A multi-lumen stent assembly (100) for deployment in a bifurcated vessel. This assembly is made of a self-expandable main body component (200) and two lumen extensions (300), able to be inserted into one of the lumens of a double-barrelled portion (208) of the main body component (200). The main body component (200) has a proximal end (201) configured to be placed toward the heart and a distal end (202). The main body component (200) has a main body portion (203), a concaved portion (206), and a transition portion (205). The main body portion (203) has a cylindrical lumen (204) of constant diameter. The concaved portion (206) has a double-barrelled portion (208) having two lumens (211). A cross-section of the transition portion (205) evolving from a circular shape to an elliptical shape towards the transition portion (205), a larger diameter of this shape being in a central plane (CP).

Aneurysm is a localized pathological dilation of the wall of a vessel, which is formed as a results of degenerative processes of the arterial wall being subjected to exceptionally high levels of shear stress. Shear stress is the drag force of blood as the blood flows over a vessel wall. A combination of this drag force and genetic predisposition can initiate an aneurysm. Once aneurysm is formed, abnormal hemodynamic patterns, such as turbulent flow, which amplifies oscillatory shear stress acting on one area of the wall as a peak of wall shear stress (PWSS) (FIGS. 1 and 2). Area of the PWSS may weaken the wall and leads eventually to rupture and death.
Aneurysm of the aorta primarily occurs in the abdominal region, usually in the infrarenal area between the renal arteries and the aortic-iliac bifurcation. Aneurysm can also occur in the thoracic region between the artic arch and renal arteries.
Thoracoabdominal bifurcated aneurysm 1 (TABA) results from continuous dilation of the descending thoracic aorta extending into the abdominal aorta involving iliac arteries 2 (FIG. 3). It may be identified incidentally or due to the present with symptoms secondary to aneurysm expansion. Generally, the mortality of this type of untreated aneurysm is high. Present treatments for the thoracoabdominal aneurysm is challenging by the presence of visceral 3 and renal 4 branches. Currently, the available techniques of treatments, as open surgery or fenestrated stent-graft, are not the optimal solution due to the high rate of complications.
Generally, open surgical repair of thoracoabdominal bifurcated aneurysm (TABA) is considered as the first option for those who are medically fit. Kim I. de la Cruz, et.al describes in an article, "Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair with a branched graft", Ann Cardiotborac Surg 2012; 1(3): 381-393, an operative method consisting of proximal and distal control of the aneurysm, followed by its incision to simultaneously expose the origin of all four major intra-abdominal arteries and replacement of the diseased or damaged section of vessel with a vessel graft 5 including anastomosis of major intra-abdominal arteries, which is usually unsupported impermeable woven tube. The vessel graft 5 is then permanently attached and sealed to ends of the native vessel by suture (FIG. 4). Despite of careful case selection, high mortality rates with such conventional surgical repair are reported because of the highly traumatic operation including both of laparotomy and thoracotomy.
Endovascular prosthesis 6 is often taken as alternative option for patients who are unfit to withstand either laparotomy or thoracotomy. Typically, these prosthesis for aortic aneurysms are delivered collapsed in a catheter through the femoral artery. These prostheses are usually designed with an impermeable fabric material co-attached with a metallic frame (i.e., stent-graft), which expands or is expanded to contact the internal diameter of vessel. However, an open surgery is still required for a debranching 7 and bypass 8 operation of arteries prior to the endovascular grafting in order to secure a blood flow into main arteries such as renal and visceral and to prevent a reflux therefrom, as described by Hiratzka et al in "2010 ACCF/AHA/ACR/ASA/SCA/SCAI/SIR/STS/SVM Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Thoracic Aortic Disease", Circulation 2010; 121 e266-e369 (FIG. 5).
WO97/12562 discloses a branching endoluminal stent-graft having Y-connector module including two branch lumens. Two branching prosthetic modules engages the branch lumens so as to separates the blood flow for the iliac arteries. Since the described stent-graft includes liners which are impermeable, it is not possible to use it for treating an aortic aneurysm involving visceral 3 and renal 4 branches.
Fenestrated and branched stent-grafts have been introduced to overcome the problems associated with the endovascular grafting involving the open debranching and bypass operation, and to offer a potentially less invasive method. For example, United States Published Patent Application 2010/0023110 discloses a fenestrated stent-graft 9 used in conjunction with flaring stent-grafts as branches (FIG. 6). By positioning the fenestrations or branches of the stent-graft 9 at the front of the corresponding branches inlets, the open surgery can be avoided. However, highly skilled operators are required for the adequate positioning and deployment. Furthermore, such fenestrated and branched stent-grafts must be custom-made to fit each patient's anatomy. Additionally, it is known that spinal cord ischemia caused by incidentally covering intercostal arteries with a stent-graft can lead to paraplegia and expose the patient to X-ray for long period of 90 minutes. The incidence of both immediate and delayed paraplegia in patients undergoing endovascular can be as high as 12% of cases compared with 2% to 21% after open repair as reported by Chiesa et al in "Spinal cord ischemia after elective stent-graft repair of the thoracic aorta", (Journal of Vascular Surgery, vol. 42, N.1, July 2005).
A new type of aneurysm repair system with a multilayer braided stent 10 (MBS) as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,588,597 and 8,192,484 was recently introduced by Frid et al. The repair system consists of a bare self-expandable metal stent in a straight configuration devoid of any impermeable cover layer. MBS consists of a plurality of interconnected layers (i.e., multilayer structure) formed by braiding a plurality of wires. Each of these layers is interlaced to form a lattice and provides a wall of the MBS with an optimized porosity. Instead of mechanically/physically keeping out the blood flow from the aneurysm, MBS 10 lets the blood flow into the aneurysm sac through its multilayer structure, converts an undesired damaging turbulence in the aneurysmal sac into a smooth laminar flow 11 (FIG. 7), and results in excluding the aneurysm by forming a protecting organized thrombus 12, known as layers of Zhan (FIG. 8), while keeping the branches and collaterals patent. Thanks to the permeable multilayer structure of MBS, the repair system does require neither open debranching and bypass procedure nor custom-made fenestrated/branched configuration for maintaining a blood flow in branches located within or near aneurysm.
However, the conventional straight multilayer braided stent (MBS) described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,597 or 8,192,484 is not ideal to treat the thoracoabdominal bifurcated aneurysm 1 (TABA). For example, two straight MBS having different diameters may be used for treatment of TABA. A first straight MBS 13 having a large diameter may be placed from the aortic to one iliac through the aortic-iliac bifurcation and a second straight MBS 14 having small diameter from the aortic-iliac bifurcation to the other iliac as shown in FIG. 9. However, since an adequate landing zone at the beginning of the small MBS 14 is missing, undesired migration of the small MBS 14 may occur after implantation. Furthermore, the gap may occur between the first straight MBS 13 and the small MBS 14, resulting in lack of sealing.
There is another possible use of the conventional straight MBS which consists of a main straight MBS 15 and two small MBSs 16 positioning inside the main MBS, namely kissing technique (FIGS. 10 to 12). This configuration causes undesired turbulent flow 17 as shown in FIG. 11.
Accordingly, there is a need for new design of prosthesis, systems and methods that manufacture the prosthesis, the prosthesis being able to exclude a thoracoabdominal bifurcated aneurysm (TABA) while maintaining the blood flow of branches and collaterals located around and within the aneurysm.

Stent assembly for thoracoabdominal bifurcated aneurysm repair


A nucleic acid-delivery vehicle for delivering nucleic acids to target cells is provided. The nucleic acid-delivery vehicle comprises a plurality of nanoparticles; and a plurality of nucleic acids. The nanoparticles and the nucleic acids are agglomerated to form a nucleic acid-granulation particle having a dimension of at least 5 nm. Methods of making the nucleic acid-delivery vehicle and kits comprising nucleic acid-delivery vehicle are also provided.

A variety of techniques are currently available for in vitro delivery of nucleic acids to cells and organelles, such as, transfection, microinjection, and electroporation. However, most of these techniques are not suitable for delivering nucleic acids or genes in vivo.
Receptor-mediated gene transfer is often used for introducing nucleic acids into suitable recipient cells, both in vitro and in vivo. This procedure involves attachment of nucleic acids to a ligand through a polycationic protein (usually poly-L-lysine), wherein the ligand is selected to target a specific receptor on the cell surface. Upon incubation with the recipient cells, the nucleic acids are delivered to the recipient cells through a receptor-mediated uptake mechanism. However, the expression level of the introduced transgene is dependent on several highly variable factors, such as, the stability of the nucleic acid-ligand complex, the presence and number of specific receptors on the recipient cell surface, or the receptor-ligand interaction.
As such, there is a need for a nucleic acid delivery vehicle that is stable enough to transfer sufficient amount of nucleic acids to the cells and a need for a consistent and reliable method for facilitating delivery of the vehicle. Although there exists a potential method that could be used for nucleic acid delivery to the cell, which is known as 'biolistic' nucleic acid delivery, this method does not reproducibly suited for existing protocols for preparing nucleic acid coated particles. The biolistic method is based on mechanical delivery of nucleic acid-coated particles into the cells or organelles using high-pressure-air propelled. Biolistic nucleic acid delivery is typically used for stable or transient transformation of nucleic acids to cells, and this delivery method is more suitable for delivery of plasmids and large nucleic acid fragments. Currently used nucleic acid-coated particles for biolistic delivery suffers from three disadvantages: 1) the amount of nucleic acids associated to each particle is less, and previous attempts to increase nucleic acids to each particle resulted aggregation of the particles; and 2) the loss of nucleic acids from the particles while the particles traverse through multiple layers of cells, and 3) the inability of the delivered nucleic acid to be localized into a cell, or into the nucleus of a cell. Thus, developing better nucleic acid-coated particles via more robust and reliable protocols is highly desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nucleic acid delivery vehicle and uses thereof


A separable tag for bags or other containers, each tag comprising a laminar tag-like member having a series of layers, generally an upper and lower layer, the upper layer containing print material such as for functioning as a coupon, and it is adhesively applied but peelable from a bottom layer of the tag that is securely affixed to the packaged food product. The tags may be formed continuously, but pull free at a line of perforation, when applied manually or by machine to the bags.

This invention relates generally to a laminar tag that is separable, and can display coupon terminology, advertisement, bar code, or any other marketing information that desirably is applied to the bag or container, but which laminar tag can be separated, as when used as a coupon, for the benefit of the customer.
The variety of tags, and labels, or other informational displaying labeling material have long been utilized in the art, and appended either directly to their containers, or clipped onto the upper crimped or twisted edges of their bags, after the products have been supplied therein by the manufacturer.
For example, the patent to Swett, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,021,630, shows a marking device for application to a fowl, or the like. It includes a marking apparatus, which receives a labeling strip; the label is brought into the vicinity of the limb of the fowl, as noted, and appended thereto as a printed tag that displays indicia or other pertinent information relative to the chicken or other fowl being processed.
The patent to Dunsirn, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,838, shows a Coupon Structure and Method of Using the Same. As disclosed, the coupon includes a removable top sheet, and apparently upon which the coupon print is applied. A second layer includes a transparent layer of dry residue adhesive. There is then applied a pressure sensitive layer, which apparently allows for the coupon to be applied to the surface of the carton, as noted.
The patent to Niedecker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,344, discloses a Tag Strip with Perforations and Staple Engaging Means. This does not show a separable type of coupon, but it does disclose a type of tag that can be crimped or applied to the upper end of a bag, once filled.
The patent to Principe, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,384, shows a Composite Label for Use in Couponing. The composite label includes a sheet of printable label material, a sheet of underlay material, a coating of adhesive releaseably adhering the label material to the underlay, and includes printed indicia on the underlay material, and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive on the underside of the underlay material, in forming the tag. Multiple laminations of material are required to complete the composite label of this disclosed invention.
The patent to Morgan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,657, shows a Tamper-indicating Label.
The patent to Lowe, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,495, shows a Twist Tie Article. It is a tag for applying to the upper end of produce, such as the carrots as noted.
The patent to Lapp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,356, shows a Retail Promotion Display and Coupon System for Food and Beverage Containers. This device is for sliding over the top of a bottle, by extending the neck of the bottle through an opening in the system, as noted.
The patent to Larsen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,255, shows a Banding and Tagging Method for Products.
The patent to Cochran, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,676, shows a Hand Tag with Detachable Coupon Portion. This particular tag is a form of hanger, has a thin flat sheet of synthetic resin material, a coupon thereon, but the coupon is joined by a perforated joint, where it is inserted.
These are examples of what the prior art discloses relative to the subject matter of this current invention.

Separable tag for bags or other containers


Buoyancy unit for use on a riser for sub sea applications, particularly for great depths, with a clamp 11 to be tensioned around the riser 16, and with a tensioning member 18 to damp the clamp 11. Buoyancy bodies 26, 27 are provided to engage with the clamp 11, said clamp 11 having at least one arched element 12-15 providing an annular structure to enclose the riser and to be pressed thereto with a tensioning strap 18. The buoyancy bodies 26, 27 are attached to the arched segments, The clamp 11 is cast from of a concrete material where at least the outer shell or layer is provided to prevent the intrusion of water, the casting of the clamp preferably containing powdered aplite.

The invention relates to a clamping device for attaching buoyancy bodies to a riser at offshore petroleum installations.
To reduce the weight of flexible risers in water; buoyancy modules are attached along the tube. Such buoyancy modules are manufactured of a buoyancy material, e.g. epoxy-resin, microglass and larger hollow plastic spheres. Such buoyancy modules typically have a specific weight of 0.35-0.45 and are dimensioned for depths of 500-2000 meters. The size is normally adapted to provide a net buoyancy of 500-2000 kg.
To attach buoyancy modules, clamping devices are coupled to the riser. The buoyancy module is then attached to the clamping device on the riser. The buoyancy is then transferred to the riser via the clamping device. With safety factor considered, such a clamping device should be dimensioned to take an axial load of 5-10 tons.
Such clamp should satisfy several, partly contradicting criterias:                It should be mechanically stable over a lifespan of 20-25 years        It should have a certain elasticity to compensate for expansion/contraction of the riser (due to changes in the internal pressure/temperature of the riser)        It should be applicable to risers with relatively large tolerances in the outer diameter (typically +/−5%)        The materials should not be influenced by hydrostatic pressure.
This combination of demands is difficult to satisfy.
The coupling between the clamp and the riser is dependant on the surface friction of the contact surface between the clamp and the riser. Due to the structure and the material composition of the riser, a frictional coefficient of only 0.07 between the clamp and the riser is allowed. This requires a relatively high clamping force on the riser to achieve sufficient capacity.
The clamping device is typically manufactured with three-four segments and are clamped with a strap. This strap should be sufficiently flexible to allow for the changes in diameter occurring. The clamping force of the strap may typically be 20-80 tons, depending on the calculated force of the clamp.
Known clamping devices are mainly manufactured of polymeric material. A problem with such material is that the combination of relatively high exploitation of the material and relatively high temperatures will involve plasticity flow. Such flow involves dimensional changes reducing the holding capacity. To solve this problem, the clamping device can be made larger to reduce the tension, but this is undesirable.
From UK patent specification 2288205 (CRP Group 1995) a clamping device with two or more arched gripping elements with pressure elastic surface of contact or rigid gripping elements covered with a pressure elastic layer, is known. It is proposed to manufacture this clamping device of a foam material to provide buoyancy without additional bodies. To fasten this clamping device to the riser, a strap of metal is utilized.
The disadvantage of such a clamping device is the flow and deformation of the polymeric materials due to high tension in combination with high temperature.
From UK patent specification 2286649 (Balmoral 1995) a riser clamp is known, in which two internal substantially semicircular elements with series of annular ribs attached are forced against the riser with a strap of metal or a composite. The buoyancy elements are attached to the ribs.
A disadvantage of such clamping device, are the grooves in the contacting face of the clamp, to increase the desired holding force. Such holding means are not acceptable due to the risk of damaging the riser. Polymer material has been used in the clamping elements, with the risk of flow and deformation.
WO-Publication 2004090348 (Balmoral Group 2004) teaches the use of a shell around the riser and applying tension with a strap, the shell carrying ribs for attaching buoyancy bodies.
A disadvantage when using clamps of polymeric material, is the plasticity flow.


An input/output control unit which provides a large amount of input/output address space divisible into areas each of which is a multiple of the system memory management unit page size and thus may be allotted to only one of the individual application programs using a computer system by an input/output device driver. The control unit is able to determine from command addresses provided by the application programs both the application program which is involved in the operation and the address area which has been allotted solely to that application program. This use of these addresses in the input/output address space which have been allotted solely to one application program allows the application programs to write directly to the input/output devices while still maintaining the integrity of the system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to improving the security of operations performed utilizing input/output devices in a new input/output architecture for computer systems.
2. History of the Prior Art
In the 1960s, International Business Machines (IBM) and Control Data Corporation (CDC) produced mainframe computers with architectures in which a central processing unit (CPU) controlled program manipulation and separate input/output processors (called channel processors or peripheral processor units) controlled input/output operations. The input/output processors used instruction sets which allowed them to carry out the somewhat limited functions designated by commands placed in memory by the central processing unit. For example, the input/output processors knew how to access data on disk and place data on an output display. This form of architecture made, and in some cases still makes, a great deal of sense. At that time, central processing units were very expensive; and using the central processing unit to accomplish input/output operations was very wasteful. Neither the CDC nor the IBM input/output processors were as powerful as the central processing unit and thus could be produced relatively inexpensively. These architectures allowed individual computers to be built to emphasize operations by the central processing unit or operations by the input/output devices. By building a faster central processing unit, the main processing functions could be made to go faster; while by building faster input/output processors, the input/output operations could be accelerated.
As an example of this type of operation, in the IBM system, the central processing unit would signal which input/output operation it desired by writing channel commands to main memory and signaling a channel processor that there was something for it to do. The channel processor would read those commands and proceed to execute them without aid from the central processing unit. If an input/output processor was instructed to do something, it would do it. As long as the operation was safe, there was no problem. Unfortunately, if the operation was something prohibited like reformatting the hard disk which contained the basic operating system, the input/output processor would also do that.
These architectures were designed to allow programs to time share (multi-task) the central processing unit. With an operating system which allows multi-tasking, it is necessary to protect the resources allotted to one application program from operations conducted by other application programs so that, for example, one program cannot write to memory over the space utilized by another program. An important part of this protection is accomplished by keeping application programs from writing directly to portions of the system where they might cause harm such as main memory or the input/output devices. Since the input/output processors would do whatever they were instructed in the IBM and CDC systems, it was necessary to limit access to these input/output processors to trusted code, generally operating system code and device drivers, in order to preclude application programs from undertaking operations which would interfere with other application programs or issuing commands which would wreak havoc with the system. Apart from any other problems, writing directly to the input/output devices creates a security problem in a multi-tasking system because the ability to write to and read from input/output devices such as the frame buffer means an application program may read what other programs have written to the device. For these reasons, both the IBM and CDC architectures kept any but privileged operating system code from writing to operating system memory and to the input/output devices.
In 1971, the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP11 computer appeared. In the original embodiment of this architecture, all of the components of the computer are joined to a system backplane bus. The central processing unit and any other component of the computer (except main memory) addresses each other component as though it were an address in memory. The addresses for the various hardware components including input/output devices simply occupy a special part of the memory address space. Only the address itself indicates that a component is a device such as an input/output device which is other than memory. When the central processing unit wants to accomplish an input/output operation, it simply writes or reads addresses assigned to the particular input/output device in memory address space. This architecture allows all of the operations available to the central processing unit to be utilized in accomplishing input/output operations and is, therefore, quite powerful. Moreover, this allows the input/output operations to be accomplished without the need for special commands or for special resources such as input/output processors. It also allows the use of very simple input/output controllers which typically amount to no more than a few registers.
As with the earlier IBM and CDC architectures and for the same reasons, writing to the input/output devices directly by other than trusted code is prohibited by the PDP11 operating systems. The PDP11 architecture, like some of its predecessors, incorporates a memory management unit designed to be used by an operating system to allow the addressing of virtual memory. Virtual memory addressing provides access to much greater amounts of memory than are available in main memory by assigning virtual addresses to data wherever it may be stored and translating those virtual addresses to physical addresses when the data is actually accessed. Since operating systems use memory management units to intercept virtual addresses used by the central processing unit in order to accomplish the virtual-to-physical address translation, operating systems may simply provide no virtual-to-physical translations of any input/output addresses in the memory management unit for application programs. Without a mapping in the memory management unit to the physical addresses of input/output devices, the application program is required to use a trusted intermediary such as a device driver in order to operate on an input/output device in the PDP11 architecture.
Thus, in a typical computer system based on the PDP11 architecture, only trusted code running on the central processing unit addresses input/output devices. Although this architecture allows all of the facilities of the central processing unit to be used for input/output, it requires that the operating system running on the central processing unit attend to all of the input/output functions. When an application program desires to accomplish an input/output operation, it executes a subroutine call into the operating system library code. This subroutine performs an explicit trap into the operating system kernel. As a part of the trap, the operating system changes the memory management unit to create mappings to the device registers. The operating system kernel translates the virtual name used for the input/output device by the application program into the name of a device driver. The operating system kernel does a permission check to ensure that the application is permitted to perform this operation. If the application is permitted to perform the operation, the operating system kernel calls the device driver for the particular input/output resource. The input/output device driver actually writes the command for the operation to the registers of the input/output hardware which are now mapped by the memory management unit. The input/output device responds to the command by conducting the commanded operation and then generates signals which indicate whether the operation has succeeded or failed. The input/output device generates an interrupt to the device driver to announce completion of the operation. The device driver reads the signals in the registers of the input/output device and reports to the operating system the success or failure of the operation. Then the operating system returns from the trap with the success or failure indication, restores the mappings for the application and thus removes the mappings for the device registers, and ultimately returns from the subroutine call reporting the success or failure of the operation to the unprivileged code of the application.
This sequence of steps must take place on each operation conducted using input/output resources. The process is inordinately long and slows the operation of the computer. Moreover, in contrast to earlier systems, in this architecture, there is no process by which the input/output performance of the system can be increased except by increasing the speed of the central processing unit or the input/output bus. This is an especial problem for programs which make heavy use of input output/devices. Video and game programs which manipulate graphics extensively and make extensive use of sound suffer greatly from the lack of input/output speed. Many games simply avoid multitasking operating systems such as windows systems. In general, games must be operated in single tasking systems such as Microsoft DOS which allows an unlimited form of writing directly to the input/output devices while sacrificing the integrity of the system.
It is very desirable to provide a new architecture which allows input/output operations to proceed at a faster speed so that application programs which make significant use of the input/output components may function in the advanced multi-tasking operating systems without sacrificing system integrity.
One of the important aspects of maintaining system integrity is that operations being conducted by one application program be clearly distinguishable from operations conducted by any other application program. If operations of different application programs are clearly distinguishable from one another, then the operations of different application programs may be kept from interfering with one another. Typically, the operating system provides the means by which the operations are distinguished. However, if in order to enhance the speed of operation of a computer system application programs are allowed to write directly to input/output devices, this method of distinguishing operations cannot be used.
It is desirable to provide new arrangements by which the operations of different application programs are made clearly distinguishable from one another and by which applications are kept from interfering with one another.

System for determining from a command storing in a storage circuit an application program which has initiated the command to determine an input/output device address


A scanning probe microscope is used to fabricate a gate or other feature of a transistor by scanning a silicon substrate in which the transistor is to be formed. An electric field is created between the cantilever tip and the silicon substrate, thereby causing an oxide layer to be formed on the surface of the substrate. As the tip is scanned across the substrate the electric field is switched on and off so that an oxide pattern is formed on the silicon. Preferably, the oxide pattern is formed on a deposited layer of amorphous silicon. Extremely small features, e.g., a MOSFET gate having a length of 0.2 .mu.m or less can be fabricated by this technique.

The progress of integrated circuit technology has been marked by a continuing reduction in the size of individual devices on each semiconductor chip. Smaller devices yield the dual advantages of greater packing density and increased speed. One of the principal problems currently facing engineers and scientists in the integrated circuit (IC) field is the development of techniques for defining smaller features on the surface of the chip. As is well known, features have conventionally been defined using a photoresist which is exposed, through a mask, to some form of light radiation. Initially, visible light was used, but the desire for smaller feature size has led to the use of UV light and x-rays. However, the minimum feature size that is feasible using optical lithography is approximately 0.2 .mu.m. Currently, development efforts are under way to achieve a transistor which has a gate length of 0.2 .mu.m or less. Thus, a technique is needed for defining features having sizes within this range.

Method of fabricating transistor or other electronic device using scanning probe microscope

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford, Jr.


A method of making a semiconductor device by forming bumps on pads of a test piece. The method includes a fastening process of pouring a bump material including a liquid and a plurality of individual pump materials toward a target face of a mask substrate, the mask substrate having a plurality of holding holes, and making bump materials to become fastened to the holding holes; a removing process of removing the individual bump materials remaining on the target face from the target face; and a compression process of compressing the pads of the test piece from the side of the target face of the mask substrate toward the mask substrate so as to bond the individual bump materials onto the pads. By this method, micro bump materials can be accurately attached onto pads on a silicon wafer, or the like, and the size of the mask substrate can be easily increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bump forming method and system, and in particular, relates to a system for forming bumps on a semiconductor wafer such as a silicon wafer or a semiconductor chip such as a silicon chip, with high positional accuracy.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-126872, filed Apr. 22, 2004, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional semiconductor devices such as ICs, LSIs, and VLSIs, bumps are formed at specific positions (typically, on pads) on a silicon wafer by printing, ball-bump forming, plating, transfer, wire-bonding, or the like. For example, in transfer, an attracting plate is used for attracting solder or gold balls, and the attracted balls are compressed onto pads on a silicon wafer, so as to form bumps on the pad (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-258012).
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a concrete example of a bump forming method using a conventional attracting method. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 21 indicates a silicon wafer, reference numeral 22 indicates a stage on which the silicon wafer 21 is placed; reference numeral 23 indicates a chuck (i.e., a fastening device) for fastening the silicon wafer 21 onto the stage 22, reference numeral 24 indicates gold balls (i.e., bump materials), reference numeral 25 indicates an attracting and compressing plate (i.e., an attracting and compressing device) for performing vacuum attraction and ultrasonic compression of the gold balls 24, and reference numeral 26 indicates a finishing plate for pressing the gold balls 24 so as to provide a specific shape to each ball.
The structure of the attracting and compressing plate 25 will be explained with reference to FIG. 9. As shown in the figure, a panel plate 31 has a flat plane 31a (which is a major plane) on which concave portions 32, each having an approximately hemispherical shape, for attracting and holding the gold balls 24 are formed, where the positions of the concave portions 32 respectively correspond to the positions of the pads formed on the silicon wafer 21. A passage 33, an end of which is connected to each concave portion 32, is formed through the plate 31, where the other end of passage is connected to a vacuum pump or the like, which is used in vacuum attraction of the gold balls 24.
When forming gold balls 24 on the pads on the silicon wafer 21, first, the attracting and compressing plate 25 is brought close to the gold balls 24, and the inside of each concave portion 32 is decompressed via the passage 33 by using a vacuum pump or the like, so that each gold ball 24 is attracted into the concave portion 32. In the next step, the attracting and compressing plate 25 is moved above the silicon wafer 21 so that the plate 31 is brought close to the silicon wafer 21. As a result, each gold ball 24, which has been attracted to the concave portion of the attracting and compressing plate 25, is placed onto the silicon wafer 21. In the following step, ultrasonic waves having a specific frequency are applied to the plate 31 so as to vibrate each gold ball 24 and directly compress and bond the gold ball onto the aluminum pad, thereby producing a bump.
Recently, the pitch between pads on a semiconductor device is made shorter, that is, recent devices have fine pitches, so that micro balls to be attracted onto such pads are required. However, in a conventional bump forming method by attraction, the attraction process may repeatedly fail, thereby degrading the yield rate. More specifically, two or three balls 24 may be attracted into a single concave portion 32, or some balls 24 may fall from the concave portions 32; therefore, the success rate of transfer of balls 24 may be reduced and the yield rate of products may also be reduced.
In addition, micro balls 24 tend to fly in air flow, like powder, and also tend to attach to each other by static electricity; thus, it is very difficult to handle them.

Method of making a semiconductor device using bump material including a liquid


Disclosed is a process for an advertising bidding system in which advertisers can bid on advertising time slots or enhanced ads that can be inserted in either prerecorded or live television programming. A high degree of flexibility is provided by allowing embedded ads to be purchased and displayed in a very short time period. This allows TV broadcasters to increase revenues and allows advertisers to have more flexibility in advertising. Objects can be inserted in the display video broadcast using enhancements such as by using mark-up language overlay pages or by video combination techniques. The effect of these ads can be evaluated for advertising campaigns.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to TV advertising and more specifically to methods of selling TV advertising using an auctioning method.
b. Description of the Background
TV advertising has typically been sold in time slots, such as 30-second time slots or 1-minute time slots that are scheduled during breaks in the TV programming. These breaks may be prescheduled at certain times during prerecorded programs or may be scheduled instantaneously, at various times, during live programming such as sporting events.
Scheduled advertising is budgeted and paid for well in advance of the airing of the television programs. For example, advertising slots are typically assigned months in advance of the airing of the program. This is true for both live and prerecorded programming.
Such long required lead times limit the flexibility of advertisers and broadcasters for various changing conditions such as budget changes, changes in the popularity or interest in programs and other such factors. As a result, advertisers may be required to purchase advertising spots for programs that later turn out to be unpopular, or be limited in the amount of advertising spots that they can purchase for programs that later turn out to be popular. Additionally, interest may change even during the airing of a program. For example, lopsided or very close scores during a sporting event may cause a change in public interest. Both advertisers and television broadcasters suffer from reduced revenues as a result of these disadvantages.

Advertising methods for advertising time slots and embedded objects


A clutch transmission, in particular a dual clutch transmission, includes a hydraulic circuit for actuating and/or cooling the clutch transmission. The hydraulic circuit includes at least one cooler for cooling a hydraulic medium conveyed by at least one pump, wherein a bypass with a thermostatic bypass valve is associated with the cooler. The thermostatic bypass valve has hereby three switching positions, wherein it can be moved to a first switching position by a spring force, from the first switching position to the second switching position by a thermal element against the spring force and from the second switching position to a third switching position against the spring force by a pressure difference exceeding a predeterminable limit value.

The invention relates to a clutch transmission, in particular a dual-clutch transmission, with a hydraulic circuit for controlling and cooling the clutch transmission, in particular the dual-clutch transmission, in particular of a motor vehicle, with two clutch cylinders and a plurality of switching cylinders which can preferably be actuated from both sides.
Dual clutch transmissions are preferably used in passenger cars. A dual clutch transmission generally includes two coaxially disposed transmission input shafts, which are each associated with a sub-transmission. A clutch is associated with each of the transmission input shafts, via which the transmission input shaft of the respective sub-transmission can be frictionally coupled to the output of an engine, preferably an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. A first of the two sub-transmissions typically includes the odd gears, whereas a second of the two sub-transmissions includes the even gears and the reverse gear.
Typically, one of the sub-transmissions is active while driving, which means that the transmission input shaft associated with this sub-transmission is coupled to the engine via its associated clutch. A gear providing a current gear ratio is engaged in the active sub-transmission. A controller determines whether the next higher or next lower gear is to be engaged depending on the driving situation. This gear which is probably used next is selected in the second, inactive sub-transmission. When changing gears, the clutch of the inactive sub-transmission is engaged, while the clutch of the active portion is disengaged. Preferably, opening the clutch of the active sub-transmission and closing the clutch of the inactive sub-transmission overlap so that the flow of force from the engine to the drive shaft of the motor vehicle is interrupted not at all or only briefly. As a result of the gear change, the previously active sub-transmission becomes inactive, while the previously inactive sub-transmission becomes the active sub-transmission. Thereafter, the gear expected to be used next can be engaged in the now inactive sub-transmission.
The gears are engaged and disengaged via elements, preferably via the shift rails that are actuated by hydraulic cylinders, also known as switching cylinders, which have already been mentioned above. The hydraulic cylinders are preferably formed as double-acting hydraulic cylinders, in particular synchronous cylinders or differential cylinders, so that preferably two gears may be associated with each switching cylinder. Alternatively, single-acting hydraulic cylinders may also be provided. The hydraulic cylinders operating the elements, in particular the shift rails, are also referred to as gear selector cylinders. A gear selector cylinder designed as a synchronous cylinder to which in particular two gears are assigned, has preferably three switching positions, wherein in a first switching position a first defined gear is engaged, in a second switching position another defined gear is engaged, and in a third switching position none of the two above-mentioned gears is engaged.
The clutches associated with the two sub-transmissions are also hydraulically actuated, Le. closed or opened. Preferably, the clutches each close when hydraulic pressure is applied, whereas they open when no hydraulic pressure is applied, i.e. when pressure is relieved in a hydraulic cylinder associated with the respective clutch which is also referred to as clutch cylinder, as mentioned above.
In addition, the operation of a dual clutch transmission is known per se and will therefore not be discussed here in detail.
The structure and the operation described in the preceding paragraphs apply preferably also to or are related to the subject matter of the invention.
As already indicated, dual clutch transmissions are controlled or regulated as well as cooled by a hydraulic circuit. This hydraulic circuit, or subassemblies thereof, and methods associated therewith are the object of the invention.
Conventional clutch transmissions as disclosed, for example, in the European patent EP 1 486 693 131, also include a cooler for cooling the hydraulic medium pumped by a pump. Under cold ambient conditions, a thermostatic bypass valve is provided in the cooler for a rapid warm-up of the clutch transmission. In the conventional clutch transmission, the hydraulic medium should therefore not be cooled, but bypass a cooler so as to more quickly reach, for example, an operating temperature.
Providing a bypass with a differential pressure valve is known to protect, for example, a pressure filter against excessively high pressures.


A seat belt assembly unit includes a seat belt retractor, seat back, seat back frame, a rear wall interconnecting the side walls of a vehicle, a tubular member extending along the length of the rear wall and a belt guide disposed adjacent to the seat back and rigidly attached to the tubular member. The seat belt guide is a rod-shaped member formed substantially into a U-shape with its side portions inserted into holes on the tubular member. A shoulder belt extending from the retractor and passing through the seat belt guide, restrains occupants to the seat. The pulling force of the shoulder belt which restrains the occupant in the seat is transferred to the tubular member via the belt guide.

Seat belt restraint assemblies are commonly required for motor vehicles. During vehicle deceleration, the seat belts are designed to control the kinematic of occupant on a seat. When controlled by the seat belt, the occupant typically loads the seat belt. The seat belt in turn transfers the occupant loads to a vehicle structure supporting the seat belt assembly. The loads experienced by the seat belts may be transferred to the structural side walls and/or floor of the vehicle. It may be desirable to provide for further enhancements in seat belts for the occupants during a driving event.


A hydraulic machine having a hydro turbine runner which has a crown at a center and a band along an outer periphery, and is formed around the axis of rotation, long blades which are arranged along the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation, and whose center-side ends are supported by the crown, and periphery-side ends are supported by the band, and short blades which are arranged between the long blades, and whose center-side ends are supported by the crown, periphery-side ends are supported by the band, and rear edges are curved in a rotation direction of the hydro turbine runner in turbine operation, on a plane of projection perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydraulic machine having a hydro turbine runner, i.e., a Francis turbine, and in particular to a technique to grow in the performance of a hydro turbine by improving the shape of a splitter runner blade.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Francis turbine incorporated in a hydraulic machine has runner blades 102 at regular intervals along the circumference of a rotary runner 101, as shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, reference numbers 103 and 104 denote a crown and a band, respectively, which support the runner blades 102. An arrow F indicates a flow of water, and a chain line C indicates the axis of rotation.
In the above hydraulic machine, the volume of water flowing into the runner 101 is adjusted by changing the opening of a guide vane (not shown), and the amount of generated electrical energy is changed. Thus, a flow in the runner 101 is greatly changed by the volume of water, and the water flow F from a guide vane forms a streamline along the runner 101 at a design point.
However, as the water discharge decreased, the flow in the runner is deviated to the band 104 by the centrifugal force by the rotation of the runner. In contrast, when the discharge increased, the energy from the guide vane to the center of the runner 101 increased to larger than the centrifugal force by the rotation of the runner 101, and the flow in the runner is deviated to the crown 103. This flow not along a streamline is called a secondary flow. A secondary flow causes a loss in the runner 101. If a secondary flow can be prevented in either a large-flow part or a small-flow part, it is possible to provide the runner 101 with low power loss in a wide range.
As a known means of preventing a secondary flow, there is a splitter runner 110 having short blades 112 between ordinary long blades 111, as shown in FIG. 14. An arrow R in the drawing indicates a rotation direction of the runner in turbine operation. It is known that the short blades 112 of the split runner 110 prevent deviation of flow at a design point in particular, and decrease power loss. This prevents deviation of flow to the band in part-load operation, as shown in FIG. 15.
In the above splitter runner 110, rear edges 111a of the long blades 111 and rear edges 112a of the short blades 112 are made linear from the band 104 to the crown 103, and arranged radial to the axis of rotation C, as shown in FIG. 16.
As a technique concerning a splitter runner, a technique concerning the shape of a rear edge of a short blade is known in particular. For example, a front edge of a short blade is retracted from a crown toward a band with respect to a rotation direction in pump operation, and the cavitation performance in pump operation is increased. (Refer to Published Japanese Patent No. 3782752.) A rear edge of a short blade is retracted from a band toward a crown with respect to a rotation direction in turbine operation, and the cavitation performance in turbine operation or pump operation is increased. (Refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-65198.)
A hydraulic machine having the above splitter runner has the following problems. A secondary flow can be prevented in large and small water discharge, but the efficiency of a hydro turbine cannot be increased in a wide range of water discharge.


A problem solver apparatus for solving optimization problems, which finds better solutions at a higher speed by utilizing both genetic algorithms and OR-based techniques. When an optimization problem is given to the problem solver apparatus, a searching strategy optimization unit creates a population of individuals using a genetic algorithm. Each individual has a chromosome to indicate a solution searching strategy. Upon receipt of such a population, a solution searching unit searches for solutions according to the strategies respectively indicated by the chromosomes of the individuals, thus obtaining candidate solutions. This group of candidate solutions is returned to the searching strategy optimization unit. The searching strategy optimization unit calculates fitness values of respective candidate solutions in the received candidate group. The searching strategy optimization unit applies some genetic operators to the individuals, thereby producing a new generation population. The produced new generation population is directed to the solution searching unit to perform another search. The problem solver apparatus repeats the above procedure until the candidate solutions show some acceptable fitness values. Lastly, the fittest candidate solution is chosen as the final solution of the optimization problem.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to problem solver apparatus for solving optimization problems, and delivery planning systems for solving delivery planning problems. More specifically, the present invention is related to a problem solver apparatus for solving optimization problems by searching for an optimal solution with genetic algorithms (GA) and a delivery planning system for finding an optimal delivery schedule by using genetic algorithms.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mathematical programming, or optimization theory, is generally defined as problems of finding an optimal solution that minimizes or maximizes the value of a certain objective function (evaluation function) of a plurality of variables under several given constraints. Mathematical programming is applied to a variety of engineering fields from jet engines to communications networks. Due to the application-specific nature of optimization problems, various searching methods have been proposed for finding optimal solutions.
Several practical techniques known as Operations Research (OR) have been widely used to solve the optimization problems. For example, there is a special case where the objective function is entirely linear. This type of problems are called "linear programming," which has been studied from long ago. Some classical techniques in this area include so-called hill-climbing methods, in which a feasible solution (i.e., values of the variables that satisfy all constraints) is gradually varied in such a way that the value of the objective function will increase (or decrease, depending on each problem). In other words, this algorithm moves from point to point within a constrained solution space, simply trying to climb uphill so as to converge into the optimal solution, although some of the hill-climbing methods does not always require the interim solutions to be kept within a set of feasible solutions in the process of convergence. The optimal solution mentioned just above may be actually a near-optimal solution, or acceptable solution, which may involve some amount of, but allowable in a practical sense, error from the true optimal solution.
In reality, however, there are some problems that cannot be solved by such simple techniques as the hill-climbing methods. That is, even if a new feasible solution obtained by slightly changing all or part of the variables seems to be the best in the neighborhood of the current position in the solution space, it could only be a local optimization, but a better solution may be found in a separate place by conducting a substantial change of the variables. This type of problem, which exhibits some "local optima" but has a true optimal solution at somewhere else, cannot be solved by ordinary hill-climbing methods.
To overcome the above-described deficiency, researchers introduced new search techniques called genetic algorithms (GA). Genetic algorithms mimic the processes observed in biological inheritance, to utilize their performance in some engineering fields.
In the processes of biological evolution, a newly born individuals (offspring) often acquire some new traits different from those the existing individuals (parents) have, due to genetic recombination operations including crossover of chromosomes of the individuals and mutation of genes contained in the chromosomes. Through successive selection processes, inferior individuals that cannot adapt themselves to the biological environment are likely to be weeded out, and fit individuals tend to be able to survive and continue to leave their offspring.
Genetic algorithms apply the above-described biological evolution process to optimization problems in an analogical way, where each individual represents a candidate for the optimal solution and the genes arranged on the chromosome of an individual correspond to the values of the variables constituting a solution. The objective function in an optimization problem represents the biological environment, and the value of this objective function indicates the fitness of each individual to the environment. In this sense, the objective function is called "fitness function" in the genetic algorithm terminology, which gives increased values to more optimal solutions. The degree of fitness to the environment is evaluated through calculation of the fitness value, namely, the value of the fitness function for each individual. In the selection process, as will be described later, candidate solutions having smaller fitness values will get higher probabilities in being deleted from the population.
Based on the above-described definitions, a population of individuals (i.e., candidate solutions) are subjected to the cyclic processes of selection/reproduction, crossover, and mutation. A solution searching process according to this genetic algorithm will be briefly outlined below.
First, a population of individuals are created, which initial population is called the first generation. Then the selection is made on the first generation. In this selection process, the fitness value of each individual is calculated from its chromosome expressed in a linear string of genes. A new population is selected from among the current individuals in such a way that the individuals having higher fitness values will survive at higher probabilities. Out of the selected new population, a plurality of pairs are mated to become parents of the next generation.
The mated parent individuals are then subjected to a crossover process. Crossover algorithms combine one part of one parent chromosome with the other part of the other parent chromosome to produce another chromosome, thereby producing a new individual. The offspring individual produced through such a crossover process inherits some traits from both parents.
Each offspring is then subjected to a mutation process at a predetermined probability. The mutation process changes the genes located in certain loci of a chromosome to other values selected at random, thereby producing a new individual having acquired some genes that do not derive from its parents.
The new individuals produced in the above-described procedure make up the second generation population. Repeating the selection-crossover-mutation cycles, they will be succeeded by later generations. Finally, they form a population of individuals having high fitness values, while weeding out less fit individuals.
This final population contains the most-likely solutions as the optimal solution. Unlike the aforementioned hill-climbing methods, the genetic algorithms can avoid spurious convergence towards local optima which may be much worse than the true optimal solution, since the crossover and mutation processes permit a stochastic search to be performed with global coverage over the wide solution space.
Although this global search capability in the solution space certainly is a big advantage, the genetic algorithms require enormous computation power and thus consume too much time to solve various problems available in real life.
For instance, genetic algorithms can be used to solve a commodity delivery problem under a variety of constraints such as delivery costs, business hours of a distribution center, office hours of acceptance desks at destination sites. When all those constraints are taken into consideration, the problem solver should search the vast complex solution space to find an optimal solution. Even with the latest computer systems of today, it is not easy to obtain an optimal solution within a realistic time frame.

Apparatus for solving optimization problems and delivery planning system


A stop light and turn signal lights which are incorporated into large vehicles such as a tractor trailer. A mating rear prong which is plugged into the electronics on the back of the vehicle which in turn is connected to the turn signal device usually on the steering wheel of the vehicle. The lights will first be lit on the first column of lights, then immediately the second column of lights, then immediately the third column of lights, then immediately the fourth column of lights and finally the fifth column of lights so that the device signals in a pattern from left to right that the vehicle is making a right turn or signals from right to left that the vehicle is making a left turn. When all lights are lit, it indicates a stop.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of stop and turn signal lights that are frequently used on large vehicles such as trucks and tractor trailers.
Description of the Prior Art
To the best of the present inventor's knowledge, the present invention is totally unique and there is no prior art of which the present inventor is aware that would disclose or make obvious the present invention.


The invention concerns a garment (1) comprising an absorbent section (2) and a waist belt (3) attached directly or indirectly thereto. The waist belt has two belt portions (7, 8) extending on either side of said absorbent section for securing to each other around a wearer of the garment The particular handling characteristics of the belt parts of the waist belt (3) are significantly improved by manufacturing a belt stiffness of between 25 g and 90 g as measured by the modified version of test ASTM D 4032-82 CIRCULAR BEND PROCEDURE.

Absorbent garments of the above mentioned type are well known in the art.
The type of garment in question has a belt attached integrally with the absorbent garment portion and requires that, after fastening the belt around the waist with the attached end at the back of the wearer, the end not attached to the belt section should be passed through the wearer's legs and attached by some means of releasable attachment to the belt at the front. The means of releasable attachment could be a hook and loop (also called touch and close) type fastening means, for instance such as sold under the name "VELCRO".
Published application WO-A-91/08725 discloses an example of such a garment in one embodiment.
One of the problems recognised with such garments is the problems of handling the belt portions which project from either side of the absorbent portion of the integrated garment in such a way so as to be able to quickly and accurately take hold of the belt portions and fasten them together. However the belt material still needs to be cheap since it is integrated with a garment which together with the belt form a disposable unit.
Where the problem of incontinence is involved, it will be appreciated that persons suffering from this problem are often old and have physical handicaps of various types. As a consequence, they have more difficulty fastening the belt by themselves and often require the assistance of personnel for fitting the garments.
Thus there is a need to find for a solution which allows easy and correct fitting of the absorbent garment, particularly in the case of handicapped persons.


IP addresses are presently becoming a scarce resource, even in private IP address domains. Commonly therefore network address translators are used to map a large number of private addresses to a relatively small number of public IP address, or even map addresses between two different IP address domains. However, network address translators do not readily pass voice set-up protocols such as SIP and VoIP packets. By modifying a call server and providing an intelligent network address translator, conventional media gateways may be caused to use the intelligent address translator to route VoIP packets between IP domains having overlapping address spaces.

In a packet-switched network (such as an Internet protocol [IP]-based network) each data destination and data source has a uniquely identifiable address. These are referred to as IP hosts. In the case of IP networks, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) receives requests to assign blocks of IP addresses for public IP addresses. Organizations that receive these blocks of IP addresses from IANA are then free to assign these addresses to any IP host that they control as they see fit. IANA is not concerned about the allocation of IP addresses in private IP networks: i.e. those networks that have IP addresses that start with 10. (i.e. 10/8 IP address space) are examples of this as discussed below. As a result of limited address space, even in private IP address domains, a single IP address domain is not able to handle all the IP hosts required to provide telephony services to scale to the size of networks required by new VoIP telephony operators.
A new version of the Internal protocol (IPv6) is presently being defined which will have a much larger address space than the present IPv4 specification. However, even when this standard is finally released, it will be necessary to replace or update all the components forming part of a network to take full advantage of the increase in address space. Thus, presently, IPv6 cannot be readily used to overcome IP address scarcity.
In the mid 1990s, the IANA recognised that IP addresses would eventually run out and accordingly reserved three contiguous blocks of private addresses commonly referred to as the 10/8,172.16/12 and 192.168/16 address blocks. The largest of these blocks (the 10/8 block) provides approximately 16 million unique IP addresses. Thus with appropriate (and well known) routing techniques, it is possible to have a private network (private in the sense that it does not have publicly addressable/Internet addressable IP addresses for all network nodes) may be constructed having up to 16 million unique nodes. Data required to be routed outside the network may then only need to use a relatively small number of unique public IP addresses, In this way, devices not needing public access (RFC 1918 provides the example of an airport departure lounge having IP addressable status indicator boards in which the status indicator boards do not need to be uniquely addressable from outside the airport lounge) may be constructed without using the scarce public IP address resource.
In order to allow communication using the IP addresses between public and private networks, a technique called network address translation (NAT) has been developed. In its most sophisticated form, this typically provides a gateway router at the boundary of the private network which dynamically assigns mappings between a port on a public IP address and a port on the IP address of a private network node within the private network. Thus for example, if the private network has a web browser, typically the web browser will issue a request on port 80 of its private IP address which may then be mapped within the NAT router to any port (let us say 5000 for the sake of this example) on the public IP address of the NAT router. The NAT router then forwards the request to the web server having replaced the private IP address at port 80 with the NAT router's public IP address at port 5000. When the data is returned by the web server to port 5000 of the NAT router, the NAT router alters the IP headers to replace the NAT routers public IP address at port 5000 with the originating private IP address at port 80. Thus the browser on the private terminal simply sees data being returned to it on port 80 and does not see any of the address and port translation adjustments carried out by the NAT router.
As explained below in detail, NAT routing works for many applications. However, as is well understood in the prior art, NAT routing of this type is not possible for protocols such as session initiation protocol (SIP), H.248, MGCP or H.323 which are used for multi-media transmissions and in particular for voice over IP (VoIP) transmissions. There are several reasons for this but the most common problem results from the need for these protocols to carry IP address information within the IP packet payload. Thus changes made by the NAT router to the IP header do not correctly readdress the packet since addressing information is also contained in the payload of the packet. Furthermore, dynamic binding of private and public addresses and ports and port ranges as often carried out NAT routers, may result in port mappings being "expired" while a media session is in progress. If this occurs, the connection will be lost since at least some of the terminals in the session will no longer be able to address other terminals in the session, Although some NAT routers provide static bindings to overcome this problem, this is not readily scalable.
Thus it is well understood in the art that NAT routing is unsuitable for use with applications requiring a media session exchange and signalling exchange, such as VOIP connections.
Therefore, VoIP connections presently need to be made over networks having unique IP addresses for all nodes. Thus connections may readily be made over the Internet (which by definition has unique IP addresses for all nodes considered to be a part of the public internet) or over private networks which do not have duplicate addresses and occasionally between private and public networks using dedicated media gateway translators at the network edges which requires an undesirable conversion between VoIP and VoTDM since the inter-network traffic is carried on traditional time-division multiplex (TDM) trunks. However, as noted above, the largest private address space provides approximately 16 million unique IP addresses. In a typical present day cable telephony provision, each household requires typically four IP addresses. For example, a household provisioned according to the "packetcable" standard will have two IP addresses assigned to the modem terminal adaptor (media gateway); namely one for the media gateway and the other for a cable modem, one IP address assigned to a set top box and at least one IP address assigned to a personal computer. Thus taking present day real figures, it is reasonable to assume that a cable operators region has eight million households "passed" by its cable service. Assuming that the cable service has a 25% penetration rate, that means that two million homes will have cable provision which will use four million IP addresses. Thus the largest private address range (the 10/8 range) can only supply enough IP addresses for two regions of the cable operator.
Therefore, if the cable operator wishes to provide telephony services over its IP network, it must be able to reuse the private block address space unless it has a very low number of subscribers. This will therefore generate duplicate addresses and will prevent VoIP calls being routed correctly since an originating terminal will not be able to have its call routed correctly since it will not be possible to determine which of the plurality of destination terminals is the correct destination terminal. As a result, VoIP calls will not be able to work between regions, and the operator will need to have VoIP to TDM gateways on the edge of this domain, and then have TDM trunks between the region. This adds extra costs to the deployment, and also has an adverse affect on the voice quality due to more conversions between VoIP and VoTDM.

Methods and apparatus for setting up telephony connections between two address domains having overlapping address ranges


A method and a device for manufacturing hollow components out of a composite material, such as sections of an airplane fuselage, that include a skin and possibly strengthening elements. The method may include inserting a multi-articulated arm fitted with a fiber placement head inside a female mold of elongated shape. The female mold includes a longitudinal slit. A support for the multi-articulated arm is received through the slit. The method may also include applying fibers to the inner molding surface of the female mold using the placement head to form the composite material skin, by displacement of the application head using the multi-articulated arm and relative displacement in translation of the support for the multi-articulated arm along said longitudinal slit.

Airplane fuselage is conventionally made by assembling fuselage portions of generally cylindrical shape, each portion including a coating or skin and strengthening elements such as stringers, frames, and specific local strengtheners for the subsequent assembly of the wings, cockpit, and landing gear for example.
To limit their weight while guaranteeing good mechanical properties, a proposal has been made for sections made out of composite materials formed of long fibers embedded in a resin matrix, particularly carbon fibers embedded in a thermosetting resin matrix. The composite material skin is conventionally obtained by draping fibers impregnated with unhardened or crude resin over the outer surface of a tool constituted by a rotating male mandrel. The fibers are applied in the form of a strip using a fiber placement head associated with a cartesian displacement system installed around the mandrel. This crude skin, with fibers impregnated with unhardened resin, is then polymerized or hardened in an autoclave oven. The strengthening elements of composite material are manufactured separately from fibers pre-impregnated with resin, then are placed in recesses of the mandrel prior to making the skin by fiber placement. The skin and the strengthening elements in their crude state are then hardened together in the autoclave. The sections thus obtained are of the closed type, with a skin that has, in transverse cross-section, a closed contour extending over 360°.
A manufacturing method of this kind, with a rotating tool, proves particularly tricky to implement. It requires implementation means that are heavy, cumbersome and complex, since the rotated mandrel has to be sufficiently rigid to stop it from bending or to limit its bending.
Furthermore, to obtain a clean outer surface condition, counter-forms, also known as formers, have to be applied against the outer surface of the crude skin for its hardening in the autoclave. These formers with their holding system are long and tedious to install, and increase the weight and volume of the assembly which has to go into the autoclave.
To avoid using formers, U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,024 proposed to make the skin of the sections by applying fibers to the inner surface of a rotating hollow mandrel. The method described only allows the manufacture of the skin of a section, without strengthening elements, and is also based on a rotating tool.

Method and apparatus for making structures of composite material, in particular airplane fuselage sections


A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel employed in an LCD device includes an array substrate and an opposite substrate. The array substrate includes a pixel electrode formed in a pixel area including a first sub-pixel area and a second sub-pixel area. The opposite substrate is spaced apart from the array substrate to receive a liquid crystal layer. The opposite substrate includes a first common electrode formed in correspondence with the pixel area, and a second common electrode being floated in correspondence with the second sub-pixel area to form a coupling capacitor.

1. Field of Invention
The present disclosure of invention relates to liquid crystal display (LCD) panels such as employed in an LCD monitor.
2. Description of the Related Technology
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device displays an image by controlling light transmittance according to voltages applied across a liquid crystal layer where the latter is interposed between two substrates.
In LCD devices, light is transmitted toward a direction in which the light is not shielded (blocked) by liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer. Since the realized image is dependant on angle of light transmission, the useful viewing angles of the LCD device are generally narrower than those of other types of displays. A so-called vertical alignment (VA) mode LCD device has been developed in order to try to realize wider viewing angles.
The VA mode LCD device includes a liquid crystal layer that exhibits a negative type dielectric constant anisotropy. The liquid crystal layer is sealed between two substrates that have undergone a vertical alignment process. The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer have homotropic alignment characteristics. During operation, when a voltage is not applied to two substrates, molecules in the liquid crystal layer automatically aligns in a vertical direction with respect to a surface of a substrate so as to block light transmission and thereby display a black pixel. When a predetermined voltage is applied across the two substrates, molecules in the liquid crystal layer align in a horizontal direction with respect to the surface of the substrate so as to transmit light and thus display a white or fully lit pixel. When a voltage that is less than the predetermined voltage is applied to two substrates, molecules in the liquid crystal layer align in an inclined direction with respect to the surface of the substrate to thereby display a gray pixel.
The LCD device generally has a disadvantage of a narrow viewing angle. In order to overcome the disadvantage, a patterned vertical alignment (PVA) mode and a super patterned vertical alignment (SPVA) mode have been proposed wherein each pixel is subdivided into multiple domains and different voltages drive the respective multiple domains. The PVA mode is a technology in which a common electrode formed on an upper substrate and a pixel electrode formed on a lower substrate are patterned to realize multiple domains. The SPVA mode is a technology in which one pixel is divided into a plurality of sub-pixels to apply different pixel voltages to the divided sub-pixels in response to a single applied voltage. As an example of the SPVA mode, a coupling capacitor (CC-SPVA) is used to apply a different pixel voltage to the sub-pixel that is driven via the coupling capacitor as opposed to the sub-pixel that is directly driven.
In other words, in a CC-SPVA mode LCD device, a first sub-pixel directly receives a pixel voltage supplied from a data line, and a second sub-pixel receives a smaller voltage due to voltage division provided by the coupling capacitor. While viewing angle may be widened when the CC-SPVA mode LCD device is employed in a product, the product may have disadvantages such as low overall light transmittance and the generation of afterimages.


To provide a semiconductor laminating structure in which an epitaxial growth of a GaN system material is achieved on a substrate with an excellent matching property with the substrate. The semiconductor laminating structure includes the substrate having a perovskite structure and at least one GaN system chemical compound semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, wherein a major surface of the substrate is formed of a (111) crystal surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor laminating structure suitable for use with a semiconductor light emitting device or the like, for example. More specifically, the present invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device, a field-effect transistor or the like having a semiconductor laminating structure which includes a semiconductor layer made of a GaN system chemical compound containing elements of N and at least one of Al, B, Ga and In.
2. Background of the Invention
A GaN system III-V family crystal allows its band gap energy to be changed in a range of 1.95 eV to 6.2 eV depending on its composition. Thus, the crystal draws an attention as a luminescent material capable of emitting light having each wavelengths over a wide range from red to ultraviolet.
Particularly, since a light emission diode LED of a high luminance using a material of GaN is recently realized, research over such a light emission diode LED has been done prosperously.
At present, as a substrate for growing thereon a GaN system material, a sapphire crystal (.alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) is generally and widely utilized. However, there is such a large lattice mismatch as 16.1% between a GaN crystal and the sapphire crystal. Further, both of them have thermal expansion coefficients different from each other. Therefore, the sapphire crystal is not necessarily best suited substrate. The large lattice mismatch causes increase in dislocation density and a non-radiative center in the GaN crystal grown on the substrate and decrease in life of radiation recombination. Thus, the lattice mismatch may cause considerable influence on characteristics of various elements such as a laser diode, in particular, which requires current injection at high energy and so on.
In consequence, a 6H-SiC substrate, a Si substrate, a GaAs substrate, a ZnO substrate, a MgO substrate, a MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4 substrate and so on are discussed as a substrate capable of replacing for the sapphire substrate which has been utilized for laminating thereon a semiconductor laminating structure made of a GaN system III-V family chemical compound. However, each of the materials has an advantage and a disadvantage in a state of crystal, and there has been proposed no excellent substrate yet that can replace for the sapphire substrate.


A wafer transfer device is intended to transfer wafers between a wafer boat in which a plurality of wafer support plates are vertically arranged at regular intervals and a cassette in which a plurality of wafer-mounted levels are vertically arranged at regular intervals. Each of the wafer support plates is ring-shaped having an opening in the center thereof and a passage is defined by openings of the wafer support plates, extending vertically in the boat. The wafer is horizontally transferred into and out of the wafer boat between the wafer support plates by a fork. The fork can be moved in vertical and horizontal directions and it can also be swung. A wafer push-up disk is arranged movable up and down through the passage in the boat. Three wafer supports are projected from the top of the push-up disk. These projections on the push-up disk are arranged contactable with the underside of the wafer without interfering with the fork. The fork and the push-up disk are associated with each other by a controller to achieve the transferring of wafers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wafer transfer device and more particularly, a device for transferring wafers between wafer boat and cassette.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wafer housing case which is called carrier or cassette is usually used to transfer semiconductor wafers and others in the course of manufacturing semiconductor devices.
The wafer cassette is made of resin, for example, light in weight and low in cost, and it is designed to house plural or 25 sheets of wafers therein.
When a plurality of wafers are to be processed as a batch by the heat process system, they cannot be heat-processed under the condition that they are kept housed in the resin-made cassette. It is therefore usually needed that they are heat-processed after they are transferred into the heat processing wafer boat made of quartz, for example, chemically stable and excellent in heat resistance.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality wafer-mounted levels are vertically arranged in a wafer boat 10 so as to process a plurality of wafers as a batch. A ring-shaped support plate 11 having a recessed support face 11a thereon (see FIG. 2) has been used these days as the wafer-mounted level, because the circumferential portion of the wafer can be surrounded by the ring-shaped support plate 11. When the wafer is supported in this manner, its temperature can be uniformly lowered and raised so as to form a film of uniform thickness on the wafer.
When the wafer is transferred between the ring-shaped support plate and a transfer fork, however, the up- and down-movement of the fork is disturbed by the ring-shaped support plate. This makes it necessary to move the wafer up and down independently of the fork. To meet this need, an inventor of the present invention has provided in U.S. patent application 07/572,005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,047 issued Nov. 10, 1992) double fork structure in which two wafer transferring and pushing-up forks are used.
When this double fork structure is employed, however, intervals between the wafer-mounted levels or ring-shaped support plates 11 must be made large to insert it.


A process for preparing an optically active biaryl compound the formula (4):

As conventional processes for preparing an optically active biaryl compound, for example, cross-coupling of N-(t-butyloxycarbonyl)-O-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-tyrosine methyl ester which is a derivative of a natural amino acid tyrosine, with phenylboronic acid in the presence of a palladium catalyst (WO 2001-36376); cross-coupling of N-FMOC-4-(trimethylstannyl)phenylalanine t-butyl ester with a halobenzene in the presence of a palladium catalyst (WO 2001-12183); cross-coupling of N-(t-butyloxycarbonyl)-4-iodophenylalanine methyl ester with phenylboronic acid in the presence of a palladium catalyst (WO 2000-43372), etc. are known.
However, the above-mentioned cross-coupling methods have problems in the process. For example, a problem is that these methods use expensive palladium catalysts and therefore the catalysts are required to be collected after the reaction. Furthermore, syntheses of reaction substrates are complicated because the leaving groups of the reaction substrates, aromatic compounds are a trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy group, which is synthesized using expensive and high caustic trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride; a halogen, which has problematic position selectivity for introduction onto an aromatic ring; a trimethylstannyl group, which is derived from the halogen, and the like. Therefore, these methods are not necessarily satisfactory in industry.

Abstract: which comprises reacting an aromatic sulfonic acid ester compound of the formula (1):

Abstract: with an organic boron compound of the formula (2):

Abstract: at 70° C. or below in the presence of a nickel catalyst and a base. The biaryl compounds produced using this process possess a high optical purity and are useful as intermediates for medicaments, agrochemicals, etc.


A bottle cap opener for opening twistable type caps. The opener may include a housing to apply a twisting force to the caps. Twisting force may also be applied via a handle. The opener also may include cap grabbers movable within the housing. The progressively narrowing interior shape of the housing allows the cap grabbers to adjust to the size of the cap. The opener also may include engaging members that engage the cap grabbers at a particular position within the housing. The engagement can be accomplished with a set of teeth on the cap grabbers and a corresponding hook member on the engaging members. The engaging members are pivotally mounted and include engaging spring to provide the engaging forces. A spring exerts a downward on the cap grabbers. The bottle opener retains the bottle cap in the housing after the bottle is opened until the user disengages the engaging members.

Traditionally, wine bottles have been sealed with natural corks. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the corked bottles and the increasing scarcity of high quality corks, a certain percentage of wines, approximately 5%, become spoiled or "corked" due to unwanted exposure to air since the wine cannot be kept air tight. The wine spoilage is becoming a significant issue in the wine industry.
To address this issue, the wine industry has increasingly turned to non-traditional methods to bottle wines. These include artificial corks and twistable bottle caps, typically made from aluminum. For example, the Selvyn brand cap, manufactured by Pechiney of France, is currently the market leader. The adoption of Selvyn cap and similar wine bottle closures has been slow to occur principally due to aesthetic reasons. Namely, there is a view that the twistable wine cap degrades the wine enthusiast's overall experience.
In addition to their new application as wine closures, twistable bottle caps have long been used to seal soft drinks, including pop or soda such as Coca Cola™ or Pepsi™, and are starting to be used with certain brands of beer, wine coolers and other alcoholic beverages. These twistable caps may also be made from metal such as aluminum.
While there is little to no issue with such beverages of manufacturer's or consumers' acceptance, there is a segment of the population who, because of infirmities such as arthritis, Parkinson's disease or other maladies that affect manual dexterity, may have difficulty removing such twistable caps.


An apparatus for collecting particulate material has a collection tray (1) and a fire-resistant collection reservoir (21, 22, 23). A scraper blade (24) is attached to a carriage (7) which is arranged to be driven by an electrical motor along the base of the tray (1) so as to sweep particulate material into the reservoir (21, 22, 23). A pivotal lid normally closes an opening into the reservoir (21, 22, 23) until the scraper blade is ready to sweep particulate material into the reservoir, whereupon the lid is opened to receive the swept particulate material. Actuation of the lid for the reservoir may be operated by electro-mechanical switches or by a solenoid (60).

(1) Field of the Invention; and
This invention relates to an apparatus for collecting particulate material such as dust/debris.
(2) Description of the Related Art.
For certain processes, such as the use of an escalator-type conveyor in a public arena, the collection and disposal of accumulated dust, oil, debris etc., is a mandatory safety requirement, to minimise potential fire hazards. Accumulated debris naturally falls off the underside of the conveyor and needs to be collected and contained. This objective is usually achieved by fitting static, open-topped, dust collection trays, to the underside of the conveyors. Such trays are well known and there are many types of trays for numerous types of applications. This type of arrangement satisfactorily achieves the aim of collecting the dust and debris. However, in order to minimise fire hazards, and to ensure that fire safety regulations are not breached, it is required that, the trays receive regular, manual inspection and manual cleaning. This is expensive, in terms of time and labour, and sometimes the accepted fire risk levels are still exceeded. The cleaning operators are also exposed to regular contact with, potentially, harmful substances, from the accumulated dust oil debris etc.
The objectives of this invention are to:
1) Reduce the time and costs involved in inspecting and cleaning the collection tray.
2) Reduce the levels of fire risks, due to the accumulation of un-cleared dust/debris.
3) Reduce the exposure levels of the cleaning operators to potentially harmful substances.

Apparatus for collecting particulate material


The present invention is a process for removing catalyst fines from an effluent stream in an oxygenate to olefin process. Specifically, the catalyst fines in the effluent stream are separated from the effluent stream. Then the carbonaceous deposits are removed from the catalyst fines by incineration.

Olefins are traditionally produced from petroleum feedstock by catalytic or steam cracking processes. These cracking processes, especially steam cracking, produce light olefin(s) such as ethylene and/or propylene from a variety of hydrocarbon feedstock. Ethylene and propylene are important commodity petrochemicals useful in many processes for making plastics and other chemical compounds. Ethylene is used to make various polyethylene plastics, and in making other chemicals such as vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, ethylbenzene and alcohol. Propylene is used to make various polypropylene plastics, and in making other chemicals such as acrylonitrile and propylene oxide.
The petrochemical industry has known for some time that oxygenates, especially alcohols, are convertible into light olefin(s). There are numerous technologies available for producing oxygenates including fermentation or reaction of synthesis gas derived from natural gas, petroleum liquids, carbonaceous materials including coal, recycled plastics, municipal waste or any other organic material. Generally, the production of synthesis gas involves a combustion reaction of natural gas, mostly methane, and an oxygen source into hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. Syngas production processes are well known, and include conventional steam reforming, autothermal reforming or a combination thereof.
Methanol, the preferred oxygenate for light olefin production, is typically synthesized from the catalytic reaction of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide in a methanol reactor in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. For example, in one synthesis process methanol is produced using a copper/zinc oxide catalyst in a water-cooled tubular methanol reactor.
The preferred oxygenate to olefin conversion process is generally referred to as a methanol-to-olefin(s) process, where the oxygenate, e.g. methanol, is converted in a reactor to primarily ethylene and/or propylene in the presence of a catalyst—typically a molecular sieve catalyst made from a molecular sieve catalyst composition. The oxygenate to olefin reaction uses a catalyst that is maintained under operating conditions with carbonaceous deposits thereon. The carbonaceous deposits are often referred to as coke. Catalyst, for the purpose herein, is classified according to the size of the catalyst. Catalyst particles are larger than catalyst fines. Catalysts particles are typically retained in the reactor by the particle size separators that disengage or separate the catalyst particles from the effluent stream, which effluent stream passes through the particle size separators into the product recovery train. Catalyst fines are carried into the effluent stream.
Typically catalyst particles above 40 microns are added to the reactor to catalyze a reaction. During the reaction, the catalyst develops carbonaceous deposits. Withdrawing a portion of the catalyst from the reactor and burning the carbonaceous deposits off of the catalyst particles controls the aggregate amount of the carbonaceous deposits on catalyst in the reactor. As the catalyst particles travel through the reactor, they break down into smaller particles due to contact with the various parts of the reactor. As they break down in size, they eventually become catalyst fines. Catalyst fines will have the same overall amount of carbonaceous deposits as catalyst particles. Particle size separators, such as cyclones, are placed in the reactors and regenerators to retain useful catalyst particles in the reactor/regenerator system. Catalyst fines (typically less than 40 microns) are generally not retained by the particle size separators and leave the regenerator through the flue. Catalyst fines in the reactor become carried into the effluent with the product.
The effluent from an oxygenate to olefins reaction comprises a considerable amount of water when compared to other olefin forming processes. This large amount of water and the presence of catalyst with carbonaceous deposits creates unique challenges for effluent clean up and recovery. Catalyst for an oxygenate to olefin reaction is typically a molecular sieve catalyst. It is formed into catalyst particles. The presence of the catalyst fines and large quantities of water make removal and disposal of both the water and catalyst fines a unique problem in the oxygenate to olefin process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,854 describes a two stage quench for use with the oxygenate conversion process. The first stage quench removes catalyst fines. But there is no guidance on how to dispose of the catalyst fines after it is removed from the effluent.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a process for the disposal and handling of catalyst fines that improves process efficiency. It would also be advantageous to have a catalyst fines handling process that removes carbonaceous deposits from the catalyst before the catalyst fines are disposed.

Process for handling catalyst from an oxygenate to olefin reaction