A cellular terminal apparatus has a structure for folding an upper apparatus 2 and a lower apparatus 3 via a hinge portion 4. Printed circuit boards 5, 6 arranged in the upper apparatus 2 and the lower apparatus 3 are connected to each other by a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 7 and a connection cable 8 passing inside the hinge portion 4. At the boundary between the hinge portion and the upper apparatus 2 and the lower apparatus 3, the space between the FPC 7, the connection cable 8, and the external case is filled by a seal packing 9 in such a manner that the FPC 7 and the connection cable 8 are separate from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cellular terminal apparatus such as a collapsible cellular telephone and in particular, to a water-proof cellular terminal apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, various water-proof countermeasures have been tried for the respective components of the apparatus such as a cellular telephone.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application 2000-151772 discloses a cellular terminal apparatus having a water-proof structure against entrance of water from the peripheral portion of the key sheet as the operation unit. Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application 10-169780 discloses a seal packing and its manufacturing method. The seal packing can preferably be used as a water-proof countermeasure against the water entrance from the engagement portion of the upper and the lower cases of the cellular terminal apparatus.
Moreover, there is a completely water-proof cellular telephone (unitary block type) having a countermeasure against water coming through a hole (sound hole, etc.) and other clearances. However, a collapsible cellular telephone, i.e., a collapsible type cellular telephone in which an upper apparatus and a lower apparatus can be folded via a hinge portion, has become more popular and there are a lot of market claims (complaint, indication, etc.) for the water entrance from the clearance at the hinge portion.
More specifically, water enters from the clearance at the hinge portion into the FPC (flexible printed circuit) arranged in the hinge portion and along the FPC reaches the printed circuit board in the upper and lower apparatuses, causing electrical problems. Here, the FPC has flexibility and is used to connect the printed circuit boards arranged in the upper and the lower apparatuses.
FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a configuration example of a cellular telephone having a countermeasure against the water entrance (there is a possibility of entrance of dust other than water) from the hinge portion clearance. FIG.8 is a front view of the cellular telephone (the case is open) and a cross section about III-III is shown in FIG. 9.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the space between the hinge portion 4 and the upper and lower apparatuses (upper apparatus 2, lower apparatus 3) is supplied with a seal packing P which sandwiches from upside and downside, apart of the FPC 7 as a route of water entrance into the upper and lower apparatuses 2 and 3, so that no space is left between the FPC 7 and the external case of the FPC 7. Since the seal packing mounts in the space, the FPC 7 is in pressed contact with the seal packing P. Moreover, the seal packing is in pressed contact with the case. Thus, there is no water entrance route from the hinge portion 4 to the upper and lower apparatuses 2 and 3, thereby achieving water-proof structure.
However, among the collapsible cellular telephones, there are those having a structure that a coaxial cable and the like are arranged in the hinge portion 4. The FPC 7 connecting the upper and the lower printed circuit boards 5 and 6. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a configuration example of the cellular telephone in which the FPC and the cable are arranged in the hinge portion and water-proof structure using the aforementioned seal packing is provided. FIG. 10(a) is a front view of the cellular telephone and FIG. 10(b) is a rear view of the cellular telephone. FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view about IV-IV in FIG. 10(b).
As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the connection cable (coaxial cable) 8 passes through the hinge portion 4 together with the FPC 7 and is connected to the upper and the lower printed circuit boards 5 and 6. The spaces at the boundaries between the hinge portion 4 and the upper and lower apparatuses 2, 3 are supplied with a seal packing P (four seal packing pieces are arranged in the figure) The FPC 7 and the cable 8 pass between the seal packing P pieces in the direction of the upper and the lower apparatuses 2, 3. Thus, the spaces are minimized by the seal packing P pieces so as to prevent entrance of water drops in the direction of the upper and the lower apparatuses 2, 3.
FIG. 12(a) and FIG. 12(b) shows a water-proof structure having two seal packing P pieces which sandwich the FPC 7 and the cable 8 from upside and downside. The FPC 7 is in pressed contact with the seal packing P so as to prevent entrance of water drops. The seal packing P is also in pressed contact with the external case. Moreover, the cable 8 passes through a surface where the seal packing P is in pressed contact with the FPC 7.
In the water-proof structure shown in FIG. 12(a), the FPC 7 and the cable 8 are sandwiched by the seal packing P at separate positions. In the water-proof structure shown in FIG. 12(b), the FPC 7 and the cable 8 are sandwiched together (the cable 8 is arranged on the upper surface of the FPC 7) by the seal packing P.
In the aforementioned configuration, a space S is present around the cable 8 covered by the seal packing P. Through this space S, a water drop 11 (see FIG. 9, FIG. 11) enters inside and along the FPC 7 or the cable 8, reaches the printed circuit boards 5, 6 in the upper and lower apparatuses 2, 3, thereby causing electric problems (such as short circuit).
Moreover, especially in the configuration of 12(b) where the cable 8 passes through a portion where the seal packing P is pressed contact with the FPC 7, an excessive load is applied to the FPC 7 and the cable 8 (especially onto the FPC 7). This causes a problem that the signal line in the FPC 7 is broken.
As has been described above, in the conventional configuration, no consideration has been taken on an appropriate water-proof structure for the configuration of the hinge portion passing the FPC and the connection cable.

Water-proof collapsible cellular terminal apparatus


In accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel compositions for attaching semiconductor devices to substrates. Invention compositions comprise liquid monomer vehicle comprising hydrophobic cyanate ester monomer(s) and epoxy monomer(s), electrically and/or thermally conductive filler, a metal catalyst, and an imidazole, preferably in the substantial absence of non-reactive diluents.

Cyanate ester resins, developed during the 1980s, have joined epoxy resins and bismaleimide resins as the third major class of thermosetting resins. Polycyanurates or cross-linked cyanate resins are prepared by the cyclopolymerization of aromatic cyanate esters. These cyanate esters are bisphenol derivatives containing a plurality of cyanate functional groups. When heated, the cyanate functionality undergoes exothermic trimerization to form substituted triazine rings. Subsequent curing produces the thermosetting resin and forms three-dimensional networks of oxygen-linked triazine rings and bisphenol units, termed polycyanurates. Because no leaving groups or volatile byproducts are formed during cure, the cyclotrimerization curing reaction is classified as addition polymerization.
The formation of substituted triazine rings from the cyclic addition of three cyanate groups appears to proceed via a series of bimolecular collisions in step-growth fashion (Shimp, PMSE Preprints, ACS Meeting, New York, pp. 107-13 (4/86); Bauer et al., Acta Polymerica, 37:715-19 (1986)). This mechanism is facilitated by the transient stability of active hydrogen addition compounds and proton transfer from the imidocarbonate intermediate to subsequently colliding cyanates. The role of soluble transition metal compounds is primarily coordination, gathering cyanate groups in proximity to form a ring.
Trimerization rates of uncatalyzed liquid or molten dicyanates are impractically slow, being largely a function of the concentration of active hydrogen impurities, including moisture. Traditional catalysts are transition metal carboxylates dissolved in organic solvents (e.g., methyl ethyl ketone). Efficient curing of high purity monomers and prepolymers requires the incorporation of nonvolatile hydroxyl compounds, while safe catalysis of hot melt formulations requires enhanced solubility of metal carboxylates and chelates. Both needs have been met by predissolving the coordination metal compound in a nonvolatile liquid alkylphenol (e.g., nonylphenol, Shimp, U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,452 (1986), Shimp, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,075 (1988)).
Cyanate esters will form addition compounds with phenols, alcohols, amines, imidazoles, and most other labile hydrogen compounds upon heating or base catalysis (Grigat et al., Angew. Chem. (Int'l Ed.), 6:206 (1967)). Analogous to blocked isocyanates, these cyanate adducts are thermally reversible, favoring the unblocked state at temperatures in the 150-200.degree. C. range and above. These addition products are primarily of importance as catalytic intermediates in ring formation.
The addition of water to the cyanate group forms an imidocarbonic acid intermediate which rearranges to the more stable carbamate structure. Carbamates decompose with evolution of carbon dioxide gas at temperatures in the vicinity of 200.degree. C. and above. In contrast to isocyanates, which react nearly instantly with water at room temperature (and over a period of hours with alcohols), uncatalyzed cyanates are stable for months in blends containing water, alcohols, and phenols. Uncatalyzed o-alkylated cyanates (e.g., 2,6-dialkyl cyanates) are essentially non-reactive with these active hydrogen sources. Catalysts which accelerate the addition of hydroxyl compounds (including water) to cyanates include tertiary amines, most coordination metal cure catalysts, and acids.
For these reasons, maximum hydrolytic and thermal stabilities are insured when absorbed moisture is minimized by proper storage of resins and prepregs or, if present, removed via vacuum molding procedures.
Cyanate esters function as curing agents for epoxide resins through a combination of oxazoline ring formation (co-reaction) and catalysis of epoxide homopolymerization (Shimp et al., 33rd Int'l SAMPE Symp. and Exhib., Anaheim, CA (3/7-10/88). Essentially, cyclotrimerization proceeds initially and the cyanurate rings which form function as nucleophilic catalysts for both oxazoline formation and polyetherification reactions. As little as 35% by weight cyanate ester monomer or prepolymer can convert equivalent excesses of epoxide. Cyclotrimerization catalysts also accelerate epoxide consumption in such hybrid systems.
Cyanate esters are currently employed in rapidly curing adhesive compositions used to bond semiconductor devices or chips, also known as dice, to carrier substrates. Such adhesive compositions may include, in addition to the cyanate ester, thermally and/or electrically conductive filler and a curing catalyst dissolved in alkylphenol.
One of the most outstanding characteristics of cyanate ester homopolymers is their low dielectric loss properties. While chemical compositions containing cyanate ester homopolymers include appreciable percentages of electronegative elements (about 10% oxygen and 10% nitrogen for many common polymers), their symmetrical arrangement around electropositive carbon atoms creates balanced dipoles of short moments which store surprisingly little electromagnetic energy. Dielectric constants decrease slightly when the frequency is increased into the gigahertz (10.sup.9 Hz) range. The multivalent transition metal cations and bulky carboxylate anions used as cure catalysts generally make no measurable contribution to energy storage (Dk) or to dissipation of stored electromagnetic field energy as leakage currents (Df).
Cyanate ester adhesive compositions have eliminated many of the deficiencies inherent in epoxy adhesives and polyimide adhesives, such as low glass transition temperature, high degree of ionic contamination, retention of solvent, and lengthy cure. However, presently available cyanate ester-containing attach paste compositions exhibit some deficiency with respect to homogeneity, i.e., such pastes have a tendency to become nonhomogeneous at ambient temperatures. Accordingly, there still remains room for improvement of die-attach pastes containing electrically conductive filler and polycyanate ester monomer in a variety of ways, e.g., in assuring the stability of paste homogeneity, in extending the pot life of such die-attach pastes, in reducing the cost of preparation, as well as the ease of preparation, by avoiding the use of potentially detrimental components (e.g., alkylphenols are acidic species, which are potentially corrosive), by avoiding the use of volatile components (which upon cure may vaporize, resulting in reduced wire bondability due to contamination of bond pads, and/or which may lead to the creation of voids in the cured resin), by having sharper, more rapid (i.e., snappier) curing profiles (thus improving cure cycle time), and the like.


In a device for correcting picture instabilities in film scanners, at least one motion vector describing the motion of at least one part of the picture between two scanned pictures is derived and an actuator situated in the path of the video signals obtained by scanning is controlled in a manner dependent on said motion vector, in each case the at least one motion vector of successive pictures being fed to a filter, the filter containing a plurality of registers, to which the at least one motion vector can be fed and which are assigned a state variable which is set if the respective register content is valid, the contents of the registers with a set state variable being accumulated by a new motion vector when the latter arrives, the state variable being reset if the state variable was set before the arrival of the new motion vector and the content of the respective register exceeds a predetermined threshold, the content of one of the registers with a reset state variable being set to zero and the state variable being set to one and an average value being formed from the contents of the registers with a set state variable, said average value being fed to the actuator with an opposite sign.

During the projection and scanning of films, it is possible to observe picture instabilities resulting from non-uniform transport of the film during recording and/or during projection or scanning. The picture instabilities lead to undesirable motion components which the viewer perceives as disturbing wobbling of the picture.
DE 195 36 691 has disclosed for example a method and an arrangement for correcting picture instabilities during television scanning, in which the picture component in the video signal is corrected with regard to the picture stability by a correction signal. In this case, it is specified specifically how motion vectors are derived by means of a search method which is based on the test displacement of a pattern region from one picture to the next and the determination of a correlation of the pattern region with the corresponding region of the next picture.
However, the derived motion vectors comprise both the picture instabilities and the movements that are actually present, for example movements in the recorded scene or pan movements of the camera. However, these components cannot be unambiguously separated from one another. Therefore, an exact reconstruction of the real motion sequence is not possible.
When viewing the motion present in the scanned picture, it is possible to distinguish between a still picture and a moving picture. In the case of a still picture, picture instabilities are highly pronounced even in the case of a small amplitude. The requirements made of the quality of the correction are particularly high here. The correction signal can be calculated very simply, however, for this case. In order to obtain the course of the path of a pixel, it is necessary merely to continuously sum the displacement vectors. The instantaneous position of the pixel is then obtained. For correction, said pixel is displaced from the instantaneous position to a fixed position in the picture plane.
In the case of moving pictures, picture instabilities with a small amplitude are not so highly pronounced. However, a picture stability correction must not disturb the real motion.

Device for correcting still image errors in a video signal


Methods and apparatus for monitoring problematic transmission channels in a cellular telephone system are disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the channel monitoring method or apparatus keeps track of a defined number of calls M. After channel selection, the channel monitoring process determines whether the channel assignment was successful. The number of calls M defines the window in which the process tracks channel failures. The disclosed monitoring process can be used in either an analog embodiment or a time division multiple access (TDMA) digital embodiment having multiple channels for each frequency, such as TDMA-3. After every frequency selection, whether call assignment is successful or unsuccessful, channel information is monitored. If the monitored channel information exceeds placement thresholds, the selected frequency is placed into an alarm subpool. Preferably, the channel monitoring process has at least one alarm subpool. If the selected channel has been previously placed into an alarm subpool during a window of calls M and the channel information satisfies rejection thresholds, the selected frequency is rejected. A rejected frequency is subsequently unavailable for future calls until the operator intervenes. If the selected frequency is already in an alarm subpool and there have been no call failures of the type which originally caused the selected frequency to be placed into an alarm subpool during the last M calls; the frequency is removed from the alarm subpool.

Transmission channels in a cellular telephone system are typically selected using a sequential channel selection process. During operation, channels may be allocated by first creating a list of potential channels, then sequentially selecting channels from the created list. The list is usually arranged as an ordered list, for example, a priority que arrangement or a table. The channel selection protocol usually starts by selecting the first channel and determining if the selected channel is available to be assigned for transmission. If the first channel is available, it is selected for transmission. If the first channel is not available, the second channel's availability is checked. This process is repeated until an available channel is found, or until all of the channels in the list have been checked.
The above-described allocation method does not take the signal's quality or historical failure rates into account when selecting a channel. In general, channels having a higher signal quality level transmit voice and other information with better clarity and overall performance than channels having a lower signal quality level. Also, channels having high historical failure rates have a greater probability of failure. Further, when using a sequential channel selection protocol, channels at the head of the que tend to be selected much more often than channels near the end of the que. The result is that transmission circuits associated with the first few channels wear out from overuse more quickly than other transmission circuits.
A method and apparatus for allocating transmission channels in a cellular system based on channel quality but not historical failure rates is disclosed in a related application entitled Method and Apparatus for Allocating Channels in a Cellular System, Ser. No. 08/373,927 (Inventor: Bhanu Durvasula). That invention provides a method and apparatus for allocating channels in a cellular system by selecting transmission channels based only on a measured signal quality level of each channel. The method for allocating channels includes the steps of providing transmission channels suitable for transmission over a cell of the cellular system, defining a quality channel pool having a range of acceptable signal quality levels, measuring the signal quality level for each channel, and placing into the quality channel pool each channel having a signal quality level within the acceptable range. Channels are preferably selected from a round robin selection technique.
Although the above-described invention creates a hierarchy of preferred channels based on calculated signal qualities and increases the useful life of channel transmission circuitry, there is still need for even further improvement. For example, there is a need for a method that takes into consideration during channel selection the historical failure rates of a high quality channel. This would avoid the problem of calls being assigned to high quality but historically problematic channels only to have the calls disconnected, or connected with a poor quality of service. There is a further need for a channel allocation scheme that allows the operator to monitor the most problematic channels after each channel assignment. There is an even further need for a method whereby channels possessing the highest quality signals do not remain in their respective quality subpools even if they possess a history of pre-assignment and/or post-assignment failures. There is still further need of a mechanism to assign problematic channels a lower allocation priority even if their signal quality is high, whereby an operator could eliminate highly problematic channels from subsequent channel assignments, rectify the problematic area, then place the channel back into a quality subpool for future assignment.

Method and apparatus for monitoring killer channels in a cellular system


An integral polymeric clamp device is disclosed. The clamp device is comprised of a base portion to which is hingedly connected a two arm clamping assembly actuable from an open position to a closed position wherein a component of a second arm of the assembly clampingly engages a stop surface formed on the base of the assembly. The arms are locked in clamping position when a hinged connection between the arms shifts from a first to a second side of a line extending between the stop surface and the hinged connection of the first arm to the body portion Movement of the clamp member into engagement with the fixed stop portion on the body of the clamp is assured by a locator link hingedly interposed between the body portion and the arm carrying the moving component of the clamp assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to a clamp device and more particularly to a integrally molded clamp formed of polymeric material.
Still, more particularly, the invention is directed a ubiquitous polymeric clamp, which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable, and with minor modifications useful in multipurpose applications.
By way of example, the clamp may be employed as a hose clamp, in the manner of the clothespin, wall mounted as a note holder, as a bed sheet clamp, etc.
2. The Prior Art
As is well known, clamp devices such as clothespins and the like are available in a multiplicity of configurations. Many of such devices are of multipart constructions, whereby there are encountered assembly difficulties.
In order to avoid the expense inhering in clamps fabricated of different materials and requiring assembly, it has been proposed to fabricate hinges, clamps and the like, which are integrally molded of polymeric materials, the components of the clamp being connected by so-called "living hinges".
Representative examples of such devices may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,979 and corresponding Canadian patent 840,059; U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,852 and corresponding Canadian patent 840,060; Canadian patents 791,907; 835,010 and 875,956.
The following U.S. Pat. Nos. were located as a result of a prior art search made in respect of an evaluation of the instant invention: 350,850; 3,461,876; 3,612,475; 3,713,622; 3,942,228; 4,235,412; 4,346,869; 4,453,295; 4,588,160; 4,589,626; 4,673,161; 4,802,650 and 5,035,399.
Of the collected references the following are considered to be of marginal relevance to the instant invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,876 discloses a clamp having alignment pins to prevent sidewise skewing of the clamp jaws.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,925 discloses a clamp having a cam action.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,588,160 and 4,673,161 show lateral slots formed in the clamp enabling the clamp to be mounted sidewise over a tube.


The invention relates to a diode structure, especially for thin film solar cells. The aim of the invention is to provide a diode structure for thin film solar cells. Said structure allows for an assembly of a thin film solar cell, whereby said assembly is as flexible as possible, efficiency is high, and utilizing materials that are as environmentally friendly as possible. A diode structure comprising a p-conducting layer, which consists of a chalcopyrite compound, and a n-conducting layer, which is adjacent to the p-conducting layer and consists of a compound that contains titanium and oxygen, is provided.

The invention relates to a diode structure, especially for use for thin-film solar cells.
Thin-film solar cells on the basis of polycrystalline semiconductors offer good chances of significantly reducing the costs for producing rugged and highly efficient solar modules. Of all thin-film solar cells, those on the basis of chalcopyrite semiconductors feature hitherto highest efficiency and count as an interesting candidate for future low-cost solar current or photovoltaic systems. Chalcopyrite compounds in this respect include compounds of the group Cu(InGa)(Sse)2, and more particularly copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2).
A typical layer structure of a chalcopyrite cell is shown in FIG. 4a. On the p-conducting chalcopyrite semiconductor, a CdS layer forms a heterojunction whose electrical field permits charge carrier separation. The front contact on top thereof is formed by a ZnO layer and the back contact is formed by a layer of molybdenum on an insulating substrate, such as e.g. glass.
Illustrated in FIG. 4b is the corresponding band diagram relative to the structure as shown in FIG. 4a, it being evident that the ZnO window layer comprises a substantially larger band gap. This prevents photogenerated charge carriers from being absorbed directly at the surface of the solar cell, and due to the high defect density, immediately recombining there. The heterostructure thus results in substantially greater penetration depths and higher photocurrent yield. This requires, however, that the p-conducting absorber and the n-conducting window layer are well adapted both structurally and electronically.
Window layers as known and tested in production are based on doped metal oxides such as e.g. ZnO, SnO2 or InSnO2 (ITO) generally termed transparent conductive oxides (TCO). Known TCO layers, however, are difficult to adapt with regard to lattice constant or electron affinity to chalcopyrite semiconductors. This is why directly combining these window layers with chalcopyrite absorbers has hitherto failed to yield high and reproducible solar cell efficiencies.
To improve adapting TCO and absorber, thin, i.e. only approx. 50 nm thick, buffer layers are usually inserted between absorber layer and window layer. Best electronic quality and high efficiency is achieved by a diode configuration consisting of a chalcopyrite absorber, CdS buffer layer, and ZnO front electrode, it being this solar cell structure that, by far, achieves the highest efficiency of all thin-film solar cells (up to 18.8%). In addition, this solar cell structure features maximum process tolerance with regard to layer thickness and thus the high yield in production.
However, due to the CdS buffer layer, chalcopyrite semiconductors hitherto most successful contain heavy metals which complicate production and disposal.
It is thus the objective of the invention to provide a diode structure for thin-film solar cells achieving a configuration of the thin-film solar cell as simple as possible for high efficiency in using materials offering good environmental compatibility.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a diode structure for thin-film solar cells comprises a p-conducting layer comprising a chalcopyrite compound. The diode structure further comprises a n-conducting layer having a first band gap, the n-conducting layer further comprising a compound, the compound containing titanium and oxygen. The n-conducting layer adjoins the p-conducting layer The diode structure also comprises a n-conducting amplifying layer having a second band gap. Further, according to this embodiment, a side of the n-conducting layer facing away from the p-conducting layer adjoins the n-conducting amplifying layer, and the second band gap is larger than the first band gap.
According to one aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the chalcopyrite compound is a I-III-VI2 semiconductor from the group Cu(InGa)(SSe)2.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the chalcopyrite compound comprises CuInSe2 (CIS).
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the compound containing titanium and oxygen is selected from a group TiOx where x is in the range from greater than 1.5 to less than 2.0.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the compound containing titanium and oxygen is selected based on the chalcopyrite compound, so as to achieve a best possible adaptation in a conduction band.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the n-conducting amplifying layer comprises an oxide that is transparent and conductive.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the oxide is a doped metal oxide.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the oxide comprises any one of ZnO, SnO2 and InSnO2.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a thin-film solar cell comprises a diode structure. The thin-film solar cell comprises a p-conducting layer comprising a chalcopyrite compound. The thin-film solar cell further comprises a n-conducting layer having a first band gap, the n-conducting layer further comprising a compound, the compound containing titanium and oxygen. The n-conducting layer adjoining the p-conducting layer The thin-film solar cell also comprises a n-conducting amplifying layer having a second band gap. Further, according to this embodiment, a side of the n-conducting layer facing away from the p-conducting layer adjoins the n-conducting amplifying layer, and the second band gap is larger than the first band gap.
According to one aspect of some embodiments of the invention, a layer thickness of the n-conducting layer is selected based on a sheet resistivity of the n-conducting layer.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, a side of the p-conducting layer facing away from the n-conducting layer adjoins a bus contact.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the n-conducting amplifying layer adjoins a substrate, the n-conducting amplifying layer facing away from a light incident side of the substrate.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the bus contact comprises molybdenum.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the bus contact is configured as a full surface area back electrode.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the bus contact adjoins a light incident side of a substrate.
According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the substrate comprises glass.
Other advantages, novel features, and objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are schematic and which are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each identical, or substantially similar component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a single numeral or notation. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention.

Diode structure, especially for thin-film solar cells


The lens driving apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a focus motor having a lead screw; a lens holding frame meshing with the lead screw so as to be movable along an optical axis as the lead screw rotates; a nut plate meshing with the lead screw so as to be movable along the optical axis as the lead screw rotates; and urging means for urging the lens holding frame and nut plate in a direction by which they approach each other or separate from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens driving apparatus for moving a lens, such as a focus lens for carrying out focusing in particular, along an optical axis.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 6A is an overall view of the lens driving apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No HEI 9-96753. This lens driving apparatus 101 comprises a driving source 102 having a lead screw 111; and a lens holding frame 103, provided with a rack part 113 in mesh with the lead screw 111, for holding a lens 110. When the driving source 102 is driven, the lens 110 is moved along the optical axis O. In this lens driving apparatus 101, the engagement between the lead screw 111 and the rack part 113 yields a backlash along the depicted optical axis O, whereby there have been cases where the movement of the lens 10 is retarded by the amount of backlash when the movement of the lens holding frame 103 is reversed, for example, which may adversely affect the positioning accuracy of the lens 110. A lens driving apparatus having a similar configuration is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-275,194.
FIG. 6B is a sectional view of another conventional lens driving apparatus. In this lens driving apparatus 201, a lens holding frame 203 is urged along the optical axis O by a spring 220. As a consequence, the lens holding frame 203 is always biased in one direction by the amount of backlash, so that there are no xe2x80x9crattles,xe2x80x9d and the problem mentioned above is overcome as well.
In the conventional lens driving apparatus 201 shown in FIG. 6B, however, one end of the spring 220 is secured to a fixing end face 215, whereby the force urging the lens holding frame 203 caused by the spring 220 varies depending on positions of the lens holding frame 203. For example, the urging action caused by the spring 220 has become stronger in a position closer to the fixing end face 215. In such a case, the biasing action caused by the lens holding frame 211 with respect to the lead screw 211 becomes stronger, so that a stronger load is imposed on the rotation of the driving source 202, which may prevent the positioning of the lens 210 from being accurately controlled and lower the positioning accuracy of the lens 210.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a lens driving apparatus excellent in positional accuracy, preventing the adverse effect of rattling caused by the backlash and of excessively strong load imposed on the actuation of a driving source.
For achieving the above-mentioned object, the lens driving apparatus in accordance with the present invention is a lens driving apparatus for moving a lens along an optical axis, the lens driving apparatus comprising a lead screw rotated by a driving source; a lens holding frame for holding the lens, the lens holding frame being formed with a threaded part meshing with a threaded part of the lead screw and adapted to move along the optical axis as the lead screw rotates; a nut plate formed with a threaded part meshing with the threaded part of the lead screw and adapted to move along the optical axis as the lead screw rotates; rotation preventing means for preventing the lens holding frame and the nut plate from rotating as the lead screw rotates; and urging means for urging the lens holding frame and the nut plate in a direction by which the lens holding frame and the nut plate approach each other or separate from each other.
According to such a lens driving apparatus, the lens holding frame and nut plate are urged by the urging means in directions by which they approach each other or separate from each other, whereby each of the lens holding frame and nut plate moves by the amount of backlash generated with respect to the threaded part of the lead screw, so as to be biased at the meshing part. Therefore, positional accuracy of the lens driving apparatus is not adversely affected by rattling caused by the backlash.
Since the lens holding frame and nut plate are prevented from rotating as the lead screw rotates, the lens holding frame and nut plate move along the optical axis as the lead screw rotates, whereby the lens can accurately be moved along the optical axis.
Since each of the lens holding frame and nut plate meshes with the lead screw so as to move along the optical axis rotates while being prevented from rotating as the lead screw rotates, they move keeping the distance therebetween always constant as the lead screw rotates, whereby the urging action caused by the urging means is always held at a constant force. Therefore, the load imposed on the actuation of the driving source becomes constant, so that the rotation control of the driving source is not adversely affected, whereby the lens
Preferably, at least one of the respective threaded parts of the lens holding frame and nut plate is less than one pitch. In this case, even when there is an error in each pitch width of the lead screw, no friction/load occurs due to the error upon rotating the lead screw.
Also, forming the threaded part into less than one pitch simplifies the die cutting step when molding each member.
It further contributes to making the whole apparatus smaller.
Preferably, the urging means is a leaf spring. When the leaf spring is used, the urging means is formed thin, whereby the whole apparatus can be made smaller.
The lens is a focus lens for carrying out focusing in a taking optical system, for example.


A method for treating a vulnerable plaque associated with a blood vessel of a patient is disclosed. The method includes positioning an electrical lead adjacent a vulnerable plaque lesion, and then delivering at least one electrical pulse to the lesion.

Heart disease, specifically coronary artery disease, is a major cause of death, disability, and healthcare expense. Until recently, most heart disease was considered primarily the result of a progressive increase of hard plaque in the coronary arteries. This atherosclerotic disease process of hard plaques leads to a critical narrowing (stenosis) of the affected coronary artery and produces anginal syndromes, known commonly as chest pain. The progression of the narrowing reduces blood flow, triggering the formation of a blood clot. The clot may choke off the flow of oxygen rich blood (ischemia) to heart muscles, causing a heart attack. Alternatively, the clot may break off and lodge in another organ vessel such as the brain resulting in a thrombotic stroke.
Within the past decade, evidence has emerged expanding the paradigm of atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and heart attacks. While the build up of hard plaque may produce angina and severe ischemia in the coronary arteries, new clinical data now suggests that the rupture of sometimes non-occlusive, vulnerable plaques causes the vast majority of heart attacks. The rate is estimated as high as 60–80 percent. In many instances vulnerable plaques do not impinge on the vessel lumen, rather, much like an abscess they are ingrained under the arterial wall. For this reason, conventional angiography or fluoroscopy techniques are unlikely to detect the vulnerable plaque. Due to the difficulty associated with their detection and because angina is not typically produced, vulnerable plaques may be more dangerous than other plaques that cause pain.
Atherosclerotic plaques vulnerable to rupture are typically small deposits covered by thin fibrous caps (less than 70 microns) covering lipid cores. Within the fibrous cap is a dense infiltrate of smooth muscle cells, macrophages and lymphocytes. Many believe the lipid pool is formed by pathological process involving low-density lipoprotein (LDL), macrophages, and the inflammatory process. The macrophages oxidize the LDL, producing foam cells. The macrophages, foam cells, and smooth muscle cells sit beneath the endothelium and release various toxic substances, such as tumor necrosis factor and tissue factor. These substances damage the arterial wall and surrounding areas and can result in generalized cell necrosis and apoptosis, pro-coagulation, and weakening of the fibrous cap. The inflammation process may weaken the fibrous cap to the extent that sufficient mechanical stress, such as that produced by increased blood pressure, may result in rupture. The lipid core and other contents of the vulnerable plaque (emboli) may then spill into the blood stream thereby initiating a clotting cascade. The cascade produces a blood clot (thrombosis) that potentially results in a heart attack and/or stroke. The process is exacerbated due to the release of collagen and other plaque components (e.g., tissue factor), which enhance clotting upon their release.
Several strategies have been developed for the detection (e.g., diagnosis and localization) of vulnerable plaques. One strategy involves the measurement of temperature within a blood vessel. For example, vulnerable plaque tissue temperature is generally elevated compared to healthy vascular tissue. Measurement of this temperature discrepancy may allow detection of the vulnerable plaque.
Another detection strategy involves labeling vulnerable plaque with a marker. The marker substance may be specific for a component and/or characteristic of the vulnerable plaque. For example, the marker may have an affinity for the vulnerable plaque, more so than for healthy tissue. Detection of the marker may thus allow detection of the vulnerable plaque. Alternatively, the marker may not necessarily have an affinity for the vulnerable plaque, but will simply change properties while associated with the vulnerable plaque. The property change may be detected and thus allow detection of the vulnerable plaque.
Regardless of the strategy used for detection, a formidable problem remains in the treatment of the vulnerable plaque. Without appropriate treatment, the vulnerable plaque may rupture and subsequently release embolic material and cause great risk to the patient, especially when the patient is not in a clinical setting. Drug and other therapies exist that may reduce the size and chance of vulnerable plaque rupture over a relatively long time frame. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), which is commonly used to treat hard plaques, is contraindicated. In the PTCA procedure, a catheter having an inflatable balloon at its distal end is introduced into the coronary artery, and the balloon is inflated to flatten the hard plaque against the arterial wall. Inflation of a balloon catheter near a vulnerable plaque lesion could rupture the thin fibrous cap that covers the lipid pool, resulting in precisely the clotting cascade that treatment would seek to prevent.
Thickening of the inner wall of a vessel is clearly an unwanted and deleterious side effect when treating hard plaques. However, such thickening could have a positive effect when it serves to strengthen the thin fibrous cap found atop a vulnerable plaque lesion. With the lesion thus stabilized, time is provided for the use of statin drugs or other agents to shrink or remove the lipid pool. These therapies, however, may not be desirable or effective for all patients, including those having vulnerable plaques on the immediate verge of rupture. With such therapies, accidental or unanticipated rupture of these truly vulnerable plaques may occur in a non-clinical setting. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a treatment strategy that would provide relatively immediate treatment of the vulnerable plaque within a clinical setting. Furthermore, it would be desirable for such a treatment strategy to prevent any embolic material from escaping and causing risk to the patient.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a strategy for treating vulnerable plaque that would overcome the aforementioned and other disadvantages.


A gas generator for inflating a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The gas generator includes an igniting means for producing gas and/or heat upon activation by a control signal of the vehicle. The gas generator also includes a first chamber comprising a propellant ignitable by gas and/or heat produced by the igniting means, and a second chamber comprising pressurized inflation gas. An outlet opening through which the inflation gas can flow out of the second chamber and into the gas bag is provided. The gas generator also includes a sealing means sealing the outlet opening. The gas generator is configured in such a way that after activation of the igniting means gas and/or heat produced by the igniting means ignites the propellant and a pressure wave is created under the direct or indirect impact of gas produced by the igniting means.

The invention relates to a gas generator for inflating a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system and a method of inflating a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system.
Known from the prior art are hybrid gas generators which comprise a source of pressurized inflation gas ("cold gas") in combination with a source of combustion gas created by the combustion of a propellant.

Gas generator for inflating a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system and method of inflating a gas bag


This invention relates, e.g., to a Myocyte-based Flow Assist Device (MFAD) for treating a subject in need of increased flow of a biological fluid, such as venous blood or lymph, comprising a sheath which comprises rhythmically contracting myocytes.

There are many biological fluids within our bodies. They include the aqueous humor of the eye, endolymph & perilymph contained within labyrinth of the inner ear, interstitial fluid, milk produced by mammary glands, amniotic fluid, chyme, chyle, gastric juices, lymph, seminal fluid, bile, cerebrospinal fluid and blood. There are a variety of conditions or diseases which result from impaired drainage or directional flow of such biological fluids, and which would benefit from a method to improve the drainage or directional flow. Among such conditions or diseases are, e.g., conditions related to impaired return of the blood to the heart (chronic venous insufficiency), and conditions resulting from impaired lymph flow, which are often referred to as lymphedema.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
There are several auxiliary physiological mechanisms by which one's heart is assisted in its continuous effort to propel blood through vascular beds. There is the 'respiratory pump,' which acts via repetitive inflation/deflation cycles of the chest cavity that leads to a stretch of compliant veins leading to the heart. There is the so-called 'aortic pump' or Windkessel effect of the aorta, which helps to propel blood throughout the diastole as a result of elastic recoil. Finally, there is the 'skeletal muscle pump', which combats the effect of gravity in upright individuals. The skeletal muscle pump works via compression of nearby veins and requires functionally intact unidirectional valves within those veins.
When the skeletal muscle pump mechanism fails (either due to lack of skeletal muscle activity, distention of veins, failure of venous valves, or a combination of the above), it leads to chronic venous insufficiency, which is also called chronic venous disease (CVD). CVD is one of the most widespread diseases in the populations of the Western world. The number of people who suffer from CVD is very large, with an estimated 25% of adult population having varicose veins, and 6% more advanced chronic disease (Beebe-Dimmer et al., 2005). CVD can lead to chronic skin changes, phlebitis, venous stasis, ulceration and, ultimately, loss of a limb and death. Lower extremity ulcers are particularly common in diabetic patients, with venous disease accounting for majority of them (Greer et al., 2012). In United States alone, the annual cost associated with of CVD treatment is approaching $3 billion, constituting ˜2% of the total health-care budget cost (Robertson et al., 2008).
Today there are several treatments of CVD tailored to specific causes and symptoms. For varicose veins, there are non-surgical options such as sclerotherapy, leg elevation, and elastic stockings. These procedures can be helpful, but they require continuous care and are associated with lower quality of life. Surgical options include vein stripping, sealing veins using radiofrequency or laser energy, or ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. These procedures can be effective, particularly when treating individual vein segments. Downsides of these treatments include high recurrence rate, often at a different site, and surgical complications. Venous leg ulcers are primarily treated using compression, with only 40% to 70% healing after 6 months of treatment (Thomas, 2013). Venous ulcers may get infected leading to cellulitis or gangrene and can eventually lead to amputation.
Impaired Lymph Flow or Lymphedema
The lymph system is a network of lymph vessels, tissues, and organs that carry lymph throughout the body. Lymphedema refers to an accumulation of interstitial fluid due to the insufficient capacity of the lymphatic system. Lymphedema may be inherited (primary) or caused by injury to the lymphatic vessels, in which case it is called secondary. Secondary lymphedema is one of the well-known complications of cancer treatment. It results from the dissection of lymph-nodes and subsequent radiation therapy. It is very commonly observed in breast cancer patients for whom the most common site of the disease is arm lymphedema (Didem et al., 2005). Lymphedema is also common in patients after surgical and radiation treatments of cervical and prostate cancers (Werngren-Elgström and Lidman, 1994). Depending on the surgical procedure, the type of the radiation therapy, and the techniques used to measure fluid accumulation, lymphedema incidence can range from 10 to 90% (Didem et al., 2005; Gärtner et al., 2009). When untreated, lymphedema becomes a chronic condition with the risk of worsening in terms of volume and degree of tissue fibrosis (Casley-Smith, 1995; Petrek et al., 2001). It can lead to cosmetic abnormalities, including limb discoloration and/or deformation. It also can impair patient's physical mobility, leading to mental discomfort and social isolation (Martín et al., 2011). Another adverse outcome can be an acute infection of the upper dermis and superficial lymphatics, caused by streptococcus bacteria. Today, the most common therapy consists of the following components; skin care, manual lymphatic drainage, bandaging and exercises (Brorson et al., 2008). Commonly used manual lymphatic drainage is time-consuming with no standardization among different physiotherapists (Tambour et al., 2014; Williams et al., 2002). Furthermore, the type of bandages used varies greatly. The scientific evidence as to what type of treatment or combination of treatments is most effective is scarce and/or controversial (Huang et al., 2013; Williams et al., 2002).
Even though very large numbers of people may be affected by chronic lymphedema, there is relatively little recognition of the seriousness of this chronic disease. However, it substantially increases postoperative medical costs for breast, prostate and cervical cancer survivors. In addition, up to 2/3 of obese individuals are thought to suffer from some aspects of lymphedema (Keast et al., 2014). As a result of improved cancer survival rates and the steadily growing number of overweight patients, the number of people who suffer from untreated or undertreated lymphedema has dramatically increased in recent years, particularly in Western societies. Yet, there is a limited arsenal of effective approaches to treat this debilitating condition. Patients' therapeutic options are few and new therapies to treat post-radiation lymphedema are critically needed.
There is a need for improved methods and devices to bring about improved drainage or directional flow of impaired venous blood or lymph.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Myocyte-derived flow assist device: extravasal sheaths of rhythmically contracting myocytes aiding flow of biological fluids

The George Washington University a Congressionally Chartered Not-for-Profit Corporation


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a user equipment (UE) and a method of wireless communication using the UE that includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The method includes determining that the first transceiver is scheduled to communicate using a first transmission simultaneous to the second transceiver being scheduled to communicate using a second transmission, and altering an operation of at least one of the first and second transceivers to mitigate battery voltage droop due to simultaneous transmissions of the transceivers. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the global system for mobile (GSM) network, which utilizes a GSM air interface. GSM is defined and supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Enhanced GPRS is an extension of GSM technology providing increased data rates beyond those available in second-generation GSM technology. EGPRS is also known in the field as Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), and IMT Single Carrier.
More recently, some mobile devices configured for EGPRS support multiple independent active connections to one or more access networks such that the user of the device can engage in voice or data communication on two different subscriptions simultaneously. For example, wireless mobile equipment (called user equipment or UE in 3GPP terminology such as GSM, but also called an access terminal, mobile station, etc. in various literature) uses dual subscriber identity modules (Dual-SIM) to store the subscriber's identity and for other security and authentication purposes in order to provide access to two subscriptions. These two subscriptions might be on the same network or on different networks. A device can utilize multiple transceivers such that the device can support multiple active connections at the same time. However, when multiple independent active connections occur simultaneously, the total transmit power may exceed the safe current limit, cause excessive voltage drop (droop) of the battery or heating of the device, and cause interference among the connections.

Apparatus and method for mitigating voltage droop in a dual-transceiver wireless communication device


In a signal converter which derives from an input signal having a sample rate R/q an output signal having a larger sample rate R, the input signal is combined with a feedback signal in a subtracter to form a single combined signal. Samples of the combined signal are mapped into a larger number of output samples by a mapper forming part of a mapping arrangement which also produces the feedback signal. The formation of a single combined signal makes the signal converter less complex in design than it would be if a number of combined signals were formed. In a further embodiment a noise shaping filter is interposed between the subtracter and the mapper.

The invention is related to a signal converter for converting an input signal into an output signal, the signal converter including a combiner for deriving a combined signal from the input signal and a feedback signal and mapping arrangement configured for deriving from the combined signal both a plurality of samples of the output signal and the feedback signal.
Such a signal converter is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,655.
Signal converters of this type are used, for example, in digital-to-analog converters operating according to the bit stream principle. In such converters, an input signal having a first sample frequency is transformed in an output signal having a second sample frequency. The input signal has a spectrum which is periodic with a period corresponding to the first sample frequency. Once the sample rate has been increased, the frequency spectrum of the output signal having the second sample rate continues to be periodic with a period corresponding to the first sample rate. However, a signal is desired which has a frequency spectrum that is only periodic with a period corresponding to the second (higher) sample rate. In order to realize this, a filter is required which eliminates the undesired frequency components. In a bitstream type converter, this filtering is performed by a low pass filter present in the feed forward path of the bitstream type converter.
A problem with bit stream type converters, especially with high ratios of the second and first sample frequency is the high operating frequency of the sample rate converter. In the signal converter according to the above mentioned U.S. patent, the operating frequency is reduced with a factor p. This is obtained by using a mapping arrangement which generates in response to one sample of the output signal of the combining means p samples of the output signal. The output samples are downsampled using a plurality of feedback filters. The feedback signals are combined with filtered input signals to obtain a plurality of difference signals. Each of these difference signals are filtered using a separate filter and finally combined into the combined signal. The number of filters is equal to the order of the filtering required, which can result in an increased complexity. This increased complexity leads to a larger amount of silicon area if the signal converter is realized in hardware.


A probe system for facilitating inspection of a device under test comprising a plurality of panels, the probe system incorporating: a configurable universal probe bar comprising a plurality of probe blocks, the plurality of probe blocks comprising a plurality of probe pins positioned to simultaneously electrically engage a plurality of cell contact pads of the plurality of panels of the device under test to deliver a plurality of electrical test signals; and an alignment system configured to achieve an alignment of the plurality of probe pins with the plurality of the cell contact pads of the plurality of panels of the device under test.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of inspection of electronic devices and in particular to inspection of Liquid Crystal (LC) and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, and the mechanical, optical and electronic systems used in this inspection.
Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display (LCD) panels incorporate liquid crystals that exhibit electric-field dependent light modulating properties. They are used most frequently to display images and other information in a variety of devices ranging from fax machines, laptop computer screens, to large screen, high-definition TVs. Active matrix LCD panels are complex layered structures consisting of several functional layers: a polarizing film; a TFT glass substrate incorporating thin-film transistors, storage capacitors, pixel electrodes and interconnect wiring a color filter glass substrate incorporating a black matrix and a color filter array and a transparent common electrode; an orientation film made of polyimide; and the actual liquid crystal material incorporating plastic/glass spacers to maintain proper LCD cell thickness.
LCD panels are manufactured under highly controlled conditions in a clean room environment to maximize yield. Nonetheless, many LCDs have to be discarded because of manufacturing flaws.
As stated above, in order to improve production yield of complex electronic devices, such as LCD panels, various inspection stages are performed in order to identify various defects that can occur during various stages of the fabrication process. The aforesaid inspection stages may be performed between the fabrication stages or after the completion of the entire fabrication process. One example of the aforesaid inspection process is the testing of TFT arrays used in LC and OLED displays for electrical defects. Various inspection devices are used to perform the aforesaid testing. Exemplary devices that could be used for this purpose include Array Checker AC6068 commercially available from Orbotech Ltd. of San Jose, Calif., USA. Alternatively, the TFT array testing may be performed using electron-beam inspection systems known to persons of skill in the art and commercially available.
Electrical inspection systems in general require the device under test (DUT) to be driven with electrical signals, or patterns, that facilitate the detection of defects. These signals are conveyed from a pattern generator subsystem to the DUT by means of a structure carrying probe pins that physically touch contact pads located at the periphery of the active area of the DUT. In the case of the electrical inspection of TFT arrays, one or more shorting bars (implemented on the same substrate as the array) are often disposed between the contact pads used for array test and the panel drive lines. These shorting bars are connected to a subset of drive lines (e.g., one shorting bar may be connected to every other gate line), thereby reducing the number of contacts needed, which simplified the probing assembly.
While the use of the shorting bars facilitates probing of panels for array test, they require additional real estate for each panel. In small panel applications (e.g. mobile phone displays and tablets), this loss of real estate has serious implications for glass utilization. Panel losses due to the implementation of shorting bars can be in the range of 15-20%. Such a large reduction in panels per glass has a serious impact on Fab capacity and revenue for the customer. This was not a major issue until recently, because small panels were not tested frequently. However, with the increase in value and size of mobile phone displays, testing of small LCD panels is becoming increasingly desirable to manage production yields.

Systems and methods for electrical inspection of flat panel displays using cell contact probing pads


New secondary amines are described which are prepared from inexpensive, commercially available raw materials, are stable at room temperature, and are reactive toward electrophiles. The secondary amines are prepared by the addition of one or more primary amines with one or more male (amide/ester) and fumar (amide/ester) Michael receptors. The above amines can be used as coreactants with aliphatic polyisocyanates for polyurea coatings. The novel secondary amines are also described as particularly useful as part of a two-part liquid pavement marking composition for pavement markings.

Polyfunctional amines are used as coreactants with polyfunctional isocyanates in many applications. These reactions yield polyureas which are a highly regarded class of polymers, known for their toughness, high strength and dynamic mechanical and high temperature performance. These reactions are generally carried out in specialized equipment, due to the high reactivity of amines and isocyanates. This has limited their use in traditional adhesives, coatings and sealer type product applications.
Typical primary and secondary amines are extremely reactive with a variety of electrophiles, which results in very short gel times with little or no potlife. The reaction of primary amines with isocyanates is extremely exothermic and produces strongly hydrogen bonded dihydro-urea linkages. Strongly hydrogen bonded groups may disadvantageously increase product viscosities and hinder subsequent mobility and reactivity of attached functional groups. Additionally, uncontrollable reaction rates are undesirable in many applications.
The utility of amines of the present invention is based on the addition reaction between a polyisocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive component, in particular polyamines containing secondary amino groups. This reaction is known in principle from DE-OS 2,158,945 (Fed. Rep. Of German, 1973) but according to the teachings of this publication the reaction is not used for crosslinking two-component coating compositions at relatively low temperatures but rather for the preparation of intermediate products which are converted at elevated temperatures into heterocyclic end products.
Bayer Corp. has recently introduced polyaspartic acid diesters under the name DESMOPHEN.TM.. These secondary amines react more controllably with electrophiles than do the corresponding primary amines. However, the adducts of these amines and isocyanates are capable of a further transformation to form a hydantoin ring structure, giving rise to shrinking of the coating and generating undesired alcohol byproducts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,170 describes secondary amines, referred to as "polyaspartic acid derivatives", which are formed by the Michael-type reaction of primary polyamines with maleic or fumaric acid ester Michael receptors. This reaction is illustrated below as formula (I), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are as defined in the cited reference. ##STR1## These aspartic ester diesters react with isocyanates to form urea-diester linkages. This reaction is illustrated below as formula (II), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are as defined in the cited reference. ##STR2##
Urea-diester linkages are reportedly unstable however, cyclizing to the hydantoin with the concomitant expulsion of alcohol. The expelled alcohol is problematic in some systems such as isocyanate-terminated prepolymers, since it may undesirably react with residual isocyanate groups. Dimensional changes of the polymer upon hydantoin formation is a potential problem as well. This reaction is illustrated below as formula (III), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are as defined in the cited reference. ##STR3##
In addition to U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,170, the above aspartic ester diesters are described to be suitable for manufacture of high performance polyurethane or polyurea coatings for specific end-use applications in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,236,741, 5,243,012, 5,412,056, 5,516,873 and 5,580,945.
There is a need for improved polyurea and polyurethane coatings having amine components that resist hydantoin formation.
There is a significant need for a liquid pavement marking composition that will provide increased durability and retained reflectivity once applied to a surface and dried or cured. Furthermore, it is advantageous to apply markings in a wider range of weather conditions than is possible with existing compositions. There is also a need for marking compositions with improved cure profiles to ensure both substrate wet out and rapid track free time. Improvements are needed to obtain compositions that are substantially free of volatile organic components. Compositions of this type are typically used on roads, highways, parking lots and recreational trails to form stripes, bars and markings for the delineation of lanes, crosswalks, parking spaces, symbols and legends and the like. They are typically applied by spray coating (i.e., painting) the pavement surface. Preformed pavement marking sheets or tapes have also been used to mark pavement or traffic bearing surfaces.
Pavement marking stripes, or pavement markings of other shapes, may include reflective optical elements adhered to the pavement surface by the use of a binder. Current traffic paint systems typically use conventional 1.5 n.sub.D glass microspheres for increased retroreflection. The microspheres are typically flood coated onto the wet marking immediately after coating. This provides the paint with improved retroreflectivity and also covers the top surface of the uncured or undried coating with a protective layer of microspheres. This protective layer allows the markings to be exposed to traffic sooner because of the layer of microspheres over the surface, which prevents transfer of the coating to the surface of vehicle tires. This is important for rates of marking application. The time between application and the point where material will no longer transfer to vehicle tires is defined as the "track free" time. Shorter track free times increase marking efficiency by reducing or eliminating the need for traffic disruption through such measures as closing lanes or placing traffic control devices to protect such markings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,596 discloses liquid pavement marking compositions that solve many of the problems of alkyd-based and epoxy-based pavement marking compositions. Such pavement marking compositions are prepared from a two part polyurethane-forming system of a first component having isocyanate-reactive groups (a polyol) and a second component having isocyanate groups. It is disclosed that such compositions dry faster, withstand weathering better, and do not discolor as readily as alkyd-based and epoxy-based compositions. However, the exemplified compositions required aromatic isocyanates in combination with the polyols and a catalyst. Any colorless or lightly colored aromatic polyisocyanate is suggested to increase the reactivity and decrease the viscosity of the isocyanate component and provide a harder polyurethane. Aromatic isocyanates are not particularly desirable because the resultant polyurethanes are subject to environmental degradation and discoloration. Also, many lower molecular weight aromatic isocyanates that would decrease viscosity and modify reactivity or film properties can potentially pose significant inhalation risk or toxic hazard related to their vapor pressure. Furthermore, the use of catalysts is not desirable because they can also catalyze degradation of the polyurethanes. To overcome the deficiencies of aromatic isocyanates, aliphatic isocyanates could be used with polyols; however, this would require the use of a catalyst or an aromatic isocyanate together with an aliphatic isocyanate to obtain sufficient rates of cure.
Thus, the need still exists for liquid pavement marking compositions that can simultaneously provide all of these features in a single material: reduced environmental impact through formulations having low volatile organic content or that are substantially solvent-free; improved balance of coating rheology during application and film formation to promote substrate wet out and fast cure to track-free films; broadened range of weather conditions for coating application; and improved marking performance through increased durability and retained reflectively. Especially needed are liquid pavement marking compositions that resist shrinkage, thus avoiding cracking, coating imperfections and failures.


A method for dynamic allocation of computing tasks includes requesting a computing task by a client; receiving the computing task by a first distributor server set; redirecting the computing task to a second distributor server set, the second distributor server set including a first server; and allocating the computing task from the first server to a second server that executes the computing task, where the allocation is based on matching an attribute of the second server to an attribute of the computing task.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a distributed computing system, particularly to a system that allows dynamic allocation of computing tasks.
2. Description of Related Art
In the 1990's, the "Internet," a connection system that links computers worldwide in a network, has grown from mainly an academic usage to a widespread medium for the transfer of information. The Internet has been termed the so called "information superhighway." As more and more computers are connected via the Internet or a network such as an intranet or wide-area-network (WAN), information is not the only resource that is shared within a network of computers. A network will also be utilized in distributing computing tasks such as mathematical calculations, word processing, graphic design, and etc. Since tasks and files are distributed among various computers, a system is required to balance the computing tasks among a plurality of servers.
Presently, various load-balancing methods have been developed to address the problem of overloading computing tasks on one particular server. For example, for a web site having several servers but operating under a single uniform resource locator ("URL"), a domain name server ("DNS") will send information requests for a specific URL to specific IP addresses corresponding to the servers. In a round-robin DNS, load balancing is achieved by routing requests to these servers in sequential rotation based on their IP addresses. However, since the DNS just routes requests sequentially, this method does not consider the load of the servers and a request can be routed to a server that has failed or does not have the load to perform the request.
Another method is to dedicate a hardware device such as proxy gateways or an IP redirector to perform load balancing. The proxy gateway receives all the requests, queries the servers to determine their respective loads, and then distribute the requests accordingly. Responses from the servers are routed back to the network through the proxy gateway. Unlike the DNS-based method, all requests resolve to the IP address of the proxy server, which avoids the problem of failed servers. However, dedicated load balancers also have a drawback of relying on "old information" as the proxy gateway can only query the servers so often without creating undesirable overhead on the network. Also, these hardware devices only route tasks based on requests and do not consider other important aspects of a computing tasks. For example, in an Application Service Provider (ASP) model, client attributes, such as memory space and computing power, need to be matched up with the fulfillment server attributes, such as data format and size of the output. If the computing task is to produce a video image by the fulfillment server, the output of the server needs to be in a specific format that the client can visualize. Thus, there is a need for a load-balancer that can track the differing capabilities of various servers in fulfilling a client's need.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,279, to O'Neil et al., solves the old information problem by teaching a peer-to-peer load balancing method in which a server in a plurality of servers determines whether it can serve the request or whether it should direct the request to another server. Although the information is real-time, the redirecting of the request is accomplished by the server itself, which creates a problem with scalability. As server number increases, each server needs to track the load of other servers and thus, diverts the server's computing power from its main task of fulfilling requests. Also, like the previous methods mentioned, the peer-to-peer load balancing tracks only load and neglects various attributes of a client, a server, and a request.
Therefore, it is advantageous to have a scalable system to distribute computing tasks that considers attributes of the client, the server, and the request.

Dynamic allocation of computing tasks by second distributed server set


A method of modifying or repairing a fluid conduit assembly includes scanning a sealing feature of a fluid conduit, the sealing feature including an abnormality, creating a 3D model of a sealing member configured to provide a fluid seal with the sealing feature, and utilizing the 3D model to form the sealing member via additive manufacturing. The method may include modifying the sealing feature of the fluid conduit to reduce or remove the abnormality and provide the sealing feature with modified dimensions. Scanning the sealing feature may include determining the modified dimensions of the sealing feature.

This background description is set forth below for the purpose of providing context only. Therefore, any aspect of this background description, to the extent that it does not otherwise qualify as prior art, is neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the instant disclosure.
Sealing mechanisms may take the form of, for example, an annular sealing member, such as an O-ring, sealingly engaging a surface of a groove or gland in one or more of a male and female fluid conveying component. Loss in sealing may result from damage to the seal material itself, including seal wear or abrasion, or damage to a related sealing surface of a gland or groove. For example and without limitation, seal leakage may be due to damage and/or wear to the sealing surface, such as a metal or polymer groove or gland, or inconsistencies with the manufacture of such surfaces. A damaged or improperly manufactured sealing surface may have wear, nicks, scratches, corrosion, or improper dimensions. A resultant imperfect surface finish may result in a lack of sufficient sealing contact between the sealing surface and the seal member, which may result in a measure of leakage and pressure loss. If this condition occurs, the sealing surface may be reconditioned by machining or polishing to restore the original required tolerances to try to better optimize sealing. If the wear, corrosion, or defects are significant, and cannot be corrected without impacting the dimensional size of the groove or gland (e.g., maximum dimension changes in some cases can, for instance, be less than about 0.05 mm), then the component may often be scrapped and replaced.
There is a desire for solutions/options that minimize or eliminate one or more challenges or shortcomings of seals, fluid conduits, and/or fluid conduit repair methods. The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate examples of the present field and should not be taken as a disavowal of scope.

Additive manufacturing of elastomeric seals for repair


A solid-state image pickup device comprises: a semiconductor substrate; at least one photoelectric converting film that generates signal charges corresponding to an amount of incident light; at least one set of pixel electrode films arranged in row and column directions and attached to said at least one photoelectric converting film; vertical transfer paths in the semiconductor substrate, extended in the column direction; and charge accumulating portions in the surface portion of the semiconductor substrate that accumulate signal charges from the pixel electrode films, wherein the charge accumulating portions comprise a plurality of sets, each comprising a subset of the charge accumulating portions arranged in the column direction, and wherein the subset reads out the accumulated signal charges to the corresponding one of the vertical transfer paths, and wherein the two adjacent subsets of the charge accumulating portions are shifted to each other in a direction along the vertical transfer paths.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device in which a photoelectric converting film that generates charges corresponding to the amount of received light is stacked on a semiconductor substrate, and more particularly to a photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device in which a signal charge generated in a photoelectric converting film is transferred through a charge transfer path on a semiconductor substrate to be read out to the outside.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a CCD solid-state image pickup device or a CMOS solid-state image pickup device which is mounted on a digital camera, a large number of photoelectric converting elements (photodiodes) serving as light receiving portions, and signal read circuits which read out photoelectric conversion signals obtained in the photoelectric converting elements are formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate. The signal read circuits are configured by, in the case of a CCD device, charge transfer circuits and transfer electrodes, or by, in the case of a CMOS device, MOS transistor circuits and signal lines.
In the related-art solid-state image pickup device, therefore, many light receiving portions and signal read circuits must be formed on the same surface of a semiconductor substrate, thereby producing a problem in that the area for the light receiving portions cannot be increased.
The related-art single-type solid-state image pickup device has a configuration in which one of color filters of, for example, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) is stacked on each of light receiving portions, so that the light receiving portion detects a light signal of the one color. In the position of a light receiving portion which detects light of, for example, red, therefore, blue and green signals are obtained by interpolating detection signals of surrounding light receiving portions which detect blue light and green light, respectively. This causes a false color, and reduces the resolution. Furthermore, blue light and green light incident on a light receiving portion where a red color filter is formed do not contribute to photoelectric conversion, but are absorbed as heat into the color filter, thereby producing another problem in that the light use efficiency is poor and the sensitivity is low.
As described above, the related-art solid-state image pickup device has various problems. On the other hand, in such a device, the number of pixels is advancing. At present, a large number or several millions of pixels or light receiving portions are integrated on one chip of a semiconductor substrate, and the size of an opening of each of the light receiving portions is near the order of the wavelength. Consequently, a CCD device and a CMOS device are hardly expected to configure an image sensor which can solve the above-discussed problems, and which is superior in image quality and sensitivity than the related-art one.
Therefore, attention is again paid to the structure of a solid-state image pickup device which is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-58-103165. The solid-state image pickup device has a structure where a red-detection photosensitive layer, a green-detection photosensitive layer, and a blue-detection photosensitive layer are stacked by a film growth technique on a semiconductor substrate in which signal read circuits are formed on the surface, these photosensitive layers are used as light receiving portions, and photoelectric conversion signals obtained in the photosensitive layers are supplied to the outside by the signal read circuits. Namely, the solid-state image pickup device has a structure of a photoelectric converting film stack type.
In this structure, it is not required to dispose the light receiving portions on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, restrictions on the design of the signal read circuits are largely eliminated, and the light use efficiency of incident light is improved, so that the sensitivity is enhanced. Moreover, one pixel can detect light of the three primary colors or red, green, and blue. Therefore, the resolution is improved, and a false color does not occur. As a result, it is possible to solve the above-discussed problems of the related-art CCD or CMOS solid-state image pickup device.
Recently, photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup devices disclosed in JP-A-2002-83946, JP-T-2002-502120, JP-T-2003-502847 and Japanese Patent No. 3,405,099 have been proposed. An organic semiconductor or nanoparticles are used as the photosensitive layers.
In a photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device in which a signal read circuit is configured by charge transfer paths, photo-charges generated in photoelectric converting films stacked on a semiconductor substrate must be read out to the charge transfer paths to be transferred. FIG. 6 is a surface diagram of vertical transfer paths in a photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2002-83946.
The photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device has a configuration where one pixel 10 indicated by the broken-line rectangular frame reads out and transfers photo-charges of three colors or red, green, and blue. In the device, therefore, three vertical transfer paths (vertical CCD registers configured by an n-type semiconductor) 11r, 11g, 11b corresponding to pixels arranged in the row (horizontal) direction are separated by channel stops (p+ regions) 12.
At the same vertical position (first-phase transfer electrode) Φv1 of the vertical transfer paths 11r, 11g, 11b, charge accumulating portions 13r, 13g, 13b are defined by the channel stops 12 which are formed into a U-like shape. Longitudinal lines upstand at contact portions 14r, 14g, 14b configured by an n+ region which are disposed at the middles of the charge accumulating portions 13r, 13g, 13b, and are connected to the upper layers or the photoelectric converting films for the respective colors. Signal read gate regions 15r, 15g, 15b are disposed at the sides (the open end sides of the U-like shapes) of the charge accumulating portions 13r, 13g, 13b.
Subsequent to the first-phase transfer electrode Φv1, a second-phase transfer electrode Φv2, a third-phase transfer electrode Φv3, and a fourth-phase transfer electrode Φv4 are sequentially disposed in the vertical direction of the vertical transfer paths 11r, 11g, 11b. In the next first-phase transfer electrode Φv1, charge accumulating portions (not shown) are disposed in the same manner as described above.
Red signal charges generated in the upper layer or the red photoelectric converting film are accumulated in the charge accumulating portion 13r, green signal charges generated in the green photoelectric converting film are accumulated in the charge accumulating portion 13g, and blue signal charges generated in the blue photoelectric converting film are accumulated in the charge accumulating portion 13b. The charges accumulated in the charge accumulating portions 13r, 13g, 13b are read out through the read gate regions 15r, 15g, 15b to the vertical transfer paths 11r, 11g, 11b, and then transferred in the vertical direction by the four-phase drive.
In the photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device having the vertical transfer paths shown in FIG. 6, the charge accumulating portions 13r, 13g, 13b for the respective colors are aligned in line at the same vertical position. In the vertical transfer paths 11r, 11g, 11b, therefore, the widths of the vertical transfer paths below the first-phase transfer electrode Φv1 are narrowed, and there arises a trouble that the transfer efficiency is reduced by the narrow-channel effect. As a result, the pixel pitch in the row (horizontal) direction cannot be reduced, and a photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device of a high resolution cannot be realized.
The upper limit of the quantity of charges transferred by the vertical transfer paths 11r, 11g, 11b driven by the four-phase drive is determined by a portion where the sum of the areas of two transfer electrodes adjacent in the vertical direction is smallest. In the configuration of FIG. 6, namely, the maximum quantity of transferred charges is determined by the sum of the areas of the second-phase transfer electrode Φv2 or the fourth-phase transfer electrode Φv4, and the first-phase transfer electrode Φv1 having an area which is extremely small. Therefore, the configuration of FIG. 6 has a problem in that the maximum quantity of transferred charges is largely restricted by the first-phase transfer electrode Φv1 and the saturation power is reduced. It is difficult to realize a photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device having a wide dynamic range.

Photoelectric converting film stack type solid-state image pickup device


A method for performing super-resolution comprises steps of generating the high-resolution, low-frequency spatial and temporal bands of the input video sequence by interpolation, synthesizing the high-resolution, high-frequency spatial band by cross-frame spatial high-frequency extrapolation, and fusing these two bands to generate the spatio-temporally super-resolved video sequence. A corresponding system for performing super-resolution comprises a stage where the high-resolution, low-frequency spatial and temporal bands of the input video sequence is generated by interpolation, a stage where the high-resolution, high-frequency spatial band is synthesized by cross-frame spatial high-frequency extrapolation, and a stage where these two bands are fused to generate the spatio-temporally super-resolved video sequence.

In "Space-Time Super-Resolution from a Single Video" by O. Shahar, A. Faktor and M. Irani (IEEE Conf. on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, 2011) [1], a space-time pyramid of the input video sequence is created containing several versions of the input video sequence at different spatial and temporal scales. Then, for each spatio-temporal video patch (with spatial dimensions of 5×5 pixels and temporal dimensions of 3 frames), a set of best matches is searched for across the pyramid. This operation is sped-up by means of a randomized-based search, which is highly costly. Then, classical reconstruction-based SR techniques are used to generate the super-resolved video patches, which, once put together, result in the super-resolved video sequence. Even though the method works impressively in the provided results, it is not clear that it would work properly in general sequences, with motions of different nature not recursively appearing at different spatial and temporal scales in the input video sequence. Furthermore, the spatio-temporal search, even if not exhaustive, is a costly procedure which renders the approach unusable for real-time applications.
In "On improving space-time super resolution using a small set of video inputs" by U. Mudenagudi, S. Banerjee and P. Kalra (Indian Conf. on Computer Vision, Graphics and Image Processing, 2008) [2], a method for generating a super-resolved version of a sequence for which several versions exist at various spatio-temporal shifts is presented, which uses graph-cuts to solve a MRF-MAP (Markov Random Field-Maximum A Posteriori) model of the classical reconstruction-based super-resolution equation. This method requires the existence of several versions of the same video sequence at different spatio-temporal shifts, which is something that does not occur in most of the available recorded material.
In "Spatio-temporal resolution enhancement of video sequence based in super-resolution reconstruction"by M. Haseyama, D. Izumi and M. Takizawa (ICASSP 2010) [3], a method for generating joint frame-rate up-conversion and up-scaling is presented, which is based on the classical reconstruction-based super-resolution model. Whereas the authors claim the proposed method is capable of obtaining temporal super-resolution, the equation describing such behavior indicates what is obtained is a smooth linear interpolation of the closest spatially super-resolved frames, which under general motion will produce incorrectly interpolated frames.
In "Super-Resolution Without Explicit Subpixel Motion Estimation" [4] by H. Takeda, P. Milanfar, M. Protter and M. Elad (IEEE Trans. on Image Processing, vol. 18, no. 9, 2009), spatio-temporal super-resolution of video sequences is achieved by using space-time steering filters in local regions, after having aligned matching patches by means of block matching. Two problems of this approach are that, first, the effect of the space-time steering filter is that of producing a non-linear over-smoothing of the region to be super-resolved, which requires a costly non-linear post-correction and loss of detail, and second that the approach is only capable of producing correctly interpolated frames under a limited subset of motion ranges, due to the mechanism for motion compensation (block matching).

Method and apparatus for performing super-resolution