A data compression apparatus for compressing a digital input signal to provide a compressed digital output signal. In the apparatus, a circuit derives plural spectral coefficients from the digital input signal, and groups the spectral coefficients into bands. An adaptive bit allocation circuit adaptively allocates a number of spectrum-dependent quantizing bits among the bands to allocate to each band a number of spectrum-dependent quantizing bits for quantizing each of the spectral coefficients in the band. The number of spectrum-dependent quantizing bits allocated to each band by the adaptive bit allocation circuit is determined according to the band magnitude, weighted depending on the band frequency.

A variety of techniques for compressing digital audio or voice signals are known. For example, sub-band coding, a non-block-forming frequency band dividing system, in which the input audio signal is not divided in time into blocks, but is divided in frequency by a filter into plural frequency bands for quantization. In a block-forming frequency band dividing system, such as a transform encoding system, the input audio signal in the time domain is converted into spectral coefficients in the frequency domain by an orthogonal transform. The resulting spectral coefficients are divided into plural frequency bands, and the spectral coefficients in each band are quantized. There is also known a technique consisting of a combination of sub-band coding and transform coding, in which frequency range signals produced by dividing the input audio signal in frequency are individually orthogonally transformed into spectral coefficients. The spectral coefficients are then divided into plural frequency bands, and the spectral coefficients in each band are then quantized.
Among the filters useful for dividing a digital audio input signal into bands is the quadrature mirror (QMF) filter, which is described, for example, in R. E. Crochiere, Digital Coding of Speech in Sub-bands, 55 BELL SYST. TECH. J. No. 8, (1976). The technique of dividing the audio input signal in frequency into frequency bands of an equal width is discussed in Joseph H. Rothweiler, Polyphase Quadrature Filers-a New Sub-band Coding Technique, ICASSP 83, BOSTON (1983).
Among the techniques for carrying out an orthogonal transform, it is known to divide the digital audio input signal in time into blocks of a predetermined number of samples and having a predetermined duration, and to process each block using a fast Fourier transform, a discrete cosine transform, or a modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) to convert the signal in the time domain into a signal in the frequency domain. A description of the MDCT may be found in J. P. Princen & A. B. Bradley, Sub-Band/Transform Coding Using Filter Bank Designs Based on Time Domain Aliasing Cancellation, ICASSP 1987 (1987).
As a technique for quantizing the respective spectral coefficients obtained by frequency division, a sub-band system which takes the characteristics of the human sense of hearing into account is known. The audio signal may be divided in frequency into plural bands, such as 25 critical bands, which have a bandwidth that increases with increasing frequency. When the spectral coefficients in each of the respective bands are quantized, the spectral coefficients are quantized by adaptive bit allocation applied to each band. For example, when quantizing the spectral coefficients resulting from an MDCT, the spectral coefficients are divided into bands and the spectral coefficients in each band are quantized using an adaptively-determined number of bits.
Among known adaptive bit allocation techniques, two will be discussed. First, in the technique described in ASSP-25, IEEE TRANSACTIONS OF ACOUSTICS, SPEECH, AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, No. 4, August 1977, bit allocation is carried out on the basis of the magnitude of the signals of the respective bands. Although this system provides a flat quantization noise spectrum, and minimizes noise energy, the actual noise perceived by the listener is not minimized because this technique does not exploit the masking characteristics on the human sense of hearing.
On the other hand, the technique described in M. A. Kransner, The Critical Band Coder-Digital Encoding of the Perceptual Requirements of the Auditory System, ICASSP 1980, uses the masking characteristics of the human sense of hearing to determine the signal-to-noise ratio necessary for each band in making a fixed quantizing bit allocation. However, this technique provides relatively poor results with a single sine-wave input because the bit allocation remains fixed.
To overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks in the bit allocation techniques discussed above, the data compression apparatus described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/924,298, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference, has been proposed. In this apparatus, the total number of bits available for quantizing all the spectral coefficients resulting from orthogonally transforming a digital input signal is divided between bits to be allocated according to the level of the input signal (level-dependent bits) and bits to be allocated according to the spectral distribution of the input signal (spectrum-dependent bits). A total number of bits, consisting of level-dependent bits and spectrum-dependent bits, is allocated to each band. Each spectral coefficient in the band is quantized with the allocated number of bits. The total number of bits allocated for quantizing each spectral coefficient in each band is the sum of the number of level-dependent bits allocated to the band and the number of spectrum-dependent bits allocated to the band.
The division ratio of the total available number of quantizing bits between level-dependent bits and spectrum-dependent bits can be variable, depending on a signal related to the input signal such that, the smoother the spectrum of the input signal (i.e., the less tonal the input signal), the larger is the division ratio in favor of level-dependent bits. For each block of the digital audio input signal, the number of level-dependent bits allocated for quantizing the each of the spectral coefficients in each band is determined according to one of plural predetermined bit allocation patterns selected according to the level of the input signal. The number of spectrum-dependent bits allocated for quantizing the spectral coefficients in each band corresponding to each block of the digital audio input signal depends on the band magnitude of each band. The band magnitude can be any one of the energy of the band, the peak level in the band, the integrated level over the band, or some other suitable parameter relating to the band.
If the energy of the input signal is concentrated in particular spectral regions, as in the case of a single sine wave input, the quantizing bit allocation technique just described enables the number of bits allocated to bands containing high levels of spectral energy to be increased to improve the overall signal-to-noise characteristics. Since the human sense of hearing is, in general, highly sensitive to signals containing narrow spectral components, the above bit allocation technique improves not only the measured value of signal-to-noise ratio, but also the signal-to-noise ratio perceived by the listener.
However, if spectrum-dependent bit allocation is performed simply with the purpose of improving the signal-to-noise characteristics, a sufficient number of bits cannot be allocated to bands corresponding to the spectral regions in a signal containing a large number of narrow spectral components, such as the sound of a triangle. With such a signal, it is desirable to improve the sound quality provided by the bit allocation technique just described.

Apparatus and method for data compression using signal-weighted quantizing bit allocation


An ultrasound imaging catheter system includes a pivot head assembly coupled between a ultrasound transducer array and the distal end of the catheter. The pivot head assembly includes a pivot joint enabling the transducer array to pivot through a large angle about the catheter centerline in response pivot cables controlled by a wheel within a handle assembly. Pivoting the ultrasound transducer array approximately 90° once the catheter is positioned by rotating the catheter shaft and bending the distal section of the catheter, clinicians may obtain orthogonal 2-D ultrasound images of anatomical structures of interest in 3-D space. Combining bending of the catheter by steering controls with pivoting of the transducer head enables a greater range of viewing perspectives. The pivot head assembly enables the transducer array to pan through a large angle to image of a larger volume than possible with conventional ultrasound imaging catheter systems.

Catheters for insertion and deployment within blood vessels and cardiac chambers are well-known in the art. A variety of catheters are now utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease. Among the ensemble of catheters used in cardiac care are ultrasound imaging catheters which can be inserted within the heart (i.e., intracardial) to obtain two-dimensional ultrasound images of heart structures and measure blood flow. Such intracardial echocardiography (ICE) catheters provide cardiologist and heart surgeons with unique viewing perspectives beneficial to diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases.
To obtain diagnostically useful images, an ultrasound imaging catheter can be positioned next to or within the vessels and chambers of the heart. Typically, the catheter is introduced into a patient through the femoral, subclavian or jugular veins and maneuvered into the right atrium. From there an ultrasound imaging catheter can image the heart anatomy including both left and right atriums, ventricles, the valves, and the atrial and ventricular septal walls. The catheter can also be advanced through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle from which the right and left ventricles, the septum, the valves and the left atrium may be imaged.
Traditionally there have been two basic methods for positioning ultrasound imaging catheters within the chambers of the heart. In the first method a guide wire is threaded through the patient's vascular structure via catheterization and under fluoroscopy until the distal end reaches a proper position for imaging. A sheath is then extended over the guide wire. Finally, the guide wire is withdrawn and the ultrasound imaging catheter inserted into the sheath. Held in relative position by the sheath, the imaging catheter can be advanced to penetrate deeper into the heart or rotated in order to scan of the heart.
The second method uses a steerable ultrasound imaging catheter to maneuver the catheter into position without the use of a guide wire. An example of a steerable ultrasound imaging catheter 1 is provided in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such steerable catheters 1 included a bendable portion 9 near the ultrasound transducer assembly 4 at the distal end of an elongated catheter body 2. Steering is achieved by tensioning a steering cable attached at or near the distal portion and running down the interior of the catheter to a wheel or knob in the handle 7. When the steering cable is tensioned while the catheter shaft is restrained, the tip will deflect resulting in a bend near the distal end of the catheter as illustrated in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the steering cable may be restrained while the shaft portion 2 is advanced distally, producing the same effect. Typically the induced bend has a radius of curvature of about four inches within an arch defining a plane of fixed orientation with respect to the catheter body 2 and handle 7. The catheter shaft (2) can also be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to direct the ultrasound transducer face in the desired direction. By rotating the catheter shaft and bending the distal curve 9 the transducer face can be directed as needed. Electrical/signal coaxial cables to/from the ultrasound transducer assembly 4 pass through the catheter body 2 and through the handle 7 to exit as a cable 8 for connection to ultrasound imaging equipment. By being able to bend the distal portion 9 of the catheter, the catheter body 2 can be maneuvered through the patient's vein and into heart chambers without the need for the extra time and steps required by the guide wire and sheath catheterization method.
While the steerable ultrasound catheter obviates the need for a sheath and guide wire, the viewing angle of the ultrasound imaging catheter is restricted due to the bend 9 in the catheter that must be made to properly position the ultrasound imaging assembly 4 within a heart chamber. Rotating the catheter shaft by rotating the handle would cause the ultrasound imaging assembly 4 to swing about. As the transducer face is linear and parallel to the catheter shaft, and because the two directional controls are limited, the, current design steerable ultrasound catheters provide a limited three-dimensional viewing perspective.

Ultrasound imaging catheter with pivoting head

St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.


A method and an apparatus for converting the gray images inputted from the image pickup elements into binary images without losing the shape information of the gray images. The image processing method comprises the steps of obtaining the maximum values and the minimum values of the density for each horizontal scanning line and each vertical scanning line of the inputted images, obtaining the threshold values from the adjacent maximum values and minimum values, obtaining the two type binary images for each horizontal scanning line and each vertical scanning line with the threshold values, obtaining the composed binary images with the logical product or the logical sum between the respective pixels of the above two type binary images.

The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for converting the gray images inputted from image pickup elements, for example CCD camera, into binary images.
In order to analyze the shape of images, the gray images are normally changed with the binary images.
In order to make the binary images, a threshold value for the images is selected, and when the density of the pixel of the image is larger than the the threshold value, the pixel is white (or black), and the others are black (or white). When the same threshold value is applied with respect to the all pixels of the gray images, the shape information of the original gray images often becomes inappropriate in the conversion into the binary images.
This fact is because the density information of the gray images has normally 256 gradations, but that of the binary images has only two gradations. This is the reason why the shape information of the binary images becomes inappropriate to lose the shape information of gray images. In order to prevent such shape information loss, it is conventionally proposed that the processing of emphasizing the contrasts of the images should be effected before the binary processing or the way of the lighting should be devised to input the images into the image pickup elements.
But the converting the gray images into the binary images is often insufficient, even when the contrasts of the images are emphasized in processing or when the lighting is devised. A representative example in the application of the conventional binary processing will be described in FIG. 13.
In FIG. 13, the (a) is an abbreviated figure of the gray images inputted from the image pickup elements. The (b) thereof is a 1-dimensional density histogram in the X--X (horizontal). The (c), (d), (e) thereof are abbreviated figures showing the binary images when the respective threshold values are at the time of A, B, C.
It is found out from the embodiment of FIG. 13 that the shape information of the original gray images in the conventional binary processing is lost, so that it is not made binary images properly.
If the shape information of the binary images is not sufficient, it is found out that the analyses using the binary images do not become proper.

Image processing method and apparatus for converting gray-scale images into binary images


A transmitter for transmitting and calibrating a phase signal and an amplitude signal. The transmitter comprises a phase modulation path, an amplitude modulation path, and a control unit. The phase modulation path transmits the phase signal. The amplitude modulation path transmits the amplitude signal. The control unit delays the signal on at least one of the phase modulation path and the amplitude modulation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a transmitter and a control method, and more particularly to a transmitter and a control method for transmitting and calibrating a phase signal and an amplitude signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional transmitter. The conventional transmitter 100 comprises mixers 110, 120, a local oscillator (LO) 130, an adder 140, a power amplifier 150, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) 160, and an antenna 170. The mixer 110 mixes I digital baseband data SI with a first carrier provided by the LO 130. The mixer 120 mixes Q digital baseband data SQ with a second carrier provided by the LO 130. The phase difference of the first carrier and the second carrier is 90°. The adder 140 adds the mixed signals. The power amplifier 150 amplifies the output signal of the adder 140. The SAW 160 processes the amplified signal and transmits the processed result via the antenna 170.

Transmitter and control method for transmitting and calibrating a phase signal and an amplitude signal


In an internal combustion engine with variable actuation valves, each variable actuation valve is actuated by an actuator assembly including an actuating piston slidably mounted in a guide bushing. Between the actuating piston and the stem of the respective valve is interposed an auxiliary hydraulic tappet positioned outside the guide bushing of the actuating piston, so that said bushing can be dimensioned with a relatively small diameter, regardless of the outer diameter of the auxiliary hydraulic tappet. The intake valves of a same cylinder are actuated by a single cam, by means of a single pumping piston and by means of a single pressure chamber controlled by a single solenoid valve.

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines with multiple cylinders, of the type comprising:                at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve for each cylinder, each provided with respective return spring means which bias the valve towards a closed position, to control respective intake and exhaust conduits,        at least one camshaft, to actuate the intake and exhaust valves of the engine cylinders by means of respective tappets,        in which each intake valve has variable actuation, being actuated by the respective tappet, against the action of the aforesaid return spring means, by the interposition of hydraulic means including a pressurised fluid chamber, into which projects a pumping piston connected to the tappet of the intake valve,        said pressurised fluid chamber being able to be connected by means of a solenoid valve with an exhaust channel, in order to uncouple the variable actuation valve from the respective tappet and cause the rapid closure of the valve by effect of the respective return spring means,        electronic control means for controlling each solenoid valve in such a way as to vary the time and travel of opening of the variable actuation valves as a function of one or more operative parameters of the engine,        in which the aforesaid hydraulic means further comprise an actuator unit for each variable actuation valve, including an actuating piston slidably mounted in guide bushing,        said actuating piston facing a variable volume chamber communicating with the pressurised fluid chamber both through first communication means controlled by a check valve which allows only the passage of the fluid from the pressurised fluid chamber to the variable volume chamber, and through second communication means which allow the passage between the two chambers in both directions,        in which said hydraulic means further comprise hydraulic braking means able to cause a narrowing of said second communication means in the final phase of closure of the engine valve,        in which between the actuating piston of each variable actuation valve and the stem of the valve is interposed an auxiliary hydraulic tappet,        in which said auxiliary hydraulic tappet comprises:        a first bushing having an end wall in contact with one end of the stem of the variable actuation valve,        a second bushing slidably mounted within said first bushing and having one end in contact with a corresponding end of said actuating piston,        a first chamber defined between said bushing and said actuating piston, which is in communication with a passage for feeding the pressurised fluid to said first chamber,        a second chamber defined between said first bushing and said second bushing, and        a non return valve which controls a passage in a wall of said second bushing to allow the passage of fluid only from said first chamber to said second chamber of said auxiliary hydraulic tappet.

Internal combustion engine with valves with variable actuation which are driven by a single pumping piston and controlled by a single solenoid valve for each engine cylinder


A method for testing a language learner's ability to create semantically coherent grammatical text in a language, comprising generating text having at least one active region and inactive regions; displaying the text in a graphical user interface on a display unit, wherein at least one active region comprises a key word or phrase; identifying at least one active region in the graphical user interface; selecting at least one active region to display a menu of linguistic choices comprised of at least one grammatically correct linguistic choice and at least one grammatically incorrect linguistic choice; selecting one of the linguistic choices; and displaying an error message when at least one grammatically incorrect linguistic choice is selected.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to controlled text authoring systems and methods for language learning.
2. Description of Related Art
The composition of short essays by students is a classical tool of language learning courses such as second-language learning courses. However, these activities presuppose the availability of a teacher who is completely fluent in the second language being learned. Current automated tools for interactive language learning can not compete with a human teacher in the tasks of grading and correcting free-text compositions. While spell checkers can provide some help to the student, grammar checkers are at best good enough only to provide warnings of possible misuse. However, even when the warnings are limited to a sentence and to syntactic, as opposed to semantic, aspects, grammar checkers do not provide reliable automatic corrections.

Method and apparatus for language learning via controlled text authoring


The present inventions relate to top dressing vehicles for coating, mixing, and dispensing compositions of top dressing materials comprising agriculturally active ingredients (A.I.s). More particularly, these inventions relate to apparatus for spraying liquid formulations comprising active ingredients A.I.s onto top dressing materials prior to and during delivering top dressing applications. Further, these inventions relate to applying liquids comprising A.I.s to top dressing materials at a point-of-application. Even further, these inventions relate to delivering treated top dressing, specifically, to broadcast spreading of top dressing comprising sand and agriculturally active ingredients as moist and dry compositions.

Golf turf grass requires extensive cultivation to maintain optimal play quality. Normal machine operations such as top dressing and pesticide or fertilizer applications are disruptive to play and produce soil compaction and turf wear, which reduces overall turf quality. Because these separate operations generally must be performed during the day when golfers are present, equipment which makes it possible to combine two or three maintenance tasks into one operation should reduce the disruption of play, reduce turf wear and compaction, save time and labor expense, and allow for more rounds of golf to be played each day.
Current top dressing spreaders are a drop-type with finished brushes and a spinner-type. These types are used to apply wet or dry sand, and other materials, including other types of top dressing materials onto turf on golf courses, lawns, athletic fields, parks, and other recreational areas as part of a normal maintenance program. Both types of machines, especially the drop-type, are capable of applying wet or dry top dressing materials (generally sand) at fairly uniform thickness to turfs. However, these machines are heavy and produce undesirable turf compaction. The drop-type topdresser machines (topdressers) are slow and apply bands of sand merely as wide as the conveying belt that carries the sand to the dispenser. These types of machines in general range from 3 up to at least 6 feet in width. Thus the use of drop-type topdressers requires many passes over a large area in order to provide desired coverage with a top dressing material (top dressed area). The spinner-type topdressers spread material over much wider swaths (in general up to at least 40 feet in width), but spinner type machines are much heavier than the smaller topdressers. In general, the extra weight produces even greater turf damage and less uniform applications than drop-type top dressing machines.
Sprayer units are used for applying turf products to recreational turf (turf areas primarily used for recreation), especially golf course turf, and is part of a normal maintenance program. This practice generally occurs on a 14-day schedule throughout the growing season when disease, insect and weed pests are active. Sprayer units may be self-propelled or carried on other vehicles, and capable of spraying swaths up to 18 feet wide with the desired fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, soluble fertilizer, soil wetting agents, plant growth regulators and hormones, et cetera. However the weight of sprayer units produced turf compaction and interfered with play. Further, they produce a large amount of spray drift to non-target areas in addition to providing a health hazard by exposing the people applying the spray and the golfers to wet spray residues through inhalation, skin and clothing contact.

Spreader apparatus for sand based formulations

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University


In a motor driver of a valve timing adjusting apparatus, each terminal at a first end side of a first circuit board is arranged after a corresponding terminal at a first end side of a second circuit board in a predetermined direction, which is generally perpendicular to a plane of each circuit board. Furthermore, each terminal at a second end side of the first circuit board is arranged after a corresponding terminal at a second end side of the second circuit board in the predetermined direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor driver that drives an electric motor of a valve timing adjusting apparatus of an internal combustion engine to adjust valve timing of at least one of an intake air valve and an exhaust valve of the engine.
2. Description of Related Art
It is often difficult to have a sufficient installation space for installing a valve timing adjusting apparatus at an internal combustion engine. In order to address the above difficulty, it has been proposed to divide and install electrical circuit elements (components) of a motor driver of the valve timing adjusting apparatus to multiple circuit boards, which are then stacked one after another. In this way, an available installation area for installing the electrical circuit elements is increased, and installability of the motor driver is improved. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-37837 discloses one such technique, in which the electrical circuit elements of the motor driver are divided between a first circuit board and a second circuit board, which are then stacked one after another. Here, terminals of the first circuit board are welded to terminals of the second circuit board at opposed ends of the circuit boards to electrically connect the electrical circuit elements of the first circuit board to the electrical circuit elements of the second circuit board and also to achieve a sufficient fixing strength of each circuit board.
However, in the above technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-37837, a positional relationship of each terminal at a first end side of the first circuit board with respect to the corresponding terminal at a first end side of the second circuit board differs from a positional relationship of each terminal at a second end side of the second circuit board with respect to the corresponding terminal at a second end side of the second circuit board. More specifically, each terminal at the first end side of the first circuit board and the corresponding terminal at the first end side of the second circuit board are arranged in this order in a predetermined direction, which is generally parallel to a plane of each circuit board, and each terminal at the second end side of the second circuit board and the corresponding terminal at the second end side of first circuit board are arranged in this order in the predetermined direction. Therefore, when each terminal at the first end side of the first circuit board is moved toward and is welded to the corresponding terminal at the first end side of the second circuit board, each terminal at the second end side of the first circuit board may possibly be spaced from the corresponding terminal at the second end side of the second circuit board to leave a substantial gap therebetween due to, for example, a manufacturing tolerance. In such a case, in order to weld each corresponding terminal at the second end side of the first circuit board to the corresponding terminal at the second end side of the second circuit board, at least one of these terminals needs to be deformed by applying a load thereto. This will possibly result in initial deformation of the terminal(s), which will then possibly result in ripping-off of the welded joint between the terminals after long term use.


Methods and compositions for the prevention, therapy and/or treatment of several disease states. The methods comprise the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a composition including krill extract and conjugated linoleic acid. In addition, the present invention provides new and improved therapeutic compositions including krill extracts and conjugated linoleic acid.

This invention generally relates to compositions and methods for preventing and/or treating diseases.
PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CA02/00843 published on Dec. 27, 2002 and entitled "Krill and/or Marine Extracts for Prevention and/or Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases, Arthritis, Skin Cancer, Diabetes, Premenstrual Syndrome and Transdermal Transport" (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) discloses krill and/or marine extracts.
Krill is the common name for small, shrimp-like crustaceans, however not shrimp, that swarm in dense shoals, especially in Antarctic waters. It is one of the most important food source for fish, some kind of birds and especially for baleen whales as being an important source of protein. Krill is also a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are well known for their health benefits.
The PCT application states that it is known in the art to use krill and/or marine enzymes for the treatment of a great variety of diseases in human and animals such as infections, inflammations, cancers, HIV/AIDS, pain, polyps, warts, hemorrhoids, plaque, wrinkles, thin hairs, allergic itch, anti-adhesion, eye disease, acne, cystic fibrosis and immune disorders including autoimmune disease and cancer.
It is also stated to be known in the art that krill and/or marine oil may be used for the treatment of autoimmune murine lupus and other autoimmune diseases and can also be used for treating cardiovascular diseases.
However, it is stated that the krill and/or marine oil used for these treatments has only conserved its Omega-3 fatty acids as active ingredients, which is a very small part of all the active ingredients of the krill and/or marine itself. This fact reduces the potential of the krill and/or marine oil as a treatment for these diseases.
There is an increasing demand for treatments using products derived from a natural source, therefore, it would be highly desirable to be provided with a krill and/or marine extract having an enhanced potential for prevention and/or treatment and/or management of disease. It is known to use conjugated linoleic acid for the treatment of diseases.
Published PCT Patent Application Nos. PCT/US00/21050, PCT/US00/21047, PCT/US00/21046, and PCT/US00/21044, entitled "Method and Compositions for Preventing and/or Treatment of Diabetes and Glucose Modulation", "Methods and Compositions for Attenuation and/or Prevention of Stress/Catabolic Responses", "Methods and Compositions for the Prevention and Treatment of Inflammation, Osteoarthritis, and Other Degenerative Joint Diseases", and "Methods and Compositions for the Prevention and Treatment of Syndrome X", respectively, (the disclosures of all of which are incorporated by reference) relate to the use of conjugated linoleic acid. As disclosed therein, conjugated linoleic acid has been used for the treatment of disease states.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions including Krill extracts and conjugated linoleic acid and methods of using same


The present invention provides an active energy ray-curable resin composition comprising at least a multifunctional monomer having three or more radical polymerizable functional groups in the molecule in which the cured product of the composition exhibits anti-reflective function because of an uneven microstructure formed on the surface of the cured product, and provides a product having the uneven microstructure having high decontaminating properties such as fingerprint removal properties and high scratch resistance.

It is known that a product having the uneven microstructure regularly disposed nano-sized fine roughness on the surface is continuously shifting the refractive index and then exhibits anti-reflect performance. It is also known that the product having the uneven microstructure exhibits the same effect as super hydrophobicity (lotus effect) which lotus leaves having fine downy hairs are showing.
As a method for producing articles having uneven microstructure on the surface, the following methods have been proposed:
(i) a method of using a stamper having the inverse structure of a uneven microstructure on the surface and transferring the uneven microstructure onto the surface of thermoplastic resin moldings by injecting or pressing a thermoplastic resin;
(ii) a method of transferring the uneven microstructure onto the cured product which comprises filling an active energy ray-curable resin composition between a stamper having the inverse structure of uneven microstructure on the surface and a transparent base material, curing it by irradiation with an active energy ray, and then removing the stamper; and(iii) a method of filling an active energy ray-curable resin composition between the above stamper and a transparent base material, then removing the stamper to transfer the uneven microstructure onto the active energy ray-curable resin composition, and subsequently, curing the active energy ray-curable resin composition by irradiation with an active energy ray.
Among them, the method (ii) curing the resin composition by irradiation with the active energy ray to transfer the uneven microstructure is suitable, in consideration of transferability of the uneven microstructure and optionality of the surface composition. This method is particularly suitable for use of a belt- or roll-type stamper enabling continuous production, and is also a highly productive method.
The uneven microstructure exhibits high anti-reflective performance, when the interval between adjacent convex or concave portions of the micro-relief is equal to or less than wavelength of visible light. However, the product having the uneven microstructure having such a structure is in scratch resistance inferior to the articles which have smooth surface and are treated for abrasion resistance with a hard coat or the like, and has problems with durability in use. Moreover, if the resin composition used for production of the product having the uneven microstructure has not well solid, a phenomenon of projections gathering together occurs in removing from the mold or by heating.
Then, to maintain the uneven microstructure, a product having the uneven microstructure formed by curing a resin composition by irradiation with an active energy ray and transferring the inverse uneven microstructure of a stamper, and resin compositions for forming such an uneven microstructure were proposed.
For example, it is known to produce a product having the uneven microstructure having an interval between convex portions (concave portions) of not more than the wavelength of visible light using close-packed silica sol as a mold, and to use a multifunctional monomer inclosing extremely large number of double bonds per molecular weight such as trimethylolpropane triacrylate in the resin composition which is used for forming the uneven microstructure (Patent Literature 1).
Further, a film having a hard coat layer having an uneven microstructure is disclosed. The hard coat layer is formed of a resin exhibiting a hardness of "H" or more in a pencil hardness test according to JIS K5600-5-4. And the resin is produced using a multifunctional monomer having an extremely large number of double bonds per molecular weight such as dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (Patent Literature 2).
Meanwhile, as preferable resin compositions for forming the uneven microstructure followings are known:
(1) a photo-curable resin composition containing an acrylate oligomer such as urethane acrylate and a release agent as essential components (Patent Literature 3);
(2) a photo-curable resin composition composed of a (meth)acrylate such as ethoxylated bisphenol-A di(meth)acrylate, a reactive diluent such as N-vinylpyrrolidone, a photoinitiator, and a fluorosurfactant (Patent Literature 4); and
(3) an ultraviolet light curable resin composition comprising a multifunctional (meth)acrylate such as trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate, a photoinitiator, and a leveling agent such as polyether-modified silicone oil (Patent Literature 1).
However, the products having the uneven microstructure described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 each are a cured product having a high crosslinking density and a high elastic modulus, but do not always satisfy scratch resistance. Even if a cured resin is a hardness of "H" or more in the pencil hardness test, the product having the uneven microstructure particularly is impaired the anti-reflective performance by breakage or bending of fine projections of the product having the uneven microstructure, and therefore, its uses are limited. It is also difficult to wipe off dirt adhered on the uneven microstructure such as fingerprints.
On the other hand, for antifouling property of resin molded articles, a method for suppressing adhesion of dirt by providing hydrophobicity thereon using a silicone- or fluoro-compound. On the contrary, a method for making the surface of the resin molding hydrophilic to promote soaking water between the adhered dirt such as fingerprints and the surface of the resin, and floating the dirt with water by water wiping also presents. However, making the surface of a resin molded article hydrophilic naturally results in enhancement of moisture absorbing properties of the resin molded article and softening of the molded article, and the uneven microstructure formed on the surface of the molding trends to be impossible to be maintained.
Since the cured products described in above Patent Literatures 1, 3 and 4 are insufficient hydrophobic, even if trying to remove the dirt adhered on the surface of the uneven microstructure such as fingerprints by water wiping the dirt, the dirt does not float up with water and fingerprints and the like are difficult to be wiped off. On the other hand, the simply increased hydrophobicity of the resin only increases absorption of water by the resin, and a softened molded article will be obtained. If a molded article having a nano-order uneven microstructure on the surface is formed using such a resin, the nano-order projections gather together caused by surface tension and scatter light to reduce the reflection suppressing effect and have problem with falling white and hazy after water-wiping.

Active energy ray-curable resin composition, product having the uneven microstructure, and method for producing product having the uneven microstructure


Electrical circuitry of CMOS inverter circuits in cascade providing a compatible interface between ECL logic levels and CMOS logic levels. The MOS transistors of the first inverter circuit of the series are approximately three times larger than the MOS transistors of the same type in subsequent inverter circuits of the series. The ECL input is to the gate of the N-type transistor of the first inverter circuit. A threshold control input is connected to the gate of the P-type transistor of the first inverter circuit. This configuration increases the operating speed of the first inverter circuit and permits controlling the threshold voltage in order to stabilize the output duty cycle.

This invention relates to electrical logic circuitry. More particularly, it is concerned with logic circuits which provide an interface between two logic systems.
Two widely-used, well-known logic systems are ECL (emitter coupled logic) and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) logic systems. The logic levels for ECL logic are -1.6 volts and -0.8 volt and for CMOS the logic levels are 0 volts and +5 volts. The threshold voltage for CMOS logic, that is the voltage at which a CMOS logic circuit triggers from one operating state to another, is +2.5 volts. Since this voltage is outside the operating range of ECL logic, CMOS logic circuitry is not directly compatible with ECL circuitry. CMOS logic circuits may be made compatible with input from ECL circuitry by changing the operating voltages of the CMOS circuitry to -3.7 volts and +1.3 volts to provide a threshold voltage of -1.2 volts, the threshold voltage of ECL circuitry. The relatively small voltage differential of the ECL logic levels, however, results in a degradation of the operating speed of the CMOS circuit. In addition, the duty cycle of the circuit output signal may vary due to variations in the threshold level at the input.

CMOS logic circuitry providing improved operating speed


A rotary internal combustion engine with intermittent burning cycle, converting heat energy into the rotary motion, with a multi stage compression rotor (3) and centrifugally-axial air compression impellers (3.2), an air valve (5.1), which alternatively filling up the combustors (4.3) with the compressed air and closing them. A fuel pump (6) compresses fuel and through fuel distributor (6.1) supplies it to the combustors (4.3) to achieve combustion when sprinkled on the hot-red spirals of the ignition plugs (4.5). The gas generated in the combustors (4.3) passes through the cascade turbines (5.10; 5.3; 5.11), driving the power rotor (5) and through the coupling-gear (5.4) transferring rotary motion to a drive shaft (7). A hollow impeller (3.5), mounted onto the compression rotor (3), pumps air through a diffusor-shade (3.8) for cooling the compressor from the outside and the inside.

This invention relates to gas turbine engines.
The gas turbine engines, known to the applicant, suffer from the following disadvantages:
1. These engines are not stable, because a gas with higher than 1000 degree C. temperature and a dust inflow with compressed air rapidly destroy high-speed power and compressor turbines. Therefore, for keeping low gas temperature there is a need to supply 3–4 times larger amount of air than it is needed for burning. Attempts to improve air filtering considerably increases the volume of the engine and energy consumption.
2. Low efficiency (only about 30%), because ⅔ of energy generating by the engine is being used for compressing required amount of air.
3. Thermal losses by cooling engine and with hot exhaust are 1.16 times higher than losses in a diesel engine.
4. Bad braking action that is unacceptable for automobiles.
In SU (Russia) patent No 293471 A1 a gas turbine engine is described comprising the low pressure axial and the high pressure centrifugal compressors, a combustor with continuous combustion cycle and cascade of free rotating gas turbines. The first turbine drives a centrifugal compressor, second and third turbines drive an axial compressor and fourth and fifth turbines rotate a drive shaft only. This engine has no brake action and has all aforesaid disadvantages.
In SU patent No 1792122 A1 a gas turbine engine is described comprising a ventilator, a centrifugal compressor combined with a gas turbine, a combustor, a power turbine, a heat exchanger and a refrigerator. A ventilator drives part of air for compression, the rest part of air goes through the refrigerator, where high pressure gas is cooled and where from is ejected through the ejector, air is mixing with a gas and driving to the compressor. The heat exchanger heats the compressed air-gas mixture and supplies it to the combustor for burning. The gas pressure, resulting from the burning process, drives the turbine combined with the compressor. Part of gas flows through the heat exchanger heating it, and then flows through the refrigerator, where it cools and is ejected to the air going to the compressor; another part of gas drives the power turbine, then flows through the heat exchanger and is exhausted. This engine requires a large amount of energy for air compression, because of the gas going through the combined turbine and heating said compressor that compresses hot air-gas mixture. This engine has undesirable heat and energy losses, when high pressure gas is cooled in the refrigerator.


A method for simulating an integrated circuit design that automatically generates an interface between a test bench and a device design for simulation. The method determines that the signal format and timing information of the test bench conforms to the constraints of some target ATE. If the information conforms, an array of buffers is created to provide the interface. Each of the buffers are defined according to the signal timing information. The interface is then incorporated into a test bench stimuli generator and the design is simulated. In this manner, the method allows for the generation of a simulation that can be then reproduced on any target ATE.

Design automation for integrated circuits, particularly application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), is becoming increasingly important as the integrated circuits become more complex and dense. Design modeling, layout and verification of these integrated circuits, for example, are becoming more mathematically complex and time intensive. Any reduction in the complexity or time intensity would favorably reduce the period between device design and prototype.
A typical design process begins by entering the integrated circuit design in a hardware description language, such as VHDL. An industry standard CAE platform is used, such as Mentor Graphics Design Architect, Synopsys Design Analyzer or Cadence Verilog. The designer of the integrated circuit usually enters the design of the integrated circuit's surrounding environment or architecture. The surrounding environment or architecture is known as a "test bench." The test bench and integrated circuit together form a "system."
To conceptually illustrate the description above, reference is made to FIG. 1. A system 110 is shown which includes a test bench 120 and a device design 130. Test bench 120 and device design 130 interact with signals provided through signal paths 125 and 135. System 110 of FIG. 1 is implemented as software for use on a CAE platform.
Using the "Test Bench" methodology allows the designer to simulate a new device while using the capabilities of the simulator to generate input stimulus based on programmed simulation data and feedback from the device under test. The simulation is performed by creating a test bench that imitates the behavior of the system in which the device being designed will operate. As the simulation runs, input stimulus is applied to the device and outputs are monitored. During the simulation run, input stimulus to the device and output signals from the device are recorded in a simulation output file. Once the simulation has ended this simulation output file is analyzed to ensure tester timing and format constraints have not been violated as well as to ensure the device performed functionally as expected.
After analysis, if no errors are detected, test vectors are extracted from the simulation results. The design is subsequently implemented as a physical integrated circuit device. The physical device is tested by using automatic test equipment (ATE). The ATE tests the physical device by applying signals to the device according to the extracted test vectors and comparing output states from the device against expected output states specified by the test vectors extracted from the simulation output.
An inherent problem with the above described process is that the simulators used to simulate designs offer more flexibility with respect to signal formats and timings than the ATE used for the physical device test. Specifically, a simulation is a software representation of the real world, and with no restrictions is capable of creating signal formats that are beyond the ability of ATE to reproduce. In a manufacturing test environment it is important for the ATE to be able to reproduce the waveforms exactly as they were simulated to ensure that the test will operate correctly and produce the expected results.
To illustrate, all ATE have a physical limitation to their maximum test frequency or clock rate. Also, ATE usually support a limited set of signal formats or a maximum number of input transitions in a period. In contrast, the simulator is not limited in these ways, and arbitrary signal formats can be created and frequencies well beyond the capabilities of ATE can be simulated.
The lesser flexibility of the ATE compared to the CAE often causes problems for integrated circuit designers. For example, if a designer defines a signal with jitter for a simulation input stimulus, that jitter may cause inaccurate test vector extraction although the simulation operated as expected. This is a problem when considered in light of the amount of time simulations require. A typical ASIC design can require anywhere from a few hours to a few days of simulation run time on a computer or work station. Errors uncovered by the analysis in many cases will require changes be made to the simulation input stimulus and subsequent resimulation. If errors are not caught at this stage and test vectors are extracted from the resultant output of the simulation it could be several weeks before the vectors are used by the ATE to test the physical device. If the test vectors are inaccurate, then the ATE may fail good parts or pass bad parts. Hence, a new cycle of simulation extraction and ATE testing must be done. This time loss is unacceptable to most ASIC customers.
To overcome this problem, a common requirement is that the timings and signal formats that comprise the input stimulus for the simulation must conform to specifications defined by a target ATE that will be used to test the actual physical device. A simulation from such conforming stimulus is said to be "tester compatible."
In order to generate tester compatible stimulus, the designer must manually define the test bench/device interface to produce signals that conform to the restricted timing constraints of the targeted ATE. Since simulation takes a considerable amount of time, it would be beneficial for designers to know that their test benches will produce correct signals before investing the time and resources to simulate the device.
In many cases IC design packages provide a device database that requires the user to define the signal formats and timings. This database is checked against ATE specifications to ensure that the timing information is tester compatible. In addition, timing and format information from this database is used to verify the results of the simulation after it is performed.
A need exists for automatically providing test vectors that accurately represent simulation stimulus while conforming to ATE constraints. The present invention meets this need.

Test bench interface generator for tester compatible simulations


A production control system having a series of nested tubular members including at least one axial flow channel and at least two annular flow channels. At least one valve configured and positioned to control flow from each flow channel is provided.

In the beginnings of drilling for oil and other hydrocarbon resources, a relatively vertical well was drilled into the earth's surface and whatever pockets of fluid were encountered would be produced at the surface. This includes different phases of desired hydrocarbons, water, etc. Many times only a single component of the formation reserve is desired to be produced and it is costly and time consuming to separate the produced fluids into the constituent components thereof once they have been intermingled. In order to alleviate the need for separation, the art has learned to separate zones of production into smaller sections. This can be done in a number of ways including by gravel packing and packing off different sections. After a gravel packing operation, fluids can only enter the wellbore through a holed base pipe in a particular section where those fluids were produced from the formation. One of the problems associated with controlling these individual zones is that the gravel pack (or other downhole arrangement) tends to restrict the I.D. of the tubing string making it difficult to install a valve at that location. Installation of valves uphole of the gravel pack has been limited to two for a significant period of time as there has been no way to control more zones through valves located uphole of the gravel pack.

Multiple zone downhole intelligent flow control valve system and method for controlling commingling of flows from multiple zones

Abstract: A production apparatus having a series of nested tubulars connected to one another such that at least an axial flow channel and at least two annular flow channels are formed. A valve is associated with each flow channel and is configured to independently control flow from each flow channels.

Abstract: A method for controlling commingling of flows from multiple zones. The method includes containing flows from different zones to individual concentric flow channels in a nested tubular arrangement and selectively commingling one or more of the flows by setting at least one valve associated with each channel to a closed position or one of an infinite number of flow positions.


Control panels of a simulated complex system are displayed as a texture mask over a three-dimensional visual representation of an environment in which the complex system is operating. The three-dimensional visual representation is displayed in an inactive window to a user practicing or training on the simulated system. An active window underlying the visual display is used to track user inputs to the control panels. Smart graphics translate the user inputs into data elements that are sent to a full-scope simulation, and simulation conditions are returned and used to update the display of the control panels and the visual representation of the environment.

The complexity of systems used in many human endeavors has increased to a point that extensive training is required for safe operation and maintenance. Training on real systems is particularly problematic in industries that use expensive and/or potentially dangerous equipment. Examples of this equipment include aircraft, ships, submarines, military equipment, nuclear power plants, and a host of other complex systems. It has therefore become standard practice to use simulations of the complex systems for training. In order to faithfully reproduce the behavior of real complex systems, "full-scope" simulation is required. A full-scope simulation is a simulation in which all necessary subsystems are simulated to an extent that the full-scope simulation responds in all relevant conditions, both normal and abnormal, substantially identically to the real system.
In many applications involving a full-scope simulator, a high fidelity visual system is required. These visual systems typically provide a three-dimensional immersive environment for the operator(s). Three-dimensional immersive environments are known to significantly improve the effectiveness of the simulator. The degree of realism provided by a high fidelity visual system is now quite advanced. The level of detail provided by such visual systems requires large visual databases that must be synchronized with the full scope simulator, in order to render the three-dimensional visual scenes in real time. Because of their size and complexity, full-scope simulators that include high fidelity visual systems are typically housed in a special facility, and users are compelled to travel to the facility for training and practice.
Applicant's co-pending patent application entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELF-PACED INTEGRATED PROCEDURE TRAINING USING A REAL-TIME, FULL-SCOPE SIMULATION, which was filed on May 7, 2002, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes how a two-dimensional, vector-based graphical user interface permits a user to interact with a full-scope simulation accessed through a network, such as the Internet. The user interface consists of "smart" graphical objects with which the user interacts. In order to provide a context for a specific application, the smart graphical objects are overlaid on a bitmapped image appropriate for the application.
It has been recognized for some time that in many simulation applications it is advantageous to integrate three-dimensional real-time visual effects into an interactive user interface. This type of environment is essential in applications where an operator needs to familiarize themselves with the out-of-the-window scene, and interpret visual (out-of-the-window) information in order to determine how to respond appropriately to a situation. Simulators that provide varying degrees of visual and simulation fidelity are commercially available. Such simulators permit users to interact with a three-dimensional visual environment using an interface such as a joystick or a keyboard. Examples are Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000® and AirBook™ by Simigon. A disadvantage of such systems is that the user interfaces are not very intuitive, and not directly associated with all simulated systems.
Applicant's above-referenced co-pending patent application, permits a user to learn or practice integrated procedures, and acquire systems knowledge by interacting with the smart graphics in the two-dimensional user interface. The user inputs to the interface are supplied to a full-scope simulation server that reacts in a realistic way to the inputs, and returns simulation condition data that is used, in turn, to update the appearance of the two-dimensional user interface. While this permits the user to learn or practice integrated procedures and acquire systems knowledge, it does not provide the three-dimensional visual environment required for certain training and practice applications. For example, in the airline industry, airport familiarization, familiarizing with low-visibility atmospheric conditions for flying, airport approaches, runway maneuvers and the like require a three-dimensional visual environment.
There is therefore a need for a system that incorporates three-dimensional environment visualization into a fully functional graphical user interface to enable low-cost learning and practice of integrated procedures and operation of a complex system.

System for providing a high-fidelity visual display coordinated with a full-scope simulation of a complex system and method of using same for training and practice


A safety guard is provided for preventing a wheel from coming off the body of a vehicle. The safety guard includes a first attachment releasably secured to the body on one side of the wheel and a second attachment releasably secured to the body on a transversely opposing side of the wheel. A restraining member is removably secured in a transversely slidable engagement with and between the first and second attachments and immediately adjacent an outer face of the wheel so as to prevent movement of the wheel away from the body.

The problem of wheels and tires accidentally coming off moving vehicles continues to pose a danger to the safety of people and property both inside and outside such vehicles. This problem may occur due to a failure in the fastening mechanisms, such as nuts and bolts, between a wheel and the vehicle, or due to a faulty tire. Although attempts have been made to increase the reliability of such fastening mechanisms and of the tires themselves, no mechanical system is yet fail-proof.


A system for increasing the power and efficiency of engines by increasing the oxygen content in the intake manifold supply using a zeolite filtration system. This system converts the air to a higher oxygen content as it flows to the intake manifold in an engine. The practical idea of this is to increase the power of the engine without increasing displacement, while almost completely diminish NOx emissions as well as reducing fuel consumption. In this invention there are three main components: the zeolite filtration oxygen enrichment system, a system for desorbing nitrogen within the filter when the engine is off or idle, and a wastegate for controlling oxygen enrichment or no oxygen enrichment.

The present invention is in the technical field of internal combustion engines. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of oxygen enrichment.
Conventional oxygen enrichment systems are typically bulky and expensive in order to achieve the level of oxygen content that would make it feasible for use in an internal combustion engine. This is because it is necessary to strip out large amounts of nitrogen content from the incoming airstream to achieve higher levels of pure oxygen. Further, it is not uncommon that the airflow needs to be accelerated to obtain the necessary levels of oxygen. Further, in an internal combustion engine only the displacement of the engine is the volume of air in the pistons at one time. Only ⅕th of the air is useable oxygen and therefore the other ⅘th is wasted displacement needed for the engine to accomplish work. Further, by increasing the oxygen content we can have smaller engines accomplish the same amount of work as much larger engines. Further, achieving the necessary levels of oxygen would improve the efficiencies of the internal combustion engine.

Calcium LSX and lithium H-LSX zeolite oxygen enrichment system for an internal combustion engine


Circuit elements, such as aluminum interconnects, and a protective film for protecting these circuit elements are formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. Resist is formed covering the protective film. The semiconductor substrate on which the resist covering the protective film is formed is dipped into pure water so as to allow the water to filter into a gap between the resist and semiconductor substrate. Then the semiconductor substrate having the resist thereon is dried in high temperature air, and the resist is adhered to the semiconductor substrate by a sticking function due to the surface tension generated when the water is decreasing. The semiconductor substrate to which the resist is adhered is cleaned by a hydrogen fluoride aqueous solution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device fabrication method, and more particularly to an HF (hydrogen fluoride) cleaning technology used in the fabrication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B of the accompanying drawings depict an acceleration sensor 20 which is formed by processing a silicon substrate. FIG. 1A is a perspective view and FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the 1B-1B line in FIG. 1A.
This acceleration sensor 20 has an outer frame section 1a, a weight section 1b and beam sections 1c. These sections are integrated by processing a silicon substrate 1. The outer frame section 1a supports the weight section 1b formed at the center via the flexible four beams 1c.
On the surface of each beam section 1c, an insulation film 2 made of SiO2 is formed, and piezo resistors 3 are provided on the insulation film 2. The resistance values of the piezo resistors 3 are changed according to the deflection of the beam sections 1c when displacement of the weight section 1b is caused by an acceleration. The piezo resistors 3 are connected to the pads 5 provided on the surface of the outer frame 1a by aluminum wires 4. The pads 5 are provided for connection to external devices.
The surfaces of the insulation film 2, piezo resistors 3 and aluminum wires 4 are protected by a protective film 6. The pads 5 are not protected (covered) by the protective film 6.
The acceleration sensors are fabricated by forming an insulation film 2, piezo resistors 3, aluminum wires 4 and pad 5 for each of many acceleration sensors on the silicon substrate 1, covering each insulation film 2 and other areas by a protective film 6, and removing the silicon between the outer frame section 1a and weight section 1b by etching for each acceleration sensor, so as to from a space between the outer frame section 1a and weight section 1b. The substrate is cut into individual sensors to have the acceleration sensor shown in FIG. 1A.
After forming the space section by etching, cleaning is performed to remove foreign substance attached to the surface of the outer frame section 1a and weight section 1b. This cleaning is performed using HF aqueous solution to remove SiO2 residue. In order to protect the insulation film 2, piezo resistors 3, aluminum wires 4 and pads 5 formed on the silicon substrate 1 from the HF aqueous solution (cleaning solution), the silicon substrate is covered with resist 11, as shown in FIG. 1B, and then the silicon substrate having the resist 11 thereon is dipped into the HF aqueous solution for cleaning.
This acceleration sensor is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2003-139791.
If the cleaning is carried out with the HF aqueous solution, the following problem arises. Because of insufficient adhesion between the silicon substrate 1 and resist 11, HF aqueous solution enters (filters into) the gap between the silicon substrate 1 and the resist 11, etches the insulation film 2, and corrodes the aluminum wires 4. As a result, the HF aqueous solution deteriorates qualities of the product.


Products made using the RIM process where the reaction mixture contains an acidic release agent have improved green strength when the reaction mixture also contains a peralkylated polyalkylene polyamine.

Internal mold release agents used in the production of molded polyurethane and polyurea products are known. Many of the known internal release agents are based at least in part on fatty acid esters. Typical of such release agents are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,726,952, 3,925,527, 4,058,492, 4,098,731, 4,201,847, 4,254,228, 4,868,224 and 4,954,537, and British Patent 1,365,215.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,519,965 and 4,581,386 describe the use of zinc carboxylates as internal mold release agents for the production of molded polyurethane and/or polyurea elastomers.
More recently developed internal mold release agents are also acidic in nature. Typical of such release agents are those based on polymerized fatty acids, lower alkyl aceto-acetates, and esters of saturated/unsaturated monocarboxylic acid mixtures (U.S. application Ser. Nos. 07/698,069, 07/660,759, and 07/697,153, filed on Apr. 22, 1991, Feb. 25, 1991, and May 8, 1991, respectively).
One recurring problem with all of these acidic internal release agents is that they generally cause an increase in the reactivity of the system, while at the same time causing a reduction in the green strength of the resultant molded product. Green strength is a measure (usually subjective) of the ability of a material to be demolded. Green strength is significantly affected by temperature, mold residence time, and part configuration (i.e., simple shapes demold more easily than complex ones), as well as by polymer recipe. U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,861 discloses acidic additives to facilitate mold release of a RIM system and recognized the increased reactivity caused by such additives (note column 3, lines 30 ff). The reference overcame the reactivity problem by combining the acidic additive with a polar metal compound.

Stabilization of RIM systems containing acidic additives


To solve the above problem, a pouch forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a die in which a forming space is recessed inward from a top surface thereof; a partition wall partitioning the forming space into first and second forming spaces; a stripper disposed above the die and configured to descend to contact the die with the pouch film therebetween to fix the pouch film to be seated on a top surface of the die; and an electromagnetic force generation part disposed above the forming space and configured to generate electromagnetic force and configured to apply the electromagnetic force to the forming space.

In general, secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, lithium ion batteries, and lithium ion polymer batteries. Such a secondary battery is being applied to and used in small-sized products such as digital cameras, P-DVDs, MP3Ps, mobile phones, PDAs, portable game devices, power tools, E-bikes, and the like as well as large-sized products requiring high power such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, power storage devices for storing surplus power or renewable energy, and backup power storage devices.
Such a secondary battery is classified into a pouch type secondary battery and a can type secondary battery according to a material of a case accommodating the electrode assembly. In the pouch type secondary battery, an electrode assembly is accommodated in a pouch made of a flexible polymer material. Also, in the can type secondary battery, an electrode assembly is accommodated in a case made of a metal or plastic material.
In general, a pouch that is a case of the pouch type secondary battery is manufactured by drawing a cup part in a pouch film made of a flexible material. Also, an electrode assembly and an electrolyte are accommodated in an accommodation space of the cup part, and then, the cup part is sealed to manufacture a secondary battery.
The pouch includes an upper pouch and a lower pouch. One side of the upper pouch and one side of the lower pouch may be connected to each other. Here, two cup parts may be formed in the upper pouch and the lower pouch, respectively. To manufacture the pouch, the two cup parts are drawn first on the pouch film at positions adjacent to each other, and then, the pouch film is bent so that the two cup parts face each other.
To improve energy efficiency in the secondary battery, an unnecessary volume has to be reduced on the whole. For this, the upper pouch and the lower pouch have to be connected to each other to reduce an area of a non-sealing part on which the sealing is not performed. Here, a width of the non-sealing part is proportional to a distance between the two cup parts. Thus, when the two cup parts are formed in the pouch film at the same time, the two cup parts have to be formed so that the distance therebetween is reduced.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a state before a pouch film 435 is drawn by using a pouch forming apparatus 3 according to the related art.
According to the related art, a pouch film 435 is seated on a die, and a stripper 32 fixes the pouch film 435. Then, the pouch film 435 is stretched by using a punch 33 so as to perform drawing. Here, when the two cup parts 433 are formed, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a partition wall 312 partitioning a forming space of the die 31 into two spaces is provided. Thus, the distance between first and second cup parts 4331 and 4331 is determined by a thickness t1 of the partition wall 312. However, since physical force is applied to the pouch film 435 in the drawing method, the pouch film 435 may be ruptured at a portion thereof seated on the partition wall 312.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a process of drawing the pouch film 435 by using the pouch forming apparatus 3 according to the related art, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a secondary battery 4 including the pouch formed by using the pouch forming apparatus 3.
To prevent the above problem from occurring, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the stripper 32 contacts a top surface of the partition wall 312 as well as a peripheral portion of the forming space with the pouch film 435 therebetween to fix the pouch film 435. However, a top surface of the partition wall 312 has to be secured over a predetermined area so that the stripper 32 contacts the top surface of the partition wall 312. Here, there has been a limit in reducing the thickness t1 of the partition wall 312 by at least 5 mm or more. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 3, there has been a limit in reducing a width D1 of the non-sealing part 4342 by 2.5 mm or more. Also, the top surface of the partition wall 312 has to be flat so that the stripper 32 contacts the partition wall 312. Thus, there is still possibility that the pouch film 435 is ruptured.


The present disclosure relates to a leveling composition for electrodepositing metals. The composition comprises a compound of formula (I):

Metallic copper is an excellent material for chip interconnection due to its advantages such as good electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, low melting point and extensibility. Copper plating is the method of choice for copper interconnection. However, with continued minimization of the chip line width, it becomes harder and harder to deposit copper metal lines without defects. A defect-free copper plating is achieved by integrating seamlessly the plating chemistry, plating tool, and semiconductor chips.
The challenges in acid copper plating have always been 1) leveling effect, 2) said leveling effect over a wide range of aspect ratio (depth:width) preferably found on the same die, 3) achieving the desirable leveling effect at high current densities therefore increasing the manufacturing throughput, 4) levelers that are non-toxic, environmental friendly, 5) levelers that are easily analyzable by conventional means so their concentrations can be monitored and controlled in a plating bath, 6) minimizing by-products which often have detrimental effect on bath stability. The quality of the leveler in an acid copper plating chemistry determines the quality of copper pillars, under bump metallurgy (UBM), redistribution lines (RDLs) as well as its ability to fill through silicon vias (TSVs). Most of the MEMs, LED, and semiconductor customers require flat and smooth surfaces but there are some applications that require convex surfaces. The selection and optimization of electroplating conditions, especially the plating chemistry, play a key role in obtaining desired surface topographies. Many of the users of such plating chemistries are large semiconductor fabs, integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), or packaging houses who typically process semiconductor chips with different geometries, dimensions, including different heights. The fabs and packaging houses are making these semiconductor chips for fabless companies, IDMs and/or end users. Because the design of each and every one of these companies is different, this requires that the plating processes employed by the fabs and packaging houses are versatile and have a wide process window. For example, a fab makes semiconductor chips for fabless companies and IDMs. One of the steps is to electroplate copper pillars with via diameters ranging from about 10 μm to about 200 μm, and the height ranging from about 20 μm to about 150 μm. If the fab could use a single copper plating chemistry to meet all of its customer requirements on feature topography and within die uniformity, it would significantly reduce its manufacturing cost. If the fab uses multiple copper plating chemistries to cover the full range of the feature dimension, it would increase the manufacturing cost because it has to deal with not only a number of different chemistries, but also associated cost for product inventory, process control and maintenance, etc. Currently, in the market, there is no single commercial copper plating chemistry that could produce microchips with a wide range of feature dimensions at high yield, nor could a single commercial copper plating chemistry produce flat or convex topography by simply adjusting the concentration or composition. In addition, not a single commercial copper plating chemistry could produce same topography for features from about 10 um to about 150 um at deposition rate as high as 10 A/dm2 (ASD) or 5 um/min. A typical acid copper plating chemistry includes virgin makeup solution (VMS), which includes a metal salt, an acid, and chloride ion, and organic additives. The content of organic additives is typically very low (at ppm level) but they determine the surface features as well as bulk properties of the electroplated layer. Organic additives can be categorized as suppressor (or wetting agent), leveler (or grain refiner) and accelerator (or brightener). A suppressor acts as a wetting agent which helps to wet the metal surface so plating can take place. During deposition, it suppresses the growth rate of the deposited metal so it can grow by a layer by layer mechanism. Consequently, it results in adhesive, smooth metal surfaces without dendrites. A copper plating bath containing only a suppressor produces a matte or dull surface. To this composition, one can add a leveler. By definition, it levels or fills the "potholes" of the deposited surface in such a way that the height difference between the highest point and the lowest point of a given feature is minimized. In addition, a good leveler also ensures the height difference between the tallest and the shortest bump in a die is minimized. A copper plating bath contains both a suppressor and a leveler produces a surface that is somewhat reflective but not bright. To this composition, one can add an accelerator. By definition, it increases the copper deposition rate at the deposition potential. At the same time, it results in a reflective, shining surface. In semiconductor copper plating, the most critical component is the leveler, because ultimately it determines the within die uniformity, which largely determines the yield. Although choosing the right suppressor is also crucial, especially in the case of copper damascene, the core technology innovation today centers around the leveler for UBM, RDL, copper pillar and TSV plating. This is because taller features and larger dimensions are required for these applications (height 3 um to 100 um, line width 2 um to 20 um, diameter 10 to 100 um), therefore maintaining yield at >99.9% becomes extremely challenging. In addition, when taller copper pillar is required, it is critical to deposit copper at high deposition rate such as 10 ASD (5 um/min) or above so high productivity can be achieved. This allows the manufacturer to reduce the unit cost therefore to maintain its competitiveness. Clearly there is a need for a versatile electrolytic copper deposition chemistry. As described below, the present invention offers such a solution by employing quaternary ammonium salts of dialkylaminoalkyl esters of 10-thiaxanthenecarboxylic acid and its derivatives as levelers. Although there are commercial copper plating baths that could meet one or more of the six challenges mentioned previously, there is none that could meet all six. The composition and method of present invention could as described below.

Leveling composition and method for electrodeposition of metals in microelectronics


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs stored on computer-readable media, for retrieving relevant information content while typing are disclosed. Upon identifying text being entered by a user into a text field of a typing-enabled application, one or more keywords may be determined that match the text. The matching keywords may be presented for selection. Upon receiving a selection of a keyword, an information card related to the selected keyword may be retrieved and presented. In addition to presenting the information card, information content associated with the information card may be inserted into the text field of the typing-enabled application.

Databases often include information about many topics. Users often retrieve content by issuing a query, for example, using natural language or using structured query language (SQL). As data analytics and retrieval techniques rapidly advance, data customization and exchange between users have also become an important part of data analytics delivery.
The present disclosure is directed to addressing one or more of these challenges. The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art, or suggestions of the prior art, by inclusion in this section.

Systems and methods for retrieving relevant information content while typing


The disclosure relates to a traffic scheduling device for scheduling a transmission sequence of data packets, stored in a plurality of traffic flow queues, an eligibility state of each of the traffic flow queues for the scheduling is being maintained in a hierarchical scheduling database describing a relationship among the plurality of traffic flow queues. The traffic scheduling device includes: a plurality of interconnected memory cluster units. Each memory cluster unit is associated to a single or more levels of the hierarchical scheduling database and each memory cluster unit is coupled to at least one co-processors. At least one co-processor is software-programmable to implement a scheduling algorithm. The traffic scheduling device also includes an interface to the plurality of traffic flow queues.

The present disclosure relates to traffic scheduling and to the field of traffic management in telecommunication routers and switch systems, in particular when a high performance, flexible traffic scheduling is required.
One of the key building blocks of a network equipment modern router or switch system for packet switched networks is a hierarchical traffic management unit. A traffic management unit is used in the packet-processing data path to implement Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and associated Quality of Service (QoS) and bandwidth provisioning requirements. A Service Level Agreement is a negotiated agreement between two parties, e.g. a customer and a service provider. The SLA may specify the levels of availability, serviceability, performance, operation, or other attributes of the service, such as billing. Quality of Service is the ability to provide different priorities to different applications, users, or data flows, or to guarantee a certain level of performance to a data flow. For example, a required bit rate, delay, jitter, packet dropping probability and/or bit error rate may be guaranteed. Bandwidth provisioning is the process of measuring and controlling the communications, i.e. traffic and packets, on a network link, to avoid filling the link to capacity or overfilling the link, which would result in network congestion and poor performance of the network.
Traffic management is usually implemented as a standalone IC device or as a hardware block within a Network Processor IC or a Communications processor IC. The traffic management device is constructed from flow queue manager (FQM) that stores a plurality of flow queues and the traffic scheduler that controls the sequence of transmission of packets out of FQM. Prior art high performance traffic schedulers are using hardware configurable engines. The functionality of such hardware traffic scheduler is defined via configuration, it is limited by the finite set of all possible configuration combinations, and therefore hardware traffic schedulers are strongly deficient in flexibility. Frequently, the hardware traffic scheduler fails to address relentlessly emerging network operators' requirements when these exceed the set of all possible configurations. To overcome the shortcoming of the hardware traffic scheduler, a more flexible scheduler is required. Flexibility is achieved by software programmability. A software-based traffic scheduler can be programmed for various scheduling algorithms, unique features and can be further safe updated to support new scheduling algorithms. Unfortunately, prior art software-based traffic schedulers, while addressing the generic flexibility demand, so far are failing to achieve the high performance of hardware traffic schedulers.
In order to describe the disclosure in detail, the following terms, abbreviations and notations will be used:                ALU: Arithmetic Logic co-processor Unit        XALU, X-ALU: Extended Arithmetic Logic co-processor Unit;        MCU: Memory Cluster Unit;        SPE: Scheduling Processor Element;        FQM: Flow Queue Manager;        Mem: Memory;        Node-Cop, NCOP: Node Co-Processor;        Acc-Cop, ACOP: Accounting Co-Processor;        VLIW: Very Long Instruction Word;        RISC: Reduced Instruction Set;        CISC: Complex Instruction Set;        ISA: Instruction Set Architecture;        S/W: Software;        H/W: Hardware;        TMU: Traffic Management Unit;        NPU: Network Processor Unit;        SLA: Service Level Agreement;        QoS: Quality of Service;        IC: Integrated Circuit;        WFQ: weighted fair queuing;        WRR: weighted round robin;        MDRR: modified deficit round robin;        SRAM: static random access memory;        DRAM: dynamic random access memory;        GQ: group level;        SQ: subscriber level;        FQ: flow queues level;        DMA: direct memory access;        RX: Receive;        TX: Transmit;        VLAN: Virtual Local Area Network.


A device for cutting the inner circumferential surface of a thick-walled small diameter pipe comprising a setting means for inserting a core bar having a cutting blade on one end thereof into a pipe to be processed, a rotating means for rotating said pipe to be processed set by the setting means about the axis thereof relative to said core bar, a feed means for cutting the inner surface of said pipe to be processed with said cutting blade while pulling the core bar which is securedly held at the other end thereof relative to said pipe to be processed, and a control means for controlling each of said means, providing a smooth high quality inner surface having excellent proof pressure against internal pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for cutting the inner circumferential surface of a thick-walled small diameter pipe which must be smooth on its inner circumferential surface and more particularly to a device for cutting the inner circumferential surface of a thick-walled small diameter pipe which is used with facility for manufacturing thick-walled small diameter pipes by repeating a process comprising a pipe extension process and a heating process on a pipe to be processed plural times.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A thick-walled small diameter pipe used for a fuel injection pipe of a diesel engine must have a smooth inner surface to reduce the resistance inside the pipe and to prevent the clogging at the injection nozzle. In addition, it is required that defects especially microscopic cracks on the inner circumferential surface of the pipe are reduced in order for the pipe to be able to withstand repetitive fatigue under high pressures.
This type of thick-walled small diameter pipe is made through a cold drawing process comprising repetitive pipe extension processes and heating processes performed on a pipe to be processed (original carbon steel pipe). The pipe to be processed has a black skin layer including cracks and concave puckers thereon because it is a seamless pipe and made through a cold drawing process. In this case, even if a process for removing the black skin layer is performed on the pipe to be processed using chemical means such as an acidic liquid, it is difficult to completely remove the black skin layer to modify the inner circumferetial surface of the pipe to be processed into a uniform steel skin surface and the black skin layer often remains.
This can result in clogging of the nozzle due to a part of the black skin layer that peels off when such a pipe is used as a fuel injection pipe for a diesel engine.
The applicant has proposed in examined Japanese patent publication No. 51-21391 a method of manufacturing a thick-walled small diameter carbon steel pipe wherein, in forming a pipe to be processed into a thick-walled small diameter pipe, a black skin layer on the inner circumferential surface of the pipe to be processed is removed in advance (hereinafter referred to as initial internal machining) by a mechanical means (mechanical cutting or grinding) to modify the entire surface inside the pipe into a steel skin. The proposed method makes it possible to obtain a thick-walled small diameter carbon steel pipe having an inner circumferential surface which is highly smooth and excellent in circularity and uniformity and which has substantially no black skin layer on the inner surface thereof.
With the initial internal machining method according to the above-described proposal, it is possible to remove almost all the black skin layer, impurities, puckers and flaws that are left on an inner circumferential surface of a pipe to be processed which is manufactured through a hot rolling process. However, if the pipe to be processed is very uneven in thickness and is very eccentric, some of such defects may remain and, in addition, it is not possible to eliminate, during the manufacturing method for a thick-walled small diameter pipe, the defects which are newly introduced during a subsequent pipe extension process performed on the pipe to be processed.
In the manufacture of this type of thick-walled small diameter pipe, concave puckers are produced on the inner circumferential surface of a pipe to be processed during a pipe extension process conducted on the pipe to be processed after initial internal machining. The puckers then close and change to microscopic cracks. Even if the black skin layer is removed using the internal machining according to the above proposed method, cracks of sizes up to 8 .mu.m may be produced. If the above-described initial machining is not carried out, cracks of sizes up to 300 .mu.m may be produced. Further, pipes to be processed are frequently uneven in thickness and eccentric because they are manufactured through a hot rolling process. Such pipes to be processed have been cut in a manner such as represented by gun drill process which is one of the methods of deep hole processing wherein a cutting tool is pushed into a pipe to be processed fixed on a jig while it is being rotated. (This process uses a tool referred to as gun drill which is aimed at obtaining the linearity of a hole, and this technique has been used in order to prevent the hole processed from becoming eccentric and curving.) Since the cutting is carried out while pushing the tool, great cutting resistance is exerted on the tool and the process can not be continued due to the deflection of an arbor caused by the pushing force unless the thickness of the arbor is increased. When a thick arbor is used to improve rigidity, the tool may advance straight without copying the inner circumferential surface of a pipe to be processed which is eccentric due to uneven thickness. In this case, a black skin layer may remain uncut even if a tool thicker than the inner diameter is used.

Apparatus for cutting inner circumferential surface of thick walled small diameter pipe