A gas turbine engine has a fan and a turbine section including a turbine rotor to drive the fan through a gear reduction module. An input shaft downstream of the turbine rotor includes a flexible mount driving the gear reduction. The input shaft is mounted within a bearing module. The gear reduction module has static structure mounted to an engine housing through a flexible mount. Oil is supplied into the gear reduction. An oil tube supplies oil from the gear reduction to the bearing module, and is received within openings in the static structure, and a housing for the bearing module. The oil tube extends through an assembly guide having a guide opening spaced away from an outer periphery of the oil tube. The guide opening is intermediate the openings. A method is also disclosed.

This application relates to a guide which assists in a blind assembly of a fan drive gear to a bearing module, and in particular to the alignment of an oil tube between the two.
Gas turbine engines are known, and typically include a fan delivering air into a compressor. The air is compressed, and delivered into a combustion section where it is mixed with fuel and ignited. Products of this combustion pass downstream over turbine rotors driving them to rotate.
Historically, at least two turbine rotors have been provided, and at least two compressor rotors have been provided. A first turbine rotor drives a higher pressure compressor rotor. A second turbine rotor has historically driven a lower pressure compressor rotor and the fan. These three components have all rotated at a common speed.
More recently, a gear reduction module has been positioned to drive the fan. This has allowed the fan to rotate at a slower speed than the low pressure compressor, which has many beneficial results.
However, assembling the gear reduction module into the gas turbine engine has raised many challenges.
In particular, the method of mounting the gear reduction module into the gas turbine engine includes bringing the gear reduction module in as an assembled unit, and mounting it within the gas turbine engine. The gear reduction module has been mounted through a flexible mount. A convolute is provided in an inner drive shaft as part of the flexible mount, and a flexure flange has been provided as part of the mounting of the gear reduction module into a bearing module.
A bearing module supports the drive shaft. An oil tube is mounted into one of the two modules (gear reduction and bearing), the two are assembled together, and the oil tube must be moved into the other.
However, the oil tube must be capable of pivoting movement within the mount orifices in both the gear reduction module and the bearing module. This is because the flexible mounting of the gear reduction module may result in large deflections of the two modules relative to each other. These deflections may occur during assembly of the modules as well as during normal engine operation.
Since the oil tube is free to pivot, it is difficult to predict its orientation when the gear reduction module is assembled to the bearing module. This problem is complicated, since the assembly is typically "blind."


A system includes a memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The memory stores interaction data associated with an interaction between a customer and an associate of an entity. The processor is operable to determine, from the interaction data, one or more keywords in the interaction between the customer and the associate, determine an order of the one or more keywords, and determine a grouping of the one or more keywords. The processor determines, based on the determined keywords, order, and grouping, a perception of the entity by the customer, the determination of the perception of the entity occurring in real-time after the interaction between the customer and the associate.

Many businesses provide its customers various ways to contact an associate of the business in order to request assistance, to receive information, or to conduct business. As one example, a financial institution may operate a call center in which associates of the financial institution answer phone calls from customers regarding the customer's business with the financial institution. As another example, a business may employee associates to communicate via Internet chat sessions with its customers in order to answer questions and assist with any problems its customers may experience. Typically, entities such as financial institutions may rely on data such as customer surveys to gain knowledge of the customer's satisfaction or experience with the entity. However, customer survey data may be unreliable and may take an extended period of time to receive and analyze.

System and method for predicting customer satisfaction


A method of recovering hydrocarbons from underground formations by employing a modified inverted 5-spot well pattern, which comprises drilling four substantially horizontal wells located along each of the four sides of an inverted 5-spot vertical well pattern, injecting an oil recovery fluid through the central injection well, producing hydrocarbons and other fluids through the vertical corner production wells, ceasing production through the vertical corner wells, and producing hydrocarbons and other fluids through the horizontal wells.

The invention process is concerned with the enhanced recovery of oil from underground formations. More particularly, the invention relates to a sequenced process for recovering hydrocarbons employing modified inverted 5-spot patterns containing horizontal and vertical wells.
Horizontal wells have been investigated and tested for oil recovery for quite some time. They have been proved economically successful to recover petroleum from many types of formation such as formations with highly viscous crude, thin pay zones, and difficult injectivity. It seems likely that horizontal wells will soon become more widely used in a variety of formations, especially for highly viscous oils and sands which cannot be efficiently or economically produced by conventional methods.
Various proposals have been set forth for petroleum recovery with horizontal well schemes. Most have involved steam injection or in situ combustion with horizontal wells serving as both injection wells and producing wells. Steam and combustion processes have been employed to heat viscous formations to lower the viscosity of the petroleum as well as to provide the driving force to push the hydrocarbons toward a well.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,461 discloses the use of inverted 9-spot and inverted 13-spot patterns having horizontal wells located along the borders of the well patterns between vertical wells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,824 shows numerous variations of modified inverted 5-spot well patterns having horizontal wells located along the borders between vertical wells. However, every well pattern disclosed in this patent teaches that all five vertical wells are injection wells.
Variations on inverted 5-spot and 9-spot well patterns with and without vertical corner wells are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,314. All horizontal wells in this reference are radial and located between the central injection well and corner production wells.
Additional variations on modified inverted 5-spot, 9-spot, and 13-spot well patterns are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,485, wherein all horizontal wells are placed on the borders of the well patterns. Some of the well patterns disclosed have additional interior injection wells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,937 discloses similar variations on modified inverted 13-spot patterns having horizontal wells located on the borders of the pattern; some patterns without vertical side wells and some patterns without vertical corner wells.

Oil recovery process employing horizontal and vertical wells in a modified inverted 5-spot pattern


A method and apparatus are provided for reconstructing a tomographic image from fan-beam or cone-beam data. The method includes the steps of collecting fan-beam or cone-beam data over an image space, converting the fan-beam or cone-beam data to parallel-beam data with respect to a rotation angle within the image space, performing a shift variant filtration of the parallel-beam data within the image space and converting the processed data to images through backprojection or other means.

In computed tomography (CT), the fan-beam filtered backprojection (FFBP) algorithm is typically used for reconstruction of images directly from fan-beam data. In single- and multi-slice helical CT, the FFBP algorithm may also be used for reconstructing multiple slices of two-dimensional (2D) images from fan-beam data that are converted from measured helical data. The FDK algorithm may be used for cone-beam data. It has been known that the spatially variant weighting factor in the FFBP algorithm can significantly amplify data noise and sample aliasing in situations where the focal lengths are comparable to or smaller than the size of the field of view (FOV). One previously developed hybrid algorithm reconstructs images from parallel-beam data that are converted from the acquired fan-beam data. Because the previous hybrid algorithm involves no weighting factor similar to that in the FFBP algorithm, it is generally less susceptible to data noise and sample aliasing and is computationally more efficient than is the FFBP algorithm. However, because the previous hybrid algorithm invokes an explicit one-dimensional (1D) interpolation for converting fan-beam projections to parallel-beam projections along the radial direction, it can lead to reduced image resolution when fan-beam samples along the radial direction are sparse.
A new hybrid algorithm is described herein that retains the favorable resolution property of the FFBP algorithm and the favorable noise property of the previous hybrid algorithm while eliminating their shortcomings. Analytic formulas are also derived for evaluating variances in images reconstructed by use of the FFBP, the previous hybrid, and the new hybrid algorithms in their discrete forms. Such theoretical formulas not only may provide insights into the algorithms' precision in estimation tasks, but also may be used for assessing their performance by use of mathematical model observers in detection/classification tasks. Computer-simulation studies for quantitative evaluation of resolution and noise properties of these algorithms are provided. Using moduli of Fourier transforms of reconstructed images, image-resolution properties may be compared and possible distortions identified. From a large number of reconstructed noisy images, empirical image variances are computed and compared with the derived theoretical formulas. Numerical results of these simulation studies confirm that the proposed new hybrid algorithm combines the favorable resolution property of the FFBP algorithm and the noise property of the previous hybrid algorithm while eliminating their shortcomings. Empirical image variances also validate the novel theoretical formulas for image variances. The analysis contained herein has also be extended to half-scan CT, cone beam CT, asymmetric scanning and high resolution scanning techniques.

Algorithm for image reconstruction and image noise analysis in computed tomography


A data acquisition apparatus is provided. The data acquisition apparatus includes a local data storage unit; a data acquisition unit acquiring data; and a control unit storing data acquired by the data acquisition unit in the local data storage unit, wherein when stored data exceeds a predetermined capacity, the control unit transmits data to a history server, and when it is confirmed by the history server that data transmission is successful, the control unit deletes corresponding data from the local data storage unit.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for data acquisition, and more particularly, to a lossless real-time data acquisition apparatus and method that acquires data; manages data depending on whether a history server succeeds in transmitting data, thus deletes data from a local data storage unit if positive and maintains data if negative; and attempts to re-transmit data to prevent data from becoming lost.
A supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system performs monitoring and control remotely on various industrial facilities and acquires data.
For example, the SCADA system installs and operates a system that may obtain data such as an open and close state of a circuit breaker, a bus voltage, and wire data from a substation for power supply facility automation and control the opening and closing of the circuit breaker and the tap change of the substation.
The SCADA system includes a data acquisition apparatus acquiring data and a history server storing the history of acquired data.
Typically, the data acquisition apparatus regularly transmits data to a predetermined history server if acquiring data. However, there is a limitation in that data transmitted from the acquisition apparatus to the history server while communication between the data acquisition apparatus and the history server is disconnected is lost.

Apparatus and method for data acquisition


This invention describes a method for pumping or delivering fluids utilizing a flexible vessel subject to controlled pressures within another pressure vessel. The pressure vessel can be sourced with positive and/or negative (e.g., vacuum) pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for pumping or delivering fluids utilizing a flexible vessel that may be subject to controlled pressures and preferably located within a pressure vessel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Current methods for pumping or delivering fluids, particularly biological fluids, include utilizing peristaltic (tubing) pumps, diaphragm pumps, and centrifugal pumps. Biological fluids encompass fluids that comprise, exist in or are used in or delivered to living organisms. Indeed, biological fluids may comprise pharmaceutical preparations (e.g., insulin, erythopoietin, or morphine) or biological preparations (e.g., liposomes, plasmids, naked DNA or transformed cells), bodily fluids and their components, such as blood cells, and other fluids that comprise biological components, including living organisms such as bacteria, cells or other cellular components. Biological fluids also may comprise whole blood or specific whole blood components, including red blood cells, platelets, buffy coat, white blood cells, precursor cells, progenitor cells; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell suspensions, including recombinant, transformed, and transfected cells; viruses and viral preparations including recombinant viruses; membrane vesicle preparations, including lysosomes, endosomes, caveolae, micelles, and liposomes; molecule interactions including DNA-protein, RNA-protein, and protein-protein interactions; DNA preparations; RNA preparations; and protein preparations.
Certain fluid types, such as fluids comprising pressure or flow sensitive fluids, such as biological fluids, can be negatively affected by subjecting such fluids to such current pumping or delivering methods. For example, biological fluids comprising blood or its cellular components, may be damaged (e.g., cells may be lysed or membranes damaged) when exposed to perturbations and/or turbulence caused by such current methodologies. Moreover, these fluid types may also be negatively affected by inaccurate or inconsistent flow rates and pressures created by such current methods. In addition, drug delivery systems are negatively affected by such inaccurate or inconsistent flow rates.
One of the specific drawbacks, for example, with peristaltic pumps is that they are essentially positive displacement and have the potential to develop excessive pressures if an occlusion occurs within the pump or its components. When pumping or delivering biological fluids, such as whole blood or buffy coat, any excess pressure resulting from even a partial occlusion may result in cell membrane damage or hemolysis. Diaphragm pumps present difficulties in the measurement of fluid volume pumped when partial strokes are involved and may require auxiliary valving. Centrifugal pumps are difficult to track for volume pumped, cannot hold against a static head without check valves, are non-reversible, and generally require some mechanical rotor support in the fluid stream (e.g., a hydrodynamic bearing or magnetic system). The diaphragm and centrifugal pump types also have more complex disposable elements than the peristaltic type pumps. In the drug delivery area, devices such as the hypodermic syringe that deliver a bolus of a drug or other active agent also present difficulties since the bolus must be gradually absorbed and delivered throughout the patient""s body, which is a process subject to many individual variances.
The Kamen family of pump technology (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,600,401, 4,778,451, 4,808,161, and 5,193,990) in some respects attempt to solve some of the problems of the peristaltic pump, however, Kamen-type pumps have their own drawbacks. Kamen described a fluid movement technology based on the use of pneumatically driven diaphragm pumps and valves controlled by computer calculations of stroke volume displacement as a function of pressure and temperature. These calculations are time consuming and necessarily precise because the stroke volumes are small and the cumulative error must be kept minimal. Each stroke is interrupted by a long static period during which these measurements are made. In order to maintain the required average flow rate, the actual flow rate must be high, resulting in a step type of flow (a jump up when restarting the flow) which is detrimental, for example, to sensitive fluids in general, to many biological fluids, and to most types of cell separation processes, particularly the xe2x80x9cskimmingxe2x80x9d type cell separation processes commonly used in conjunction with centrifuges. (In a skimming operation, discontinuous flow and the jump of restarting flow, for example, in a photopheresis process, disturbs cell separation causing a flood of red blood cells in a plasma stream.) To compensate for the inefficiencies caused by discontinuous flow in a system using a Kamen-type pump, and its impact on, for example, a separation type process, additional fluid flow must be processed and procedure times increased.
Additionally, the Kamen family of pump technology requires a rigid disposable pumping or delivering/valving module which contains valve chambers that interrupt the laminar nature of flow in tubing, causing undesired mixing of separated components as the front flows through. This module (or cassette) is also typically costly and complicated to manufacture.
The present invention differs from the prior art, in that it allows, for example, for pressurized flow of a fluid without a pause in pumping or delivering. The present invention, in contrast to the Kamen pump family described above, allows, for example, for one continuous flow (i.e., xe2x80x9cpushxe2x80x9d) of fluid. The costly and complicated Kamen disposable pump/valve is eliminated. The present invention can be operated at much higher constant flow rates and average flow rates without the risk of high restart flow introduced in the Kamen system, as well as others, to catch up the average flow rate due to the pause and its related reduction in flow rate. The discontinuity and inefficiencies of the Kamen-type system and others are, therefore, addressed by the present invention.
Additionally, the present invention, in contrast to the centrifugal type pump, is or can be configured to be reversible. The present invention can also operate at a constant or modulated pressure to avoid the potential inherent in the peristaltic and other types of pump systems to develop excessive pressures, for instance, during an occlusion of the flow. The volume and other parameters of the fluid flow are accurately measurable in the present invention, in contrast to the diaphragm and centrifugal-type pump systems. The present invention may include, for example, a pressure limiting pump or direct weight measurement rather than a flow rate controlled pump, for added safety if a line associated with the pump becomes blocked or occluded. The present invention can also incorporate a minimal amount of noncomplex disposable elements and yet maintain, if desirable, the sterility of the pumping or delivering operation. Such sterility and minimized complexity may be particularly desirable when manipulating biological fluids such as pharmaceuticals and other active agents.
In comparison to pumps presently utilized in known processes or treatments, for example, the photopheresis and peritoneal dialysis processes described infra, the present invention can, for example: reduce total treatment or process time; reduce irradiation time (for photopheresis); allow increased flow rate; increase the total number of target cells collected or separated per total target cells processed (i.e., yield); increase the total number of target cells collected per treatment or process time; increase the total target cells collected per total volume of processed biologic fluid; reduce cell, fluid or fluid element damage in the process (e.g., reduced hemolysis); reduce contamination of target items collected (e.g., increase the percentage of target cells collected per total cells collected); operate with a reduced pressure differential; and, reduce flow rate differential.
The objects of the invention include providing a method and apparatus for providing a uniform and controlled flow of fluid. The invention relates to an apparatus and method for pumping or delivering fluids utilizing a flexible vessel subject to controlled pressures within an outer pressure chamber.
Certain of the objects of one or more embodiments of the present invention can, for example, in photopheresis and peritoneal dialysis procedures: reduce total treatment or process time; reduce irradiation time (for photopheresis); allow increased flow rate; increase the total number of target cells collected or separated per total target cells processed (i.e., yield); increase the total number of target cells collected per treatment or process time; increase the total target cells collected per total volume of processed biologic fluid; reduce cell, fluid or fluid element damage in the process (e.g., reduced hemolysis); reduce contamination of target items collected (e.g., increase the percentage of target cells collected per total cells collected); operate with a reduced pressure differential (i.e., reduce the variability of pressure in the system); and, reduce flow rate differential (i.e., reduce the variability of the flow rate in the system).
An additional object of one or more embodiments of the present invention is to reduce the amount of time that a patient""s blood is outside the patient""s body.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention comprises a sealed flexible chamber adapted to contain a fluid or other pressure sensitive medium. This sealed flexible chamber can, for example, take the form of a plastic or other flexible bag, such as those typically used for storing and transferring sterile fluids, such as sterile biological fluids. This sealed flexible chamber is then disposed within an outer chamber. The outer chamber can take many forms, including a more rigid bottle or other housing and may be made of a myriad of materials including glass, plastic and the like.
The flexible chamber is part of a fluid path that extends beyond the exterior of the outer chamber by, for example, a catheter or other tube-like or other cannulated structure. The outer chamber is situated and constructed such that it can contain a pressure sensitive medium such as a gas or other fluid, such as air, for example, which can exert pressure on the flexible chamber.
This apparatus and method may include a means for increasing or decreasing pressure in a uniform and controlled manner within the space around the flexible chamber. Such means for increasing or decreasing pressure includes, for example, exposing the flexible chamber to reservoirs of gas or other pressurized fluids regulated at specific pressures or vacuum levels, or can take the form, for example, of any one of a myriad of standard pressurization pumps.
The disclosed method for pumping or delivering fluids includes changing the pressure within the space around the sealed flexible chamber such that fluid is displaced into or out of the sealed chamber in a uniform and controlled manner without or within the sealed flexible chamber.
The present invention and its preferred embodiments are particularly useful in the controlled flow of pressure sensitive fluids, such as, for example, certain biological fluids, and more specifically, in the controlled flow of blood or its cellular components.
The present invention also may include, in one or more embodiments, monitoring the increasing or decreasing pressure within the space around the sealed flexible chamber. The present invention may also include monitoring the volume, mass, weight or other properties of fluid displaced from or transferred into a flexible chamber. The present invention also may include, in one or more embodiments, the pressure sensitive medium of air or a gas about the flexible chamber disposed in the outer chamber.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible chamber is filled with a fluid and that fluid is pushed, by applying pressure, into the environment outside of the outer chamber which may be, for example, a patient, or another chemical or manufacturing processor, by continuous means. The fluid flow is accomplished by the application of pressure into the outer chamber on the flexible chamber. The source of the pressure can be any standard pressure reservoir that is different (either greater or less than) the pressure surrounding the flexible chamber. If the pressure applied is less than that surrounding the flexible chamber (i.e., a vacuum), then the flexible chamber will displace the fluid out of the environment found outside of the outer chamber and into the flexible chamber. Conversely, if the pressure applied is more than that surrounding the flexible chamber, then the flexible chamber will displace the fluid out of the flexible chamber and into the environment found outside of the outer chamber. The present invention preferably accomplishes fluid flow without any discontinuity or disruption of flow until the source of fluid is depleted, the flexible chamber is completely filled or emptied, or until the differential in pressure around the flexible chamber is eliminated.
An additional advantage in one or more embodiments of the present invention, over the prior art, is that the flexible chamber obtaining or providing the fluid need not be maintained in a sterile environment for the process and fluid itself to be kept sterile. So long as the inside surface of the flexible chamber and the fluid itself are sealed off of the outside environment, the system will be sterile regardless of the environment outside of the flexible chamber.
The method of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein, in the application of a separation system used in photophoresis or peritoneal dialysis systems as described supra, can perform the entire separation cycle with steady flow at regulated pressure through tubing uninterrupted by the sudden discontinuities of valve chambers. Mass flow preferably may be monitored by continuous direct weight measurement. The disposable pumping or delivering/valving module of the Kamen system is, thereby, eliminated.
Indeed, the method and apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention, in comparison to the known Kamen-type pump technology used in the UVAR(copyright) XTS(trademark) photopheresis system manufactured by Therakos, Inc., Exton, Pa., provide for one or more of: a reduction in total treatment or process time for the donor blood in the XTS(trademark) system; a reduction in irradiation time of collected buffy coat in the system; an increased flow rate of whole blood into the system, as well as collected buffy coat out of the centrifuge of the XTS(trademark) system; an increased total number of target cells (e.g., white blood cells) collected or separated per total white blood cells contained in the donor blood (i.e., yield); an increased total number of white blood cells collected per treatment or per unit process time; an increased number of total white blood cells collected per total volume of processed donor blood; a reduction of the contamination of collected white blood cells collected (e.g., an increase the percentage of white blood cells collected per total cells collected and/or decreasing the percent hematocirt in the collected buffy coat); and a reduced pressure differential and a reduced flow rate differential within the extracorporeal circuit.
In addition, the method and apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention, in comparison with the known peristaltic pump technology used in the UVAR(copyright) photophoresis system manufactured by Therakos, Inc., Exton, Pa., provide for a reduction in cell (red blood cell or white blood cell) damage (e.g., reduced hemolysis).
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one (several) embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Uninterrupted flow pump apparatus and method


The present invention includes a method for synchronizing information between and among multiple electronic case management systems. The method includes sending an updated data packet from one case management system to another case management system. The data from the packet is used to update status data.

The present invention relates to a method and to a system for synchronizing information in matters that are organized in multiple case management systems.
Electronic case management systems for legal practices have been developed over the past few years and continue to be developed. The electronic case management systems are typically software systems that are hosted on servers within a particular facility and are owned by corporate customers or law firm customers. Some case management systems are hosted by application service providers, ASP's. It is possible for the same case management software architecture to be discretely hosted among a number of law firms and companies and to exist as an ASP, accepting matters one by one. Legal matters directed to the same subject are re-created and populated with information within a law firm's case management system, a corporation's case management system, and, in some instances, an ASP. The problem with this disparate type of usage is that there is no easy way for users of substantially identical software architecture to communicate with each other. Without an ability to communicate, users of substantially identical systems cannot synchronize their information and cannot effectively communicate with each other.

Method for synchronizing information in multiple case management systems


A semiconductor device has: a fuse having one end applied with a first voltage, and a MOS transistor having source, gate and drain and a connection point between the other end of the fuse and one of the source and drain, a second voltage lower than the first voltage applied to the other of the source and drain, wherein: the first and second voltages, characteristics of the MOS transistor and a resistance of the fuse are selected so that the fuse can be broken down when a predetermined program voltage is applied to the gate; and the resistance of the fuse is set to such a value as a voltage difference between a voltage at the connection point and the second voltage is lower than a drain voltage of the MOS transistor at which a drain current starts saturating, when the program voltage is applied to the gate.

A) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device with fuses and its manufacture method, and more particularly to techniques regarding fuse elements used in a trimming circuit or a redundancy circuit of a semiconductor integrated circuit.
B) Description of the Related Art
A trimming circuit and a redundancy circuit are often formed in a semiconductor integrated circuit. If a fuse circuit having fuse elements is used as a trimming circuit or a redundancy circuit, a trimming process and the like can be performed during or after the manufacture of a semiconductor integrated circuit so that the characteristics of the circuit can be improved as much as possible.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication HEI-7-307389 discloses in FIG. 1 a circuit having a plurality of parallel connections of a serial connection of a fuse element and a MOS transistor. It discloses that a current drive ability necessary for obtaining a breakdown current for breaking down a fuse element is given by a function of the gate width W of a selection transistor:ID=μCαx(W/L)×(½)×(VGS−Vy)2where ID is a drain current of a selection transistor in a saturation region, and p is a mobility of carriers. Cαx is a gate capacitance of the selection transistor, W is a gate width and L is a gate length. VGS is a gate-source voltage and VY is a threshold voltage.
If the value ID of a saturation drain current necessary for breaking down a fuse element is known, the gate width W (size) of the transistor capable of breaking down the fuse element can be estimated from the above-described equation. This analysis adopts the assumption that the saturation current of a MOS transistor is used for breaking down a fuse.
In order to melt and break down a fuse element, it is necessary to flow current through the fuse element and heat it to a temperature over the melting point thereof. For example, if single crystal silicon or polysilicon is used as the material of a fuse element, a relatively large current is required because the melting point of silicon is as high as about 1420° C. It is therefore necessary to make large the size of a selection transistor, which hinders high integration of device elements. According to the above-described Publication, a bipolar transistor having a high current drive ability is used as a selection transistor to obtain a large current.
Most of recent integrated circuits are MOS type ICs using MOS FETs as fundamental device elements. If a bipolar transistor is required to be formed in a MOS type IC, the element structure becomes complicated and additional processes are necessary.

Semiconductor device having fuse and its manufacture method


A cable hoisting apparatus for loading and unloading of containers with respect to vehicles including a modular assembly allowing the apparatus to be easily attached or detached with respect to the vehicle. This modular assembly includes a subframe directly attachable detachably to the vehicle which includes a reeve cylinder and a lifting cylinder mounted therewithin. A top frame is included which is pivotally movably mounted to the subframe. The lifting cylinder powers pivotal movement of the top frame. Loading and unloading of the container is powered by the reeve cylinder. The reeve cylinder moves a shoe within a shoe track which extends or contracts a cable attached to a container which is positioned about a plurality of sheaves one of which is attached to the slideable shoe. A positively engaging locking construction is included defined between the subframe and the top frame for positively retaining the container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with the field of roll off hoisting apparatus designed to load and unload containers such as waste receptacles with respect to vehicles such as truck bodies or trailer bodies.
The apparatus of the present invention provides a positive engaging and disengaging means for locking of the container with respect to the top frame to facilitate securement thereof in an easy and reliable manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many prior art devices have been patented covering cable powered roll off container loading and unloading apparatus for use with trailers and truck bodies such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,821,327 patented Sep. 1, 1931 to W. P. Scott on an "Automobile Truck"; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,885,399 patented Nov. 1, 1932 to V. T. Wren on a "Freight Loading And Unloading Device For Vehicles"; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,082,663 patented Jun. 1, 1937 to G. P. Slater on a "Sliding Reach And Sleeve For Truck Beds"; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,468,502 patented Apr. 26, 1949 to E. Lisota on an "Actuated Device For Sliding Vehicle Beds"; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,530,350 patented Nov. 14, 1950 to E. R. Ehlert on an "Unloader For Farm Vehicles"; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,001 patented Mar. 4, 1952 to J. C. Holland on an "Apparatus For Moving Small Houses And The Like"; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,814 patented Dec. 16, 1952 to E. Lisota on an "Adjustable Tilting Bed For Trucks"; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,703,658 patented Mar. 8, 1955 to C. S. Bazzell on a "Vehicle Convoy Or Carrier With Adjustable Ramp"; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,383 patented Apr. 10, 1956 to J. T. Leckert on a "Self Unloading Vehicle"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,825 patented Sep. 26, 1961 to W. D. Rouse on a "Tandem Dumping-Platform Truck"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,049,378 patented Aug. 14, 1962 to F. E. Nelson on a "Self-Loading And Unloading Vehicle"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,074,574 patented Jan. 22, 1963 to R. Prince on a "Truck Frame And Retractable Truck Bed"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,278 patented Feb. 12, 1963 to H. G. Alexander on a "Truck Loading Assembly With Detachable Container"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,041 patented Mar. 31, 1964 to J. P. Flynn et al on a "Vehicle Load Bed"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,276 patented Jun. 23, 1964 to D. E. Allen et al on a "Demountable Truck Body"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,149 patented Aug. 11, 1964 to G. R. Dempster et al on "Transporting Equipment For Containers"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,749 patented Jul. 20, 1965 to J. S. Dempster et al on a "Container Loading And Unloading Mechanism"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,046 patented Oct. 26, 1965 to G. R. Dempster et al on a "Container Handling Mechanism"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,120 patented Jan. 25, 1966 to G. R. Dempster et al on a "Container Loading And Unloading Mechanism"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,272,546 patented Sep. 13, 1966 to C. R Cooley on a "Push-Pull Device For Containers"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,302,808 patented Feb. 7, 1967 to W. A. Herpich et al on a "Container Loading And Unloading Mechanism"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,795 patented Sep. 3, 1968 to R. V. Clucker et al on a "Loading Apparatus For Demountable Vehicle Bodies"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,268 patented Sep. 16, 1969 to A. Corompt on an "Apparatus For Handling And Transport Of Heavy Bulky Containers"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,400 patented Dec. 23, 1969 to C. W. Pewthers on a "Vehicle With Sliding And Tilting Bed"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,514,000 patented May 26, 1970 to M. C. 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Brunet et al and assigned to Constructions Navales et Industrielles de la Mediterranee on a "Trailer For Transporting And Launching Floating Box Caissons"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,731 patented Aug. 17, 1982 to H. Visa et al and assigned to Oy Partek A B on "Equipment For Raising An Exchange Platform Or Container To A Horizontal Position Above The Level Of The Transport Position"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,469 patented Sep. 21, 19182 to A. Corompt and assigned to Bennes Marrel S. A. on a "Handling Device Mounted On A Vehicle To Carry Out The Handling Of Loads Such As Skips And Containers"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,625 patented Oct. 5, 1982 to J. Bolderoff on a "Container Handling Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,903 patented Oct. 18, 1983 to T. C. Wilhelmsson et al on a "Transportation Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,878 patented Jun. 12, 1984 to T. Paukku and assigned to OY Partelsl A B on a "Lock Device For Loading Equipment"; and U.S. Pat. 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No. 5,163,800 patented Nov. 17, 1992 to R. Raisio and assigned to Multilift Oy on a "Transportation Frame And Equipment Frame For Use With Load Handling System"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,371 patented Feb. 2, 1993 to H. W. O'Daniel on an "Extendable Rolloff Trailer"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,667 patented to T. Yoneda et al on Apr. 20, 1993 and assigned to Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. on a "Cargo Truck Which Can Lower The Body To The Ground In A Level Position"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,668 patented Apr. 20, 1993 to L. Marmur and assigned to E. Fisher; L. Marmur; F. Fisher and W. Kimble on an "Apparatus for Loading And Unloading Of A Container Structure Or Other Loads With Respect To A Truck Body Or Trailer"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,466 patented May 25, 1993 to L. Bubik and assigned to Vulcan International, Inc. on a "Multifunction Loading And Recovery Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,329 patented Sep. 21, 1993 to R. J. Farrell on a "Multi-Position Flat Bed Truck"; and U.S. Pat. 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Green on a "Modular Unit Loading And Unloading Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,211 patented Dec. 3, 1996 to W. F. Mengel on a "Container Transportation System"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,393 patented Feb. 11, 1997 to T. J. Waldschmitt and assigned to Swaokiader U.S.A., Ltd. on a "Dual Capacity Hook-Lift Hoist"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,446 patented Aug. 26, 1997 to E. P. Weatherly on a "Dump Trailer With Multi-Stage Hopper"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,453 patented Sep. 2, 1997 to S. R. Gerstner et al on a "Truck Bed Lift System And Method"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,978 patented Oct. 21, 1997 to G. R. Markham and assigned to Modem, Inc. on an "Apparatus For A Tiltable Rolloff Trailer Having A Displacable Frame"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,554 patented Feb. 17, 1998 to J. R. McElroy and assigned to The McElroy Company, Inc. on a "Truck Trailer With Removable Racks"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,350 patented Mar. 10, 1998 to r. E. Christenson and assigned to McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc. on a "Detachable Truck Body And Handling Mechanism"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,431 patented Jul. 14, 1998 to S. D. Alm et al and assigned to Vulcan International, Inc. on a "Transporting Apparatus And Method"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,124 patented Aug. 18, 1998 to J. J. Kutten et at and assigned to Jerry J. Kitten on a "Self-Loading Material Hauler And Distributor"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,057 patented Sep. 15, 1998 to D. Nijenhuis and assigned to N.C.H. Hydraulische Systemen B.V on a "Transport Vehicle For Taking Up And Taking Down Containers And The Like Onto Or From A Loading Platform Thereof"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,824 patented Sep. 29, 1998 to J. G. Zanzig et al and assigned to The Heil Company on a "Method Of Collecting Refuse"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,733 patented Oct. 20, 1998 to K. Kruzick on a "Vehicle Mounted Hoist With Adjustable Container Supporting Roller Assemblies"; and U.S. Pat. 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In a dielectrically-loaded quadrifilar antenna for operation with circularly polarised signals, four coextensive composite helical elements are plated on the outer surface of a cylindrical dielectric core, each composite element comprising two mutually adjacent conductive tracks defining between them an elongate channel or slit. The track edges bounding each channel are longer than the opposite edges of the respective tracks in that they follow parallel meandered paths, with the result that each channel deviates from a mean helical path and is longer than the corresponding portion of the mean helical path. At a frequency within the operating band of the antenna, the channels have respective electrical lengths equivalent to a half wavelength. The bandwidth of the antenna is greater than the bandwidth of a correspondingly dimensioned antenna having single-track helical elements.

A dielectrically-loaded loop antenna is disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2309592A. Whilst this antenna has advantageous properties in terms of isolation from the structure on which it is mounted, its radiation pattern, and specific absorption ratio (SAR) performance when used on, for instance, a mobile telephone close to the user's head, it suffers from the generic problem of small antennas in that it has insufficient bandwidth for many applications. Improved bandwidth can be achieved by splitting the radiating elements of the antenna into portions having different electrical lengths. For example, as disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2321785A, the individual helical radiating elements can each be replaced by a pair of mutually adjacent, substantially parallel, radiating elements connected at different positions to a linking conductor linking opposed radiating elements. In another variation, disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2351850A, the single helical elements are replaced by laterally opposed groups of elements, each group having a pair of coextensive mutually adjacent radiating elements in the form of parallel tracks having different widths to yield differing electrical lengths. These variations on the theme of a dielectrically-loaded twisted loop antenna gain advantages in terms of bandwidth by virtue of their different coupled modes of resonance which occur at different frequencies within a required band of operation.
Dielectrically-loaded quadrifilar helical antennas are disclosed in British Patents Nos. 2292638, 2310543 and 2367429. Antennas in accordance with these patents have been used mainly for receiving circularly polarised signals from satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation for position fixing and navigation purposes. GPS is a narrowband service. There are other satellite-based services requiring receiving or transmitting apparatus of greater fractional bandwidth than that available from the prior antennas.
It is an object of the invention to provide improvements in bandwidth.


An air vent for a vehicle includes a housing (10) and an air-guiding element (30), wherein the air-guiding element (30) is mounted in the housing (10) so as to be pivotable in different directions about at least one centre of rotation (D), wherein a first drive element acts on the air-guiding element (30) at a first engagement point (A1), and a second drive element acts on the air-guiding element (30) at a second engagement point (A2), wherein the second engagement point (A2) defines, with the at least one centre of rotation (D) of the air-guiding element (30), a first pivot axis (S1) about which the first drive element pivots the air-guiding element (30), and wherein the first engagement point (A1) defines, with the at least one centre of rotation (D) of the air-guiding element (30), a second pivot axis (S2) about which the second drive element pivots the air-guiding element (30).

Air vents of the above-mentioned type serve to supply air to a vehicle interior, for example the interior of a car or truck. The air-guiding element can deflect an air stream flowing through the air vent from a main flow direction into any directions in a plane which is arranged in particular perpendicularly to the main flow direction. Such air vents are usually round air vents, also known as ball vents, with an air-guiding element which is substantially circular in cross-section and is mounted in a housing receptacle which is substantially in the form of a spherical shell. Known air vents of this type are normally adjusted manually by an operator by manual action on the air-guiding element. When such an air vent is fitted in a vehicle, an operator present in the vehicle interior may deflect the air flow reaching the interior from the air vent into any direction, for example upward or downward or to the sides, and in any intermediate positions, for example to the top right or bottom left.
An electric adjustment facility for air-guiding elements of air vents is known for air vents with air-guiding slats. Such air vents normally have two slat packs, each with several air-guiding slats arranged parallel to each other, wherein the slat packs are arranged successively in a main flow direction in an air channel delimited by the housing, and the air-guiding slats of the one slat pack are arranged substantially perpendicularly to the air-guiding slats of the other slat pack. These slat packs are responsible for deflecting the air flow in different axes. When such an air vent is fitted in the vehicle, usually one slat pack serves to deflect the air flow upward and downward from the main flow direction, and the other slat pack serves to deflect the air flow to the sides. DE 10 2005 015 222 B3 describes an air vent with a base body with horizontal and vertical slats which can be pivoted about a pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. DE 101 21 909 A1 in principle concerns the electrical control of air vents.


An object of the present invention is to provide an operating member with which curving operation of a catheter distal part can be easily carried out without moving a comparatively-large member. An operating member has a rotational operation part (10) that is fixed to an elongated body (100) for medical use and rotates the elongated body for medical use about the axis, pull wires (20) fixed to the elongated body for medical use, and a pull operation part (30) that is connected to the pull wires and curves at least part of the elongated body for medical use in a direction intersecting the axial direction by pulling the pull wire. The operating member further has a support part (40) that is provided rotatably about the axis of the elongated body for medical use and supports the pull operation part in such a state that the pull action of the pull operation part is possible, joining parts (50) that join the rotational operation part to the support part and rotate the support part and the pull operation part about the axis of the elongated body for medical use in association with the rotation of the rotational operation part, and a grip part (60) that is restricted in movement in the axial direction by being disposed between the rotational operation part and the support part and is provided pivotally independently of the rotational operation part and the support part.

In recent years, in the medical field, various treatments and tests are performed by using a medical instrument that is called a catheter and has a shape of an elongated, soft hollow tube. Examples of treatment methods include a method in which a medication is directly administered to an affected area by utilizing the elongated shape of a catheter, a method in which a stenosed part in a body cavity is pushed to be dilated by using a catheter having a distal end to which a balloon dilated by pressurizing is attached, a method in which an affected area is scraped off by using a catheter having a distal part to which a cutter is attached, and a method in which, conversely, an aneurysm, bleeding site, or feeding vessel is stuffed to be closed by using a catheter. Furthermore, there is e.g. a treatment method in which a stent having a shape of a tube whose side surface has a mesh shape is buried and indwelled in a body cavity by using a catheter in order to keep a stenosed part in a biological lumen at an opened state. Moreover, an excess liquid for the inside of a body is often sucked via a catheter.
To perform the above-described procedures, the catheter distal part needs to be made to reach the target site. However, biological lumens such as tracheae, digestive tracts, and blood vessels are intricate with bifurcations and therefore it is difficult to make the catheter distal part reach the target site. Therefore, it is important to control the curving direction of the catheter distal part.
As a technique relating to this, a catheter having a housing provided with a piston chamber at the distal part is described in Patent Document 1 to be shown below. According to this technique, a piston provided in the piton chamber moves in the length direction relative to the housing to thereby curve the catheter distal part. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2 to be shown below, a catheter having a control handle to which a first pull wire anchor and a second pull wire anchor are joined and a thumb control unit to control the movement of this control handle in the length direction is described. According to this technique, the catheter distal part is curved by pressing the thumb control unit to move the control handle in the length direction.


A panoramic-view diving mask with self-sealing, non-glued, removable watertight lenses. The lenses are self-sealed by an assembly process in which a layer of elastic gasket medium is applied or attached to either one or both beveled contacting edges of the frontal and side lenses, with the non-contacting edges having a lip so as to provide an enhanced seal between the lens and the frame. The lenses are assembled by pressing an assembly ring against the frontal lens and side lens simultaneously, forcing compression against the elastic gasket medium at the contacting edges of the two lenses and securing both lenses to the mask frame. The result is a watertight seal, achieved without adhesives, at the contacting edges of the front and side lenses. This process reduces storage space, packaging size and transporting costs during mass production. Also, this non-glued and removable self-sealing lens assembly allows individuals to easily replace a lens that is broken, scratched or corrected for near or far-sighted vision.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention improves the assembly process for a panoramic-view diving mask, having self-sealing, non-glued removable watertight lenses and, more specifically, an enhanced seal between the lenses and the frame of the mask.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional panoramic-view diving mask, side lenses are incorporated on each side of a single- or double-frontal-lens mask to enhance the diver's peripheral vision, enabling a panoramic view of the surrounding environment. To achieve this viewing advantage, manufacturers have typically used a permanent adhesive to bond the side and frontal lenses together to form a watertight seal at the lens joint. Though conventional panoramic-view diving masks are popular in the market, gluing the lenses together entails some distinct disadvantages for both manufacturers and consumers (or end users):
a) For the end user, the replacement of a broken, scratched, or prescribed optical-correction lens cannot be done without causing permanent damage to the bonded edges of the assembled lenses, perhaps even rendering the mask non-water-tight.
b). For the manufacturer, high costs are associated with the pre-bonding of the front and side lenses to create three-dimensional lens configurations (usually as L or U configurations) necessary before the lenses can be assembled to the mask frame. The curing time of the adhesive, often taking many hours, can also be costly. Expensive high-precision equipment is needed during the bonding process to ensure the quality of the three-dimensional bonding shape of the lenses and the watertight integrity of the adhesive bond. And the increased bulk of fixtures for the bonded lenses raise storage space and packaging size in production. These high manufacturing costs are inevitably passed to the consumer.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a panoramic-view diving mask with self-sealing, non-glued removable watertight lenses that would enable the manufacturer and the end user to easily replace damaged lenses.

Panoramic-view diving mask with self-sealing, non-glued removable watertight lens having contoured lips


Disclosed is a CMP slurry in which a compound having a weight-average molecular weight of 30-500 and containing a hydroxyl group (OH), a carboxyl group (COOH), or both, is added to a CMP slurry comprising abrasive particles and water and having a first viscosity, so that the CMP slurry is controlled to have a second viscosity 5-30% lower than the first viscosity. Also disclosed is a method for polishing a semiconductor wafer using the CMP slurry. According to the disclosed invention, the agglomerated particle size of abrasive particles in the CMP slurry can be reduced, while the viscosity of the CMP slurry can be reduced and the global planarity of wafers upon polishing can be improved. Thus, the CMP slurry can be advantageously used in processes for manufacturing semiconductor devices requiring fine patterns and can improve the reliability and production of semiconductor devices through the use thereof in semiconductor processes.

As microelectronic devices have been continuously provided with a larger integration scale, planarization processes used for manufacturing such microelectronic devices have become more and more important. As a part of attempts to obtain very large scale integrated microelectronic devices, multiple interconnection technique and multilayer stacking technique have generally been used for semiconductor wafers. However, non-planarization occurring after carrying out one of the above techniques causes many problems. Therefore, planarization processes are applied to various steps in a microelectronic device manufacturing process, so as to minimize irregularity on wafer surfaces.
One of these planarization techniques is CMP (chemical mechanical polishing). During the process of CMP, a wafer surface is pressed against a polishing pad that rotates relative to the surface, and an abrasive and a chemical reagent known as CMP slurry is introduced into the polishing pad during the polishing process, so that planarization of a wafer surface is accomplished by way of chemical and physical actions.
One example, to which the CMP process is applied, is shallow trench isolation (STI). In the STI technique, relatively shallow trenches are formed, and such trenches are used in forming field regions for separating active regions on wafer surfaces.
A general STI process is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a pad silicon oxide (SiO2) layer 101 and a silicon nitride (Si3N4) layer 102 are formed successively on a semiconductor wafer. Next, a photoresist pattern is formed on the Si3N4 layer 102. Then, the Si3N4 layer 102, the pad silicon oxide layer 101 and the semiconductor wafer 100 are partially etched by using the photoresist pattern as a mask, so that a plurality of trenches 103 is formed.
Further, in order to form field regions, an insulating silicon oxide layer 104 is deposited by way of LPCVD (low pressure chemical vapor deposition), PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) or HDPCVD (high density plasma chemical vapor deposition) technique, so that the trenches 103 are filled with the layer 104 and the surface of the Si3N4 layer 102 is covered with the layer 104. Subsequently, the insulating silicon oxide layer 104 is polished until the Si3N4 layer 102 is exposed. Additionally, the Si3N4 layer 102 placed between two adjacent active regions, as well as the pad silicon oxide layer 101 is removed by etching. Finally, a gate silicon oxide layer 105 is formed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer.
Herein, during the progress of the CMP process for removing the insulating silicon oxide layer 104, the insulating silicon oxide layer 104 and the Si3N4 layer 102 show different removal rates due to their different chemical and physical properties.
The ratio of the removal rate of the insulating silicon oxide layer to that of the silicon nitride layer is referred to as the selectivity of CMP slurry. As the selectivity of CMP slurry decreases, the amount of the Si3N4 layer removed by the slurry increases. It is preferable that the Si3N4 layer is not removed. In other words, preferably the selectivity of the insulating silicon oxide layer to the Si3N4 layer is infinite. However, conventional CMP slurry has a low polishing selectivity of the insulating silicon oxide layer to the Si3N4 layer, which is about 4:1. Hence, the Si3N4 layer is polished to a degree exceeding the acceptable range in a practical CMP process. As a result, the Si3N4 layer pattern may be removed non-uniformly depending on locations in a wafer during a CMP process. Therefore, the Si3N4 layer has a variable thickness over the whole wafer. Particularly, this is a serious problem in the case of a semiconductor wafer that has a highly dense pattern simultaneously with a sparse pattern. Due to the above-mentioned problem, a final structure having field regions has a level difference between active regions and field regions, resulting in reduction of the margin of subsequent steps for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and degradation of the quality of a transistor and a device. Briefly, conventional CMP processes are problematic in that a Si3N4 layer pattern with a uniform thickness cannot be obtained even after removing the oxide layer via a CMP process.
In addition to such problems occurring in local planarization, the conventional technology has many problems in global planarization of a wafer. When the global cross section of a wafer polished according to the conventional technology is analyzed, it can be seen that the central portion of the wafer is polished more than the edge portion, so that the wafer shows a U-shaped or W-shaped cross section and has high within-wafer non-uniformity. It is known that the reason for such polishing characteristics is that the distribution of mechanical pressure against a wafer and a polishing pad is non-uniform, so that the distribution of abrasive slurry or abrasive particles during polishing is non-uniform, and thus the polishing rate of the central portion of the wafer is relatively increased.
Due to this high within-wafer non-uniformity, in actual semiconductor processes, the process margin of a silicon nitride layer is increased to stably secure the end time point of polishing. For example, it is possible to use a method of forming an initial silicon nitride layer thicker than the thickness difference of a polished silicon nitride layer between the central portion and edge portion of the wafer. However, this method has a problem of causing process inefficiency.
Prior techniques relating to the preparation of this STI CMP slurry will now be described.
The following patent documents relating to a method for preparing a high-selectivity cerium oxide slurry, invented in Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd., Japan, disclose additives for achieving dispersion stability and high selectivity in cerium oxide slurry compositions: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1998-106988; Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1998-154672; Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1998-27041; Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2000-109794 and 2000-109815 (Apr. 18, 2000); Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2001-37951, 2001-35820 and 2001-319900; Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2001-0108048 and 2002-0015697; U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,118B1 (Apr. 24, 2001) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,269B2 (Jul. 16, 2002). However, such techniques according to the prior art are problematic in that their application ranges are too broad and are not clearly defined, and merely provide basic information about polishing rates and selectivity ratios. Therefore, such techniques are not practically applicable. In addition, these patent documents do not disclose technical contents and effects about the global planarization of wafers.
In addition to the above, domestic semiconductor and slurry fabricating companies have developed an additive for increasing the polishing selectivity of cerium oxide slurry, the additive comprising a linear polymer alone or in combination with a low-molecular weight material. Such additives are disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Nos. 2003-0039999, 2004-0057653, 2004-0013299, 2004-0098671, 2004-0095118 and 2005-0004051. However, these patent documents disclose only increasing polishing rate and polishing selectivity and do not disclose technical contents and effects about global planarization characteristics.
Meanwhile, as prior techniques for improving global planarization characteristics, a method of adding an additive comprising an organic polymer material, for example, is known. However, this method has a problem in that it increases the viscosity of slurry, because a significant amount of the additive should be added in order to reduce within-wafer non-uniformity to the desired level.

CMP slurry and method for polishing semiconductor wafer using the same


An apparatus and a method for adapting data in a communications system to be transmitted from a sender to a receiver, to a transport unit of a predefined size involve representing said data as a combination of bits over a finite field, wherein said data comprises of an information part and a control part; adapting said represented data to fit said predefined size of said transport unit, by expressing both said information and control parts with bits, wherein said bits are less in number that said represented combination of bits and a number of removed bits is known to said receiver, said removed bits comprise of bits from both said information and control parts.

Data transmission and data decoding may employ error detection and correction.
The detection and correction of errors that occur to transmitted data is a major issue in communications systems, both for wireless and fixed wire systems. In order to overcome the loss of data or the corruption of data due to errors that occur during the transmission, different types of error detection codes have been introduced that allow for the data to be encoded before transmission and once received for any detected errors to be corrected and the correct data recovered. Such error detection codes are convolutional codes, cyclic codes, block codes to name but a few.
Not all of the different types of these codes have the same error detecting and error correcting capabilities. Some have weaker error detection capabilities than others, which means that a careful choice has to be done before using a particular code.
In A. J. McAuley's "Weighted Sum Codes for Error Detection and their Comparison with Existing Codes", IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, vol. 2, No. 1, February 1994, pp 16-22, a new family of error detection codes, Weighted Sum Codes, is described which has very strong error detection capabilities over existing codes.
In P. Farka{hacek over (s)} "Comments on Weighted Sum Codes for error detection and their comparison with existing codes", IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, vol. 3, no. 2, 1995, pp 222-223 and in P. Farka{hacek over (s)} et al., "Modified Generalised Weighted Sum Codes for error control" chapter in the textbook "Coding Communications and Broadcasting", pp. 62-72, Research Studies Press Ltd., England, February 2000, further research and analysis of the advantages of this family of codes in detecting and correcting errors was performed.
Furthermore, problems also occur due to corruption when data is being transmitted over an air-interface, in the case of a wireless communications system, or e.g. in a fibre optic cable, in the case of a terrestrial communications system. The encoded data that is generated by the different error control codes does not easily match the fixed structure of the transporting units, like for example an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cell or an IP (Internet Protocol) packet or a frame, and as the generated encoded data has to be shortened, this can cause further difficulties in detecting and correcting the data when errors occur. When errors occur systems have to waste bandwidth resources in retransmitting the erroneous data.
One of the ways that this problem was solved, was by selecting a code whose parameters directly fulfill the predefined constraints of the transport block.
Another approach, was to select a code with a longer codeword (n) and a higher number of information symbols (k) in a codeword and then shortening that code. Shortening is performed by not using a selected number of information symbols.
However both have the drawback that the selected codes do not always have an optimal error detection/correction capability.

Method and apparatus for adapting data to a transport unit of a predefined size prior to transmission


A fuel supply system includes a fuel gas tank; a temperature detecting portion; a fuel gas discharge flow path; a main stop valve that is provided in the fuel gas discharge flow path; and a control portion. The main stop valve includes an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a main valve that is arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion and that opens and closes the fuel gas discharge flow path, a pilot flow path that is provided so as to communicate the inlet portion with the outlet portion, a pilot valve that opens and closes the pilot flow path, and an actuator capable of opening and closing the main valve and the pilot valve at different timings. The control portion opens the pilot valve and closes the main valve when the detected temperature is equal to or lower than a first reference temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fuel supply system.
2. Description of Related Art
A structure is known that uses a hydrogen tank filled with compressed hydrogen to supply hydrogen gas to a fuel cell that generates energy using hydrogen gas as a fuel gas. When fuel gas is removed from this kind of a high pressure gas tank, fuel gas adiabatically expands in the tank, causing the temperature inside the tank to drop. If the temperature of the fuel gas removed from the tank is too low, it is necessary to take low temperature countermeasures at members that are arranged downstream of the tank, for example. One such measure to inhibit such a drop in the temperature inside the tank is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-181295 (JP-A-2002-181295), that describes a structure that makes the temperature uniform by arranging a heat-transfer member inside the tank.
However, the drop in temperature of the fuel gas due to the fuel gas adiabatically expanding inside the tank quickly progresses near the tank inside wall when fuel gas is removed from the tank. Therefore, even if a heat-transfer member is arranged inside the tank, there may be times when it is not possible to sufficiently suppress a drop in temperature of the fuel gas that is removed from the tank. Also, a structure in which a heat-transfer member is arranged inside the tank may difficult to employ because it makes the tank structure complex, reduces the amount of gas that can be filled, or increases in the tank weight.


A containment device for an inflator, the containment device comprising: an outlet plate having an outlet opening; a burst disk disposed over the outlet opening; an initiator having a support member; a movable support disposed between the support member and the burst disk, the support providing support to the burst disk; wherein activation of the initiator causes the movable support to move which allows the burst disk to rupture.

The present invention relates to airbag devices and more particularly the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing extended inflator output.
Today some vehicles are supplied with side airbag modules. A side airbag module comprises inflatable cushions or curtains that traverse a side portion of the vehicle when they are deployed in accordance with a predetermined activation event. Generally, the device is located along a side of the vehicle in an un-inflated state and upon activation deploys an inflatable curtain along a side portion of the vehicle. Side impact air bags or inflatable cushions are often mounted in close proximity to the vehicle's roof rail, doorframe or center pillars, or in some instances within the side door. Accordingly, the space or housing for the un-inflated airbag is compact and extends or traverses along the window area or frame, as the airbag cannot be installed in the areas comprising the window. Moreover, it is also desirable to have the inflatable cushion disposed behind a decorative trim portion of the vehicle's interior. Thus, the presence of the side airbag device is not observable to occupants when it is in its un-deployed state.
Substantial efforts have been directed to developing inflatable cushions or curtains having extended periods of inflation or in other words inflatable cushions that will retain their inflation gases for a period time after inflation. Some methods for providing this extended period of inflation is to minimize the inflation gas leakage by providing a one-piece-woven curtain airbag or by applying a sealant at the seams where the two sides of an inflatable cushion are sealed together. However, both of these methods are costly as they add additional manufacturing steps and methods.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an airbag module capable of providing an inflatable cushion or curtain with an extended period of inflation. In addition, it is also desirable to provide a containment apparatus for an inflator of the airbag module.

Gas containment and release device for an inflator


The efficiency of wire bundle conductors is realized in a disk drive suspension without wire bundle biasing of the slider movement by interposing a section of flexible conductive laminate conductor between the wire bundle terminus and the slider, thereby obtaining the nearly bias free connection of the flexible conductive laminate conductor to the slider and as well substantially the superior electrical performance of the wire bundle conductor.

This invention has to do with disk drive suspensions, and more particularly with improvements in the design and structure of disk drive suspension electrical connectors that are used to carry current between a load beam-supported slider and suspension-associated signal circuitry. In a specific aspect, the invention provides a disk drive suspension in which the advantages of wire bundle conductors, including lower cost and better electrical properties, especially at higher frequencies, are maximally obtained while freeing the suspension flexure from biasing forces normally incident in a wire bundle connector, by using flexible circuit conductor for that portion of the connector likely to bias movement of the flexure.


A separator for a crop harvester configured to harvest sugarcane. The separator includes a frame having: i) an inlet configured to receive cut sugarcane, wherein the cut sugarcane includes cut stalk and crop residue, ii) a cut stalk outlet configured to discharge the cut stalk from the frame; and iii) a crop residue outlet. An extractor is operatively connected to the crop residue outlet. The extractor includes a tapered nozzle disposed adjacently to the crop residue outlet and a fan disposed adjacently to the tapered nozzle, wherein the tapered nozzle is configured to provide a pressure differential between the crop residue outlet and the fan in response to air flow provide by the fan. The tapered nozzle, in one embodiment, is a truncated cone having a smaller end disposed adjacently to a flow of cut crop, wherein the fan draws air through the truncated cone to separate the crop residue from the cut stalk.

Agricultural equipment, such as a tractor or a self-propelled harvester, includes mechanical systems, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, and electro-hydraulic systems, configured to prepare fields for planting or to harvest crops.
Harvesters of various configurations, including sugarcane harvesters, have harvesting systems of various types. Harvesting systems for a sugarcane harvester, for example, include assemblies or devices for cutting, chopping, sorting, transporting, and otherwise gathering and processing sugarcane plants. Typical harvesting assemblies, in different embodiments, include a base cutter assembly (or "base cutter"), feed rollers, and cutting drums.
To actively harvest crops, the sugarcane harvester gathers and processes material from rows of sugarcane plants. In the case of one type of sugarcane harvester, the gathered sugarcane stalks are cut into billets that move through a loading elevator to an elevator discharge, where the cut sugarcane stalks are discharged to a collector, such as the sugarcane wagon. Leaves, trash, and other debris are separated from the billets and ejected onto the field.
In various harvesters, harvesting assemblies are hydraulically powered by an engine-driven pump or electrically powered by a generator or other electrical power supply. The harvesting assemblies include rotating drums that move the cut stalks toward a chopper. The rotating drums are driven by a hydraulic motor or an electric motor that rotationally drives the roller to continuously move the billets to the wagon or other container. The motors include splines that engage the roller to drive the roller about a rotation axis.
The sugarcane, once cut, forms what is known as a "mat" of sugarcane. The sugarcane harvester feeds the mat to a chopping section where it is chopped, including the stalk which is cut into segments. The sugarcane harvester advances the billets along with crop residue (e.g., leafy material) to a primary extractor that separates at least a portion of the crop residue from the billets and removes the crop residue from the sugarcane harvester. However, some crop residue can remain with the billets as the billets travel up the elevator for discharge into a wagon or other container to be hauled away. In different embodiments, the sugarcane harvester includes a secondary extractor that separates crop residue from the billets and discharges the separated crop residue from the sugarcane harvester. In some embodiments, however, the removal of the crop residue from the billets is not satisfactory and requires additional cleaning of the billets.
What is needed therefore is a sugarcane harvester including a harvesting system having a secondary extractor to improve the removal of the crop residue from the billets.

Harvesting machine having a secondary cleaning system


A light source device, includes an excitation light source for generating excitation light, a light condensing device, and a fluorescent cavity. The fluorescent cavity includes a chamber and a fluorescent layer, the chamber having a light window for allowing light to enter and exit and a bottom wall opposite to the light window. The fluorescent layer is provided on the surface of the bottom wall. The excitation light is concentrated by the light condensing device, and then is incident from the light window to the surface of the fluorescent layer to form a light spot and excite the fluorescent layer to generate a laser. The area of the light window is smaller than the area of the light spot, and the laser can be emitted from the light window.

At present, most light source devices use laser light to excite fluorescent powder to generate a white light source, which has high stability and low cost. However, the excitation efficiency of the fluorescent powder is related to power and power density of the exciting light and the temperature of the fluorescent powder. Thus, when the exciting light is converged on a surface of the fluorescent powder, the fluorescent powder has low excitation efficiency due to the relatively high energy density of the exciting light, while most of light energy that is not converted by the fluorescent powder propagates in a form of heat, so that the temperature of the fluorescent powder in a region irradiated by a light spot of the exciting light is increased, thereby further reducing the excitation efficiency of the fluorescent powder.

Light source device and projection system


The present invention provides a glossing apparatus including first and second heating rotating members which contact each other to form a nip part, an toner image on a recording material being heated in the nip part; a cooling unit which cools the recording material, moved while contacting the first heating rotating member, before the recording material is separated from the first heating rotating member; and a mode performing unit which performs a high-gloss mode and a low-gloss mode, the recording material is conveyed to and heated by the nip part such that the toner image contact the first heating rotating member in the high-gloss mode, the recording material is conveyed to and heated by the nip part such that the toner image contact the second heating rotating member in the low-gloss mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a glossing apparatus used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system copying machine and electrophotographic system printer, particularly to a glossing apparatus which can form an image having different gloss levels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, for the glossing apparatus which can form images having the different gloss levels, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-325934 discloses a glossing apparatus in which, using a fixing belt including a plurality of areas with different degrees of smoothness, the area of the fixing belt used can be selected according to the desired gloss level of the image.
However, in the glossing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-325934, the fixing belt having a length more than double the largest recording material which can be used is required to be able to form the image having the high-gloss and low-gloss levels, which results in an inevitably enlarged apparatus.