An improved flanged tube assembly with insert-reinforced tube flanges to prevent tube flange deformation and leakage when subjected to high compressive forces as well as sustained high-temperature procedures. The flange inserts are configured to form the flange portion of a flanged tube, or configured to provide structural support to the portions of the flange integral to the associated tube. The inserts may be metallic or polymer based and formed with various structural features to create a mechanical lock between the insert and the material used to make the tube/flange assembly. The inserts can be incorporated into the tube flanges so as to provide the desired support without being exposed to any fluids and/or gases that may flow through the reinforced tube/flange assemblies.

Flanged tubes, such as those used in tri-clamps, and similar to the novel one shown generally in FIG. 7, include four basic components (such as tri-clamp couplings constructed according to ISO 2852, DIN 32676, BS 4825). A pair of tubes 110 having flanged ends configured to register against one another and to enclose a sealing gasket 115 to create an airtight and fluid-tight seal. The flanges are maintained in registration with a clamp structure 130 commonly comprising a pair of hinged semi-circular, or 3-segment, clamping segments with corresponding locking structures at ends opposite a hinged end. The locking structures may include a threaded bolt and threaded bore in one clamping segment and corresponding registration surfaces in the second clamping segment. The flanges may have radially sloped surfaces on a side of the flanges opposite the surfaces that register against one another when two tubes are aligned. The slopes decrease away from the tube body from which the flanges extend. When the clamp structure is secured to the mated flanges, tightening the clamp structure against the paired flanges pulls the semi-circular clamping segments against the sloped surfaces of the flanges. Increased tightening increases the axial and radial pressures exerted against the flanges that cause the flanges to be pressed together in an axial direction as well as a radial direction. The more the semi-circular segments are torqued together, the more tightly the flanged tubes are secured together.
Tri-clamp tubes and their associated flanges are often fabricated from metals, such as 316L stainless steel, and used in sanitary piping and filtration systems. Those metal based tri-clamp coupling systems are often used repeatedly and can sustain various high temperature and high pressure applications and processes. Polymer materials (e.g., polypropylene, polysulfone. PVDF, etc) used for polymer-based tri-clamp tubes and associated flanges are becoming necessary and popular in single-use disposable piping, filter capsules and bio-containers used in manufacturing and processing applications in the bio-pharmaceutical, medical, and food and beverage industries. The polymer materials used for these structures offer many advantages including ease of manufacture, good structural integrity, durability and lowered susceptibility to bacterial growth. There are, however, drawbacks to use of polymeric materials when the application to which the tri-clamp construction is used requires regular and periodic sterilization procedures such as those used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Chief among the drawbacks is the propensity of some of the polymer-based flanges to deform during prolonged autoclaving and other high temperature sterilization techniques. This is due at least in part to the thermoplastic nature of the polymer materials commonly used. Even though the sterilization procedures may be performed with the tri-clamp apparatus in a clamped condition, the flanged portions of the tri-clamp coupling assembly can deform when heated and cooled cyclically. The deformation can lead to improper sealing between mated flanges as well as a reduction in structural integrity after the sterilization procedure. What is needed is a disposable tri-clamp tube flange that can withstand repeated and prolonged high-temperature sterilization procedures without any degradation of structural integrity, flange strength or ability to maintain an airtight and fluid-tight seal.
One approach to correct this problem is to incorporate a metallic insert into the end of a tube to function as the flange portion secured in a tri-clamp. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a tube insert, shown designated generally as 10, includes a generally cylindrical body 12 with a radially extended annular flange 18. Flange 18 includes an annular rim 20 that forms the perimeter surface to which the clamping arms of a tri-clamp register against. A tapered surface 19 of flange 18 slopes radially outwardly from body 12 with the taper becoming thinner toward the outer perimeter of flange 18. This configuration provides a means to impart an axial force on the flange as it registers against a mated flange of a second tube. As the clamp is tightened, the clamping arms impart a radially inwardly directed force against flange rims 20. As portions of the clamping arms in registration with sloped surfaces 19 are further tightened, the clamping arms slide along the sloped surfaces and impart an axial force that pushes the mated flanges in opposing axial directions to press the mated flanges against each other.
To secure this type of flange insert to the tube, a series of features are needed to secure and seal the metallic insert to the polymeric tube. As the materials used to make the metallic insert and the polymer-based tube differ and do not adhere to each other, mechanical interlocking means are necessary to secure the components together.
A cylindrical transition body segment 14 is formed between, and connects, flange 18 and body 12. At the juncture of the flange 18 and segment 14, an annular shoulder 16 is formed to act as a stop and registration surface when flange 18 is put in a mold used to form tube 32. An annular locking channel 28 is formed on an outer surface of body 12 proximal to shoulder 16. When polymer material is poured or injected into a mold used to form tube 32, the material flows into channel 28 and forms an insert restriction ring 34, integral to tube body 12 that substantially prevents axial movement of flange 18 relative to tube 32. A second annular seal channel 30 is formed toward a distal end of flange 18 to receive an O-ring 36. O-ring 36 is placed in channel 30 prior to the placement of flange 18 in the tube mold. Once the tube material is poured and cured, O-ring 36 ensures an airtight seal is maintained between an inner wall of tube 32 and an outer wall of flange body 12. The presence of the O-ring is of particular importance in this configuration as the materials used for the flange and the tube expand and contract at different rates and to different extents when cycled through periods of heating and cooling such as would be expected in a heat-based sterilization procedure. The presence of the O-ring ensures a substantially air-tight seal is maintained between the registered surfaces when undergoing cycles of heating and cooling.
This configuration does address problems with flange deformation and seal failure, but presents an additional set of issues that make the solution less than desirable. The first issue is the exposure of the metallic flange to the fluids and/or gases introduced into the tube/flange assembly when assembled to a second tube secured with the tri-clamp. Due to this exposure, the materials used for the flange may have to be selected so as not to react with the fluids and/or gases. This potentially limits the selection of materials that could be used to construct the metallic flange. As the flange material differs from the tube material, fluids and/or gases that may be compatible with the tube polymer material may not be suitable for exposure to the metallic material thereby limiting the range of fluids and/or gases that may be used in the apparatus having the tri-clamp.
A second problem is the need for tight dimensional tolerances between the tube and flange segment to achieve a commercially acceptable seal between the parts that must be maintained through cycles of use, cleaning and sterilization. The relatively complicated construction also adds considerably to the cost of producing the flange.
Another approach taken to solve the flange failure issue is to incorporate a cylindrical support into the end of the tube, such as shown in FIGS. 4-6. A modified tube/flange/insert assembly shown designated generally as 50 includes a cylindrical tube body 52 with a radially extending annular flange 54. A metallic cylindrical insert 56 is secured in the end of tube 52 so as to be slightly below the surface defined by a top annular surface 62 of flange 54. A tri-clamp gasket channel 58 combines with a gasket seal face 60 to provide a surface against which a tri-clamp gasket can seal.
The inner diameter of insert 56 is dimensioned to be substantially equal with the inner diameter of tube 52. This ensures a smooth transition from the tube body to the insert so as not to impede fluid and/or gas flow through the tube. Although this configuration provides additional support for the flanged tube end, the material comprising the annular flange outside the diameter of the insert does not benefit from the insert's support. The radially distant flange portions are subject to the same issues regarding flange deformation and potential leakage.
What is needed is a simplified flange insert that eliminates the need for accessory sealing means, e.g., O-rings, to ensure a proper, substantially airtight seal between the insert and the tube material. What is needed also is an insert that can be implemented in a manner to prevent any contact with fluids and/or gases flowed through the tubes and tri-clamp apparatus, or any similar apparatus such as a flanged filter housing. What is needed further is a means to secure a flange insert to accommodate expansion and contraction events due to heat-based sterilization procedures without compromising the seal between mated tube flanges and without any substantial reduction in the structural integrity provided by the insert. These and other objects of the disclosure will become apparent from a reading of the following summary and detailed description of the disclosure.

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation


An apparatus and method allows for the construction of an inflatable, protective enclosure that provides a temporary, contaminant free environment for one or more individuals. The approach results in a protective suit and/or enclosure that is inexpensive, compactly stored and light-weight, yet provides a reliable source of filtered, contaminant-free air as well as upper-body and/or full-body protection for one or more persons. The protective suits/enclosures described produce an over pressure environment within the protective enclosure so that a positive flow of filtered air is maintained between the interior of the suit or enclosure and the outside environment, thus assuring that no contaminants may seep into the protected, contaminant free interior. The protective enclosures protect individuals from contact with and inhalation of noxious chemicals, inorganic and organic dust and particles, as well as radioactive particles that would ordinarily be associated with industrial emergencies and/or an intentional terrorist attack.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to emergency enclosures and garments. In particular, the present invention pertains to inflatable enclosures that provide a contaminant free environment for one or more individuals.
2. Description of Related Art
Protective suits and protective enclosures have traditionally been designed to meet the extreme needs of military, police and emergency response personnel. Such suits/enclosures are typically designed for prolonged use by individuals performing assigned missions within dangerous and/or contaminated environments and/or under extreme conditions.
Such suits are typically designed of durable materials that resist tearing under stressful use under extreme conditions (e.g. heat, cold, wet, ice snow) and are typically designed for use with masks, hats, gloves, and/or complex breathing apparatus. For example, protective suits for firefighters are typically made of thick insulated, flame resistant material and often contain a breathing apparatus and/or filters that are integrated within the suit. Suits for biohazard response teams are typically designed for active use moving within and cleaning up contaminated areas (e.g., setting up barriers, moving and operating cleanup equipment).
Protective enclosures have also typically been designed for extreme conditions. For example, emergency protective enclosures for fire-fighters are designed using materials that insulate an occupant against extreme heat within hostile environments. Protective enclosures for military personnel are typically self-standing and are typically designed with sufficient strength to support an ongoing military mission in an exposed outdoor environment. As a result, such structures are heavy and cumbersome. Further, conventional protective enclosures typically have pump and/or filters positioned outside of the protective enclosure. This forces an individual to leave the protected area in order to operate or service the pump and/or filters, thereby risking exposure to contamination.
Cost has typically not been a factor in the design of such traditional protective suits and enclosures. Such suits and enclosures have typically been made for use in limited quantities to meet the needs of specific groups financed by Federal, state and/or local governments budgets. As a result, such suits and enclosures are typically not available to and/or are outside the budget and/or either exceed or otherwise do not meet the needs of the general civilian population. For these reasons, very few members of the civilian population have access to any form of protective suit or enclosure that is capable of temporarily protecting them from a contaminated environment. Still fewer would have sufficiently timely access to a protective suit or enclosure during a time of emergency to assure protection against contamination.
Unfortunately, due to relatively recent changes in technology and national/world events, the risk of accidents and/or attacks that would lead to the harmful or even deadly exposure of large civilian populations to contamination by harmful or even deadly substances is ever increasing. For example, accidental and/or intentional train derailments, tractor-trailer accidents, chemical/processing plant accidents, chemical and fuel storage depot explosions, nuclear power-plant accidents, etc., could result in catastrophe for thousands of individuals unless they have access to either a protective suit or enclosure capable of protecting them during a temporary and/or long term period of living in a contaminated environment. Further, the constant threat of a direct terrorist biological and/or bio-chemical attack, explosion of a radioactive dirty-bomb in an urban business sector, explosion of a small scale nuclear device, and/or sabotage of even a small operational nuclear power plant could result is the release of clouds of dust and radioactive fallout that would endanger thousands of civilians living and/or working within the proximate area or down-wind of the location of attack.
Fortunately, the detrimental impact of any of these scenarios can be greatly diminished by providing civilians with even minimal protection. For example, most conventional contaminants are either inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Even most radio-active fallout will only result in nominal damage so long as radio-active dust and/or other particles are not inhaled into the lungs and/or an individual is not subjected to long term external contact with radio-particles that typically settle upon the body within a contaminated environment in the form of dust and/or rain and are subsequently absorbed via the skin, eyes, nose and mouth into the body and/or allowed to settle on food that is later ingested. Therefore, by providing civilians with nominal external protection, an air supply filtered of organic and/or inorganic particulate matter and/or noxious gases, and safe access to clean food and water sources, the damage to civilian populations caused by such individual accidents and/or attacks may be greatly diminished.


A hair relaxer composition comprising a mixture of:. a) a base composition containing a water phase comprised of sodium hydroxide in water, and an oil phase, wherein the water phase is dispersed in the oil phase in the form of water in oil emulsion micelles, PA1 b) an additive composition comprised of a water in oil emulsion. whereby the mixture of (a) and (b) is an emulsion within an emulsion.

Hair relaxers or straighteners are very popular today and widely used by individuals desiring to straighten very curly or kinky hair.
In man, the hair fiber consists of the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. The cuticle surrounds the actual fiber and consists of overlapping flat scale-like cells. The cuticle protects the hair fiber and is generally more resistant to penetration and attack by chemical agents. The cortex consists of spindle shaped cells which are oriented along the axis of the hair fiber. Microfibrils of the protein keratin are found in cortical cells. The medulla runs down the center of the hair fiber and usually consists of hollow cells.
Straightening or relaxing the hair fiber involves breaking the disulfide bonds found in the hair fiber proteins and reorienting them so that the hair fiber forms the desired "straight" configuration.
In the 1920's hair relaxers were generally soap based systems containing sodium hydroxide in conjunction with typical fatty acids such as stearic acid. These relaxers were often caused burning or stinging, thus a base of petrolatum was usually first applied to the hair.
In the 1950's it was discovered that if the relaxer composition was presented in a water in oil emulsion form, the results were improved and the burning and stinging was considerably reduced. In such systems, the sodium hydroxide was dissolved in water. The water mixture was then dispersed or emulsified into an oil mixture to create a water in oil emulsion. As the formulators increased the concentration of the lye containing water phase, they added more oil to the relaxer formulation so that the formula was approximately 50 percent water phase and 50 percent oil phase. It was discovered that a 50/50 mixture of oil and water phases was optimum. A relaxer formulation with higher concentrations of oil was more stable, but usually less effective in providing relaxing properties. On the other hand, a relaxer with increased amounts of water phase (and hence more effective as a relaxer) often was unstable, and caused burning and stinging upon application, particularly when the lye concentration became too high.
Then in the 1960's emulsion control was improved. It was discovered that relaxers were much improved when water phase was dispersed in the oil in a micelle configuration. The resulting relaxer formulation was still a water in oil emulsion containing about 50 percent water phase and about 50 percent oil phase, the difference being in the micellular configuration of the water/oil droplets. When the relaxer composition was applied to hair and massaged in, the micelle broke, released the water/lye mixture which then penetrated into the hair fiber cortex. The oil portion of the micelle rested on the cuticle and performed a conditioning effect. The result was a relaxer which was more stable, less painful to use, and much more commercially desireable.
Other systems evolved as formulators attempted to achieve the same relaxing effects but without the use of lye. A guanidine carbonate/calcium hydroxide system was developed and is still used today. In guanidine based systems, a water insoluble inorganic hydroxide such as calcium hydroxide is reacted with a water soluble guanidine salt such as guanidine carbonate. The guanidine hydroxide mixture is then applied to the hair and acts as an effective hair straightener, but quickly converts back to guanidine carbonate which has no hair straightening properties. Guanidine carbonate/calcium hydroxide systems are very popular and widely used today. They are somewhat milder than lye based systems, but are generally considered to be less effective in achieving straightening or relaxing effects.
Attempts to improve existing systems were complicated by the fact that the inventors were unable to determine any correlation between the following variables: the percentage of water in the formulation vs. the irritation level, the ability of the relaxer formulation to penetrate hair vs. the irritation level, and the active level of sodium hydroxide vs. the irritation level within the limits of acceptibility.
In terms of straightening effectiveness, lye is still the ingredient of choice. Thus it is most desireable to use lye, yet to alleviate the other problems associated with its use.
Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to make a lye based relaxer formulation which exibits maximal effectiveness in relaxing or straightening hair, and minimizes the undesireable side effects which cause irritations such as burning or stinging.
Another object of the invention is to make a lye based relaxer system which exhibits improved shelf stability over the formulations currently marketed.
Another object of the invention is to make a lye based relaxer composition wherein the effectiveness of the composition in straightening hair, and the skin irritation caused by the composition can be predicted based upon the specific formulation of the composition.

Hair relaxer composition and associated methods


Apparatus are disclosed, such as those involving a transmitter circuit that is configured to generate multi-level signals based on a plurality of data digits. One such transmitter circuit includes a signal output and an encoder configured to provide control signals based at least partially on the plurality of data digits. The transmitter circuit also includes a first set of switches configured to receive one or more of the control signals, and to selectively conduct a first or second voltage reference to the signal output. The transmitter circuit further includes first and second voltage drop circuits that provide third and fourth voltage references, respectively. The third and fourth voltage references have voltage levels between those of the first and second voltage references. The transmitter circuit also includes a second set of switches configured to receive one or more of the control signals, and selectively conduct the third or fourth voltage reference to the signal output.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to electronic data transmission, and more particularly, in one or more embodiments, to multi-level signaling.
2. Description of the Related Art
In electronic data transmission, signals representing electronic data are transmitted from a transmitting component to a receiving component. The electronic data typically includes data symbols such as binary digits (which are often referred to as bits), i.e., 0's and 1's. In many applications, signals having two different voltage levels representing data symbols such as 0's and 1's have been widely used for such data transmission.
In certain applications, signals having more than two levels have been used to transmit electronic data. Such a signaling scheme is generally referred to as "multi-level signaling." In a multi-level signaling scheme, the data rate can be increased without increasing the clock frequency or the number of channels. In such a scheme, transmitters generate multi-level signals, and receivers detect them, allowing multiple (k) bits to be transmitted or received as one of 2k possible voltages at each clock edge or at least once per clock cycle. A multi-level signaling scheme allows two or more bits of data to be simultaneously transmitted by multiple signal levels, thereby increasing the data throughput for a given operating frequency.
In certain instances, the term "multi-level signaling" is also referred to as multi-level pulse amplitude modulation or M-PAM signaling. In such a case, the number of signal levels is indicated by a number before the acronym "PAM." For example, a PAM signaling scheme using four signal levels is represented by 4 PAM. Similarly, a PAM signaling scheme using eight signal levels is represented by 8 PAM.
FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating a conventional multi-level signaling scheme using four voltage levels, i.e., 4 PAM. The four signal levels represent two-bits b0 b1. The highest voltage level over a high reference voltage VREFH represents the bits "11." The second highest voltage level between the high reference voltage VREFH and a middle reference voltage VREFM (which is lower than VREFH) represents the bits "10." The third highest voltage level between the middle reference voltage and a low reference voltage VREFL (which is lower than VREFM) represents the bits "01." The lowest voltage level lower than VREFL represents the bits "00." The two bits are transmitted as a single multi-level symbol at every clock edge by transferring an appropriate one of the four voltage levels. Therefore, the data rate of the signaling scheme just described is twice that of a 2-PAM system.
Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional transmitter circuit 200 for generating voltage levels under a 4 PAM signaling scheme will now be described. To provide the voltage levels to transmit a 4-PAM symbol, the transmitter circuit 200 sinks a predetermined amount of current for that symbol. In particular, each symbol is associated with a distinct amount of current.
The transmitter circuit 200 includes a voltage source VDD, a resistor R, a first transistor TR1, a second transistor TR2, a first current source CS1, a second current source CS2, a first node N1, and a signal output VOUT. The resistor R is connected between the voltage source VDD and the first node N1. The first node N1 is electrically connected to the signal output VOUT. Each of the first and second transistors TR1, TR2 is connected to the first node N1 at its source/drain. The drain/source of the first transistor TR1 is connected to the first current source CR1 which provides a current of 2I. The drain/source of the second transistor TR2 is connected to the second current source CR2 which provides a current of I.
To transmit the bits "11, " the transmitter circuit 200 sinks no current by turning off both of the first and second transistors TR1, TR2, and the signal output VOUT is pulled up to VDD. To transmit the bits "10, " the transmitter circuit 200 sinks an amount of current I by turning on the second transistor TR2 only, thereby providing VDD−RI at the signal output VOUT. To transmit the bits "01, " the transmitter circuit 200 sinks an amount of current 2I by turning the first transistor TR1 only, thereby providing VDD−2RI at the signal output VOUT. To transmit the bits "00, " the transmitter circuit 200 sinks an amount of current 3I by turning on both of the first and second transistors TR1, TR2, thereby providing VDD−3RI at the signal output VOUT.
In the transmitter described above, when generating three out of the four signal levels (e.g., those representing "00", "01", and "10"), power is dissipated because there is a current flow through the resistor R in the circuit. In other words, three out of four signal levels consume static power. It should be understood that the translation of the two sequential binary bits into multiple voltage levels need not follow exactly as it has been described thus far. For example, the bits "00" could be encoded as the highest voltage level, rather than as the lowest level, as has thus far been illustrated. Other alternative exist as well, including the well known gray-coding which would order the levels as follows: "00", "01", "11", and "10."

Multi-level signaling for low power, short channel applications


Methods, systems and computer readable media for serving application specific policies based on dynamic context are described. In some implementations, the method can include determining a dynamic authentication context for a user including one or more access credentials, and authenticating the access credentials. The method can also include determining an indication of a need for a service-based policy, and generating a dynamic service-based policy based on the dynamic authentication context and an application. The method can further include providing the dynamic service-based policy to the application, and monitoring for a change in the dynamic authentication context. The method can also include updating the dynamic service-based policy.

Increasingly, users access corporate networks and applications using multiple different devices and may have multiple user profile types (e.g. employee, guest, mobile, etc.). Because of the diversity of devices and profiles present, a network may benefit from granular control over what users can or cannot access depending on a dynamic context of their access. Existing systems for application access and provisioning of resources (e.g. network resources, applications, etc.) may not provide mechanisms to enforce fine grain policy enforcement based on dynamic context.
Embodiments were conceived in light of the above mentioned needs, problems and/or limitations, among other things.

Systems and methods for serving application specific policies based on dynamic context


Provided are a rubber composition suitable for cushion rubbers of retreaded tires in which tread rubbers of tires such as truck and bus tires (TBR) and aircraft tires are replaced for reuse, and a rubber composition which is suitable for adhesion carried out by interposing the rubber composition between vulcanized rubber members and covulcanizing them in a tire prepared by adhering separately vulcanized rubber members and which is excellent in a productivity. The rubber composition is characterized by comprising 0.3 to 2.5 parts by mass of aldehydeamines, 0.1 to 1.5 part by mass of at least one compound selected from a group consisting of tetra(2-ethylhexyl)thiuram disulfide, 1,6-bis(N,N′-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)-hexane and 1,6-bis{N,N′-di(2-ethylhexyl)thiocarbamoyldithio}-hexane, and 0.1 to 2.5 parts by mass of a thiazole type vulcanization accelerator based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component.

In the production of retreaded tires of truck and bus radial tires, a method in which the tread surfaces of tires (hereinafter referred to as tire casing) worn down to reach the end of a primary life are buffed and in which retreaded tread rubber parts (pre-cured treads) vulcanized in advance are stuck thereon has so far been known as one of typical methods. The above method is called in the name of a cold method or a pre-cure method, and the method is distinguished from a hot method in which an unvulcanized tread rubber is put on a tire casing and in which the tire is subjected to mold vulcanization.
In the pre-cure method described above, usually carried out is a method in which an unvulcanized cushion rubber is first stuck on a tire casing in order to adhere a pre-cured tread to the tire casing and in which the pre-cured tread is then stuck thereon and heated at a temperature of 100 to 140° C. in a vulcanization oven.
The cushion rubber used in the above method is provided with a function in which the cushion rubber flows into buffed grain of a tire casing to smoothen the adhesion surfaces and in which the cushion rubber is covulcanized with both of the tire casing and the pre-cured tread to thereby secure an adhesive property between the tire casing and the pre-cured tread.
The above cushion rubber has to be provided with a high cross-linking degree by vulcanization in a relatively low temperature range (close to 100° C.), and the cushion rubber is preferred to have a fast vulcanization speed close to 100° C. in order to enhance vulcanization productivity. On the other hand, in a certain case, the cushion rubber is stuck on the tire casing in a state in which the cushion rubber is rolled in advance into a sheet form, and the cushion rubber is coated directly on the tire casing in another case by means of an extruding equipment. In either of the rolling or extruding steps, the temperature is elevated up to 70 to 100° C., and therefore if the vulcanization proceeds in the rolling or extruding steps, it becomes impossible to covulcanize the interface. Accordingly, the longer scorch time is preferable so that the vulcanization does not proceed for some extent of period at a temperature close to 100° C. That is, having antinomies, high Fmax value of a vulcanization maximum torque which indicates a high cross-linking degree at a temperature close to 100° C. and slow vulcanizing rate at T0.1, at which curing the rubber is initiated (longer time) in contrast to fast vulcanizing rate at T0.9 which is the terminal stage for the vulcanization of the rubber (shorter time) have to be made highly compatible with each other.
Known as a rubber composition suitable for a cushion rubber which is required to provide the above properties are, for example, (1) tires characterized by using a rubber composition prepared by blending a specific thiuram compound, a compound such as dibenzothiazyldisulfide, and a compound such as amines as cushion rubbers (refer to, for example, patent document 1 filed by the present applicant), and (2) a rubber composition prepared by blending a vulcanization accelerator such as benzothiazyldisulfide a vulcanization ultra-accelerator such as tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide, and an amine activator for curing (refer to, for example, patent document 2).
In the art of patent document 1 described above, it is prescribed that at least one compound selected from amines, guanidines, aldehydeamines, and aldehydeammonias is added as the amines and the like described above in an amount of 0.1 to 2.0 parts by weight, however, a superiority of the aldehyde amines among the above amines and the like is not referred therein. In addition, a preferable blending amount range thereof is small, and the blended components are different from those in the present invention.
In the art of patent document 2 described above, a vulcanization accelerator such as benzothiazyldisulfide is used in combination with an amine activator for curing. Relating to the vulcanization ultra-accelerator such as tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide, only the group consisting of tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide and zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate is prescribed, and other compounds containing no carcinogenic nitrosoamine precursors are neither described nor indicated at all. Thus, a rubber composition in which having antinomies, high cross-linking degree at a temperature close to 100° C. and slow vulcanizing rate at T0.1, at which curing the rubber is initiated (longer time) in contrast to fast vulcanizing rate at T0.9 (shorter time) are made highly compatible with each other and which is excellent in a productivity has not yet been obtained in the present circumstances.
Further, a satisfactory rubber composition has not yet been obtained as well in tires produced by interposing a rubber composition for adhesion between separately vulcanized rubber members and covulcanizing in the present situation.


A projection video display includes at least one laser for delivering a light beam. The display includes a beam homogenizer and a condenser lens. A scanning arrangement is provided for scanning the light in beam in a particular pattern over the condenser lens in a manner that effectively increases the beam divergence. The scanned beam is homogenized by a beam homogenizer and a spatial light modulator is arranged to receive the homogenized scanned light beam and spatially modulate the beam in accordance with a component of an image to be displayed. Projection optics are projecting the homogenized scanned light beam onto a screen. The scanning provides that the homogenized scanned light beam at the screen has a coherence radius less than the original coherence radius of the beam. The reduced coherence radius contributes to minimizing speckle contrast in the image displayed on the screen. The screen includes one or more features providing a further contribution to minimizing speckle contrast in the displayed image. In one example, the screen includes a transparent cell containing a liquid having light scattering particles in suspension.

Several proposed arrangements of laser light illuminated projection displays have been described in many prior-art documents. It is believed, however, that, despite these prior-art descriptions there has not yet been produced a commercially available, consumer market, laser-illuminated video display of any kind.
In order for such a display to be acceptable in a consumer electronic market, such a display would need to be competitive in cost and technical performance with conventional projection displays that are illuminated with a white light source such as a mercury lamp. Requirements for a laser used in a laser projection display include, reliability, compactness, energy efficiency, closeness of the laser output wavelength to an additive primary (r, g, or b) wavelength, and a beam quality compatible with spatial light modulators used in the display. Perhaps equally important, the laser should be inexpensive and easy to manufacture in volumes that will be required in a consumer market. Further, the display must include measures to eliminate perceivable "speckle" and other effects in the display resulting from coherence of the laser radiation. These requirements are addressed in embodiments of an inventive laser display described hereinbelow.


A disc brake caliper is provided. The disc brake caliper may include a main body having a first portion, a second portion having no bleeding port, and a connecting portion connecting the first portion with the second portion such that a slot for arranging a disc rotor is defined between the first portion and the second portion. Arranged on the first portion are a first fluid port and a second fluid port fluidly connected to the first fluid port by a fluid flow path.

In recent years, certain high performance bicycles have included hydraulic disc brake systems. Hydraulic disc brake systems typically include a disc brake caliper and a brake lever. Upon the application of fluid pressure to the first and second pistons of the disc brake caliper from the brake lever, brake pads of the disc brake come into contact with a rotor, thereby applying frictional resistance and causing the bicycle to slow down or stop.
The disc brake caliper and the brake lever are in fluid communication with each other via a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit connects to the disc brake caliper via a first fluid port on the disc brake caliper. A second fluid port on the disc brake caliper is also provided to enable the brakes to be bled.
Prior disc brake calipers locate the first fluid port and second fluid port on opposite sides of a caliper main body relative to the rotor. This enables the fluid flow path to be routed simply and with a short fluid flow path length within the disc brake caliper itself. The fluid flow path enters a first side of the disc brake caliper, communicates with the first piston on the first side, and then travels to the other side and communicates with the second piston on the other side, and exits during bleeding of the lines via the second fluid port on the other side of the disc brake caliper.
However, in the prior disc brake calipers it is difficult to reduce their volume in a lateral direction of the bicycle due to the opposite arrangement of the first and second fluid ports.


A method of forming an energy transfer loop in the earth has the steps of connecting a tubing to a nose member, extending a liquid delivery pipe to the nose member, pumping a liquid through the liquid delivery pipe to the nose member, jetting the liquid from the nose member so as to form an excavation in the earth and pushing the nose member downwardly through the opening in the earth a desired distance below a surface of the earth. A jacket can be affixed around the liquid delivery pipe so as to allow the liquid delivery pipe to be removed from the nose member subsequent to the installation in the earth.

It is known in prior art systems that energy transfer loops can be installed in the earth. These energy transfer loops generally consist of a length of tubing that is buried in the earth a desired distance so that a fluid passing through the tubing will experience heat transfer effects with the area of the earth in which the tubing extends. In certain circumstances, these energy transfer loops are operated in association with heating and air conditioning systems associated with commercial establishments and residential buildings. The energy transfer loop is used in association with or in place of such conventional energy transfer systems in which air is passed over refrigerant loops for the purposes of creating the air conditioning or heating effects.
For example, in warm weather environments, during times when air conditioning is required, air conditioning refrigerant fluid is caused to expand and subsequently yield the desired cooling effects. When the air conditioning refrigerant fluid is again compressed prior to the next expansion cooling cycle, this fluid becomes hot as a result of the compression. Current conventional air conditioning systems force ambient air over this refrigerant fluid to cool it before the next compression cycle. As the geothermal temperatures of the earth's soil are significantly cooler than the ambient air, use of the cooler fluid which has circulated through energy transfer loops installed in the earth, will provide greater heat transfer effects. As such, the overall efficiency of the air conditioning process improves and the energy requirements are significantly reduced
In heating systems, the temperature of the earth will be elevated relative to the ambient temperature. As a result, the energy transfer loop will pass through the earth so as to generally warm the cooled fluid within the loop. As a result, the energy requirements for elevating the temperature of the cool fluid within the loop are reduced which function opposite to the process described hereinabove.
Unfortunately, in the past, the cost of installing such energy transfer loops in the earth has been considerable. The economic cost for installing such loops can offset any beneficial energy saving costs and effects. As a result homeowners and business owners have avoided the use of such energy transfer loops in view of the considerable capital cost involved during the processes of installing the loop. Conventionally, a drilling contractor must be called so as to form the borehole in the earth. The driller will bring a great deal of drilling equipment to the desired location and begin the drilling activities. In certain circumstances, the earth will include rock formations which will require rather complex drilling activities. Still, in other circumstances, drilling equipment can be damaged because of the rock formations in the earth. In any circumstance, the cost of contracting with a driller to form the required borehole in the earth will greatly add to the capital cost of the air conditioning and/or heating system.
In certain areas of the country, such as the Gulf Coast, the surface of the earth is formed of an unconsolidated soil. This unconsolidated-type soil is easily displaced. As a result, the use of drills, and other boring equipment, can be an "overkill" in order to establish the requisite size of borehole for subsequent loop installation. Additionally, in such unconsolidated-type soils, the earth can often collapse in on itself during the drilling activity so as to make the formation of a borehole difficult and ineffective. This further complicates the goal of loop installation.
In the past, various patents have issued relating to the installation to the installation of such heat transfer loops. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,715, issued on Jan. 7, 1997 to T. R. Amerman, describes an underground heat exchange system. This system employs the installation of a pipe loop and a grout pipe in a wellbore. The system is used to grout the wellbore by releasing the grout pipe from the pipe loop or from a bottom member connected to the pipe loop, and then introducing grout through the pipe into the wellbore as the grout pipe is removed upwardly from the wellbore.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,724, issued on Jun. 2, 1998 to T. R. Amerman, also describes a method for simultaneously installing a pipe loop in the earth. In this patent, a coiled tubing unit is used to drill heat loop boreholes. The coiling tubing unit has a reel on which is wrapped a continuous flexible steel tubing, an injector which transports the tubing into and out of the hole, a drill bit on the end of a downhole motor, and a pump which supplies fluid for drilling. The motor is rotated by the pump pressure from the surface which allows the unit to drill. A grouting pipe is held in the bottom member. A pulling force applied to the grouting pipe releases it from the bottom member for removal from the wellbore as grout flows out from the bottom of the grouting pipe.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,862, issued on Mar. 28, 2000 to T. R. Amerman, teaches a ground heat exchange system which employs a heat loop, a reel of coil tubing releasably attached to the heat loop, and a curved member secured to the lower end of the heat loop. The coil tubing is used for pushing the heat loop into the borehole. The borehole is formed by directly drilling into the surface of the earth a desired distance. Subsequent to installation, the grouting pipe can be removed by applying a pulling force thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,371, issued on Jun. 26, 2001 to Amerman et al., discloses an energy loop transfer system. This system employs a means for measuring the amount of energy transferred, a means for invoicing for the energy transferred, and the energy transfer system. The energy transfer system has a wellbore loop in the earth extending from the surface of the earth toward a bottom of the wellbore, a loop disposed in the wellbore and extending toward the bottom of the wellbore and a bottom member. The bottom member has a body with a first bore and second bore in which the second bore is not in fluid communication with the first bore.
The problem with these prior art systems described in the aforementioned Amerman patents is that a complex drilling activity is required. In particular, each of these systems requires that a drilling apparatus being employed for the purpose of drilling a borehole into the earth. In certain of these patents, the drilling apparatus actually includes a fluid-activated drill so that directional drilling can be achieved. Subsequent to forming the borehole into the earth, these prior art patents require that a grouting process be used so as to seal the borehole. This employs the passing of grout through the bottom member of the energy loop. The grouting material is passed through the piping so as to extend around the periphery of the energy loop. Analyses associated with these systems have indicated that they are not very cost effective when employed in soft soil conditions, such as those in the Gulf Coast region. Large costs associated with drilling and casing will offset the beneficial energy savings associated with such energy loop systems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for forming and/or installing an energy transfer loop which is effective in soft soil conditions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for forming and/or installing an energy transfer loop which minimizes the cost associated with the excavation of the earth.
It an other object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for forming and/or installing an energy transfer loop in which the liquid delivery piping can be removed subsequent to installation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for forming and/or installing an energy transfer loop which maximizes the energy transfer effects between the earth and the fluid passing through the energy transfer loop.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for forming and/or installing an energy transfer loop which is cost effective, easy to use and time efficient.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.

Energy transfer loop apparatus and method of installation


A compact gas sensor array, to which a test gas can be admitted without the use of mechanical components and whose readiness for measurement is interrupted during the calibration only briefly. The array includes a combination of an electrochemical gas sensor (3) and an electrochemical gas generator (2). A gas channel (1) is provided from the gas generator (2) to the measuring electrode (9) of the gas sensor (3). The measuring gas from the environment of the gas sensor (3) has free access to the measuring electrode (9).

The particular test gas or measuring gas must be admitted to electrochemical gas sensors at regular intervals for checking the function or for calibration. This happens in practice, in general, manually from pressurized gas containers or with calibrating gas containers under normal pressure or also automatically by means of chemical or electrochemical gas generators, as is described, for example, in GB 2 254 696 A. The common feature of these processes is that the electrochemical gas sensor is not ready for measurement during the calibration.

Gas sensor array with electrochemical gas generator


A solar module including an outer pane adapted to face solar radiation after its installation, a carrier panel of clear, transparent material, such as silicate glass of at least partially transparent material arranged at a distance from the outer pane and a solar energy conversion device located between the outer pane and the carrier panel, is provided with a decorative glass pane with a number of crack planes running essentially vertical to the module plane. The decorative pane may be disposed between the outer pane and the conversion device or between the carrier panel and the solar conversion device without reducing the electrical output of the solar conversion device.

This invention relates to a solar module with an outer pane facing the solar radiation after installation, consisting of clear transparent material, such as silicate glass, a carrier panel located at a distance from the outer pane, consisting of at least partially transparent material, and a solar energy conversion device located between the outer pane and the carrier panel, a process for production of such a solar module, where an outer pane and a carrier panel are combined by interposing a solar energy conversion device, in particular an array of solar cells embedded in a plastic layer, to form a composite module, as well as the use of such a solar module.
In the case of solar modules of the generic type, as described for example in DE-OS 29 42 328 or EP-OS 0 382 060, the problem consists, as previously set forth in German Patent Application P 40 29 822.1, of the fact that on account of the relatively thick or wide connecting leads and conductors for the individually connected solar cells, frequently produced by silk screen printing, the external appearance does not meet the aesthetic and in particular architectural requirements imposed, preferably when used as a curtain wall element. It has already been proposed, e.g. in EP- 0 343 628 and in the above cited Patent Application P 40 29 822.1, to reduce the impairment of the overall aesthetic impression of the solar module due to the conductor structure, but also due to the technical details of the solar cell itself, which are perceptible through the transparent outer pane, by providing a painted color coating at least in some areas or by using a colored or matted interlayer. EP- 0 343 628 teaches in this connection a printed edge coating which is able to conceal the connecting lead arrangement at the edge of the solar module.
The known attempts to improve the aesthetic impression of solar modules of the generic type have all had the disadvantage that this always involves a significant reduction in electrical output, because a printed coating on partial areas as well as matting or opalizing of the outer pane facing the incidence of light reduces the light transmission. A reduction in electrical output is of course wholly undesirable in the case of solar modules.

Solar module and process for its manufacture


A thermal spray powder including cermet particles, each of which contains metal containing at least one selected from the group consisting of cobalt, chrome, and nickel, and tungsten carbide. The ratio of the summed weight of cermet particles having a particle size of 25 μm or more in the thermal spray powder with respect to the summed weight of the entire cermet particles in the thermal spray powder is 0.5 to 15%. A thermal spray coating formed from the thermal spray powder is suitable for the formation of a tungsten carbide-based cermet thermal spray coating for use in rolls such as corrugated rolls.

The present invention relates to a thermal spray powder and a thermal spray coating.
Hard chrome plating was often applied to surfaces of rolls such as corrugated rolls used in paper or film manufacturing lines. However, in recent years, tungsten carbide (WC)-based cermet thermal spray coatings have been used instead (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 8-60596 and 2006-29452).
A thermal spray coating generally has a high surface roughness. Thus, for use of a thermal spray coating in rolls, its surface roughness has to be reduced by polishing. In order to obtain a thermal spray coating with a low surface roughness for reducing the effort of polishing, it is known to be effective to use a thermal spray powder with a small particle size (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-129212). However, a thermal spray coating formed from a thermal spray powder with a small particle size has an extremely lower wear resistance than that formed from a thermal spray powder with an ordinary particle size, and thus is not suitable for use in rolls.

Thermal spray powder and thermal spray coating


An outdoor lighting control circuit for operation with a variable input voltage and with an electrical lamp, the circuit including a first resistive impedance element for protecting the circuit from excessive current, and a photosensitive element for presenting a first impedance when actuated by light and a different second impedance in the absence of light. The photosensitive element is electrically in series with the first resistive impedance element, to form a first series combination. An electrical relay in the circuit has contacts for selectively connecting the load to the input voltage and has a relay coil. A second resistive impedance element of the circuit controls the current in the relay coil. The second resistive impedance element is electrically in parallel with the relay coil, to form a first parallel combination. The first parallel combination is electrically in series with the first series combination, all elements being between the input terminals that receive the operating voltage.

This invention relates to automatic electric controls for outdoor lighting. In particular, it provides an outdoor lighting control circuit having improvements regarding input operating voltage and electrical power consumption.
Outdoor lighting control circuits have widespread uses to control lamps for illuminating streets, parks, parking lots, and the like. The control circuits typically turn the lamps on at dusk and off at sunrise. It is desired, for reasons of public safety and for economy, that outdoor lighting controls operate reliably for extended periods of time, measured in years.
Another objective is that a single manufactured outdoor lighting control device can provide such long-term reliable operation with a relatively wide range of input operating voltages. The achievement of this variable input operating voltage performance enables the same control device to be used in different locations that have different operating or supply voltages.
Typically, outdoor lighting control circuits include a photosensitive element that responds to the presence or absence of ambient light. The photosensitive element is connected to a relay having contacts that selectively apply operating current to a lamp. The device is to provide sufficient current in the relay coil for reliable operation when receiving an operating voltage at the low end of the specified operating voltage range. It also is to limit the relay current to prevent relay burnout or other destructive operation when operating with a voltage at the upper end of the specified operating range. Further, the device is to provide multi-year reliable operation with an input voltage anywhere in the operating range. One prior outdoor lighting control circuit of this type for operation with a range of input voltages is marked under the designation 6690 "Dual Volt" lighting control by Fisher Pierce of Weymouth, Mass., U.S.A.
Prior circuits for this control of lamps and similar electrical loads in response to ambient lighting conditions have proven less than optimal, and an object of this invention is to provide an electrical control circuit responsive to ambient light that operates with relatively high reliability over a relatively broad range of input operating voltages.
Another object of the invention is to provide a control circuit in the above character that dissipates relatively little electrical power, with a selected range of input operating voltages.
A further object of the invention is to provide a control circuit that automatically turns an outdoor lamp device on and off, at dusk and dawn respectively, at appropriate levels of ambient light and under a relatively wide range of operating voltages.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a control circuit in the above character that is relatively low in manufacturing costs.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.


A method of determining the composition of a multiphase fluid, such as a flowing petroleum effluent, an emulsion of water and oil, or a foam of oil and gas is disclosed. A first part comprises determining a model expressing the attenuation and the phase shift of a microwave beam as a function of the volume fractions and the permittivities of the various phases. Then, a second part comprises determining the volume fractions of the various phases that make up a multiphase fluid by minimizing the distance between the measured attenuation and phase shift pair and the attenuation and phase shift pair given by the previously determined model.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of determining the composition of a fluid. More precisely, the invention provides a data processing method analyzing characteristics of microwave beams that have traversed a fluid in order to determine the composition of this fluid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
French Patent 2,833,705 discloses a separator drum comprising a first rod provided with microwave beam emitters and a second rod provided with microwave beam receivers. The separator contains a petroleum effluent from a production well. A microwave source is connected to the emitters so that each emitter can emit a microwave beam. An acquisition device records the microwave beams picked up by the receivers, as well as the microwave beam emitted by the source.

Method of determining the composition of a multiphase fluid


Techniques described herein are directed towards dynamically adding new pickup orders to an existing route structure. In at least some embodiments, a service provider separates a number of vendors into separate clusters based on one or more attributes. For example, the vendors may be separated by geographic region. The service provider may then identify a set of routes that are associated with each of the vendor clusters and run optimization techniques on that set of routes. The set of routes may be filtered based on attributes of the route. In some embodiments, the service provider may make a route alteration that accommodates the new pickup order.

Fulfillment centers may receive inventory from a number of different vendors. When the fulfillment center is responsible for collecting this inventory, efficient route management can become nearly impossible. This is especially true when some of the vendors are individuals or one-time sellers, as is frequently the case with online sales fulfillment. As the number of online merchants continues to increase, these challenges are only amplified.

Dynamic vehicle routing for regional clusters


A lens barrel applied to a stereo-microscope comprising a static section, an image forming lens section provided in the static section, a movable section rotatably supported by the static section, an eyepiece section supported by the movable section, an erecting optical section, provided in the static section, for erecting an observing image to be formed by a beam emitted from the image forming lens, a reflecting optical section for reflecting the beam emitted from the erecting optical section, a guiding optical section, provided in the movable section, for guiding the beam reflected by the reflecting optical section to the eyepiece section, and a varying mechanical section for varying an angle of a reflective surface of the reflecting optical section such that the beam image reflected by the reflecting optical section is guided to the eyepiece section through the guiding optical section in accordance with a rotation of the movable section from the static section.

The present invention relates to an optical device such as a stereo-microscope, and particularly to an optical device using a lens barrel capable of continuously varying an inclination angle of an eyepiece section, for observing an erected image.
Generally, stereo-microscopes are often used to inspect the appearance of semiconductor chips for a long period of time. At the time of the observation, if the observer continues to observe with an uncomfortable posture, the observer becomes fatigued due to stress caused in muscle, thereby making it difficult to perform the observation for a long period of time.
In order to reduce the observer's fatigue, there are proposed various kinds of lens barrels, which can arbitrarily vary the inclination angle of the eyepiece section to adjust to the observer's body and posture.
FIG. 1 shows a lens barrel disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application KOKAI Publication No. 1-164401. As shown in FIG. 1, beams emitted from lenses 70, 70a are reflected by incident prisms 40, 40a, and made incident onto rectangular prisms 50, 50a. The beams reflected by the rectangular prisms 50, 50a are reflected by emission prisms 60, 60a, and made incident onto eyepiece casing sections 76, 76a. The beam emitted from the eyepiece casing sections 76, 76a image-form an image, which is from an object lens, on image surfaces of eyepiece sections 78, 78a.
In this case, a first rotation shaft is formed around the emission optical axes of the incident prisms 40, 40a. By means of the first rotation shaft, the rectangular prisms 50, 50a can be rotated against the incident prisms 40, 40a. Also, a second rotation shaft is formed around the emission optical axes of the rectangular prisms 50, 50a. By means of the second rotation shaft, the emission prisms 60, 60a and the eyepiece casing sections 76, 76a can be rotated against the rectangular prisms 50, 50a. The rotations of the rectangular prisms 50, 50a against the incident prisms 40, 40a and those of the emission prisms 60, 60a against the rectangular prisms 50, 50a are interlocked with each other, so that both prisms are rotated by the same angle in the same direction.
According to the above-structured lens barrel, even if the eyepiece casing sections 76, 76a are rotated, the inclination angle of the lens barrel can be continuously changed. Moreover, an object image formed on the image surface of the eyepiece sections 78, 78a by the lenses 70, 70a are reverted at their upper and lower and right and left positions by the incident prisms 40, 40a, the rectangular prisms 50, 50a, and the emission prisms 60, 60a. Then, the observing image at the eyepiece sections is an erect image.
FIG. 2 shows a lens barrel disclosed in Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 6-175030. As shown in FIG. 2, a beam 11 from the object lens is reflected by a roof prism 8, and made incident onto an eyepiece section 9.
In this case, the eyepiece section 9 is rotated and supported such that the eyepiece section 9 can rise and fall. Then, the roof prism 8 is rotated by 1/2 of a rotation angle of the eyepiece section 9 through a synchronizing mechanism (not shown) synchronizing with the rotation of the eyepiece section 9.
According to the above-structured lens barrel, even if the inclination angle is continuously changed by the rise and fall operation of the eyepiece section 9, the beam 11 from the object lens is always guided to an eyepiece lens 10. As a result, the image position is not shifted. Moreover, the object image from the object lens is reverted at its upper and lower and right and left positions by the roof prism 8. Then, the observing image at the eyepiece section 10 is an erect image.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a lens barrel disclosed in Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 62-287213. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a beam emitted from an image forming lens 21 is deflected by a static reflective member 22, and made incident onto a rectangular prism 23. A beam emitted from the rectangular prism 23 is reflected by the rectangular prism 23 twice. Thereafter, the beam is made incident onto a rotation mirror 24. The beam reflected by the rotation mirror 24 is guided to an eyepiece lens through a diamond-shaped prism 25.
In this case, a movable section 27 is rotated and supported by a static section 26 such that the movable section can rise and fall. An eyepiece section is supported by the movable section 27 to be rotatable round its optical axis. The diamond-shaped prism 25 is built in the eyepiece section 28. The rotation mirror 24 is supported by the static section 26 to be rotatable round the movable section 27 as a central axis. Moreover, the rotation shaft of the movable section 27 is structured to be coaxial with that of the rotation mirror 24. The rotation mirror 24 is rotated by 1/2 of the rotation angle of the movable section 27 through a linkage mechanism (not shown) in accordance with the rotation of the movable section 27.
According to the above-structured lens barrel, even if the inclination angle of the movable section 27 is continuously changed, the beam from the object lens is always guided to the eyepiece lens. As a result, the image position is not shifted. Moreover, the object image from the object lens is reverted at its upper and lower and right and left positions by the static reflective member 22, the rectangular prism 23, and the rotation mirror 24. Then, the observing image at the eyepiece section is an erect image.
The lens barrel of FIG. 1 disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application KOKAI Publication No. 1-164401 comprises an optical element serving as both an element for erecting the image (which is essential for the stereo-microscope) and an element for varying the inclination angle of the lens barrel. There is a merit in that the number of optical elements constituting the optical device is small. However, since the rectangular prisms 50, 50a, and the emission prisms 60, 60a are relatively rotated respectively, a frame for holding each prism is needed. Due to this, it is difficult to ensure an accurate relative position of each prism.
The eyepiece casing sections 76, 76a, which are operated to change the inclination angle of the lens barrel and to adjust an eye width, is held by first and second rotation shafts. Due to this, the eyepiece casing sections 76, 76a are easily influenced by an accurate error caused in manufacturing the rotation section.
Moreover, there was a problem in that a large number of processes for adjusting the optical axis is needed.
In the lens barrel of FIG. 2, since high manufacturing accuracy for the roof prism 8 is required, the manufacturing cost is increased.
Also, because the roof prism 8 is rotated by synchronizing with the eyepiece section 9, the angle, which is formed by the optical axis and the beam incident surface of the roof prism 8, is different depending on the inclination angle of the eyepiece section 9. As a result, there was a problem in that the center of the rotation of the roof prism 8 and the reflective point of the roof prism 8 are shifted, and in that the roof prism must be formed in an afocal optical system.
Moreover, when the lens barrel of FIG. 2 is applied to a Galilean stereo-microscope, an eye width adjusting mechanism is needed. In the adjusting mechanism, each diamond prism (not shown) is provided between the eyepiece lens 10 and the roof prism 8. Then, the incident optical axes of the diamond prisms are used as rotation shafts, and the diamond prisms are rotated. Thereby, the right and left optical axes to adjusted to the observer's eye width. The Galilean stereo-microscope is a stereo-microscope, which comprises a parallel optical system having a pair of parallel optical paths formed at a back of the object lens.
However, the distance between the right and left optical axes is fixed until the beams are made incident onto the diamond prisms. In the Galilean stereo-microscope, the distance is restrained by the size of the object lens, the focal distance, and the numerical aperture. As a result, the distance is not increased, and the structure of the rotation mechanism for rotating the prisms in which the incident optical axes are rotated as rotation shafts becomes complicated. Also, there is a problem in that a visual viewing field is not enlarged by the restriction of the rotation shaft mechanism. Moreover, it is difficult to apply the lens barrel of FIG. 2 to a three-eye barrel to which an optical path for photographing is added.
In the lens barrel of FIGS. 3 and 4, the beam emitted from the image forming lens 21 is reflected toward the rectangular prism 23 by the fixed reflective member 22. In this case, the rectangular prism 23 is positioned at the eyepiece section 28. Due to this, the angle of the indecent optical axis (barrel inclination angle) to the eyepiece section 28 cannot be set to a range from 0.degree. (the horizontal) to 20.degree. against the horizontal. Such an angle range maybe suitable for a long time observation using the microscope. It can be, of course, considered that the rectangular prism 23 is retreated to the position where the setting of the suitable angle range is not prevented by the rectangular prism 23. In this case, the distance between the static reflective member 22 and the rectangular prism 23 and the distance between the rectangular prism 23 and the rotation mirror 24 are increased. As a result, the lens barrel cannot be structured in the optical path length, which is determined by the focal distance of the image forming lens 21.
Moreover, it can be considered that the beam emitted from the image forming lens 21 is reflected to be opposite to the eyepiece section 28 by the static reflective member 22. However, in this case, the angle formed by the optical axis of the emitted beam and the reflected surface of the rotation mirror 24 is extremely small. As a result, it is difficult to set the inclination angle of the lens barrel to the range from 0.degree. (the horizontal) to 20.degree. which is suitable for the long period of observation using the microscope.
Furthermore, it is difficult to apply the lens barrel of FIGS. 3 and 4 to the three-eye barrel to which the optical path for photographing is added.
In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has been made. An object of the present invention is to provide a lens barrel, a stereo-microscope, and an optical device, which can observe a real image in a condition that an inclination angle of the barrel can be continuously varied in a range resisting a long time observing, with a simple structure and at low cost.

Optical device for observing erected image


A structure of the stacked inkjet head is composed of a stacked fluid structure and an actuator. At least one of the several plates in the stacked fluid structure has a junction with a tuning hole for enhancing the connection strength of the junction, accommodating overflown adhesive, and reducing structural deformation resulted from the temperature. The invention also avoids the troubles of inhomogeneous etching speeds when making nozzles or channels.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a structure of inkjet head and, in particular, to a connection structure of a stacked inkjet head.
2. Related Art
The main technologies involved in inkjet print heads are piezoelectric inkjet heads and thermal bubble inkjet heads. The difference between them is whether the actuator used for pushing ink is of the thermal bubble type of the piezoelectric type. The thermal bubble actuator uses a heater to instantaneously vaporize ink, producing high-pressure bubbles to push ink out of nozzles. The piezoelectric actuator uses deformation of piezoelectric ceramics under an external voltage to push liquid out of nozzles. Relative to the thermal bubble type, the piezoelectric inkjet head does not have chemical changes resulting from high temperatures to affect the printing quality. Moreover, it does not have repeated high thermal stress. Therefore, it is more durable.
Since the deformation of piezoelectric ceramic materials is not too large, the channel has to be specially designed in order to eject droplets. The conventional method of making piezoelectric inkjet heads normally take several pieces of machined plates and stack them together to obtain a special fluid structure. The machining of the plates is normally performed by wet etching. However, when the etching pattern changes significantly as one needs to make large-area channels and small-size nozzles, the etching speed may become unstable. This is the etching error. The reason is that the reaction ions for nozzles will be taken away by nearby large-area channels, resulting in a lower etching speed than others.
During the process of assembling many plates, they have to be accurately aligned. Since the piezoelectric material is ceramics, the plate junction can be achieved by stacking and sintering several layers of green sheets. For example, the method for making multiple layered inkjet head disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,761 stacks several layers of ceramics to form a fluid structure with an actuator, ink channels, and a cavity. The structure is sintered and combined with a nozzle plate and fluid structure by co-fired process. Nevertheless, the sintered ceramic green sheets may encounter precision problems as sintering shrink. Moreover, there may have cracks or bubbles when stacking the green sheets. This will cause problems in the strength of the fluid structure.
On the other hand, one often uses epoxy or solder for the connection of some plates. For example, the piezoelectric inkjet head described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,196 has the cover plate and the fluid structure connected by soldering. The soldering metal also provides electrical communications with the exterior. However, the coating precision for connections using adhesive is very stringent; otherwise, it is likely to have such problems as cracks, departure or adhesive overflow to clog the channels or nozzles. Therefore, as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,707, a connection structure for the electrodes of a piezoelectric ceramic actuator and a piezoelectric ceramic layer is used to enhance the connection among the plates. A rough surface is formed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric ceramic layer to increase the junction area. An adhesive is used to connect the upper surface of the piezoelectric ceramic layer and a deformable electrode. A similar principle can be applied to the connections of nozzle plates. As shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,713, micro cavities are formed on the surface of a nozzle plate by laser ablation. Then an adhesive is used to stick the nozzle plate to the fluid structure.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A liquid-container assembly for indicating the contents contained therein is provided. The assembly preferably includes a liquid-container body for holding liquid, with a horizontal base and an outer wall structure extending upwardly from the base, where an upper portion of the wall defines an open top rim; a plurality of liquid-indicia being disposed about the periphery of the outer wall of the container body; and a lid covering the open top rim of the assembly. The lid has a tab that may be used as a pointer for selecting liquid-indicia, and therefore, visually displays the contents contained in the liquid-container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid container assembly, and in particular to a container and lid assembly having indicia for indicating the contents of the container.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a consumer orders a hot or cold drink from a coffee shop or a donut shop, it is often necessary to mark the container in order to identify the consumer's selected choice from the menu of beverages offered by the shop. For instance, the shop might have on its menu: coffee, tea, decaffeinated coffee and tea, with sugar or no sugar, etc. Conventionally, in order to differentiate between these selections the store employee would use pen or pencil and mark the cup according to the customer's selection. However, this conventional marking system is time consuming, inconvenient and often gives rise to numerous errors, due to the employee's poor hand writing. Furthermore, additional problems may arise due to loss or malfunctioning of writing implements.
Other containers may provide pre-printed indicia on the cup, which needs to be marked by the store employee, or pre-molded markers on the plastic lid or cover of the container.


A sleep detection and alarm system includes a sensor for sensing physiological changes in a user indicating the onset of sleep, an alarm, and an alarm activation mechanism connected to the sensor for sounding the alarm upon detection of the changes by the sensor to awaken the user. The sensor preferably includes a wrist band, an instrument housing mounted to the wrist band and containing a power source, a microprocessor, a piezoelectric crystal for sensing pressure variations between the user wrist and the wrist band, and a mechanism for feeding electronic information in the form of an analog signal to the microprocessor for processing and selectively sounding the alarm. The system preferably additionally includes a filtering mechanism for filtering the analog signals before they reach the microprocessor for removing sudden variations and non-sinusoidal components of repetitive heart and blood stream sounds, so that only continuously varying signals are sensed and analyzed. The sensor preferably additionally or alternatively to the piezoelectric crystal includes a microphone for sensing sounds generated by the user heart to determine the user heart rate, and a skin conductivity sensor for measuring the amount of sweat generated by the user skin adjacent to the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of automobile and hazardous activity safety devices. More specifically the present invention relates to a system for awakening a user who is beginning to fall asleep, including means for sensing physiological changes indicating sleep and means for sounding an alarm upon detection of these changes. The system is intended for use during driving, work, piloting, boating and other potentially hazardous activities, and in the home, hospital and other areas where a person sometimes must stay awake.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have long been stimulant drugs such as caffeine for keeping a person awake and alert for an extended time. A problem with these substances is that they are often addictive. Another problem is that the user still eventually begins to fall asleep. Should the user begin to sleep while operating an automobile, for example, without his or her awareness, nothing may intervene to alert him or her until a life-threatening accident has begun to unfold. There have also been devices for detecting the onset of sleep and sounding an alarm to awaken the user. An example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,109, issued to Mannik, et al., on Mar. 28, 1995. Mannik, et al, reflects light off the user eye and monitors the intensity of the reflected light. Interruption of the reflected light intensity caused by blinking of the eyelid sounds an alarm. A problem with Mannik, et al., is that the scattered reflected light can cause ambiguous results. Headlamps of on-coming vehicles cast a broad spectrum of light ranging from ultraviolet to near infra-red and can produce false alarms.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a sleep prevention system which is drug-free and otherwise safe.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system which alerts the user as soon as the physiological indicators of sleep appear.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a system which operates reliably with minimal numbers of false alarms.
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a system which is relatively inexpensive to manufactures easy to install and suitable for use in many environments and circumstances.

Physiology monitoring sleep prevention system


A printed circuit board assembly includes a heat sink, a back board, and a securing member. The heat sink is configured to be mounted on a heat generating element of a printed circuit board. The heat sink is configured to dissipate heat generated by the heat generating element. The heat sink and the back board are configured to be placed on opposite sides of the printed circuit board. The heat sink includes a first connecting heat pipe. The back board includes a second connecting heat pipe. The second connecting heat pipe contacts the first connecting heat pipe. The securing member thermally contacts the first connecting heat pipe and the second connecting heat pipe.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies, especially to a PCB having a heat dissipating module.
2. Description of Related Art
There are many components that can be mounted on a PCB, such as a south bridge, a north bridge, and an integrated circuit (IC). Electronic components, such as central processing units (CPUs), in computers generate a lot of heat that can affect operation and may cause damage if the heat is not removed from the electronic devices efficiently.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


Functionalized silicas which can be used as core supports for a broad variety of chiral stationary phases may be conceptually represented as T--O--Si--U. T represents a refractory inorganic oxide, and T--O--Si arises from reaction of an organosilane with the surface hydroxyl groups of the refractory inorganic oxide. U represents a polyamine, related to poly(ethyleneamines), tris(2-aminoethyl) amine, or alkyleneoxyamines of glycerine.

Ever since Pasteur discovered the property of optical activity displayed by chiral compounds, the resolution of racemic mixtures into their enantiomeric components has posed a challenge. Substantial progress in separating enantiomeric pairs has been achieved since Pasteur's laborious hand separation of the enantiomeric crystals of racemic sodium ammonium tartrate, yet methods of resolution, and the materials used therefor, remain a formidable obstacle to commercial production of optically active organic substances.
A traditional method of resolution comprises reacting a racemic mixture with a second optically active substance to form a pair of diastereomeric derivatives. Such derivatives generally have different physical properties which permit their separation by conventional means. For example, fractional crystallization often permits substantial separation to afford at least one of the diastereomers in a pure state, or largely so. An appropriate chemical transformation then converts the purified derivative, which was formed initially solely to prepare a diastereomeric pair, into one enantiomer of the originally racemic compound. This traditional method is exemplified by the reaction of naturally occurring optically active alkaloids, for example brucine, with racemic acids to form diastereomeric salts, with release of an optically active organic acid from a purified diastereomer upon acidification of the latter.
Such traditional methods suffer from many limitations. Generally, only one of the enantiomeric pairs can be obtained, so yields are necessarily less than 50%. The separation of the material so obtained usually is incomplete, leading to materials with enhanced rather than complete optical purity. The optically active materials used to form the diastereomers frequently are expensive and quite toxic--the alkaloids as a class are good examples--and are only partially recoverable. Regeneration of optically active material from its derivative may itself cause racemization of the desired compound, leading to diminution of optical purity. For example if optically active benzyl alcohols are prepared through their diastereomeric ester derivatives, subsequent acid hydrolysis of the latter to regenerate the alcohol may be accompanied by appreciable racemization.
With the advent of chromatography diverse variations on the basic theme of separating diastereomers became possible. These approaches undeniably represent substantial advances in the art, yet fail to surmount the basic need, and associated problems, to prepare diastereomeric derivatives of the desired compound and to transform such derivatives after separation to the optically active compounds of interest.
Chromatographic methods of separating diastereomers offer the advantages of general application, mild conditions which generally preclude chemical or physical transformation, efficiency of recovery and separation which are limited only by the number of theoretical plates employed, and the capability of utilization from a milligram to kilogram scale. Translation from a laboratory to industrial scale has proved feasible, and commercial processes employing chromatographic separation occupy an important position in the arsenal of available industrial methods. For such reasons, methods based on chromatographic separation remain under intensive exploration.
To circumvent the disadvantage of separating diastereomeric derivatives of a compound while retaining the advantage of chromatographic separation, recent advances in the art have employed chiral, optically active compounds in association with the chromatographic support. The theory underlying this approach is that chiral material will have weak interactions with enantiomers, for example, hydrogen bonding, or acid-base interactions generally. Such weak interactions lead to reversible formation of (diastereomeric) entities which we refer to as complexes, and the equilibrium constant characterizing complex formation will be different for each member of the enantiomeric pair. The different equilibrium constants manifest themselves as a differing partition coefficient among the phases in a chromatographic process, leading ultimately to separation of enantiomers.
Thus, enantiomers of some chromium complexes were resolved by chromatography on powdered quartz, a naturally occurring chiral material. Karagounis and Coumolos, Nature, 142, 162 (1938). Lactose, another naturally occurring chiral material, was used to separate p-phenylene-bis-iminocamphor. Henderson and Rule, Nature, 141, 917 (1938). However, despite this knowledge substantiating theoretical considerations, advances in the art have been tortuous at best.
A major obstacle has been the development of a chiral solid phase with the capability of resolving a broad class of racemic organic compounds, with a stability which permits repeated usage, and with adequate capacity to make separation feasible on a preparative scale. Gil-Av has made a major contribution toward one kind of solution by gas-liquid phase chromatographic resolution of enantiomers using columns coated with N-trifluoroacetyl derivatives of amino acids, di-and tri-peptides. Gil-Av and Nurok, "Advances in Chromatography", Vol. 10, Marcel Dekker (New York), 1974. However, the advances suffer practical limitations originating from the need to have volatile substrates and the inability to scale up the methods employed.
Another advance is represented by the work of Baczuk and coworkers, J. Chromatogr., 60, 351 (1971), who covalently bonded an optically active amino acid through a cyanuric acid linkage to a modified dextran support and utilized the resulting material in column chromatography to resolve 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. A different approach is exemplified by polymerization of optically active amides with the resulting polymer used as a solid phase in liquid-solid chromatography. Blaschke and Schwanghart, Chemische Berichte, 109, 1967 (1976).
More recently it has become an accepted reality that enantiomeric medicinals may have radically different pharmacological activity. For example, the (R)-isomer of propranolol is a contraceptive whereas the (S)-isomer is a beta-blocker. An even more dramatic and tragic difference is furnished by thalidomide where the (R)-enantiomer is a safe and effective sedative when prescribed for the control of morning sickness during pregnancy whereas the (S)-enantiomer was discovered to be a potent teratogen leaving in its wake a multitude of infants deformed at birth. This has, in part, provided the motivation for developing additional tools for chiral separations. Chromatographic processes, especially liquid chromatography, appear to offer the best prospects for chiral separations. One variant of the latter utilizes achiral eluents in combination with chiral stationary phases (CSPs), which has the critical aspect that a variety of chiral stationary phases be available to the practitioner. In recent years substantial progress has been made by developing a class of chiral stationary phases based upon derivatized polysaccharides, especially cellulose, adsorbed on a carrier such as silica gel or a modified silica gel. This recently has been summarized by Y. Okamoto, J. Chromatog., 666 (1994), 403-19.
It appeared to us that continued progress in chromatographic resolution of racemic mixtures depended upon developing chiral stationary phases which were more effective than the prior art ones in resolving racemic mixtures independent of chemical structure of the enantiomers, which were easily prepared from readily available materials, and which had as the underlying solid carrier (which we refer to herein as the core support) a structure which could either adsorb or covalently bond to chiral organic materials serving to mediate resolution. The latter properties of a core support would make available a progenitor to a chiral stationary phase (CSP) which could be utilized cheaply, effectively, and for a wide variety of CSPs. Thus, what we seek is material whose universality as a core support would be analogous to the hypothetical (and nonexistent) "universal solvent".
Our solution to the underlying problem of a universal core support is a series of functionalized refractory inorganic oxides bearing a multiplicity of amino groups covalently bonded to the underlying inorganic oxide. Silica is preferred as the inorganic oxide since it is well accepted as a chromatographic support, and indeed its properties make it somewhat unique as a support in chromatographic processes. Amino groups are used as a functional group since they serve as a mild Lewis base and afford strong dipolar interaction with many different kinds of organic materials so as to form quite stable CSPs where the chiral organic material is merely adsorbed on the underlying core support. Amino groups also can be used per se as a functional group for covalent attachment to chiral organic materials, or they can be readily modified to afford other reactive functional groups for subsequent covalent bonding to chiral organic materials. The result is a core support capable of much variation to prepare an enormous variety of CSPs, based on the chiral organic material which may be adsorbed on, or may be covalently bonded to, the core support.

Functionalized silicas as core supports for chiral stationary phases


The invention relates to a method of forming a non-volatile memory device with a ramped tunnel dielectric layer, in which a floating gate material layer is being oxidized such that a tunnel dielectric layer is formed having a thickness at a drain region edge which is greater than a thickness at a source region edge.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a non-volatile memory or EPROM device with a ramped tunnel dielectric layer, a memory array containing such a non-volatile memory device, a method of making such a non-volatile memory, a method of programming such non-volatile memory or and a method of reading such a programmed non-volatile memory device.

Method of forming a non-volatile memory device with ramped tunnel dielectric layer


FET device structures are disclosed with the PFET and NFET devices having high-k dielectric gate insulators, metal containing gates, and threshold adjusting cap layers. The NFET gate stack and the PFET gate stack each has a portion which is identical in the NFET device and in the PFET device. This identical portion contains at least a gate metal layer and a cap layer. Due to the identical portion, device fabrication is simplified, requiring a reduced number of masks. Furthermore, as a consequence of using a single layer of metal for the gates of both type of devices, the terminal electrodes of NFETs and PFETs can be butted with each other in direct physical contact. Device thresholds are further adjusted by oxygen exposure of the high-k dielectric. Threshold values are aimed for low power consumption device operation.

Today's integrated circuits include a vast number of devices. Smaller devices and shrinking ground rules are the key to enhance performance and to reduce cost. As FET (Field-Effect-Transistor) devices are being scaled down, the technology becomes more complex, and changes in device structures and new fabrication methods are needed to maintain the expected performance enhancement from one generation of devices to the next. The mainstay material of microelectronics is silicon (Si), or more broadly, Si based materials. Among others, one such Si based material of significance for microelectronics is the silicon-germanium (SiGe) alloy. The devices in the embodiments of the present disclosure are typically part of the art of single crystal, Si based material device technology.
There is a great difficulty in maintaining performance improvements in devices of deeply submicron generations. Therefore, methods for improving performance without scaling down have become of interest. There is a promising avenue toward higher gate dielectric capacitance without having to make the gate dielectric actually thinner. This approach involves the use of so called high-k materials. The dielectric constant of such materials is significantly higher than that of SiO2, which is about 3.9. A high-k material may physically be significantly thicker than oxide, and still have a lower equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) value. The EOT, a concept known in the art, refers to the thickness of such an SiO2 layer which has the same capacitance per unit area as the insulator layer in question. In today state of the art FET devices, one is aiming at an EOT of below 2 nm, and preferably below 1 nm.
Device performance is also enhanced by the use of metal gates. The depletion region in the poly-Si next to the gate insulator can become an obstacle in the path to increase gate-to-channel capacitance. The solution is to use a metal gate. Metal gates also assure good conductivity along the width direction of the devices, reducing the danger of possible RC delays in the gate.
Low power consumption small FET devices are in need of precise threshold voltage control. As operating voltage decreases, to below 2V, threshold voltages also have to decrease, and threshold variation becomes less tolerable. Every new element, such as a different gate dielectric, or a different gate material, influences the threshold voltage. Sometimes such influences are detrimental for achieving the desired threshold voltage values. Any technique which can affect the threshold voltage, without other effects on the devices is a useful one. Such techniques exist, for instance by using so called cap layers, or by exposing high-k gate dielectrics to oxygen.
Unfortunately, shifting the threshold of both PFET and NFET devices simultaneously, may not easily lead to threshold values in an acceptably tight range for CMOS circuits. There is need for a structure and a technique in which the threshold of one type of device can be independently adjusted without altering the threshold of the other type of device.
Typically, small FET devices with high-k dielectrics and metal gates require expensive complicated processing. It would be useful to find ways to simplify the fabrication process, while maintaining most of the performance offered by such advanced structures. At the same time it would also be desirable to adjust thresholds for low power operation. To date, such a structure, or fabrication process does not exists.

Low power circuit structure with metal gate and high-k dielectric

International Business Machines Corporation