A lamp shade soldering aid is used when soldering a stained glass lamp shade. The soldering aid includes a spindle, inserted through an arm, a base, a turn table, and a clamping member. A lamp shade to be soldered is inserted on the spindle and rests on the turntable, held by the clamping member. The turntable has a plurality of pivoting support members for use with the lamp shade when soldering the interior of the shade. The clamping member does not spin off of the spindle. When the lamp shade is turned, the turntable is also turned. The soldering aid provides for angular motion, such that any seam of the shade may be held in a horizontal position. The soldering aid also provides for rotating motion, such that the lamp shade may be rotated to a next seam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lamp shade soldering aid which is suitable for variable positioning of a stained glass lamp shade to facilitate soldering.
Stained glass lamp shades are constructed of pieces of stained glass soldered together. A large stained glass lamp may have hundreds of pieces of stained glass, with a corresponding number of seams between the pieces of stained glass. The seams between the pieces of glass are important not only for their structural qualities, but also for their aesthetic qualities. The aesthetic properties are particularly important for the portion of the seams which can be observed when the lamp is in use.
The pieces of stained glass are frequently soldered together by the copper foil method. In the copper foil method, copper tape is wrapped around each edge of each piece of stained glass. The copper tape provides a portion which can be soldered. The pieces of stained glass may then be positioned and tacked in place by soldering a small portion of one piece to a small portion of another piece. One method of assisting the positioning of pieces uses a mold, for example of styrofoam. Tacking does not permanently secure the pieces, and therefore is only temporary. Care must be taken not to stress the tacked pieces, or the tacking will break apart. After tacking, all of the seams are rough soldered, the solder holding the pieces of stained glass together. The seams between the pieces of stained glass must further be finish soldered so that the lamp has an attractive appearance.
Finish soldering is accomplished one seam at a time. To finish solder a seam, solder is applied with a soldering iron to the copper foil at the seams. The most attractive seams are achieved by heating the solder along one seam until it is in a liquid state. The solder then solidifies into a seam having a smooth appearance.
Since the solder is in a liquid state during the finish soldering, the seam must be horizontal. If the seam is not horizontal, the solder will tend to run downward, resulting in uneven application of solder, or even resulting in the solder running off of the seam.
When finish soldering, therefore, each seam must be horizontal. The lamp shade must be angled so that each seam is horizontal. This is difficult since the lamp shade is an awkward shape. Positioning the lamp so that the inside seams can be easily reached presents another problem. Yet another problem is presented when the lamp shade includes a crown on top, having seams which must be soldered by holding the lamp shade at an awkward angle.
Since stained glass lamp shades frequently have repeating patterns, each seam usually has corresponding seams requiring the same angling of the lamp shade. Thus, the lamp shade can advantageously be rotated about its axis to the corresponding seam in the next repeat.
While positioning the lamp shade, care must be taken to not disturb or break the tacked or rough soldered pieces. Furthermore, a craftsman performing the soldering holds the solder in one hand and the soldering gun in the other, and thus has no free hands to hold the lamp shade.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Therefore, various devices for holding a stained glass lamp shade during soldering have been developed. The most primitive but most popular device is a large box filled with crumpled newspaper.
One other type of conventional device for holding a stained glass lamp shade relies largely on a vase cap which is soldered to the apex of the lamp shade. The vase cap has a hole in the top, through which a shank can be inserted. The lamp can then be rotated about the shank. This has the unfortunate effect of placing all of the stress on the vase cap area and can result in deformation of the lamp shade. Therefore, this can only be used with smaller lamp shades.
Another type of conventional device for holding a stained glass lamp shade uses a stationary base beneath the lamp shade and threads a shank through the vase cap. A nut placed on top of the vase cap is used to clamp the lamp shade to the base. However, the method of clamping tends to over-tighten, thus distorting or even breaking the lamp shade. Furthermore, this device does not provide for soldering the inside seams, and thus only solves a portion of the problem. Also, because the shade must be rotated on top of the stationary base, the copper tape on the pieces of glass on the bottom of the shade tends to tear.
Yet another type of conventional device for holding a stained glass lamp shade provides a method for soldering the inside seams by providing fixed side supports on which the lamp shade can rest. Further support may be provided by inserting a shank through the vase cap. This device has the drawback that the support provided is not sturdy and does not conform to the variable shape of the lamp shade. It also has the further drawback of requiring manually lifting and rotating the lamp on the device to reach other seams.
Other devices have been known which provide the rotational variability. As mentioned above, conventional devices provide that the lamp shade can be rotated about a shank through the vase cap. However, the lamp shade is rotated to one position and then fixed by clamping down on the vase cap. Each act of clamping presents the danger of over tightening and thus deforming or breaking the lamp shade. The device used to clamp is spun up the shank, presenting an additional risk of breaking the lamp if it flies off the shank.
Other drawbacks of conventional devices are that they do not provide for incremental positioning of the shade. Numerous other complex mechanisms have been tried to overcome all of these problems with a resulting increase in complexity. There remains a need for a simple stained glass lamp shade soldering aid which can successfully adapt to the shape of various lamp shades, is easily used even with large lamp shades, and does not tend to break or distort the lamp shade.


A system for remotely measuring antenna input impedance utilizing an automatic antenna tuner in which, for any tuner, the tuner input impedance may be established by the values of the components in the circuit at the time that the SWR is at a minimum, with these values being automatically available in terms of the components that are switched in to achieve low SWR. Once having established the input impedance to the tuner, the complex conjugate of the tuner input impedance yields the antenna input impedance, with antenna input impedance sensed at full power at a position remote from the antenna input.

It has long been a problem to measure antenna impedance at the feed point of an antenna when the antenna has been installed or is in place and is remote from the transmitter to which is coupled. In order to be able to transmit efficiently, it is important to be able to match the output impedance of a transmitter to the input impedance of the antenna, and to do so, antenna tuners are interposed between the feed point of the antenna and the transmitter output. Antennas typically have a transmission line that connects them to the output of the transmitter, and the antenna tuners only function to sense impedance at the transmitter end of the transmission line and match that impedance to the output impedance of the transmitter.
While this couples maximum power from the transmitter to the transmitter end of the transmission line, it does not address any mismatch between transmitter output impedance and antenna input impedance. In operation of a radio station, whether it is a commercial radio station or amateur radio station, oftentimes environmental factors affect the antenna impedance. For instance, snow, rain, wind, and moisture can affect the antenna input impedance, which causes it to vary from its design parameters. Also, corrosion and wear can alter the input impedance of the antenna such that the antenna loses its efficiency. However, this loss of efficiency is not detectable at the transmitter, which is typically remote from the antenna and is coupled to the antenna by a length of transmission line. Thus, technicians at the transmitter have no way of knowing the actual condition of the antenna and cannot, for instance, be made aware of changes in the antenna input impedance. The result is that a transmitting station originally set up and optimized may not be operating in an optimal fashion, with this fact not being known to the station operator. The following details how, in the past, station engineers have remotely sensed the condition of their antennas.
Typically, station engineers have utilized antenna analyzers which couple a low-level signal, in the milliwatt range, to the antenna feed point at a predetermined frequency, with the standing wave ratio (SWR) measured by the antenna analyzer. However, due to the relatively low output of portable antenna analyzers, nearby radio stations affect the reading of the antenna analyzer. On some occasions, it is difficult to obtain reliable readings from the antenna analyzer due to high-power RF signals in the area, which tend to swamp out the relatively low antenna analyzer output signals.
Sources for these RF signals include commercial radio stations and mobile radios that serve, for instance, as taxi radios, truck radios, and bus and commercial vehicle communications. Also, high-power signals generated, for instance, by power lines, electrical transformers, local radars, and even transponders operating in the area can swamp out the antenna analyzer signals.
In order to measure antenna impedance of the antenna feed point, typically one would have to disconnect any antenna tuner utilized and, in one method, connect a 50-ohm resistor at the transmitter side of the antenna tuner connected to the antenna. Having disconnected the antenna, one then would connect the above-mentioned antenna analyzer to the antenna side of the antenna tuner and would measure the input impedance of the antenna utilizing the antenna analyzer connected to the already-tuned antenna tuner. The complex conjugate of the measured impedance at the antenna analyzer is the antenna feed point impedance.
The above procedure is quite complicated and, first and foremost, involves removing the antenna from the tuner and, second, involves using a low-power antenna analyzer, which is not the same as using actual operating conditions.
A second way to measure antenna input impedance is to interpose an antenna tuner between the antenna and the transmitter and then utilize the antenna tuner to tune the transmitter output to the impedance at the end of the coaxial cable coupled to the antenna tuner. Thereafter, one disconnects the transmitter and the antenna and installs the antenna analyzer on the transmitter side of the antenna tuner, while at the same time substituting a variable resistor, a variable capacitor, and/or a variable inductor, in series, for the removed antenna at the antenna input to the tuner. By changing all of the values of these variable elements, one then adjusts all of such values until one achieves an SWR of 1:1. When this is achieved, one determines the value of the resistance and capacitance and/or inductance to determine the feed point impedance of the antenna.
This system of measuring antenna input impedance is likewise cumbersome.
There is, therefore, a need for a simplified method to remotely measure antenna input impedance and to do so at that end of the transmission line which is coupled to the transmitter, with the measurement being made at full transmitter power so that the measurement is not swamped by local signals and is made under actual operating conditions.
It is noted that, in some instances, if impedance is not measured at full power, there can be anomalies in the measurement when measuring at a low power and then increasing power. Typically, a 1:1 SWR at low power may change when power is increased.

Method and apparatus for remotely determining antenna input impedance


An improved multiple stream, fluid mixing and dispensing apparatus for automatically regulating flow rate for one or more preset fluid flows including a plural station, fluid flow rate console assembly adapted for cooperating with the standing hydraulic pressure of a dual fluid supply means with a variable effluent flow rate regulator interposed in each of the main supply conduits and associated controller means for presetting the flow rate through each regulator and for determining both the degree of mixing and the incidence of fluid flow to be provided from each supply conduit to the exit conduit. The apparatus being specially adaped for permitting pneumatic operation.

Systems exist for controlling the temperature and flow rates of fluids for various purposes. Systems also exist for mixing two miscible fluid streams to obtain a desired working temperature or other combination of physical properties. Push-button mixing valves are known to have been used for such purposes. In residential water uses, the flow rate and temperature of the mixed stream must be set and balanced each time a user steps up to the faucet for a special need. There are everyday situations where a system tailored to provide residential water for a particular application would be most convenient, especially if such a tailored condition fluid stream could be made available at the touch of a knob.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a control console that is simplified and compact and will, on demand, provide any of a number of discrete fluid streams, each having a predetermined temperature and flow rate.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device having a number of dial-actuated elements, controlling fluid flow which have been preset for a variety of use conditions.
Still another object is to provide a regulator system whereby a fluid of the same mixture and temperature is delivered each time through the common outlet when a specific ON-OFF knob is actuated.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide calibrated settings for the main flow controllers which describe a range in the liquid outflows that has been established for a specific industrial purpose.
A still further object of the invention is to standardize the fluid output requirements by building in compensating means for variations in incoming feed rate and line pressures.
Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Multiple stream fluid mixing and dispensing apparatus


Systems and methods for copy on write storage conservation are presented. In one embodiment a copy on write storage conservation method includes creating and mounting a snapshot; mounting a snapshot; monitoring interest in the snapshot; initiating a copy on write discard process before a backup or replication is complete; and deleting the snapshot when the backup or replication is complete. In one embodiment the method also includes marking a file as do not copy on write. In one embodiment, the copy on write discard process includes discarding copy on write data when a corresponding read on the file in the snapshot is successful. Initiating a copy on write discard process can be done at a variety of levels (e.g., a file level, an extent level, a block-level, etc.).

Electronic systems and circuits are often utilized in a number of applications to achieve advantageous results. Numerous electronic technologies such as computers, video equipment, and communication systems facilitate increased productivity and cost reduction in analyzing and communicating information in most areas of business, science, education and entertainment. Frequently, these activities involve storage of vast amounts of information and significant resources are expended storing and processing the information. Maintaining accurate replicated backup storage of the information is often very important for a variety or reasons (e.g., disaster recovery, corruption correction, etc.).
Accurately duplicating the information in a consistent manner is typically very important. Some traditional backup and replication approaches utilize snapshots or checkpoints in an attempt to allow Applications to continue to write to the primary file system while a backup or replication is in progress without burdening the application making use of that file system. The storage checkpoints or file system snapshots are often utilized for ensuring a backup and replication is taken of an image at a consistent point in time. Depending upon the amount of data to be processed from the snapshot, the lifetime of the snapshot can be quite long, especially if the backup/replication application requires a persistent snapshot during the entire backup/replication process. Some conventional approaches utilize copy on write (COW) mechanisms as part of the snapshot operations. The COW is typically used to preserve earlier data of a file that is overwritten and there can be COW overhead for the lifetime of the snapshot, even for those blocks that have already been read by a consumer or backup or replication application.
Conventional approaches typically require the entire backup or replication to be complete before snapshot information can be discarded. However, as more and more changes come in, more and more storage is consumed for preserving the snapshot image. If the backup or replication cannot finish before the system runs out of free space, the snapshot is discarded prematurely and backup or replication fails. For systems with limited free space, backup or replication may never complete successfully. Some conventional approaches may attempt to add significant amounts of storage capacity to enable free space to be available, however this approach can be very resource intensive and costly or infeasible.

Copy on write storage conservation systems and methods


The present invention provides novel macrolide compounds of the formulas

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/183,338, filed Feb. 18, 2000, entitled MOTILIDE COMPOUNDS by inventors Gary Ashley, Mark Burlingame, Chris Carreras, and Daniel Santi, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
The present invention provides novel prokinetic agents with superior pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties for the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders. The invention relates to the fields of chemistry, medicinal chemistry, medicine, molecular biology, and pharmacology.
Gastrointestinal (xe2x80x9cGIxe2x80x9d) motility regulates the orderly movement of ingested material through the gut to insure adequate absorption of nutrients, electrolytes and fluids. Appropriate transit through the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon depends on regional control of intraluminal pressure and several sphincters that regulate forward movement and prevent back-flow of GI contents. The normal GI motility pattern may be impaired by a variety of circumstances including disease and surgery.
Disorders of gastrointestinal motility include, for example, gastroparesis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (xe2x80x9cGERDxe2x80x9d). Gastroparesis is the delayed emptying of stomach contents. Symptoms of gastroparesis include stomach upset, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. Acute gastroparesis may be caused by, for example, drugs (e.g., opiates), viral enteritis, and hyperglycemia, and is usually managed by treating the underlying disease rather than the motility disorder. The most common causes of chronic gastroparesis are associated with long standing diabetes or idiopathic pseudo-obstruction, often with so-called xe2x80x9cnon-ulcerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cfunctionalxe2x80x9d dyspepsia.
GERD refers to the varied clinical manifestations of reflux of stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus. The most common symptoms are heartburn and dysphasia; blood loss may also occur from esophageal erosion. GERD may be associated with low tone and inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and occurs with gastroparesis in about 40% of cases. In most cases, GERD appears to be treatable with agents that reduce the release of acidic irritant by the stomach (e.g., Prilosec) or agents that increase the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter (e.g., cisapride). Other examples of disorders whose symptoms include impaired gastrointestinal motility are anorexia, gall bladder stasis, postoperative paralytic ileus, scleroderma, intestinal pseudoobstruction, gastritis, emesis, and chronic constipation (colonic inertia).
These GI disorders are generally treated with prokinetic agents that enhance propulsive motility. Motilides are macrolide compounds such as erythromycin and its derivatives that are agonists of the motilin receptor. Evidence of the potential clinical utility of motilides includes their ability to induce phase III of Migrating Motor Complexes (xe2x80x9cMMCxe2x80x9d). MMC refers to the four phases (I-IV) of electrical activity displayed by the stomach and small intestine in the fasting state. Muscular contraction occurs in phases III and IV which coincide with a peristaltic wave that propels enteric contents distally during fasting. Other clinically relevant effects include: increase in esophageal peristalsis and LES pressure in normal volunteers and patients with GERD; acceleration of gastric emptying in patients with gastric paresis; and stimulation of gallbladder contractions in normal volunteers, patients after gallstone removal, and diabetics with autonomic neuropathy.
The discovery of motilides was serendipitous. Since the 1950""s, erythromycin A 1 has been known to cause GI side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. These effects are now largely explained by the motilin agonist activity of erythromycin A and an acid catalyzed degradation production, 8,9-anhydro-6,9-hemiacetal 2, which is also known as the enol ether form.
As illustrated by Scheme A, erythromycin A 1 undergoes an acid catalyzed rearrangement in the stomach to form the enol ether 2 which is then further degraded into the spiroketal 3.Both erythromycin A and the enol ether are motilin agonists but the spiroketal is not. Because the enol ether is approximately ten fold more potent as a motilin agonist than erythromycin A and does not also possess antimicrobial activity, the potential clinical uses of enol ether derivatives as prokinetic agents are being investigated.
Enol ether erythromycin derivatives under clinical investigation include EM-523 (4); EM-574 (5); LY267,108 (6); GM-611 (7); and ABT-229 (8) whose structures are shown below. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,578,579; 5,658,888; 5,922,849; 6,077,943; and 6,084,079 which are all incorporated herein by reference.
Other motilides of potential interest include lactam enol ethers and lactam epoxide derivatives. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,712,253; 5,523,401; 5,523,418; 5,538,961; 5,554,605 which are incorporated herein by reference.
In general, these and other previously disclosed macrolides are synthetically accessible compounds that are derived from erythromycin A or B. Because nature has not optimized the erythromycin structure for its prokinetic activity, it is likely that the potency of motilide agonists could be greatly enhanced. Compounds resulting from such efforts could be of significant benefit in the treatment of wide variety of diseases and conditions. The present invention provides such compounds.
The present invention provides novel macrolide compounds with superior pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties for the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders. In one embodiment, the present invention provides compounds of the formulas
wherein:
R is hydroxyl or methoxy;
R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, halide, NH2, OR9,
xe2x80x83and
xe2x80x83where R9 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl and R10 and R11 are each independently hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, or aryl;
R2 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, alkynylaryl or R2 and R3 together form a cycloalkyl or a cycloaryl moiety;
R4 is hydrogen or methyl;
R5 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxo, or together with R6 and the carbons to which they are attached form a cyclic carbonate;
R6 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, OR12 where R12 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, or together with R5 and the carbons to which they are attached form a cyclic carbonate;
R7 is methyl, C3-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, alkynylaryl, amidoalkylaryl, amidoalkenylaryl, or amidoalkynylaryl;
R8 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, alkynylaryl, amidoalkylaryl, amidoalkenylaryl, or amidoalkynylaryl; and,
x is a single or a double bond. These and other embodiments, modes, and aspects of the invention are described in more detail in the following description, the examples, and claims set forth below.

Abstract: wherein:

Abstract: R is hydroxyl or methoxy;

Abstract: R4 is hydrogen or methyl;

Abstract: x is a single or a double bond.


A printed circuit board of the present disclosure includes a main body, a tin layer, and a solder mask. The main body defines a through hole configured for being connected to a grounding component. The tin layer is formed on a surface of the main body around the through hole. The tin layer contacts the grounding component. The solder mask is formed between a periphery of the through hole and the tin layer. The solder mask is configured to prevent tin cream of the tin layer from flowing into the through hole.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to printed circuit boards, more particularly to a printed circuit board that can reduce electromagnetic interference.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are widely used in electronic devices. When a PCB is used, electronic components of the PCB interfere with each other, thereby producing an interfering current called electromagnetic interference (EMI).
In order to prevent EMI, the interfering current needs to be electrically connected with a ground. A fixing member is passed through a through hole of the printed circuit board and engages with a housing that electrically connects with the ground. The printed circuit board includes a copper layer on a periphery of the through hole. A head portion of the fixing member contacts the copper layer. As such, the interfering current of the printed circuit board can be connected with the ground. However, the copper layer is easily oxidated. Thus, the copper layer needs to be coated by tin cream to prevent oxidation. In order to make the tin cream attach to the copper layer, the printed circuit board may be heated in an oven. In the oven, the tin cream is easily flowed into the through hole and fills the through hole. In order to prevent the tin cream from flowing in the through hole, the through hole is generally covered by adhesive tapes before the printed circuit board is placed into the oven.
However, it is very waste of time to mask the adhesive tapes, thereby causing high production costs.
Therefore, a new printed circuit board amending the aforementioned difficulties is desired.


Basic esters of fatty alcohols of the general formula: R1-O—CO-A or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1 is C12-C24 alkyl or C10-C24 alkenyl, and A is a residue containing at least one acyclic or cyclic amino group and/or at least one heteroaromatic ring containing a tertiary or quaternary nitrogen atom, are anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents, useful in the treatment of immunologically-mediated inflammation, as adjuvants for antigens involved in both cellular and humoral responses.

1. Inflammation
Inflammation is commonly divided into three phases: acute inflammation, the immune response and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation is the initial response to tissue injury and is mediated by the release of histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The immune response, usually preceded by the acute inflammation phase, occurs when immunologically competent cells are activated in response to foreign organisms or antigenic substances liberated during the acute or chronic inflammatory response. The outcome of the immune response for the host may be beneficial, as it causes invading organisms to be phagocytosed or neutralized. However, the outcome may be deleterious if it leads to chronic inflammation without resolution of the underlying injurious process as occurs in rheumatoid arthritis.
The treatment of patients with inflammation leads to the slowing or arrest of the tissue-damaging process as well as the relief of pain, which is the presenting symptom and the major continuing complaint of the patient.
Anti-inflammatory agents are usually classified as steroidal or glucocorticoids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). The glucocorticoids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents but the high toxicity associated with chronic corticosteroid therapy inhibits their use except in certain acute inflammatory conditions. Therefore, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have assumed a major role in the treatment of chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Among the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents are included derivatives of aminoarylcarboxylic acids, arylacetic acids, arylbutyric acids, arylcarboxylic acids, arylpropionic acids, pyrazole, pyrazolone, salicylic acid and some other derivatives of different chemical structure, including specific anti-arthritic/anti-rheumatic agents.
It would be highly desirable to provide new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents that could serve as alternatives to current anti-inflammatory drugs.
2. Vaccines and Adjuvants
Lymphocytes are the central cells of the immune system, responsible for acquired immunity and the immunologic attributes of diversity, specificity, memory, and self/non-self recognition. Mature B cells are distinguished from other lymphocytes by their synthesis and display of membrane-bound immunoglobulin (antibody) molecules, which serve as receptors for antigens. Interaction between antigen and the membrane-bound antibody on a mature naive B cell, results in the activation and differentiation of B-cell clones of corresponding specificity and the consequent production of B cell clones lacking the membrane-bound antibody, but which secrete antibody molecules with the same antigen-binding specificity.
T lymphocytes, like B lymphocytes, have membrane receptors for antigens. However, unlike the membrane-bound antibody on B cells, the T-cell receptor (TCR) does not recognize free antigen. Instead, the TCR recognizes only antigen that is bound to a self-molecule encoded by genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). To be recognized by most T cells, the antigen must be displayed together with MHC molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APC) or on virus-infected cells, cancer cells, and grafts.
Like B cells, T cells express distinctive membrane molecules. All T-cell subpopulations express the TCR, a complex of polypeptides that includes CD3, and most can be distinguished by the presence of one or the other of two membrane molecules, CD4 and CD8. T cells that express the membrane glycoprotein molecule CD4 are restricted to recognizing antigen bound to class II MHC molecules, whereas T cells expressing CD8, a dimeric membrane glycoprotein, are restricted to recognition of antigen bound to class I MHC molecules.
In general, expression of CD4 and of CD8 also defines two major subpopulations of T lymphocytes. CD4+ T cells generally function as T helper (TH) cells and are class-II restricted; CD8+ T cells generally function as T cytotoxic (TC) cells and are class-I restricted.
TH cells are activated by recognition of an antigen-class II MHC complex on an antigen-presenting cell. After activation, the TH cell begins to divide and gives rise to a clone of effector cells, each specific for the same antigen-class II MHC complex. These TH cells secrete various cytokines, which play a central role in the activation of B cells, T cells, and other cells that participate in the immune response.
Changes in the pattern of cytokines produced by TH cells can change the type of immune response that develops among other leukocytes. Thus TH cells have been divided into two groups by the characteristic cytokines they secrete when activated: the TH1 response produces a cytokine profile that supports inflammation and activates mainly certain T cells and macrophages whereas the TH2 response activates mainly B cells and immune responses that depend upon antibodies. Thus, TH1 cells secrete IL-2, which induces T-cell proliferation, and cytokines such as IFN-γ, which mediates tissue inflammation. TH2 cells, in contrast, secrete IL-4, which activates B cells to secrete antibodies of certain IgG isotypes and suppresses the production of TH1 inflammatory cytokines, and IL-10, which suppresses inflammatory cytokine production by macrophages, and thus indirectly reduces cytokine production by TH1 cells, and affects antigen-presenting cells by down-regulating class II MHC expression.
Autoimmunity results from an inappropriate response of the immune system against self-components leading to activation of self-reactive clones of T or B cells, and generation of humoral or cell-mediated responses against endogenous antigens, with consequent injury to cells, tissues and organs. Sometimes, the damage is caused by antibodies as in the autoimmune disorders Addison's disease, autoimmune anemia, e.g. autoimmune hemolytic anemia and pernicious anemia, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and scleroderma.
Many autoimmune disorders e.g. insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM or type I diabetes), multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune thyroiditis are characterized by tissue destruction mediated by T cells activated by an endogenous antigen. These immune responses to self-antigens are maintained by the persistent activation of the self-reactive T lymphocytes.
Autoimmune diseases can be divided into organ-specific autoimmune diseases, in which the immune response is directed to a target antigen unique to a single organ or gland, so that the manifestations are largely limited to that organ, and systemic autoimmune diseases, in which the response is directed toward a broad range of target antigens and involves a number of organs and tissues. Examples of organ-specific autoimmune diseases include insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, and myasthenia gravis, and examples of systemic autoimmune diseases include systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma.
It is the TH1 cells which contribute to the pathogenesis of organ-specific autoimmune diseases. For example, there is strong evidence that, in mice, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is caused by CD4+ TH1 cells specific for the immunizing antigen, e.g. myelin basic protein (MBP) or proteolipid protein (PLP). The disease can be transferred from one animal into another by T cells from animals immunized with either MBP or PLP or by cloned T-cell lines from such animals. TH1-type responses also appear to be involved in other T-cell mediated diseases or conditions such as contact dermatitis.
Most cases of organ-specific autoimmune diseases develop as a consequence of self-reactive CD4+ T cells. Analysis of these T cells revealed that the TH1/TH2 balance can affect whether autoimmunity develops. TH1 cells have been involved in the development of autoimmunity, whereas, in several cases, TH2 cells not only protected against the induction of the disease but also against progression of established disease and in the induction and maintenance of allograft tolerance.
Several therapeutic approaches have been explored for treatment of autoimmune diseases. Identification and sequencing of various autoantigens have led to the development of new approaches to modulate autoimmune T-cell activity. Whole antigens involved in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune disease or peptides derived from their sequences have been proposed for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Synthetic peptides suitable for immunologically specific therapy of an autoimmune disease are peptides that are recognized by T cells involved in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune disease. These peptides may have a sequence consisting of a pathogenic sequence within the sequence of an antigen involved in the disease or may be an analogue thereof, in which sequence one or more native amino acid residues are substituted by different amino acid residues, particularly a so-called "altered peptide", which contains a single amino acid substitution in the epitope of the pathogenic native counterpart (i.e., the region that contacts the TCR), but have no alterations in the agretope (i.e., the region that contacts the MHC).
Each autoimmune disease will have its ideal peptide for use in therapy that is derived directly from the sequence of an antigen associated with the disease, or is an altered peptide, or another analogue thereof. Thus, a disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) involving T cells reactive to self-antigens such as myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and proteolipid protein (PLP), will require for its therapy a peptide of MBP, MOG or PLP or an analogue thereof; myasthenia gravis can be treated with a peptide from the acetylcholine receptor; thyroiditis with a peptide from thyroglobulin; diabetes type 1 with a peptide of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) or a peptide from the insulin sequence; systemic lupus erythematosus with a peptide derived from the protein P53; and Guillain-Barré syndrome with a peptide from the myelin antigen P2.
In recent years, peptides derived from a pathogenic self-antigen associated with an autoimmune disease or analogues thereof have been proposed for treatment of the disease. For example, peptides derived from the human MBP sequence (U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,629; U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,040) and analogues thereof (U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,764; U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,499) have been described for treatment of multiple sclerosis; peptide analogues of the 65 kD isoform of human GAD and of insulin have been proposed for treatment of diabetes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,401 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,926, respectively); and an autoantigen or a fragment thereof have been described for the treatment of uveoretinitis (U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,977). Each and all of the patents cited above are hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully disclosed herein.
For each of the various autoimmune diseases, it would be desirable to administer the relevant peptide in an adjuvant that would activate T cells of the anti-inflammatory TH2 phenotype. This would be expected to arrest the autoimmune process. There are also situations not involving therapy of an autoimmune disease in which it would be useful to activate specific T cells with a TH2 phenotype. However, treatment involving self-antigens must be done in adjuvants that do not induce TH1-type immunity that might activate dangerous TH1 autoimmunity in the treated subject. Thus, there is a need to identify adjuvants capable of being combined with specific antigens that will induce non-inflammatory TH2-type T cells.
Adjuvants, by their nature, are non-specific immunomodulators. An adjuvant suitable for the purposes outlined above would be a non-specific immunomodulator that could be combined in a therapeutic vaccination with an antigen or other molecule so as to induce the activation of specific T cells of the desired anti-inflammatory phenotype.
Several peptides suitable for the therapy of T-cell mediated diseases, disorders or conditions such as autoimmune diseases were shown to be effective when administered to mice subcutaneously (SC) in an oil vehicle such as an emulsion of mineral oil known as incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA). However, IFA as well as complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA; a preparation of mineral oil containing various amounts of killed organisms of Mycobacterium) are not allowed for human use because the mineral oil cannot be degraded in the body.
It would be highly desirable to discover effective vehicles for peptide therapy that would be degradable and act as an adjuvant that serves as a carrier, or depot or immune potentiator/enhancer.
3. References Related to the Art
Some fatty alcohols and esters of fatty acids have been described as solvents or emulsifiers for use in pharmaceutical compositions. For example, cetyl alcohol may be used in pharmaceutical compositions as emulsifying and stiffening agent (The Merck Index, 2001, 13th edition, pp. 347-8, #2037), oleyl alcohol may be used as a carrier for medicaments (The Merck Index, 2001, 13th edition, p. 1222, #6900), and alkyl esters of oleic acid may be used as solvents for medicaments (The Merck Index, 2001, 13th edition, p. 6899, #6898).
A mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols, primarily isolated from beeswax, was described as having moderate anti-inflammatory activity. The composition of such a mixture was not disclosed (Rodriguez et al., 1998).
The mass spectra of nicotinates of long chain alcohols, e.g. octadecyl and (Z)-9-octadecen-1-yl nicotinates, have been studied to elucidate the structure of long chain alcohols (Vetter and Meister, 1981). No biologic activity was assigned to the compounds.
Esters of 4-aminomethyl-benzoic acid (PAMBA) with C6-C16 saturated alcohols, e.g. decyl, undecyl, tetradecyl and hexadecyl alcohols, have been tested for their antifibrinolytic activity and found to be not active (Markwardt et al., 1966). PAMBA esters with short chain alcohols were found to be able to decrease the proliferation of in vitro cultivated endothelial cells, the hexyl ester being the more effective (Beyer and Pilgrim, 1991).
Alkyl N,N-disubstituted amino acids, e.g. alkyl N,N-dimethylamino acetate wherein the alkyl is octyl, decyl, dodecyl, or tetradecyl, and decyl(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)acetate, have been described as transdermal penetration enhancers for indomethacin and possibly for other drugs (Wong et al., 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,378).
Complexes for use in gene therapy comprising a therapeutically active substance and a cationic lipid such as quaternary piperazinium compounds substituted at both the 1 and 4 positions by a methyl and an oleyloxycarbonylmethyl radicals are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,423.
Esters of N,N-dimethyl-aminoacetic acid with long chain alkanols, e.g. tetradecyl, cetyl and stearyl alcohols, and alkenols, are described in JP 2000-302650 for use in hair cosmetics. The oleyl ester is not specifically disclosed.
Betaine [(carboxymethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide inner salt] esters with long-chain alcohols such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl, pamityl, stearyl and oleyl alcohol were prepared and their pharmacodynamic properties have been studied (Metayer and Jacob, 1952), or their activity as biocides for cooling water treatment was tested (Rucka et al., 1983).
Quaternary ammonium salts of lauryl, myristyl and cetyl esters of N-carboxymethyl-piperidine, -piperazine and -morpholine compounds were described as germicides (Smith et al., 1951).
Stearyl esters of amino acids, e.g. glycine, phenylglycine, alanine, valine, leucine, lysine, proline, phenylalanine, and tyrosine, and stearyl esters of peptides have been proposed as adjuvants for bacterial and viral human vaccines (Penney et al., 1985, 1993; Nixon-George et al., 1990).
Esters of DL-ω-phenyl-amino acids with C4-C10 alkanols, such as DL-2-phenylglycine octyl or decyl ester or DL-2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)glycine octyl ester have been described as antiphlogistic, antihistaminic, spasmolytic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (Schulz et al., 1982; Schewe et al., 1991; Kontogiorgis et al., 2001).
Higher alkyl esters of amino acid, e.g. lauryl, myristyl, cetyl and stearyl esters of glycine, phenylglycine, alanine, valine, norvaline, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, and phenylalanine, and their N-lower alkyl derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,403 (Misato et al., 1974) as useful for control of plant diseases.

Basic esters of fatty alcohols and their use as anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory agents


A film cooling passage through the external wall of a hollow airfoil having in serial flow relation a metering section and a diffusing section, the diffusing section characterized in that it has four inward facing surfaces that define a passage having a generally rectangular cross-section and an outlet over which a hot gas stream flows in a "downstream" direction. One of the surfaces of the diffusing section is generally "downstream" of the other surfaces, and this surface defines a section of a circular cylinder.

The turbine blades, or airfoils, of axial flow gas turbine engines are directly exposed to the hot gas stream which exits the combustion section of the gas turbine engine. As combustor temperatures are increased to increase the performance of gas turbine engines, the temperature of the hot gas stream may exceed the critical design temperature limits determined by the airfoil material capability, maximum stress, and life requirement considerations. To prevent this, the external surface of the airfoils may be cooled by discharging cooling air from an internal cavity of the airfoil onto the external surface thereof through a plurality of small passages to create a film of cooling air. This film forms a boundary layer on the external surface of the airfoil downstream of each passage thereby providing a protective film of cool air between the hot gas stream and the external surface of the airfoil. The angle between the axis of the passage and the external surface of the airfoil, and the direction of the flow of the hot gas stream over the airfoil surface at the outlet of each passage are important factors which influence the effectiveness of the film cooling. Since film cooling effectiveness decreases rapidly with increasing distance from a particular cooling passage outlet, maintaining high film cooling effectiveness for as long a distance as possible over as large a surface area as possible is the main goal of airfoil film cooling.
It is well known in the art that the engine airfoils must be cooled using a minimum amount of cooling air, since the cooling air is working fluid which has been extracted from the compressor, and bleeding off working fluid downstream of the compressor reduces overall engine efficiency. Thus, airfoil designers face the problem of providing for cooling of all the engine airfoils using a maximum allowable cooling fluid flow rate. The amount of fluid which flows from the internal cavity of the airfoil into the hot gas stream through each individual cooling passage is controlled by the metering area--the minimum cross-sectional area--of the cooling passage. The metering area is typically located adjacent the intersection of the passage and the internal cavity. The combined metering areas of all of the cooling passages and orifices leading from the internal cavity of a given airfoil limits the total flow rate of coolant from the airfoil for a given pressure differential between the internal cavity and the external surface of the airfoil. The airfoil designer has the job of specifying the passage size and the spacing between passages, as well as the shape and orientation of the passages, such that all areas of the airfoil are maintained below critical design temperature limits. Ideally, designers of airfoils would like to bathe the entire external surface of the airfoil with a film of cooling air. However, cooling air leaving the passage exit usually forms a narrow strip of cooling film immediately downstream of each cooling passage outlet. This strip is typically as wide as the width of the passage outlet, that width being the dimension of the passage outlet that is perpendicular to the flow of the hot gas stream. Since each passage reduces the structural integrity of the airfoil to some extent, limitations must be placed on the number, size, and spacing of cooling passages. These limitations have resulted in gaps in the protective film and/or areas of low film cooling effectiveness that produce hot spots on the airfoils. Airfoil hot spots are one factor which limit the operating temperature of the engine.
What is needed is a means of providing improved film cooling effectiveness without increasing the amount of cooling air required and without significantly reducing the structural integrity of the airfoil.

High coverage shaped diffuser film hole for thin walls


A memory device has multiple bi-directional data paths. One of the multiple bi-directional data paths is configured to transfer data at one speed. Another one of the multiple bi-directional data paths is configured to transfer data at another speed. The memory device has different modes. Depending on a certain mode, the memory device uses different combinations of the multiple bi-directional data paths to transfer data either at a single speed or at multiple speeds. In some cases, the data represents data information to be stored in memory cells of the memory device. In other cases, the data represents control information and feedback information to be transferred to and from internal circuits, besides the memory cells, of the memory device.

Memory devices reside in many computers and electronic products to store data. A typical memory device has a data path and many memory cells. The data path transfers data to and from the memory cells. Typically, the data path is designed to transfer data at a specific speed (frequency). This specific speed is the normal speed.
In some situations, transferring data in a memory device at a speed different from the normal speed is preferable. However, in most memory devices, the data path designed to transfer data at one speed may not transfer data properly at another speed.
Therefore, transferring data in most memory devices at a speed different from the normal speed may result in an improper operation.

Memory device having data paths with multiple speeds


A document discarding system includes: a document discarding device that discards a document; an image reading device that is used by a client requesting to discard the document; and a document managing device that can communicate with the document discarding device and the image reading device.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a document discarding system, a document discarding device, a document managing device, a computer readable medium, and a document discarding method for managing the formation to the discard of a paper document (refer it simply to as a "document" hereinafter).
2. Related Art
Usually, various techniques have been proposed to maintain a high security for not only document data, but also a document obtained by printing and outputting the document data.

Document discarding system, document discarding device, document managing device, computer readable medium, and document discarding method


A substantially flat abutting surface 20a is provided on an outer side of a carriage member 6 which is axially movable along the outer periphery of a cylinder tube 2, while a rail 4 with a substantially flat guide surface 4a is mounted between a pair of end covers closing the opposite axial ends of the cylinder tube. Rotational movements of the carriage member 6 are restricted by the rail 4 which is located on the outer side of the carriage 6.

1. Field of the Art
This invention relates to a magnet coupling type rodless cylinder.
2. Prior Art
Magnet coupling type rodless cylinders, which have been known in the art, are generally constituted by a cylinder tube formed of a non-magnetic material in a cylindrical shape, a pair of end covers closing the opposite axial ends of the cylinder tube, a piston received in the cylinder tube for hermetical sliding movements therein, a carriage member axially movably mounted on the cylinder tube to transfer an article along the outer periphery of the cylinder tube, and a magnet coupling provided between and coupling the cylinder tube and the carriage member with each other in such a way that the carriage member is moved in synchronism with the piston when the piston is moved axially within the cylinder tube by introduction of a compressed air pressure through an air charging and discharging port in either one of the end covers of the cylinder tube.
In a rodless cylinder of this sort, the carriage member is usually associated with a rotation blocking mechanism thereby to block rotational movements of the carriage member which would otherwise tend to turn about the cylinder tube. For instance, in case of Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application 62-19508 (Utility Model Publication H4-19214), rotational movements of a carriage member are blocked by a plural number of skewer type rods which are extended between end covers at the opposite axial ends of a cylinder tube through a carriage member.
However, conventional rotation blocking mechanisms which have a plural number of skewer type rods passed through a carriage member in such a manner invariably necessitate to increase the diameters of the carriage member and end covers for attachment thereto of the blocking skewer rods, resulting in a substantial increase in size of the rodless cylinder as a whole.
Therefore, there has been a demand for a rodless cylinder with a rotation blocking mechanism which is smaller in size and compact in construction as compared with the above-described conventional skewer rod type blocking mechanism.
In addition, for the purpose of detecting the operating position of a carriage member, in many cases rodless cylinders of this sort are provided with a position detection mechanism, which generally includes a rail member extended between the two end covers, a magneto-sensitive position detector switch mounted on the rail, and a magnet fixed on the carriage member.
For providing such a position detection mechanism on a conventional rodless cylinder, however, it becomes necessary to mount the rail member on the cylinder tube in addition to the afore-mentioned skewer type rods of the rotation blocking mechanism, resulting in a rodless cylinder which is further enlarged in size and complicated in construction involving an increased number of component parts.
These problems could be solved if one succeeds to provide a rotation blocking mechanism which is also capable of supporting a position detector switch in place of the rail member as used on the above-described prior art rodless cylinder. In such a case, measures should be taken to prevent malfunctioning of the position detector switch as caused under the influence of magnetic leakage from the magnet coupling. Besides, if arrangements are made to charge and discharge compressed air into and out of a pressure chamber on one side of the piston via the rotation blocking mechanism, it would become possible to make connections of all piping tubes to the rodless cylinder collectively through one of the end plates in an extremely convenient fashion.


A DC-DC converter includes: an output terminal, wherein the output terminal has a first output terminal pin and a second output terminal pin; a number of rectifier elements; a voltage limiting unit having an electrical energy store, wherein the voltage limiting unit is designed to limit voltages across the rectifier elements; and a clocked energy regulator unit which is designed to regulate at a setpoint value energy which is stored in the electrical energy store.

In DC-DC converters (also called DC choppers), for example in the form of push-pull forward converters, the stray inductances of the usually used transformers in conjunction with the commutation behavior of the secondary-side rectifier diodes produce switching overvoltages across the power semiconductors, which switching overvoltages would lead to destruction of the power semiconductors if not limited or would require extreme oversizing of the dielectric strength.
Conventionally, RC elements are connected in parallel with the rectifier diodes of the DC-DC converters in order to damp the switching overvoltages. One disadvantage of this is the resulting heat loss in the damping resistors. Depending on the current load, switching energy, temperature etc., this can result in considerable problems in respect of heat dissipation which can lead to the achievable output current being limited.
The invention is based on the problem of providing a DC-DC converter which ensures effective protection switching overvoltages and which at the same time produces as little electrical loss as possible.
The invention solves this problem by virtue of a DC-DC converter comprising: an output terminal, wherein the output terminal comprises a first output terminal pin and a second output terminal pin; a number of rectifier elements; a voltage limiting unit comprising an electrical energy store, wherein the voltage limiting unit is designed to limit voltages across the rectifier elements; and a clocked energy regulator unit which is designed to regulate at a setpoint value energy which is stored in the electrical energy store.
The invention relates to a DC-DC converter, in particular in the form of a push-pull forward converter. The DC-DC converter can be of unidirectional or bidirectional design.
The DC-DC converter has an output terminal, wherein the output terminal has a first output terminal pin (positive pole) and a second output terminal pin (negative pole). A higher potential can be produced at the first output terminal pin than at the second output terminal pin. Here, the term "output" is not intended to be understood in a restrictive manner to the effect that it necessarily has to be a unidirectional DC-DC converter comprising a dedicated input and output. In the case of a bidirectional DC-DC converter, the output terminal is one of the two (non-directional) outer terminals.
The DC-DC converter further has a number of (for example between 2 and 4) rectifier elements.
The DC-DC converter further has a, in particular passive, voltage limiting unit (overvoltage protection unit). The voltage limiting unit is designed to limit or to reduce (over) voltages across the rectifier elements. The voltage limiting unit has an electrical energy store which is designed to at least partially buffer-store energy which originates from voltage peaks due to switching processes.
The DC-DC converter further has a clocked energy regulator unit which is coupled to the voltage limiting unit and is designed to limit and/or regulate at a setpoint value energy which is stored in the electrical energy store or a voltage which is present at the energy store by the energy regulator unit transmitting, for example, energy which is stored in the energy store in the direction of the output terminal when the energy which is stored in the energy store exceeds an energy setpoint value or a voltage which is present at the energy store exceeds a voltage threshold value. The energy regulator unit may comprise a clocked switching means, wherein a clock of the switching means can differ from an operating clock of the DC-DC converter.
The energy regulator unit allows switching energy to be provided in a regenerative manner, for example, at the output terminal, without the switching energy being converted into heat in a dissipative manner in a resistor. Effective overvoltage limiting is ensured at the same time.
The clocked energy regulator unit may comprise a (clocked) DC chopper (can generally also be called a clocked chopper), for example in the form of an inverse converter, which is designed to transmit energy which is stored in the electrical energy store in the direction of the output terminal. The DC chopper can function as an actuator in the context of energy or voltage regulation, for example by transmitting energy in the direction of the output terminal only when the energy which is stored in the electrical energy store exceeds a setpoint value. The DC chopper can be, for example, an inverting or a non-inverting buck converter or boost converter.
The DC-DC converter may comprise a, for example DC-isolating, transformer. The transformer has, in addition to one, two or more primary windings, at least one secondary winding, wherein the rectifier elements are designed to rectify one or more voltages across the at least one secondary winding.
The transformer may comprise precisely one first secondary winding and precisely one second secondary winding, wherein the rectifier elements are designed to rectify voltages across the first and the second secondary winding.
The rectifier elements can be diodes. As an alternative, the rectifier elements can also be transistors, for example MOSFETs, as a result of which synchronous rectification is possible.
The DC-DC converter may comprise an inductive component, for example in the form of a coil or inductor. A first terminal of the first secondary winding and a first terminal of the second secondary winding can be indirectly (with further interposed components) or directly (without further interposed components) electrically connected to the second output terminal pin. The first rectifier element and the inductive component can be looped in between a second terminal of the first secondary winding and the first output terminal pin. The second rectifier element can be looped in between a second terminal of the second secondary winding and a connecting node of the first rectifier element and of the inductive component.
The voltage limiting unit may comprise a first diode and a second diode. The electrical energy store can be a capacitor or comprise a capacitor. The anode of the first diode and the anode of the second diode can be electrically connected to a first terminal of the capacitor. The cathode of the first diode can be electrically connected to the second terminal of the first secondary winding. The cathode of the second diode can be electrically connected to the second terminal of the second secondary winding. A second terminal of the capacitor can be electrically connected to a connecting node of the first rectifier element, of the second rectifier element and of the inductive component.
The energy regulator unit may comprise a decoupling diode and a charge transfer capacitor. The cathode of the decoupling diode can be electrically connected to the anode of the first diode and to the anode of the second diode. A first terminal of the charge transfer capacitor can be electrically connected to the anode of the decoupling diode. A second terminal of the charge transfer capacitor can be electrically connected to the second output terminal pin. A first input terminal pin of the DC chopper can be electrically connected to the cathode of the decoupling diode. A second input terminal pin of the DC chopper can be electrically connected to the first terminal of the first secondary winding, to the first terminal of the second secondary winding and to the second output terminal pin.
In an alternative embodiment, the DC-DC converter may comprise an inductive component, for example in the form of an inductor or coil, wherein the inductive component is looped in between a connecting node of a first terminal of the first secondary winding and of a first terminal of the second secondary winding and the first output terminal pin. The first rectifier element can be looped in between a second terminal of the second secondary winding and the second output terminal pin. The second rectifier element can be looped in between a second terminal of the first secondary winding and the second output terminal pin.
In this case, the voltage limiting unit may comprise a first diode and a second diode. The electrical energy store can be a capacitor. The cathode of the first diode and the cathode of the second diode can be electrically connected to a first terminal of the capacitor. The anode of the first diode can be electrically connected to the second terminal of the first secondary winding. The anode of the second diode can be electrically connected to the second terminal of the second secondary winding. A second terminal of the capacitor can be connected to the second output terminal pin.
A first input terminal pin of the DC chopper can be electrically connected to the cathode of the first diode, to the cathode of the second diode and to the first terminal of the capacitor. A second input terminal pin of the DC chopper can be electrically connected to the second output terminal pin and to the second terminal of the capacitor.
The transformer may comprise at least one primary winding. The DC-DC converter may comprise at least one clocked half-bridge circuit which is designed to apply a voltage which varies over time or a current which varies over time to at least one primary winding. In this case, the DC-DC converter (or a control unit of the DC-DC converter) is designed to set a switching frequency of the at least one half-bridge circuit independently of a switching frequency of the clocked energy regulator unit or of the DC chopper and/or to set switching phases of the at least one half-bridge circuit independently of switching phases of the clocked energy regulator unit or of the DC-DC converter. By way of example, the half-bridge circuit can carry out a pulse width modulation and the energy regulator unit can likewise carry out a pulse width modulation, wherein both the respective period durations and also the respective duty cycles of the pulse width modulation can be set independently of one another.
The transformer may comprise a first primary winding and a second primary winding. The DC-DC converter may comprise a first clocked half-bridge circuit and a second clocked half-bridge circuit, wherein the first clocked half-bridge circuit is designed to apply a voltage which varies over time or a current which varies over time to the first primary winding, and the second clocked half-bridge circuit is designed to apply a voltage which varies over time or a current which varies over time to the second primary winding. In this case, the DC-DC converter is designed to set a switching frequency of the first clocked half-bridge circuit and of the second clocked half-bridge circuit independently of a switching frequency of the clocked energy regulator unit or of the DC chopper and/or to set switching phases of the first clocked half-bridge circuit and of the second clocked half-bridge circuit independently of switching phases of the clocked energy regulator unit or of the DC chopper.


A golf bag includes a transparent panel portion through which the inside of the golf bag is visible. Preferably, the golf bag is constructed of a bag main body having a side panel and defining a top opening, with a bottom panel attached to a bottom part of the bag main body and a top frame portion attached to the top opening. The transparent panel portion is formed in at least a part of the side panel.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf bag, and more specifically to a golf bag having a transparent panel portion which can prevent confinement of moisture in the golf bag, in other words, can protect clubs from rusting and can facilitate removing and returning of the clubs from the golf bag. The term "transparent" as used herein should be interpreted in a broad sense so that it embraces not only "transparent" itself but also similar words such as "translucent" or "see-through" as long as objects of the present invention to be described subsequently can be achieved.
2) Description of the Related Art
Conventional golf bags are basically constructed of a bag main body, a bottom attached to a bottom part of the bag main body, and a top frame portion attached to an upper part of the bag main body.
A golf bag of the above sort, especially the bag main body is made of a material which does not permit transmittance of light, so that the inside of the bag is not visible through the bag main body. Upon removing a club from the golf bag or returning one to the golf bag, there is the tendency for the club to be forcedly handled because the inside is not visible through the bag main portion, it is not possible to see any obstruction by other golf clubs or their shafts. This is inconvenient and, in some instances, can even result in breakage of the club. When a golf bag of the above sort is used on a rainy day, it is difficult to dry the bag because sunlight cannot penetrate the inside of the bag when the bag is being dried. If the inside of the bag is not dried sufficiently, clubs may rust due to the moisture inside the bag.


The present description refers to a computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving a resource request at a representational state transfer (REST) client from a user, the resource request including a user ID, determining, by the REST client, a key pair including a public key and a corresponding private key that are associated with the user ID, obtaining, by the REST client, a certificate associated with the user ID that is signed by a certificate authority and based on at least the user ID and the public key associated with the user ID, impersonating, by the REST client, the user to a REST server using the certificate and the private key associated with the user ID, and accessing, by the REST client on behalf of the user, using a stateless protocol with the REST server, the requested resource.

Representational state transfer (REST) is a style of software architecture for distributed media systems such as the World Wide Web. The REST architectural style governs the behavior of participants, and identifies a number of constraints. REST was initially described in the context of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), but is not limited to HTTP. Applications that comply with the constraints or recommendations of REST are described as being RESTful. RESTful applications typically make use of existing, well defined interfaces and capabilities.
The REST architectural style describes a number of constraints to the architecture while leaving the implementation of the individual components flexible and up to the protocol designer. According to these constraints, clients and servers are typically separate or communicate via a uniform interface. For example, HTTP allows several standard methods such as Get, Post, Put, Delete, etc. In addition, REST software architecture typically involves a stateless protocol in which no client context is stored on the server between requests. State information may be stored on the server, such as resources. For example, resources stored on the server may be addressable or accessible via an identifier or URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Also, the client may store state information. A layered system or a layered architecture is typically used for REST based architectures, and in such cases, clients may not be able to determine whether it is connected directly to an end server or to an intermediary (or intermediate device or client) along the way.
HTTP is an example of a RESTful protocol. RESTful protocols, such as HTTP, may include limited features or fields for communicating security credentials. For example, hash values may be provided within HTTP headers. However, RESTful protocols, such as HTTP, do not typically allow for other, more complex security credentials (such as security tokens or certificates, etc.) to be communicated within HTTP messages or requests. Therefore, REST clients and REST servers (such as, for example, HTTP clients and servers) may be limited in their ability to communicate security credentials and perform some types of security related functions.

User authentication for intermediate representational state transfer (REST) client via certificate authority


A dynamic voltage pump circuit includes a first stage voltage pump, a second stage voltage pump, a limiter, and a comparator. The first stage voltage pump generates an intermediate supply voltage according to an input supply voltage and a pump signal. The second stage voltage pump generates an output supply voltage according to the intermediate supply voltage, the pump signal, and an enable signal; the second stage voltage pump is enabled and disabled when the enable signal is asserted and de-asserted, respectively. The limiter controls the pump signal according to a comparison of the output supply voltage with a first reference voltage. The comparator compares the first reference voltage with a second reference voltage to generate the enable signal, and can assert the enable signal when the desired output supply voltage exceeds the maximum possible intermediate supply voltage generated by the first stage voltage pump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dynamic voltage pump circuit, and more particularly, a dynamic voltage pump circuit for increased efficiency at low output voltages and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As today's applications for electronic systems grow at ever-increasing rates, the demand for more efficient energy performance is never ceasing. One such circuit providing power to electronic systems is the voltage pump.
Voltage pumps are circuits that generate a voltage larger than the supply voltage from which they operate. Voltage pumps are key circuits in such applications as Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) and flash memory devices. These devices normally operate at low voltages, but require high voltage pulses to erase existing data from memory cells before they can be written with new data. The higher voltage needed to erase the memory cells is generated internally with an on-chip voltage pump.
While voltage pump circuits are capable of efficiencies sometimes as high as 90-95%, this means that there is at least a 5% wasted energy overhead for operating a voltage pump. Furthermore, a single-stage voltage pump is limited to providing an external supply voltage of at most twice its input supply voltage; to achieve external supply voltage in multiples higher than two, consecutive stages of voltage pumps are necessary. For instance, to provide an external supply voltage capable of four times the input supply voltage (as shown in the related art depicted in FIG. 1), a two-stage voltage pump circuit is implemented: a first stage 110 doubles the input supply voltage, whereas a second stage 120 doubles the already-doubled intermediate supply voltage. The limiter 130 provides a signal to control both the first and second stages 110, 120. Because each stage of a voltage pump has (1190, 120) an inefficiency overhead, having more stages in a voltage pump 100 reduces the overall efficiency of the voltage pump 100.

Dynamic voltage pump circuit and method of dynamically generating an output supply voltage thereof


A system and method is disclosed for print media back-feed control for a printer. The invention incorporates use of a downstream sensor to detect at least one of a leading edge of a print media or an indicia correlated to parameters of the print media. The print media can then be back-fed by a controller to accurately position a print line of the print media proximate to a print head of the printer without losing sufficient nip pressure.

The present invention relates to a system and method of print media back-feed control for a printer, and more particularly to a system and method incorporating a downstream sensor for assisting controlled back-feeding of the print media.
In order for a printer to accurately and repeatedly print a defined image (e.g., text, graphics, etc.) on a particular print media (e.g., paper, adhesive label, transparency, etc.) the spatial relationship between the printer and the print media must be sensed, programmed, or otherwise known by the printer. Moreover, the parameters of the print media (generally including the bounds of the print area of the particular print media) must also be available to the printer. In most printing applications, the print media typically defines a leading edge, a top (i.e., generally the first available print area of the print media as the print media travels through the printer during printing), and a print line location (i.e., the location on the print media where the print head is programmed to print at a particular moment in time). As a result, defined spatial relations, both between the print media and the print head, and relative to the bounds of the print media, allow a printer to produce the desired result.
The spatial relation between the printer and the print media is more important in certain printing applications. For example, a thermal transfer printer incorporates print media that is often packaged as a rolled web of individual repeating labels. The print media is unrolled and directed along a path that passes between the print head (i.e., the general structure that imparts the image to the print media) and an adjacent platen roller. The force established between the print head and the platen roller is referred to as the nip pressure. The nip pressure is designed to create sufficient friction between the print media and the platen roller to allow the platen roller to direct the print media downstream or upstream relative to the print head. Proper operation of the printer requires that a portion of the print media remain between the print head and platen roller at all times, thereby ensuring that the nip pressure maintains the platen roller in driving engagement with the print media.
Programming or manually setting the spatial relations and print media parameters for each print media is repetitive and time consuming. As a result, printers often include a sensor positioned between the print media supply spool and the print head to detect at least the start of a label or other print media. Thus, as the print media is directed toward the print head, the sensor senses indices (e.g., notches) of the print media that are correlated to a particular print line location, such as the top of the print media of a preprogrammed print media having known parameters. In effect, the spatial relationship between the print media and the print head of the printer is therefore defined.
The above techniques work well until the spatial relationship between the print media and the print head is degraded or becomes undefined. This may occur when the power to the printer is cycled, when a new web of print media is installed, as the result of a print media jam, or many other circumstances that prevent a printer controller from knowing the present spatial position of the print media relative to the print head.
The spatial relation between the print media and the print head can be reestablished in a variety of ways. For example, the printer can simply feed the print media downstream until the sensor between the print media and the print head senses the top of the print media; however, this approach results in wasted print media. Alternatively, the print media may include complex indices that provide a relatively accurate indication of the present location of the print media; however, this results in expensive print media due to the addition of the detailed indexing and may not provide the needed accuracy for high-quality printing.
An additional approach is to back-feed the print media upstream toward the print head; however, this results in the print media being inadvertently back-fed beyond the print head, resulting in a loss of nip pressure acting on the print media at the interface between the print head and the platen roller. Without the nip pressure, the platen roller is unable to drive the print media requiring user intervention to re-feed the print media between the print head and the platen roller—wasting the user's time and causing frustration.
In light of the above, a need exists for a system and method that provide for efficient, economical, and autonomous print media back-feed control.

System and method of print media back-feed control for a printer


An electronic thermometer includes a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of a part to be measured, a prediction means fro predicting an equilibrium temperature by using the temperature being sensed, and a temperature display means having a temperature display unit. The temperature display means switches the display of the temperature display unit from the predicted temperature predicted by the prediction means to the actual measured temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means, based on a variation state of a peak of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means. Accordingly, a variation in displayed temperature is reduced, when the display switching is performed from the predicted temperature to the actual measured temperature, and a determination of the display switching from the predicted temperature to the actual measured temperature can be achieved by a simple circuit.

Generally, a temperature sensor of the electronic thermometer senses a body temperature, a detection signal from this temperature sensor is subjected to a signal processing, and then an actual measured temperature is displayed. Since just after starting the measurement, there is a difference in temperature, between the temperature sensor and the body, it takes time to attain a thermal equilibrium state between the temperature sensor and a part to be measured.
Therefore, in the electronic thermometer, an equilibrium temperature in the thermal equilibrium state is predicted based on a variation in the actual measured temperature. The predicted temperature is sequentially updated and displayed, and thereby reducing the measuring time.
This type of electronic thermometer which predicts an equilibrium temperature switches a display of the predicted temperature to a display of the actual measured temperature, when the actual measured temperature approaches the equilibrium temperature, considering an error between the equilibrium temperature and an actual measured temperature.
If this switching from the predicted temperature display to the actual measured temperature display is performed after a lapse of predetermined period of time from the start of measurement, there is a problem of low reliability, since the display switching may be performed even when the actual measured temperature has not attained the equilibrium temperature yet. In order to solve this problem, there has been proposed an electronic thermometer having a function as the following: A difference value between the actual measured temperature and the predicted temperature, or the rate of increase of the actual measured temperature is obtained, and when this obtained value falls into a predetermined range, a timer is set. Until the time set in the timer is up, the predicted temperature is displayed, and thereafter, the display is switched from the predicted temperature display to the actual measured temperature display (see patent document 1).    Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 62-190427


A monitor device for selectively detecting and recording conditions at selected points within a system during operation, including a trigger enable memory for storing selectable trigger enabling codes wherein each code corresponds to a trigger signal representing the occurrence of a corresponding condition to be detected, a trigger generation device connected from first selected points and responsive to selected conditions thereupon for generating the trigger signals representing the occurrence of selected conditions, a trigger output device responsive to the enabling codes and the trigger signals for providing trigger outputs upon the occurrence of a trigger signal corresponding to a selected trigger enabling code, and a silo bank memory connected from second selected points and responsive to the trigger outputs for recording conditions present at the second points.

1. Field of Use
The present invention relates to monitoring the operation of computer systems and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for selectively capturing trigger conditions.
2. Prior Art
A recurring problem in monitoring the performance and operation of computer systems, for example, the states appearing on system buses during operation, is the ability of the user of a monitoring apparatus to selectively capture the conditions to be monitored and detected. For example, the user of a monitoring apparatus of the prior art generally has the ability to capture all of the events occurring from a single source within a given time after initiation of the monitoring process, but not the ability to selectively capture information related to specific, selected events that might occur independently from several sources and at any time after start of the monitoring. That is, the monitoring apparatus of the prior art operates in much the same manner as a tape recorder, turn it on and it records everything that happen until it runs out of tape. Unless, therefore, the storage capabilities of a monitoring device are impracticably large, the user has difficulty in capturing events that may occur only at infrequent intervals or only long after the monitoring process has started and may not, in fact, capture the events of interest because the monitoring device's data recording apparatus becomes saturated, or filled with data. This is particularly true in the case of events which are either intermittent, such as certain types of failures, or which happen only infrequently in the normal operation of a system. In addition, and contributing to the problem, the monitoring devices of the prior art are generally not capable of selectively defining and capturing events of interest, but must capture much data which is not of interest in order to capture the data that is of interest, and cannot monitor events from a variety of sources, making repetitive monitoring operations necessary to establish correlations between events at various sources.

Bus monitor with selective capture of independently occuring events from multiple sources


An X-ray examination apparatus utilizes an image sensor matrix for picking up an X-ray image, i.e. for converting incident X-rays into electric charges. The X-ray examination apparatus includes a control circuit for controlling the image sensor matrix so as to form a dark signal. The X-ray examination apparatus also includes a correction unit which is arranged to derive the electronic image signal from the primary image and the dark signal. The electronic image signal represents image information in the X-ray image and has not been disturbed by electric charges which have been read with a delay.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an X-ray examination apparatus, including an image sensor matrix for picking up an X-ray image, and a correction unit for correcting disturbances in the primary image signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
An X-ray examination apparatus of this kind is known from European Patent Application EP 0 642 264, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,238.
The known X-ray examination apparatus includes a correction unit for counteracting disturbances in the electronic image signal which are caused by delayed reading of charge. Incident X-rays release charge carriers, notably photoelectrons in the image sensor matrix and the X-ray image is thus picked up. A part of said photoelectrons can be intercepted in a trap state, be retained therein for some time, and can escape at a later stage, for example due to thermal excitation, and enter the reading circuit as electric charges read with a delay. If the primary image signal with the disturbances were applied to a monitor for displaying the image information, not only the image information of the instantaneous image would be reproduced, but at the same time also image information of a previously picked up image. As a result, the observer will perceive after-images superposed on the instantaneous image. The correction unit of the known X-ray examination apparatus utilizes a physical model for the interception and subsequent escape of the photoelectrons so as to correct disturbances due to electric charges read in delayed fashion. It is a drawback that the known X-ray examination apparatus requires a rather large image memory capacity for storing image information of a number of preceding images and/or for storing correction values for a long series of X-ray images as well as for different circumstances in which such X-ray images are formed. It is a further drawback that the correction unit of the known X-ray examination apparatus requires a powerful arithmetic unit for executing the desired correction on the basis of the image information stored. Because elaborate and complex operations are performed on a large number of data in the known X-ray examination apparatus, a rather long period of time is required to correct the primary image signal in respect of after-images. The long processing time prolongs the time elapsing between the picking up of the X-ray image and the reproduction of the image information in the X-ray image, for example on a monitor. Therefore, the known X-ray examination apparatus is not suitable for non-disturbed reproduction of the image information in an X-ray image quickly after it has been picked up. This concerns notably disturbances due to the superposition of image information of a previously picked up X-ray image on the image information to be reproduced, said superposed information being reproduced as an after-image together with the image to be reproduced. Consequently, the known X-ray examination apparatus is notably not suitable for reproducing a series of non-disturbed X-ray images in rapid succession.

X-ray examination apparatus including an image sensor matrix with a correction unit


A flat secondary battery has a laminate-type power generation element in which two or more plate-like electrodes are laminated via each of separators; and a pair of rectangular exterior members when viewed from a lamination direction of the two or more electrodes, the rectangular exterior members sealing the laminate-type power generation element and an electrolyte solution. At least one exterior member of the pair of the rectangular exterior members comprises: an abutting part including an abutting surface that abuts against an uppermost layer electrode of the two or more electrodes; a sealing part at which the rectangular exterior members overlap each other at an outer circumferential position of the rectangular exterior members; and an extending part that extends from the abutting part to the sealing part, and the flat secondary battery satisfies:

JP 2001-297748A discloses a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a flat battery element, a bag-like exterior case which houses the flat battery element, a positive electrode lead which is led out from a sealing part of the exterior case, and a negative electrode lead which is led out from the sealing part of the exterior case. The flat battery element is configured such that sheet-like or film-like positive electrode plates, separators for holding electrolyte, and negative electrode plates are laminated. One end of the positive electrode lead is connected to the positive electrode plates and one end of the negative electrode lead is connected to the negative electrode plates.
In the above secondary battery, however, the interior space of the battery formed between the power generation element and the case is not taken into account. Therefore, when the charge and discharge are repeated and accordingly the electrodes expand in the thickness direction to deform the case, the pressure applied from the laminate exterior case to the power generation element becomes ununiform to lead to ununiform cell reaction and poor durability of the cell.

Abstract: 1.03  ≤      L                            b          2                +                  d          2                      ≤  1.22


A sheet feeding apparatus for reconveying copy paper sheets carrying an image to a transfer section by suction. Along the transport path to the apparatus is arranged a curl inducing mechanism that induces curls in the copy paper sheets, whereby the copy paper sheets with upwardly curled edges are loaded in the apparatus. With this arrangement, the copy paper sheets are surely separated by injecting air, thereby preventing multi-feeds.

Conventionally, as illustrated in FIG. 6, an electrophotographic printer capable of producing duplex copies and composite copies normally comprises the following: a transfer section 34 incorporating a photoreceptor 32 and a transfer charger 33, where an image is transferred to a sheet of copy paper S; a fixing section 36 having a pair of upper and lower heat rollers 36a, where the transferred image is fixed onto the copy paper sheet S; and a circulating path along which the copy paper sheet S carrying the image developed at the transfer section 34 and the fixing section 36 is reconveyed to the transfer section 34 to produce duplex copy or composite copy.
The transfer section 34, fixing section 36, and a transport belt 35 are arranged along the circulating path. The transport belt 35 conveys sheets of copy paper S from the transfer section 34 to the fixing section 36. As shown in FIG. 7, the path further has a diverter 37 for controlling the feeding direction of the copy paper S, a sheet inverting mechanism 40 for inverting the copy paper S, a sheet feeding apparatus 43 for reconveying the copy paper S to the transfer section 34, and plural rollers including transport rollers 38 for delivering the copy paper S.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the sheet inverting mechanism 40 comprises a diverter 41 and a pair of inversion rollers 42. The inversion rollers 42 feed out a conveyed sheet of copy paper S in a direction opposite to the direction in which it has travelled. At this time, the diverter 41 turns in the A direction, so the copy paper sheet is fed out in the direction of the sheet feeding apparatus 43. This mechanism ensures that sheets of copy paper S are conveyed to the sheet feeding apparatus 43 in an inverted state.
As shown in FIG. 9, the sheet feeding apparatus 43 comprises an intermediate tray 44 whereon a stack of copy paper sheets S are temporarily stored, and an injection duct 45 for injecting air between the copy paper sheets S. The intermediate tray 44 is composed of a sheet stacker 44a where the copy paper sheets S are loaded, a suction duct 44b for pulling a copy sheet S' which lays at the bottom of the copy paper sheets S on the sheet stacker 44a, and a sheet feed belt 44c which delivers the bottom copy sheet S' in the E direction, i.e. to the transfer section 34. Sheets of copy paper S stored on the sheet stacker 44a are separated by the flow of air from the injection duct 45, and simultaneously the bottom copy sheet S' of the copy paper S is drawn down onto the sheet feed belt 44c by the suction duct 44b and conveyed to the transfer section 34.
In a conventional arrangement, however, the copy paper sheets S carrying an image which has been fixed thereto by the heat rollers 36a at the fixing section 36 tend to curl up due to great heat. Also, the diverter 37 coercively controls the feeding direction, so that the copy paper sheets S have curls corresponding to the curve of the diverter 37.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, this arrangement makes the copy paper sheets S loaded on the sheet stacker 44a in the sheet feeding apparatus 43 have downwardly curled edges. The down-curls form a space between the copy paper sheets S and the sheet stacker 44a in the middle. Therefore, when reconveying the bottom copy sheet S', the curls inhibits the air from the injection duct 45 from flowing. As a result, sheets can not be sufficiently separated, causing multi-feeds.

Sheet feeding unit incorporating a curl inducing mechanism


A single-crystal silicon region on insulator on silicon intended to receive at least one component, the insulator having overthicknesses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for manufacturing structures of semiconductor regions on insulator.
The present invention is described hereafter in relation with the integration of a MOS transistor.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates, in partial simplified cross-section view, the structure of a MOS transistor formed in a conventional silicon-on-insulator (SOI) region.
The transistor comprises an insulated gate G laid on a portion of a silicon substrate 2 on insulator of a first conductivity type, for example, P. More specifically, the portion of substrate 2 in which the transistor is formed is defined by vertical insulation areas 3 of shallow trench insulation (STI) type. Substrate 2 and trenches 3 rest upon an insulating layer 4 of a uniform thickness T that separates them from a semiconductor wafer 6. Source/drain regions 8 extend, at the surface of substrate 2, on either side of insulating spacers 10 formed around gate G.
The selection of the value of thickness T of insulator 4 interposed between wafer 6 and substrate 2 is a problem.
On the one hand, under source/drain regions 8, any capacitive coupling with wafer 6 should be reduced to a minimum. The value of thickness T of insulator 4 must thus be high.
On the other hand, when thickness T of insulator 4 increases, malfunctions linked to known so-called "short channel" effects can be observed. Such effects are linked to the channeling of the field lines in an insulator. Thickness T thus has to be limited to relatively low values.
For devices having a reduced length L of gate G, that is, smaller than 100 nm, value T is thus currently selected between 200 and 400 nm. However, this is only a compromise between two opposite constraints.
The above-described problems significantly increase as the component dimensions, especially gate length L and the thickness of substrate 2, decrease.

Manufacturing method of semiconductor-on-insulator region structures