A method and a start control device are provided for controlling an automatic start-up process of a drive unit of a motor vehicle. The drive unit is automatically started when all of the predetermined start-up conditions are fulfilled. However, even in the event that an absence of the driver is detected, the drive unit automatically starts when the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a predetermined limit speed and all other start-up conditions are fulfilled.

The invention relates to a method for controlling an automatic startup process of a drive unit of a motor vehicle, whereby the drive unit is automatically started, when all of the predetermined start-up conditions are fulfilled, and whereby one start-up condition consists of the requirement that the absence of the driver may not be detected, as well as a corresponding start control device for controlling an automatic start-up process of a switched-off drive unit of a motor vehicle, whereby the start control device initiates an automatic start-up process, when all of the defined start-up conditions are fulfilled, and whereby one start-up condition consists of the requirement that the absence of the driver may not be detected.
In order to reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, the current trend in vehicle engineering is to develop methods and systems that include a start/stop function. To some extent, such systems and methods have been already installed. This start/stop function automatically switches-off the drive unit in the motor vehicle, which is constructed as an internal combustion engine, under specific conditions and/or in the presence of predetermined shut-off conditions, and automatically re-starts the drive unit in the presence of predetermined start-up conditions. Such methods and systems are suited, above all, for urban traffic in order to reduce the consumption of fuel, because in urban traffic the vehicle often comes to a standstill at traffic lights or owing to the traffic and because it is not necessary to run the internal combustion engine.
Hence, DE 101 61 343 A1 discloses an automatic stop and start controlling device for an internal combustion engine. In this case, the control device implements suitable measures for switching-off the internal combustion engine, when all of the shut-off conditions have been satisfied. When the predetermined start-up measures are fulfilled, the control device implements suitable measures for automatically starting the internal combustion engine.
Furthermore, DE 102 11 463 B3 discloses a method for automatically switching-off and starting-up an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment of the method, an automatic start-up process of an automatically stopped internal combustion engine is carried out, only if, in addition to the fulfilled (other) start-up conditions, all of the vehicle doors are closed. On opening one of the front vehicle doors, no automatic start-up process is initiated. This condition is necessary in order not to initiate an automatic start-up process when there is the possibility that the driver will leave or has left the vehicle.
If the absence of the driver is detected and/or suspected, for example, by the opening of the vehicle door, it is, nevertheless, possible that the driver is present in the vehicle even after the door has been closed and that the driver could and would control the vehicle. Since at this point, however, the absence of the driver is still detected and/or suspected by the opening of the door, even though the driver is sitting in the vehicle, it could be practical under some circumstances, for example, in the event of an imminent hazardous situation, to automatically start the drive unit despite the detected absence of the driver. In the case that the driver is, nevertheless, still sitting in the vehicle, the driver can perform actions that would not be possible or would be possible only with difficulty if the drive unit were switched-off, and with these actions he may avert the hazard. In the case that the driver is, in fact, not sitting in the vehicle, the driver cannot perform, on the one hand, any corresponding actions, but, on the other hand, he will not generate any additional hazards.
The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device for controlling an automatic start-up process, during which, in the presence of certain conditions, an automatic start-up process is initiated, even if not all of the start-up conditions are fulfilled.
This object is achieved by a method for controlling an automatic start-up process of a drive unit of a motor vehicle, whereby the drive unit is automatically started, when all of the predetermined start-up conditions are fulfilled, and whereby one start-up condition consists of the requirement that the absence of the driver may not be detected. Even in the event that the absence of the driver is detected, the drive unit is automatically started when the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a predetermined limit speed, and the other start-up conditions are met.
This object is further achieved by a start control device for controlling an automatic start-up process of a switched-off drive unit of a motor vehicle, whereby the start control device initiates an automatic start-up process, when all of the defined start-up conditions are fulfilled, and whereby one start-up condition consists of the requirement that the absence of the driver may not be detected. Even in the event that the absence of the driver is detected, the start control device initiates an automatic start-up process when the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a predetermined limit speed and the other start-up conditions are met. Advantageous further developments are described herein.
A vehicle may find itself in situations, in which despite the detected and/or suspected absence of the driver an automatic start-up process should be initiated. If, for example, the motor vehicle with the switched-off drive unit were to move owing to the slope of the road, the vehicle with the switched-off drive unit can be controlled only with difficulty, since the brake and steering assistance by the internal combustion engine is missing or limited. If despite the detected and/or suspected absence of the driver the driver were, nevertheless, still sitting in the vehicle, he could perform relatively simple actions if the drive unit were switched on, and he could stop the vehicle again or, owing to steering motions, steer clear of impediments. If the driver is, in fact, not sitting in the vehicle, the vehicle would continue to move in an unsteered manner as a function of the external conditions irrespective of whether the drive unit is or is not switched on.
On the basis of this fact, the inventive method for controlling an automatic start-up process of an automatically switched-off drive unit of a motor vehicle, during which, in principle, no start-up process of the drive unit is performed, when the absence of a driver is detected and/or suspected, is characterized in that even in the event that the absence of the driver is detected and/or suspected, the drive unit is automatically started when the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a predetermined limit speed, and all other start-up conditions are met. In this case, the controllability of the vehicle has a higher priority than a suspected absence of the driver. As stated above, a hazardous situation could be avoided by automatically starting the drive unit if, despite the system's detection of the absence of the driver, the driver is sitting in the vehicle.
The absence of the driver may be detected by an evaluation of various signals. It is advantageous for the absence of the driver to be detected by evaluating a driver door contact signal, a driver seat belt buckle signal, a driver seat occupancy detection signal, a foot pedal actuation signal, and/or an interior camera signal. The cited signals can be used individually or in combination in order to detect the absence of the driver. If the signals are evaluated in combination for the purpose of detecting the absence of the driver, then the absence can be detected, for example, when two of the three signals are present such that they detect the absence of the driver. If, for example, the driver door contact signals, the driver seat belt buckle signals and the driver seat occupancy detection signals are evaluated, then the absence of the driver can be detected and/or suspected, when the driver door and the seat belt buckle are open, but the driver seat occupancy detection system detects a seat occupancy. A system for detecting the occupancy of a seat can be constructed, for example, as a seat occupancy mat.
However, in certain situations it may be practical to inhibit such an automatic start-up process. The inhibiting action may be performed either by hand and/or by the system. In the event that the absence of the driver is detected, an automatic start-up of the drive unit is advantageously inhibited, when the driver actuates an operating control element that is intended for this purpose, and/or a towing event is detected.
If a force closure between the drive unit and the drive wheels is detected, then similarly no automatic start of the drive unit should be performed, since this could lead to a situation of enhanced danger, when the driver is actually not in the motor vehicle. Therefore, a detected force closure has an even higher priority than a suspected absence of the driver in the event of a moving vehicle.
In order for the drive unit not to be automatically started unintentionally during drag mode in a car wash, this should also be prevented. In this case there are a number of different options. In a first alternative, the predetermined limit speed can be selected so high that it is not reached during drag mode in the car wash. In a second alternative, an automated car wash mode can be detected by checking the speed of the individual wheels. Only when all wheel speeds exceed a predetermined limit speed, should the automatically switched-off drive unit be automatically re-started despite the detected absence of the driver.
According to the method of the invention, the inventive start control unit for controlling an automatic start-up process of an automatically switched-off drive unit of a motor vehicle that does not, in principle, initiate an automatic start-up process when the absence of the driver is detected and/or suspected, is characterized in that even in the event of a detected and/or suspected absence of the driver, the start control device initiates an automatic start-up process when the speed of the motor vehicle is greater than a predetermined limit speed. The advantageous embodiments of the method of the invention apply analogously to the start control device of the invention.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method and start control device for controlling an automatic start-up process of a drive unit

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengelsellschaft


A high capacity network increases its capacity by adding switching modules at the core side. Network expansion is achieved by incrementally adding one plane of switches to each core node so as to form virtual parallel plane (VPP) networks, one wavelength to each VPP network to achieve full interconnection, and by making corresponding upgrades to WDM equipment at each point-of-presence (POP) switch. An optical distribution unit (ODU) is used to control the connectivity of the VPP networks. The expansion of the network capacity is performed without increasing the number of hops. By using wavelength multiplexing, several VPP networks, and logical traffic distribution, the present invention provides for a wide range of network capacities coverage and allows to dynamically reconfigure the connections to accommodate increased traffic demands.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to modular networks in general and in particular to high capacity modular networks.
2. Related Art
The exponential growth in available fiber transmission capacity is due to periodic large jumps in bit rates in the past, and the availability of higher densities of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) more recently. The growth in number of subscribers, time spent on line, and types of interaction, contribute to a steady and rapid growth of traffic demand.
WDM, dense WDM (DWDM), and optical switching become more and more available. Presently, the terminal capabilities are not a limiting factor in bandwidth use. Conversely, the servers are a limiting factor for network growth but this appears to be more a cost issue than a technical limitation. In multi-node networks the traffic interconnectivity is engineered according to the observed or presumed traffic demand and the available infrastructure (transport) like point-to-point fiber and fiber rings. For increasing the network capacity, the existing switches may be expanded up to their maximal capacity, additional switches may be added, or the existing switches may be replaced with larger models.
A solution for collecting more traffic in a local area network (LAN) is to use multiple parallel SONET rings. However, this solution has to address the problem of balancing the traffic and the problem of fixed assignment of traffic sources to transport rings.
Other solutions to increase the capacity of the network may include replacing the existing switches with larger capacities switches, rather than using an increased number of switches at a node. This requires in most cases, switches with a capacity beyond the available switch capacity.
For increasing the capacity of an existing network, the link capacity can be increased by providing more wavelengths on more optical fibers. As a result, the equipment at the nodes must allow incremental equipment growth, in other words to be scalable. Changes in the network topology such as adding new backbone sites, or another direct route between two previously unconnected backbone nodes also require that the backbone, or core nodes to be scalable. The deployment of a new backbone node at a new site is a major challenge which is generally circumvented by upgrading the existing network.
Accordingly, there is a need for a scalable network architecture that allows both backbone nodes and network capacity to increase in a manner that avoids cost increases and lower efficiencies that would result from increasing network capacity by reshaping a conventional network topology by adding switches and more hops.


A structure includes a substrate having a plurality of scribe line areas surrounding a plurality of die areas. Each of the die areas includes at least one first conductive structure formed over the substrate. Each of the scribe line areas includes at least one active region and at least one non-active region. The active region includes a second conductive structure formed therein. The structure further includes at least one first passivation layer formed over the first conductive structure and second conductive structure, wherein at least a portion of the first passivation layer within the non-active region is removed, whereby die-sawing damage is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for forming semiconductor substrates, and more particularly to methods of die sawing and structures formed thereby.
2. Description of the Related Art
With advances associated with electronic products, semiconductor technology has been widely applied in manufacturing memories, central processing units (CPUs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emission diodes (LEDs), laser diodes and other devices or chip sets. In order to achieve high-integration and high-speed goals, dimensions of semiconductor integrated circuits continue to shrink. Various materials and techniques have been proposed to achieve these integration and speed goals and to overcome manufacturing obstacles associated therewith.
In order to achieve these targets, a multi-layer interconnect structure is used. Generally, various test patterns, including a layer of metal or other metal structure, are formed within scribe line areas defined on a wafer for measurements of physical or electrical characteristics associated with the multi-layer interconnect structure. The test patterns are subjected to a wafer acceptance test (WAT). Through collection of information indicative of the physical or electrical characteristics, it is determined whether performances of devices or circuits formed within die areas surrounded by the scribe line areas are acceptable. After WAT measurements, the wafer is subjected to a sawing process along the scribe line areas for singulating the dies formed on the wafer.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a prior art structure during sawing. A substrate 100 includes a plurality of die areas and scribe line areas. Integrated circuits or devices are formed within the die areas. The scribe line areas separate the die areas for isolation of integrated circuits formed within different die areas. The scribe line areas are the areas along which the substrate 100 is sawed.
In each of the die areas, an interconnection structure 110 is formed therein. The interconnection structure 110 comprises a multi-layer structure, such as metal layers 101, 103 and 105. The metal layers 101, 103 and 105 are separated by dielectric layers 102 and 104. The metal layers 101, 103 and 105 are connected to each other by way of vias/contacts 107 and 108 formed within the dielectric layers 102 and 104, respectively. A passivation layer 106 with openings 120 is formed over the interconnection structures 110 and the dielectric layer 104. The passivation layer 106 is a dielectric layer or polyimide layer. The openings 120 are formed by a photolithographic process and an etch process so that a subsequent conductive layer can be formed therein for purpose of electrical connection.
A blade 130 saws the substrate 100 along the scribe line areas to obtain a plurality of individual dies. The sawing process may crack the multi-layer structure, e.g., the passivation layer 106, dielectric layers 102 and/or 104, within the scribe line areas. The cracking of the multi-layer structure can result in mechanical failure or contamination of the dies. This situation worsens if the dielectric layers 102 and 104 are extreme low-k (ELK) dielectric layers, which are extremely fragile.
As described above, the scribe line areas also include WAT patterns (not shown) that include at least one layer of metal or metal structure (not shown). During a sawing process, the metal layer of the WAT patterns is also subjected to the mechanical stress and force applied by the blade 130. Unlike low-k dielectric materials, metal material layers, such as copper, tend to be soft and extensible, allowing pieces of metal to attach to the blade 130 during the sawing process. These metal fragments not only can worsen cracking of the passivation layer 106, dielectric layers 102 and/or 104, but also can dull the blade 130.
By way of background, U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,801 provides a process for removing metal from a scribe area of a semiconductor wafer, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
From the foregoing, improved singulation methods, such as improved sawing methods, and structures formed thereby are desired.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Architecture that addresses at least the problem of ranking the relevant attributes for a given entity within the context of a structured knowledge base (SKB). The architecture utilizes the attribute, entity type statistics, and the taxonomy of the attributes to consistently and efficiently rank attributes for each and every type of entity in the SKB. Using the SKB, intermediate features are computed, including the importance or popularity each entity type for every entity, inverse document frequency (IDF) computation for each attribute on a global basis, IDF computation for entity types, and the popularity of attributes for each entity type. The intermediate features are aggregated to obtain a final feature set, which can be used in combination with human judgments to train a machine learned classifier model to produce and predict a relevance score for a given entity and each of its attributes. The attributes are ranked for each entity using this score.

In order to create an automated software encyclopedia as an entity-rich experience that provides a quick summary of a reference topic, it is desirable to build an entity-specific page that lists key attributes pertaining to the entity and the associated appropriate values. However, it is often not a trivial task to decide the key attributes that can be chosen to be present in the entity-specific page.
For reference topics in an online encyclopedia, such as popular persons, popular locations, and important topics, it is often useful to provide a succinct summary of the topic in order to quickly understand the gist of that particular topic. The topic summaries in an online encyclopedia or the other structured knowledge base reference pages, for example, usually contain a brief summary of the topic, and key attributes such as date of birth (if a person), area (if a location), etc., which are manually created. However, each entity may have several attributes, and some attributes can be obscure and not useful, such as movies shot in a specific location and guest appearances in television shows for a popular celebrity. A challenge is then building a topic/entity centered experience in an automated fashion that can scale to millions of entities.

Ranking relevant attributes of entity in structured knowledge base


A disconnectable turret mooring system for a vessel is provided, comprising a turret positioned in a moonpool of the vessel and having an upper part cooperating with a first upper bearing assembly positioned between the turret and the vessel, and a lower disconnectable buoy part cooperating with a second lower bearing assembly positioned between the turret and the vessel, wherein the lower bearing assembly comprises a number of discrete circumferentially spaced bearing members which are attached to and extend radially inwards from the vessel for engaging the lower disconnectable buoy part of the turret, and which bearing members are displaceable radially between an inner operative position for engaging the lower disconnectable buoy part and an outer inoperative position for disengaging the lower disconnectable buoy part.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The invention relates to a disconnectable turret mooring system for a vessel. Vessels (such as tankers) fitted with a disconnectable turret mooring system are frequently employed in the offshore oil industry. A disconnectable turret mooring system typically allows a buoy to be released from the remaining turret part when environmental conditions may pose an unacceptable hazard to the vessel in which the mooring system is fitted. The buoy is the part of the mooring system that is anchored to the seabed and which supports all risers. Typically, upon release from the remaining turret part, the buoy sinks to a pre-determined level. For again connecting the buoy to the remaining turret part, it is picked up by an appropriate device and again connected with the remaining turret part.
Vessels with disconnectable turret mooring systems are increasingly being employed in deeper water and need to carry an increasing number of risers. This requires a buoy with increasingly large dimensions in order to support the weight of the anchor lines and risers. This in turn also requires the turret structure to be large to be able to receive such a large buoy.
US patent application 2004/0261682 discloses a disconnectable turret mooring system for a vessel, comprising a turret positioned in the moonpool of the vessel and having an upper part cooperating with a first upper bearing assembly positioned between the turret and the vessel, and a lower disconnectable buoy part cooperating with a second lower bearing assembly positioned between the turret and the vessel. The lower bearing assembly according to this document comprises a bearing ring positioned between the buoy and the vessel. This known disconnectable turret mooring system however is not suitable for buoys with large diameter because relatively tight tolerances are required to obtain a reasonable fit between the buoy and the bearing ring. Moreover, to prevent a relative rotation between the buoy and a reaction ring engaging the bearing ring it is suggested to provide means such as pins cooperating with corresponding slots. This makes the structure complicated. Further for ensuring a proper cooperation between such pins and corresponding slots a good alignment during hook up of the buoy is required. Finally, it is a disadvantage of this known mooring system that mounting the lower bearing assembly is complicated.

Disconnectable turret mooring system for a vessel


An adapter is provided for adapting a voltage or phase rotation indicator for use with multiphase electrical power. The adapter allows the phase rotation indicator to be used in situations where it might not otherwise be used, such as when the power conductors are not contained in a power meter box. The adapter may also be used as a protective carrying or transport cover for the indicator when the indicator is not in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to testing of electrical power distribution systems.
2. Description of Prior Art
In electrical power distribution it is necessary to test the phase sequence of multiphase electrical power using voltage or phase rotation indicators. In situations where the leads carrying such power are contained in a meter box or can, a mounting apparatus can be used to safely connect the test indicator to the power leads. An apparatus according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,936, owned by the assignee of the present application, is particularly suitable in these circumstances. This type of apparatus did away with the requirement that a service crew member insert a hand or hands into the meter box for test connection purposes. There were thus considerable safety reasons which made this type apparatus desirable.
There still remain numerous multiphase electrical power installations where the power leads to be tested for phase rotation are not contained in a meter box. Phase rotation must still be tested, however, on these leads. In these situations, additional types of test equipment would be needed.
One solution to this problem would be to use another type of phase rotation tester, one not mountable for use on meter boxes. This would result in undesirable equipment costs, since two types of phase rotation testers would be needed. Also, there were often space limitations on service trucks which made it undesirable to carry redundant items of test equipment.


A fast-mounting capacitor is composed of a capacitor (1) and a plug-in sheet (10). A fixed rod (22) extends from the lower end of the shell of the capacitor (1). The fixed rod (22) has a fixed slot (18). The plug-in sheet (10) includes an insulating strip (11) provided above. Plastic elastic clamps (12) and a connection part (13) are connected to the lower part of the insulating strip (11). Fixing clamping strips (17) are provided on the inner wall of the capacitor mounting hole (15). The capacitor can be plugged in conveniently, and can effectively serve as an insulator, therefore it can prevent conducting leakage of electricity to the box of electrical equipment so as to cause accident when abnormal leakage occurs to the capacitor.

One of the fixed installation structures of the capacitor on the current market is: as shown in FIG. 1, it employs a structure with a gasket 7 and a nut 8. The disadvantage of such a structure is: 1) it needs a set of gasket 7 and nut 8. The anti—salt-spray-corrosion quality of the gasket 7 and the nut 8 needs to be controlled. And it is difficult to control such quality. 2) The fixed installation difficulty is big. It is even more difficult to install when the installation room is small. 3) When there is electricity leakage in the capacitor, the electricity is easy to be conducted from the fixed installation screw 21, the gasket 7 and the screw 8 to the electrical box and causes an accident.
Another fixed installation structure of the capacitor on the current market is: as shown in FIG. 2, a capacitor with fast-docking structure. The advantage of such structure is that it is easy to install and is not restricted by the installation room. But the disadvantage is: 1) an anchor-shaped flex card 5 is needed, wherein the anchor-shaped flex card 5 is made of spring steel sheet. The anti—salt-spray-corrosion quality thereof needs to be controlled. And it is difficult to control such quality. 2) The anchor-shaped flex card 5 needs to be fixed on the outer shell beforehand, which is an extra process step; 3) When there is abnormal electricity leakage in the capacitor occurs, the electricity can easily be conducted from the anchor-shaped flex card 5 to the electrical box and causes an accident.


A zoom optical system includes a function of preventing blurring of an image due to movements, such as shaking of the zoom optical system, by moving a lens element of the third lens group, in order from the object side, of four lens groups in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis in order to correct for movements of the zoom optical system that would otherwise create a blurred image. The second lens group from the object side has negative refractive power and the other three lens groups have positive refractive power. The second and fourth lens groups move along the optical axis during zooming. The zoom optical system satisfies certain conditions related to the configuration of the lens elements and lens groups of the zoom optical system in order to prevent blurring and to provide a compact zoom optical system having excellent correction of aberrations.

During photography using a digital camera or a video camera for household use, recorded images are sometimes blurred due to movements, such as vibrations, of the zoom optical system during image capture that are caused by the hands of the operator of the camera shaking or by other factors. In known conventional techniques for preventing such blurring of images by optical compensation, specified lenses of the imaging optical system are moved perpendicular to the optical axis in order to provide a function of preventing blurring of an image that is photographed or otherwise picked up, as described for example in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Nos. H10-260355, H11-237550, and H10-260356. This function of preventing blurring of an image is also known simply as an image-blur prevention function.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H10-260355 discloses a zoom optical system with an image-blur prevention function built into the zoom optical system. Specifically, this application describes a zoom optical system having a four-group construction that includes, arranged along the optical axis in order from the object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. In this zoom optical system, the third lens group has two groups of lens elements having positive refractive power, and when movements, such as vibrations, occur that would otherwise blur a picked up image, optical compensation in order to prevent blurring is achieved by moving one of the two groups of lens elements within the third lens group perpendicular to the optical axis of the zoom optical system.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H11-237550 also discloses a zoom optical system with an image-blur prevention function and having a four-group construction that includes, arranged along an optical axis in order from the object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. In this zoom optical system, the third lens group has two groups of lens elements of negative and positive refractive power in order from the object side, and when movements, such as vibrations, occur that would otherwise blur an image, optical compensation in order to prevent blurring is achieved by moving a group of lens elements within the third lens group that is on the image side having positive refractive power in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis. Furthermore, it is constructed so that the following conditions are satisfied:8<f3/fw<250.3<|f32/f3|<0.75where                f3 is the focal length of the third lens group,        fw is the focal length of the zoom optical system at the wide-angle end, and        f32 is the focal length of the positive, image-side group of lens elements of the third lens group.
The above conditions are satisfied in order to obtain a back focal length that is large enough and to improve the sensitivity of the zoom optical system to movements of the positive, image-side group of lens elements of the third lens group.
Additionally, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H10-260356 discloses a zoom optical system with an image-blur prevention function and having a four-group construction that includes, arranged along an optical axis in order from the object side: a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. The third lens group includes a meniscus lens element of negative refractive power having an aspheric surface, and with its concave surface on the image side. In this zoom optical system, image blur that would normally occur in a picked up image, such as a photographed image, due to vibration of the zoom optical system is prevented by compensating movements of the third lens group in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
Recently, a zoom optical system has been desired that has a more compact construction overall and also has a more accurate image-blur prevention function. However, the zoom optical system of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H10-260355 discussed above provides only a small correction in the angle of view, and sometimes blurring of the image cannot be prevented. For example, the following condition is satisfied:1.3<fSL/f3<2.0where                fSL is the focal length of the group of lens elements in the third lens group that moves for image blur prevention, and        f3 is the focal length of the entire third lens group.
However, because the refractive power of the group of lens elements in the third lens group that moves for image-blur prevention is small, this group of lens elements may have to move a large amount in order to prevent blurring of an image, and also the overall length of the zoom optical system becomes large. This tends to increase the overall size of the entire device. Also, in the zoom optical system of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H11-237550 discussed above, the following condition is satisfied:8<f3/fw<25where                f3 and fw are as defined above.
However, the refractive power of the third lens group may be small, and the amount of movement of the positive, image-side group of lens elements of the third lens group may be excessive for sufficient image-blur prevention. Moreover, because the group of lens elements of the third lens group that are on the object side of the third lens group has negative refractive power as a whole, the back focal length of the zoom optical system tends to become long. Therefore, the entire construction of the device tends to become large. Furthermore, in the zoom optical system of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. H10-260356 discussed above as well, because moving the entire third lens group for image-blur prevention increases the size of the mechanism for the movement, miniaturizing the entire construction becomes difficult.

Zoom optical system that includes a function of preventing blurring of an image


Method for obtaining biodegradable polymers that has a stage of esterification and/or transesterification and amidation reaction, a stage of prepolycondensation, a stage of polycondensation, a stage of extraction and a stage of drying, eliminating the use of chain extenders. The polymer can achieve all the range of viscosities desired and with an improved colour compared to the polymer from other methods, where chain extenders are used, provide a more efficient process, that is environmentally cleaner and safer for the operatives.

There are many well-known methods for obtaining biodegradable polymers. These processes suffer from the problem of the use of chain extender compounds in one or several stages. These chain extenders present a multitude of problems and drawbacks as they are generally not environmentally friendly chemical compounds, therefore many precautions must be taken for their safe handling. These compounds also have limitations in food contact applications because of their level of toxicity.
The most typical chain extenders are the diisocyanates. Isocyanates are highly toxic because of the high reactivity of the isocyanate group. The most toxic isocyanates are those with high vapour pressures that because of their volatility can be inhaled into the respiratory tract such as the case of methyl isocyanate, the main agent of the Bhopal disaster in a pesticide factory in India.
In the case of HDI (hexamethylene diisocyanate), a type of chain extender, the use of a suitable gas mask is indispensable. Contact with the skin can cause irritation and inhalation can give rise to respiratory problems and even allergy. The use of a full protective suit, glasses, gloves and/or masks is essential, which must be disposed of properly.
The safety sheets of other common chain extenders such as glycidyl acrylic copolymers (for example Joncryl ADR 4300, 4368 or 4380) mention hazards such as toxicity, carcinogenicity and risks to fertility.
On the other hand, production processes are known on the market that include a process of extraction through washing with water, which is a common practice for some polyamides such as PA6, as found in Patents KR920000314 "Manufacturing process of full aromatic polyamide fiber", J P2004204027 "Continuous production process of polyamide", ES2537656 "Procesos de purificación y secado de hidrogeles de polímeros" or ES2263492 "Procedimiento para producir fibra de poliamida meta-aromática", but these production processes have never been used for producing biodegradable polymers.
The new method described here includes a stage of extraction through washing with water in order to obtain biodegradable polymers. As far as we know, this option of extraction, which provides evident advantages compared to the processes already described and used, has not been previously described.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

SOCIEDAD ANONIMA MINERA CATALANO-ARAGONESA


A duration and frequency programmable electronic integrated pulse generator comprises an initialization circuit driven by a reference clock signal and an initialization/comparison signal and producing m initialization values, and a periodic count value coded on n bits. An address decoder module produces write-control bits, while a bits comparison matrix including n.times.m comparison cells each including a RAM and CAM memory cell write-addressable by the write-control bits. Each CAM cell stores a bit CAM.sub.ij of an initialization value and produces a complemented value CAM.sub.ij .sym.BL.sub.i , each RAM memory cell of address i, j produces a masking value M.sub.ij, and each comparison cell produces a value HIT.sub.ij =(CAM.sub.ij .sym.BL.sub.i)+M.sub.ij. All the cells of the same line of rank j are coupled by an OR function and produce, each output S.sub.j, a programmed pulse represented by the equation: ##EQU1## according to a harmonic periodic signal of the periodic count value.

The invention relates to a duration and frequency programmable electronic pulse generator.
In the current industrial world, many applications require the implementation of operations for measuring absolute or relative time and for generating electronic pulses at precise instants. These operations or functions are usually carried out by up-counters, down-counters, signal generators or width-modulated electronic pulses, denoted PWM standing for Pulse Width Modulation or frequency synthesizers. All of the above devices include a clock, or a counter, as well as electronic circuits capable of producing state actions dependent on time or on extraneous events. These devices may be used in widely varying sectors of activity and make it possible to produce either electronic pulses of variable frequency or duty ratio, or, by integration, variable analog voltages.
By way of an example application, it is indicated that the field of automobile construction uses PWM to implement antilock braking systems ABS, speed display, lighting intensity dimmer modules, controls for electric motors, such as stepper motors, and frequency telecontrol.
Likewise, in the telecommunications sector, PWM devices may be used for the synchronization of real-time systems, the creation of electronic numbering pulses (DTMF) or ringer tones.
Finally, in the field of production industry, PWM devices are used for the positioning of telecontrol servomotors, the control of motors and lighting dimmers for example. Frequency synthesizers may serve in the creation of sounds, and the modulation of signals transmitted over wires or optical fiber.
Generally, the PWM devices known in the state of the art have several outputs, each of these outputs being the site of an individual switching, generating a pulse, when a timebase, such as a counter, coincides with the value assigned to the relevant output. Each output then reverts to its complemented switching state when the counter reaches its final periodic count value, denoted modulo value. Such a mode of operation considerably reduces the flexibility of these devices, especially when it is necessary, either to produce multiple pulses, pulse trains, or when phase-shifted controls have to be produced, the phase-shift having, in such a case, to be greater than the time interval between the switching into coincidence with the value assigned and the modulo value.
By way of example of devices of this type, such as represented in FIG. 1a, these comprise a timebase, which is common to all the generators or PWM outputs, and which is incremented with each edge of a system clock pulse. When the content of the counter/timebase is equal to 0, all the PWM outputs pass to a first state, whereas when the content of the counter/timebase is equal to the value assigned to a generator or PWM output, this output switches to a second state, the complement of the first state. This process is performed by way of a comparator which switches the output when the two values are equal. When the count value of the counter reaches its modulo value, all the PWM outputs are switched to the first state, and so on. A timing diagram of the corresponding signals is represented in FIG. 1b.
An improvement to the devices of the type represented in FIG. 1a consists, as represented in FIG. 1c, in using a counter/timebase whose modulo value is larger and in comparing the content of a register for storing the assignment value coded on n bits of the PWM device with the n-2, . . . , 0! lowest-order bits of the counter and the content of another register of another PWM device with the n-1 highest-order bits. By reason of the fact that the timebase effected by the n-1 lowest-order bits is twice as fast as that effected by the n bits, the periods of the corresponding PWM outputs differ in a ratio 2. This mode of operation affords an improvement over that represented in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the speed of comparison being, at most, doubled, but nevertheless limits the desired flexibility since one of the outputs is blocked for a period T whereas the other output remains blocked for a period T/2.
Finally, certain more sophisticated devices make it possible to choose either one PWM output over T and the other output over T/2, as in the case of FIGS. 1c, 1d, or both over T, or else both over T/2.
However, these devices nevertheless remain subject to the time constraint T or T/2.
One solution could, as the case may be, consist in adopting other periods, sub-multiples of T, but the basic limitations remain.
Another solution could also consist in installing one counter/timebase per PWM output.
However, the above solutions are difficult to envisage in the case in which the number of PWM outputs is extended, in particular with a view to an embodiment in integrated circuit form, by reason of the silicon on-cost engendered by the proliferation of auxiliary circuits such as counter/timebase and multiplexer, which makes the installing of these devices almost unattainable.
The object of the present invention is to remedy the above drawbacks by implementing a PWM generator which, although using only a single counter/timebase, nevertheless makes it possible to produce electronic pulses of programmable width and frequency.
Another object of the present invention is, moreover, the implementation of such a width and frequency programmable electronic pulse PWM generator on a plurality of distinct outputs, thus making it possible to confer very great flexibility of use on such a generator.
Another object of the present invention is also the implementation of a PWM generator in which the period of a transmitted pulse train is greater than or equal to that of the reference clock, system clock signal.
Another object of the present invention is finally the implementation of a PWM generator in integrated circuit form, in CMOS technology, in which the silicon cost is minimized, in the absence of the proliferation of auxiliary circuits.

Duration and frequency programmable electronic pulse generator


A method and system for managing the execution of threads uses a single scheduler for both threads and work items. Objects representing the threads and the work items are either maintained in separate queues or are stored together in a single queue. Each thread object or work item object may contain information that allows the scheduler to determine what order to execute the corresponding threads or to process the corresponding work items.

Most computer programs are organized around one of two models: thread-oriented or data-oriented. In the thread-oriented model, the programmer organizes a program into a number of parallel activities, each a sequential program or "thread" of its own. One or more computer processors will execute each of these threads. Although a single processor may be capable of executing multiple tasks in quasi-parallel fashion by switching rapidly between the tasks, in general, only one thread executes on any one physical processor at a given time. Other threads will be either ready, but waiting for a processor to become available, or blocked waiting for some event, such as the completion of an I/O operation or the availability of some resource. When a thread is not executing on a processor, its state (e.g. the contents of various registers) is preserved in a block of memory. The software typically used to move threads between these three states, and to maximize overall system performance is known as a scheduler. In many systems, the scheduler is part of the core operating system.
In the data-oriented model, the programmer organizes a program around the input/output operations and the internal flow of data among sections of a program known as "compute blocks." The input data might originate from a human user, a storage device, another program, or another computer via a communication link. When input data becomes available, it is organized into a logical grouping, which will be referred to herein as a "work item." The work item is queued, waiting for the first compute block to process it. Once processed by the first compute block, the work item is either enqueued waiting for a second compute block to process it or is completed.
In most computer systems, threads and work items are managed by different schedulers. Furthermore, in those systems in which both threads and work items are used, threads waiting to be processed are stored in queues that are separate from those in which work items are stored.

Method and system for managing the execution of threads and the processing of data


A vaginal discharge collection device is formed of an elastomeric rim and a flexible film reservoir. The rim may have a generally rectangular cross section and forms a collection space for collecting vaginal discharge. The reservoir may be collapsible so as to be substantially enclosed within the rim when the device is being used. Advantageously, the rim and the reservoir are arranged such that compressing diametrically opposed portions of the rim toward each other causes a leading portion of the rim to dip downwardly to facilitate insertion of the device. The device is ergonomically constructed so as to be convenient to use, comfortable to wear internally, and reliable. A system for reliably, comfortably and conveniently introducing agents, including drugs and other substances, into the vaginal canal is also disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to feminine hygiene devices, and more particularly to a vaginal discharge collection device for collecting vaginal discharge. The present invention also elates generally to the intravaginal delivery of drugs and other substances.
From the time after World War I, when bandages were marketed as sanitary napkins, to the present, there have been essentially only two types of commercially available menstrual collection products: sanitary napkins and tampons. Sanitary napkins, including the newer pads and shields, have the disadvantages of bulk, odor and leakage. They also present disposal problems, and they are sometimes detectable to others. Their absorbent nature can also create problems of contamination and infection. Tampons are also disadvantageous. The basic design of the tampon does not stop leakage and the externally worn string can lead to contamination. Tampons have fibers which irritate the vaginal mucosa. Absorptive tampons can also contribute to serious infections.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,983,874 (Davis), 3,128,767 (Nolan), and 3,216,422 (Steiger) disclose absorptive cup-shaped vaginal tampons. These devices are bulky and would be difficult to use and uncomfortable to wear, and would have the same dangers of infection presented by conventional absorptive tampons. Other internal vaginal discharge collection devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,845,766 (Zoller), 3,841,333 (Zalucki), 3,626,942 (Waldron), 3,404,682 (Waldron), 2,616,426 (Gordon), 2,534,900 (Chalmers), 1,986,504 (Cubbon), and 71,414 (Rohleder). These devices all suffer from poor ergonomic design. They would be difficult to insert and remove, uncomfortable to wear, and/or unreliable.
The Waldron and Chalmers devices are worn in a lower region of the vaginal canal and generate suction, particularly during removal. The suction generated by the devices would also make the devices difficult to remove, and would tend to cause spillage.
Further, the Davis, Nolan, Gordon and Rohleder devices have rims with springs embedded therein. Such springs make the devices unnecessarily complicated and expensive to manufacture. The Zoller, Zalucki, Waldron and Chalmers devices have complicated configurations that would be relatively expensive to manufacture. The Cubbon device has a small flat loop vulcanized to the under edge of a rubber ring. Providing this loop complicates the device unnecessarily. The loop may also cause irritation during use. With or without the loop, the Cubbon device suffers from poor ergonomic design.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a vaginal discharge collection device that avoids the problems associated with napkins and tampons, and that is convenient, comfortable, reliable and economical.
Prior art systems for delivering drugs and other substances into the vaginal canal are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,895,170, (Tlapek), 4,589,880, (Dunn), 4,526,578 (Wong), 4,311,543 (Strickman), 4,286,587, (Wong), 4,219,016 (Drobish), 4,200,090 (Drobish), 4,198,976 (Drobish), and 4,198,965, (Strickman, and British Patents Nos. 260,600 (Fiessler) and 21,588 (Fickert). These devices are structurally unsatisfactory. For example, the Tlapek device has a semi-circular loop used for removal. This loop unnecessarily complicates the Tlapek device and may cause irritation during use. The Wong ('587) device has a circular cross section. As a result, this device would tend to twist upon compression, making insertion of the device difficult. All of the prior art systems would be difficult to insert and remove, uncomfortable to wear, unreliable, and/or uneconomical to manufacture and market.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an intravaginal substance delivery system that can be conveniently and reliably used, and that can be used without discomfort, particularly during menses.

Vaginal discharge collection device and intravaginal drug delivery system


Disclosed is a multiphase DC-DC converter including a plurality of DC-DC converter circuits connected in parallel to one another; an output section to add up outputs of the plurality of DC-DC converter circuits to obtain one output; a timing generating circuit to generate timing signals for respectively operating the plurality of DC-DC converter circuits; a control circuit to selectively and sequentially operate the plurality of DC-DC converter circuits in synchronization with the timing signals outputted from the timing generating circuit so that output phases of the plurality of DC-DC converter circuits are different from one another; and a current detection circuit to detect an output current of each of the plurality of DC-DC converter circuits, wherein the control circuit selects one of the plurality of DC-DC converter circuit to be operated next based on an output of the current detection circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiphase DC-DC converter, and more particularly, to a useful technique which is applied to a multiphase DC-DC converter using a PFM (Pulse Frequency Modulation)-controlled DC-DC converter circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been known a DC-DC converter of a multiphase system in which a plurality of DC-DC converter circuits are arranged in parallel and operated so that output phases of the respective DC-DC converter circuits are shifted to each other, and the respective outputs thereof are added up to obtain one output. According to such a multiphase DC-DC converter, a large output having a low ripple as a whole can be obtained.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-284333 discloses a DC-DC converter of a multiphase system in which PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)-controlled DC-DC converter circuits are arranged in parallel. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-127573 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H8-84465 disclose a power supply circuit in which a plurality of DC-DC converter circuits are arranged in parallel although they are not based on the multiphase control system.
In the multiphase system, since the respective DC-DC converter circuits are operated so that the output phases thereof are shifted to each other, the multiphase system can easily be applicable to PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)-controlled DC-DC converter circuits, but it is difficult to apply the multiphase system to PFM (Pulse Frequency Modulation)-controlled DC-DC converter circuits.
To put it concretely, the PWM control is compatible with the multiphase system by changing the pulse width of a driving pulse without changing a period of the driving pulse in order to vary the outputs of the DC-DC converter circuits as shown in FIG. 12A. Accordingly, since a plurality of DC-DC converter circuits are respectively operated at different predetermined operation timing while shifting the operation timing by a predetermined phase angle, it is possible to adjust the outputs of the plurality of DC-DC converter circuits individually.
On the other hand, under the PFM control of FIG. 12B, there is a need to change frequency of the driving pulse in order to vary the outputs of the DC-DC converter circuits. Therefore, when adjusting outputs of a plurality of DC-DC converter circuits individually, the PFM control is not compatible with an operation of the multiphase system in which the plurality of DC-DC converter circuits are respectively operated at different predetermined operation timing while shifting the operation timing by a predetermined phase angle.
Even in the case of PFM control, a plurality of DC-DC converter circuits may have the same configuration as each other by using identical circuit elements for all of the converter circuits so that equal outputs are obtained from the respective converter circuits when operating the circuits at the same frequency. Such an ideal operation, however, cannot be obtained in the actual circuits. That is, since there is characteristic dispersion among the respective circuit elements, the output voltages of the respective converter circuits would be different from one another if they are operated at the same operation frequency. Furthermore, in the operation of the multiphase system, because the outputs of the respective converter circuits are directly connected to one another, slight differences among the output voltages can be appeared as large differences in output currents.
For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when a current of 100A is outputted by adding up the outputs of four DC-DC converter circuits, slight characteristic dispersion of the circuit elements appears as large output dispersion such as 10A to 40A unless the outputs of the respective DC-DC converter circuits are adjusted individually. Furthermore, there may occur such a situation that an output of one DC-DC converter circuit is excessively large while a current of another DC-DC converter circuit flows back.


Programmable devices and methods of operation are disclosed. In some embodiments, a programmable device may include programmable logic selectively coupled to a plurality of input/output (I/O) interface circuits by a programmable interconnect fabric and a network-on-chip (NoC) interconnect system. The programmable logic may include configurable logic elements, programmable interconnects, and dedicated circuitry. The programmable interconnects may form part of the programmable interconnect fabric. In some embodiments, the programmable interconnect fabric selectively routes non-packetized data between the programmable logic and a first group of I/O interface circuits, and the NoC interconnect system selectively routes packetized data between the programmable logic and a second group of I/O interface circuits. The NoC interconnect system may operate according to a data packet protocol, and the second group of I/O interface circuits may include memory controllers compatible with the data packet protocol.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) are well-known general-purpose devices that may be programmed by a user to implement a variety of user-specified circuit designs. One example of a PLD is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). An FPGA may include an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), dedicated random access memory blocks (BRAM), input/output blocks (IOBs), digital signal processors (DSPs), a number of processing cores, and other subsystems (such as memory controllers, device management resources, and configuration circuitry) that may be selectively connected together by a programmable interconnect structure.
A user-specified circuit design may be implemented within a programmable device by loading configuration data representative of the user-specified circuit design into configuration registers that collectively determine the functions and operations performed by the various blocks, interconnect structures, and subsystems of programmable device. For example, the configuration data may determine the functions and operations performed by the CLBs, DSPs, and the processing cores (both individually and collectively), and may configure the programmable interconnect structure to provide signal interconnections between various components of the programmable device to implement the user-specified circuit design. In this manner, a user may program or configure the programmable device to perform a multitude of different functions and operations by loading configuration data representative of a desired circuit design into the configuration registers of the programmable device.

Integrating rows of input/output blocks with memory controllers in a columnar programmable fabric archeture


A slack adjuster assembly and systems, components, and methods can comprise a sensing piston assembly that includes a housing, a piston slidably provided in the housing, and a biasing member provided in the housing. The biasing member can be configured to bias the piston away from an end wall of the housing. The piston can have an end wall opposite the end wall of the housing, where the end wall of the piston can have at least one orifice that extends from a first side of the end wall of the piston to a second side of the end wall of the piston.

A sensing piston seal of a brake slack adjuster may degrade after running. The degradation may allow air that would overwise be sealed in an enclosure of the sensing piston to escape and/or allow brake fluid from outside the enclosure to enter into the enclosure. Such leakage may lead to hydraulic locking.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,786 ("the '786 patent") describes a pneumatic to hydraulic converter for a hydraulically operated brake system having a first fluid motor, a spring applied fluid released motor means, and a master hydraulic cylinder. The '786 patent also describes altering the amount of hydraulic fluid returned to working space and reservoir, where when shoe clearance initially is too great, the quantity of oil discharged from chamber during the application will necessarily be greater than the quantity returned when the brakes are subsequently released, and during the release, the slack adjuster piston 110 will return to its initial position in contact with abutment means 171 before the hydraulic piston means 44 had reached its retracted position. According to the '786 patent, in this situation, oil will be transferred from a working space through an inclined passageway, and a check valve to another working space to ensure that hydraulic piston will return to its retracted position.

Brake slack adjuster having sensing piston with orifice and systems, components, and methods thereof


A supporting element for lattice structures comprises at least one channel shaped structural section including an endwall flanked by obliquely oriented adjoining wings. Regularly longitudinally spaced securement notches are provided for securing lattice or wire cable trays the supporting element. The notches comprise longitudinally extending cutouts in each of the wings. The cutouts are defined by longitudinal and lateral edges in the wings. Regularly spaced lands extend between successive notches. Tongues longitudinally extend from the lands and partly overlying the notches. Gaps are defined between free edges of the tongues and adjacent lands. The tongues are bendable from a position generally in alignment with associated lands to a deformed position extending into the notches for restraining a section of the components between an underface of the tongues and the edges in the wings. According to a preferred embodiment two such channels shaped structural sections are joined by a common basewall to define a one-piece omega-shaped section. An X-shaped beam is also provided comprising omega-shaped sections fixed together at their basewalls.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to supporting elements for lattice structures of the type comprising securement means adapted to receive spaced elongated components of the structure to be supported. Such lattice structures are of all types, such as welded or otherwise assembled elongated elements of the wire or rod type for use as cable trays and industrial equipment, in partitions, for the building industry, inter alia.
Depending on the use, the carrier surfaces of such lattice structures can have various orientations and require suitable securement means adapted for more or less complicated constructions and/or uses; it may also involve securement, on wall brackets, hangers, suspensions, members and the like.
2. Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides in this context a supporting element adapted to the most diverse uses and configurations with great facility of use.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a section in the form of a channel with notches for securement with cut outs on opposite sides along the edges of the end wall thereof, tongues from end wall overlying the notches and extending along a fraction of the length thereof.
The notches thus defined and surmounted by the tongues cut out from the end wall surface of the profile, constitute recesses suitable, owing to their dimensions and their spacing, for receiving longitudinally-extending components, wires or rods, of the lattice structure to be supported.
For vertical orientation the lattice structure, it can simply bear under the force of gravity in the recesses of the supporting element. In any event, the securement of the lattice structure in the notches can be ensured by merely bending the tongues against the components received in the recesses.
According to a preferred arrangement of the invention, the channel-shaped profiles are arranged in pairs along the wings of a generally omega shape.
There is thus provided a structural element offering remarkable performance as regards mechanical strength in beams.
The structural section or profile can preferably be bent once or twice for the formation a bracket or of a suspension element, securement perforations being provided for the mounting on a vertical or horizontal wall, the arrangement of the supporting notches being in this case provided in a portion or portions of the structural section or profile.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a pair of two structural sections or profiles of omega shape, assembled back-to-back thereby to form a structural element which is even stronger, for use as a beam or a post with the possibility of access on four sides. In this case the structural section or profile need not comprise notches and tongues over its entire extent and may in fact be eliminated.

Supporting member for lattice structures


A modified human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (hG-CSF) is produced by culturing a microorganism transformed with an expression vector comprising a gene encoding a modified hG-CSF to produce and secrete the modified hG-CSF to periplasm, said modified hG-CSF being obtained by replacing at least one of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 17th amino acids of wild-type hG-CSF (SEQ ID NO: 2) with other amino acid.

The term colony stimulating factor (CSF) is inclusive of granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), which are produced by T-cells, macrophages, fibroblasts and endothelial cells. GM-CSF stimulates stem cells of granulocyte or macrophage to induce the differentiation thereof and proliferation of granulocyte or macrophage colonies. M-CSF and G-CSF primarily induce the formation of the colonies of macrophage and granulocyte, respectively. In vivo, G-CSF induces the differentiation of bone marrow leucocytes and enhances the function of mature granulocyte and, accordingly, it's clinical importance in treating leukemia has been well established.
Human G-CSF (hG-CSF) is a protein consisting of 174 or 177 amino acids, the 174 amino-acid variety having higher neutrophil-enhancing activity (Morishita, K. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 262, 15208-15213 (1987)). The amino acid sequence of hG-CSF consisting of 174 amino acids is shown in FIG. 1 and there have been many studies for the mass production of hG-CSF by manipulating a gene encoding said hG-CSF.
For instance, Chugai Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Japan) has disclosed the amino acid sequence of hG-CSF and a gene encoding same (Korean Patent Publication Nos. 91-5624 and 92-2312), and reported a method for preparing proteins having hG-CSF activity by a gene recombination process (Korean Patent Nos. 47178, 53723 and 57582). In this preparation method, glycosylated hG-CSF is produced in a mammalian cell by employing a genomic DNA or cDNA comprising a polynucleotide encoding hG-CSF. The glycosylated hG-CSF has an O-glycosidic sugar chain, but, it is known that said sugar chain is not necessary for the activity of hG-CSF (Lawrence, M. et al., Science, 232, 61 (1986)). Further, it is also well-known that the production of glycosylated hG-CSF employing mammalian cells requires expensive materials and facilities, and therefore, such a process is not economically feasible.
Meanwhile, there have been attempts to produce non-glycosylated hG-CSF by employing a microorganism, e.g., E. coli. In these studies, hG-CSFs having 175 or 178 amino acids having a methionine residue attached at the N-terminus thereof are obtained due to the ATG initiation codon employed in the microorganism. The additional methionine residue, however, causes undesirable immune responses in human body when the recombinant hG-CSF is administered thereto (European Patent Publication No. 256,843). Further, most of the methionine-containing hG-CSFs produced in E. coli are deposited in the cells as insoluble inclusion bodies, and they must be converted to an active form through a refolding process, at a significant loss of yield. In this regard, four of the five Cys residues present in wild-type hG-CSF participate in forming disulfide bonds, while the remaining one contributes to the aggregation of the hG-CSF product during the refolding process to lower the yield.
Recently, in order to solve the problems associated with the production of a foreign protein within a microbial cell, various efforts have been made to develop a method based on efficient secretion of a target protein across the microbial cell membrane into the extra-cellular domain.
For instance, in a method employing a signal peptide, a desired protein is expressed in the form of a fusion protein wherein a signal peptide is added to the N-terminus of the protein. When the fusion protein passes through the cell membrane, the signal peptide is removed by an enzyme and the desired protein is secreted in a mature form. The secretory production method is advantageous in that the produced amino acid sequence is usually identical to the wild-type. However, the yield of a secretory production method is often quite low due to unsatisfactory efficiencies in both the membrane transport and the subsequent purification process. This is in line with the well-known fact that the yield of a mammalian protein produced in a secretory mode in prokaryotes is very low: Hitherto, no microbial method has been reported for the efficient expression and secretion of soluble hG-CSF having no added methionine residue at its N-terminus.
The present inventors have previously reported the use of a new secretory signal peptide prepared by modifying the signal peptide of E. coli thermoresistant enterotoxin II (Korean Patent Laid-open publication No. 2000-19788) in the production of hG-CSF. Specifically, an expression vector comprising a hG-CSF gene attached to the 3′-end of the modified signal peptide of E. coli thermoresistant enterotoxin II was prepared, and biologically active, mature hG-CSF was expressed by employing E. coli transformed with the expression vector. However, most of the expressed hG-CSF accumulated in the cytoplasm rather than in the periplasm.
The present inventors have endeavored further to develop an efficient secretory method for the production of hG-CSF in a microorganism and have found that a modified hG-CSF, which is prepared by replacing at least one amino acid residue, especially, the 17th cysteine residue, of wild-type hG-CSF with other amino acid, retains the biological activity of the wild-type, and that the modified hG-CSF having no methionine residue at the N-terminus thereof can be efficiently expressed and secreted by a microorganism when an appropriate secretory signal peptide is employed.

Modified human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and process for producing same


An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source and a structure for performing light-power control for the light source, the structure including a light-power-detection optical unit that establishes an optically conjugate relationship between a deflecting surface of a deflecting unit and a light-receiving surface of a light-power detector in a main-scanning plane. Accordingly, the storage time of a light beam on the light-power-detection optical unit is increased and variation in the power of light emitted by the light source due to heat generated by the light source and environmental variation is accurately detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical scanning apparatus suitable for use in a laser beam printer, a digital copy machine, a multifunction printer, etc., that perform electrophotography processes, and an image-forming apparatus including the optical scanning apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional optical scanning apparatus for a laser beam printer, a copy machine, etc., a light beam that is optically modulated in accordance with an image signal is emitted from a light source, is periodically deflected and scanned by a rotating polygon mirror, and is guided toward the surface of a recording medium (photosensitive drum).
The light beam deflected and scanned by a deflecting surface of the polygon mirror is caused to form a spot on the surface of the photosensitive recording medium (photosensitive drum) by an fθ lens. Thus, image recording is performed by optically scanning the surface of the recording medium.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the main portion of a conventional optical scanning apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 10, a divergent light beam is emitted form a light source 1 and is collimated by a collimating lens 2. Then, the collimated light beam is incident on a cylindrical lens 4 having a predetermined refractive power only in a sub-scanning direction after the width of the light beam is restricted by a diaphragm 3.
The collimated light beam incident on the cylindrical lens 4 exits the cylindrical lens 4 without a change in a main-scanning cross section (plane).
The light beam converges in a sub-scanning cross section (plane), thereby forming a line image on a deflecting surface (reflective surface) 5a of the polygon mirror 5.
The light beam is deflected and scanned by the deflecting surface 5a of the polygon mirror 5 and is guided toward a photosensitive drum surface 8, which functions as a surface to be scanned, through an fθ lens 6. The polygon mirror 5 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow A, so that the photosensitive drum surface 8 is optically scanned in the direction shown in the figure and image information is recorded thereon (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-321370 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-40350).
In general, a semiconductor laser capable of direct modulation is used as a light source for an optical scanning apparatus.
Power of light emitted from the semiconductor laser varies depending on heat emitted from the semiconductor laser itself and environmental variation (for example, ambient temperature variation).
Therefore, generally, the power of light emitted is constantly detected and automatic power control is performed such that the power of the light beam emitted from a light-emitting portion of the light source is always maintained constant.
Various automatic power control methods for the semiconductor laser are suggested and put into practical use.
For example, in a first method, which is most commonly used, a rear light beam that is emitted from a semiconductor laser in a direction opposite to the direction in which an image-drawing light beam is emitted (i.e., a light beam emitted from a rear side of a semiconductor substrate) is detected and used for the light-power control.
The image-drawing light beam is a light beam used for forming dots in an image effective area on the photosensitive drum surface.
According to the first method, a photosensor, which functions as a light-power detector, can be installed in a package of the laser light source. Therefore, the overall size is relatively small and the light-power control for the light source can be easily performed.
However, since a light beam other than the image-drawing light beam is monitored by the photosensor and the influence of heat emitted by the light source is significant, it is difficult to perform high-accuracy light-power control (automatic power control).
In addition, it is difficult to apply the first method to a light source like a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) that does not emit a rear light beam.
On the other hand, recently, the vertical cavity surface emitting laser has been attracting attention as a light source for an optical scanning apparatus. Compared to a conventional edge emitting laser, the vertical cavity surface emitting laser is characterized in that the number of light-emitting points can be considerably increased, two-dimensional parallel integration is possible, and the layout of the light-emitting points is easy.
In the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, light is emitted in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, the rear light beam is basically not emitted and it is difficult to use the light-power control method in which the rear light beam is used.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-321370 discusses a second method in which the light-power control is performed using a portion of a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser that is blocked by an aperture diaphragm.
According to the method discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-321370, light-power control (automatic power control) can be performed without being affected by heat emitted from the light source.
However, as the utilization ratio of the image-drawing light beam is increased, the power of light that can be used for the automatic power control is reduced in inverse proportion to the utilization ratio.
In addition, although the light used for the automatic power control is not the rear light beam used in the first method, the blocked light beam, which is different from the image-drawing light beam in practice, is used and it is still difficult to perform high-accuracy light-power control.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-40350 discusses a third method in which light-power control (automatic power control) is performed by separating a portion of a light beam that travels from a light source to a deflecting unit with a half mirror and guiding the separated portion toward a light-receiving element (photosensor).
According to the method discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-40350, a portion of the actual image-drawing light beam is used. Therefore, high-accuracy automatic power control can be performed.
However, since a portion of the image-drawing light beam is separated, a loss occurs in the power of the image-drawing light beam.
In addition, an expensive optical element, such as a half mirror, is required for separating a portion of the image-drawing light beam.
In particular, when the above-described vertical cavity surface emitting laser is used, high-power light emission is basically difficult compared to the case in which the edge emitting laser is used. Therefore, the loss in the power of the image-drawing light beam caused when a portion of the image-drawing light beam is separated and detected by the light-receiving element is a serious problem.
The output of the edge emitting laser is generally several tens of milliwatts, whereas the output of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser is generally less than several milliwatts. Therefore, when the vertical cavity surface emitting laser is used, the loss in the power of the image-drawing light beam is a serious problem.

Optical scanning apparatus and image-forming apparatus using the same


In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed in a first region. A silicide blocking layer is patterned such that a first gate spacer is formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode, and a silicide blocking layer pattern is formed in a second region. A lightly doped source/drain region is formed on surface of the first region. A second gate spacer is formed on sidewalls of the first gate spacer. A heavily doped source/drain region is formed on the surface of the first region. A silicide layer is formed on the gate electrode and the heavily doped source/drain region in the first region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention generally relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which a silicide blocking layer and a spacer are simultaneously formed prior to an impurity implantation.
A claim of priority is made to Korean Patent Application No. 2003-100232 filed on Dec. 30, 2003, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor devices have become more integrated, the size of each unit device has gradually reduced. Thus, the interval between each unit devices has also gradually reduced. The reduction in both size and interval of each unit device has improved the manufacturing yield of the semiconductor devices, but has also caused manufacturing problems.
For example, a higher degree of integration leads to the reduction in a channel length in a metal-oxide silicon transistor, and the reduction causes a short channel effect such as a punch through and a threshold voltage reduction. To improve the short channel effect, a low temperature heat treatment process has been used, which prevents lateral diffusion of implanted impurities in a lightly doped source/drain region.
The higher degree of integration also leads to an increase in sheet resistance by conductive structures such as a gate electrode and a source/drain region, which in turn, reduces the operational speed of the semiconductor devices. Conventionally, a silicide layer has been formed on the conductive structures to reduce the sheet resistance.
However, the low temperature heat treatment process is incompatible with the silicidation process. Conventionally, if a substrate contains both a resistance device without a silicide layer and a transistor with a silicide layer, the transistor is usually formed prior to the formation of the resistance device, and the resistance device generally operate in an analogue mode. The transistor is formed on a first region, and the first region is formed on a source/drain region. The resistance device is formed on a second region, and a silicide blocking layer is formed on the second region. The silicide layer is formed on the conductive structures in the first region, and formed only on a gate structure and source/drain structure of the transistor in the second region.
In the above described process, the silicide blocking layer is generally formed at a high temperature to enhance the diffusion of the impurities into the source/drain region. In other words, the silicidation process is generally performed at a high temperature.
To solve the above described problem, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,010 discloses using spacers instead of a silicide blocking layer to protect a portion of the substrate not having the silicide layer during a silicidation process. A spacer oxide layer pattern is formed at the same time when the gate spacer is formed to prevent the silicide layer from being coated on the portion of the substrate without the silicide layer.

Semiconductor device having MOS varactor and methods for fabricating the same


This invention concerns an improved particulate composition for delivering a drug to the pulmonary system. Applicants disclose a method of identifying an optimal form of aerodynamically light particles which are highly dispersible. The particles of the instant invention are made by creating hollow, spherical drug particles (i.e., progenitor particles) that collapse in the process of particle formation, leading to wrinkled, thin-walled drug particles of very low envelope density. Additionally, Applicants have found that such particles are especially optimal for inhaled aerosols when the surface area parameter (σ) is greater than 2, optimally greater than 3.

Previously Applicants have found that dry powder comprising aerodynamically light particles are suitable for inhalation of drugs into the lungs. However, there are several problems associated with the aerosol delivery of therapeutic, diagnostic and/or prophylactic agents (hereinafter collectively referred to as drug). For example, electrostatic charge interactions influence the overall efficiency of delivery of dry particles via a Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI), since such forces are considered to be significant for attraction and adhesion between the particles themselves as well as between the particles and the device surface. Additionally, particle size distribution, particle morphology, and moisture content can greatly influence the bulk properties of a dry powder formulation and its performance.
In the case of dry powders comprising aerodynamically light particles, appropriate criteria and tests must be instituted to control parameters considered to be key to ensuring reproducibility of the physicochemical properties of the drug containing particles. Key specification parameters may include color, appearance (visual and microscopic), moisture, melting range, particle size distribution, surface area, form(s), and residual solvents. Specifications for control of particle size distribution and forms (e.g., shape, texture, surface) of the drug containing particles are parameters often used to predict reproducible drug product performance.
The composition of a formulation to be administered via a DPI has a direct effect on the stability of the formulation as well as on the dosing performance of the product. The suitability of a dry powder particulate composition is dependent on its chemical and physical characteristics, which can have direct effect on the performance of the product (e.g., ease of entrainment of the formulation, energy input necessary for dispersion and aerosolization, hygroscopicity of the formulation). For example, aggregation of dry powder particles may affect the particle size distribution of the emitted drug substance, the homogeneity of the drug substance, the aerodynamic properties of the dry powder particles in the device, and hence the delivered dose.
For DPI's, the target formulation fill weight is important yet it can be deceptive if the particle delivery is variable due to varying levels of aggregation of cohesive particles. Particles produced for inhalation, which are typically small in size (geometric diameter of 1 to 5 μm), tend to stick together.
Edwards et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,309) (hereinafter referred to as "Edwards") discloses advantages of aerodynamically light particles for drug delivery to the pulmonary system. Edwards use of larger particles (i.e., mass median diameter of at least about 5 microns) is advantageous since they are able to aerosolize more efficiently than smaller, denser aerosol particles such as those currently used for inhalation therapies.
Thus, there is a need for improved pharmaceutical compositions suitable for pulmonary administration delivered via a dry powder inhaler with improved aerosolization properties and optimized particle-particle interactions. In particular, there is a need for dry powder pharmaceutical compositions which are highly dispersible and which efficiently emit and penetrate into the lungs from a dry powder inhaler.

Particulate compositions for pulmonary delivery


Novel 2,2'-bis(dicyclopentylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl represented by formula (I): ##STR1## and a transition metal complex using the same as a ligand, are disclosed. The transition metal complex is industrially excellent as a catalyst for various asymmetric synthesis reactions.

Many reports have been made on transition metal complexes such as, for example, catalysts useful for organic synthesis reactions, e.g., asymmetric hydrogenation, asymmetric isomerization, asymmetric silylation, etc. Among them, many of the complexes in which an optically active tertiary phosphine compound is coordinated to a transition metal, e.g., rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, nickel, etc., exhibit excellent performance as catalysts for asymmetric synthesis reactions. To further improve the performance of these catalysts, various phosphine compounds having a special structure have hitherto been developed as disclosed, e.g. , in Chemical Society of Japan (ed. Kagaku Sosetsu, Vol. 32, pp. 237-238, "Yuki Kinzoku Sakutai no Kagakull" (1982). In particular, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino 1,1'-binaphthyl (hereinafter abbreviated as BINAP) is one of the excellent phosphine ligands. Rhodium complexes and ruthenium complexes containing BINAP as a ligand have been reported in JP-A-55-61937 and JP-A-61-63690 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,037 and European Patent 174,057), respectively (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"). Further, it has been reported that rhodium complexes and ruthenium complexes using 2,2'-bis[di(p-tolyl)phosphino]-1,1'-binaphthyl (hereinafter abbreviated as p-T-BINAP) as a ligand give satisfactory results in asymmetric hydrogenation and asymmetric isomerization as disclosed in JP-A-60-199898 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,474 and European Patent 156,607) and JP-A-6163690, respectively. Furthermore, S. Inoue, et al. report in CHEMISTRY LETTERS, pp. 1007-1008 (1985) that asymmetric hydrogenation of nerol in the presence of, as a catalyst, a rhodium complex containing 2,2'-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)1,1'-binaphthyl (hereinafter abbreviated as CYBINAP) gave citronellol having an optical purity of 66 %ee.
While a number of special phosphine compounds have been proposed in an attempt to provide complexes having improved performance as catalysts for asymmetric synthesis reactions as mentioned above, the conventional catalysts are still unsatisfactory in selectivity, conversion, and durability, depending on the type of the purposed reaction or reaction substrate. Hence, it has been demanded to develop a novel phosphine compound which provides a catalyst having markedly improved catalytic performance over the conventional ones.

2,2'-bis (dicyclopentylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl and transition metal complex using the same as ligand


A viscous shear coupling for distributing torque between front and rear axles of an all-wheel drive vehicle is provided which comprises a housing, a set of inner blades interdigitating with a set of outer blades, the inner and outer blades being axially spaced apart from each other and axially slidably mounted within the housing, a viscous liquid located within the housing, an adjusting piston within the housing which is axially displaceable so as to adjust the axial distance between adjacent inner and outer blades. The viscous shear coupling further includes a control pressure circuit for delivery of a control pressure fluid to the adjusting piston, a control valve for regulating the delivery of the control pressure fluid to the adjusting piston, and a control device (e.g., a microprocessor) which calculates a desired adjusting piston speed based on driving conditions and adjusts a valve current delivered to the control valve in order to obtain the desired adjusting piston speed. A process for controlling the viscous shear coupling includes acquiring a set of signals indicative of driving conditions and converting them to a set of input parameters, converting the input parameters to a set of basic parameters, ascertaining a set of control deviations from the basic parameters and the input parameters, calculating the desired adjusting piston speed from the control deviations, and adjusting the valve current delivered to the control valve in order to obtain the desired adjusting piston speed.

The instant invention relates to an adjustable viscous shear coupling and to a process for distributing the driving power between the axles of an all-wheel drive vehicle. The viscous shear coupling is adjusted by shifting a regulating piston of the viscous shear coupling by means of a control circuit containing a control valve on the basis of signals determined as a function of driving conditions.
A controllable viscous shear coupling system to drive a motor vehicle with two driven axles is known for example from the present assignee's EP-PS 332 608 (U.S. 4,942,951), wherein the coupling is located in the drive train towards the rear axle and is combined with a planetary gear system. Control is effected by means of hydraulic shifting of an adjusting piston in the coupling which changes the distances between disks. The design of the control system and its manner of operation for controlling movement of the piston is not described in that document.
DE-OS 36 26 025 discloses a control arrangement for a multiple disk friction clutch for the hydraulically controlled hook-up of the front wheel drive of a motor vehicle. In this control arrangement, a signal for the control of a valve is derived from signals determined as a function of driving conditions, said signal determining the contact pressure in the multiple disk clutch. The control device merely compares the difference between rotational speeds of the axles with a comparison value determined as a function of speed and steering angle and calculates from this a desired driving torque for the hooked-up front axle through multiplication by various coefficients, depending on whether the difference in axle speeds is above or below the comparison value. This desired value is then set by changing the pressure in the hydraulic control circuit.
Aside from the fact that this latter control arrangement involves a friction clutch with a different action and adjustment behavior from a viscous shear coupling, essential factors such as driving dynamics (e.g. engine torque) and driving conditions are not taken into consideration. As a result, the control reacts only to the slip so to say trailing behind it, and is therefore relatively sluggish so that the possibilities of variable driving power distribution are not utilized with respect to traction nor with respect to driving safety.
A similar drive arrangement with multiple-disk clutch is also known from DE-PS 35 05 455. Although in this device the control does take several factors of driving dynamics into consideration, among them tire defects, the clutch can only be opened completely or closed completely.
It is therefore the object of the instant invention to provide an adjustable viscous shear coupling and a regulating process for it making it possible to achieve driving power distribution control that would be as precise as possible, would reflect the physical conditions, and would be as rapid as possible and to some extent even anticipatory, while at the same time reflecting as precisely as possible all essential factors of driving dynamics.

Adjustable viscous shear coupling for an all-wheel drive vehicle and a process for its control


An illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is a network including a first local group of first node devices, a second local group of second node devices, and a new node device. The new node device has a processor with programmed instructions to range to each of the first node devices, collect ranging data from each of the first node devices, calculate a plurality of distances based on the ranging data, and send the plurality of distances to each of the second node devices.

The present disclosure relates generally to ranging networks and more particularly to an adaptive inter-ranging network for first responders.
In emergencies, such as fires, accurate location data for individual first responders allows emergency response site controllers to plan routes to important locations, identify and assist individuals in peril, give directions to first responders, and tag areas of interest. In the context of firefighting operations, in particular, lack of accurate location information and poor communication has resulted in serious injuries and deaths because firefighters rely heavily on information provided by their incident command.