a user has to know the video formats respectively corresponding to the video signal output apparatus and the video display apparatus, and the connectable video formats must be memorized. Moreover, when possessing a plurality of a video display apparatus and a video signal, there is a trouble that the video format for these apparatuses has to be reset whenever the connecting combination is changed.
For solving the above problem, Japanese Laid Open 2001-111914 (pages 3-5, and FIG. 1) provides, for example, a method which is described as follows. The video formats corresponding to the video display apparatus are automatically determined from the period of the horizontal deflection frequency. From the above determined video formats, the video signal output apparatus selects a suitable video format to output the video signals.
However, if the connected apparatus is not a CRT TV having a horizontal deviation circuit, this method is not useful. Namely, the above method cannot be applied to the recent increasingly popular liquid crystal display (LCD) TV and the plasma display panel (PDP) TV. In addition, when the user himself selects a video format, the connected apparatuses have to be reset respectively.
Conventionally, when video images are seen by connecting a video display apparatus and a video signal output apparatus corresponding to a plurality of video formats, the connectable image format has to be memorized. When the connected apparatuses are changed, there is a problem that the video format of these apparatuses needs to be reset.


Disclosed are an apparatus, a system, and a method for searching for a power user in social media. The apparatus according to the present invention includes an input unit configured to receive a keyword corresponding to an interested object from a user; a communication unit configured to transmit a search request message including the received keyword and receive a search response message corresponding to the transmitted search request message; a controller configured to, when receiving the search response message, extract a search list in which power users related to the keyword are arranged according to a preset power ranking from the received search response message; a display unit configured to sequentially display the power users related to the keyword received from the user according to the preset power ranking based on the extracted search list; and a storage unit configured to store the extracted search list.

Various opinions and information are exchanged in social media, and more than 100 million users post billions of comments. A technology of detecting a power user from the users was conventionally developed and has been serviced.
However, the conventional technology simply ranks total users or recommends a user in a particular category, but does not rank power users related to each of the all keywords to provide them. When a social web is searched through a keyword, only a document including the corresponding keyword, a user matched with the corresponding keyword, or a particular domain (category) is searched.
When a user is recommended, it is not shown which article is posted in a corresponding field by the recommended user and which article is influential in connection with an input keyword.

Apparatus, system, and method for searching for power user in social media

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE