An RF power amplifier architecture minimizes spurious emissions by breaking the transmitted signal into narrow spectrum sub-bands, amplifying each separately, and then combining the signals for transmission purposes.

A principle goal of communication systems is to maximize spectrum efficiency via the use of broadband waveforms transmitting over non-contiguous spectrum and to minimize the waveform's adjacent power level. A goal of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Future Combat Systems (FCS) and other programs is the development of the orthogonal frequency-division modulation (OFDM) for use with tactical systems. The OFDM waveform has perhaps the best combination of multipath and Eb/N0 properties of any waveform. Unfortunately, the OFDM waveform has a high peak to average voltage ratio, which requires very high amplifier linearity to suppress out-of-band emissions. This is a very significant problem that prevents the OFDM waveform in some scenarios because high power, linear amplifiers are not cost effective in many designs. Some designers believe that the OFDM out-of-band emission problem is so severe that single carrier waveforms with special equalization are the preferred solution, see "Frequency Domain Equalization for Single-Carrier Broadband Wireless Systems", David Falconer, et al, IEEE Communications Magazine, April 2002. The proposed technology directly mitigates the OFDM out-of-band emission problem, thus enabling OFDM to be widely applicable in tactical situations.
Minimizing out-of-band and spurious emissions is a very challenging aspect of multi-band radio design. FCC regulations and interference predictions (detailed below) present typical maximum emission values. To achieve low emissions, a combination of high third order intercept amplifiers and tracking filters are required. The filters must be high-Q bandpass filters with the passband set close to the desired output bandwidth. The filters must have high third order intercept points to avoid contributing to the problem they are fixing. These amplifiers and filters are expensive, are large, require high prime power, and are heavy. State-of-the-art broadband, high performance tunable filters are manufactured by PoleZero Corporation. The high IP3 performance (>+50 dBm) PoleZero product is the "Power-Pole" Filter. This device requires approximately 7.5 W of prime power, is several inches in size, and is expensive (˜$2 k each). The frequency coverage is only 10 MHz to 700 MHz and each device has a 3:1 tuning ratio.
The required amplifier performance level to obtain low spurious emissions is difficult if not impossible to easily attain in prior art radios. Many radios economize on this part of the design and suffer serious operational limitations or have great difficulties in getting spectrum authorization.
These problems are compounded in the next generation of multi-band radios because the large frequency range and the use of variable transmit bandwidths increases the number of required filters. The goal of transmitting a non-contiguous spectrum requires even greater filter flexibility to accommodate "tailoring" of the transmitted spectrum. It is believed that a "brute-force" amplifier/filtering approach to achieve acceptably low spurious emissions with a multi-band radio, and to achieve reasonable cost, size, weight, and power goals is not possible with current technology.
The maximum permitted spurious transmitted power levels are quite small and require high RF performance to achieve. The maximum power can be determined via two methods. Both methods are used in the current debate on authorizing Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) devices, see the filed comments on Docket 98-153 at www.fcc.gov. This debate is relevant because broadband waveforms create wide bandwidth noise over the approximately the same frequency band that is widely used for terrestrial, tactical communications (20 MHz to 3,000 MHz). Many users within this band have filed comments regarding wideband noise interference applicable to their specific systems, making available detailed, applicable interference analysis.
The first method ("Noise Floor Method") to estimate the maximum spurious transmitter power level determines the maximum broadband noise level that can be transmitted that would cause a small (3 dB) rise in the victim receiver's thermal noise floor at a certain distance. Using the free-space range equation, omni-antennas and a 6 dB victim noise figure, FIG. 13 shows the maximum transmitted noise level in dBm/MHz versus frequency for ranges of 10 meters, 100 meters, and 1000 meters. In most cases, frequency sharing using broadband waveforms will occur with distant primary users at 1000 m range or greater. An exception is the GPS band, which will be heavily used in close proximity (a few meters) to tactical receivers.
The second method ("Part 15 Method") to estimate the maximum spurious transmitted power level is to adopt FCC Part 15 (CFR Part 15.209), standards for the amount of unintended power radiated. This standard is a field strength level (100 uV/meter from 30-88 MHz, 150 uV/meter from 88-216 MHz, 200 uV/meter from 216-960 MHz, and 500 uV/meter at greater than 960 MHz) at 3 meters range from the device. FIG. 13 shows this level as "Part 15" transformed back to transmitted power using the free-space range equation and omni-antenna gains. Above 960 MHz, the allowed transmission power is −41.2 dBm/MHz.
These two methods provide different power levels, which is partially the key issue in the UWB debate and also creates uncertainty on what levels should be adopted. Several groups have argued that the Part 15 levels are too high for UWB devices and need to be reduced, especially in the GPS bands (1559 MHz-1610 MHz). The FCC has proposed a 12 dB reduction to the Part 15 limit to a value of −53.2 dBm/MHz, FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking FCC 00-163. These arguments are related to the high peak to average power ratio of the UWB signal and the large number of expected UWB devices, and may not be applicable to an advanced broadband waveform. The UWB arguments are also focused on interference with nearby (several meters) devices and not with distant (100's of meters) victim receivers. It is believed that the Part 15 requirements are more than adequate for tactical purposes and that the Noise Floor Method is the most applicable. The exception is within the GPS bands wherein the FCC's recommendation of the maximum emission level of −53.2 dBm/MHz appears to be reasonable. Table 1 summarizes the recommended emission levels detailed above.
TABLE 1Allowable Band EmissionsAllowableAllowableEmissionEmissionLevel in aLevel in a1 MHz61 kHzBandBandwidthBandwidthComment30 MHz to 100−45 dBm/MHz−57.1 dBm"Noise FloorMHzMethod"100 MHz to 1,000−35 dBm/MHz−47.1 dBm"Noise FloorMHzMethod"1,000 MHz to−35 dBm/MHz−47.1 dBm"Noise Floor3,000 MHz1Method" with20 dB margin toaccount fordirectionalantennas1559 MHz-1610−53.2−65.3 dBmGPS band-FollowMHzdBm/MHzFCCrecommendation1except for GPS band
What these maximum permitted spurious power levels means is that a non-contiguous waveform must have very low out-of-band emissions to avoid causing interference, and a need exists to have systems that are capable of achieving these low out-of-band emissions.
Present day amplifiers are incapable of achieving these low emissions. In this regard, estimates of the out-band emission levels of RF amplifiers with different third order intercept points (IP3) are shown in FIGS. 14A-C. Shown are typical output spectrums with a 20 MHz transmitted waveform with a 5 MHz spectrum gap, 1 W output, and an amplifier IP3 value of +40 dBm (FIG. 14A), +50 dBm (FIG. 14B), and +60 dBm (FIG. 14C). The "noise" level within the spectrum gap (at 100 MHz) is −20 dBm (IP3=+40 dBm) (FIG. 14A), −40 dBm (IP3=+50 dBm) (FIG. 14B), and −60 dBm (IP3=+60 dBm) (FIG. 14C).
Comparing with the allowable emission levels as shown in Table 1 indicates that with this waveform and power level, an output amplifier with IP3˜+55 dBm is required. An amplifier with IP3>+60 dBm is required to protect the GPS band, which is not feasible within the SWP constraints of tactical radios. Current multi-band amplifiers have IP3 values of about +42 dBm, Stanford Microdevices SGA-9289 (IP3=42.5 dBm). Thus, burdensome post amplifier bandpass filtering will be required to achieve low spurious output levels with this example waveform, which we believe is similar to what is envisioned for future tactical radios.
Commercially available multi-band RF amplifiers have limited dynamic range performance. It is likely that commercial amplifiers small enough for tactical operations will not have high enough IP3 performance to produce a useful spectrum notch.
Table 2 shows the performance of several types of commercially available RF amplifiers. The performance of the recently introduced WJ Communications AH1 amplifier is shown in the first row. The WJ AH1 is small enough to be useful for small, handheld devices. It's IP3 level of +41 dBm would produce power out-of-band emissions similar to what is shown in FIG. 14A. The Mini-Circuits ZHL-42W is a connectorized instrumentation that covers about the frequency range of interest (30 MHz to 3,000 MHz), but also has a low IP3 value. The Mini-Circuits ZHL-5W-1 has higher output power and IP3 value, but doesn't cover the upper part of the desired frequency range. This is probably due to stray capacitance effects in the baluns and transformers used in the design.
An extreme example is the Spectran MCPA 4080, which is a narrowband PCS base station amplifier. It has excellent RF performance over a narrow (1930 MHz to 1990 MHz) frequency range and would support a low out-of-band emission, non-contiguous waveform. But the required power level of 1130 W is prohibitive, even for vehicle applications. Thus, current amplifiers are still lacking in supporting a low out-of-band emission, non-contiguous waveform.
TABLE 2Performance comparison of several amplifier types.FrequencyOutputBiasAmplifierTypeRangePowerPowerIP3EfficiencyWJMMIC component 250 MHz to 3000 MHz+21 dBm  2 W41 dBm6%CommunicationsAH1Mini-Circuits-Connectorized 10 MHz-4200 MHz+28 dBm 12.5 W38 dBm5%ZHL-42WinstrumentationamplifierMini-CircuitsConnectorized 1 MHz-500 MHz+37 dBm 79 W45 dBm6%ZHL-5W-1instrumentationamplifierAmplifierRack mounted  800 MHz to 4,200 MHz+39 dBm 150 W43 dBm5%Research 5S1G4instrumentationamplifierSpectran MCPARack mounted,1930 MHz to 1990 MHz+49 dBm1130 W81 dBm7%4080single band PCSbase stationamplifier
As such, there is a need for improved amplifiers that reduce an amplifier's spurious emission to maximize spectrum efficiency. The present invention responds to this need by the development of an improved amplifier system that reduces out-of-band emissions, this eliminating significant interference to existing narrow bandwidth users.

Method and system for transmitting signals with reduced spurious emissions


A method and a system for securely transmitting a digital content in a digital right management (DRM) network, the method comprising partitioning the digital content into a plurality of fragments. The method further comprises associating each fragment with a license key. Each fragment is encrypted with the corresponding license key and are sent to an electronic device in response to receiving a request for the digital content.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a tool that allows owners of digital content to protect and secure the delivery of their assets. DRM is a generic term for an encryption technology that modifies the file such that it is unusable until a license or key is granted. DRM helps protect and securely deliver digital content during its deployment, transport, and download, prior to its playback on an electronic device. The electronic device can be for example, a computer, set-top box or TV. Protected content is encrypted and requires a corresponding license in order to be played back on the electronic device. The license allows decryption of the content and dictates how the content may be used.
Existing technologies allow a license to be granted for a digital content that is valid for the complete duration of the digital content. Such license needs to be obtained before the digital content is played and is obtained for the digital content as a whole. In order to maintain security of the digital content, the digital content is encrypted with one or more keys. In order to play the digital content, the digital content, as a whole, must be decrypted and stored in a volatile memory of a display device. However, when the digital content size grows, the requirements of the volatile memory also increases, thereby making it imperative to use hard disk drives to store the decrypted digital content. The security is not maintained since the hard disk can be removed and the unencrypted digital content copied onto another storage device.
Further, with respect to existing systems, the digital content can be encrypted and requires an authorization license in order to be decrypted and played back. The authorization license allows decryption of the digital content and dictates the usage of the digital content. As a result, it becomes cumbersome for a content provider to distribute the digital content in a physical format delivery and further ensure protection of the digital content.
Therefore there is a need for a system to enable continuous monitoring of integrity and validity of digital content.

Method and system to enable continuous monitoring of integrity and validity of a digital content


This invention provides a method for producing a polymer alloy, a polymer alloy as well as a molded article, a transparent molded article and an optical film, which is obtainable by using the polymer alloy.

Public attention is focused on polymer alloys having the characteristics which are not obtained by a single polymer but obtained by blending two or more polymers which are incompatible with each other in a usual state. Especially, in the case where two or more polymers form a ultra-micro-phase separation structure, a polymer alloy on which the characteristics of each resin are reflected can be obtained. For example, an amorphous polymer having high heat resistance is added to an amorphous polymer which has good moldability but low heat resistance to form a polymer alloy, whereby a polymer alloy having good moldability and high heat resistance can be manufactured. In addition, unlike copolymers such as block copolymers or random copolymers, troublesome copolymerizing operations are not required in the production of the polymer alloy.
Conventionally, a kneading method is used as a method for producing a polymer alloy having a ultra-micro-phase separation structure by blending two or more polymers which are incompatible with each other in a usual state. In order to obtain a satisfactory ultra-micro-phase separation structure, it has been regarded as essential to use some compatibilizing agent. As the compatibilizing agent, one corresponding to a raw polymer must be selected. However, this selection is not easy, it is difficult to obtain a polymer alloy forming a ultra-micro-phase separation structure and having desired characteristics and, also, there are combinations of polymers for which good compatibilizing agent has not been found so far.
Meanwhile, in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-2-134214, a method is disclosed in which two types of polymers are melted using supercritical gas which is present in a gas state at ambient temperature and pressure or a mixture of supercritical gas, these components are thoroughly mixed for a plenty of time until the viscosity of the polymer mixture is decreased by at least 10%, then the melt mixture is cooled sufficiently, taking much time to continue mixing until the viscosity of the melt mixture of the polymers reaches again at least the original value and then the pressure in the mixing container is rapidly released to produce a polymer alloy micro-dispersion phase separation structure. Also, in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-10-330493, a method is disclosed in which a solvent which is a liquid state at ambient temperature and pressure is changed to a high temperature and high pressure fluid to make incompatible two or more polymers compatible with each other and then the pressure in the system is rapidly dropped to vaporize the solvent, thereby producing a polymer alloy having a ultra-micro-phase separation structure 100 nm or less in size.
However, these methods of producing a polymer alloy involve a cooling process using the so-called adiabatic expansion in which process the pressure of supercritical gas or a mixture containing supercritical gas is suddenly released or is dropped suddenly from the pressure condition to thereby vaporize the high pressure and high temperature fluid during the course of the process; therefore, a large number of air bubbles are generated in the resulting polymer alloy. A troublesome defoaming process is required to obtain a transparent molded article by using such a polymer alloy having air bubbles and, also, there is the case where the ultra-micro-phase separation structure of the polymer alloy is broken by the defoaming process, which considerably limits the range of the applications of these methods. There is also the problem that it is hard to scale up the process of vaporizing a solvent suddenly; therefore, the industrialization of the process is difficult.
A method for producing a polymer alloy is disclosed in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-6-234861, the method using at least one block copolymer or graft copolymer in a supercritical fluid. However, in this method, a pressured polymer alloy is expanded by passing it through a fine nozzle; therefore, foaming is easily caused, giving rise to the problem that a process of removing air bubbles is inevitable. Also in this method, after glass beads to which a raw resin is stuck are packed in a column, the supercritical fluid is flown through the column to mix the resin with dissolving the resin; therefore, the ratio of a composition is determined by the solubility ratio of each resin. Further, because the amount of a resin which can be treated is small and a raw resin cannot be supplied continuously, resulting in small throughput.

Method for producing polymer alloy polymer alloy formed article transparent formed article and optical film

Abstract: The invention is a method for producing a polymer alloy, which comprises at least: a step 1 of mixing two or more resins incompatible with each other at ambient temperature and pressure with a solvent being in a liquid or gas state at ambient temperature and pressure; a step 2 of heating and applying pressure to said solvent into a high-temperature and high-pressure fluid or a supercritical fluid and mixing the solvent in this state; and, a step 3 of cooling the mixture obtained in said step 2 rapidly to the glass transition temperature or less without releasing the pressure of the mixture.


An apparatus is provided for performing corneal refractive surgery by ablating a portion of a corneal surface of an eye. The apparatus includes a pulsed laser for producing a pulsed output beam of light. A scanning mechanism scans the output beam, and the output beam is operatively associated with the scanning mechanism such that the output beam may be scanned over a predetermined surface defined by a mathematically derived ablation layer boundary curve for each ablation layer. A controller is operatively associated with the scanning mechanism so as to deliver output beams to the predetermined surface such that center points of output beams may be disposed within the ablation layer boundary curve, on the ablation layer boundary curve, and outside but within a predetermined distance from a nearest point on the ablation layer boundary curve so as to integrate the edges of the ablation layer boundary curve to more closely correspond to the desired ablated shape.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for refractive correction utilized to ablate corneal tissue to reshape the corneal surface, and more particularly, to apparatus for corneal re-profiling by laser ablation for correction of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatic myopia and astigmatic hyperopia conditions.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 1, a schematic illustration of a normal eye is shown, wherein light rays 10 pass through the cornea 12 of eye 14 through lens 16 to the retina 18. In a normal eye, the focal point 20 of the light rays occurs on the retina 18 for normal vision.
Common vision defects occur when the focal point 20 is not disposed on the retina 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, myopia occurs when the focal point 20 is disposed in front of the retina 18. Myopia may be corrected as shown in FIG. 3 by using conventional methods by ablating tissue 24 of the cornea 12 so as to increase the radius of curvature of cornea 12 to shift the focal point 20 to be on the retina 18.
With reference to FIG. 4, hyperopia occurs when the shape of the cornea does not permit the light rays 10 to focus on the retina 18. Instead, the focal point 20 of the light rays 10 in an eye suffering from hyperopia is disposed behind the retina 18. As shown in FIG. 5, hyperopia can be corrected by ablating tissue 24 of the cornea 12 so as to decrease the radius of curvature of the center of the cornea 12, shifting the focal point 20 to be on the retina 18.
FIGS. 6 and 6A illustrate myopic astigmatism. As shown in FIG. 6, x-direction light rays 10' and y-direction light rays 10" pass through the cornea 12 and lens 16 to the retina 18. However, due to the shape of the cornea 12, the x-direction light rays 10' focus at focal point 20', while the y-direction light rays 10" focus at focal point 20" in front of the retina 18, causing vision to be blurred. FIG. 6A is a three-dimensional illustration of the light rays 10' and 10" passing through the cornea 12 and showing the location of the focal points 20' and 20". Myopic astigmatism can be corrected by re-profiling the surface of the cornea 12 to obtain a single focal point on the retina 18. It can be appreciated that in hyperopic astigmatism, the focal points 20' and 20" of the x-direction and y-direction light rays, respectively, are behind the retina. Hyperopic astigmatism may also be corrected by corneal re-profiling.
When correcting conditions such as, for example, myopia, hyperopia and/or astigmatism, the eye may be ablated in thin layers by an excimer laser or the like to achieve the desired correction. For simple myopic correction, the shape of each layer of the ablation is represented by the equation for a circle. Parabolic, spherical or other mathematical models could be used. For a small laser beam to ablate each layer of the corneal tissue, the laser beam must be scanned across the surface of the eye, inside of and on the curve defining the zone of ablation. Many approaches can be used to scan each layer. The scanning process may be defined as linear, circular, random multi-beam, or other useable method.
However, when employing a mathematically modeled curve to define each layer of ablation in performing laser vision corrections, and when the center of each laser pulse is positioned inside of or at the boundary of the curve, the effective ablation area for each layer may be smaller than that defined by the actual curve modeled because of the incremental movement of the laser. Thus, the correction may not be as effective as theorized.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an apparatus that controls laser pulse center point positions effectively throughout a layer of ablation.

Compound astigmatic myopia or hyperopia correction by laser ablation


The present invention is a coupled cavity gyrotron-traveling-wave-tube amplifier which produces highly efficient, broad band millimeter wave radiation. The present invention comprises an electron gun, a double ridged coupled cavity interaction circuit and a beam collector. In operation the gun injects a gyrating electron beam through a beam tunnel of a side wall of the coupled cavity. When the electron beam phase is synchronized with the rf phase of the transverse electric mode in the coupled cavity circuit, the electron beam is modulated and amplifies the rf input signal through the negative mass instability called electron cyclontron instability. The coupled cavity design of the interaction circuit effctively slows the rf-wave velocity, allowing amplification of the rf- wave over a broad band. This t ype of broad band microwave energy is highly useful in radar, communications and jamming technology.

The present invention relates to traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWT Amplifiers) in general and in specific to a coupled cavity gyrotron-traveling-wave-tube amplifier for producing highly efficient, broad band millimeter wave radiation.
Many of today's high-tech military and commercial applications require a high power, broadband radiation source in the millimeter wave frequency range. Military applications for such TWT amplifiers include, but are not limited to, high resolution radar, communications and electronic jamming equipments. Commercial applications include, but are not limited to, equipment for high resolution airborne and ship-board navigation and communication systems, high efficiency satellite communications systems, millimeter-wave material processing, millimeter wave imaging systems and radiation source for laboratory test and measurement to name a few. Light weight, compact design and low cost are also critical factors for practical use and commercial production.
The use of free electron beams, linear and rotating, in vacuum tubes has been successful in producing multi-kilowatt high power, broadband radiation. Tens of kilowatts power in the millimeter wave frequency range with a large bandwidth, operating at a low beam voltage (<60 kV ) is more attractive in today's TWT community.
Conventional approaches for achieving broadband rf amplification in the linear beam TWT-amplifiers are the use of a helix circuit supported by dielectric rods, an E-plane bend folded waveguide or the use of a staggered ladder circuits.
Millimeter wave helix circuits are generally too small to handle high peak and average power radiation. In both the ladder circuit and the folded waveguide, since the beam tunnel size is directly related to beam wave interaction impedance, the amount of beam power which can be injected into the circuit is limited by the small beam tunnel size. The radiation electronic efficiency of the linear beam devices in general is not more the 10%.
Until now approaches for attaining broadband rf amplification in the conventional gyro-TWT amplifiers have involved either loading disks, or dielectric material, into the waveguide to slow down the rf phase velocity of the wave, or tapering both the waveguide and the external magnetic field along the axial distance. In general, the gyro-devices are not suitable for high power, broadband millimeter wave radiation sources, due to the complexity of the circuit, the high magnetic field required, and the lengthy circuit.

Coupled cavity gyrotron-traveling-wave-tube amplifier


A method of cleaning robotic surgical instruments includes inserting a tool-end of a robotic surgical instrument into a tool-end cleaning chamber, the tool-end cleaning chamber fluidly connected to a system for pumping. A suction orifice of a control box of the robotic surgical instrument is interfaced to the system for pumping and then submerging the robotic surgical instrument and the tool-end cleaning chamber into cleaning fluid. Next, simultaneously drawing cleaning fluid into the tool-end cleaning chamber through a plurality of intake holes in a body of the tool-end cleaning chamber creating turbulence around the tool-end of the robotic surgical instrument; drawing the cleaning fluid into the robotic surgical instrument through another orifice of the control box and through a shaft of the robotic surgical instrument, exiting through the suction orifice; and subjecting the robotic surgical instrument to ultrasonic waves.

Robotic and other laparoscopic type surgical instruments have been in use for over a decade. In general, one or more small incisions are made in the patient and an operating device, such as a scope, or other instrument, is fed through the incision(s), until the surgical device(s) and/or instrument(s) reaches the site of the operation. The inserted portions of the robotic surgical instruments are typically tubular in shape. In some examples, the robotic or laparoscopic instrument is a scalpel, scissors, or other cutting device for removal or repair of diseased or malfunctioning tissue. Advances in surgical systems and surgical instruments have greatly reduced operation times as well as recovery times; such as the removal of a gallbladder, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,436 (hereafter '436) describes one method of cleaning that has effectively cleaned the interiors and exteriors of channeled tubular surgical instruments, such as orthoscopic/laparoscopic/endoscopic/and bone reamers. The '436 patent utilizes ultrasonic transducers affixed to the bottom of an ultrasonic tank that has been filled with cleaning solution, wherein the ultrasonic waves induce the separation of debris from the soiled instrument(s) placed in the ultrasonic bath. Further, in '436, the ultrasonic tank is attached to an independent suction apparatus that works simultaneously to suction out the loosened debris from the interior and tool-end of a channeled tubular surgical instrument while it is being cleaned in the ultrasonic bath. More recently, this is accomplished by inserting just the distal tool-end of the channeled tubular surgical instrument through a hole in the capped, individually dedicated, inline maximizing suction cleaning chamber, inline filter, inline pump, and inline fluid return tube that returns the filtered ultrasonic tank cleaning solution back to the ultrasonic bath wherein the attached channeled tubular surgical instrument is laying on the bottom of the fluid filled activated ultrasonic tank. The current configuration of the '436 can individually clean up to six channeled tubular surgical instruments at the same time using this well established cleaning system.
The combined surgical instrument cleaning methods of '436 have been used successfully in cleaning many types of flow through channeled tubular surgical instruments. However, this singular hookup method for cleaning channeled tubular surgical instruments in the '436 is incapable of adequately cleaning Robotic tubular surgical instruments, such as the da Vinci® robotic surgical instruments manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, Inc., because one or more tight seals have been placed as a barrier between the distal tool-end and the proximal shaft/control box end of the channeled areas within the robotic instrument in an effort to curtail the amount of bio burden at the tool-end from migrating up into the segmented shaft/control box end; which reduces but does not totally prevent bio burden from migrating into the segmented proximal end of the robotic instrument.
The typical institutional practice for cleaning the distal tool-end of a robotic surgical instrument is to scrub it by hand; which is time consuming, tedious, potentially dangerous, and can lead to liability and workman's compensation issues.
What is needed is a safer more cost effective automated way to clean both the distal and the proximal segmented areas of robotic surgical instruments.

System for cleaning robotic surgical instruments


A Si etching method etches a Si wafer held on a susceptor placed in a processing vessel by a plasma-assisted etching process. A mixed etching gas prepared by mixing fluorosulfur gas, such as SF6 gas, or fluorocarbon gas, O2 gas and fluorosilicon gas, such as SiF4 gas is supplied into the processing vessel. RF power of 40 MHz or above is applied to the mixed etching gas to generate a plasma. The Si wafer is etched with radicals and ions contained in the plasma.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a silicon etching method, and more particularly, to a silicon etching method using a plasma.
2. Description of the Related Art
A trench etching that forms a groove-shaped trench for isolation of elements or a cylindrical trench for capacitors is a representative silicon (Si) etching. A trench etching method of forming deep trenches for deep trench isolation (DTI) and a trench etching method of forming trenches for memory cells and capacitors form trenches with widths in the range of about 0.8 to about 1.2 μm and depths in the range of about 5 to about 8 μm in a major surface of a Si substrate. Those trench etching methods are representative trench etching methods of forming trenches with large aspect ratios. Recent three-dimensional IC devices and micro electromechanical systems (MEMSs) require an etching method capable of forming wiring through holes and trenches with depths not smaller than 100 μm for mechanical structures in a Si substrate.
Most conventional Si etching methods use a SF6/O2 mixed gas as a reactive gas for producing a reactive plasma. A SF6 gas derived plasma contains F atoms in a F atom density several times those of plasmas derived from other fluorinated gases, and S atoms of SF6 prevents the oxidation of the surface of Si substrate and promotes Si etching. Thus, it is considered that SF6 gas is an optimum etching gas for etching the Si substrate at a high etch rate. Oxygen gas (O2 gas) reacts with Si of the Si substrat , forms oxide films (SiOx films) on sidewalls, and promotes vertical (anisotropic) etching.
The sidewall protecting effect of the SF6/O2 mixed gas in Si etching is not satisfactory. Consequently, undercuts or encroachments are liable to be formed in the side walls of the etched holes or grooves and it is difficult to achieve vertical (anisotropic) etching. Moreover, the SF6/O2 mixed gas is unsatisfactory in the etch selectivity of Si with respect to the masking material (hereinafter referred to as "Si etch selectivity"), and can etch in a limited depth.
In order to make up for the shortcomings of the SF6/O2 mixed gas, an etching method that performs an etching cycle using the SF6/O2 mixed gas and a deposition cycle using a CFx gas alternately has been proposed. However, processing efficiency or throughput of this etching method is low because etching does not progress during the deposition cycle.


There are provided a new type of crystal laminate of an alkaline earth metal titanate having improved catalytic activity, and a method for producing the same. The crystal laminate is provided having a crystal of the alkaline earth metal titanate as a constitutional unit, wherein the crystal being the constitutional unit is a cubic crystal, a tetragonal crystal or an orthorhombic crystal; the crystal being the constitutional unit has a primary particle diameter of 500 nm or less; and the crystal is layered with an orientation in a {100} plane direction thereof.

Alkaline earth metal titanates such as strontium titanate and barium titanate have photocatalytic activity and high dielectricity, and are used for photohydrolysis, ceramic capacitors, piezoelectric elements and the like. Nanoparticles of metal titanates, however, are liable to randomly aggregate, and the decrease in surface area, the interfacial mismatch and the like caused thereby pose the following problem: the decrease in photocatalytic activity and light energy conversion efficiency.
As means for solving the above problem, with regard to metal oxide nanoparticles, reported were means in which metal oxide nanoparticles are made into a metal oxide mesocrystal, which is a superstructure made by self-organization of the metal oxide nanoparticles (Non Patent Literatures 1 and 2). The present inventor has further studied in order to conveniently obtain a mesocrystal of a metal oxide represented by titanium oxide, and has then found that by calcining using an aqueous solution containing a metal oxide precursor, an ammonia salt and water, or a metal oxide precursor, an ammonia salt, a surfactant and water, a metal oxide mesocrystal having a large size and a large specific surface area can be obtained (Patent Literatures 1 and 2). It has also been found that a mesocrystal of a composite oxide containing two or more metal species can also be obtained (Patent Literature 2).

Alkaline earth metal titanate crystal laminate


An orthodontic force mechanism includes a jack screw having a pair of ends, at least one of which is threaded, and a central spindle between the ends, which spindle has two intersecting radial through-holes therein. A pair of nut housings are mounted on the end portions of the jack screw, at least one of which is threadedly coupled to a threaded end portion of the jack screw. A lock mechanism mounted on the central spindle section includes a spring-loaded detent configured to engage an end opening of each of the through holes in the spindle when the through hole is in alignment with the detent, such that the spindle cannot rotate relative to the lock mechanism when the detent is inserted into a through hole. The detent can be moved out of engagement with a through hole using a tool inserted into that through hole from its opposite end.

Orthodontic palatal expansion is commonly carried out using a force module that is installed on the upper dental arch of a patient's mouth, the force module being connected to a palatal expander of a type commonly known in the art. The method of palatal expansion using expansion screws has become known in the art as "rapid palatal expansion" (RPE). Force modules used for this purpose must be tightened periodically to be effective.
Huge et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,361, Aug. 31, 2004, describes an orthodontic mechanical force module having a jack screw whose rotation is controlled by a ratchet. In one embodiment, a pair of housings are interconnected with the patient in any appropriate manner, and are further rotatably interconnected with a rotatable spindle. At least one of these housings is also threadedly engaged with the spindle. A ratchet is associated with the spindle to selectively allow the spindle to rotate only in a direction that increases a magnitude of the treatment forces being exerted on the patient by changing the spacing between the pair of housings by a movement of at least one of the housings along the spindle due to its rotation. In an active position, the ratchet precludes the spindle from rotating in a direction that would tend to reduce the magnitude of the treatment forces being exerted on the patient.
The Huge et al. device, and also an appliance described in literature as the "RatchetRax" claim to provide bi-directional adjustment capability. The device of the present invention incorporates a mechanical locking device, unlike those of the previously mentioned devices, that allows bi-directional activation of the screw-mechanism without a multitude of tools or augmented instruction to the user. The RatchetRax is bi-directional, but moves only one nut body to create the expansion. The great disadvantage inherent with movement of one nut body as opposed to both nut bodies is that the overall lateral size of the single body movement device must necessarily be twice as wide to effect the same amount of expansion or contraction. Appliance size is critical relative to accommodation in the mouth and to patient comfort and tolerance.
Bi-directional adjustability allows the mechanism to be employed not only as an expansion device (activation of the nut bodies apart from each other) but also as a contraction device wherein the bodies are purposefully installed in the patient screwed apart and then activated to bring them together, thereby delivering a closing force as opposed to an expanding or opening force. This is a common application of such force modules, i.e. to move teeth adjacent to an edentulous space together to eliminate the space and mitigate the need for a prosthesis. The most common applications of such force modules are expansion of the palate, expansion of the mandibular alveolus, contraction of teeth adjacent to an edentulous site, and contraction of the palate.
Screw de-activation (screw reverses direction after activation) has always been a challenge with expansion screws. In order to control screw reversal, most prior art mechanisms have incorporated some type of screw thread drag adjunct (lacquer coating, nylon bushing, etc.). These have sometimes been successful, but many times not. A popular device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,001 suffered problems with screw reversal that could not be controlled. When an expansion device fails, its removal and replacement subjects the patient to the rigors of duplicating previous protocols. Additionally, after such expansion has begun and then fails, appliance removal is considerably more uncomfortable because the involved tissues are in a heightened state of irritability. Furthermore, clinicians experience aggravation over lost time, duplication of effort, and poor public relations that invariably result from patients and/or parents of patients exasperated about the inconvenience of repeated appointments and delayed treatment time. Locking the screw in place mechanically is the surest way to prevent screw reversal. The present invention inhibits screw reversal without requiring additional tooling and instruction.


Disclosed is a method of cleaning a substrate processing apparatus in which a substrate having a surface wet by a liquid is brought into contact with a supercritical fluid so as to perform a drying process of drying the substrate. The method includes a cleaning gas filling process and an exhausting process. The cleaning gas filling process fills a cleaning gas containing isopropyl alcohol in the substrate processing apparatus. The exhausting process exhausts the cleaning gas from an inside of the substrate processing apparatus after the cleaning gas filling process.

In the related art, there has been known a method of drying a wafer, in which, in a drying process after a surface of, for example, a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, referred to as a "wafer"), which is a substrate, is processed with a liquid, the wafer having a surface wet by a liquid is brought into contact with a supercritical fluid, thereby being dried (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2013-012538).

Method of cleaning substrate processing apparatus and system of cleaning substrate processing apparatus


The present invention relates to high selective herbicidal phenoxypropionic acid alkoxycarbonyl anilid compounds represented in formula 1, method of preparing thereof, their use to control barnyard grass produced from rice, and a composition as suitable herbicides,

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to high selective herbicidal phenoxypropionic acid alkoxycarbonyl anilid compounds represented in formula 1, method of preparing thereof, their use to control barnyard grass produced from rice, and a composition as suitable herbicides,
wherein
R is a hydrogen atom, methyl or ethyl group;
R1 is a hydrogen atom, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkyl substituted with 1 to 3 of the group consisting of hydroxy, carboxyl, and a halogen atom, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C3-C4 alkenyl, C3-C4 alkinyl, or C2-C4 alkoxyalkyl group;
n is an integer of 1 or 2 and when n is 2, R1 can be a combination of other substituents.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,413 disclosed the compound represented in the following formula 2,
wherein
(R1)m is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, CF3, NO2, CN or alkyl group;
A is O, S or NH;
R2 is a hydrogen atom or alkyl group; and
Z is
(wherein R3 and R4, that are the same or different, are a hydrogen atom, C1xcx9cC6 alkyl, C1xcx9cC6 hydroxyalkyl, C3xcx9cC6 cycloalkyl, C1xcx9cC4 alkoxy, or phenyl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of C1xcx9cC4 alkyl group, C1xcx9cC6 alkoxy group, a halogen atom and CF3.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,969 disclosed the compounds represented in the following formula 3,
wherein R5 is
(where R6 is a hydrogen or a halogen atom, R7 is a hydrogen atom or alkyl group); Z is the same as defined above.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,527 disclosed the compounds represented in the following formula 4,
wherein, R5 and Z are the same as defined above.
Japanese Patent publication 2-11580 disclosed the compounds represented in the following formula 5,
wherein L is lower alkyl group, a halogen atom, methoxy, methoxyphenoxy, benzyloxy, methylthio, methylvinyl group; and n is an integer of 0 to 3.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,343 disclosed the compounds represented in the following formula 6.
Japanese Patent publication 53-40767 and 54-112828 also disclosed that phenoxypropionic acid amide derivatives show herbicidal activities.
However, none of the patents teaches the synthesis of the compound represented in the above formula 1 and has tested the same for herbicidal activity. Furthermore, it has not been reported that the compounds have superior herbicidal activity and selectivity toward rice and control barnyard grass produced from rice.
Even though many of herbicides for rice have been recently developed and used, barnyard grass among weeds is the biggest problem in rice paddy.
Development of herbicides to control barnyard grass is an urgent request to one who is in the field of agriculture. After transplanting young rice, conventional herbicides, developed until now, cannot effectively control the production of barnyard grass so that it causes a huge damage to harvest. It has been reported that when barnyard grass is produced for one week in 1 m2, amount of harvest decreases by 2%, for 5 weeks by about 10%, for 10 weeks by 19% and for 20 weeks by 35%.
Many herbicides have been used for the purpose of controlling barnyard grass that damages in huge amount of harvest of rice. However, the herbicide with a broader herbicidal activity, environmentally-friendly property and cost-effectiveness is still in demand.
The inventors have intensively studied to prepare herbicides to effectively control barnyard grass. As a result, we completed this invention to find a novel phenoxypropionic acid alkoxycarbonyl anilid and its derivatives that are stable to rice and selectively control barnyard grass. This superior effectiveness is distinguished from the conventional inventions.
The present invention is characterized by novel phenoxypropionic acid alkoxy-carbonyl anilid and its derivatives represented in formula 1 with an excellent herbicidal activity as well as selectively stable toward rice.
wherein, R, R1, and n are the same as previously defined.
The compounds of formula 1 according to the present invention may be specified as the following Table 1.
The compounds of formula 1 according to the present invention can be synthesized by a conventional method represented in the following scheme 1, reacting a compound of formula 7 with a compound of formula 8.
wherein X1, which is a leaving group, is OH, Cl, Br or phenoxy group; R, R1 and n are the same as previously defined.
In the method according to scheme 1, condensation reaction can be performed by using binder such as triphenylphosphine or 1,3-cyclocarbodiimide and an organic base such as triethylamine or pyridine. It is prefer to carry this reaction at the temperature of 0-100xc2x0 C. in an inert solvent such as ethers like tetrahydrofuran, ethyethyl acetate, acetonitrile, toluene, xylene, hexane, methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethane or the like. The product is obtained by evaporating a solvent and performing column chromatograph.
Another method for preparing the compounds (1) represented in the following scheme 2 is an alkylation of a compound of formula 9 with compounds of formula 10.
wherein, Xxe2x80x3, which is a leaving group, is Cl, Br, I, benzenesulfonyloxy, toluenesulfonyloxy, methanesulfonyloxy or lower alkyl sulfate group; R, R1 and n are the same as previously defined.
In scheme 2, it is prefer to use a strong base which is enough to pull out a hydrogen from anilide, NH. The strong base used in this invention is NaOH, KOH, LiOH, NaH, n-BuLi or LDA. It is prefer to carry this reaction at the temperature of xe2x88x9278-50xc2x0 C. in an inert solvent such as ethers like ethylether, dioxane or tetrahydrofuran or hydrocarbons like hexane.
Another method for preparing the compounds (1) represented in the following scheme 3 is a condensation reaction of a compound of formula 11 with a compound of formula 12 in the presence of a base.
wherein, Yxe2x80x2 is a halogen atom, alkylsulfonyloxy, haloalkylsulfonyloxy, benzenesulfonyloxy or toluenesulfonyloxy group; R, R1 and n are the same as previously defined.
In Scheme 3, it is prefer to use alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates such as sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, alkali metal hydrogencarbonates such as sodium hydrogencarbonate or potassium hydrogencarbonzate or organic bases such as triethylamine, N,N-dimethylaniline, pyridine or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene.
A phase transition catalyst such as tetra-n-butylammonium bromide or 18-crown-6-[1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoctacyclooctadecane] can be added to complete a reaction rapidly, if necessary. And also one or more than two solvents can be combined and used, if deemed necessary. It is prefer to use an inert organic solvent; for example; ketones such as acetone; aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene or chlorobenzene; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as petroleum ether or ligroin; ethers such as diethylether, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane; nitriles such as acetonitrile or propionitrile; or amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone. A reaction is carried at the temperature of from 0xc2x0 C. to reflux, preferably 25xcx9c100xc2x0 C. for 1 to 24 hour(s) to afford a high yield.
Another method for preparing the compound (1) represented in the following scheme 4 is a condensation reaction of a compound of formula 13 with a compound of formula 14 in the presence of a base.
wherein, Y1, R, R1 and n are the same as previously defined.
In Scheme 4, it is prefer to use inorganic bases; for example; alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates such as sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, alkali metal hydrogencarbonates such as sodium hydrogencarbonate or potassium hydrogencarbonate or organic bases such as triethylamine, N,N-dimethylaniline, pyridine, picoline, quinoline, or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene.
A phase transition catalyst such as tetra-n-butylammonium bromide or 18-crown-6[1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoctacyclooctadecane] can be used, if necessary. And also one or more than two solvents can be combined and used, if deemed necessary. It is prefer to use an inert organic solvent; for example; ketones such as acetone or butanone; aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene or chlorobenzene; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as petroleum ether, or ligroin; ethers such as diethylether, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane; nitriles such as acetonitrile or propionitrile; or amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethyl acetamide or N-methylpyrrolidone. A reaction is carried at the temperature of from 0xc2x0 C. to reflux, preferably 20xcx9c100xc2x0 C. for 1 to 24 hour(s) to afford a high yield.
The above reactions lead to the compound of formula 1 and more particularly, typical hydrolysis of ether group leads the product when R1 is a hydrogen atom.
The present invention is explained in more detail by the following examples but is not limited by these examples.

Highly selective herbicidal phenoxypropionic acid alkoxycarbonyl anilid compounds and method of preparing the same

Abstract: wherein


A dynamic vibration absorber for reducing steering wheel vibration. The vibration absorber includes a resilient member that includes a resilient member inner surface that defines a center cavity that is configured to receive a steering column of a vehicle that generates vibration that is transferred to a steering wheel via the steering column, the center cavity being substantially coaxial with the steering column when attached thereto. The resilient member includes at least one resilient member outer surface that defines a resilient member outer diameter. The vibration absorber includes a rigid body that engages and is supported by the resilient member and that includes six degrees of freedom of movement relative to the steering column, the rigid body including a rigid body inner surface that defines a rigid body center cavity.

A variety of machines are subject to significant steering wheel vibration during operation. Examples of such machines include asphalt and soil compactors. Some machines may use vibration to enhance compaction. For example, a surface compactor having a cylindrical drum may cause the drum to vibrate to enhance compaction of a substrate. Since vibration may be controlled via the operator and may be turned off and on continually throughout a normal work shift, limiting operator vibration exposure may be an important when operating such machines. For example, some standards may provide that hand vibration may be limited to 2.5 m/s2. As mentioned, vibration is a common/key component of compaction. Thus, finding ways to limit operator exposure to vibration may be desirable.
Vibration may be transferred to an operator through the steering wheel. Equipment designers have tried various techniques for reducing vibration at the steering wheel. However, with increased focus on machine performance, a target vibration threshold may be difficult to achieve with conventional approaches. For example, one approach includes redesigning the pedestal of the steering column. Results of such approaches have been insufficient, particularly given the cost of such implementations. Additionally, each machine has its own vibration signature, which may require a unique solution for each type of machine.

Tunable dynamic absorber for attenuating vibration


A method of assemblying a hammer from a handle, a wedge unit and a hammer head unit. The handle has a top end having a neck portion that has a pair of vertical slots that intersect each other at substantially 90 degrees to each other. The wedge unit is formed from an x-axis wedge and a z-axis wedge section that are oriented to each other at substantially 90 degrees. The hammer head unit has a hammer portion a central portion and a claw portion. The central portion has a bore hole that extends from its top surface to its bottom surface. An arbor press is used to press the wedge section into the grooves on the top end of the handle.

The invention relates to a method of assemblying a hammer and more specifically to one having novel structure for the top end of its handle, for its hammer head unit, and the wedge unit that is driven into the top end of the handle.
Prior art hammers generally have a hammer head unit having a handle receiving central portion that only tapers along two of the inside walls of the opening that receives the top end of the handle. The opening at its bottom end is smaller than at its top end. In order to secure the top end of the handle to the hammer head unit, a linear extending wedge is driven down into the top of the handle spreading it in two directions against the two tapered inside wall surfaces of the opening. Sometimes the linear extending wedge does not hold the top of the handle firmly enough in the hammer head unit and it works loose which is annoying and dangerous during use. Existing handles for hammers only have a single vertical slot extending downwardly from their top end for receiving a linear extending wedge.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel method for assembling a hammer from a handle, a wedge unit and a hammer head unit.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel method of assemblying a hammer that provides a more positive structure for securing the top end of the handle to the hammer head unit.


A device for coating a fiber includes a fiber receiving arrangement and a coating arrangement which includes an application unit which wets the fiber with a coating agent, and a curing unit arranged downstream of the application unit which optically cures the coating agent. The curing unit includes a lamp which emits at least one light beam which is aimed directly or indirectly at a surface of the fiber. A main radiation direction of the lamp includes a beam angle between the main radiation direction and a longitudinal direction of the fiber of less than 40°. The fiber receiving arrangement and the application unit are movable relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the fiber via a translational motion arrangement so that a wetting process is implemented substantially along an entire length of the fiber.

Curing coatings of fibers via electromagnetic radiation has previously been described. In particular when manufacturing glass fibers, the coating protecting the fiber is cured with UV radiation. The person skilled in the art knows the following methods and devices for carrying out the curing process in the most optimal way.
US 2011/147356 A describes the use of an LED array whose radiation is focused onto the fiber by a cylindrical lens. A reflector is attached to the other side of the LED array in order to provide a homogeneous and efficient irradiation. The person skilled in the art can also gather the idea of combining a cylindrical lens with a reflector from U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,382 B1.
US 2011/287195 A describes an apparatus in which LEDs are disposed inside a tube protecting the fiber, the tube having an elliptic shape and being provided with a coating in order to achieve a focus onto the fiber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,724 describes an elliptic reflector in combination with an air cooler.
US 2013/068969 describes how to achieve a more homogeneous exposure, and thus a more homogeneous curing, of the coating by using two elliptic reflectors.
US 2004/135159 A describes that several LEDs can be combined into a panel, and that the formation of hot spots can be avoided by using different wavelengths and a possible relative movement between the fiber and the LED array.
Using different wavelengths for curing a coating is also described in US 2013/228707 A. US 2012/009358 A similarly describes a curing process using different wavelengths. This publication also describes that the coating can cool down and thus be relieved by not irradiating specific regions.
US 2012/040105 A describes a method in which curing is carried out with a number of LED arrays. The output of the individual LEDs is varied in the process, the total output for curing the coating being kept constant. The intensity of the LEDs is in particular changed depending on the draw speed.
EP 2792422 A describes a device, which dispenses with reflectors for homogeneous irradiation. Several LED panels are instead used which are arranged circumferentially around the fiber and thus provide a homogeneous irradiation. By dispensing with a reflector and the necessity of positioning the radiation sources in its focal point, the LED panel can also be brought considerably closer to the fiber, which results in an improved curing process.
US 2003/039749 A describes that a distance between the individual radiation sources is advantageous during curing, whereby the coating is thus subjected to less stress and the curing process can take place at an optimal curing temperature. The properties of the coating are thus improved.
In order to more efficiently use the radiation of the radiation sources, US 2004/090794 A describes a device with which the radiation is formed and then coupled into a fiber. The intensity of the radiation for curing can thereby be increased.
CN 103319100 A describes the advantages of curing with an LED as a radiation source since increased energy efficiency, longer lamp service lives, and a lower thermal stress can thus be achieved.
US 2010/183821A describes a device in which pairs of LED/reflectors are disposed in a helical structure around the fiber. The LEDs are also provided with a semi-transparent layer which is able to reflect light that has not been absorbed by the coating.
The solutions used in the prior art are based on one or several radiation sources whose radiation spreads perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the fiber. In order to increase efficiency, this radiation is concentrated by an optical device and focused onto one point on the fiber.
A protective tube is also often arranged between the fiber and the radiation source, the tube being flushable with a fluid in order to cool the fiber and/or the radiation source and to keep impurities, which form during curing of the coating, away from the radiation source. This results in a number of disadvantages.
Due to the vertical radiation direction, a large part of the light intensity is bundled in one point (or at least a small section of the fiber) so that this point is subjected to high stress. The one-sided irradiation results in an irregular curing of the coating.
The radiation must be also guided by the arrangement of the radiation source and the protective tube through the protective tube. This leads to losses, in particular when the protective tubes are contaminated during the drawing of the fibers.
The installation and removal of the protective tube is also complex since the protective tubes are located between the fiber and the radiation source and must therefore be threaded into and pulled out of the intermediate space between the radiation source and the fiber in order to avoid damage to the radiation source.
The radiation sources must also be positioned close to the fiber. The gas flushing process must therefore meet higher requirements and the packing density of the LEDs cannot be increased as needed.

Device for coating a fiber and a method for coating a fiber and a fiber


A food timing system is disclosed that includes a number of timer modules associated with food holding devices in a restaurant. The timer modules are connected in a network for communicating information about the food being held in food holding compartments of the food holding devices. Each timer module includes a plurality of timers, with each timer being associated with a food holding compartment of a food holding device. The timers measure the holding time of food in each food holding compartment and are capable of transferring the holding time to another timer when the food is transferred to a holding compartment associated with the other timer.

Success of a fast food restaurant depends on how fast a customer can be served with fresh food. Ideally, if the rate at which a restaurant cooks a food product and the rate at which the food product is sold are equal, the restaurant will have fresh food on hand and ready to serve. In other words, for the ideal fast food restaurant operation, the operator must know how many food products will be sold in the future. Although historical sales data for a food product can be used to predict future rates of sale, the prediction is highly approximate and subject to numerous unpredictable events and variables that the historical data do not reflect. As a result, a restaurant operator must precook a certain number of food products and have the cooked products on hand for immediate service.
Precooked food products cannot be stored for prolonged periods and must be heated during storage to assure freshness. The period before the food product is no longer considered fresh or is spoiled varies with each food product. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a food storage system for storing and heating various precooked food products at storage temperatures and for periods suitable for each type of food products.


A modified gate structure for a non-volatile memory device is formed over a substrate. The modified gate structure from bottom to top comprises a first dielectric layer, a first conductive layer, a second dielectric layer formed on said first conductive layer, a third dielectric layer, a refractory metal layer, and a second conductive layer. The third dielectric layer is made of tantalum oxide or BST, and the refractory metal layer can be made of tungsten, platinum, titanium, molybdenum, and tantalum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modified gate structure for non-volatile memory and its method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Non-volatile memory devices have been widely applied in electrical appliances, computers, instruments, etc., on account of a programmable facility and static storage after power-off FIG. 1 schematically a conventional gate structure of a non-volatile memory in a cross-sectional view. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates a semiconductor substrate. A first silicon dioxide layer 12 having a thickness of about 80.about.200 .ANG. and a dielectric constant of about 3.9 is formed on the substrate 10 on which a first polysilicon layer 13 is deposited as a floating gate of a non-volatile memory device. Then, an O/N/O layer 14 is formed on the first polysilicon layer 13. For example, the O/N/O layer 14 is configured with a three-layer structure comprising a second silicon dioxide layer of about 50 .ANG., a silicon nitride layer of about 200 .ANG., and a third silicon dioxide layer of about 50 .ANG.. Then, a second polysilicon layer 19 is deposited on the O/N/O layer 14 to be a control gate of the non-volatile memory device.
FIG. 2 schematically depicts an equivalent circuit diagram of the conventional gate structure pertaining to capacitive elements as shown FIG. 1, wherein the substrate 10 is grounded. In FIG. 2, C.sub.1 represents the capacitance between the control gate 19 and the floating gate 13, C.sub.2 represents the capacitance between the floating gate 13 and the substrate 10, and both are connected in series. V.sub.1 designates an voltage applied to the control gate, which is coupled to the floating gate 13 through the capacitance C.sub.1 as a voltage V.sub.2, wherein V.sub.2 =[C.sub.1 /(C.sub.1 +C.sub.2)]V.sub.1. Accordingly, the applying voltage V.sub.1 should be so high enough that the coupled voltage V.sub.2 is able to induce electrons injection by means of tunneling effect into the floating gate 13.
General speaking, a non-volatile memory device with the conventional gate structure depicted in FIG. 1 should be powered by quite a high applying voltage V.sub.1 (e.g., 12 V or more) inconvenient for circuit designers and users.
To lower the desired applying voltage V.sub.1, but sustain enough coupled voltage V.sub.2 for inducing tunneling effect, increasing of the capacitance C.sub.1 is a feasible approach. Usually, two ways are utilized to increase the capacitance C.sub.1 by: (1) increasing the capacitance area and (2) replacing the O/N/O with high dielectric constant material such as tantalum oxide (Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5) or BST (BaSrTiO.sub.3). However, the former will consume additional layout area which is unfavorable to integrated circuit miniaturization. The latter may deteriorate tantalum oxide (Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5) or BST while generally subjected to an annealing treatment after the formation of tantalum oxide or BST wherein oxygen contained therein may react with silicon to form silicon dioxide. Furthermore, reducing gas such as nitrogen employed during the subsequent processes causes tantalum oxide or BST defects through which a leakage current flows.

Modified gate structure for non-volatile memory and its method of fabricating the same


A method for producing a replaceable fuser member including a thin, seamless or welded high temperature nickel sleeve, a base cushion positioned around the sleeve and an outside topcoat applied over the base cushion elastomer layer. The sleeve is replaceable on a machine mandrel positioned in an electrophotographic copying machine in a fuser section of the electrophotographic copying machine. The method includes the use of a mandrel having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the sleeve to support the sleeve during positioning of a cured base cushion layer around the sleeve and a cured topcoat layer over the cured base material.

In electrophotographic copying, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a primary image-forming member such as a photoconductive surface and is developed with a thermoplastic toner powder to form a toner image. The toner image is thereafter transferred to a receiver such as a sheet of paper, plastic or the like and the toner image is subsequently fused to the receiver in a fusing station using heat, pressure or both. The fuser station includes fuser members, which typically are rollers, although fuser belts and the like may also be used. The essential function performed in the fusing station is application of heat and pressure to the toner image on the receiver to fix the image to the receiver.
The fusing step is commonly carried out by passing the toner image-bearing receiver between a pair of engaged rollers that produce an area of pressure contact known as a fusing nip. In order to form the nip, at least one of the rollers typically includes a compliant or conformable layer. Heat is transferred from at least one of the rollers to the toner in the fusing nip causing the toner to partially melt and attach to the receiver. In the case where the fuser member is a heated roller, a resilient compliant roller having a smooth surface is typically used.
Where the fuser member is in the form of a belt, such as a flexible endless belt that passes around the heated roller, it typically has a smooth, hardened outer surface.
Most fuser stations, which are known as simplex fusers, attach toner to only one side of the receiver at a time. In such fusers, it is common for a first one of the two rollers to be driven rotatably by an external source. The second roller is then rotatably driven by frictional contact with the first roller. Similarly, heat is typically applied to only one of the rollers. The heat may be applied by the use of one or more heater rollers to heat the exterior of the heated fuser roller or the heat may be supplied internally to the heated fuser roller.
Two basic types of heated rollers have been used. One uses a conformable or compliant pressure roller to form a fusing nip against a hard, heated fuser roller. The other uses a compliant fuser roller to form the nip against a hard, heated and relatively non-conformable pressure roller. A fuser roller designed as compliant typically includes a conformable layer having a thickness greater than about 2 millimeters (mm) and in some instances greater than about 25 mm. A fuser roller designated as "hard" includes a rigid cylinder that may have a relatively thin polymeric or conformable elastomeric coating less than about 1.25 mm thick on its exterior. There are certain advantages associated with both compliant and non-compliant rollers.
Typically, fuser rollers include a conformable layer that may be formed of any suitable material such as, for instance, polydimethylsiloxane elastomer.
Typically, toner fuser rollers include a hollow cylinder core, which is often metallic, with a roller cushion layer formed about the roller. Such cushion layers are commonly made of silicone rubbers or silicone polymers having a low surface energy such as polydimethylsiloxane, which minimize adherence of toner to the roller, especially the heated roller. It is also known that cured polyfluorocarbon polymers and copolymers may be used to coat the cushion layer surface to further reduce the tendency of the toner to adhere to the roller and minimize contact of release oils with the cushion layer.
The cushion layer may include fillers including inorganic particles such as metals, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal salts, mixtures thereof and the like. These materials function to improve the thermoconductivity of the cushion layer.
The filler particles may also strengthen or otherwise modify the physical properties of the cushion material. A wide variety of rollers have been produced in attempts to more economically produce rollers that are more effective in selected desired applications. For instance, one such roller for use in a fuser station and including a flexible strengthening band, a base cushion layer around the strengthening band, a stiffening layer around the base cushion and a release layer around the stiffening layer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,249B1 issued May 21, 2002, to Muhammed Aslam, et al. and assigned to NexPress Solutions, LLC. This patent is hereby incorporated by reference.
It is also known that various fluoropolymers, such as thermoplastic fluorocarbon polymers and random copolymers, are useful as coatings on such rollers. Some such fluorocarbon thermoplastic polymers and thermoplastic random copolymers, including various additive materials, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,352B1 issued Mar. 12, 2002, to Jiann-Hsing Chen, et al. and assigned to NexPress Solutions, LLC and U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,249B1 issued Aug. 6, 2002, to Jiann-Hsing Chen, et al. and assigned to NexPress Solutions, LLC. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference.
While silicone rubbers and silicone polymers have been used widely as cushion layers, they have also, in some instances, been used as an exterior layer. Fluoroelastomers and rubbers such as rubbers made of ethylene propylene diene monomers and the like have also been used as cushion layer materials. Unfortunately in many fusing processes the exterior of the fuser roller, in direct contact with the toner, particularly a heated fuser roller, is coated with a release oil during fusing. Such release oils are generally detrimental to the silicone rubbers and silicone polymers. Polyfluorocarbon polymers and random copolymers coated over the outside of the cushion layer have been found to be resistant to such oils and to provide a low energy surface which readily releases from the toner on the receiver and are not adversely affected by commonly used release oils.
Continued efforts have been directed to the development of methods for the fabrication of replaceable fuser members for fuser rollers in electrophotographic applications. Increased ease of installation and reduced replacement, are major factors that have been the object of continuing efforts for improvement. Particularly, efforts have been directed to improvements in the fabrication process whereby good adhesion is provided between the layers of cured material including the member and whereby a consistent fit of the replacement member over the machine mandrel is achieved.

Method for producing a replaceable fuser member


A hardware-assisted integrity monitor may include one or more target machines and/or monitor machines. A target machine may include one or more processors, which may include one or more system management modes (SMM). A SMM may include one or more register checking modules, which may be configured to determine one or more current CPU register states. A SMM may include one or more acquiring modules, which may be configured to determine one or more current memory states. A SMM may include one or more network modules, which may be configured to direct one or more communications, for example of one or more current CPU register states and/or current memory states, to a monitor machine. A monitor machine may include one or more network modules and/or analysis modules. An analysis module may be configured to determine memory state differences and/or determine CPU register states differences.

Over the past few years, virtualization may have been employed in a variety of environments. Such environments may vary, ranging from relatively densely populated cloud-computing clusters to home desktop computers. As a result, Virtual Machine Monitors (VMMs) may have been embraced as a new mechanism to provide isolation of untrusted software components. Unfortunately, widespread adoption of VMMs may have promoted VMMs as a target for attack. Furthermore, an attacker may exploit vulnerabilities in any software running in a machine after bootup, including VMM and all of its privileged components. Therefore, there may be a need for apparatuses and/or processes that protect the integrity of computing networks, devices, VMMs and/or Operating Systems (OSes).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The animal repellent apparatus provides a safety reflector with a solar powered ultrasonic signal audible to deer and other animals. The apparatus is used in place of currently existing reflectors and is of like shape and size. The ultrasonic signal is repulsive to such animals and thereby wards them away from roads that use the apparatus. The low profile, impact resistant apparatus has a reflector on each side for visibility to motorists in either direction of traffic flow. While differing little from typical reflectors in outward appearance, the apparatus is internally equipped with a rechargeable battery, protected solar panel, and a sound chip for emitting the ultrasonic signal. Since the apparatus requires no patterned deployment, installation is straightforward and requires no measured or other particular arrangement. The apparatus can be installed sequentially, or sporadically.

Audio animal deterrence devices have been widely used in the past few decades, often in an around homes, for example. It is well understood that deterring animals from roadways is of utmost importance. Animal/vehicle collisions are extremely frequent along and in some roadways. Damage to vehicles, injuries and deaths to humans, and animal deaths occur far too often. To that end, various animal deterrents have been proposed for roadway use. Some use light displays. Some use a series of devices, each placed on adjacent fence posts or pattern-deployed, for example. At least one such device has proposed the use of sound. Several significant problems exist with most such devices—affordability, deployment, and durability among those problems. Any devices employing receivers and transmitters require circuitry that decreases reliability and increases cost. Propagation of such devices is therefore often impractical.
Typically required service and replacement of such devices is further prohibitive, as roadway repair work of any kind impedes or fully halts traffic, and incurs additional costs. And, patterned deployment of such devices increases cost and difficulty in their installation and service. What has been needed is an animal repellent apparatus that closely resembles typical currently used reflectors. The apparatus should require substantially no service throughout a lifespan of many years. The apparatus should avoid all but the most basic circuits. The apparatus should be internally designed and packaged to mimic the outward appearance and size of current typically used reflectors. The apparatus should be effective whether deployed randomly or otherwise. The present apparatus fulfills these needs.


An apparatus for use in connection using a drill having a drilling element for forming a borehole in a face of a mine passage includes a drill guide for engaging the drilling element while permitting the drilling element to move toward the face for forming the borehole. The drill guide includes a keeper for keeping the drilling element in a desired position, which keeper is biased for pivoting movement upon the application of a manual force between an active position for capturing the drilling element and a retracted position for releasing the drilling element. A low profile drill guide is also disclosed, as is a guard for a drill guide, and also related methods.

Drill guides may be provided for use in connection with guiding a drilling element in the course of forming a borehole in a face of a mine passage. Typically, the drill guide includes a pair of pivotally mounted clamping jaws that close to support the drilling element as the result of the application of hydraulic force. One approach may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,935 to Hinshaw et al. the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The need to provide a manual holding force for the drilling element while these jaws are closed using hydraulic power can require considerable skill, and often leads to suboptimal results. Also, the drill guide hoses for supplying the working fluid to an associated actuator are usually poorly positioned, and prone to failure as a result. Accordingly, a need is identified for an improved drill guide that meets and overcomes one or more of the foregoing limitations and others.


A method for making a quasi-incompressible phase-change material (PCM) having low thermal conductivity includes combining with a phase-change material (PCM) in liquid state a thickening agent selected to reduce significantly thermal convection, the formed material having, depending on the combinations performed, a gelled structure or a colloidal dispersed system. The PCM may be a mixture of chemical compounds of the family of alkanes, paraffins, waxes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids and the like, and the thickening agent may be organic (aromatic ureas), organometallic (alkaline or alkaline earth soaps) or purely inorganic (silica, silico-aluminates such as bentonite made oleophilic). The material is useful for thermal isolation of containers or pipes, and in particular for thermal insulation of hydrocarbon carrying pipes.

Various thermal insulation techniques are described for example in the following documents: FR-98/16,791, JP-2,176,299, or WP-97/47,174.
Thermal insulation can be obtained with various processes. Cellular or woolly porous solid materials that block the convection of low thermal conductivity gas are used onshore or in shallow water. The compressibility of these porous materials does not allow this technique to be implemented at relatively great depths.
Another well-known technique consists in coating the pipe with a first layer of a paraffin-imbibed porous material for example, whose thermal insulation coefficient is lower than that obtained with the gas trapping technique reminded above, and with a second layer of a refractory material that reinforces the effect of the first layer. However, such a solution cannot be used in water.
Other solutions are more suitable for use at great depths of immersion. The following materials can be used for example:                coatings made of quasi-incompressible massive polymeric materials based on polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., which however exhibit a rather average thermal conductivity, insufficient to prevent drawbacks in case of production stops, or        coatings made of syntactic materials consisting of hollow balls containing a gas and withstanding the outside pressure, embedded in binders such as concrete, an epoxy resin, etc., whose conductivity is lower than that of compact materials, but which are much more expensive.
The pipe carrying the fluids can also be protected by means of an external pipe withstanding the hydrostatic pressure. A low thermal conductivity heat insulator left at atmospheric pressure or placed under vacuum, with partitions at regular intervals for safety reasons, is for example interposed in the annular space between the pipes.
It is also well-known to interpose, between the pipe and a deformable protective covering, an absorbent matrix sheathing the pipe, impregnated with a quasi-incompressible liquid/solid phase-change material at a fusion temperature above that of the surrounding medium and lower than that of the fluids circulating in the pipe.
Phase-change materials (PCM) behave like heat accumulators. They reversibly release this energy during their solidification (crystallization) or absorb this energy during fusion. These materials can therefore allow to increase the duration of production stops without pipe clogging risks through premature cooling of the pipe content. Known examples of phase-change materials are the chemical compouns of the CnH2n+2 alkane series such as, for example, paraffins (C12 to C60), which offer a good compromise between the thermal and thermodynamic properties (fusion temperature, latent heat of fusion, thermal conductivity, heat-capacity rate) and the cost. These compounds are thermally stable in the working temperature range considered, and they are compatible with a use in a marine environment on account of their water insolubility and of their very low toxicity level. They are therefore well suited for thermal insulation of deep-sea pipes for example.
The state change temperature of these phase-change materials is linked with the number of carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon chain and it can therefore be adapted for a particular application. In order to obtain a phase change around 30° C., a mixture of mainly C18 paraffins can for example be used, such as Limpar 18-20 marketed by the CONDEA Augusta S.p.A. company.
It is also possible to consider using waxes, normal paraffins, very weakly branched (1 or 2 branches) long chained isoparaffins (C30–C40), long chained branched alkylcycloalkanes or long chained branched alkylaromatics, also weakly branched, fatty alcohols or fatty acids.
Above their fusion temperature Tf, phase-change materials (PCM) are in the liquid state and their viscosity is low. In order to overcome this drawback, which can be particularly disadvantageous in certain applications, notably for the manufacture of double-walled vessels or of energy storage drums, it is well-known to add a thickening agent such as silica to solidify them and to prevent leaks.
Another drawback of phase-change materials (PCM) is that their viscous liquid state favours convection heat losses.

Method for making a quasi-incompressible phase-change material with low thermal conductivity, and resulting product


The method of rapid identification of natural and synthetic diamonds using a third-order Raman spectra is to make a diamond third order under large-scale comparative studies with synthetic diamond (CVD & HPHT) to distinguish natural and synthetic diamonds with their differences in Raman peaks. This analysis of the differences in characteristic peak phenomenon can form the basis of a rapid identification and analytical technique.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for identifying natural and synthetic diamonds, and particularly to a method of rapid identification of natural and synthetic diamonds using a third-order Raman spectra.
2. Related Art
Raman spectroscopy is used as a diagnostic tool for diamonds because each carbon allotrope displays a clearly identifiable Raman signature, it is non-destructive, requires little or no specimen preparation. Raman scattering from diamond has been disclosed by prior literatures, which describe the fundamental properties of the Raman spectra of natural and synthetic diamonds. Most natural untreated diamonds exhibit nitrogen-vacancy crystallographic defects and exhibit a series of typical second and third order Raman peaks as shown in FIG. 1. Crystallographic defects causing the Raman peaks for natural untreated diamonds are not fully understood. Therefore, it is a pressing issue to find out a method for rapidly identifying natural and synthetic diamonds through the existing Raman technique.

Method of rapid identification of natural and synthetic diamonds using third-order Raman spectra


A valve control head is provided, comprising a housing, control electronics, at least one control valve, fluid connections, electrical connections, a first measuring object, rigidly coupled to a first valve closure part, and a position measuring system, comprising measuring electronics and a first position sensor, wherein the first position sensor can detect a position of the first measuring object, and wherein the valve control head comprises a fastening device formed to couple a second position sensor.

Valves are an essential controlling and regulating element in the processing and automation industry. For reasons of operational safety and for process control it is of particular importance to know the position of a valve and, related thereto, the position of a valve closure part in a valve. Process valves have at least one valve closure part, more complex process valves frequently have two valve closure parts in order to be able to control a plurality of fluid streams.
In order to be able to monitor the position of the valve closure parts, initiators are conventionally attached laterally to the process valve. These must be connected to the control head via a cable, which is unfavourable with respect to the installation space required.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide an improved valve control head which permits particularly easy detection of a plurality of valve positions. At the same time, it should be possible to construct the valve control head in a modular fashion.