A exhaust-gas heat management system includes a catalytic converter in the exhaust-gas train of an internal-combustion engine, a cover enclosing the catalytic converter, and thereby realizing a cavity for holding a latent-heat storage PCM, at least two fluid connections between the cavity and the collecting vessel, and a pump device for activating and deactivating a PCM circuit between the cavity and the collecting vessel by means of the fluid connections. A method comprises determining an operating state of the internal combustion engine, determining the catalytic converter temperature, determining the PCM temperature, activating the PCM circuit if the PCM temperature is above a phase transition temperature of the PCM, and the internal combustion engine is in a switched-on operating state or the internal combustion engine is in a switched-off operating state and the catalytic converter temperature is below a light-off temperature of the catalytic converter.

Hybrid electric motor vehicles, e.g. so-called plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), have a rechargeable battery, and can usually be operated in at least two differing modes.
As long as the charge state of the battery is sufficiently high, the hybrid electric motor vehicle can be operated in a mode that reduces the battery charge state, for example in an exclusively electric driving mode, i.e. using exclusively the electric drive train comprising the battery, electric motor, power electronics, etc., or in an electric driving mode with intermittent hybrid driving mode, wherein, in the hybrid driving mode, both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor drive the vehicle, and the hybrid driving mode is used, for example, as soon as the power demand exceeds the maximum power of the electric motor.
If the charge state of the battery falls below a predefined limit value, the hybrid electric vehicle can be operated in a mode that maintains the battery charge state, for example in that the vehicle is operated alternately, in rapid succession, in an electric driving mode and a hybrid driving mode.
Particularly in the case of operating the hybrid electric vehicle in a mode that reduces the battery charge state with intermittent hybrid driving mode, it is frequently not possible to adhere to exhaust-gas limit values, since the catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust-gas train of the internal combustion engine cools down during the periods with electric driving mode, or a particular temperature is not attained. An excessively low temperature of the catalytic converter results in an insufficient catalytic activity, and consequently in an insufficient rate of catalytic conversion of the pollutants to be treated in the catalytic converter. A sufficient catalytic activity can be assumed only upon attainment of the so-called light-off temperature, i.e. the temperature at which a conversion rate of 50% is attained.
The light-off temperature is usually in a temperature range of from 250° C. to 300° C., as can be seen from FIG. 1. If this temperature is not attained, the catalytic converter activity is very low, and the conversion rate for the air pollutants is low. This results in large quantities of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons being emitted to the environment.
A further problem is the reduction of the charge state of the battery by use of the stored electrical energy for heating the vehicle, e.g. the vehicle interior, by means of PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient thermistor) auxiliary heaters or heat pumps during the electric driving mode. The electrical energy drawn from the battery reduces the range of the vehicle in the electric driving mode.
For the purpose of remedying the first-mentioned problem, EP 0 596 854 A1 proposes arranging a latent-heat storage device inside the catalytic converter, or a catalytic converter enclosed by means of a latent-heat storage device, in the manner of a casing. In this case, however, there is the disadvantage that the energy consumption and emission of the latent-heat storage device cannot be controlled by open-loop or closed-loop control, and the thermal energy also cannot be used for heating the vehicle.
Known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,676 are an apparatus and a method for exhaust-gas heat management in which heat can be delivered to the catalytic converter or absorbed by the latter, according to the requirement. For this purpose, the apparatus has a variable, controllable insulation, which can be switched on when no exhaust gases are being supplied to the catalytic converter or when the catalytic converter temperature is below an optimum working temperature, and which can be switched off when the catalytic converter temperature rises above an optimum working temperature.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,676, the catalytic converter is enclosed by a cover. Depending on the requirement, a medium for absorbing and delivering thermal energy (heat storage medium), for example a latent-heat storage medium (PCM, phase change material), can be introduced into the cavity between the catalytic converter and the cover, and collected in a collecting vessel. An open-loop control device may be provided to switch the insulation on or off, e.g. in dependence on temperature. The heat storage medium may additionally be used to transfer heat from the catalytic converter to the vehicle interior.
The object of the present invention is to specify a possibility for improved open-loop and closed-loop control of an exhaust-gas heat management system.
This object is achieved by a method for controlling an exhaust-gas heat management system, having a catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust-gas train of an internal-combustion engine, a cover, enclosing the catalytic converter, for realizing a cavity between the catalytic converter and the cover, a collecting vessel for holding a latent-heat storage medium, referred to in the following as PCM, at least two fluid connections between the cavity and the collecting vessel, and a pump device for activating and deactivating a PCM circuit between the cavity and the collecting vessel by means of the fluid connections.
For example, the pump device may be arranged in the fluid connection. The fluid connections may be realized, or such that they can be realized, as hoses or pipes.
The exhaust-gas heat management system enables the catalytic converter to be temperature-controlled, for example heating of the catalytic converter if its temperature is below the light-off temperature, or cooling of the catalytic converter if its temperature is above a maximum operating temperature. For this purpose, heat is transferred between the catalytic converter and the PCM present in the cavity between the catalytic converter and the cover. Advantageously, the contact surface area between the catalytic converter may be realized so as to be as large as possible, to enable a rapid transfer of heat.
The PCM may have a high thermal capacity, to enable as much thermal energy as possible to be stored, with a low weight. In one example, a phase transition temperature of the PCM, for the transition from a solid to a liquid phase, may be in a temperature range of between 20° C. and 600° C. at atmospheric pressure. This corresponds to the exhaust-gas temperatures that usually prevail in the exhaust-gas train, and thus also to a usual exhaust-gas temperature.
Further, this phase transition temperature may be as low as possible in the said temperature range, for example below the light-off temperature of the catalytic converter. The phase transition temperature may be, for example, 100° C. or lower.
For example, the PCM may be heated to a temperature above the phase transition temperature, or cooled to a temperature below the phase transition temperature, such that a thermal energy corresponding to the enthalpy of fusion or enthalpy of solidification can be stored or delivered. This has the advantage that a large quantity of thermal energy can be stored, despite a comparatively small temperature change.
The upper limit of the temperature range, of 600° C., results from the fact that some vehicles, in particular plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, are equipped with a naturally-aspirated engine as an internal combustion engine, which can be operated in an Atkinson cycle process. For plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, this constitutes an operating method that is particularly sparing of fuel.
Such naturally-aspirated engines operated in an Atkinson cycle process usually have maximum exhaust-gas temperatures of from 500° C. to 600° C. at the catalytic converter input. Accordingly, it is advantageous if the PCM is liquid and chemically stable up to temperatures of 600° C. For thermodynamic reasons, the temperature of the PCM cannot exceed 600° C., since the exhaust-gas temperature likewise can maximally be 600° C. The PCM circuit of the exhaust-gas heat management system therefore does not require a heat sink, with the result that the exhaust-gas heat management system can be constructed easily and inexpensively.
Further, atmospheric pressure may prevail in the PCM circuit. Consequently, no additional safety precautions are necessary in respect of an increased or reduced pressure, which minimizes costs and simplifies servicing and maintenance.
Furthermore, the PCM may have no thermal expansion, or only slight thermal expansion, such that the latter can be disregarded and the method can be simplified as a result.
As an example, a non-toxic, non-corrosive and/or inert medium may be used. Inert means that, during use, the PCM does not undergo any change, or at most undergoes a change that does not impair function.
Also, all component parts of the system that come into contact with the PCM are realized so as to be resistant to possible corrosive attacks of the PCM.
Salts or salt mixtures, for example, may be used as a PCM, e.g. a salt mixture composed of sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate or calcium nitrate. At atmospheric pressure, such a salt mixture may have a melting temperature, as a phase transition temperature, in the range of between 125 and 175° C., e.g. 150° C., and in the liquid state be heated to temperatures of up to 600° C., i.e. the thermal capacity is high, and has a low thermal expansion.
The absorption of thermal energy by the PCM may be effected in that thermal energy from the catalytic converter is transferred to the part of the PCM that is located in the cavity, in contact with the catalytic converter. The transfer of heat can be made more efficient by activating the PCM circuit, since the PCM consequently flows past the catalytic converter.
An additional heat transfer medium, for transferring heat between exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and the PCM, may optionally be provided for the purpose of heating the PCM.
Further, for the purpose of heating the PCM, an electrical heating element may optionally be provided, for example for inductive heating (inductive heating element) or for resistance heating (resistive heating element). The electrical heating element may be arranged in the PCM collecting vessel, and heat the PCM in the collecting vessel.
For example, the PCM may be heated by means of the electrical heating element, in order to bring the PCM into a liquid state or to keep it in a liquid state. The electrical heating may be effected, for example, if a battery of a vehicle having the exhaust-gas heat management system is charged at a socket outlet, i.e. the electrical energy is supplied from an external source.
The exhaust-gas heat management system may be constructed, or able to be constructed, such that the transfer of heat between the catalytic converter and the pump device is maximized, to enable the PCM present in the pump device to melt if the temperature of the PCM is below the phase transition temperature. The PCM circuit can thereby be activated rapidly.
The exhaust-gas heat management system may be constructed, or able to be constructed, such that the fluid connections between the cavity and the collecting vessel are realized so as to be as short as possible, in order that the PCM in the fluid connections can be melted as rapidly as possible in the case of cold conditions, e.g. if the temperature of the PCM is below the phase transition temperature. The PCM circuit can thereby be activated rapidly.
The fluid connections may be realized, or able to be realized, so as to be thermally conductive, such that the PCM in the fluid connections can be melted as rapidly as possible in the case of cold conditions, e.g. if the temperature of the PCM is below the phase transition temperature. The PCM circuit can thereby be activated rapidly.
The catalytic converter may be thermally insulated, or able to be thermally insulated, with respect to the exhaust-gas train upstream and downstream from the catalytic converter, such that thermal energy losses can be minimized if the internal combustion engine is in a switched-off operating state.
The collecting vessel may be thermally insulated, or able to be thermally insulated, in order to keep thermal energy losses of the PCM in the collecting vessel as low as possible. For example, the PCM in the collecting vessel may be kept in a liquid state for as long a time span as possible, e.g. for a period of several days.
Optionally, heat exchangers, i.e. devices for transferring heat, may be arranged, or able to be arranged, in the collecting vessel. It is thereby made possible to transfer heat from the PCM to another medium, e.g. to an engine coolant, engine oil or air for ventilating the vehicle interior, or another liquid or gaseous medium. Thermal energy can thereby be given off in the event of excessive heating of the PCM. For example, thermal energy originally contained in the exhaust gas can be used for heating the internal combustion engine or the air to be supplied to the vehicle interior.
According to the invention, the method has the features to be explained in greater detail in the following, which may be effected in the sequence of explanation, but also in a different sequence, according to requirement.
According to the invention, the following quantities are determined: the operating state of the internal combustion engine, i.e. whether the latter is switched on or switched off, the catalytic converter temperature and the PCM temperature, e.g. the PCM temperature in the pump device or, alternatively, in the collecting vessel. Determination of temperature in the pump device has the advantage that switching-on of the pump can be avoided while the PCM is in the solid phase.
The PCM circuit is activated or deactivated in dependence on these quantities. Activating in this case includes maintaining the activated state, provided that the conditions relevant for activation, as explained in the following, are fulfilled. Deactivating in this case includes maintaining the deactivated state, provided that the conditions relevant for deactivation, as explained in the following, are fulfilled.
The PCM circuit is activated, for example, in that the pump device is switched on if the PCM temperature is above a phase transition temperature of the PCM, i.e., for example, a salt suitable as a PCM is in a liquid state, and in addition the internal combustion engine is in a switched-on operating state (first activation alternative), or the internal combustion engine is in a switched-off operating state and the catalytic converter temperature is below a light-off temperature of the catalytic converter (second activation alternative).
The PCM circuit is deactivated if the internal combustion engine is in a switched-off operating state and the catalytic converter temperature is above a light-off temperature of the catalytic converter (first deactivation alternative), or the PCM temperature is below a phase transition temperature of the PCM, i.e., for example, a salt suitable as a PCM is in a solid state (second deactivation alternative).
This control strategy for the pump device, and thus for the PCM circuit, is based on the following considerations. During electric drive mode, there is no need to activate the pump device, and thus the PCM circuit, as long as the catalytic converter temperature is above the light-off temperature of the catalytic converter. If, on the other hand, the catalytic converter temperature falls to a temperature below the light-off temperature, the PCM circuit is activated to enable thermal energy stored in the PCM to be transferred to the catalytic converter, and thus to raise its temperature again, or to maintain its temperature, or at least to achieve a slower cooling. Optionally, this activating according to the second activation alternative may be effected only if switching-on of the internal combustion engine is to be anticipated, as described below.
If the internal combustion engine is in a switched-on state, the PCM can absorb thermal energy and store it for the next use. Excessive heating of the catalytic converter can thereby be avoided.
If the PCM is below a phase transition temperature, e.g. a phase transition temperature from the liquid to the solid state, no advantages ensue from activating the PCM circuit, since the PCM cannot be pumped in the solid state. This is irrespective of the operating state of the internal combustion engine. In this case, the PCM can be heated, by conduction of heat from the catalytic converter, to a temperature above the phase transition temperature. The thermal conduction may be assisted in that the fluid connections are made, or able to be made, of a material of high thermal conductivity, e.g. metal.
According to various embodiments, it may be provided that the method furthermore comprises defining a limit temperature for the PCM. The PCM circuit is then activated only if the PCM temperature is below the limit temperature. An ideal storage temperature, for example, may be defined as a limit temperature. If this temperature is attained or exceeded, the PCM circuit may be deactivated in order to save energy, since, after the ideal storage temperature has been attained, scarcely any more thermal energy can be absorbed by the PCM. A maximum catalytic converter temperature may be considered to be an ideal storage temperature, i.e. a maximum operating temperature of the catalytic converter at which there is no damage to the catalytic converter caused by temperature.
Optionally, a safety buffer may be provided, i.e. a temperature buffer that follows the maximum operating temperature of the catalytic converter, in the direction of lower temperatures. For example, the limit temperature may thus be defined between 20 K and 80 K lower, e.g. 50 K lower, than a maximum operating temperature of the catalytic converter.
According to further embodiment variants, it may be provided that, in the case of a catalytic converter being in the switched-off operating state, according to the second activation alternative, the PCM circuit is activated only if a change in the operating state of the internal combustion engine, to a switched-on operating state, is to be anticipated.
It is thereby possible to avoid pointlessly activating the PCM circuit and, for example, heating the catalytic converter, if this is not necessary, because the internal combustion engine will not be in a switched-on operating state within a foreseeable period of time.
The anticipation of a change in the operating state may be defined on the basis of various criteria, and determined by means of various method steps.
According to various embodiment variants, the method may therefore comprise determining a power demand and determining an electrical power capacity. A change in the operating state of the internal combustion engine, to a switched-on operating state, is to be anticipated if the power demand exceeds the electrical power capacity.
The power demand may exceed the electrical power capacity, for example, if the charge state of the battery is too low, i.e. there is no more electrical power available, or if there is an unusually high power demand that cannot be covered by the capacity available, e.g. to enable an ascending route to be completed.
According to various embodiment variants, the method may furthermore comprise defining a time span Δt. A change in the operating state of the internal combustion engine, to a switched-on operating state, is then to be anticipated if the power demand exceeds the electrical power capacity within the time span Δt. The time span Δt may be specified and defined, for example, as a constant.
Alternatively, the time span Δt may be defined as a variable in dependence on various influencing factors such as, for example, catalytic converter temperature, ambient temperature, PCM temperature, speed of the vehicle and the associated convection cooling of the catalytic converter, etc.
According to further embodiment variants, the time span Δt may be defined in accordance with the light-off time span of the catalytic converter, i.e. the time span that is required to attain the light-off temperature. The light-off time span in this case may be dependent on current conditions such as, for example, the catalytic converter temperature, the ambient temperature, the PCM temperature, the rate of transfer of heat between the catalytic converter and the PCM, which many be influenced by settings of the pump devices such as, for example, the flow rate, etc. The time span Δt may be obtained, for example, by means of computer-assisted development (CAE models), which can enable the light-off time span to be derived as a function of the said influencing factors.
According to further embodiment variants, the power demand may be determined from a pedal position of the accelerator pedal. In other words, the power demand may be deduced from the position of the accelerator pedal. The power demand increases as the pressure on the accelerator pedal increases. For example, the power demand may be linearly dependent on the pedal position.
According to further embodiment variants, the power demand may be determined on the basis of route conditions of a route to be completed. For example, the height profile of a route to be completed may be taken into account. The power demand increases in the case of an ascending route (height increase), but decreases in the case of a descending route (height decrease). The height profile may be obtained, for example, by inputting the destination into a navigation system, e.g. a global satellite navigation system such as NAVSTAR GPS, GLONASS, Galileo or Beidou, in that the navigation system calculates the route and outputs the associated height profile for the purpose of determining the power demand. Further route conditions on the basis of which the power demand may be determined are, for example, the condition of the route surface, the volume of traffic, bends, speed restrictions, weather conditions such as wind, precipitation, etc.
According to further embodiment variants, the method may comprise the projection of the electrical power capacity and the power demand at the instant te, which is defined as a current instant ta plus a time span Δt, i.e. te=ta+Δt. Should—according to the projected values—the power demand exceed the electrical power capacity at the instant te, according to the method a change in the operating state of the internal combustion engine to a switched-on operating state is anticipated at the instant te, and therefore the PCM circuit is to be actuated immediately—i.e. in the current instant ta—in that the pump device is switched on. With regard to the definition and meaning of the time span Δt and the defining of the time span Δt in accordance with a light-off time span of the catalytic converter, reference is made to the statements above.
By means of the method according to the invention, the absorption and delivery of thermal energy by the PCM, i.e. the transfer of heat between the catalytic converter and the PCM, can be controlled in an effective manner. The emission of air pollutants can thereby be reduced, in that the catalytic converter temperature can be held in an optimal range for a longer period of time. For example, time spans in which the internal combustion engine of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is in a switched-off operating state, e.g. during an electric driving mode, and which are associated with an unwanted cooling of the catalytic converter, may be bridged, in that the catalytic converter temperature is influenced by means of the PCM.
In addition, the thermal energy stored in the PCM may be used for heating the vehicle interior, such that it is possible to avoid reducing the charge state of the battery, which would otherwise be used to heat the vehicle interior. The range of the vehicle in an electric driving mode can thereby be increased.
Furthermore, the thermal energy stored in the PCM may be used for heating the engine oil. This can reduce the friction inside the internal combustion engine and be instrumental in the internal combustion engine having a longer service life.
Furthermore, the thermal energy stored in the PCM may be used for heating the battery. This can increase the battery power that is available when external temperatures are low.
An exhaust-gas heat management system according to the invention comprises: a catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust-gas train of an internal-combustion engine, a cover, enclosing the catalytic converter, for realizing a cavity between the catalytic converter and the cover, a collecting vessel for holding a latent-heat storage medium, referred to in the following as PCM, at least two fluid connections between the cavity and the collecting vessel, and a pump device for activating and deactivating a PCM circuit between the cavity and the collecting vessel by means of the fluid connections, a sensor for determining an operating state of the internal combustion engine, a temperature sensor for determining the catalytic converter temperature, a temperature sensor for determining the PCM temperature, and a control unit designed to control the pump device in dependence on the operating state of the internal combustion engine, the catalytic converter temperature and the PCM temperature.
The exhaust-gas heat management system according to the invention is suitable, for example, for executing the method according to the invention explained above. The above statements explaining the method according to the invention therefore also apply to the description of the exhaust-gas heat management system according to the invention. The advantages of the exhaust-gas heat management system according to the invention correspond to those of the method according to the invention and its corresponding embodiment variants.
According to various embodiment variants, the exhaust-gas heat management system may furthermore have means that have the effect that, in the case of a catalytic converter being in the switched-off operating state, the PCM circuit is activated only if a change in the operating state of the internal combustion engine, to a switched-on operating state, is to be anticipated.
A motor vehicle according to the invention has an exhaust-gas heat management system according to the preceding description.
According to various embodiments, the motor vehicle may be realized as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Since PHEVs, besides having an electric drive, also have an internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle, at least for short periods, in particular travel situations that have a high power demand, but with the light-off temperature of the catalytic converter according to the prior art frequently not being achieved in this case, an exhaust-gas heat management system according to the invention is particularly well suited for reducing unwanted emissions.
A computer program product according to the invention comprises commands that cause an exhaust-gas heat management system according to the invention to execute a method according to the invention. A computer program product in this case is to be understood to mean a program code that is stored on a suitable medium and/or that can be initiated via a suitable medium. Any medium that is suitable for storing software, for example a DVD, a USB stick, a flashcard or the like, may be used to store the program code. The initiating of the program code may be effected, for example, via the Internet or an intranet, or via another suitable wireless or wired network.
In the examples explained in the following, reference is made to the appended drawings, which constitute a part of the examples and in which there are shown, for illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be implemented. It is understood that other embodiments may be used, and structural or logical changes may be made, without departure from the protective scope of the present invention. It is understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is therefore not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, and the protective scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. In the figures, elements that are identical or similar are denoted by identical references, insofar as is expedient.

Method and system for exhaust-gas heat management


In one aspect, a NAND flash memory device is provided which includes a plurality of main blocks for storing main data, a security block for storing security data, and a plurality of redundancy blocks each for being substituted in place of a failed main block, wherein at least one of the redundancy blocks may selectively substituted in place of a failed main block and a failed security block. In an alternative aspect, the NAND flash memory device a security redundancy block for being substituted in place of the security block in the event the security block fails.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a NAND flash memory device, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a NAND flash memory device having a security redundancy block, and to a method for repairing a NAND flash memory device have a defective security block.
A claim of priority is made to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-03842, filed on Jan. 14, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flash memory devices, called "Flash Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory" (Flash EEPROM) or "E2PROM", are non-volatile memories which maintain stored data even in the absence of supplied power.
Generally, a NAND flash memory device has a plurality of memory cells that are configured in a string structure. The memory cell array of the NAND flash memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks, and each of the blocks defines a plurality of pages formed by a plurality of memory cells sharing one word line. For example, in conventional NAND flash memory devices, the cell array is formed by 1,024 or 2,048 blocks, each of the blocks has 16, 32, or 64 pages, and 512 bytes or 1 kilobyte of memory cells are connected to each of the pages. In NAND memory devices, erase operations are performed on a block-by-block basis, while read and write operations are performed on a page-by-page basis.
It is possible for a fabricated memory cell of a NAND flash memory to suffer an operational failure. A block having at least one failed memory cell is considered a "failed block." If the number of failed blocks in a NAND flash memory device is more than a threshold value, e.g., more than five, then the NAND flash memory device is determined to be defective. On the other hand, if the number of failed blocks of the NAND flash memory device is fewer than the threshold number of failed blocks, the device is configured to utilize redundant blocks to replace the bad blocks.
However, conventional NAND flash memory devices are not capable of utilizing redundant blocks to replace faulty security blocks. The security blocks are specially configured to store security-related data such as the serial number of device manufacturer, the date of manufacture, and other security-related information. If the security block fails, the NAND flash memory device can not be repaired and is considered defective.

NAND flash memory device having security redundancy block and method for repairing the same


There is provided a communication control technique in which it is possible to avoid interference with another wireless communication system. This invention is characterized by a control station which controls wireless communication of dependent stations. When a dependent station newly starts, the control station determines whether a beacon transmitted by the dependent station is received by another wireless communication network. When determining that the beacon is received by the other wireless communication network, the control station instructs the dependent station to lower the transmission power until the beacon is not received.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system, a communication apparatus, and a communication method, and more particularly, to a communication control technique for suppressing interference with another communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A scheme of wirelessly connecting closeby apparatuses is called a WPAN, and is defined separately from a WLAN.
ECMA International as a standards organization has defined the physical layer and MAC layer specification as the ECMA-368 standard assuming a WPAN that uses a UWB (Ultra Wide Band) communication scheme. The ECMA-368 standard is also called the WiMedia standard. As a protocol operating at the upper layer of the ECMA-368 standard, the wireless USB (Universal Serial Bus) standards and the like have been defined.
In order to prevent collision of wireless frames which occurs when a plurality of wireless terminals simultaneously transmit wireless frames, the UWB communication scheme controls a timing at which each wireless terminal accesses another wireless terminal. This control scheme is defined by a Media Access Control (MAC) protocol, and is implemented by transmitting/receiving beacons.
In the UWB communication scheme, interference occurs between wireless communication systems due to frequency sharing. It is therefore important to suppress the interference for commercial use.
To suppress occurrence of interference between wireless communication systems, it is effective to decrease the transmission power of each wireless terminal in each wireless communication system.
Conventionally, various schemes of controlling transmission power for power savings have been proposed in a wireless communication system.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-328231 has proposed the following scheme. That is, the transmission power of a wireless terminal is gradually increased, and a transmission power level upon reception of a link establishment completion signal from an access point is set in subsequent data communication.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent No. 3762872 has proposed the following scheme. That is, a control station notifies a terminal station of the lower limit expected value of reception power at which the control station can receive a signal and the terminal station sets the transmission power of itself with respect to the lower limit expected value.
However, in the above patent references, the transmission power is controlled by determining the transmission power level necessary for maintaining communication with other wireless terminals within a wireless communication system of a self-terminal. That is, the above schemes are not aimed at actively avoiding "interference" with another communication system. When the terminals communicate at the controlled transmission power, it is not always possible to avoid "interference" with another wireless communication system.

Communication system, communication apparatus, and communication method to minimize interference by transmission power control


The present invention relates to a method to treat Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and particularly, human immunodeficiency virus associated KS through the administration of antisense oligonucleotides complementary to basic fibroblast growth factor RNA.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for treating Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and particularly, treatments of human immunodeficiency virus-associated KS through the administration of antisense oligonucleotides complementary to basic fibroblast growth factor RNA.
2. Background of the Art
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a proliferative disease of vascular origin frequently associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. CDC Task Force on KS and Opportunistic Infections, N. Engl. J. Med. 306:248 (1982); Safai et al Ann. Int. Med. 103:744 (1985); Havercos et al. N. Engl. J. Med 312:1518 (1985). Kaposi's sarcoma will be referred to herein as "KS", whereas HIV-1 associated Kaposi's sarcoma will be referred to herein as "AIDS-KS".
KS typically occurs as lesions in the skin, although, in most AIDS-KS patients, visceral lesions are also present. KS often arises as multiple disseminated skin lesions that in early stages resemble benign capillary hemangiomas or vascularized chronic inflammatory foci. Repeated biopsies show a progressive sarcomatous-like appearance. In more advanced stages, the lesions appear as multiple purplish to brown subcutaneous plaques or nodules, often with a verrucose surface. The characteristic histological features of KS include the proliferation of spindle-shaped cells (KS cells, considered the tumor element) and of endothelial cells, either as cellular sheets or forming new blood vessels (angiogenesis) often abnormal (slit-like spaces) containing red blood cells (CDC Task Force N. Engl. J. Med. 306:248 (1982); Safai et al Ann. Int. Med. 103:744 (1985); Havercos et al. N. Engl. J. Med 312:1518 (1985); Friedman-Kien, J. Am. Acad. Dermathol. 5:468 (1981); Gottlieb et al. Hum. Pathol. 13:882 (1982); Macnutt et al. Am. J. Pathol. 111:62 (1983)). Other KS histological features are extravascular hemorrhage with hemosiderin deposition, anaplastic fibroblast-like proliferation, and a granulation-like inflammatory reaction. Robbins et al. "Basic Pathology" p. 286 (W. B. Saunders Co., 2d ed. 1976).
In previous studies we and others have demonstrated that cultured spindle cells derived from KS lesions of AIDS patients (AIDS-KS cells) produce factors inducing autocrine and paracrine chemotactic and growth effects for cells composing the KS lesions. Nakamura et al. Science 242:426 (1988); Salahuddin Science 242:430 (1988); Ensoli et al. Science 243:223 (1989); Ensoli et al. Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. 5:281 (1991); Ensoli et al. Immunol. Rev. 127:147 (1992); Roth et al. Oncogene 4:483 (1989); Miles et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:4068 (1990); Sturzl Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:7046 (1992); Thompson et al. Cancer Res. 54:2670 (1991).
Supernatants from AIDS-KS cells induce normalsendothelial cells to proliferate, degrade and cross the basement membrane, followed by migration and organization into tube-like structures. Ensoli et al. Science 243:223 (1989); Ensoli et al. Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. 5:281 (1991); Ensoli et al. Immunol. Rev. 127:147 (1992); Thompson et al. Cancer Res. 54:2670 (1991). These are the same events that are required for the formation of new blood vessels or angiogenesis. Folkman et al. Nature 288:551 (1980); Folkman et al. Science 235:442 (1987). In fact, we have also reported that when AIDS-KS cells are placed into the chorioallantoic membrane of 9 day-old fertilized chick eggs they induce the formation of new blood vessels. Further, when KS-cells are injected into nude mice they induced vascular lesions of mouse cell origin resembling human KS. Salahuddin, et al. Science 242:430 (1988).
Molecular analysis of the factors produced by AIDS-KS cells revealed that several factors were produced, including: interleukin-1.alpha. (IL-1.alpha.), IL-1.beta., endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF), granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), transforming growth factor-.beta. (TGF-.beta.), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), IL-6, IL-8, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). bFGF, IL-1.beta., IL-6, and IL-8, however, are produced in relatively higher quantities than the others. In particular, high steady state levels of mRNA encoding bFGF, a potent angiogenic factor, are expressed by the cells and released into the extracellular media in a biologically active form. Ensoli et al. Science 243:223 (1989); Ensoli et al. Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. 5:281 (1991); Ensoli et al. Immunol. Rev. 127:147 (1992); Burgress et al. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 58:575 (1989). AIDS-KS cells were found to contain abundant storage of different bFGF protein isoforms of 18, 23, and 25 kD with both nuclear and cytosolic distribution.
Measurements of the bFGF content and lactic dehydrogenase activity in supernatants of AIDS-KS cells confirmed that bFGF release was directly related to the abundance of intracellular bFGF molecules. By using specific antibodies directed against bFGF we found that this cytokine induces the growth of AIDS-KS cells, normal endothelial cells, and other mesenchymal-derived cells (B. Ensoli, Science 243:223 (1983). Therefore, bFGF acts as both an autocrine (tumor cell specific) and paracrine (normal cell specific) growth factor. Ensoli et al. Science 243:223 (1989); Ensoli et al. Hematol. Oncol. Clin. North Am. 5:281 (1991); Ensoli et al. Immunol. Rev. 127:147 (1992).
As endothelial cell growth is the event required for angiogenesis and antibodies against bFGF blocked endothelial cell growth stimulated by AIDS-KS cells, this suggested that bFGF was responsible for angiogenesis in KS. B. Ensoli, Science 243:223 (1989). bFGF was also reported to be overexpressed in vivo, by spindle cells in human KS lesions from both AIDS-associated and classical KS. Xerri et al. Am. J. Pathol. 138:9 (1991).
A great deal of time, money, and effort has been invested in strategies to block the proliferative effects of cellular growth factors. Major resources have been invested into strategies for making antisense oligonucleotides to such growth factors in an effort to block their proliferative activities. In one experiment in vitro Kaposi's sarcoma cells were treated with antisense oligonucleotides against the cytokine IL-6. See Miles et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 87:4068-4072 (1990) (embodied in International Patent Application No.: PCT/US92/04509, Publication No.: WO 92/21380 (the "Miles Application")). In the references, IL-6 was suggested to be the autocrine factor primarily responsible for proliferation of Kaposi's sarcoma cells. See Miles Application at p. 4, lines 29-33. However, IL-6 has not been shown to possess the angiogenic properties necessary for the full proliferation of Kaposi's sarcoma. Moreover, the reference indicates that relatively high dosages of antisense oligonucleotides are necessary to block the IL-6 induced proliferation of Kaposi's sarcoma. Miles Application at p. 4, lines 17-22.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to determine the factors primarily responsible for the histogenesis (or development) of Kaposi's sarcoma and to provide methods of blocking their proliferative and angiogenic effects in vivo.

Method for treating kaposi's sarcoma with antisense oligonucleotides

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


Method and apparatus for holding and selectively positioning medical needle and syringe assemblies. The device comprises the combination of a housing and a retainer insert interconnectible therewith. The retainer insert is provided with a plurality of retainer holes formed thereon for receiving and frictionally retaining a needle cap extensible through respective ones thereof. Each respective needle cap retained thereby is oriented such that when the needle portion of a needle/syringe assembly is placed therewithin, the assembly is maintained in fixed position. Following use, the contaminated needles are removed from the device and disposed of via conventional means while the needle caps remain frictionally retained within the retainer insert. In the preferred embodiment, the retainer holes formed on the retainer insert are arranged in a row-like fashion to organize use of multiple needle/syringe devices, and may further be formed to take any of a variety of shapes necessary to provide adequate frictional retention of a given needle cap.

The use and handling of medical needle and syringe assemblies are well-known in the art. In this regard, such devices play a vital role in modern healthcare practice by virtue of their simple mechanical means for injecting or withdrawing fluids.
Despite their immense practicality, however, serious issues continue to exist with respect to the proper handling and disposal of such devices, and more particularly the needle or style portion thereof. As is well-known, once the needle has been exposed to bodily fluids there is thus created a substantial risk that such exposed needle portion will contain infective microbiological agents. More notably and commonly associated with these blood-borne diseases are AIDS and hepatitis B. which have the capability to infect an individual via an inadvertent needle-stick experience.
To minimize the risk of a needle-stick experience, capping devices, and in particular needle caps, are used in combination with needle and syringe assemblies to provide a protective covering over the needle portion thereof once the same has come into contact with bodily fluids. According to current practice, such capping devices are removed and subsequently replaced upon the exposed needle portion, often repeatedly, until the medical procedure is completed.
Following use of a given needle and syringe assembly, such needle portion, by virtue of its having come into contact with bodily fluids, must be disposed of through special handling procedures. Perhaps the most well-known and commonly utilized device to address the problem posed by the disposal of contaminated needles is referred to as the sharps container. Such device typically comprises a container having a port formed thereon into which a contaminated needle is inserted. A pair of scissors formed upon the container is designed and oriented to provide a cutting action across the portal entry to thus clip the needle portion off and thereafter safely house the same within the container.
While the sharps container and other similar devices are effective in removing and isolating contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps, substantial issues arise when attempting to separate and dispose of contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps from the capping devices with which they are used. In this regard, such capping devices must necessarily be utilized with such contaminated needles and sharps to provide a necessary protective covering over such contaminated sharps when the latter is not in use. As is well-recognized, such capping devices further the important goal of minimizing needle-stick experiences, and thus reduce the transmission of blood-borne diseases. However, the use of such capping devices with contaminated sharps has resulted in the concurrent disposal of both the capping device and the contaminated sharp, which are frequently disposed while interconnected to one another.
Recent changes in the law, however, have now prohibited the concurrent disposal of needles with needle caps while the same are interconnected. Indeed, strict fines and penalties are imposed for those healthcare providers and organizations that specifically fail to properly dispose of contaminated needles separate and apart from the caps used therewith. While systems have been developed, namely, needleless-type syringe systems, such systems are expensive and have not been well-received in the medical community. Additionally, such needless systems still necessarily employ the use of needles as is necessary to establish an intravenous connection.
In addition to the problems posed by proper isolation and disposal of contaminated needles and the capping devices used therewith has been the problem of organizing the use of multiple needle and syringe assemblies during a given medical procedure. In this respect, a wide variety of medical procedures often necessitate the use of multiple needle/syringe assemblies. For example, a variety of drugs may need to be administered throughout a given procedure. However, there currently does not exist any recognized apparatus or method for organizing the use of multiple needle/syringe assemblies. Rather, common practice typically comprises nothing more than arranging such needle/syringe assemblies upon a medical tray with the health care practitioner doing nothing more than grabbing the appropriate syringe assembly therefrom. Such technique, however, is exceptionally prone to disorganization and can actually increase the risk of a needle-stick experience insofar as improper orientation of such needle/syringe assemblies, and more particularly the needle portion thereof, can and often does come into close contact with the hands of the healthcare provider.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for holding medical needles and syringes that enables the same to be used for a given procedure and thereafter provides means for substantially reducing the risk that the contaminated needle portion is disposed along with the cap with which it had been used. There is additionally a need in the art for a method and apparatus for holding medical needle and syringe assemblies that facilitates and provides means for organizing the use thereof during a given medical procedure. There is still further a need in the art for a method and apparatus for holding medical needle and syringe assemblies that is easy to use, may be easily and readily utilized with virtually all types of needle and syringe devices, is of simple construction, is space efficient, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Apparatus and method for organizing and recapping medical needles and syringes


There is provided a method, comprising: establishing, by a first network node, a communication connection to at least one advertising device located in a geographically limited service area; establishing a communication connection to at least one advertisement-receiving device; generating at least one security key for encrypting and decrypting at least part of the data which is to be transmitted in D2D communication links, wherein each security key is valid for a predetermined validity period, and common to those at least one advertising device and at least one advertisement-receiving device within the service area which fulfill predetermined criteria; causing transmission of information indicating the generated at least one security key to those at least one advertising device which fulfill the predetermined criteria; and causing transmission of information indicating at least one of the generated at least one security key to those at least one advertisement-receiving device which fulfill the predetermined criteria.

It is foreseen that user terminals, which are carried by users located in a specific area, may receive advertisements from other devices in the area. The advertisements may be transmitted to the user terminal via a device-to-device (D2D) communication. This advertisement between two closely located devices may be seen as part of proximity based services (ProSe). Key issues in such D2D based local hyper-advertising services of ProSe may include, for example, security and reliability.


A method of color grading gems by a user by their inherent properties of shape, hue, tone and saturation. Each of the properties is variable over a practical range derived from a database. The database is created by digitally coding gem shapes, hues, tones and colors from digital photographs of gems of different, shapes, hues, tones and saturation. The variable properties are displayed on a screen and the user selects the best matching respective shape, hue, tone and saturation in comparison to the particular gem being graded. Upon receiving the user's selections, an image of the a gem having the shape, hue, tone and saturation selected by the user is displayed on the screen and translated into alpha-numeric code which can be communicated to any other user of the same system, enabling remote discussion and evaluation of the same target gem.

The present invention relates to a computer based grading system of gems, including the method of construction of a database serving the said system. The method is particularly useful for communication of grading results over the phone or Web, when the parties discussing the results rely on the image of the target gem as displayed by the system.
A major problem facing the gem dealer, grader and jeweler is how to accurately assess and grade consistently the color of a given gem, what descriptive language to use and how to communicate the color of gems over the fast and growing Internet or, for that matter, over the phone.
The color gamut of gems is vast, including thousands of color possibilities. Using the present methods for color communication used today, which are briefly described below, one finds it difficult or practically impossible to communicate and describe the accurate color (hue, saturation and tone) of a certain gem.
Sending the actual images of a large number of gems is time consuming due to the limitations of the speed of transfer of data. Even if such a transfer would be faster in the future one is still left with the problem of grading the gems according to accepted grades of colors, which are well defined and known.
Existing systems for color grading of gems, are for example:
The Gemset (GIA Gem Instrument, the Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, Calif.). This is a method of determining the color grade of gems by comparing the color of a gem to be graded, with plastic molds representing round shapes of various hues, tones and saturations. Each sample is labeled with the GIA nomenclature. The Gemset has several drawbacks:
1. Comparing real gems to plastic samples is difficult due to the different look, texture, brilliance and sparkle of plastic and real gems.
2. The presence of only rounds samples may affect the quality of grading when comparing them to gems of other shapes.
3. Limited amount of samples of colors, (324) as not all colors are present.
4. Some colors have to be interpolated or estimated by the grader or examiner, (tone and saturation) causing inconsistency of the results, especially when the same gem is examined by several experts.
5. Difficulty to find the right sample to compare with the real gem.
6. The fading of the colors of the plastic samples after a while.
7. No record of the gem grading is left after the process.
8. One can communicate the results of the grade over the phone or Internet, only if the receiving party a) has the Gemset b) can pick the same color sample, and c) reach the same conclusion as the examiner.
Advantages of the Gemset method: an accepted nomenclature by the trade.
The Gemdialogue: consists of flat, transparent acetate sheets having 10 zones of saturation levels (from 10% to 100%) in 44 spectral hues and an additional sheet of acetate having tone grade from black to transparent.
Draw backs are obvious, and all the above drawbacks apply. In addition to these:
a) Too much speculation is left to the grader.
b) The grades and nomenclature used to describe the color are not easy to communicate, say P2B70/30 which means moderate purplish blue, zone 70 (70% saturation) with the 30% black mask overlay.
c) One finds it difficult to visualize the color of the described gem.
The Munsell Book of Color (Macbeth div. of Kollmorgen Instruments Corp. New Windsor, N.Y.). An elaborated system used to determine colors, using 1600 flat, glossy, opaque, printed chip samples in 40 pages each representing a certain hue
Drawbacks are as above. This method is not suitable for grading gems.
The Inventor is the author of a 2-volume book related to gems, titled "The Dealers Book of Gems and Diamonds", 1997. These books deal with gemology and commercial aspects of gems trading and processing.
The following patents, for example, cover the issue of gem evaluation, grading and reporting, but none covers the invention henceforth described: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,899,503; 4,291,975; 6,239,867; 5,966,673; 5,615,005; 4,534,644; 4,527,895; 4,461,568.
Other patents cover the field of color selection, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,407 (Gabor). Color selection methods are practiced by computer methods running on color screens, for example: the color selection method offered by Microsoft Windows for non-standard colors available for their "desk top" opening screen.

Method for digital color grading of gems and communication thereof


An audio renderer can have a machine learning model that jointly processes audio and visual information of an audiovisual recording. The audio renderer can generate output audio channels. Sounds captured in the audiovisual recording and present in the output audio channels are spatially mapped based on the joint processing of the audio and visual information by the machine learning model. Other aspects are described.

3D audio rendering includes processing of an audio signal (such as a microphone signal or other recorded or synthesized audio content) so as to yield sound produced by a multi-channel speaker setup, e.g., stereo speakers, surround-sound loudspeakers, speaker arrays, or headphones. Sound produced by the speakers can be perceived by the listener as coming from a particular direction or all around the listener in three-dimensional space.
Audio systems that capture or process audio and visual tracks generally process audio and visual information separately. Audio features are typically used for enhancement, separation of sounds, or spatial audio rendering. After the audio is processed, the result is merged with the video, without consideration of joint information.

Audio renderer based on audiovisual information


A method of manufacturing transistors of a first and second type on a substrate includes producing doped semiconductor areas with a first conductivity type in eventual contact areas of a first type of transistors, depositing a first intrinsic semiconductor layer over an entire surface, activating dopants in the semiconductor areas such that a contact area with the first conductivity type is produced in the intrinsic semiconductor layer, depositing a gate dielectric, producing a gate electrode by depositing a first conductive layer and patterning the first conductive layer, performing ion doping with dopants to produce contact areas with a second conductivity type for a second type of transistor, depositing a passivation layer, opening contact openings, and depositing and patterning a second conductive layer.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing transistors of a first and second type, in particular thin-film transistors, on a substrate, and a transistor configuration.
Integrated circuits, in particular CMOS circuits, are manufactured using a large number of process steps. The manufacturing costs of these circuits are determined by the process complexity and the processing time. Highly-complex components often require many hundreds of individual process steps and take many days to complete the process for the product. Some of the process steps must be devoted to producing the individual active components. For example, at least six masking steps are required to manufacture CMOS transistors using conventional methods. One masking step is required to pattern each of the following:                the channel,        the n+ drain/source areas (contact areas of a first type of transistor);        the p+ drain/source areas (contact areas of a second type of transistor);        the gate electrode;        the contact holes through a gate dielectric;        the contact metallization.
In the related art, LDD (lightly doped drain) areas adjacent to the drain-source areas often require an additional mask.
A method of this type is made known in US 2004/0197967 A1, for example. Areas for transistors of a first and second type are defined on a substrate; this is where n-channel and p-channel transistors will be subsequently produced. The first mask is used to define the semiconductor islands in which the transistor channels will be located.
The gate dielectric is now deposited, and a second photomask and doping are used to create the drain/source areas of the n-channel transistors, and a third photomask and doping are used to define the drain/source areas of the p-channel transistors. The gate metallization is now placed on this, and it is patterned using the fourth mask. An intermediate insulation is subsequently deposited, into which holes are etched, using the fifth mask. These holes are filled with a metal, and they are patterned for metallization, using a sixth mask.
It is always desirable to have the fewest number of process steps and masking steps possible in a process, in order to reduce the manufacturing costs and throughput time.


A substantially pure culture of a microorganism having enzyme activities of pyrG and CCT and carrying a recombinant DNA composed of a DNA fragment containing genes encoding pryG and CCT and a vector.

The present invention relates to an enzymatic process for producing cytidine diphosphate choline (hereinafter referred to as CDP-choline) which is useful as a medicine.
CDP-choline is a biosynthetic intermediate for phosphatidyl choline (lecithin), which is a phospholipid, and is useful for the treatment of head injuries, disturbance of consciousness following cerebral surgery, Parkinson's disease, postapoplectic hemiplegia, etc.
Two kinds of processes are known for producing CDP-choline: chemical synthetic processes disclosed in Japanese Published Examined Patent Applications Nos. 6541/64, 1384/67, 6558/88, etc.; and enzymatic processes utilizing cells of microorganisms such as yeast disclosed in Japanese Published Examined Patent Applications Nos. 2358/73, 40757/73 and 40758/73 and Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Applications Nos. 109996/78, 14593/79 and 313594/88.
A feature common to these known processes is the use of cytosine nucleotides such as cytidine-5′-monophosphate (hereinafter referred to as CMP), cytidine-5′-diphosphate (hereinafter referred to as CDP), cytidine-5′-triphosphate (hereinafter referred to as CTP), and cytosine, or their precursors as starting materials.
Of these starting materials, the basic starting material, CMP, is mainly produced by the RNA (ribonucleic acid) decomposition method which provides four types of nucleotides at the same time. This method is inefficient in that it is impossible to selectively obtain CMP.

Process for producing cytidine diphosphate choline


A container that is capable of being easily assembled and conveyed while production cost and production time are reduced includes a plurality of division parts having walls and upper portions, and first fitting members formed at ends of the division parts to fit adjacent division parts to each other. A display apparatus including the container and a method of manufacturing the display apparatus are further provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container, a display apparatus including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same, and, more particularly, to a container that is capable of being easily assembled and conveyed at low production cost and reduced production time, a display apparatus including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, among display apparatuses, a liquid crystal display ("LCD") is one of the most extensively used flat panel displays. The LCD is provided with two substrates on which electrodes are formed, and a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the substrates. In the LCD, voltages are applied to the electrodes to rearrange liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, thereby controlling the quantity of transmitted light.
A plurality of elements such as a liquid crystal panel, a diffusion plate, and a reflection sheet are required in the LCD. The elements may be contained in a container, for example, a top chassis, a bottom chassis, or a mold frame, to constitute the LCD. In connection with this, the container may be produced using, for example, a press process.
Currently, the demand for LCDs is rapidly growing, causing mass production of the LCDs. Accordingly, simplification, lightness and slimness, and reduced production cost of the LCDs are in demand. However, in the case of the container that is produced using a known press process, since many molds are used to produce the container, the production cost and the production time are increased. Thus, the container is undesirable to satisfy the above demand.
Additionally, the size of the container is increased in accordance with enlargement of the LCD. Therefore, there are problems in that it is difficult to convey the container and conveying cost is increased.

Container, display apparatus including the same, and method of manufacturing display apparatus


A small animal carrier and support device comprising a cantilevered beam having inner and outer ends, a pair of spaced apart generally "U" shaped body cradle members rigidly attached to the said beam, a mounting post angularly attached to the inner end of the beam and wherein said mounting post comprises a hollow tubular member having an aperture in a side wall thereof, and a locking plier having a shortened upper jaw and a lower jaw wherein the shortened upper jaw is attached to the side wall of the tubular member adjacent to and above the side wall aperture and the lower jaw thereof is disposed within the aperture so that the lower jaw may be closed against the lower surface of a trailer type hitching ball which is positioned inside the lower end of the tubular member for attachment of the carrier to a supporting structure or transporting vehicle.

In the raising of small animals such as calves, it is often necessary to move the cow-calf pair from one location to another. Driving the pair can be time consuming and frustrating for one individual. If the calf were to be carried, however, the mother cow would follow and the moving task would be greatly simplified.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an easily loaded carrier for a young calf that can be easily and quickly attached to the ball trailer hitch of a vehicle.
A second object of the invention is to provide a universal hitch for the carrying cradle which will attach to either a 17/8 inch or a 2 inch diameter ball.
Another object of the invention to provide a humane and safe carrying apparatus for a calf which will fully support the calf and provide a means for transporting the calf in full view of the mother cow so as to induce the cow to follow the calf.
The hitch of the carrying apparatus lends itself to attachment to a headgate or post, thus permitting the calf carrier to be mounted in a position where a very young calf can be supported while nursing its mother, if the calf is ill or its legs are not yet strong enough to support its weight.
Therefore, a still further object of the invention is to provide a nursing support for very young animals.
Other and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred form of the present invention.


A gap/height difference measurement system for a vehicle may include a reflection light sensing unit on a the transportation conveyor line and sensing reflection light reflected from the vehicle body transported depending on illuminance of an illumination, a measurement robot measuring the gap and the height difference between the vehicle body and each panel that move while being installed at both sides of the transportation conveyor line in a width direction of the vehicle body at one side spaced from the reflection light sensing unit in a movement direction of the vehicle body, and a controller receiving a signal sensed by the reflection light sensing unit and comparing the received signal with a predetermined value to control the illuminance of the illumination and outputting a specification depending on a vehicle type of the vehicle body transported to the measurement robot to control the measurement robot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gap and a height difference measurement system for a vehicle and a control method of the same that allow a gap and a height difference between each mounted panel and a vehicle body to be accurately measured regardless of a color and a gloss of the vehicle body in which assembling a roof, a hood, a door, and a trunk lead is completed
2. Description of Related Art
In general, various panels such as a roof, a hood, a door, and a trunk lead are attached to a vehicle body of a vehicle.
Herein, each panel attached to the vehicle body should be mounted to prevent a gap or a height difference from a neighboring panel or the vehicle body and to this end, a worker verifies an inspection of a mounting state of various panels through a gauge or visual inspection in the related art.
As such, since the worker cannot accurately inspect whether various panels are accurately mounted or various panels are erroneously mounted because manual work inspection and visual inspection methods through a gauge depend on a worker's judgment reference of a quality ability and a worker's working method, reliability deteriorates and uniform quality management for the vehicle body is difficult.
In order to prevent the problems, an automated gap/height difference measurement system for a vehicle has been applied through a method of measuring a gap/height difference between the vehicle body and various panels by using a robot mounted with a camera or a sensor in recent years.
However, in the automated gap/height measurement system in the related art, when a vehicle type is to be changed or when a color and a gloss of the vehicle body are changed, a degree in which the vehicle body absorbs or reflects an illumination varies, and as a result, automatic measurement can become impossible and measurement reliability can deteriorate.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Gap and height difference measurement system for vehicle and control method of the same


In one aspect of the invention, a tool has a working portion with at least one impact tip brazed to a carbide extension. The carbide extension has a cavity formed in a base end and is adapted to interlock with a shank assembly of the cutting element assembly. The shank assembly has a locking mechanism adapted to interlock a first end of the shank assembly within the cavity. The locking mechanism has a radially extending catch formed in the first end of the shank assembly. The shank assembly has an outer surface at a second end of the shank assembly adapted to be press-fitted within a recess of a driving mechanism. The outer surface of the shank assembly has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 110 percent or more than a coefficient of thermal expansion of a material of the driving mechanism.

This invention relates to drill bits, specifically drill bit assemblies for use in oil, gas and geothermal drilling. More particularly, the invention relates to cutting elements in drill bits comprised of a carbide substrate with an abrasion resistant layer of superhard material.
Such cutting elements are often subjected to intense forces, torques, vibration, high temperatures and temperature differentials during operation. As a result, stresses within the structure may begin to form. Drag bits for example may exhibit stresses aggravated by drilling anomalies during well boring operations such as bit whirl or bounce often resulting in spalling, delamination or fracture of the superhard abrasive layer or the substrate thereby reducing or eliminating the cutting elements efficacy and decreasing overall drill bit wear life. The superhard material layer of a cutting element sometimes delaminates from the carbide substrate after the sintering process as well as during percussive and abrasive use. Damage typically found in drag bits may be a result of shear failures, although non-shear modes of failure are not uncommon. The interface between the super hard material layer and substrate is particularly susceptible to non-shear failure modes due to inherent residual stresses.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,503 by Pessier et al, which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses an array of chisel-shaped cutting elements are mounted to the face of a fixed cutter bit. Each cutting element has a crest and an axis which is inclined relative to the borehole bottom. The chisel-shaped cutting elements may be arranged on a selected portion of the bit, such as the center of the bit, or across the entire cutting surface. In addition, the crest on the cutting elements may be oriented generally parallel or perpendicular to the borehole bottom.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,959 by Bertagnolli et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a cutting element, insert or compact which is provided for use with drills used in the drilling and boring of subterranean formations.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,826 by Anderson et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses enhanced inserts formed having a cylindrical grip and a protrusion extending from the grip.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,657 by Flood et al, which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses domed polycrystalline diamond cutting element wherein a hemispherical diamond layer is bonded to a tungsten carbide substrate, commonly referred to as a tungsten carbide stud. Broadly, the inventive cutting element includes a metal carbide stud having a proximal end adapted to be placed into a drill bit and a distal end portion. A layer of cutting polycrystalline abrasive material disposed over said distal end portion such that an annulus of metal carbide adjacent and above said drill bit is not covered by said abrasive material layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,737 by Bovenkerk which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a rotary bit for rock drilling comprising a plurality of cutting elements mounted by interence-fit in recesses in the crown of the drill bit. Each cutting element comprises an elongated pin with a thin layer of polycrystalline diamond bonded to the free end of the pin.
US patent Application Ser. No. 2001/0004946 by Jensen, although now abandoned, is herein incorporated by reference for all that it discloses. Jensen teaches that a cutting element or insert with improved wear characteristics while maximizing the manufacturability and cost effectiveness of the insert. This insert employs a superabrasive diamond layer of increased depth and by making use of a diamond layer surface that is generally convex.


Formation of magnetic domains in a perpendicularly magnetized medium comprising an underlayer of a soft magnetic layer is prevented by appropriate magnetic domain control in the soft magnetic layer. One method controls magnetic domains of the soft magnetic layer by applying an external magnetic field to the medium. Another method provides a mechanism in the magnetic head for generating a magnetic field to control the magnetic domains of the soft magnetic layer of the medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording apparatus and magnetic head, and more particularly to a highly reliable magnetic recording apparatus and magnetic head for high density recording.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In keeping with the move to higher density magnetic recording apparatus in recent years, the problem of thermal relaxation has put limits on improving the recording density of conventional longitudinal recording, and attention has focused on perpendicular magnetic recording. Of the perpendicular magnetic recording systems, one viewed as holding significant promise was reported at the International Magnetics Conference (Intermag 2000), and combines a perpendicularly magnetized medium having a soft magnetic underlayer with a single pole recording head.
A problem in a perpendicularly magnetized medium having a soft magnetic underlayer is that magnetic domains form in the soft magnetic layer. The readback head detects magnetic flux emanating from the domain wall of an underlayer magnetic domain as noise, and this noise can be mistaken for the original signal.

Magnetic recording apparatus and magnetic head

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.


A digital compass has a digital screen that shows the distance between compass legs, one half the angle between the compass legs, and a ratio between half of an inductive rod raising value to a length of the compass leg from a compass leg mounting point to a carrier arm mounting point. The information on the digital screen is sufficient for operation of the compass, such as dividing a circle into equal arcs.

Precision tools for working with sheet metal or preparing technology drawings typically include a mechanical compass that optionally has a scale for reading a distance between the compass legs. The mechanical compass is used for drawing circles or for transferring a distance between fixed points to another point on a drawing or work piece. Many uses for a compass rely on the precise operation of the components and do not require accurate measurement of the distance between the compass legs. The distance between the compass legs is typically measured with a precision ruler when accuracy is needed. The combination of a compass and a precision ruler in one device would simplify use of the compass when accurate measurements are needed.


A method and system of providing a dynamic sampling plan for integrated metrology is disclosed. The method may include modeling a sampling plan for use with a factory level advanced processing control (FL-APC) system and sending a recommended sampling plan, in response to receiving a request for a sampling plan, wherein the recommended sampling plan is based upon the modeling and the request. The recommended sampling plan may be sent to an equipment interface (EI) and on to a tool for implementation in a manufacturing environment.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to metrology in a manufacturing environment, and more particularly, to a method and system of providing a dynamic sampling plan for integrated metrology (IM) associated with a wafer manufacturing process tool.
2. Background Art
Manufacturers, especially semiconductor fabricators, who implement advanced process control (APC) systems, generally do so at the factory level. APC systems take measurements of particular structures before and after a processing step and provide corrections to recipes for feeding forward and/or feeding back to tools to achieve a better product. FIG. 1 shows a typical semiconductor fabricator environment 10 including a number of tools 12, a manufacturing execution system (MES) 14 that controls all product movements through environment 10, e.g., it schedules product movements, and an equipment interface (EI) 18 that interfaces between MES 14 and different tools 12. Although not shown, middleware may be present for communication between MES 14 and EI 18. Each tool 12 includes process equipment, or process chambers 20 particular to its function, e.g., an etching chamber, gas source, appropriate electronics, etc., in the case of an etching tool 12.
One of the steps in wafer manufacturing is measurement or metrology. Metrology may be provided by an external metrology tool (not shown) or an integrated metrology (IM) module 22 associated with a particular process tool 12. Providing sampling plans to external metrology tools has been a subject of several inventions. The next challenge lies in providing a dynamic sampling plan for an IM module 22.
An increasing number of prominent tool vendors are developing an IM module 22 as part of the tools 12. The IM module 22 may be configured and used either for pre- or post-measurement. Currently, the only method of using a sampling plan is to hard code a sampling plan into the EI 18 and pass it directly to IM module 22. This method has shortcomings due to the inflexibility of IM module 22. For example, IM module 22 can only be turned on to measure every wafer; turned off so as to measure no wafers; or, only measure wafers having a fixed frequency (which is typically based on a particular slot position of a front opening unified pod (FOUP) 24). However, because in some cases the particular slot in the FOUP 24 may be empty, the method is rendered ineffective. Further, a problem arises because, typically, there are multiple process chambers 20 and only one IM module 22 in a process tool 12. This ultimately leads to a bottleneck in the throughput of the tool 12.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists to overcome one or more of the deficiencies in the related art.

Method and system of providing a dynamic sampling plan for integrated metrology

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and system for collecting and analyzing photoemission data wherein illumination and photoemission images are acquired for a plurality of die, such as for each die on a wafer. Then, the images are overlaid, aligned, and assembled in a mosaic, thereby allowing analysis of the photoemission occurring across a plurality of die, such as across the entire wafer. Preferably, gathering this data allows statistical analysis of the photoemission such as analysis of commonly emitting locations to identify structures/cells that are sensitive to the manufacturing process.

The present invention generally relates to the field of failure analysis and yield engineering, and more specifically relates to photoemission data collection.
Photoemission analysis is the technique of analyzing the photons emitted from an integrated circuit under various operating conditions. Most CMOS circuits consume very little power in a static state, hence emitting few photons. Depending on the type and size of a defect, a defective part may emit a large quantity of photons (light) which is detectable with specialized analysis equipment. Most photoemission occurs at the junction level of the device, in wavelengths in the infrared range. As silicon is transparent to infrared light, and due to the increasing number and density of metallization interconnect layers, one of the more effective methods of photoemission analysis involves imaging the die and analyzing the photoemission from the die under test from the back side of the wafer.
Current photoemission analysis techniques focus analysis on a single die/package or sub-circuit of an integrated circuit. The dataflow is illustrated in FIG. 1, and provides that an illuminated image of a die is acquired, power is applied to the Device Under Test (DUT), a photoemission image is acquired, and then the images are overlaid and aligned. This may be repeated for several die on the wafer, or on several packaged parts. Current photoemission techniques allow for the location and isolation of a photoemission site to within several microns accuracy. However, analysis on a die-by-die basis is a time-consuming process that limits the effectiveness of photoemission analysis as a yield management tool.


Upon the sale of merchandise by a vending machine, encrypted point information expressing prescribed points is presented to a user. The user transmits the presented point information, together with identification information for the user, to a center device by means of the user's portable telephone set. The center device decrypts the transmitted and encrypted point information, stores and manages points corresponding to the point information for the user, and offers prescribed service to the user based on the points stored and managed for the user.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a promotion method and system for promoting sales of merchandise by issuing points upon sale of merchandise.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally in promotions of specific merchandise, often points are issued upon each merchandise sale, and the purchaser of the above merchandise collects points and exchanges them for a prize or other reward.
Here the issuing of points may be performed by stamping or magnetically recording cards possessed by each purchaser, or by affixing seals to the merchandise, with purchasers collecting these seals.
However, when using cards, the cards must be manufactured and distributed in advance, and when affixing seals to merchandise, seals must be affixed to all the merchandise for which points are to be awarded, demanding considerable cost and labor from the vendor.
Further, if cards are used the purchaser must carry a card, and if seals are used the purchaser must collect seals and affix them to a base and manage them.
Particularly when collecting seals affixed to merchandise which is not always brought home, such as beverages purchased from vending machines, either the seals alone must be brought home, or the base for mounting seals must always be carried on one's person. And in order to receive a service for points, a card or a base with seals affixed must be mailed to the vendor or similar action taken, requiring substantial time and cost.
As described above, when issuing points by affixing seals to merchandise, substantial labor is demanded of both the vendor and the purchaser for processing of points. When adding points for cards possessed by purchasers, it is difficult for vending machines to issue points, and it is also difficult to accommodate nation-wide promotions sponsored by the manufacturer of the above merchandise.
In either of these cases, considerable labor is required of the promotion sponsor for the recovery and totaling of points.


Glucose analysis instrument for diabetics, comprising a measuring device for determining glucose concentration values, a displaying device for displaying glucose concentration values, a signaling device for generating a reminder signal, and a control and evaluation device that comprises a processor and a data memory and is used to determine reminder times at which the signaling device is actuated. Event data are stored in the data memory, the event data containing information on events occurring in the life of a user of the glucose analysis instrument and on the time of occurrence of such events. The reminder times are determined by means of a reminder time determination algorithm taking into consideration event data from at least one previous day.

The present invention relates to small, battery-operated, portable glucose analysis instruments such as used by diabetics as part of blood glucose self-monitoring. In particular, the present invention relates to a glucose analysis instrument for diabetics with a signaling device for generating a reminder signal.
Analytical instruments of this type are used to analyze a reaction that proceeds in an analysis element (also called "bio-sensor" or "test strip") after it contacts a sample liquid. The sample liquid is typically obtained by means of a skin prick, such as into a finger tip. Depending on the depth of the skin penetration, the sample liquid usually comprises a mixture of blood and interstitial fluid from the skin. Despite the fact that it is not pure blood that is being analyzed, it is customary to speak of "blood glucose analysis systems". The present invention relates in particular to such systems (so-called invasive systems that are customary for self-monitoring).
Glucose analysis instruments which additionally comprise a signaling device for generating a reminder signal are commercially available, for example under the trademark "ACCU-CHEK® GO". The signaling device of the ACCU-CHEK® GO glucose analysis instrument can be set for a many as three times of the day at which it reminds the user of a required blood glucose measurement, by means of an audio signal. The times of the day are selected by the user and entered into the instrument by means of keys.
Because glucose analysis instruments are typically taken along by diabetics at all times, a compact design is generally beneficial. A consequence of a compact design is that operating elements such as keys, buttons, displays, or similar aspects of the instrument can be provided only in very small form and generally few in number. Consequently, the inputting of times at which an audio signal is to be emitted as a reminder of a blood glucose measurement is difficult and inconvenient. This applies in particular to individuals whose manual abilities are reduced due to age or disease.
US 2003/0175806 A1 describes a blood glucose analysis instrument suitable for significantly more frequent determination of blood glucose concentration, as compared to customary instruments, in that the measurement is carried out at alternative measuring sites (Alternative Site Testing, or "AST"). The measuring method works without reagents, preferably in a non-invasive fashion. In this context, it is described as an option to carry out additional measurements by means of a conventional invasive ("finger-stick") analysis and to remind the user of the need to carry out a blood analysis measurement at a plurality of times during the day. According to an alternative described in this regard, the reminder time is not inputted into the instrument (like in the ACCU-CHEK® GO instrument), but rather it is determined taking into consideration the current glucose value, a nominal glucose value, and measured maximal and minimal values of the measured concentration. The instrument then stores a "case history" of concentration values that were measured which are then used by a processor of the instrument to determine the reminder times by means of mathematical prediction methods.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved way by which users can be reminded of the need to carry out a blood glucose measurement at individually suitable times.


A compact tag axle assembly which may be retrofitted to an existing vehicle such as a tilting bed carrier to allow the vehicle to comply with axle load regulations when operated over public roadways. The assembly mounts behind the vehicle's rear axle such that the auxiliary wheels are in close proximity to the rear vehicle wheels, with the support framework of the auxiliary wheels entirely behind the mounting location of these wheels. The assembly consists of two interconnected independently suspended auxiliary wheels which are connected to the vehicle through a centrally located pair of common mounting brackets. The assembly has a minimal longitudinal displacement relative to the main vehicle rear wheels and is easily mounted beneath an existing vehicle.

Load support devices with retractable wheels known as auxiliary or tag axle assemblies are well known. Load transporting vehicles traveling on public roadways are frequently subject to a variety of state and/or federal regulations which limit the load per tire or per axle of the loaded vehicle. Tag axles allow a vehicle to comply with these regulations by increasing the number of vehicle axles. Auxiliary wheels are lowered from an elevated stowed position to a ground engaging support position. Design and placement of the tag axle assembly must accommodate the normal functioning of the vehicle.
Tag axle assemblies which extend from the rear of a vehicle and are pivoted between ground engaging and elevated positions are known. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,940,287 to Ritchie and 4,063,779 to Martin et al. disclose extended reach tag axle assemblies which are mounted to the back end of a dump truck. The rearward extension of these devices in their ground engaging positions increases the overall length of the vehicle and decreases its maneuverability. In addition the wheels must be elevated above the dump bed before the vehicle can discharge its load.
Tag axle assemblies which mount beneath the frame of a vehicle are also known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,798 to Ferris discloses a pair of independent tag axle assemblies mounted beneath a concrete truck behind the rear wheels. In the ground engaging position the auxiliary wheels extend behind the back end of the concrete truck. U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,495 to Christenson discloses a pair of independent tag axle assemblies mounted entirely beneath the back end of a refuse truck behind the rear truck wheels. The auxiliary wheels pivot from their upper stowed position to the ground engaging position about a pivot point located between the auxiliary wheels and the rear wheels of the truck. Each auxiliary wheel is moved upwardly or downwardly by the levered action of opposed fluid operated springs. The tag axle is located as far as possible behind the rear driving axle to maximize the distance between the frontmost and rearmost axles of the vehicle.
The tag axle assemblies in the above cited prior art are designed for permanent attachment to a vehicle. Detachable tag axle assemblies are also known. Reissue Pat. No. 30,581 to Schneider discloses a removable supplementary support for the reduction of axle loads. The device consists of a pair of lever arms pivotally attached to each other at one end. The free ends of the lever arms are separated by adjustable biasing means. The lower lever arm has a centrally mounted axle with opposed wheels mounted to the axle on either side of the lever arm. The upper lever arm is adapted to be removably attached to a vehicle frame. The device is designed to be mounted at any appropriate location beneath the frame and removed from the vehicle when the auxiliary wheels are not needed. Consequently the separation between the biased ends of lever arms is restricted and the device does not move the wheels to an elevated stowed position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,256 to Jackson et al. discloses a compact tag axle assembly for attachment to a vehicle. The auxiliary wheels are raised and lowered by a dual directional hydraulic piston. The auxiliary wheels are located at one end of a leaf spring which pivots about the other end and the hydraulic cylinder is mounted at a location between the pivot and the auxiliary wheel which is closer to the pivot end than the wheel end. The device is mounted in front of the rear tag axle of a vehicle with the pivot end of the leaf spring at the leading edge of the device.
Vehicle towing apparatus, used to convert a standard pickup or flat bed truck to a tow truck, having secondary wheel and axle assemblies to stabilize the truck during towing are also known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,058 to Bilas discloses a supplemental axle assembly associated with a wheel lift vehicle towing device mounted in the truck bed of a pickup type truck. The supplemental wheels are mounted on the truck frame behind the rear axle via vertical air springs. The supplemental axle is secured to the truck's rear axle via a pair of pivotally attached trailing arms. U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,333 to Youmans et al. discloses a vehicle towing apparatus designed to be retrofitted to a standard pickup or flat bed truck having hydraulically positioned wheels which may be lowered during towing of an especially heavy load. The wheels are mounted on the towing device which is attached to the rear of the truck.
The prior art tag axle devices are typically designed to extend the auxiliary wheel behind the vehicle or as close to the rear of the vehicle as possible. Positioning of the deployed tag axle assembly in such a configuration can interfere with normal functioning of the vehicle. Tilting bed vehicle carriers are frequently also equipped with wheel lift towing devices and are particularly susceptible to extreme rear end loads while towing a second vehicle in addition to the vehicle carried on the tilting bed. The tilted bed must also contact the ground as close to the rear of the vehicle as possible while loading vehicles onto the tilted bed. Positioning of a tag axle assembly in front of the rear wheels of a vehicle does not provide additional transfer of load to the front axle by levering the back end upward.
Prior art tag axle assemblies with selectively deployable wheels are bulky and difficult to retrofit to an existing vehicle. Deployment of the wheels in such devices can also interfere with the normal functioning of the vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact tag axle assembly which can be mounted entirely beneath an existing vehicle. A further object of the invention is to provide a tag axle assembly which does not interfere with normal functioning of the vehicle when the wheels are deployed.

Tag axle with rearwardly extending support framework