A patella resection assembly comprises a handle, slide member and two claw members. The slide member is movably mounted on the handle and includes two diverging arms. Inner edges of the diverging arms contact outer edges of the claw members so that distal movement of the slide member causes the claw members to move toward each other and close around a patella. The claw members and slide member have teeth for grasping the patella as the claw members move together. The claw members also have flat co-planar surfaces for guiding the path of a saw blade during resection of the patella.

Joint arthroplasty is a well-known surgical procedure by which a diseased and/or damaged natural joint is replaced by a prosthetic joint. A typical knee prosthesis includes a tibial tray, a femoral component, and a polymer insert or bearing positioned between the tibial tray and the femoral component. In some cases, the knee prosthesis may also include a prosthetic patella component, which is secured to a posterior side of the patient's surgically-prepared patella. To prepare the patella, an orthopaedic surgeon first resects the posterior dome side of the patient's natural patella to secure the prosthetic component thereto. In use, the patella component articulates with the patient's natural or prosthetic femur during extension and flexion of the patient's knee.
To facilitate the replacement of the natural joint with the knee prosthesis, orthopaedic surgeons use a variety of orthopaedic surgical instruments such as, for example, cutting blocks, drill guides, milling guides, and other surgical instruments. Typically, the orthopaedic surgical instruments are generic with respect to the patient such that the same orthopaedic surgical instrument may be used on a number of different patients during similar orthopaedic surgical procedures.
In resecting the patella, surgeons frequently perform the resection free-hand. However, free-hand cutting the patella is not as accurate as a guided resection. Moreover, it is important that a sufficient amount of bone stock remain after resection to accept the fixation means for the patellar prosthesis and to maintain the integrity of the remaining patella. To ensure that the patella implant is properly positioned and that an appropriate amount of bone remains after resection, a resection guide is needed.
Depending on a number of factors, including the size of the patient, native patellae are of substantially different sizes. Accordingly, if a resection guide is to be used, either the guide must be provided in a plurality of sizes to accommodate variations in patellae size or an adjustable resection guide must be used.


An intermediate semiconductor device structure includes a first area including a memory stack area and a second area including an alignment mark area. The intermediate structure includes a metal interconnect arranged on a substrate in the first area and a first electrode layer arranged on the metal interconnect in the first area, and in the second area. The intermediate structure includes an alignment assisting marker arranged in the second area. The intermediate structure includes a dielectric layer and a second electrode layer arranged on the alignment assisting marker in the second area and on the metal interconnect in the first area. The intermediate structure includes a hard mask layer arranged on the second electrode area. The hard mask layer provides a raised area of topography over the alignment assisting marker. The intermediate structure includes a resist arranged on the hard mask layer in the first area.

The present invention generally relates to fabrication methods and resulting structures for semiconductor devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to alignment through topography on an intermediate component for memory device patterning.
Integrated circuit chips are fabricated one level at a time. The levels include, for example, diffusions, gates, metal lines, insulation, isolation, and contacts. The structures on these levels must be precisely positioned so that the finished chip has properly positioned structures. The step of positioning a level with respect to a previously formed level is called alignment.
Alignment of patterned materials involves manual or automatic selection of alignment targets. The alignment targets typically include "alignment marks" that a recognition system uses to learn a position of the part or material subject to examination. A user or computer then provides a region of interest (ROI) by moving to the selected location, while the software records this coordinate. Alternatively, a coordinate relative to some known reference point (e.g., center of the part) is indicated by the software. Once the setup is completed (i.e., after the alignment marks are recorded), the optical system aligns and moves to a ROI on the part for measurement or inspection.

Alignment through topography on intermediate component for memory device patterning

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A fly-drive vehicle is disclosed including a vehicle body, a motor mounted on the vehicle body, at least one rotor rotatably attached to the vehicle body, a pair of wheels each rotatably attached to a lower portion of the vehicle body, a drive propeller rotatably coupled to the vehicle body, a transmission for selectively transferring mechanical power from the motor to at least one of the pair of wheels or to the drive propeller, and a front wheel control mechanism. The fly-drive vehicle also includes a landing gear assembly for raising and lowering the pair of wheels with respect to the vehicle body and a folding rotor shaft assembly for raising and lowering the rotor with respect to the vehicle body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to vehicles, and more particularly to vehicles capable of traveling both on the ground and through the air.
2. Description of Related Art
The following art defines the present state of this field:
Head, U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,649, describes a roadable helicopter that comprises of a vehicle that drives like a conventional car in its road configuration, and converts to fly like a helicopter in its flight configuration. The operator of the helicopter only needs to press a button to initiate the conversion from one configuration to the other. To facilitate the flight configuration, the helicopter is preferably equipped with a dual, coaxial counter-rotating rotor system to provide lift, propulsion, and control in the flight configuration. In the road configuration, however, the rotor system automatically folds into a rotor bay formed in the rear of the helicopter. The roadable helicopter may also include an automatic control/stability/navigation system that permits fully automatic flight.
David, U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,335, describes a parafoil sail and a propeller propulsion system that are adapted to be fixed to the motorcycle for converting a motorcycle into a flying vehicle. The invention includes a clutching and declutching mechanism which, on control, drives either the driving wheel of the motorcycle or the propeller.
Groen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,844, describes an auto gyro containing a teetering semi-rigid rotary wing with rigid rotor blades. The angle of attack (blade pitch) of the rotor blades is fully adjustable in flight continuously over an operational range, and varies along the blade length. A pre-rotator rotates the rotor blades up to takeoff speed at minimum drag, no lift and optimum engine efficiency. Engine power is disconnected from the rotor blades and their angle of attack is changed for optimum lift to facilitate smooth vertical takeoff. Rotor blade pitch is likewise adjusted during vertical landing. In flight, rotor blade angle of attack is varied to adjust autorotation, lift and drag at any flight airspeed. On the ground, the rotary wing is braked to prevent rotation. The auto gyro may roll, pitch, or yaw, with complete independence of blade pitch with respect to all other relative motions. The pedals have disproportionate forward and backward motions. The auto gyro has retractable gear capable of fail-safe gear-up landing.
Bennie, U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,082, describes an auto gyro aircraft that includes rocket engines mounted on a warpable rotating wing for operating same in a helicopter mode. The engine and propeller are mounted on the fuselage for operation of the aircraft in an auto gyro mode. Cyclic and collective pitch controls operate through a swash plate, including a flexible membrane, which controls a movable servotab to cause aerodynamic warping of the wing. Thrust vector controls or spoilers are mounted aft of the rocket engines to control the effective thrust therefrom.
Prewitt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,247, teaches an aircraft that takes off as a helicopter, then the rotor pylon folds backwards so that the rotors function as the rear control surfaces of the aircraft. When ready to land, the rotors "spin up" as they function to brake the aircraft, and then the rotor pylon pivots back to an upright position so that the rotors can facilitate an auto gyro landing.
A. A. Blythe, U.S. Pat. No. 3,248,073, describes rotor devices for rotorcraft such as auto gyros, the rotor devices being uniquely suited for use in land or sea vehicles that incorporate a rotor device. The rotor devices are adapted to fold backwards downwardly, and are adapted to be stored in the body of the vehicle. The Blythe reference also discussed folding the rotors chord-wise over the rear of the vehicle.
W. L. Masterson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,563,731, describes a land, sea, and air plane wherein the rotor can be raised and lowered using a rack and pinion system.
Yanagisawa, U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,492 B1, describes a one-man helicopter that contains a drive transmission that transmits driving force to upper and lower rotors using first and second planet gear mechanisms provided with a common carrier. When the common carrier is rotated by a motor, a differential motion is generated between the two planet gear mechanisms. This results in the rotors being rotated at different velocities, which can be used to control yaw. A fore-and-aft swing mechanism and right-and-left swing mechanism depend from the lower end of a vertical shaft on which the rotors are supported. Moving a stick forward or backward, or to either side, tilts the vertical shaft in the same direction. When the stick is not subjected to a controlling force, the vertical shaft reverts automatically to its original vertical state. H. T. Pentecost, U.S. Pat. No. 2,461,348, describes another embodiment of a helicopter of the co-axial wing type.
N. B. Wales, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,936, describes an control mechanism for helicopters having co-axial counter-rotation rotors. The motor can be engaged through a transmission to either the rotors or to a road drive shaft for driving the vehicle.
Solheim, U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,017 B1, describes an aircraft rotatable airfoil assembly in the nature of a helicopter machine and having two airfoils diametrically disposed about an axis of rotation. Air baffles are mounted on the radially inner and radially outer ends of the airfoils and for blocking the vortices inherently generated by the orbiting of the airfoils. The baffles thereby avoid vortices which reduce the lift force on the aircraft by eliminating the air flow from under the airfoil to above the airfoil and around the airfoil inner and outer ends. The assembly can be included in an airliner or an automobile. The aircraft is arranged for vertical and horizontal flight.
L. J. Maltby, U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,271, describes landing gear for helicopters that includes a combined hydraulic actuator and shock absorber.
Fischer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,351, describes an airscrew for propelling an aircraft. The aircrew has a hub, a jacket and a plurality of propeller blades secured by blade necks to the hub. These blade necks are secured to the hub with symmetric or equal angular spacings around the hub between neighboring radial blade neck axes. Each propeller blade has a longitudinal axis. At least certain of these longitudinal blade axes extend at different sweep angles relative to the respective radial blade neck axis. When the sweep angle is positive the respective sweep of the blade is a positive sweepback with a trailing sweep of the respective blade relative to a rotational direction of the airscrew. When the sweep angle is negative the respective sweep of the blade is a negative sweep forward with a leading sweep of the respective blade relative to a rotational direction of the airscrew. These differing sweep angles achieve a substantial noise reduction compared to conventional airscrews having a completely symmetrical construction.
Haseloh et al., U.S. Des. 335,119, illustrates a particular design of a gyroplane.
The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full.
The prior art teaches various flying vehicles; however, the prior art does not teach a flying vehicle having the advantages described below. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.


In a hysteresis comparator for comparing an input Vin1 with another input Vin2, the comparator comprises a pair of first and second transistors. The gate of the first transistor is supplied with the input Vin1 and the gate of the second transistor is supplied with the input Vin2. Their collectors are connected to a power supply. The emitter of the first transistor is connected to a first current source and the emitter of the second transistor is connected to a second current source. The comparator further comprises a circuit for detecting an emitter voltage difference between the first and second transistors and varying at least one of the first and second current sources. Therefore, the hysteresis width can be determined by the collector current ratio of specific transistors, regardless of the absolute values of their collector currents.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hysteresis comparator, and more particularly to a hysteresis comparator with a small hysteresis width that allows two-terminal input.
2. Description of the Related Art
Published Examined Japanese Patent Application No. 53-17029 discloses a conventional hysteresis comparator characterized by having a small hysteresis width and allowing two-terminal input. The phrase "hysteresis width" is used in the specification to means a voltage difference between a value of an input voltage in which a state of an output voltage is inverted and another value of the input voltage in which another state of the output voltage is inverted. Such a hysteresis comparator has problems with the stability of hysteresis width and the operating regions of circuit elements. These two problems will be explained briefly, referring to FIG. 1.
With the hysteresis-width stability problem, increasing the area ratio N.sub.1 of p-n-p transistors Q62 to Q61 and the area ratio N.sub.2 or p-n-p transistor Q72 to Q71 results in the change of the hysteresis width by the increased amount of base currents flowing through these p-n-p transistors Q61, Q62, Q71, and Q72. The same holds true even if those area ratios are relatively small, for example, N.sub.1 =2 and N.sub.2 =2. For IC fabrication, p-n-p transistors Q61, Q62, Q71, and Q72 must be fabricated in lateral structure, resulting in a small current gain h.sub.FE. The small current gain makes it difficult to control the collector current, leading to the unstable hysteresis width. If p-n-p transistors Q61, Q62, Q71, and Q72 are replaced with n-p-n transistors, this requires input transistors Q51 and Q52 to be lateral p-n-p transistors, which raises an input current problem.
With the operating region problem, the operation of p-n-p transistors Q62 and Q72 in the saturation region is not only undesirable for faster operation and but also liable to develop parasitic elements.
As mentioned above, while conventional hysteresis comparators feature two-terminal input and their small 1 hysteresis width, they have problems with the stability of hysteresis width and the operating regions of circuit elements.


A method is described whereby a user may interact with control indicia (22, 24) of a smartcard (10) to modify data stored in a volatile portion of a memory chip (19). A possible source of data may be from the smartcard 10 itself, whereby an incident where a region on a pressure sensitive membrane (8) of a controller (2) associated with a specific index (22, 24) has been pressed is stored on the memory chip (19). This enables the occurrence of this incident to be extracted later. Another possible source of the data is a software application, running on a computer. A user may save a state of the application, enabling the user to return to that state of the application later by activation of a region on the pressure sensitive membrane (8) associated with the same control index (22, 24).

The present invention relates to the use of a smartcard as a user interface and storage device for information, and in particular, to a method of programming the smartcard.
The invention has been developed primarily for use with remote control systems, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to that field of use.
Control pads of various types are known and used across a relatively wide variety of fields. Typically, such pads include one or more keys, buttons or pressure responsive areas which, upon application of suitable pressure by a user, generate a signal which is supplied to associated control circuitry.
Unfortunately, prior art control pads are somewhat limited, in that they only allow for a single configuration of keys, buttons or pressure sensitive areas. However, standard layouts rarely exist in a given field. Thus, a user is frequently compelled to learn a new layout with each control pad they use. For example many automatic teller machines (xe2x80x9cATMsxe2x80x9d) and electronic funds transfer at point of sale (xe2x80x9cEFTPOSxe2x80x9d) devices use different layouts, notwithstanding their relatively similar data entry requirements. This can be potentially confusing for a user who must determine for each control pad the location of buttons required to be depressed. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that such control pads frequently offer more options than the user is interested in, or even able to use.
Overlay templates for computer keyboards and the like are known. However they are relatively inflexible in design terms and require a user to correctly configure the system with which the keyboard is associated, each time the overlay is to be used.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show a prior art system 1 using a control template in the form of a smartcard 10 as an interface system. The smartcard 10 includes a storage means in the form of an on-board memory chip 19 for storing mapping data associated with control indicia, such as indicia 22 and 24 printed on a laminar substrate 12.
The smartcard 10 also includes data contacts 18, visible on the back view of the smartcard 10 and shown in FIG. 2. The data contacts 18 are electrically connected to the on-board memory chip 19.
In use, the smartcard 10 is inserted into a controller 2, and in particular into a template receptacle 4 of the controller 2. The controller 2 also includes a viewing area 6 through which the inserted smartcard 10 is visible. A sensor means in the form of a substantially transparent pressure sensitive membrane 8 is also provided, covering the viewing area 6. In use the pressure sensitive membrane 8 covers the upper face 16 of the smartcard 10, allowing the control indicia to be visible.
Data reading means is provided in the form of exposed contacts 7 and associated control circuitry (not shown). The exposed contacts 7 are arranged to contact with the data contacts 18 of the smartcard 10.
The exposed contacts 7 and associated circuitry are configured to read the mapping data associated with the control indicia from the memory chip 19, either automatically upon insertion of the smartcard 10 into the control template receptacle 4, or selectively in response to a signal from the controller 1. This signal can, for example, be transmitted to the smartcard 10 via the exposed contacts 7 and data contacts 18.
Once the mapping data associated with the control indicia 14 has been read, a user can press areas of the pressure sensitive membrane 8 on or adjacent to the underlying control indicia 22 and 24. By sensing the pressure on the pressure sensitive membrane 8 and referring to the mapping data, the controller 1 can deduce which of the control indicia 22 or 24 the user has pressed.
However, this prior art arrangement has the disadvantage that it has to be programmed using external devices, such as a computer (not illustrated). In such a system, the computer sends data through a cable to a device which stores that data on the smartcard 10. Such a device may form a part of a card printer and the card programming may occur on the same occasion as the printing on the smartcard 10.
Low cost manual data capture artefacts, which do not require relatively high-cost data input devices are also available. These include fill-in forms and punch cards. In the case of punch cards, a paper card is punched with holes and read using an optical reader. Paper forms also exists with regions that can be blacked with a pencil and scanned with an optical reader. However, these systems suffer from various disadvantages, including very low data storage-capacity. Another is the cost associated with converting the data to machine-readable format, requiring relatively high-cost transducers in the form of optical detectors. Yet another is the inability or inconvenience associated with correcting or changing entry errors.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least substantially ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of programming data into a memory of an electronic card, said electronic card having a substrate with at least a first index, wherein said electronic card is inserted in an electronic card interface having a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting a user interaction with an area on said surface associated with said first index; and
writing data into said memory, said data prescribing a function associated with said first index upon subsequent interaction with said area on said surface associated with said first index.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of programming data into a memory of an electronic card, said electronic card having a substrate with at least a first index, wherein said electronic card is inserted in an electronic card interface having a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting a user interaction with an area on said surface associated with said first index; and
writing data into said memory, said data recording an occurrence of said user interaction with said first index.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of programming data into a memory of an electronic card, said electronic card having a substrate with at least a first index, wherein said electronic card is inserted in an electronic card interface having a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting a user interaction with an area on said surface associated with said first index; and
writing data into said memory, said data recording a current context of use at an instance of said user interaction with said first index.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic card comprising a substrate with at least a first index and a memory, wherein said electronic card is inserted in an electronic card interface having a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible, and means for detecting a user interaction with an area on said surface associated with said first index; said memory comprising:
code for writing data into said memory, said data prescribing a function associated with said first index upon subsequent interaction with said area on said surface associated with said first index.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic card comprising a substrate with at least a first index and a memory, wherein said electronic card is inserted in an electronic card interface having a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible, and means for detecting a user interaction with an area on said surface associated with said first index; said memory comprising:
code for writing data into said memory, said data recording an occurrence of said user interaction with said first index.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic card comprising a substrate with at least a first index and a memory, wherein said electronic card is inserted in an electronic card interface having a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible, and means for detecting a user interaction with an area on said surface associated with said first index; said memory comprising:
code for writing data into said memory, said data recording a current context of use at an instance of said user interaction with said first index.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic card system comprising:
an information appliance;
an electronic card comprising a substrate with at least a first index and a memory; and
an electronic card interface in communication with said information appliance and for receiving said electronic card, said electronic card interface comprising:
a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible;
means for detecting a user interaction with an area on said surface associated with said first index; and
means for writing data into said memory, said data prescribing a function performed by said information appliance and associated with said first index upon subsequent interaction with said area on said surface associated with said first index.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic card system comprising:
an electronic card comprising a substrate with at least a first index and a memory; and
an electronic card interface for receiving said electronic card, said electronic card interface comprising:
a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible;
means for detecting a user interaction with all area on said surface associated with said first index; and
means for writing data into said memory, said data recording all occurrence of to said user interaction with said first index.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic card comprising a substrate with at least a first index and a memory, wherein said electronic card is inserted in an electronic card interface having a substantially transparent surface through which said first index of said electronic card is visible, and means for detecting a user interaction with an area on said surface associated with said first index; said memory comprising:
code for writing data into said memory, said data prescribing a function associated with said first index upon subsequent interaction with said area on said surface associated with said first index.


A tungsten halogen lamp (10) includes a light transmissive envelope (12), which encloses a tungsten filament (14) and a gaseous fill comprising an inert gas and a halogen-containing gas, such as an alkyl halide. In addition the fill includes a silicon-containing compound capable of gettering oxygen within the envelope. The atomic ratio of silicon to halogen in the envelope is selected so as to remove most, but not all of the oxygen present in the envelope A silicon:halogen ratio of less than about 0.5 more preferably, below about 0.4 has been found to be effective in this respect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates the lamp arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with improvement in the performance of tungsten halogen lamps by reducing oxygen and/or moisture content of the lamp.
2. Discussion of the Art
Tungsten halogen lamps, which comprise a hermetically sealed vitreous, light transmissive envelope enclosing a tungsten filament and containing a fill comprising a halide or halogen gas are widely used in a variety of applications. These lamps operate on a tungsten halogen cycle which is a regenerative, continuous process in which a halogen-containing tungsten compound is produced when the halide combines chemically with particles of tungsten evaporating from the incandescent tungsten filament. Subsequent thermal decomposition of these so-formed halogen-containing tungsten compounds at the filament returns the tungsten particles back to the filament. Halogen compounds used for the fill include bromine and bromides, such as hydrogen bromide, methyl bromide, dibromomethane, and bromoform. For lamps that operate at low temperatures, i.e. below about 200° C. interior wall temperatures, premature failure of the lamps may occur due to blackening of the glass envelope. The blackening is due to tungsten transferred from the filament to the wall. The presence of oxygen and/or water vapor in the lamp atmosphere has been found to contribute to the wall blackening. Water vapor is particularly harmful because even trace amounts increase the evaporation of the tungsten filament coil by means of the well-known "water cycle." In the water cycle, the temperature of the tungsten coil is thermally sufficient to decompose water vapor into hydrogen and oxygen. The resulting oxygen reacts with the tungsten from the coil to form volatile oxides, which migrate to cool parts of the lamp and condense. These oxide deposits are reduced by the gaseous hydrogen to yield black metallic tungsten and reformed water, which causes the cycle to repeat.
Excess oxygen in incandescent lamps is similarly a problem. For example in the tungsten halogen cycle, oxygen is the primary agent of attack on the tungsten filament. This attack may result in etching and oxide growth and usually causes early filament failure. However, small amounts of oxygen have been found to promote the tungsten cycle by reacting with the tungsten on the walls to form a compound of tungsten, oxygen, and halogen. This gaseous compound moves back to the filament and decomposes back to tungsten at the filament.
Methods of reducing excess oxygen in tungsten halogen lamps are well known. One commonly utilized solution is to introduce one or more compounds into the lamp which will remove excess oxygen and prevent its participation in the tungsten halogen cycle. Such compounds are commonly referred to as oxygen getters. Oxygen gettering systems which have been used previously include metallic getters such as tantalum, zirconium, niobium, copper, titanium, aluminum, and various combinations of these metals. The fabrication of specialized alloys can add considerably to the cost of manufacturing the lamp. Additionally, such getters tend to function only in discreet locations within the lamp.
Phosphorus compounds have also been used as oxygen getters, including phosphine gas, which is thermally decomposed into phosphorus and hydrogen in the energized lamp. Another gettering system comprises silane compounds, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,558. Activation of these silane getters is achieved by baking the filled lamp at a temperature of about at least 350° C. for five minutes to react the silane with any oxygen in the lamp to form non-volatile silicon dioxide and hydrogen. Such lamps have been found to have reduced lifetimes, as compared with silane-free equivalents. Recently, tungsten halogen lamps have been used in automotive products, such as lights. To achieve a white light emission from the generally yellow tungsten halogen lamps, it has been found that the application of a blue coating can be used. However, because the coating absorbs or reflects a portion of the emitted light, the lumen loss may be up to 5–30%. To compensate for the lumen loss it is desired to produce a filament with increased lumens to compensate for the lumen loss from the blue absorption coating. Although higher wattages may used to compensate for the lumen loss, for certain products, such as automotive products the option of increasing wattage is not available. In addition, higher wattages generate more heat and hence increase the probability of bulb wall darkening due to the higher bulb wall temperature, with reduced efficiency of the tungsten-halogen transport cycle. For such lamps, it is desirable to provide lumen output comparable to conventional lamps, while maintaining efficiency over the lifetime of the lamp.
The present invention provides a new and improved lamp and method of preparation, which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.

Tungsten halogen lamp with halogen-containing compound and silicon-containing compound


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for using selective etching to form three-dimensional components on a substrate. The system operates by receiving a substrate composed of a first material. Next, a second layer composed of a second material is formed on selected portions of the substrate. A third layer composed of a third material is then formed over the substrate and the second layer. Finally, an etching operation using a selective etchant is used to remove the second layer, thereby leaving the substrate, which forms a first active layer, and leaving the third layer, which forms a second active layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing structures on a silicon substrate. More specifically, the present invention relates to creating three-dimensional integrated circuits through a process that uses chemically-selective endpoint detection.
2. Related Art
The dramatic advances in computer system performance during the past 20 years can largely be attributed to improvements in the processes that are used to fabricate integrated circuits. By making use of the latest fabrication processes, integrated circuit designers can presently integrate computing systems comprised of hundreds of millions of transistors onto a single semiconductor die which is a fraction of the size of a human fingernail.
Integrated circuit fabrication technology is also being used to fabricate Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMs), such as microscopic motors and other types of actuators, that are invisible to the unaided human eye, and which have dimensions measured in fractions of microns.
A typical fabrication process builds structures through successive cycles of layer deposition and subtractive processing, such as etching. As the dimensions of individual circuit elements (or MEMs structures) continue to decrease, it is becoming necessary to more tightly control the etching operation. For example, in a typical etching process, etching is performed for an amount of time that is estimated by taking into account the time to etch through a layer to reach an underlying layer, and the time to overetch into the underlying layer. However, this process can only be controlled to +/xe2x88x92100 Angstroms, which can be a problem when fine control of dimensions is required.
Furthermore, conventional etching processes that indiscriminately etch all exposed surfaces are not well suited to manufacture some structures that require tighter control over subtractive processing operations. As circuit structures become smaller, there is less tolerance available to account for uncertainties in the manufacturing process.
What is needed is a process that facilitates selective etching to form integrated circuits including denser circuitry without the problems mentioned above.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for using selective etching to form three-dimensional components on a substrate. The system operates by receiving a substrate composed of a first material. Next, a second layer composed of a second material is formed on selected portions of the substrate. A third layer composed of a third material is then formed over the substrate and the second layer. Finally, an etching operation using a selective etchant is used to remove the second layer, thereby leaving the substrate, which forms a first active layer, and leaving the third layer, which forms a second active layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first material is silicon (Si), the second material is silicon-germanium (Sixe2x80x94Ge) or silicon-germanium-carbon (Sixe2x80x94Gexe2x80x94C), the third material is Si, and the selective etchant is hydrofluoric/nitric/acetic (HNA) acids.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first material is Sixe2x80x94Ge or Sixe2x80x94Gexe2x80x94C, the second material is Si, the third material is Sixe2x80x94Ge or Sixe2x80x94Gexe2x80x94C, and the selective etchant is tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) or potassium hydroxide (KOHxe2x80x94H2O).
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first material is Sixe2x80x94Gexe2x80x94C, with carbon greater than or equal to one atomic percent, and the selective etchant is TMAH or KOHxe2x80x94H2O.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first material is Sixe2x80x94Gexe2x80x94C, with carbon less than or equal to one atomic percent, and the selective etchant is TMAH or KOHxe2x80x94H2O.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the second layer is an epitaxial layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the third layer is an epitaxial layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the second layer is formed on selected portions of the substrate by first forming an epitaxial blocking structure on the substrate. Next, a patterning layer is applied over the epitaxial blocking structure. Forming the second layer on exposed portions of the substrate exposed by the patterning layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, more than two active layers are formed by repeating the steps of forming the second layer, forming the third layer, and performing the etching operation for each additional active layer.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for using selective etching to form three-dimensional components on a substrate. The system operates by first receiving a substrate composed of a first material. Next, a second layer composed of a second material is formed on selected portions of the substrate. A third layer composed of a third material is then formed over selected portions of the substrate and the second layer. Next, a fourth layer composed of a fourth material is formed over third material and the remainder of the substrate and the second layer. The second, third and fourth layers are then planarized using chemo-mechanical polishing to create a planarized surface and a fifth layer is deposited. Finally, an etching operation using a selective etchant is performed to remove the second layer, thereby forming a first active layer in the substrate and a second active layer in the fifth layer, whereby the third layer and the fourth layer form vias between the first active layer and the second active layer
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first material is Si, the second material is Sixe2x80x94Ge or Sixe2x80x94Gexe2x80x94C, the third material is P-type Si, the fourth material is N-type Si, and the selective etchant is HNA.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the second layer is an epitaxial layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the second layer is formed on selected portions of the substrate by first forming an epitaxial blocking structure on the substrate. Next, a patterning layer is applied over the epitaxial blocking structure. The second layer is formed on portions of the substrate exposed by the patterning layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the third layer is formed on selected portions of the substrate and the second layer by first removing portions of the epitaxial blocking structure and then forming the third layer on exposed portions of the substrate and the second layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fourth layer is formed by first removing the remaining portions of the epitaxial blocking structure and then forming the fourth layer over the third layer, remaining portions of the second layer, and remaining portions of the substrate.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a three-dimensional integrated circuit created using a selective etching process. The three-dimensional integrated circuit includes a substrate composed of a first material, a second layer composed of a second material on selected portions of the substrate, and a third layer composed of a third material over the substrate and the second layer. A selective etchant is used to remove the second layer, thereby forming a first active layer in the substrate of the three-dimensional integrated circuit and forming a second active layer in the third layer of the three-dimensional integrated circuit.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a three-dimensional integrated circuit created using a selective etching process. The three-dimensional integrated circuit includes a substrate composed of a first material, a second layer composed of a second material on selected portions of the substrate, and a third layer composed of a third material on selected portions of the substrate and the second layer, and a fourth layer composed of a fourth material over the third layer and the remainder of the substrate and the second layer. The second layer, third layer, and fourth layer are planarized using chemo-mechanical polishing to create a planarized surface. Next, a fifth layer composed of a fifth material is formed on the planarized surface. A selective etchant is then used to remove the second layer, thereby forming a first active layer in the substrate, and a second active layer the fifth layer, wherein the third layer and the fourth layer form vias between the first active layer and the second active layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, an insulating layer or other material is used to back fill the second (removed) layer.

Method of fabricating three-dimensional components using endpoint detection

The Regents of the University of California


A structural element for initial, substantially flat attachment to the surfaces of high impact sheet materials, and adapted for attachment to curved surfaces, includes: a first resilient, semi-flexible, sheet material having a given length and width; a second, flexible sheet material of substantially the same width as the first sheet material; a plurality of parallely-spaced, independent preformed rib members sandwiched between the first and second sheet material and each rib member extending substantially across the width of the first and second sheet material and fixedly attached to both the first and second sheet material by an adhesive with the first and second sheet material being flat, the width and height of the preformed rib members and the distance between adjacent rib members determining the limit of bending of the first or second sheet material; and at least one of the first and second sheet material being shearable, thereby enabling areas and the degree of bending within the areas of the first and second sheet material to be determined by the selective cutting of only the at least one sheet in the spaces formed between the plurality of rib members. In an alternate embodiment only one sheet of flexible material is used and the bending of the structural element is determined solely by the spacing between the rib members and their height and width.

The present invention relates to the method of producing a structure for furniture and furniture components; and relates to the furniture and furniture components produced thereby.
In the art of fabricating furniture and like structures and furniture elements; having at least one curved or radiused, belt-like surface, these structures have been, usually, fabricated by purchasing or making a (stick built) form, which is later in a single operational phase surfaced with an attached facing of semi rigid laminate such as "Micarta", "Formica", and the like.
Fabricating these curvealinear, normally hollow, furniture pieces, has been historically performed by assembling the ribbed core or mandrel structure, and then applying and attaching a semi-flexible, primed or finished flat belt-like sheet material capable of relatively easy bending. If desired, rigid end pieces are then attached to the open ends formed by the perimeter of the sheet material after it is bent to make a simple or compound curved closed structure. To finish the assembly, end (top and bottom) pieces are attached to the inner face of the curved end pieces thus the joining edges are made flush to finish the piece of furniture. This method can be, and has been, characterized as "cored cabinetry" (or pre-built) furniture construction. In this construction, as well as in the subject invention, the laminate sheet material is curvable primarily in a first direction, and remains substantially straight in the direction perpendicular to that first direction.
However, this historic fabricating method has the distinct disadvantage that it requires excessive amounts of storage space; for the purchase or fabrication and storage of the stock cores of many shapes and sizes needed, also for the considerable amount of "stick" lumber. The old method is prone to form bubbles of irregular adherence between the laminate and the core, and is some times subject to delamination. It is also a disadvantage that there are extra steps in the custom fabrication by the method of the present state of the art, that require a considerable amount of extra labor. These extra steps are not required by the subject invention.
The following references were found to be of interest:
______________________________________ U.S. PAT NOS. A B C ______________________________________ 1. 4,468,273 4,452,657 4,428,791 2. 3,821,051 3,809,598 3,637,446 3. 3,554,624 3,546,771 3,509,005 4. 3,376,185 3,295,279 3,110,369 5. 2,967,593 2,890,739 2,815,795 6. 2,371,754 2,339,113 2,220,898 7. 1,090,593 220,893 ______________________________________
Close approach to the present inventive method and proposed construction and product was not observed in the above cited references. Accordingly, the patents cited above and their patents of reference should be considered as being of general interest and illustrative of the scope of the available art. None, appear to be close, in method or product produced thereby, to the herein proposed inventive concept.
By the new and practical teaching of this invention the sheet like structure is adhered to, or formed with selected rib like structures in the flat condition, that provide by rib to rib interference when closed in a belt-like loop, the required curved or compound curved, auto-radiused furniture, or furniture like elemental structure. This action is referred to as "self configuring". The new art disclosed, as opposed to hands on manufacture, allows automated radiused manufacture, by a "just in time" custom manufacturing method and the manufactured products produced, in this industry for the first time.

Product of a two phase, self configuring coreless structural element for furniture and the like


Provided is an OLED device that includes an adhesive film having a network and a method for fabricating the same.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an organic light-emitting display (OLED) device, and more specifically, to an OLED device that includes an adhesive film composed of polymers having a network structure, and a method for fabricating the same.
Description of the Related Art
As information technology has developed, display devices for graphically representing electrical information signals have been in widespread use. In accordance with this, various display panels that can be implemented in devices which are thinner, lighter and consume less power have been developed to replace existing CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes).
Exemplary display devices include LCD (Liquid Crystal Displays), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Displays), EPD (Electrophoretic Displays, Electronic Paper Displays, PDP (Plasma Display Panels), FED (Field Emission Displays), ELD (Electro Luminescence Displays) device, EWD (Electro-Wetting Displays), and the like. A typical display has a display panel to produce images. Such a display panel includes a pair of substrates attached to each other, with liquid crystal, luminescent material and/or a polarizing material between the substrates.
An organic light-emitting display (OLED) is a self-luminance display and thus, typically does not require an additional light source such as one used in a liquid-crystal display (LCD). Accordingly, OLEDs can be made lighter and thinner. In addition, an OLED is advantageous over an LCD in terms of viewing angle, contrast, power consumption, etc. In addition, OLEDs can be driven with low DC voltage, has fast response speed, is robust to external impact due to its solid-phase internal components, and has a wide range of working temperature.
However, defects may occur in the pixel array of an OLED device due to moisture and oxygen. Accordingly, packaging technology to seal an OLED is important.

Organic light-emitting display device and method for fabricating the same

Abstract: The OLED device includes: a protective layer covering an organic light-emitting element on a substrate; a metal layer on the protective layer; and an adhesive film between the metal layer and the protective layer to attach the metal layer to the protective layer. The adhesive film includes a first adhesive layer composed of first polymers having a network structure, and a second adhesive layer composed of second polymers having a network structure and moisture absorbent. The network structure of the first polymers is bonded with the network structure of the second polymers at an interface between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer.


Data processing apparatus, in which at least a first and a second data handling node are connected to a common data bus, comprises an arbitration circuit, responsive to requests for control of the data bus from the data handling nodes, for allocating control of the data bus to selected ones of the data handling nodes for successive access periods of a predetermined length. The first data handling node comprises a processor for requesting control of the data bus for one access period in order to transmit a data request to the second data handling node, and the second data handling node comprises a processor, responsive to a data request received from the first data handling node, for requesting control of the data bus for a subsequent access period to transmit the requested data to the first data handling node. Data requests and the subsequent transmission of the requested data are thus treated as two separate bus transactions, each transaction taking place during an access period of a predetermined length.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to data processing.
2. Description Of the Prior Art
A large data processing apparatus (e.g. a digital signal processing (DSP) apparatus) typically comprises a number of data handling nodes connected to a common computer bus. The data handling nodes may comprise processors, read only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), or mass data storage devices such as disc or tape drives. Alternatively, in a distributed data processing apparatus each data handling node may itself be a processor with a dedicated memory.
In order that the data handling nodes can communicate with one another via the common bus, a bus arbitration system is required to allocate control of the bus between the various nodes. Bus arbitration can be implemented in several ways. One previously proposed arrangement comprises a central bus scheduler which receives and queues requests for bus control from data handling nodes referred to as "bus masters". So-called "bus slave" nodes can be addressed via the bus by bus master nodes, but cannot themselves request (or take) control of the bus.
When a request for bus control from a particular bus master node reaches the head of the queue, the bus scheduler grants temporary control of the bus to that node, which then performs (via the bus) a data transfer operation involving another of the data handling nodes (a bus slave node). For example, a bus master node may initiate an operation to read data from a bus slave node by first requesting control of the bus. When control of the bus is granted by the bus scheduler, the bus master node sends a data request to the bus slave node, specifying a particular memory address to be read. The bus slave node accesses that memory address, reads the requested data item and transmits that data item to the bus master node. Finally, the bus master node releases the bus for allocation to another bus master node. Throughout the data transfer operation, control of the data bus is retained by the bus master node. Only when control of the bus has been voluntarily relinquished by the bus master node (i.e. at the end of the data transfer operation) can the bus scheduler grant control of the bus to the next bus master node in the queue.

Method and apparatus for arbitrating data requests and responses thereto as separate bus transactions


A plating waste water treating apparatus including a tank defining an interior treating chamber. A sleevelike electrode which functions as an anode is positioned concentrically within and spaced slightly from the tank wall. An electrode which functions as a cathode is concentrically positioned within and spaced from the anode, with the cathode being defined by two concentric but radially spaced coil springs, with the outer spring functioning to receive thereon the metal deposits. A diffuser plate is provided at one end of the treating chamber to control waste water flow into the treating chamber.

When plating articles with a plating solution containing metals, the plated articles are typically removed from the plating solution and dipped into one or more rinse water tanks to effect removal of excess plating material so as to improve the quality of the plated finish. The rinse water tanks gradually accumulate therein various plating metals such as zinc, nickel, silver, gold or tin, depending upon the plating material. The metals which collect in the rinse water tanks ultimately reach a concentration level which requires disposal of the rinse water, the latter commonly being referred to as waste water. The waste water is typically treated in an attempt to remove heavy metals since disposal of the waste water creates a pollution problem. For this reason, numerous processes and apparatus have been developed for treating the waste water, including arrangements which involve a plurality of large electrically charged plates which are contained in a waste water treating tank so as to effect electrolytic deposit of the metals on the plates, which plates are then removed and either cleaned for reuse or otherwise properly disposed of. Most known processes and apparatus for treating waste water, however, have been structurally complex and costly, and in many situations wholly unsuitable for use in smaller business operations where the cost and/or operational magnitude of the arrangement makes use of such apparatus uneconomical.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for treating plating waste water, particularly for removing metals from the waste water, which apparatus is structurally simple and economical, which operates in a highly desirable manner, and which is particularly suitable for use by small businesses.
More specifically, the improved waste water treating apparatus of this invention involves a tank which defines therein an interior treating chamber. A sleevelike electrode which functions as an anode is positioned concentrically within and spaced slightly from the tank wall. An electrode which functions as a cathode is concentrically positioned within and spaced from the anode, with the cathode being defined by two or more concentric but slightly spaced coil springs, with at least the outer spring functioning to receive thereon the metal deposits. In this improved apparatus, a diffuser plate is provided at one end of the treating chamber and associated with the waste water inlet so as to control flow into the treating chamber. The apparatus is preferably operated under a condition whereby the chamber is maintained under a low pressure, such as about one atmosphere pressure.
Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons familiar with devices of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.


A lubricating oil supply controller for a two-cycle engine is disclosed, wherein a lubricating oil is supplied to an intake air passage separately from fuel without mixing in advance the lubricating oil with fuel which is to be supplied to an engine. In this controller, a non-contacting type electrometer provided at a carburetor detects the fuel supply flow rate as a voltage. Thus detected voltage value is transmitted to a computer as a digital input through an analog-to-digital converter. This computer operates calculation by serving the input as a parameter and transmits a desired digital control signal to a step motor. The step motor is operated in response to the digital control signal and control a lubricating oil injection valve. In this way, the lubricating oil in its proper flow rate according to fuel supply flow rate is supplied to the engine.

This invention relates to a lubricating oil supply controller for a two-cycle engine wherein a lubricating oil can be fed to an intake air passage separately from fuel and without mixing in advance a lubricating oil with fuel which is to be fed to an engine.
In a conventional two-cycle gasoline engine, it is a usual practice that a lubricating oil is mixed with gasoline in advance and thereafter, the lubricating oil is jetted into an intake air passage together with gasoline through a carburetor.
However, if a lubricating oil should be mixed with gasoline, the gasoline which flows through a fuel supply system within the carburetor is reduced to the extent of the amount of lubricating oil mixed therewith. Therefore, in order to compensate for the reduced amount of gasoline, the fuel supply system is required to be formed large.
On the other hand, the carburetor is preferably made somewhat small compared with the engine of a given size and output since in this way, it is easy to supply fuel with proper air fuel ratio in the range from its low speed to high speed driving. As the carburetor becomes large in the size, there is a tendency that the range within which fuel with suitable air fuel ratio can be supplied becomes narrow.
Because of the above reason, another lubricating oil supplier is developed wherein only gasoline is jetted from the carburetor and a lubricating oil is separately delivered into an intake air passage. However, since this supplier is such designed as that the supplying amount of the lubricating oil is in proportion to the number of revolution of an engine, it cannot respond to the supplying amount of gasoline which is supplied in proportion to not only the number of rotation of the engine but also the opening degree of a throttle valve. If the supplying amount of the lubricating oil is set to be that much as to avoid the occurence of the shortage of the lubricating oil in any operating condition, white smoke is likely produced in exhaust gas.
The present invention is accomplished in view of the above.


An improved punch tool and a method for relocating a section of pipeline using the improved tool are presented. The improvement includes an interior channel running through the center of the shaft of the punch tool and a connector that is attached to one end of the shaft and to a pressure gauge and pressure bleed valve, thereby allowing the operator to use the same tool to cut, gauge, and purge the section of pipeline to be abandoned.

This invention relates to apparatuses and systems used to drill holes in plastic pipelines that transport natural gas. More particularly, the invention allows an operator to use the same tool to tap and pressure test the pipeline and to gauge and purge the pressure within the pipeline.
In the conventional process, a replacement pipeline is attached to the section of the original pipeline that is to be abandoned. The operator then uses a high volume "T" punch tool to tap the original pipeline at a point where the original and replacement pipelines intersect. Next, the replacement pipeline is purged through a hole located near the opposite end of the replacement pipeline. The punch tool is then used to tap the original pipeline at the other point where the original and replacement pipelines intersect. Two pressure gauges are installed on the original pipeline, one near each point where the pipeline has been tapped and on the opposite side of the section of original pipeline that is to be abandoned. The operator then squeezes off the section of pipeline between the two taps that is to be abandoned, gauges it to make sure that there is no pressure loss, and purges it. The next step is to cut that section of pipeline, with the cuts located near the squeeze-offs and on the opposite side of the taps. The open ends of the pipeline are then capped to complete the relocation. This process requires about thirteen steps. The process also requires separate tools for tapping, gauging, and purging the pipeline and that the original and replacement pipelines be tapped, purged, or gauged at six different locations.
There is a need for a single tool that can be used to tap the pipeline and to gauge and purge the pressure within the pipeline. This allows the operator to relocate a section of pipeline using fewer steps and less equipment and parts, thereby reducing the time required for each relocation as well as the associated costs. In addition, the total number of tools an operator must carry is reduced, further improving efficiency and reducing the cost of operations, maintenance, and repair.


An ESD protection circuit including an SCR having at least a PNP transistor and at least a NPN transistor such that said PNP transistor is coupled to an anode and the NPN transistor is coupled to a cathode. The circuit also includes a first resistor coupled between the anode and the base of the pnp transistor and a second resistor coupled between the cathode and the base of the npn transistor. A parasitic distributed bipolar transistor is formed between said first and second transistor to control triggering of the SCR.

Silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs) have long been used over a broad range of technologies because of their superior performance. During an ESD event, the SCR is considered a superior device because the SCR acts as an almost ideal shunt element.
One concern in the industry about using SCRs as ESD protection devices is unintentional latch-up during normal operating conditions. Latch-up is an uncontrolled triggering of an (parasitic) SCR structure on the IC during normal operation, such that the supply voltage is shorted to ground. The holding currents of such (parasitic) SCR structures are specified in the industry as the minimum latch-up current. Typical values are a minimum of 100 milliamps, or up to 300-500 milliamps under severe operating conditions. A latch-up condition could lead to very high currents from the power supply that may permanently damage the IC.
One method to avoid latch-up in the SCR ESD protection devices is to provide serial coupled diodes between, for example, a pad and the anode of the SCR, such that the holding voltage is kept above the supply voltage. In other words, when the holding voltage is above the supply voltage (including some safety margin), the risk of a latch-up condition is avoided. Generally, there is a tendency in the industry to use lower voltages to power the IC's, yet there are circuit applications where even much higher voltages are required (e.g., automotive applications or IC's for certain functions in cellular phones). Accordingly, the higher the supply voltage, the more series diodes are required.
The use of the series diodes with the SCR has several disadvantages. A first disadvantage for such a high holding voltage is that a considerable number of serial coupled diodes would be a needed, which requires additional area on the IC. A second disadvantage is that the serial diodes add extra resistance during ESD stress, except for increasing the holding voltage. A third disadvantage is that a large number of series diodes may result in high leakage currents, due to a parasitic Darlington transistor to the substrate that amplifies an initial leakage current and becomes more problematic at higher operating temperatures.
In particular, each serial diode forms a stage of the Darlington transistor, and the stages are connected such that the leakage current of one stage is being amplified by the next stage, and so forth. This is called the Darlington amplifier in standard circuit theory, and the more of these Darlington stages are coupled, the more leakage current is generated. Moreover, during high ambient or operating temperatures of the chip, the leakage current increases, because there is more thermal carrier generation. As such, the series diodes pose a strong limit to the application of the SCR devices for also satisfying the above-mentioned latch-up concern.
Another solution is to increase the trigger current above the maximum current injected during the latch up test. This is known as high holding current silicon controlled rectifier (HHISCR) ESD protection device which is disclosed in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,633. FIG. 1 of the present invention illustrates the HHISCR ESD protection device 100 of the prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,633 in which the device is utilized as a shunt between at least one voltage supply (Vdd) 104 and ground 112. As shown in FIG. 1, larger area is needed to create resistors 110 and the trigger 108 to turn on the SCR 106.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved HHISCR ESD protection device having a structure occupying less area with increase in its triggering speed while providing for a high immunity to latch-up condition during normal operation.

High trigger current silicon controlled rectifier


An electric vehicle may include a powertrain including an axle having a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel, a first motor and a first gearbox operatively coupled to the first drive wheel, and a second motor and a second gearbox operatively coupled to the second drive wheel. The electric vehicle may also include a radiator including coolant, and an oil manifold including first and second oil inlets, first and second oil outlets, first and second coolant inlets, and at least one coolant outlet. The oil manifold may be fluidly connected to the first and second gearboxes, the first and second motors, and to the radiator.

The powertrain of a vehicle refers to a group of components that generate and deliver power to the road surface to propel the vehicle along the road. In general, the powertrain includes a power source that generates or provides power, and a transmission that transmits the power to the drive wheels of the vehicle. In an electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle operating in the electric mode, one or more electric motors serve as the power source. In such vehicles, a battery provides power to drive the motors to produce torque. An inverter coupled to the motors directs current to the motors to produce torque in response to a torque request by a driver of the vehicle. The driver controls the position of the accelerator and brake pedals to request different amounts of torque from the motors. When the driver presses down on (or depresses) the accelerator pedal, a controller detects the position of the pedal and sends a signal to the motors to increase the torque produced. When the driver releases the accelerator pedal and/or presses down on the brake pedal, the controller sends a signal to the motors to decrease the torque produced.
The transmission transmits the rotational power produced by the motors to the drive wheels of the vehicle. The transmission includes components that convert the speed and torque produced by the motor to that desired by the vehicle. One form of a transmission includes one or more gearboxes that use gears to provide speed and torque conversions between the motors and the drive wheels. Typically, an input shaft inputs power from a motor to a gearbox and an output shaft outputs the power from the gearbox to a drive wheel. The gearboxes include gears that selectively engage or disengage to increase or decrease the speed/torque between the input and output shafts. Typically, a control unit of the powertrain initiates a gear shift in the transmission in response to driving conditions.
When the transmission includes more than one gearbox, each gearbox requires oil for cooling and lubrication. Delivering cool and clean oil to each gearbox often requires bulky or sizeable components to be positioned in a small space within the axle, and may result in unequal delivery of oil to the gearboxes. Additionally, the components to deliver the cool and clean oil often necessitates a plurality of fittings between the component, and the fittings may be expensive and/or prone to leak, break, or otherwise malfunction. Such a system may affect the performance and durability of the vehicle. Embodiments of the current disclosure may address these limitations and/or other problems in the art. The scope of the current disclosure, however, is defined by the attached claims, and not by the ability to solve any specific problem.


A tail rotor blade for a helicopter has a core 22 whose shape defines the trailing portions of the blade. Core 22 is adhered to upper 20 and lower 21 metallic skins which extend within and are adhered to the inner surfaces at the trailing edge of a metallic nose spar 10. A pair of straps 30, 31 of unidirectional fiberglass strands extend spanwise and are adhered to the inner surface of the leading edges of the skins 20, 21 and the outer leading surfaces of the core 22 as to span chordwise the regions of the joints between nose spar 10 and skins 20, 21.

Tail rotor blades heretofore have been provided in a variety of different specific constructions, generally with a honeycomb core to which upper and lower trailing edge skins are attached and which in turn are secured to a nose spar.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,610 (U.S. application Ser. No. 470,520 filed May 16, 1974) there is disclosed a main rotor blade system in which spanwise fiberglass bands are secured to the inner surface of the nose spar assembly to enhance the ability of the blade to withstand centrifugal forces and to prevent catastrophic conditions when the blade develops cracks in metallic portions thereof.


The invention concerns a seat made of two parts: a seat body (1) with a two-sided structure, for example shaped like a hollow box open at its front face, comprising linking and reinforcing crosspieces (5) providing it with sufficient mechanical rigidity; and a seat support (2) with a matching anatomy, preferably fitted with a cover containing a thickness of padding material (18), closing the opening (17) of the seat body (1). One of the later flanks or components (3) of the flank or (4) of the seat body (1) is fixed on a structural vertical member (11) of the public transport vehicle. The seat is suspended cantilevered against the vehicle wall, thereby leaving free the space (12) located beneath the seat. The invention is of interest to manufacturers of public transport vehicles and manufacturers of fittings for the vehicles.

The present invention concerns a seat, a banquette, or other seating support for a passenger transport vehicle designed to be cantilevered to a vertical support on the vehicle. The seat is attached by one of its lateral walls in order to free the space between the lower portion of the seat and the vehicle floor.
The seats conventionally used in public transportation vehicles are usually attached to the vehicle floor by means of one or more legs of various shapes and sizes depending upon the seat design. This method has numerous disadvantages.
The legs are annoying to passengers because they prevent those who are seated from extending their legs comfortably.
Additionally, if the vehicle is crowded, the central aisle, the entryways, and exits should remain as empty as possible to accommodate a large number of passengers. If the seat supports block the space beneath the seats, passengers cannot stow their packages and large suitcases there, nor can the passengers standing in the aisle slide their toes under the seats.
This type of base attaching the seat to the floor is equally problematic for workers cleaning public transportation vehicles. The legs make it necessary to work around the seat base when cleaning the vehicle floor, which limits the use of robotic cleaning apparatus. Thus, both cleaning time and costs are quite high.
The aim of the invention is to provide a seat for a public transport vehicle, such as an urban vehicle, that has a simple economical structure, allows passengers to be seated quickly and easily, and frees the space below it.
To overcome this technical problem, the seating device of the invention has a very simple structure formed of two parts:
two side pieces with vertical and horizontal branches joined by at least one connecting and reinforcing cross piece to form the seat body; and
at least one seat support covering the seat body, preferably anatomically design and covered with a layer of padding.
One of the side pieces is added and attached only by its vertical branch to a vertical structure or other element of the body of the public transportation vehicle using attachment means such as bolts.
Additionally, the width of the seat is determined only by positioning the at least one connecting and reinforcing cross piece.
The seat of the invention, held in place by a lateral attachment device, is suspended and cantilevered from the vertical element and, more generally, from the wall. Thus, the space beneath it remains completely free.
This arrangement is particularly advantageous. For example, seated passengers can extend their legs without interference from the legs of the seat in front of them.
If the vehicle is crowded, passengers can place their packages and baggage underneath the seat, freeing the aisles, the entrances, and the exits. Passengers who are standing in the aisle can also slide the tips of their feet beneath the seats.
From an esthetic point of view, the absence of legs attaching seats to the floor gives the impression of a larger interior space since there are no lines breaking the perspective.
The entire floor surface of a train car is visible in a single glance, allowing passengers to quickly determine if they have forgotten anything. During terrorist alerts, there is improved security because suspicious packages or baggage can be readily detected.
Furthermore, cleaning and maintaining the public transportation vehicle is much simpler because the entire floor is easily accessible. It is possible to use cleaning robots for quickly, efficiently and economically cleaning the vehicle floor. For example, it would be possible to use robots passing through the central aisle equipped with arms that sweep beneath the seats.
Moreover, since the structure is so simple, the unit manufacturing cost of the seat according to the invention is reduced. Installing such a seat is simple and quick.
The seat according to the present invention is modular. This makes it possible to have a single-person version, a multi-person version with side-by-side seats, and a multi-person version with suspended back-to-back seats in accordance with the invention. These variations can be achieved using a specific seat body or by simply attaching several basic units of seats, according to the invention, to one another.
Since the seat is preferably symmetrical, it can be attached to either of the interior walls of the public transportation vehicle.
The seat can be quickly and easily adapted to specific needs. For instance, if the interior of the vehicle is being refurbished or temporarily rearranged, the seat can be dismantled, resized, removed, or otherwise modified according to need. It can also easily be customized and easily recustomized. The background color can be changed quickly by replacing the seat cover.

Suspended seat laterally fixed on a structural vertical member for transport vehicle


The present disclose provides methods and systems for positioning a fiber end of an optical fiber. A block is provided having an opening for receiving the optical fiber. The optical fiber is positioned in the opening to constrain the optical fiber in at least one direction. The optical fiber has a first portion with a free end which is cantilevered or extends from the block. The optical fiber is moved against the at least one direction which is constrained. The movement is provided from a position on a second portion of the optical fiber, which is opposite the first portion relative to the block. This movement causes a lateral displacement of the free end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical fibers, and more particularly, to a system and method for positioning and aligning optical fibers by employing means for pivoting an optical fiber thereby providing accurate positioning of the fiber endface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transmitting Optical Subassemblies (TOSA) are hardware components in a fiber optic data link disposed at the transition point from an electrical signal to an optical signal. Near the point where a fiber in the fiber optic data link approaches a laser where the electrical signal is used to create the optical signal, the fiber must be mechanically aligned and held in position. Proper alignment of a fiber""s endface with an optically active portion of the laser is necessary to provide coupling of the laser light into the fiber.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method which accurately holds optical fibers in position and aligns the fiber end for optical signal transfer or other uses.
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for positioning a fiber end of an optical fiber. A block is provided having an opening for receiving the optical fiber. The optical fiber is positioned in the opening to constrain the optical fiber in at least one direction. The optical fiber has a first portion with a free end which is cantilevered or extends from the block. The optical fiber is moved against the at least one direction which is constrained. The movement is imposed upon the optical fiber from a position on a second portion of the optical fiber, which is opposite the first portion relative to the block. This movement causes a lateral displacement of the free end.
In useful embodiments of the present disclosure, a mechanical means for holding an optical fiber in position using the combination of, for example, a v-groove to constrain the fiber in two directions and a pivot point to force a displacement (in either of two directions) on one side of the pivot point due to a displacement on the other side is disclosed.
The pivot v-groove may be located along the fiber in close proximity to the endface of the fiber. The pivot v-groove and the laser may be disposed upon a substrate. An alignment and fixing operation is preferably performed to bring and hold the endface of the fiber into mechanical proximity to the optically active portion of the laser. A system for positioning a fiber end of an optical fiber, in accordance with the present invention, includes a block having an opening for receiving the optical fiber and constraining the optical fiber in at least one direction. A reference is disposed a first distance from the block against which the optical fiber is to be aligned. A positioning system is disposed a second distance from the block on an opposite side of the block relative to the reference, and the positioning system moves the optical fiber laterally relative to the block to cause a lateral displacement of a fiber end on the side of the block where the reference is disposed such that alignment between the fiber end and the reference is achieved.
An optical subassembly, in accordance with the present invention includes a block having an opening extending in an axial direction through the block. The opening receives an optical fiber and constrains the optical fiber in at least one direction. A reference is disposed a first distance from the block. A fiber end portion of the optical fiber forms an angle relative to the axial direction of the opening such that a fiber end of the optical fiber is aligned with the reference to provide optical power transfer between the fiber end and the reference.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

International Business Machines Corporation


A fast assembled oil-collecting trough and clip ring structure, including a conic glass-made fry pan cover and a circular clip ring disposed on an edge of the fry pan cover. The clip ring has a vertical flange formed along the periphery of the clip ring. The flange is formed with at least three integrally made vertical tabs each having an insertion hole. The tab is formed with an orifice for a rivet to pass through so as to rivet a resilient plate with the tab. The resilient plate is a flexible metal plate having an arch projection at middle section. The projection is faced toward the center of the clip ring. When the fry pan cover is assembled with the clip ring, the projection of the resilient plate latches the projecting frame of the fry pan cover so as to fast and easily associate the fry pan cover with the clip ring. The resilient plate serves to firmly clamp the fry pan cover without detachment. The fry pan cover can be also fast and easily separated from the clip ring for cleaning the same independently.

The present invention relates to a fast assembled oil-collecting trough and clip ring structure, including a conic glass-made fry pan cover and a circular clip ring disposed on the edge of the trough. The fry pan cover can be fast and easily associated with the clip ring without detachment. The fry pan cover can be also fast and easily separated from the clip ring for cleaning the same independently.
A conventional fry pan cover is generally an integral structure. Some other fry pan covers are disposed with a grip or a projecting handle. Moreover, European Patent Publication No. EP0192163B1 filed on Nov. 10, 1989 and entitled "cover for frying and cooking appliances" as shown in FIG. 1 discloses an assembly of a fry pan cover and a clip ring. The fry pan cover 1a is assembled with the clip ring 3a by means of several clip members 2a in such a manner that one end of the clip member 2a is hung on the clip ring 3a, while the other end thereof is for the fry pan cover 1a to place thereon. According to such arrangement, the clip member 2a cannot tightly associate the fry pan cover with the clip ring.
Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 209996 filed on Feb. 24, 1993 and entitled "novel fluid type fry pan cover structure" as shown in FIG. 2 discloses a fry pan cover 1b assembled with a clip ring 3b by means of several latch clips 2b. Such measure also fails to tightly secure the clip ring to the fry pan cover.

Fast assembled oil-collecting through and clip ring structure


In the image forming apparatus, in ending an image forming operation, a bias voltage having an opposite polarity from the transfer bias voltage is applied to the primary transfer device when at least a region passes through the primary transfer portion, the region passing through the development portion in a state in which the development bias voltage is applied in an uncharged region in the surface of the image bearing member after a charging operation of the charging device is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a toner image is formed on an image bearing member and an image is formed on a transfer material by transferring the toner image onto the transfer material.
2. Description of the Related Art
For a four-color full color image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus including four (four colors) image forming portions which form toner images having different colors respectively is known. The four image forming portions are disposed from an upstream side to a downstream side along an intermediate transfer belt moving direction, the toner images having the different colors formed by the image forming portions are sequentially primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, and the four color toner images are superposed on the intermediate transfer belt. Then, the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt are collectively secondary-transferred onto a transfer material. Then, the four-color full color toner image is fixed on the transfer material by heating the four color toner images with a fixing device.
Application stop timing of a development bias voltage and a charging bias voltage in ending a recording operation (image forming operation) will be described below.
In each image forming portion, the charging performed by the charger driven during the image formation is ended in ending the recording operation. A development nip region is formed in a region where a surface of a photosensitive drum is in contact with a developer retained by a development sleeve of a development device. On the photosensitive drum surface, immediately after a rear end of a region (hereinafter referred to as "charged portion") which is charged by the image formation reaches the development nip region, the photosensitive drum surface close to the development sleeve becomes 0 V.
Accordingly, in the case where the development bias voltage (for example, −550 V) of the development sleeve is turned off after the rear end of the charged portion on the photosensitive drum passes through the development nip region, a large contrast potential Vcont (=|0−(−550)|=550 V) is formed in the whole region of the photosensitive drum surface passing through the development nip region, and the toner in the developer adheres to a non-image portion before the development is ended. As a result, a band-like toner image is formed at the rear end of the charged portion in ending the recording operation.
On the other hand, in order to prevent the adhesion of the toner to the non-image portion, it is necessary to turn off the development bias voltage of the development sleeve before the rear end of the charged portion in the photosensitive drum surface charged to a surface potential Vd (for example, −700 V) reaches the development nip region. However, under such circumstances, a part of the photosensitive drum surface charged to the surface potential Vd (−700 V) passes through the development nip region after the development bias voltage is turned off. At this point, a large fog removal potential Vback (=|−700−0|=700 V) is formed between the development sleeve and the photosensitive drum surface. Therefore, in the case where a two-component developer including the toner and a carrier is used as the developer, there is generated a problem in that the carrier in the developer adheres to the photosensitive drum surface.
In order to cause both the toner and the carrier not to adhere to the photosensitive drum surface, it is necessary that the development bias voltage be turned off at the same time the rear end of the charged portion on the photosensitive drum reaches the development nip region. In consideration of the actual various fluctuations, it is difficult to completely synchronize the turn-off timing in each time. Furthermore, because the development nip region has a predetermined width, it is difficult to synchronize the turn-off timing.
Accordingly, either the carrier or the toner on the development sleeve adheres to the photosensitive drum. Particularly when the carrier of the development sleeve jumps to the photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade of a cleaning device for cleaning the photosensitive drum surface causes the carrier to damage the photosensitive drum surface and to shorten the life of the photosensitive drum.
Therefore, conventionally the carrier adhesion is completely prevented by turning off the bias voltage applied to the development sleeve immediately after the rear end of the photosensitive drum surface charged to surface potential Vd (−700 V) by the charger reaches the development nip region, which forms the band-like toner image at the rear end of the charged portion in ending the recording operation.
Unlike the carrier, the cleaning blade hardly causes the toner to damage the photosensitive drum surface. In the conventional configuration, although a problem of increasing toner consumption is generated, the good image can be maintained for a long period while the adhesion of the carrier to the photosensitive drum is not increased (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-280483).
On the other hand, because the same problem is generated in starting the recording operation, the development bias voltage applied to the development sleeve is turned on immediately before a leading end of the charged portion in the photosensitive drum surface charged to the surface potential Vd (−700 V) by the charger reaches the development nip region. However, in starting the recording operation, the toner in the development nip region is discharged onto the photosensitive drum in ending the recording operation, and only a trace of the toner remains in the development nip region. Therefore, the formation of the band-like toner image becomes minor compared with the band-like toner image in ending the recording operation.
As described above, in ending the recording operation, when the above configuration is used as allocation stop timing of the development bias voltage and charging bias voltage, the band-like toner image is formed at the rear end of the charged portion although the carrier does not adhere to the photosensitive drum.
The band-like toner image is transferred tentatively to the intermediate transfer belt by a primary transfer roller, and the band-like toner image is removed and recovered by an intermediate transfer belt cleaning member located on the downstream side of a secondary transfer roller. Otherwise, the band-like toner image remains on the intermediate transfer belt, which causes in-machine contamination. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously rotate the intermediate transfer belt until the band-like toner image is conveyed to the intermediate transfer belt cleaning member and removed and recovered. However, there is generated a problem in that a long time is required for the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt in ending the recording operation.
Because the transfer material to be transferred does not exist in the band-like toner image when the band-like toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer roller located on the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning member, a part of the band-like toner image is transferred to the secondary transfer roller, which causes the contamination of the secondary transfer roller. In order to solve the above problems, a secondary transfer roller cleaner is provided to remove the contamination of the secondary transfer roller, and the contamination of the secondary transfer roller is decreased. Then, the band-like toner image is conveyed to the intermediate transfer belt cleaning member, and the intermediate transfer belt is continuously rotated to prevent the contamination in the machine until the band-like toner image is removed and recovered.
When the four-color full color image forming apparatus has the configuration of the bias stop timing in ending the recording operation, the band-like toner images are formed according to the bias stop timing of each color. The band-like toner images are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt as well as the four color toner images primary-transferred to the intermediate transfer belt by electric action and pressing force of the primary transfer roller.
Accordingly, in the four-color full color image forming apparatus, the four color band-like toner images contaminates the secondary transfer roller. Additionally, in the four color band-like toner images formed according to the bias stop timing of the colors, it is necessary to continuously rotate the intermediate transfer belt until the band-like toner image located on the uppermost stream side of the intermediate transfer belt is conveyed to the intermediate transfer belt cleaning member and removed and recovered. As a result, there is generated the problem in that a large amount of time is required for the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt in ending the recording operation.
Furthermore, as described above, in the band-like toner image, because the development bias voltage Vdc (550 V) is applied to the development sleeve when the photosensitive drum has the surface potential of 0 V, a development process is performed by the extremely high contrast potential Vcont (−550 V). Usually, from the standpoint of safety, a solid image portion on the photosensitive drum has a surface potential V1 smaller than the value of 0 V (for example, −200 V). As a result, compared with the contrast potential Vcont (=|V1−Vdc|=|−200+550|=350 V) in the usual solid image formation, a large amount of toner is placed on the band-like toner image formed at the rear end of the charged portion in ending the recording operation.
That is, in the four-color full color image forming apparatus, the four color band-like toner images which have the toner amounts larger than the toner amount corresponding to the solid image respectively are formed on the intermediate transfer belt in ending the recording operation.
In order to prevent the in-machine contamination, it is necessary that all the four color band-like toner images on the intermediate transfer belt be conveyed to the intermediate transfer belt cleaning member. However, when the band-like toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion located in the course of conveyance, the band-like toner image comes into direct contact with the secondary transfer roller, and a part of the band-like toner image is transferred to the secondary transfer roller to contaminate the secondary transfer roller by the electric action and pressing force.
The contamination can be removed by the secondary transfer roller cleaner. However, sometimes the secondary transfer roller cleaner cannot remove the four color band-like toner images on which the extremely large amount of toner is placed by one-time cleaning. When a backside of the transfer material is brought into contact with the contaminated part in the next process, there is generated a problem in that the backside of the transfer material is contaminated. Sometimes the toner is hardly removed depending on a material of the secondary transfer roller. For example, the toner is hardly removed when a surface shape of the secondary transfer roller is roughened.
On the other hand, there is a method in which the secondary transfer roller is rotated more than once to completely clean the secondary transfer roller while the image is not formed and the transfer material is fed to resume the image formation. However, efficiency is reduced in the above method, because the image cannot be formed until the secondary transfer roller is sufficiently cleaned.

Image forming apparatus for supressing the effects of a band-like toner image


A reconfigurable model rocket that can be flown either in a single-stage or a two-stage configuration is disclosed. The model rocket has a main body tube, a nose cone, a first tail section, a second tail section, and a staging adapter. The nose cone is removably coupleable to a top end of the main body tube and the first tail section is removably coupleable to a bottom end of the main body tube. The first tail section accommodates a first rocket engine to propel the model rocket by allowing gases from a combustible propellant to escape from the bottom end of the first tail section. The second tail section is removably coupleable to a bottom end of the first tail section and accommodates a second rocket engine to propel the model rocket by allowing gases from a combustible propellant to escape from the bottom end of the second tail section.

1. Field
The disclosed embodiments relate to the field of model rockets.
2. Related Art
In the field of model rocketry, multi-stage rockets have been known for many years. Generally each stage of a multi-stage rocket carries a combustible propellant that generates exhaust gases that exit the bottom end of the rocket so as to propel it on its flight. Such gases in one stage also act to ignite the propellant in the next stage. Conventional multi-stage model rockets are configured such that when a given stage has expended its combustible propellant it separates from the rest of the rocket and falls to the ground separately. As such, the various stages may get lost during their return fall to earth. In addition, failure of the second stage to ignite is not uncommon in such conventional multi-stage model rockets.

Method and apparatus for a two-stage model rocket