The present invention relates to a novel member of the TNF-Ligand superfamily. More specifically, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding a human Apoptosis Inducing Molecule II (AIM II). AIM II polypeptides are also provided, as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of AIM II activity. Also provided are therapeutic methods for treating lymphadenopathy, aberrant bone development, autoimmune and other immune system diseases, graft versus host disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and to inhibit neoplasia, such as tumor cell growth.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel member of the TNF-Ligand superfamily. More specifically, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding a human Apoptosis Inducing Molecule II (AIM II). AIM II polypeptides are also provided, as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of AIM II activity. Also provided are therapeutic methods for treating lymphadenopathy, aberrant bone development, autoimmune and other immune system diseases, graft versus host disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and to inhibit neoplasia, such as tumor cell growth.
2. Related Art
Human tumor necrosis factors xcex1 (TNF-xcex1) and xcex2 (TNF-xcex2, or lymphotoxin) are related members of a broad class of polypeptide mediators, which includes the interferons, interleukins and growth factors, collectively called cytokines (Beutler, B. and Cerami, A., Annu. Ret,. Immunol., 7:625-655 (1989)).
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-xcex1 and TNF-xcex2) was originally discovered as a result of its anti-tumor activity, however, now it is recognized as a pleiotropic cytokine capable of numerous biological activities including apoptosis of some transformed cell lines, mediation of cell activation and proliferation and also as playing important roles in immune regulation and inflammation.
To date, known members of the TNF-ligand superfamily include TNF-xcex1, TNF-xcex2 (lymphotoxin-xcex1), LT-xcex2, OX40L, Fas ligand, CD30L, CD27L, CD40L and 4-IBBL. The ligands of the TNF ligand superfamily are acidic, TNF-like molecules with approximately 20% sequence homology in the extracellular domains (range, 12%-36%) and exist mainly as membrane-bound forms with the biologically active form being a trimeric/multimeric complex. Soluble forms of the TNF ligand superfamily have only been identified so far for TNF, LTxcex1, and Fas ligand (for a general review, see Gruss, H. and Dower, S. K., Blood, 85(12):3378-3404 (1995)), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
These proteins are involved in regulation of cell proliferation, activation, and differentiation, including control of cell survival or death by apoptosis or cytotoxicity (Armitage, R. J., Curr. Opin. Immunol 6:407(1994) and Smith, C. A., Cell 75:959(1994)).
Mammalian development is dependent on both the proliferation and differentiation of cells as well as programmed cell death which occurs through apoptosis (Walker, et al., Methods Achiev. Exp. Pathol. 13:18(1988). Apoptosis plays a critical role in the destruction of immune thymocytes that recognize self antigens. Failure of this normal elimination process may play a role in autoimmune diseases (Gammon et al., Immunology Today 12:193(1991)).
Itoh et al. (Cell 66:233(1991)) described a cell surface antigen, Fas/CD95 that mediates apoptosis and is involved in clonal deletion of T-cells. Fas is expressed in activated T-cells, B-cells, neutrophils and in thymus, liver, heart and lung and ovary in adult mice (Watanabe-Fukunaga et al., J. Immunolo. 148:1274(1992)) in addition to activated T-cells, B-cells, neutorophils. In experiments where a monoclonal Ab to Fas is cross-linked to Fas, apoptosis is induced (Yonehara et al., J Exp. Med. 169:1747(1989); Trauth et al., Science 245:301(1989)). In addition, there is an example where binding of a monoclonal Ab to Fas may stimulate T-cells under certain conditions (Alderson et al., J Exp. Med. 178:2231(1993)).
Fas antigen is a cell surface protein of relative MW of 45 Kd. Both human and murine genes for Fas have been cloned by Watanabe-Fukunaga et al., (J. Immunol. 148:1274(1992)) and Itoh et al. (Cell 66:233(1991)). The proteins encoded by these genes are both transmembrane proteins with structural homology to the Nerve Growth Factor/Tumor Necrosis Factor receptor superfamily, which includes two TNF receptors, the low affinity Nerve Growth Factor receptor and the LTxcex2 receptor CD40, CD27, CD30, and OX40.
Recently the Fas ligand has been described (Suda et al., Cell 75:1169(1993)). The amino acid sequence indicates that Fas ligand is a type II transmembrane protein belonging to the TNF family. Fas ligand is expressed in splenocytes and thymocytes. The purified Fas ligand has a MW of 40 kd.
Recently, it has been demonstrated that Fas/Fas ligand interactions are required for apoptosis following the activation of T-cells (Ju et al., Nature 373:444(1995); Brunner et al., Nature 373:441(1995)). Activation of T-cells induces both proteins on the cell surface. Subsequent interaction between the ligand and receptor results in apoptosis of the cells. This supports the possible regulatory role for apoptosis induced by Fas/Fas ligand interaction during normal immune responses.
The polypeptide of the present invention has been identified as a novel member of the TNF ligand super-family based on structural and biological similarities.
Clearly, there is a need for factors that regulate activation, and differentiation of normal and abnormal cells. There is a need, therefore, for identification and characterization of such factors that modulate activation and differentiation of cells, both normally and in disease states. In particular, there is a need to isolate and characterize additional Fas ligands that control apoptosis for the treatment of autoimmune disease, graft versus host disease, rheumatoid arthritis and lymphadenopathy.
The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a polynucleotide encoding the AIM II polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in FIGS. 1A and B (SEQ ID NO:2) or the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone deposited in a bacterial host as ATCC Deposit Number 97689 on Aug. 22, 1996. The present invention also provides isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a polynucleotide encoding the AIM II polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in FIGS. 1C and D (SEQ ID NO:39) or the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone deposited in a bacterial host as ATCC Deposit Number 97483 on Mar. 15, 1996.
The present invention also relates to recombinant vectors, which include the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, and to host cells containing the recombinant vectors, as well as to methods of making such vectors and host cells and for using them for production of AIM II polypeptides or peptides by recombinant techniques.
The invention further provides an isolated AIM II polypeptide having an amino acid sequence encoded by a polynucleotide described herein.
As used herein the term xe2x80x9cAIM IIxe2x80x9d polypeptide includes membrane-bound proteins (comprising a cytoplasmic domain, a transmembrane domain, and an extracellular domain) as well as truncated proteins that retain the AIM II polypeptide activity. In one embodiment, soluble AIM II polypeptides comprise all or part of the extracellular domain of an AIM II protein, but lack the transmembrane region that would cause retention of the polypeptide on a cell membrane. Soluble AIM II may also include part of the transmembrane region or part of the cytoplasmic domain or other sequences, provided that the soluble AIM II protein is capable of being secreted. A heterologous signal peptide can be fused to the N-terminus of the soluble AIM II polypeptide such that the soluble AIM II polypeptide is secreted upon expression.
The invention also provides for AIM II polypeptides, particularly human AIM-II polypeptides, which may be employed to treat afflictions such as lymphadenopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease, graft versus host disease, IgE-mediated allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, Crohn""s disease, allergic asthma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin""s lymphoma (NHL), and Graves"" disease. These polypeptides of the invention may also be used to stimulate peripheral tolerance, destroy some transformed cell lines, mediate cell activation and proliferation and are functionally linked as primary mediators of immune regulation and inflammatory response.
The invention further provides compositions comprising an AIM II polynucleotide or an AIM II polypeptide for administration to cells in vitro, to cells ex vivo and to cells in vivo, or to a multicellular organism. In certain particularly preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the compositions comprise an AIM II polynucleotide for expression of an AIM II polypeptide in a host organism for treatment of disease. Particularly preferred in this regard is expression in a human patient for treatment of a dysfunction associated with aberrant endogenous activity of an AIM II.
The present invention also provides a screening method for identifying compounds capable of enhancing or inhibiting a cellular response induced by AIM II, which involves contacting cells which express AIM II with the candidate compound, assaying a cellular response, and comparing the cellular response to a standard cellular response, the standard being assayed when contact is made in absence of the candidate compound; whereby, an increased cellular response over the standard indicates that the compound is an agonist and a decreased cellular response over the standard indicates that the compound is an antagonist.
In another aspect, a screening assay for AIM II agonists and antagonists is provided. The antagonists may be employed to prevent septic shock, inflammation, cerebral malaria, activation of the HIV virus, graft-host rejection, bone resorption, and cachexia (wasting or malnutrition).
In a further aspect of the invention, AIM II may be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by inhibiting the increase in angiogenesis or increase in endothelial cell proliferation required to sustain an invading pannus in bone and cartilage as is often observed in RA.
In an additional aspect of the invention, AIM II may be used to inhibit or activate a cellular response mediated by a cellular receptor (e.g., LT-xcex2-R, TR2, CD27, and TRANK) by either inhibiting the binding of a ligand to the receptor or by binding to the receptor and activating a receptor mediated cellular response.
An additional aspect of the invention is related to a method for treating an individual in need of an increased level of AIM II activity in the body comprising administering to such an individual a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated AIM II polypeptide of the invention or an agonist thereof.
A still further aspect of the invention is related to a method for treating an individual in need of a decreased level of AIM II activity in the body comprising, administering to such an individual a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an AIM II antagonist.

Apoptosis Inducing Molecule II and methods of use


The present invention is intended to provide multiple levels of digest streams for multimedia contents with small amount of additional storage using a multiple level digest segment information scheme. In the present invention, a multiple level digest segment information is contained in the content-based data area of the multimedia content by representing a level information of each digest segment by multiple levels in a content-based data area of a multimedia content, describing the digest level of the digest segment and the time range information of the digest segment in the digest segment information scheme, and outputting digest segments whose digest level is less than or equal to requested digest level by decoding, upon receipt of the digest level of the digest segment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for describing a multiple level digest segment information scheme for multimedia contents in a content-based data area of a multimedia stream and method for generating a digest streams(highlights) using the multiple level digest segment information scheme for the purpose of providing a multiple levels of digest streams for a multimedia stream.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A digest stream for a multimedia stream is provided for the purpose of enabling users to understand the overall story and the structure of a multimedia content or to find and move to desired position fast.
Multimedia server system such as a VOD(Video-on-Demand) server system, a broadcast system, a karaoke, etc., can provide digest streams(highlights) for multimedia contents (e.g., movie, drama, sports, etc.) to achieve above purposes.
A digest stream(highlight) of a multimedia stream is constructed by arranging audio-visual segments, each of which is the essence of an original stream in the development of the story. Here, the segment is a sequence of continuous frames. Since the digest stream is a sub stream of the multimedia stream, the size of the digest stream is much smaller than that of the original stream.
Therefore, a user who want to understand the overall structure and/or the story of a multimedia content prefers to access a digest stream rather than accessing the entire stream. The digest stream also can be used as a program guide for users who want to select a program from a multimedia database.
There are two types of summarization method for multimedia contents. The one is providing key frames or key regions and the other is providing digest streams(highlights) which is constructed by gathering and arranging important segments of an original stream
In the former method, since it is difficult for a user to understand the entire flow of the original stream and it is difficult to display too many key frames at a time, an additional operation such as a screen scrolling is required in order to understand the content of the stream only with the key frames, thereby causing an inconvenience.
In the latter method, generally, a content provider extracts a sub stream from the original stream, and stores it separately. In this case, an additional storage for storing the digest stream is required. In addition, the content provider edits only a certain time amount of the digest stream and provides it to the user. Accordingly, the user can access only a single level digest stream edited by the content provider. Therefore, users cannot obtain various digest streams of the desired length. Suppose that a content provider provides only a 10 minute highlight for a 2 hour video. Under that situation, users may want to access 5, 10, 20 minute digest streams respectively, depending upon their situation. In that case, a user who want 5 or 20 minute highlight for the given content can not browse the digest stream of their desire. Only 10 minute digest stream will be served regardless of the user's request. Therefore, in order to satisfy user's various needs, the content provider has to edit and store multiple levels of digest streams for one multimedia stream. In this case, a large amount of storage is required to store multiple versions of digest streams, and accordingly there occurs difficulty in managing each of the digest stream.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of describing multiple level digest segment information scheme for multimedia contents and apparatus for generating digest stream from described multiple level digest segment information scheme and method thereof


Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The device may include a transistor on a substrate comprising a gate insulating pattern, a gate electrode and an impurity region, a shared contact plug electrically connected to the gate electrode and the impurity region, and an etch-stop layer between side surfaces of the gate electrode and the shared contact. The shared contact plug may include a first conductive pattern electrically connected to the first impurity region and a second conductive pattern electrically connected to the gate electrode, and a top surface of the first conductive pattern may be higher than a top surface of the gate electrode.

Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. Higher integration of semiconductor devices may be required to satisfy consumer demands for electronic devices. However, owing to increasing technical difficulties in a fabrication process (e.g., a reduced process margin in a lithography process), it is becoming harder to realize highly-integrated semiconductor devices.

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


A process and apparatus for premixing a gaseous fuel and air, the apparatus comprising a back plate having a plurality of back plate openings, a front plate having a plurality of front plate openings corresponding to and substantially aligned with the back plate openings, a gaseous fuel inlet through in which a gaseous fuel is introduced into the area between the back plate and the front plate, and a plurality of air jet tubes disposed between the back plate and the front plate, the air jet tubes conveying combustion air from said back plate openings through said front plate openings, resulting in aspiration of the fuel through the front plate openings.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus and process for providing a homogeneous mixture of two gaseous fluids. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and process for providing a homogeneous mixture of a gaseous fuel and oxidant, preferably air, to a combustor.
2. Description of Prior Art
Premixing of fuel and air is becoming more and more attractive as one of the most effective methods for reducing NO.sub.x formation in combustion processes. As the fuel/air ratio changes within a combustor, the NO.sub.x formed by the combustor changes due to variation in the peak flame temperature and the availability of oxygen as the fuel/air ratio is altered. Premixing of fuel and air minimizes the formation of pockets of higher flame temperatures and oxygen availability within the flame, both of which promote higher NO.sub.x formation. In general, premixing also intensifies combustion and, in certain burner designs, enhances internal combustion products recirculation, thereby providing stable combustion from highly fuel-lean to highly fuel-rich conditions. To achieve the best results, it is desired to mix the fuel and air as completely as possible prior to ignition.
Numerous mixers and mixing devices are known for premixing fuel and combustion air. Mixing devices for this purpose are generally grouped in two classifications: manual mixers which require manual adjustments to maintain a desired fuel/air ratio as rates of flow are changed, and automatic mixers which automatically maintain within their rated capacity a substantially constant fuel/air ratio over a range of flow rates. Within the classification of automatic mixers are gas jet mixers which utilize the kinetic energy of a jet of gas issuing from an orifice to entrain all or part of the air required for combustion, air jet mixers which utilize the kinetic energy of a stream of air issuing from an orifice to entrain the gas required for combustion, and mechanical mixers which utilize mechanical means to mix gas and air, neglecting entirely any kinetic energy in the gas and air, and compressing the resultant mixture to a pressure suitable for delivery to its point in use.
In general, mixer designs without any internal obstructions are termed "open" mixers. These mixers require a long downstream region for complete mixing, thereby creating a large quantity of combustible mixture which, in turn, increases the potential for flashback and/or explosion.
Accordingly, to enhance mixing in a much shorter downstream region, there also exist mixer designs which utilize internal baffles and diverters. However, the major disadvantage of these designs is the repercussion of flashback. If flashback were to occur, the flame front would travel upstream of the internal baffles and then be trapped.
Finally, in either mixer design, no means for compensation of non-uniform or skewed profile air flow conditions which are common in real applications is provided. As a result, there exists a need for rapid mixers having no downstream restrictions and having the capability of compensating for non-uniform or skewed air flow profiles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,426 to Harris teaches a burner comprising a bundle of tubular elements, each of which is open at each of its ends, for the supply of combustion air to the burner. Each of the tubular elements is provided at one end with a head portion having an external cross-section such that when the bundle of tubular elements are bunched together with their head portions in contact with each other, fuel orifices are formed between the head portions for fuel supply to the burner. The burner further comprises a housing which defines a fuel chamber and a fuel inlet for introducing fuel into the fuel chamber. The bundle of tubular elements are bunched together in the fuel chamber in a laterally spaced, substantially parallel relationship. The back wall of the housing is provided with a plurality of circular openings for receiving the circular non-headed ends of the tubular members and the front wall of the housing is provided with a hexagonal opening in which the enlarged head portions of the bunched tubular elements are located in contact with each other, the head portions of the outer ring of the tubular elements being in close contact with the edges defining the hexagonal opening. As fuel is fed into the fuel chamber, it circulates around the tubular elements and passes out of the chamber through the fuel orifices formed between the head portions of the tubular elements. When the fuel issuing from the fuel orifices is ignited, the burning fuel causes combustion air to be drawn through the tubular elements by induction to mix with the issuing gas or other fuel to produce the required flame. Accordingly, ignition of the fuel causes the induction of combustion air through the tubular elements for mixing with the fuel issuing from the fuel chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,733 to Striebel et al. teaches an apparatus for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine comprising a fuel chamber defined by an upstream wall and a downstream wall through which a plurality of mixing tubes extend to flow air through the fuel chamber. Each of the primary mixing tubes is in communication with the fuel chamber through fuel orifices formed by the primary mixing tubes. Fuel, under pressure, is introduced from the fuel chamber through the fuel orifices into the mixing tubes in which it mixes with the air flowing therethrough.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,586 to McWhirter et al. teaches a gas turbine combustor having a plurality of concentrically arranged annular passages, each having an inlet and a discharge end, a first fuel discharge port for each of the annular passages for introducing a fuel therein, and means for separately controlling the introduction of fuel into each of the annular passages through its fuel discharge port. In accordance with one embodiment, means for separately controlling the introduction of fuel into each of the annular passages through its respective fuel discharge port comprises an approximately toroidal manifold for each of the annular passages, each of the toroidal manifolds being disposed upstream of its respective annular passage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,561 to Bruhwiler et al. teaches a gas turbine combustion chamber having an air distribution chamber and a combustion space locationally separated from one another within a combustion chamber shell. A plurality of tubular elements is located between the distribution chamber and the combustion space in which elements of premixing and pre-evaporation of fuel oil supplied through premixing nozzles and/or a premixing of a fuel gas supplied through the premixing nozzles takes place with compressor air. Each tubular element is provided with a flame holder in the direction of the combustion space. A diffusion nozzle for fuel directed into the combustion space is located within the flame holder. In operation, only a small part of the fuel supplied to each element is burned by means of the diffusion nozzle, the major proportion, on the other hand, being burned by means of the premixing nozzles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,963 to LeMer teaches a gas burner comprising an air box, one wall of which is perforated with a large number of closely spaced orifices, a gas feed tank connected to a pressurized fuel gas source, and a plurality of hollow needles, each connecting the inside of the feed tank to the central zone of the inlet of an orifice in the perforated wall so as to define within this orifice one of a plurality of flame production sites. The air box is connected to a pressurized air source, the orifices are cylindrical, and a mechanical obstacle is provided in the center of the outlet of each orifice for deflecting the gas jet leaving the needle and mixing it with the airstream which surrounds it.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,840 to Matt et al. teaches a ring burner for a ring combustion chamber divided into a large number of honeycomb-like parallel axis canals for the combustion air, by radial and circumferential plate canals, or by radial plate canals, longitudinal tubing, radial tubing and annular tubing into which combustion gas is introduced from nozzles in the surrounding walls. At the burner outlet, fuel retention nozzles are provided above the frontal surface area of the plate canals or tubes. The fuel nozzles are provided in front of the burner inlet for operation as a dual-fuel burner with gaseous and liquid fuels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,206 to Kullendorff et al. teaches a fluidized bed combustion chamber having a perforated bottom plate into which air nozzles are pressed in a manner similar to that used for tubes in a tube sheet of a heat exchanger. About one-third of the nozzles are connected to a start-up or auxiliary combustion chamber for blowing in hot gas for heating the bed to the flash-point or ignition temperature of the fuel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,294 to Rice et al. teaches a flameless combustion burner having an ignition zone, a catalyst zone, and a plenum. To obtain flameless combustion, a fuel and a combustion supporting gas are introduced into the ignition zone from the plenum and a flame is initiated by means of a starting device. The products of combustion flow over the catalyst to heat it to a temperature at which it can initiate a flameless combustion.
U.S. Pat. No. 689,814 to Dow teaches a burner having a gas chamber provided with burner tubes, a plurality of mixing tubes discharging into the gas chamber, automatic or self-closing valves operably linked to the mixing tubes to prevent backflow from the gas chamber, means for introducing gaseous fuel under pressure through the mixing tubes, and means for independently controlling the inflow of fuel in connection with the respective mixing tubes.

Process and apparatus for homogeneous mixing of gaseous fluids


A bearing plate for use in an anchor assembly and associated method are provided. The bearing plate may have a body with a middle portion with a helical configuration about an axis. Leading and trailing portions are also included on either end of the middle portion. An upper leading portion surface may extend an angular distance from 5° to 45° about the axis. The upper leading and middle portion surfaces may extend at different rates in the axial direction per extension about the axis in order to reduce friction on the leading portion during insertion. Additionally or alternatively, the middle portion of the body may be tapered and/or included a rounded outer edge in order to reduce friction during insertion and/or to increase ease of manufacture. A method of putting together an anchor assembly in the field in order to achieve a desired bearing capacity is also disclosed.

It is sometimes the case that soil properties at a construction site are not sufficiently stable to allow a structure to be built. Further, currently built structures sometimes become cracked, experience partial collapse, or are otherwise damaged due to unstable soil conditions beneath the structure. Anchor assemblies are used in order to provide structural support to building foundations, retaining walls, oil and gas pipelines, utility towers, and other structures in both new and current construction. Anchor assemblies include a shaft that carries one or more bearing plates that are generally arranged in a helical configuration thereon. Powered rotation is communicated to the shaft to screw the anchor assembly into the ground. Once inserted, the building or other structure may be built or repaired as some or all of its weight is then carried by the anchor assembly.
The bearing capacity of an anchor assembly is a function of the torque placed upon the anchor assembly during insertion and a property of the soil sometimes known as the soil value blow count. Bearing capacity of the anchor assembly can be increased upon increasing the diameter of the bearing plates. In this regard, increasing the diameter of the bearing plates increases the amount of torque necessary to drive the anchor assembly into the ground. Additionally, the bearing plates may be driven deeper into the ground in order to reach soil having a greater density to increase the bearing capacity of the anchor assembly. It is sometimes the case that undesirable friction is created between the bearing plate and the ground when driving the anchor assembly therein. A sharp angle at the tip of the leading edge of the bearing plate may act to generate this friction. Frictional forces act to make it harder to drive the bearing plates into the ground and therefore require that a greater torque be imparted onto the anchor assembly. As the bearing capacity of the anchor assembly is calculated by measuring the required torque, this value may be skewed upon the presence of friction on the bearing plates during installation.
It is also the case that present installation equipment may be capable of generating torque greater than the maximum structural torsional load capacity of the anchor assembly. The bearing plate may possibly hit a rock or other obstruction during insertion that causes one or more components of the anchor assembly to break. In this regard, attempts have been made to strengthen the anchor assembly by heat treating the shaft and/or bearing plates. Additional solutions involve making these components out of a stronger material. Unfortunately, these options are often expensive and time consuming.
A geological survey of the construction site is often conducted in order to ascertain properties of the soil onto which the structure is built. From this data, an anchor assembly having appropriately sized and spaced bearing plates may be selected in order to achieve a desired bearing capacity. Unfortunately, it is sometimes the case that during insertion of the anchor assembly it is discovered that a different anchor assembly is needed. For example, the soil properties from one end of the construction site to the other may vary. The geologist may have tested the soil at a different location than where the anchor assembly is inserted thus resulting in a different soil density at the location of insertion. Additionally, other circumstances arise which prevent the use of an initially chosen anchor assembly. In these instances a different anchor assembly must be used in order to achieve a desired bearing capacity. As bearing plates are generally welded onto shafts, the installer must travel with and keep a variety of differently sized and configured anchor assemblies in order to account for such possibilities. As such, there remains room for variation and improvement within the art.

Bearing plate for use in an anchor assembly and related method


Structures for a field-effect transistor and methods of forming a structure for a field-effect transistor. A gate structure is arranged over a channel region of a semiconductor body. A first source/drain region is coupled to a first portion of the semiconductor body, and a second source/drain region is located in a second portion the semiconductor body. The first source/drain region includes an epitaxial semiconductor layer containing a first concentration of a dopant. The second source/drain region contains a second concentration of the dopant. The channel region is positioned in the semiconductor body between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region.

The present invention relates to semiconductor device fabrication and integrated circuits and, more specifically, to structures for a field-effect transistor and methods of forming a structure for a field-effect transistor.
Complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes may be employed to build a combination of p-type and n-type field-effect transistors that are used as devices to construct, for example, logic cells. Field-effect transistors generally include a source, a drain, a body supplying a channel region between the source and drain, and a gate electrode overlapped with the channel region. When a control voltage exceeding a characteristic threshold voltage is applied to the gate electrode, carrier flow occurs in the channel region between the source and drain to produce a device output current.
The source and drain of a field-effect transistor are simultaneously formed. One approach is to implant ions containing a p-type dopant or an n-type dopant into regions of the body adjacent to the gate electrode to provide the source and drain. Another approach is to epitaxially grow sections of a semiconductor material from the body to form the source and drain. The semiconductor material is in situ doped during epitaxial growth with either a p-type dopant or an n-type dopant.
The operating characteristics of a field-effect transistor depend, among other factors, on the manner in which the source and drain are formed. Because of their simultaneous formation by either ion implantation or epitaxial growth, the properties of the source and drain cannot be separately engineered to optimize the operating characteristics of the field-effect transistor for certain design applications.
Improved structures for a field-effect transistor and methods of forming a structure for a field-effect transistor are needed.

Transistors with separately-formed source and drain


The invention relates to targeting of diagnostic agents by use of lipid-based compositions. The invention is useful in the diagnosis of various disorders which are associated with or resulting from increased levels of extracellular PLA2 activity in the diseased tissue, e.g. cancer, infectious, and inflammatory conditions.

Diagnostic imaging is widely used in contemporary medicine. It requires that an appropriate intensity of signal from an area of interest is achieved in order to differentiate certain structures from surrounding tissues, regardless of the technique used. As noted by Torchilin (1998) imaging involves the relationship between the three spatial dimensions of the region of interest and a fourth dimension, time, which relates to both the pharmacokinetics of the agent and the period necessary to acquire the image. The physical properties that can be used to create an image include emission or absorption of radiation, nuclear magnetic moments and relaxation, and transmission or reflection of ultrasound. According to the physical principles applied, currently used imaging techniques include γ-scintigraphy (involving the application of γ-emitting radio-active materials); magnetic resonance (MR, phenomenon based on the transition between different energy levels of atomic nuclei under the action of radiofrequency signal); computed tomography (CT, the technique which utilises ionising radiation with the aid of computers to acquire cross-images of the body and three-dimensional images of areas of interest); and ultra-sonography (US, the technique using irradiation with ultrasound and based on the different rate at which ultrasound passes through various tissues). All four imaging techniques differ in their physical principles, sensitivity, resolution (both spatial and temporal), ability to provide images without contrast agent-mediated enhancement, and some other parameters, such as cost and safety. Usually, the imaging of different organs and tissues for early detection and localisation of numerous pathologies cannot be successfully achieved without appropriate contrast agents (see further) in different imaging procedures.
To improve imaging contrast agents are used. These are the substances which are able to absorb certain types of signal (irradiation) much stronger than surrounding tissues. The contrast agents are specific for each imaging technique (see Table 1), and as a result of their accumulation in certain sites of interest, those sites may be easily visualised when the appropriate imaging technique is applied.
TABLE 1Imaging techniques and required concentration of diagnostic moietiesRequiredconcentra-Imaging techniqueDiagnostic moietytionGamma-scintigraphyDiagnostic radionuclides, such10−10 Mas 111In, 99mTc, 67GaMagnetic resonance (MR)Paramagnetic ions, such as Gd10−4 Mimagingand Mn, and iron oxideComputed tomography (CT)Iodine, bromine, barium10−2 MimagingUltrasonographyGas (air, argon, nitrogen)from: Torchilin (1998)
The tissue concentration that must be achieved for successful imaging varies between techniques and diagnostic moieties, see table 1. In many cases, contrast agent-mediated imaging is based on the ability of some tissues (i.e., macrophage-rich tissues) to absorb the particulate substances. This process is particle size-dependent and relies on a fine balance between particles small enough to enter the blood or lymphatic capillaries, yet large enough to be retained within the tissue. In any of imaging techniques, two main routes of administration of contrast agent are used: systemic and via local circulation. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. By varying the physico-chemical properties of a contrast, or contrast carrier, the rate of its disappearance from the injection site upon local administration can be modulated. A disadvantage of systemic administration is that it increases the exposure of non-target organs to potentially toxic contrast agent.
Liposomes
To facilitate the accumulation of contrast in the required zone, various micropartic-ulates have been suggested as carriers for contrast agents. Among those carriers, liposomes, microscopic artificial phospholipid vesicles, draw special attention because of their easily controlled properties and good pharmacological characteristics. Many individual lipids and their mixtures, when suspended in an aqueous phase, spontaneously form bilayered structures (liposomes) in which the hydrophobic parts of their molecules face inwards and the hydrophilic parts are exposed to the aqueous phase surrounding them. Several different types of liposomes exist; each type has specific characteristics and can be prepared by specific methods. Usual classification of liposomes is based on their size and number of concentric bilayers forming a single vesicle (such as multilamellar vesicles (MLV), unilamellar vesicles, LUV, small unilamellar vesicles (SUV)). The methods for producing LUVs can be easily scaled up and used for industrial production of large batches of liposomes with a predictable size and a narrow size distribution.
For almost two decades liposomes have been recognized as promising carriers for drugs and diagnostic agents for the following reasons: (1) Liposomes are completely biocompatible; (2) they can entrap practically any drug or diagnostic agent into either their internal water compartment or into the membrane itself depending on the physico-chemical properties of the drug; (3) liposome-incorporated pharmaceuticals are protected from the inactivating effect of external conditions, yet at the same time do not cause undesirable sidereactions; (4) liposomes also provide a unique opportunity to deliver pharmaceuticals into cells or even inside individual cellular compartments. Pursuing different in vivo delivery purposes, the size, charge and surface properties of liposomes can be easily changed simply by adding new ingredients to the lipid mixture before liposome preparation and/or by variation of preparation methods.
Unfortunately, phospholipid liposomes, if introduced into the circulation, are very rapidly (usual half-clearance time is within 30 min) sequestered by the cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Liver cells are primarily responsible, and the sequestration is relatively dependent on their size, charge, and composition of the liposomes. Circulating peripheral blood monocytes can also endocytose liposomes and later infiltrate tissues and deliver endocytosed liposomes to certain pathological areas in the body.
Until recently, the potential of liposomes as drug carriers has been limited by the rapid clearance of liposomes from the bloodstream. For example, conventional liposomes may be largely cleared from the bloodstream within 1-2 hours after intravenous administration
A variety of approaches for extending the circulation time of liposomes have been proposed. Two of these have been successful in extending the half-life of liposomes in the bloodstream by periods of up to 40-50 hours. In one approach, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,028, liposomes are formulated with the ganglioside GM1 and predominantly rigid lipids. In another general approach, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,556, liposomes are coated with a layer of polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains.
The imaging of the most macrophage-rich organs of RES, liver and spleen, was the earliest one performed with contrast-loaded liposomes, as RES organs are the natural targets for liposomes and accumulate them well upon intravenous administration. The diagnostic imaging of liver and spleen is usually aimed at discovering tumors and metastases in those organs, as well as certain blood flow irregularities and inflammatory processes. The use of at least three different imaging techniques for this purpose was described, namely, γ-, MR-, and CT-imaging.
Tumor Imaging with Contrast Liposomes
One area of important potential application of contrast-loaded liposomes is tumor imaging. The main mechanism of liposome accumulation in tumors is via extravas-ation through leaky tumor capillaries into the interstitial space. As in many other cases, the efficacy of such accumulation can be sharply increased by using long-circulating PEG-coated liposomes. Liposome-based imaging agents have already been successfully used for γ-, MR-, CT-, and sonographic imaging of tumors. Indium 111 labeled liposomes for tumor imaging (VesCan®, Vestar, Inc.) are already in Phase II-III clinical trials.
Liposome formulations may also be used for visualization of inflammation and infection sites. The use of microparticulate imaging agents for the visualization of infection and inflammation sites is based on the ability of microparticulates to extravasate from the circulation and accumulate in those sites similar to what we already described for tumors and infarcted tissues.
The two major problems connected with the use of liposomes for diagnostic imaging purposes namely low efficacy of contrast liposomes in tumor imaging has often been explained by fast clearance of the liposomes from the blood and their inability to accumulate in the diseased tissue. Both of these obstacles are addressed in the present invention.

Lipid-based systems for targeting diagnostic agents


Systems and apparatus for a water fountain that converts turbulent flow of a fluid to laminar flow. The water fountain may include a basin, a fluid distribution port, at least one water support, a fluid distribution media, and an annular scupper. The fluid distribution port may be located within the basin above the bottom and between the circular inner wall and the outer wall. The at least one water supply port may extend through the bottom and coupled to the fluid distribution port. The fluid distribution media may be located within the basin, between the circular inner wall and the outer wall, and above the fluid distribution port. The annular scupper may be located on top of the inner wall and capable of applying a surface tension to a fluid to thin the fluid into a continuous laminar sheet downward in a circular cascade sheet into a cascade chamber.

Water fountains throughout history and worldwide have captured people's attention. Water fountains generally have a basin for capturing falling water and a pump to raise the water to a stand above the basin. The water is then sprayed or flows from the stand to an outer edge, and cascades down to the basin.
For nighttime display, some fountains have electrically secure lights within the basin, within the stand, or sometimes safely outside the water, to add sparkle or color to the fountain. Other fountains have fire displays walled away from the water or above the water to enhance the enjoyment of nighttime water displays.


An encoder arrangement of a direct current motor, having an encoder housing, an encoder disk, a circuit board arranged perpendicular in reference to an motor shaft with an optic sensor encompassing the encoder disk in a U-shaped manner, and a connection plug aligned parallel to the motor shaft. The encoder arrangement allows a simple, economical, reliable, and precise assembly, requiring little construction space, and protecting the encoder arrangement from contaminations. The circuit board is provided with accepting slots for connectors, with contact surfaces of the circuit board being arranged partially around the accepting slots and an electric contact is made between the connectors and the contract surfaces. The encoder housing comprises an encoder housing ring and an encoder housing lid. The encoder housing ring is provided with a radial recess, which is arranged in the area of the connector plug. The optical sensor is arranged on the circuit board at the side of the connector plug, and is provided with an accepting slot for the encoder disk, which accepting slot being open towards the motor shaft on which the encoder disk is mounted. The accepting slots are open on the side of the direct current motor opposite the connection plug and towards the edge of the circuit board.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an encoder arrangement on a direct current motor, and more particularly to an encoder arrangement having an encoder housing, an encoder disk, a circuit board arranged perpendicular in reference to a motor shaft with an optic sensor encompassing the encoder disk in a U-shaped manner, and a connector plug aligned parallel in reference to the motor shaft.
(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
A generic encoder arrangement is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,425. In the known arrangement, the encoder disk must be assembled blindly, which can lead to assembly errors. Additionally, guidance devices requiring expensive additional construction space are needed to facilitate the assembly process. Further, a safety element is necessary to prevent the loss of the encoder disk by the encoder disk falling out. This increases expenses for both parts and assembly.

Encoder arrangement on a direct current motor


The water flow control structure of a water gun includes a movable control tube, stepwise positioning unit, oblique guide and resilient component. When the control tube is moved by the control component, it is turned by the oblique guide and stepwise positioning unit. Each time the first guide of the control tube coordinates with the position of the stepwise positioning unit, it makes the space between the stopper head of the control tube and the water control outlet of the water holder close or open in different degrees to control water flow. The entire control structure is hidden inside the water gun. The repeated movements of the control component can switch the water flow mode, which is convenient and practical.

When using the conventional water gun, the water gun usually controls the on and off status of water flow by a predetermined pressing part or trigger. However, when people use the water gun and when the distance of the target is different one from another, the need to adjust the water flow arises. The conventional water gun has only two modes, on and off; therefore, water flow control is achieved by pressing the trigger. It is a challenge to maintain a certain amount of the water flow, and the hand often becomes sore from holding the trigger for a long period of time. Thus, the water gun becomes inconvenient when used for a long time.
The industry has developed some structures that can control water flow. For example, a common type of structure is an assisting button added on the outside of the trigger. This assisting button usually has a gear to limit the trigger's pressing angle. To adjust the water flow, the assisting button is pressed when the user desires to restore the trigger's position. The structure that is used to adjust the water flow, such as the assisting button and gear, is placed on the external side of the water gun; therefore, the damage rate is higher during actual use. Moreover, because the water gun is often used for garden irrigation or cleaning, the water gun is soiled with mud and sand. The mud and sand easily gets inside the gear and fills the empty part of the structure, which affects the normal positioning effect of the gear.
Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.
To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

Water flow control structure of a water gun


This invention relates to a printhead element substrate having a plurality of electrothermal transducers and a plurality of switching elements which drive the plurality of electrothermal transducers. The element substrate has a level converter which is shared by adjacent electrothermal transducers and steps up an input driving signal, and a switch circuit which supplies the driving signal output from the level converter to one of the adjacent electrothermal transducers. The switch circuit switches the supply destination of the driving signal in accordance with an external input selection signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printhead element substrate suitable for an inkjet printhead, and a printhead, head cartridge, and printing apparatus using the element substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, electrothermal transducers (heaters) of a printhead and their driving circuits in an inkjet printing apparatus are formed on a single substrate using a semiconductor process technology, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,334.
FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing a semiconductor element substrate of this type for an inkjet printhead.
Referring to FIG. 3, heaters and driving circuits are integrally built in an element substrate 100 by a semiconductor process technology. Reference numeral 101 denotes a driver & heater array in which a plurality of heaters and a plurality of driver transistors serving as switching elements which are provided in correspondence with the heaters and switch whether to direct a current flow to the heaters are arrayed. Ink supply ports 102 supply ink from the lower surface of the element substrate.
A shift register (S/R) 103 temporarily holds print data. A decoder 107 outputs a block enable signal to time-divisionally drive blocks of the heaters in the driver & heater array 101. Input circuits 104 include buffer circuits to input digital signals to the shift registers 103 and decoders 107. Input terminals 110 include a Vdd terminal to input a logic element voltage Vdd, a CLK terminal to input a clock (CLK) signal, and a DATA terminal to input print data (DATA).
The digital circuits such as the shift registers and decoders are driven by a digital power supply voltage (voltage VDD). A level converter 116 converts a digital signal such as the VDD voltage driving signal into a VHT voltage signal to be given to the gate of each driver transistor. The voltage VHT is higher than the voltage VDD. A VHT voltage generation circuit 130 generates the voltage VHT to be supplied to the level converter 116 by stepping down a heater driving power supply voltage (VH). An AND circuit 119 serves as a heater selection circuit which calculates the logical product of a block enable signal and a print data signal. The AND circuit 119 includes, e.g., a buffer as needed.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining a series of operations of sending a print data signal to the shift register 103 and supplying a current to the heaters to drive them.
Print data is input to the DATA_A and DATA_B terminals in synchronism with the pulse of a clock signal input to the CLK terminal. The shift register 103 temporarily stores the input print data. A latch circuit holds the print data in accordance with a latch signal input to an LT terminal. After that, the logical product of a block enable signal to select a heater group divided into desired blocks and the signal of print data (print data signal) held according to the latch signal is calculated. The signal of the calculated logical product synchronizes with an HE signal that directly determines the current driving time so that a current flows to desired heaters. The series of operations is repeated for the respective blocks, thereby executing printing.
FIG. 4A is an equivalent circuit diagram corresponding to one segment having one heater and a corresponding driver in a conventional printing element. FIG. 4B is an equivalent circuit diagram corresponding to one bit of the shift register and latch circuit to temporarily store print data.
The block enable signal input to an AND circuit 201 is supplied from the decoder 107. The block enable signal selects each heater group corresponding to one of divided blocks. The print data signal input to the AND circuit 201 is a signal input to the shift register 103 and held according to the latch signal. To selectively drive the heaters, the AND circuit 201 serving as a heater selection circuit calculates the logical product of the block enable signal and print data signal.
Reference numeral 205 denotes a VH power supply line; 206, a heater; and 207, a driver transistor serving as a switching element to direct a current flow to the heater 206. An inverter circuit 202 receives and buffers the output from the AND circuit 201. A VDD power supply line 203 serves as a power supply of the inverter circuit 202. A VHT power supply line 204 serves as a power supply to apply a voltage to the gate of the driver transistor 207. An inverter circuit 208 receives the voltage from the VHT power supply line. The inverter circuit 208 serves as a buffer to receive the buffer output from the inverter circuit 202.
The inverter circuit 202, shift register 103, and the like are digital circuits in general and operate in accordance with a low or high pulse. A heat enable signal (HE) to designate a heater driving period is also a digital signal. Signal exchange with an external device is done by a low or high logic pulse. The voltage amplitudes of the digital signals are generally 0 V/5 V or 0 V/3.3 V. The power supply voltage of the digital circuits is VDD only. The above-described block enable signal and print data signal are input to the AND circuit 201 as the pulse of the voltage VDD and then input to the inverter circuit 208 of the next stage through the buffer formed from the two inverter circuits 202.
The resistance value in the ON state, i.e., so-called ON resistance of the driver transistor 207 is preferably as low as possible. In this case, since the power consumed by circuits except the heaters is minimized, an increase in the substrate temperature can be prevented, and stable printhead driving is possible. If the ON resistance of the driver transistor 207 is high, a current flows to this portion to make the voltage drop large. This requires to apply a higher voltage to the heater, and the power is wasted.
To reduce the ON resistance of the driver transistor 207, it is necessary to raise the voltage to be applied to the gate of the driver transistor. For this purpose, in the circuit shown in FIG. 4A, it is necessary to convert the voltage into a pulse voltage higher than the voltage VDD. The circuit shown in FIG. 4A has the power supply line 204 of the voltage VHT higher than the voltage VDD so that the buffer circuit including the inverter circuit 208 converts the block enable signal input by the pulse of the voltage VDD into a pulse of the voltage VHT. After conversion, the pulse of the voltage VHT is applied to the gate of the driver transistor 207. That is, signal exchange with an external device and signal processing in the internal digital circuits are done in accordance with the pulse of the voltage VDD (logic circuit driving voltage). In the circuit shown in FIG. 4A, an amplitude conversion circuit (level converter) which converts the voltage into the pulse of the voltage VHT (switching element driving voltage) is added to each segment immediately before driving the gate of the driver transistor 207. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 116 denote the level converters of the plurality of segments.
Generally, a printhead has a plurality of segments arrayed at a high density. When the segments are arranged at a density of, e.g., 600 dpi, the array-direction width per segment is limited to about 42.3 μM. To arrange, in this pitch, all circuits for driving the segments in FIG. 4A, the size in a direction perpendicular to the array direction of the segments needs to increase.
FIG. 9 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing the detailed structure of the level converter portion in FIG. 4A. As is apparent from FIG. 9, since the level converter portion (especially level conversion unit) includes a number of transistors, the area of the necessary element substrate increases.
However, when a level converter is added to each segment, the length of the segment increases. This leads to an increase in the size of the element substrate for the printhead, resulting in an increase in cost. More specifically, in the above-described substrate structure, the element substrate spreads in the direction perpendicular to the segment array direction, and the size of the element substrate conspicuously increases. When a level converter is added to each of, e.g., 256 segments of a printhead, at least 256 inverters are necessary, resulting in an increase in cost.
To solve this problem, U.S. Publication No. 2006/0209131 discloses a circuit arrangement which converts a logic circuit driving voltage into a printing element driving voltage without increasing the length in the direction perpendicular to the segment array direction.
FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the arrangement of U.S. Publication No. 2006/0209131. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 denote the same parts in FIG. 10, and a description thereof will not be repeated unless they are particularly different from FIG. 3.
In FIG. 10, the level converter 116 is provided in the output stage of each decoder 107 and the output stage of each shift register 103.
FIG. 2A is an equivalent circuit diagram, different from FIG. 4A, corresponding to one segment having one heater and a corresponding driver in a conventional printing element. FIG. 2B is an equivalent circuit diagram, different from FIG. 4B, corresponding to one bit of the shift register and latch circuit to temporarily store print data.
In the element substrate 100 in FIG. 10, the level converter is added to the output portion of each of the shift registers 103 and decoders 107, unlike the element substrate 100 in FIGS. 3 and 4A in which the level converter is added to each segment. That is, the voltage rises before the AND circuit 201 calculates the logical product of the output signal (block enable signal) from the decoder 107 and the output signal (print data signal) from the shift register 103. Hence, as shown in FIG. 2A, a pulse signal stepped up to the voltage VHT is input to each segment. This obviates the level converter of each segment so that the area of the element substrate can be reduced.
Since a high voltage is applied to the AND circuit 201 that calculates a logical product for each segment, high-voltage-proof elements are necessary as transistors included in the AND circuit 201. Conventionally, the transistors are formed from low-voltage-proof elements because only a low voltage corresponding to the logic circuit driving voltage is applied to this portion. In the technique disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2006/0209131, the breakdown voltage of this portion is made higher than that for the transistors of the remaining logic circuits. More specifically, high-voltage-proof elements are used as the transistors included in the AND circuit.
When such high-voltage-proof elements (MOS transistors) are used, each transistor becomes larger than a low-voltage-proof transistor. However, the size of the element substrate 100 can be reduced because the number of level converters can be small, and they can be located far from the segments.
FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram showing the arrangements of the shift register 103 and level converter 116. The level converter (amplitude conversion circuit) is added to the output stage of the shift register 103 shown in FIG. 4B to convert the pulse voltage from the voltage VDD to the voltage VHT.
The number of output stages of the shift register 103 or decoder 107 is determined by the division count in time-divisionally driving all segments. The division count is about 8 to 32. For example, when 256 segments are divided into 16 blocks (each block includes 16 segments), the necessary number of level converters 116 is 16×2 (shift register side and decoder side)=32. The number greatly decreases as compared to the arrangement with the level converters 116 added to all segments. For this reason, the length of the element substrate 100 in the direction perpendicular to the segment array direction can decrease. The level converters 116 added to the shift registers 103 and decoders 107 increase the length of the element substrate 100 in the array direction. However, this increase is insignificant relative to the decrease in the length in the perpendicular direction. The total area of the element substrate 100 decreases.
An inkjet printing apparatus is required to execute printing at a higher speed. For this reason, the number of orifices of the printhead increases, and the density of the orifices becomes high. Since the number of ink colors, the number of ink supply ports, and the number of orifice arrays also increase, the area of the element substrate becomes large.
FIG. 12 is a view showing the arrangement and vertical positional relationship of two adjacent segments on an element substrate with a segment density of 1,200 dpi. On the element substrate, heaters 206a for a medium discharge amount (2.5 pl) and heaters 206b for a small discharge amount (1 pl) are arranged at a pitch of 1,200 dpi from the side close to the ink supply port 102. Orifices are schematically illustrated on the heaters. These heaters are connected to transistors 207a and 207b by wirings (not shown).
Corresponding level converters 116a and 116b are arranged on the side far from the ink supply port. When the pitch is 1,200 dpi, the array-direction width per segment is only 21 μm. For this reason, it is impossible to arrange two level converters in the segment array direction. Two level converters are arranged in the segment array direction and in the vertical direction. Since the area of a level converter is large, the width of the element substrate increases.
The arrangement disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2006/0209131 can generally reduce the area of the element substrate but poses several problems in a recently required long-length high-definition head. In FIG. 10 which explains U.S. Publication No. 2006/0209131, the wiring of the high-voltage pulse signal output from the level converter 116 has a long length from one end to the other end of the element substrate in the long side direction. For this reason, consideration from the viewpoint of design must be given to radiation noise. More specifically, it is necessary to ensure a large space between the wirings or pass GND wirings between the wirings.
Recently, it is required to arrange a number of segments at a high density. For example, it is necessary to arrange 512 orifices at 1,200 dpi or 1,024 orifices at 2,400 dpi. When the number of segments increases, the number of wirings for the data signal and the number of wirings for the block enable signal increase. This may also raise the increase ratio of the chip width due to the above-described radiation noise measure and reduce the shrink effect generated by decreasing the number of level converters. FIG. 13 shows this state.
FIG. 13 is a view showing the arrangement and vertical positional relationship of two adjacent segments. On the element substrate, the heaters 206a for a medium discharge amount (2.5 pl) and the heaters 206b for a small discharge amount (1 pl) are arranged at a pitch of 1,200 dpi from the side close to the ink supply port 102. Orifices are schematically illustrated on the heaters. These heaters are connected to the transistors 207a and 207b by wirings (not shown). An AND circuit 119 which is operated by a high-voltage signal exists next to each transistor. Reference numeral 118 denotes wirings for a print data signal and block enable signal. The wirings 118 receive a high-voltage pulse signal, as described above. Hence, the high-voltage signal wirings are spaced apart from each other, and GND wirings are arranged between them, as indicated by dotted lines. The area occupied by the wirings 118 increases and cancels the width reducing effect obtained by eliminating level converters near the transistors.

Element substrate, and printhead, head cartridge, and printing apparatus using the element substrate


A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a display configured to displaying a wagering game outcome on a plurality of video reels and a controller in communication with the display. The controller is operative to randomly determine an outcome of the wagering game and to display the wagering game outcome on the plurality of reels. The wagering game outcome includes a plurality of symbols disposed on a first subset of the plurality of reels and further includes at least one meta-symbol disposed on a second subset of the plurality of reels. The controller is further operative to award an award if the displayed wagering game defines a winning wagering game outcome.

Gaming terminals, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options.
When conducting a wagering game, a player receives an individual award if a winning outcome is achieved. For example, in a traditional reel-based wagering game, a winning outcome is achieved if a particular, predetermined combination of symbols occurs on the reels along an active payline upon which a player has lodged a wager. The award corresponding to that predetermined combination of symbols and often the level of the wager itself along the associated active payline is then awarded to the player.
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KDEI), a subsidiary of Konami Corporation, of Tokyo, Japan, manufactures a video slot machine named "Rawhide"™. This slot machine retains a predetermined plurality of adjacent symbol positions on a reel strip as undefined and, following the player's pressing of the spin button, a single symbol is randomly assigned to each of the symbol positions in that predetermined plurality of undefined adjacent symbol positions. Thus, when the reel stops, each of the displayed symbol positions of a reel then display a common symbol, such as "Q."

Wagering game with altered probablilities based on reel strip configurations


An adjustable orthopedic implant can include a neck assembly, a stem assembly, and a drive assembly having a first portion coupled to the neck assembly and a second portion coupled to the stem assembly. The drive assembly can include an actuator configured to rotate in response to the actuation signal, and a threaded rod coupled to the actuator and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the actuator. The threaded rod can engage a threaded receptacle of the stem assembly such that rotation of the threaded rod in a first direction urges the neck assembly and the stem assembly closer together, and rotation of the threaded rod in a second, opposite direction urges the neck assembly and the stem assembly further apart.

Orthopedic implants are often used to treat patients with bone fractures or other conditions that require stabilization, as well as for partial or total joint arthroplasty procedures. Examples include hip joint implants, shoulder joint implants, and knee joint implants, which often include an elongated stem portion configured to be inserted into a patient's medullary cavity (e.g., of the femur in the case of hip implants, of the humerus in the case of shoulder implants, and of the tibia in the case of knee implants) and a neck portion that is coupled to the stem portion and includes a rod configured to receive a semispherical member that serves as the artificial joint head. Following implantation of the implant, the artificial joint head engages with the patient's existing joint socket (or alternatively a prosthetic joint socket in the case of total joint arthroplasty).
Typically, implants are selected for a particular patient based on measurements of the patient's anatomy prior to surgery. However, it can be challenging to ensure that the implant is appropriately dimensioned for the particular patient, especially as the final placement of the implant may not be accurately determined prior to surgery. As a result, in some instances a patient may have a limb length discrepancy (LLD) following such procedures, in which the limb in which the implant has been inserted is either shorter or longer than the opposing limb.
Unfortunately, LLD is a common complication resulting from hip implants. When standing with the weight equally distributed on both legs, patients with LLD have their pelvis and sacrum tilted to the side of the short leg, resulting in relative deterioration of femoral head containment and lateral flexion of the spine. The debilitative effects lead to muscle spasms, muscular pain, and weakness in the shorter limb, nerve injury from mechanical stress of a lengthened limb can lead to an overall loss in motility. This also raises concerns that LLD in growing children could promote the development of hip dysplasia and/or scoliosis; further complications include hip, knee, and lumbar arthritis. While there are surgical techniques to reduce the risk of LLD, this condition is still reported to occur in a high proportion of patients. Current therapies to alleviate LLD include shoe lifts to equalize limb length, physical therapy, and gait training. Despite these therapeutic approaches, the subsequent need for revision surgery is generally required, which can incur significant cost.
LLD may also be the result of congenital disorders, rather than as a result of an orthopedic implant. For example, children born with malignant bone tumors may have a portion of the bone removed in their youth. As the child ages, the residual bone that has had a portion removed may not grow as quickly as the corresponding bone, resulting in a limb length discrepancy over time. In certain cases, children are born with idiopathic LLD that is not the result of any surgical intervention.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improved prosthetic implants that can be adjusted following surgical implantation.

Remotely adjustable orthopedic prostheses


A multi-layer blow molded article of a polypropylene comprising at least two layers, wherein at least one layer of the inner layer or layers comprises a resin composition containing 100-50 parts by weight of a syndiotactic polypropylene with an Mw/Mn of 3.0 or more and 0-50 parts by weight of an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer elastomer, and the outermost layer comprises a syndiotactic polypropylene with an Mw/Mn of less than 3.0, an isotactic polypropylene with an Mw/Mn of 6.0 or less, a resin composition containing 99-50 parts by weight of either of said polypropylenes and 1-50 parts by weight of an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer elastomer, or a polypropylene formed by heat degradation of a syndiotactic or isotactic polypropylene and having an Mw/Mn of 3.0 or more.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multi-layer blow molded articles of a polypropylene which are excellent in surface gloss, transparency, impact resistance and moldability.
b) Description of the Related Art
In general, polypropylenes are characteristically inexpensive and excellent in mechanical properties, hygienic adaptability and resistance to water vapor-permeation, and their molded articles have a good appearance. Therefore, they are widely used for various packaging materials and blow molded articles. Although commercially available isotactic polypropylenes show an excellent moldability upon forming blow molded articles, however, the surface of the molded articles is poor in gloss and hence lacks an impression of high grade; the molded articles have an insufficient transparency with a whiteness involved so that the appearance of their contents seems to differ in color from that of the actual matter; and when a liquid material with a high specific gravity such as an aqueous solution is fed as a product in a relatively large container with an internal volume of 100 ml or more, the container is occasionally broken due to the poor drop impact strength of the molded article particularly at low temperatures as in cold zones and refrigerators. The blow molded articles give rise to such problems and therefore their improvement has been desired.
In order to improve the surface gloss, it has been proposed to use a crystalline isotactic ethylene-propylene random copolymer having a specific ethylene content, melt flow index and molecular weight distribution in the outermost layer of a multi-layer plastic container (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 215529/1990). According to this method, however, the gloss is still insufficient to give an impression of high grade, though it is improved to some extent, and the transparency and the impact resistance are not improved. It has also been proposed to use a syndiotactic polypropylene or a resin composition comprising a syndiotactic polypropylene and an isotactic polypropylene in the outer layer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 032556/1995). According to this method, the surface gloss is well improved and the transparency as a total laminate can also be excellent because the transparency of the outer layer is superior to that of the inner layer. However, substantially no improvement is seen in the drop impact strength of the molded article particularly at low temperatures.
In order to improve the drop impact resistance of a blow molded article particularly at low temperatures, it can be thought to impart impact resistance to the resin composition used in the outermost layer in a multi-layer blow molded article or to that used in the layer itself in a single-layer blow molded article. As a general method for imparting impact resistance, a variety of elastomers are incorporated. However, if an elastomer such as EPR is incorporated in an isotactic polypropylene, the impact resistance of the resultant blow molded article at low temperatures is significantly improved, but the surface gloss thereof is still inferior to that of the blow molded article made from a syndiotactic polypropylene, and the transparency is often degraded. Accordingly, desired blow molded articles which are excellent in surface gloss and superb in transparency have never been obtained. Thus, it has been very difficult to obtain a blow molded article of a polypropylene excellent in all of the surface gloss, transparency, drop impact resistance particularly at low temperatures, and moldability.

Multi-layer blow molded article of polypropylene


An attenuation ring assembly for mounting between the payload section and the booster section of a launch vehicle is disclosed. The ring assembly acts as a transient filter to delete or minimize harmful shock and vibration frequencies which might otherwise reach and possibly damage delicate electronic components and the like in the launch vehicle payload.

The prior art is replete with applications devised to provide isolation from shock and vibration. Such systems have been provided to reduce shock and vibration in such varied areas as shipping containers, automotive and aircraft engine motor mounts as well as chassis mounts. Electronic equipment in particular is susceptible to shock and vibration. As a result, various methods and devices have evolved to provide isolation and protection for delicate electronic components. Known techniques include redesigning the components to make them "sturdier", utilizing spring mounted platforms, and/or using elastomers which provide a dampening effect on shock and vibration transients. Some of these known techniques, however, result in weight, expense and space penalties.
In the area of launch vehicles, the known techniques have not been readily utilized or adapted for a variety of reasons. At the present time, launch vehicle payloads are generally mounted in a metal-to-metal manner adjacent the vehicle booster or, at most, with an elastomeric "O" ring or the like positioned around the mounting circumference. However, the purpose of the O-ring is primarily for sealing rather than shock isolation, and in fact, provides minimal shock and vibration protection.
As a result, shock and vibration transients resulting from launch or other movement of the vehicle are transmitted directly to the payload. Such lack of shock isolation in present use generally results in a damping factor of approximately 1% of the required critical damping of the system with an amplification factor (Q) of 50. Thus, the resonant amplification or transmissibility, i.e., the amount of vibration transmitted to the isolated equipment through the mounting system, is extremely high, requiring designing the payload for high transient loading, particularly during lift-off and separation.
Another drawback of known methods of mating boosters and payloads is that expensive and lengthy load cycle testing of each mated configuration must be performed before such mating systems can be utilized.


Disclosed are a semiconductor device having a stable gate structure, and a manufacturing method thereof, in which a gate structure is stabilized by additionally including a plurality of gate feet under a gate head in a width direction of the gate head so as to serve as supporters in a gate structure including a fine gate foot having a length of 0.2 μm or smaller, and the gate head having a predetermined size. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the gate electrode of the semiconductor device from collapsing, and improve reliability of the semiconductor device during or after the process of the semiconductor device.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a stable gate structure, and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device, in which a gate structure having a fine gate foot having a length of 0.2 μm or smaller and a gate head having a predetermined size is stabilized by increasing an area of the gate foot, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Discussion of Related Art
According to development of IT technology, high-integration, high rate operation, a high voltage, a high power density, and the like of semiconductor devices become important. In the case of High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs), which are GaN devices, among the semiconductor devices, a field effect transistor has risen as a high rate and high power device.
For the high rate operation of the semiconductor device, a gate length needs to be decreased. However, when the gate length is decreased, resistance is increased, so that there is a problem in that a high frequency characteristic deteriorates. Further, as integration of the semiconductor device is increased, a distance between a gate and a drain is decreased, so that a breakdown voltage is decreased. Further, a width of the gate needs to be increased in order to improve a power density, so that there is a possibility in that a gate collapses.
In order to solve the problem, in the case of the high rate, in order to decrease the gate length, a gate structure, in which a gate foot is small and a gate head is relatively large, has been used. Accordingly, a gate shaped like "T", "Y", and a mushroom is mainly used.
Further, in order to solve a decrease in a breakdown voltage generated due to a decrease in the distance between the gate and the drain for the high rate operation, a method of increasing a breakdown voltage by using a gamma (Γ) shaped gate and field plate is used. The gamma (Γ) shaped gate has a shape in which a foot portion of the gate is narrow, and a head portion of the gate elongates in one direction. The gamma (Γ) shaped gate may decrease entire resistance of the gate due to the wide head portion, and creases a depleted layer between the head portion of the gate and the drain, thereby increasing a breakdown voltage between the gate and the drain. Accordingly, the gamma (Γ) shaped gate is actually and mainly used, but in this case, the large and wide gate head is laid on the narrow gate foot, so that the gamma (Γ) shaped gate also has an unstable structure. Particularly, when the gate head is asymmetrically laid on the center gate foot, reliability during or after the process of the semiconductor is largely influenced. FIG. 1 is an SEM picture after the semiconductor process is ended, and illustrates the gate which partially collapses due to the asymmetric gate head.
In actual, a device having a high power density in a single area is demanded, and in this case, the width of the gate may be increased. When a width of a unit gate is increased as a frequency is increased, a frequency characteristic of a device is slightly decreased, and there is a problem in stability due to the increased width of the gate. That is, this phenomenon is clearer when the unit gate having the width of several hundreds of μm having the narrow gate foot of 0.2 μm stands while being dependent only on the gate foot. While the gate foot of the device operated at a low frequency is stable, a nitride-based semiconductor device having a foot of 0.2 μm or smaller is manufactured so as to be in maximal contact with air without using a dielectric material based on SiNx in order to remove a parasitic component between the gate and a substrate, and in this case, the problem becomes more severe.
In the meantime, the gate having the aforementioned structure is manufactured by a technology of forming a photoresist having a two or three layer structure, and forming a gate through etching by a difference in sensitivity of each layer. FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams of a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the related art. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, first, a source electrode 21 and a drain electrode 22, which are spaced apart from each other, are formed on a substrate 10. Next, when the source electrode 21 and the drain electrode 22 are formed on the substrate 10, a first photoresist 31 and a second photoresist 32 are formed. In this case, the photoresist 31 and the second photoresist 32 are photoresists for forming a pattern in the process of manufacturing the semiconductor, and when the photoresist 31 and the second photoresist 32 are formed, a gate pattern is formed by etching the photoresist 31 and the second photoresist 32, and a metal material is deposited on the gate pattern, and then a gate electrode 40 is formed. The semiconductor device formed as described above has the gate electrode 40, in which a gate foot between the source and drain electrodes 21 and 22 has a length of 0.2 μm or smaller for a high rate operation, and a gate head is relatively larger than the gate foot as illustrated in FIG. 4.
A shape of the gate formed as described above has the head portion with a large length and the foot portion with a small length, and when the gate has a shape of "T", the gate is called a T-shaped gate (T-gate), and the gate has a shape of gamma "Γ", the gate is called a Γ-shaped gate. The technology of forming the gate in the related art adopts E-beam lithography in order to meet a minute design rule.

Semiconductor device having stable gate structure and method of manufacturing the same

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


An opening and closing system for an oil path of a linear compressor that facilitates smooth oil supply during the operation of the compressor and has the oil which has been supplied to the compressor partly remained therein when suspending the operation of the compressor for smooth lubrication when re-operating the compressor includes a hermetic vessel in which oil is filled in a bottom part thereof, a frame disposed in the hermetic vessel and communicating with a first oil groove and a second oil groove, a cylinder inserted into a through hole formed in a predetermined portion of the frame, a piston linearly reciprocating by the driving of a motor by being inserted into the cylinder, the second oil groove being formed on a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the piston, an exhaust cover coupled to one side of the cylinder, an oil supplier disposed at the frame for pumping out oil and communicating with the first oil groove through an oil inflow path, and a switching means formed between the first oil groove and the oil inflow path for opening and closing the oil inflow path.

The present invention relates to a linear compressor, and more particularly to an opening and closing system for an oil path of a linear compressor capable of facilitating smooth oil supply during operation of the compressor and smooth lubrication by an oil which remains in the compressor when re-operating the compressor by having the supplied oil partly remained therein when the operation of the compressor is suspended.
Recently, as in home appliances such as a refrigerator and an air-conditioner, etc. high-efficiency and power-saving products have been produced, the study for developing a compressor constituting a refrigerating cycle machine which is installed in a refrigerator or an air-conditioner is also being lively made.
A linear compressor, which is one of the compressors for sucking and compressing low-pressure air and exhausting the compressed air at high pressure, is illustrated in FIG. 1.
As shown therein, the linear compressor includes a hermetic vessel 1 in which a predetermined amount of oil is filled, a frame 10 formed in a predetermined shape and disposed in the hermetic vessel 1, a cylinder 20 inserted into the frame 10, an inner stator assembly 30 coupled with one side portion of the frame 10 for constituting a motor, an outer stator assembly 31 coupled with the inner stator assembly 30 at a predetermined distance, a magnet 32 inserted between the inner and outer stator assemblys 30, 31, and a piston 40 inserted into the cylinder 20 and coupled to a magnet frame 33 to which the magnet 32 is fixedly connected, and reciprocating in accordance with the linear movement of the magnet 32, wherein there is formed a refrigerant oil path F in the piston 40 through which a refrigerant gas is flowed.
Further, a predetermined-shaped cover 50 is engaged to the other side of the frame 10, and at an inner part of the cover 50 a main spring 51 is provided at both sides of the magnet frame 33 coupled to the piston 40 and thus elastically supports the reciprocation of the piston 40.
While, an exhaust cover 60 formed in a cap type is coupled to one side of the cylinder 20 and an exhaust valve assembly 61 is insertedly disposed in an inner portion of the exhaust cover 60, the exhaust valve assembly 61 switching the one side of the cylinder 20, an suction valve 62 which switches according to the suction of the gas is coupled to an end portion of the piston 40, and an oil supplier 70 which supplies oil to components to be slid to each other is disposed at a lower part of the frame 10.
In the operation of the conventional linear compressor, when an electric current is applied to the motor, the magnet 32 linearly reciprocates and the linear movement accordingly travels through the magnet frame 33 to the piston 40 which also accordingly reciprocates in the cylinder 20.
Here, the refrigerant gas which is flowed into the hermetic vessel 1 in accordance with the linear operation of the piston 40 is flowed into the cylinder 20 through the refrigerant oil path F provided in the piston 40, compressed therein and then exhausted through the exhaust valve assembly 61 and the exhaust cover 60, the above process being repeatedly performed.
Further, in order to achieve the smooth sliding performed while the piston 40 is being reciprocating in the cylinder 20 and also to radiate the heat generated during the compression of the refrigerant gas, the oil pumped out by the oil supplier 70 is supplied to components, for example, which are disposed between the cylinder. 20 and the piston 40.
Here, in the oil supply system in which the oil pumped out by the oil supplier 70 circulates, a first oil groove 12 is formed at predetermined size on a portion of an inner circumferential surface of a through hole 11 of the frame 10 to which the cylinder 20 is inserted, a second oil groove 41 is formed at predetermined size on a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the piston 40 inserted into the cylinder 20, and an oil pass hole 21 is provided in the cylinder 20 so that the first oil groove 12 communicates with the second oil groove 41. In addition, a ring-shaped oil circular path 13 is formed by the exhaust cover 60 connected with an outer circumferential portion of the cylinder 20, the through hole 11 and the cylinder 20 when the cylinder 20 is inserted into the through hole 11 of the frame 10, the oil circular path 13 communicating with the first oil groove 12 through an oil communicating path 14 formed on a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 11.
Further, an oil inflow path 15 is formed at a portion of the frame 10 so that the oil pumped out in the oil supplier 70 is flowed to the first oil groove 12, and an oil discharge hole 17 is formed at a side portion of the oil circular path 13 so as for the oil which has circulated through the oil circular path 13 to be discharged to a bottom part of the hermetic vessel 1.
In the thusly described oil supply system of the convention linear compressor, as shown in FIG. 2, in the operation of the compressor, when the oil is pumped out in the oil supplier 70 due to vibrations generated in the process of which the compressor compresses the refrigerant gas while reciprocating, the pumped oil is flowed into the first oil groove 12 through the oil inflow path 15 and then flowed to the oil pass hole 21 and the second oil groove 41, so that the flowed oil serves as a lubricant between the piston 40 and the cylinder 20 and also refrigerates the heat generated from the motor.
Further, the oil passed through the first and second oil grooves 12, 41 is flowed into the oil circular path 13 through the oil communicating path 14, heated parts of the exhaust cover 60 and the cylinder 20 are refrigerated by the refrigerant gas which is exhausted when the oil flowed to the path 13 circulates through the oil circular path 13, and the oil flowed to the oil circular path 13 drops to the bottom part of the hermetic vessel 1 in which a predetermined amount of oil is filled and such oil continuously circulates by the above-described process.
In addition, numerals 34 and 2 denote a coil assembly and a suction pipe, respectively.
However, when the operation of the compressor is suspended, the oil being supplied is returned to the bottom part of the vessel 1 due to its self weight. Therefore, when the compressor is restarted to operate in such condition, no oil remains in a portion, for example, between the cylinder and the piston where friction occurs, and thus the operation is performed in a non-lubricative state, which results in abrasion of the components in the system as well as friction loss and also becomes a problem of generation of overload in the initial state of the re-operation.
Further, when the pressure of a compression chamber which compresses the gas increases as the piston moves to a top dead center by the driving of the motor, the high-pressure refrigerant gas may leak from a gap between the piston and the cylinder and be flowed into the oil path. In this case, when the high-pressure refrigerant gas is flowed to the oil supplier side, there is produced noises caused by, for example, a cavitation.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an opening and closing system for an oil path of a linear compressor that facilitates smooth oil supply during the operation of the compressor and has the oil which has been supplied to the compressor partly remained therein when suspending the operation of the compressor for smooth lubrication when re-operating the compressor. To achieve the above object, there is provided an opening and closing system for an oil path of a linear compressor which includes a hermetic vessel in which oil is filled in a bottom part thereof, a frame disposed in the hermetic vessel and communicating with a first oil groove and a second oil groove, a cylinder inserted into a through hole formed in a predetermined portion of the frame, a piston linearly reciprocating by the driving of a motor by being inserted into the cylinder, the second oil groove being formed on a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the piston, an exhaust cover coupled to one side of the cylinder, an oil supplier disposed at the frame for pumping out oil and communicating with the first oil groove through an oil inflow path, and a switching means provided between the first oil groove and the oil inflow path for opening and closing the oil inflow path.

Opening and closing system for oil path of linear compressor