A connector assembly can include a housing, a terminal retainer, and a terminal position assurance member. The terminal retainer can be removably coupled with the housing and define a primary retaining lock for an electrical contact assembly. The terminal retainer can cooperate with the housing to form a compartment that can receive the electrical contact assembly. The compartment can extend along a mating axis of the housing, with a first frontal opening and a rear opening spaced from one another along the mating axis. A portion of the first frontal opening can be elastically deformable such that a size of the first frontal opening is variable. The terminal position assurance member can be removably coupled with the housing to define a secondary retaining lock for the electrical contact assembly. The terminal position assurance member can be positioned to inhibit elastic deformation of the portion of the first frontal opening.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
The materials used in making the various components of a vehicle can often be recycled. The process of recycling a vehicle is extremely complicated, as different sub-components and assemblies must be removed and disassembled. The efficiency of recycling efforts is dependent on the extent that components of distinct materials are separated from one another. For example, electrical components generate scrap metal and plastic, including wire, cable, conduit, cable trays, and connectors. If various wiring can be separated by wire type, such as between high-voltage power cable and low-voltage communications wire, the scrap of each type can be separately weighed and graded based on copper or aluminum content. Recovery rates vary for each wire type, so keeping wire types separate ensures the highest return for each wire type. However, electrical components are often difficult to disassemble. A wire harness, for example, may house numerous connections. Wires that cannot be separated from the housing of the connector in an acceptable period of time in view of the value of the material to be collected are often cut from the housing. The housing itself thus includes lost portions of wire and the electrical contacts.


An integrated handle fishing reel housing for enclosing a fishing reel and providing a handle for manual grasping of the reel and an associated rod. The inventive device includes a handle housing having a forward or nosecone portion and a body or handle portion. The forward portion and the body portions are axially aligned along a common axis, and have a generally circular diameter in cross section, along the common axis. A reel is mounted within the handle housing and directs a fishing line through a forward center end of the forward portion. The body portion of the handle housing projects rearwardly of the forward portion. If desired, the body portion may be shaped so as to define a reduced gripping recess extending circumferentially thereabout to preclude unintentional slipping of the handle housing from a grasp of a user. The disclosed integrated handle fishing reel housings may be made in a variety of shapes, including the shapes of bottles, cans, some buildings, foods, plants, animal and human figures, and cartoon characters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fishing reel devices and more particularly pertains to an integrated handle fishing reel housing for enclosing a fishing reel and providing a handle for manual grasping of the reel and an associated rod.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fishing reels are well known in the art, and over countless ages a wide variety of fishing reel designs and configurations have been devised and developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
While the prior art fishing reel devices fulfill their particular objectives and requirements, the known fishing reel prior art does not disclose an integrated handle fishing reel housing for enclosing a fishing reel and providing a handle for manual grasping of the reel and an associated rod.


A method for forming accurate micro patterns having a micro dimension smaller than the resolution of a stepper used on a semiconductor substrate, thereby achieving an improvement in the integration degree of the semiconductor device which is ultimately produced. The method includes the steps of coating an under photoresist film over an etchable layer, laminating first and second intermediate films over the under photoresist film, forming patterns of the second intermediate film by use of a first light exposure mask having light shield patterns corresponding to those selected in an interlaced manner from micro patterns to be formed, namely, every second one of adjacent micro patterns, forming patterns of the first intermediate film by use of a second light exposure mask having light shield patterns corresponding to the remaining micro patterns, and patterning the under photoresist film while using the first and second-intermediate film patterns as a mask, thereby obtaining under photoresist film patterns having micro space and line widths.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a method for forming accurate micro patterns having a micro dimension smaller than the resolution of a stepper used, on a semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently developed semiconductor devices have an increased integration degree so that they are able to contain a large number of circuits, thereby being capable of processing and storing an increased quantity of information. The integration of such semiconductor devices depends on the accuracy in forming circuits and lines connecting those circuits together within a limited region. In order to accurately form such circuits and connecting lines, it is required to form photoresist film patterns having a micro dimension. Such photoresist film patterns are used as etch barriers upon conducting an etch process required to form circuits and connecting lines.
Typically, the formation of such photoresist film patterns involves coating with a photoresist film, light exposure and development. The light exposure process is carried out using a photolithograpy device or stepper which serves to irradiate light onto the surface of the photoresist film in such a manner that the photoresist film is selectively exposed to the irradiated light by a light exposure mask. The stepper serves as an important factor for defining micro patterns having a micro dimension. The ability of such a stepper to form a micro pattern is called "a resolution". The resolution R of a stepper can be expressed by the following equation: EQU R=k.times..lambda./NA
where, k represents a process constant, .lambda. represents the wavelength of light emitted from a light source, and NA (numerical aperture) represents a constant relating to the diameter of the aperture of light passing through a lens equipped in the stepper. However, the above-mentioned parameters, namely, the wavelength of light, the diameter of the aperture of the lens, and the process constant, can not be controlled below certain limits respectively associated therewith. For example, steppers using light sources such as G-line, i-line and excimer lasers respectively having wavelengths of 436, 365 and 248 nm have a limitation in that they have light resolutions capable of forming patterns with dimensions of about 0.5, 0.35 and 0.2 .mu.m, respectively.
Meanwhile, the light exposure mask should be provided with light shield patterns which are formed on a transparent substrate in such a manner that they have a space width larger than the light resolution of the stepper as used. This is because when the light shield patterns have a space width smaller than the light resolution of the stepper, the surface of the photoresist film may be exposed to light in a wider region than is desired, due to the diffraction of light, thereby resulting in a degradation in contrast. For this reason, known methods of forming micro patterns are problematic in that they can not form micro patterns having a dimension of 0.3 .mu.m or less by use of i-line (.lambda.=365 nm) steppers. This results in a difficulty in developing semiconductor devices of 1 Giga DRAM grade.

Method for forming micro patterns of semiconductor devices

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A process is presented where a feed stream containing a hydrogen sulfide and another feed component is introduced into an absorber that the feed stream flows upward from the bottom of the absorber and contacts a liquid treatment solution, where the liquid treatment solution contains a sulfur dye catalyst. The hydrogen sulfide is absorbed into the liquid treatment solution and converted into sulfide ions. The other feed component is removed from the absorber vessel substantially free of the hydrogen sulfide and a spent treatment solution is also removed from the absorber vessel and fed to an oxidation vessel where it is contacted with an oxygen containing gas causing the sulfide ions to oxidize to thiosulfate and converting the spent sulfur dye catalyst to regenerated sulfur dye catalyst. The thiosulfate is recovered, and the regenerated sulfur dye catalyst can be recycled as part of the liquid treatment solution.

The removal of sulfur contaminants, specifically H2S, from wastewater streams using aqueous salt streams is known. Likewise, the removal of H2S from hydrocarbon containing gas streams is known. However, such known processes for treating gas streams do not directly produce useful chemicals. Accordingly, there is a need to develop economical processes that can selectively scrub and remove H2S from industrial gas streams at ambient temperatures and at the same time produce a useful liquid product. These and other advantages will become evident from the following more detailed description of the present disclosure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A moving table supports a parts conveying member. A fixed table is disposed below the moving table and supports the moving table so as to freely vibrate the moving table through a vibration generator. The vibration generator includes a first elastic member and a piezoelectric element mounted to the first elastic member. One end of the first elastic member is fixed to the moving table and the other end is fixed to the fixed table. A support member includes a second elastic member. One of the second elastic member is fixed to the moving table and the other end member is fixed to the fixed table. Accordingly, the piezo-driven parts feeder can be reduced in height, the stress that acts on the vibration generator can be restricted, sufficient amplitude can be ensured and the stress on the vibration generator can be restricted even during high-frequency driving, and the replacement of the vibration generator and the change and control of the resonance frequency can easily be performed.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezo-driven parts feeder for conveying parts in alignment by generating vibration to a parts conveying member having a parts conveying track with a vibration generator including an elastic member having a piezoelectric element mounted thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Piezo-driven parts feeders are well known which convey parts in alignment by generating vibration to a parts conveying member including a parts conveying track with a vibration generator having a piezoelectric element mounted thereto. For example, ones disclosed in JP-A-62-4118 and JP-A-9-110133 are known. The piezo-driven parts feeder described in JP-A-62-4118 aims to increase the amplitude of vibration applied to a parts conveying member by connecting an elastic plate (elastic member) of a vibrator (vibration generator) and a conveyer (parts conveying member) together with a connecting plate having a Young's modulus lower than that of the elastic plate (refer to FIG. 16). The piezo-driven parts feeder described in JP-A-9-110133 aims to decrease the height of the parts feeder by laterally arranging a vibrator (vibration generator) having a piezoelectric element bonded to an elastic plate (elastic member) (refer to FIG. 17).
With the piezo-driven parts feeder described in JP-A-62-4118, however, to achieve high-frequency resonance, the spring rigidity of the connecting plate must be increased depending on a desired resonance frequency. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the connecting plate or to decrease the effective length. As a result, the effects of an increase in amplitude will be decreased. The spring rigidity of the elastic plate of the vibrator is also increased together with the connecting plate, increasing a stress on the elastic plate having the piezoelectric element, which is not preferable. Also, since the connecting plate and the elastic plate are arranged in series, the parts feeder is also increased in height. Furthermore, when the connecting plate is replaced for the purpose of changing resonance frequency, the elastic plate must also be replaced, not only taking a complicated labor for reassembly but also involving a great difficulty in the works of mounting the short elastic plate and the connecting plate, carrying out the setting of frequency, and fine adjustment of a mounting angle (vibration angle). During the replacement, a large load is applied to a connecting plate and a vibrator that are not being replaced, having a tendency for the connecting plate and so on to cause plastic deformation. With such a structure, the static load of the conveyor acts as a bending load directly on the vibrator, thus applying a load on the piezoelectric element.
With the piezo-driven parts feeder described in JP-A-9-110133, an elastic plate having a piezoelectric element bonded thereto is arranged linearly from the center of the parts feeder outwards (radially). Accordingly, when a vibrated body for a conveyor (moving table) rotates, a tensile stress is applied to the elastic plate because the elastic-plate fixed position is displaced from the rotation center of the vibrated body for a conveyor (refer to FIG. 17). FIG. 18 schematically illustrates the force applied to the elastic plate during the vibration of the parts feeder. As shown in the drawing, when the vibrator vibrates, the end of the elastic body mounted to the vibrated body for a conveyor through a vertical connecting member is going to shift from the point A to the point B′ with the point O′ that is the mounting position of the elastic body to the fixed side as the center. At that time, the point A on the vibrated body for a conveyor above the position at which the end of the elastic plate is mounted is going to shift to the point B with the point O that is the center of the vibrated body for a conveyor as the center. Accordingly, a radial tensile stress occurs in the elastic body having the piezoelectric element bonded thereto. Also, the elastic body is bent in S-shape in practice, causing a greater stress. Consequently, with the piezo-driven parts feeder described in JP-A-9-110133, the elastic member having the piezoelectric element tends to be subjected to an excess tensile strength, so that also the piezoelectric element is subjected to a load, thus being reduced in life, and power is wasted, thus reducing efficiency.


A pressure sensor comprises a thin disk-shaped diaphragm, a laser displacement meter for detecting an amount of deformation of the diaphragm, and an operation part connected to the laser displacement meter. In the pressure sensor, an amount of deformation of the diaphragm due to pressure of fluid flowing into the pressure sensor is detected by the laser displacement meter, and pressure of the fluid is obtained on the basis of the amount of deformation and conversion information stored in the operation part in advance. The base part of the diaphragm of the pressure sensor is made of graphite (or silicon substrate), and a thin film of silicon carbide which is in contact with fluid is formed on a surface of the base part. This improves chemical resistance to the pressure sensor and extends the lifetime of the pressure sensor while preventing metal elution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure sensor comprising a diaphragm and a substrate processing apparatus comprising a pressure sensor.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, a fluid pressure sensor comprising a diaphragm between fluid and a pressure receiving device has been used. In such a pressure sensor, fluid flowing through a pipe presses the diaphragm, the pressure receiving device detects a pressing amount of the diaphragm, and a signal circuit converts the pressing amount into a pressure value.
In semiconductor processing apparatuses and various chemical plants, frequently used are chemicals with high corrosivity such as oxidizing power or the like or high permeability, and a fluid pressure sensor used in such a condition is needed to have extremely high chemical resistance and permeation resistance (penetration resistance). For example, fluorocarbon resin with high chemical resistance is used as material for forming a diaphragm. However, in a pressure sensor having high chemical resistance, if chemicals with high corrosivity and high permeability such as high-concentrated hydrofluoric acid (HF) are used, the lifetime of the pressure sensor is reduced to about one year and frequent calibrations are necessary, and these cause increase in running cost for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.
In the foregoing situation, with respect to a liquid contacting member contacting with chemicals having high corrosivity and high permeability (penetrating power), material for the member, arrangement of the pressure receiving device, or the like have been improved. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Gazette No. 7-72029 discloses a technique for improving chemical resistance, where a housing is made of material mainly composed of fluorocarbon resin and a pressure sensing part of a sensor device is made of anticorrosive material. The housing is divided into a part for a diaphragm and a part for holding the sensor device. Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Gazette No. 2002-310823 discloses a pressure sensor having a structure with excellent corrosion resistance to extend the lifetime, where a protective cap is attached to an end of a working rod and the end is housed in a diaphragm to which pressure of fluid is applied.
In the pressure sensor used in the semiconductor processing apparatus, the liquid contacting member such as the diaphragm or the like needs to have chemical resistance as described above and have an extremely low level of metal elution. Fluorocarbon resin such as PFA (a copolymer of tetra-fluoro-ethylene and per-fluoro-alkyl-vinyl-ether), PTFE (poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene), PCTFE (poly-chloro-tri-fluoro-ethylene), and the like have high chemical resistance in comparison with other resin and satisfy the criteria of metal elution. Though these resin have high chemical resistance, their hardness tends to be affected by change of temperature. If mechanical properties change due to deterioration by micro cracks or plastic deformation caused by long pressing, an amount of deformation of the diaphragm relative to predetermined pressure changes, and consequently accurate pressure cannot be measured.
Corrosive chemical such as hydrofluoric acid or the like is not completely isolated by these resin. If adhesive between the pressure receiving device and the diaphragm is deteriorated by a small amount of chemical components (substances such as gas and the like) which transmit these resin, adhesion between the pressure receiving device and the diaphragm decreases, the pressure receiving device is damaged, whereby measurement reliability or measurement accuracy of the amount of deformation of the diaphragm is affected seriously.

Pressure sensor and substrate processing apparatus


An apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor device may include a nozzle having a slit configured to eject solution and an ultraviolet emitter provided outside the nozzle. The ultraviolet emitter and the nozzle may be configured to move horizontally. The slit may be provided on a bottom surface of the nozzle.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device using the same, and in particular, to an apparatus, which is used to remove a photoresist pattern, and a method of removing a photoresist pattern using the same.
In a process of fabricating a semiconductor device, a photolithography technology is widely used to perform a patterning process on a layer. If a process of patterning a layer using a photoresist pattern is finished, the photoresist pattern is removed. Since a semiconductor device is integrated on a large area substrate, a removal rate of the photoresist pattern on the substrate may vary from position to position. In the case where the photoresist pattern is removed using an acid material, such as sulfuric acid, waste water may be produced.

Apparatus for removing a photoresist and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device


This invention provides remedies or prophylactics for diseases in association with chemokines such as MIP-1 α and/or MCP-1. Namely, remedies or prophylactics for diseases in association with the chemokines such as rheumatoid arthritis or nephritis contain, as the active ingredient, cyclic amine derivatives represented by the following formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof or pharmaceutically acceptable C1-C6 alkyl addition salts thereof.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to cyclic amine derivatives and more particularly it relates to chemokine receptor antagonists capable of expecting effects as remedies and/or prophylactics for diseases such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, ulcerative colitis, nephritis (nephropathy), multiple sclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis, cardiomyopathy, hepatitis, pancreatitis, sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease, endometriosis, congestive heart failure, viral meningitis, cerebral infarction, neuropathy, Kawasaki disease, sepsis, allergic rhinitis and allergic dermatitis wherein infiltration of blood leukocyte components such as monocytes or lymphocytes into tissues plays a principal role in progression and maintenance of diseases.
2. Background Art
Chemokines are a generic name of a group of inflammatory/immunomodulatory polypeptides having a molecular weight of 6 to 15 KD and produced in inflammatory sites by various kinds of cells, for example, macrophages, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and mast cells. The chemokines are classified into two major subgroups of CXC chemokines (or α-chemokines) and CC chemokines (or β-chemokines) by the common location of four preserved cysteine residues and a difference in chromosomal locations of genes encoding the chemokines. The first two cysteines of the CXC chemokines are separated by one amino acid; however, the same cysteines of the CC chemokine are adjacent. For example, IL-8 (an abbreviation for interleukin-8) is the CXC chemokines. On the other hand, MIP-1 α/β (an abbreviation for macrophage inflammatory protein-1 α/β), MCP-1 (an abbreviation for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and RANTES (an abbreviation for regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) are cited as the CC chemokines.
Furthermore, there also exist chemokines which do not fall into either of chemokine subgroups. Lymphotactin having only two cysteines and classified as C chemokines and fractalkine classified as CX3C chemokines because the first two cysteines are separated by three amino acids and having a chemokinelike domain in the mucin structure are cited as such a chemokine. The chemokines promote cell migration and have expression enhancing actions on cellular adhesion molecules such as integrins and further cellular adhesion enhancing actions. Therefore, the chemokines are thought to be protein factors closely involved in the adhesion and infiltration of leukocytes or the like into the pathogenic sites such as inflammatory tissues. See, for example, The Chemokine Facts Book, by Vaddi, K. et al., Academic Press, 1997; Chemoattractant Ligand and Their Receptors, edited by Horuk, R., CRC Press, 1996; Ward, G. W. et al., Biochem. J., 1998, 333, 457; Luster, A. D., New Engl. J. Med., 1998, 338, 436; Bagglioni, M., Nature, 1998, 392, 565; Rolins. B. J., Blood, 1997, 90, 909; Alam, R., J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., 1997, 99, 273; Hancock, W. W., Am. J. Pathol., 1996, 148, 681; Taub, D. D., Cytokine & Growth Factor Rev., 1996, 7, 335; Strieter, R. M. et al., J. Immunol., 1996, 156, 3583; Furie, M. B. et al., Am. J. Pathol., 1995, 146, 1287; Schall, T. J. et al., Current Opinion in Immunology, 1994, 6, 865; and Edginton, S. M., Biotechnology, 1993, 11, 676 as references.
For example, MIP-1 α causes a transient increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration levels and induces cell migration of T lymphocytes or B lymphocytes (see, for example, Tabu, D. D. et al., Science, 1993, 260, 355 and Shall, T. J. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1993, 177, 1821), cell migration of eosinophils (see, for example, Rot, A. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1992, 176, 1489), cell migration of NK cells (see, for example, Magazachi, A. A. et al., J. Immunol., 1994, 153, 4969), expression of integrins (see, for example, Vaddi, K. et al., J. Immunol., 1994, 153, 4721) and differentiation of osteoclasts (see, for example, Kukita, T. et al., Lab. Invest., 1997, 76, 399). MIP-1 α also increases the IgE and IgG4 production in B cells (see, for example, Kimata, H. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1996, 183, 2397) and inhibits the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells (see, for example, Mayani, H. et al., Exp. Hematol., 1995, 23, 422; Keller, J. R. et al., Blood, 1994, 84, 2175; Eaves, C. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1993, 90, 12015; Bodine, D. M. et al., Blood, 1991, 78, 914; and Broxmeyer, H. E. et al., Blood, 1990, 76, 1110).
As to the association of MIP-1 α with in vivo actions or pathogenesis of diseases, it has been reported that the MIP-1 α is a pyrogen in rabbits (see, for example, Davatelis, G. et al., Science, 1989, 243, 1066) and the injection of the MIP-1 α into the footpads of mice results in inflammatory reactions such as infiltration of neutrophils or mononuclear cells (see, for example, Alam, R. et al., J. Immunol., 1994, 152, 1298).
It has been also reported that a neutralizing antibody to MIP-1 α has inhibitory effects or remedial effects in animal models of granuloma (see, for example, Lukacs, N. W. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1993, 177, 1551), asthma (see, for example, Lukacs, N. W. et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 1995, 25, 245 and Lukacs, N. W. et al., J. Immunol., 1997, 158, 4398), multiple sclerosis (see, for example, Karpus, W. J. et al., J. Immunol., 1995, 155, 5003 and Karpus, W. J. et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 1997, 62, 681), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (see, for example, Smith, R. E. et al., J. Immunol., 1994, 153, 4704 and Smith, R. E., Biol. Signals, 1996, 5, 223), acute lung injury (see, for example, Shanley, T. P. et al., J. Immunol., 1995, 154, 4793 and Standiford, T. J. et al., J. Immunol., 1995, 155, 1515) and rheumatoid arthritis (see, for example, Kasama, T. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 1995, 95, 2868) and the like. Furthermore, it has been reported that coxsackie virus infection-induced myocarditis or herpes stromal keratitis is inhibited in MIP-1α gene deficient mice (see, for example, Cook, D. N. et al., Science, 1995, 269, 1583 and Tumpey, T. M. et al., J. Virology, 1998, 72, 3705).
In addition, significant expression of MIP-1 α was recognized in patients such as chronic pulmonary inflammatory diseases (see, for example, Standiford, T. J. et al., J. Immunol., 1993, 151, 2852), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (see, for example, Denis, M., Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 1995, 151, 164), rheumatoid arthritis (see, for example, Koch, A. E. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 1994, 93, 921), infectious meningitis (see, for example, Lahrtz, F. et al., J. Neuroimmunol., 1998, 85, 33) and chronic inflammation of muscle (see, for example, Adams, E. M. et al., Proc. Assoc. Am. Physicians, 1997, 109, 275). The studies indicate that MIP-1 α is deeply involved in the local accumulation of various subtypes of leukocytes in association with initiation, progression and maintenance of inflammatory diseases.
MCP-1 [also known as MCAF (an abbreviation for macrophage chemotactic and activating factor) or JE] is a CC chemokine produced by monocytes/macrophages, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells and has a cell migration activity and cell adhesion enhancing actions on monocytes (see, for example, Valente, A. J. et al., Biochemistry, 1988, 27, 4162; Matsushima, K. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1989, 169, 1485; Yoshimura, T. et al., J. Immunol., 1989, 142, 1956; Rollins, B. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1988, 85, 3738; Rollins, B. J. et al., Blood, 1991, 78, 1112; Jiang, Y. et al., J. Immunol., 1992, 148, 2423; and Vaddi, K. et al., J. Immunol., 1994, 153, 4721), memory T lymphocytes (see, for example, Carr., M. W. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1994, 91, 3652), T lymphocytes (see, for example, Loetscher, P. et al., FASEB J., 1994, 8, 1055) and natural killer cells (NK cells) (see, for example, Loetscher, P. et al., J. Immunol., 1996, 156, 322 and Allavena, P. et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 1994, 24, 3233) or the like and MCP-1 further has actions as a histamine releasing factor from basophils (see, for example, Alam R. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 1992, 89, 723; Bischoff, S. C. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1992, 175, 1271; and Kuna, P. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1992, 175, 489).
Moreover, remarkable expression of MCP-1 has been reported in diseases in which the accumulation of monocytes/macrophages and/or T cells is thought to be deeply involved in initiation, progression and maintenance of lesions such as atherosclerosis (see, for example, Hayes, I. M. et al., Arterioscler. Thromb, Vasc. Biol., 1998, 18, 397; Takeya, M. et al., Hum. Pathol., 1993, 24, 534; Yla-Herttuala, S. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1991, 88, 5252; and Nelken, N. A., J. Clin. Invest., 1991, 88, 1121), rheumatoid arthritis (see, for example, Koch, A. E. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 1992, 90, 772; Akahoshi, T. et al., Arthritis Rheum., 1993. 36, 762; and Robinson, E. et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 101, 398), nephritis (see, for example, Noris, M. et al., Lab. Invest., 1995, 73, 804; Wada, T. et al., Kidney Int., 1996, 49, 761; and Gesualdo, L. et al., Kidney Int., 1997, 51, 155), nephropathy (see, for example, Saitoh, A. et al., J. Clin. Lab. Anal., 1998, 12, 1; Yokoyama, H. et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 1998, 63, 493), pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary sarcoidosis (see, for example, Sugiyama, Y. et al., Internal Medicine, 1997, 36, 856), asthma (see, for example, Karina, M. et al., J. Invest. Allergol. Clin. Immunol., 1997, 7, 254; Stephene, T. H., Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 1997, 156, 1377; and Sousa, A. R. et al., Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., 1994, 10, 142), multiple sclerosis (see, for example, McManus, C. et al., J. Neuroimmunol., 1998, 86, 20), psoriasis (see, for example, Gillitzer, R. et al., J. Invest. Dermatol., 1993. 101, 127), inflammatory bowel disease (see, for example, Grimm, M. C. et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 1996, 59, 804 and Reinecker, H. C. et al., Gastroenterology, 1995, 106, 40), cardiomyopathy (see, for example, Seino, Y. et al., Cytokine, 1995, 7, 301), endometriosis (see, for example, Jolicoeur, C. et al., Am. J. Pathol., 1998, 152, 125), intraperitoneal adhesion (see, for example, Zeyneloglu, H. B. et al., Human Reproduction, 1998, 13, 1194), congestive heart failure (see, for example, Aurust, P. et al., Circulation, 1998, 97, 1136), chronic liver disease (see, for example, Marra, F. et al., Am. J. Pathol., 1998, 152, 423), viral meningitis (see, for example, Lahrtz, F. et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 1997, 27, 2484), Kawasaki disease (see, for example, Wong, M. et al., J. Rheumatol., 1997, 24, 1179) and sepsis (see, for example, Salkowski, C. A. et al., Infect. Immun., 1998, 66, 3569).
The inhibitory effects or remedial effects of an anti-MCP-1 antibody have been reported in animal models such as rheumatoid arthritis (see, for example, Schimmer, R. C. et al., J. Immunol., 1998, 160, 1466; Schrier, D. J., J. Leukoc. Biol., 1998, 63, 359; and Ogata H. et al., J. Pathol., 1997, 182, 106), multiple sclerosis (see, for example, Karpus, W. J., J. Leukoc. Biol., 1997, 62., 681), nephritis (see, for example, Lloyd, C. M. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1997, 185, 1371 and Wada T. et al., FASEB J., 1996, 10, 1418), asthma (see, for example, Gonzalo, J.-A. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1998, 188, 157 and Lukacs, N. W., J. Immunol., 1997, 158, 4398), atherosclerosis (see, for example, Guzman, L. A. et al., Circulation, 1993, 88 (suppl.), I-371), delayed type hypersensitivity (see, for example, Rand, M. L. et al., Am. J. Pathol., 1996, 148, 855), pulmonary hypertension (see, for example, Kimura, H. et al., Lab. Invest., 1998, 78, 571) and intraperitoneal adhesion (see, for example, Zeyneloglu, H. B. et al., Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 1998, 179, 438).
Further, it has been reported that MCP-1 (9-76) which is a peptide antagonist of MCP-1 inhibits arthritis in the mouse model (see, for example, Gong, J.-H., J. Exp. Med., 1997, 186, 131) and that MCP-1 is essential to monocyte mobilization in vivo in studies on MCP-1 gene deficient mice (see, for example, Lu, B. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1998, 187, 601 and Gu, L. et 41., Moll. Cell, 1998, 2, 275).
These data indicate that chemokines such as MIP-1 α and MCP-1 accumulate monocytes, lymphocytes or the like in disease sites and activate the cells and thus strongly suggest that the chemokines are deeply associated with initiation, progression and maintenance of diseases wherein monocytes, lymphocytes and the like are assumed to be deeply associated with the progression of lesion, for example, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, ulcerative colitis, nephritis (nephropathy), multiple sclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis, myocarditis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease, endometriosis, congestive heart failure, viral meningitis, cerebral infarction, neuropathy, Kawasaki disease and sepsis (see, for example, Rovin, B. H. et al., Am. J. Kidney. Dis., 1998, 31, 1065; Lloyd, C. et al., Curr. Opin. Nephrol. Hypertens., 1998, 7, 281; Conti, P. et al., Allergy and Asthma Proc., 1998, 19, 121; Ransohoff, R. M. et al., Trends Neuroscience., 1998, 21, 154; and MacDermott, R. P. et al., Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 1998, 4, 54). A drug which inhibits actions of chemokines on target cells, therefore, can be expected to be useful as remedies and/or prophylactics for the diseases.
On the other hand, the cloning of genes encoding specific receptors for chemokines has been promoted, and it has become apparent that the receptors are G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptors present on various leukocytes. At least 5 CXC chemokine receptors (CXCR1 to CXCR5) and eight CC chemokine receptors (CCR1 to CCR8) have hitherto'been specified. For example, IL-8 is a ligand of CXCR1 and CXCR2. MIP-1 α is a ligand of CCR1 and CCR5, and MCP-1 is a ligand of CCR2A and CCR2B (see, for example, Holmes, W. E. et al., Science, 1991, 253, 1278-1280; Murphy, P. M. et al., Science, 253, 1280-1283; Neote, K. et al., Cell, 1993, 72, 415-425; Charo, I. F. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 1994, 91, 2752-2756; Yamagami, S. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1994, 202, 1156-1162; Combadier, C. et al., The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1995, 270, 16491-16494; Power, C. A. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1995, 270, 19495-19500; Samson, M. et al., Biohemistry, 1996, 35, 3362-3367; and Murphy, P. M. et al., Annual Review of Immunology, 1994, 12, 592-633).
Further, it has been reported that the pulmonary inflammation and granuloma are suppressed in CCR1 gene deficient mice (see, for example, Gao, J.-L. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1997, 185, 1959 and Gerard, C. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 1997, 100, 2022) and that accumulation of macrophages and formation of atherosclerotic lesions are decreased in CCR2 gene deficient mice (see, for example, Boring, L. et al., Nature, 1998, 394, 894; Kuziel, W. A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997, 94, 12053; Kurihara, T. et al., J. Exp. Med., 1997, 186, 1757; and Boring, L. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 1997, 100, 2552). Therefore, compounds capable of inhibiting binding of chemokines such as MIP-1 α and/or MCP-1 to the receptors, i.e. chemokine receptor antagonists can be expected to be useful as a drug which inhibits the actions of the chemokines such as MIP-1 α and/or MCP-1 on target cells; however, the drug having the actions is not known.
Cyclic amine derivatives such as various kinds of piperidines or piperazines have recently been reported to have chemokine receptor antagonistic activity (see, for example, WO9724325; Hesselgesser, J. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1998, 273, 15687; Howard, O. M. Z. et al., J. Med. Chem., 1998, 41, 2184; WO9744329; WO9802151; WO9804554; WO9825605; WO9825617; WO9825604; WO9831364; WO9856771; WO9909984; WO9904794; WO9917773; WO9937617; WO9937619; WO9737651; WO9938514; WO200014086; WO200014089; EP903349; JP9-249566; JP9-25572; and JP11-711350). The compounds, however, are different from the compounds used in the present invention.

Remedies or prophylactics for diseases in association with chemokines


A coaxial hybrid ion trap that uses two substantially planar opposing plates to generate electrical focusing fields that simultaneously generate at least two different types or shapes of trapping regions, wherein a first trapping region is a quadrupole trapping region disposed coaxially with respect to the opposing plates, and wherein a second trapping region is a toroidal ion trap having a toroidal trapping region that is simultaneously created around the quadrupole trapping region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to storage, separation and analysis of ions according to mass-to-charge ratios of charged particles and charged particles derived from atoms, molecules, particles, sub-atomic particles and ions. More specifically, the present invention is a combination of two or more trapping regions in a single device that enables a user to obtain increased sensitivity without suffering the effects of high space-charge, and increased resolution for greater analytic capability.
2. Description of Related Art
Mass spectrometry continues to be an important method for identifying and quantifying chemical elements and compounds in a wide variety of samples. Mass spectrometry is also among the most widely used analytical techniques. The combination of high sensitivity, high chemical specificity, and speed make it a method of choice for many applications.
Mass spectrometers are used in such areas as proteomics research, clinical analysis, protein sequencing, planetary science, geology, identification and structural determination of organic molecules, drug discovery, surface characterization, forensics, study of chemical reactions, elemental analysis, manufacturing, security screening, air monitoring, etc. High sensitivity and selectivity of mass spectrometry are especially useful in threat detection systems (e.g. chemical and biological agents, explosives) forensic investigations, environmental on-site monitoring, and illicit drug detection/identification applications, among many others.
Many mass spectrometers on the market use ion traps for mass analysis. In ion traps, ions are contained and analyzed using radiofrequency electric fields. Primarily quadrupolar fields are used, but numerous variations exist in which other fields are used to manipulate the ions. For instance, small dipole or octupole fields can be used to increase performance. Monopoles, dipoles or direct-current biases can be used for ion ejection. Ions or charged particles can be trapped for long periods of time and used for various other experiments. The numerous variations have led to many specialized applications and experiments that cannot be done any other way. In addition, efforts at producing miniaturized and portable mass spectrometers are based primarily on ion trap mass analyzers.
Several variations of ion trap mass spectrometers have been developed for analyzing ions. These devices include quadrupole configurations, as well as Paul, dynamic Penning, and dynamic Kingdon traps. In all of these devices, ions are collected and held in a trap by an oscillating electric field. Changes in the properties of the oscillating electric field, such as amplitude, frequency, superposition of an AC or DC field and other methods can be used to cause the ions to be selectively ejected from the trap to a detector according to the mass-to-charge ratios of the ions.
Of particular relevance to the present invention is the development of a "virtual" ion trap that is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,227,138. The '138 patent teaches the use of electric focusing fields instead of machined metal electrodes that normally surround the trapping region. In the virtual ion trap electric focusing fields are generated from electrodes disposed on generally planar, parallel and opposing surfaces such as plates. The term "virtual" thus applies to the fact that the confining walls of electrodes are replaced with the "virtual" walls created by the electric focusing fields. The electrodes are disposed on the two opposing plates using photolithography techniques that enable much higher tolerances to be met than existing machining techniques.
The '138 patent also teaches that electrodes used to create a trapping region in conventional ion traps also created substantial barriers, by themselves, to the flow of ions, photons, electrons, particles, and atomic or molecular gases into and emissions out of the ion traps.
Several important features are described in the '138 patent about the embodiments of the virtual ion trap. First, some solid physical electrode surfaces of linear RF quadrupoles and other prior art ion traps are eliminated in favor of virtual electrodes. The virtual electrodes are formed by arranging a series of one or more electrodes on the opposing plates that generate constant potential surfaces similar to the solid physical surfaces that the electrodes replace.
Second, the opposing plates or faces as they are sometimes called are aligned so as to be mirror images of each other.
Third, the opposing faces are substantially parallel to each other.
Fourth, the opposing faces are substantially planar. However, it is noted that the opposing faces may be modified to include some arcuate features. However, optimum results will be maintained by making the opposing faces generally symmetrical with respect to any arcuate features that they may have to thereby make it easier to create a desired trapping region.
FIG. 1 is provided as an illustration of an embodiment of the virtual ion trap 10 described in the '138 patent. The inside and opposing faces 12 have an oscillating electrical field 14 applied thereto. The outside faces 16 have a common potential applied that is a common ground in this case.
It is observed that some of the systems described above, such as the virtual ion trap, are capable of generating multiple trapping regions. However, none of the systems above has been used to create more than one type or shape of trapping region. Accordingly, it would be an advantage over the prior art to provide a mass analyzer that is capable of generating at least two different types of trapping regions so that the advantages of each can be exploited simultaneously in a single device.

Coaxial hybrid radio frequency ion trap mass analyzer


The present invention is generally directed to improved advance or release means and mechanisms for use with cart, pallet, slip sheet or unit load storage systems, including flow rack and transfer and return systems.

The present invention relates generally to cart or pallet storage systems and more particularly, to improved release mechanisms for use with cart, pallet, slip sheet or unit load flow rail storage systems, including transfer and return systems.
Various load transfer and return systems having multi-level rails are now known and are becoming accepted in the storage and warehouse industry. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,896, issued Dec. 15, 1992 to Anthony N. Konstant, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,961, issued Apr. 8, 1997 to Anthony N. Konstant and John F. Pater, both of which are assigned to Konstant Products, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the "Konstant '896 patent" and "Konstant '961 patent," respectively, and incorporated herein by reference).
The Konstant '896 patent teaches, among other things, multi-level rail systems including cart return storage features that automatically and selectively permit the transfer of unloaded carts and/or unloaded carts and pallets from an unloading storage end (front) to a loading or return end (rear) where they may be conveniently stored or reused. These systems typically required specially designed carts and rails to permit selective transfer and the orderly flow of carts to the unloading and transfer end.
The Konstant '961 patent teaches, among other things, cart, pallet, slip sheet and/or unit load transfer and return storage systems that selectively and efficiently transfer unloaded carts, unloaded carts and pallets or unloaded pallets and the like from a storage position to a position where they may be reloaded, replaced or re-used. These systems generally provide for the transfer of a cart or pallet from an unloading position (front) on the feed or feed flow rails to a reloading position (rear) on the return or return flow rails without the need of an operator to physically remove the unloaded cart or pallet until it is in position to be reloaded. Such systems also provide for cart or pallet advance or release means for stopping the flow of loaded pallets or carts on the feed or feed flow rails to facilitate the loading, unloading and transfer processes.
In the transfer and return systems of the Konstant '961 patent, the cart advance release assembly includes a cross member having protrusions which extend upward into the path of the cart or pallet that is on the feed or feed flow rails in order to stop the cart or pallet prior to the transfer position. The structural members of the carts for use in such systems are typically provided with notches designed to cooperate with the cart release mechanism to prevent the undesired advance of carts to the transfer station/position while selectively permitting the advance of the carts or pallets upon activation. In such systems using pallets, the pallets typically have to be oriented in a certain way so and be of a certain condition that they may clear the protrusion of the spring biased release assembly upon their advancement down the feed flow rails.
Some users of such systems may desire potentially smoother, simpler or more effective operation of the cart or pallet release mechanism for use on these and other storage systems. Other users may desire the ability to use such systems without the need for specially designed carts or pallets to cooperate with the release assembly. Still others in the industry may desire an improved cart, pallet, slip sheet or unit load release assembly for use on various standard (typically single level) rail or flow rail storage systems.

Release mechanism for carts, pallets or unit load storage systems


The speech of a group of virtual characters is modelled using a directed graph or audio web, where each utterance is a node (A1-A7, B1-B5) in the web having links from it to each possible utterance that can be made in reply at any point in the course of the interaction. The choice of the next node (conversation segment) is dependent on attributes of the character and/or the virtual environment in which the conversation is taking place. These attributes may be fixed, modified by system function calls available at each node, or modified in response to user input.

Character-based games or interactive drama have been modelled as a network of inter-connected pre-recorded scenes in a "story-net" arrangement of branching nodes. At each node in the network, a decision is required as to which of three of four possible scenes will be played out next with there being a common direction of travel through the scripted narrative such that the user will eventually reach the, or one of a number of possible, final scenes. Examples of different narrative structures, from the non-interactive "linear" form through the introduction of various effects and game-playing elements to full branching story structures, are described in "Flawed Methods for Interactive Storytelling" by Chris Crawford, Interactive Entertainment Design, Vol 7, No 4, April 1994. The problems of the vast amount of data required to provide even a few alternative paths through a story structure as opposed to the constraints of traditional (linear) narrative techniques are discussed and, whilst a solution is claimed, the details are withheld. These problems of interactivity against storyline are further discussed in an article by the same author "Interactivity, Plot, Free Will, Determinism, Quantum Mechanics and Temporal Irreversibility" Interactive Entertainment Design, Vol 8, No 4, April 1995.
Considering just the audio side of interactive entertainment, the character based games or interactive drama require dialogue between the characters: speech is the easiest way to convey meaning and feeling and thus generate a feeling of immersion for the user by relating to the characters. In traditional systems, such as those described by Crawford, this has been done using long pre-recorded sequences of speech providing the soundtrack to the selected scene following each branch point of the story. Even as a purely audio entertainment, such systems are still tied to the ongoing branch structure which, in addition to having long periods passing without variation, is still prohibitive in the amount of data required to be stored for even relatively few branches.

Interactive audio entertainment apparatus


A refrigerating cycle apparatus including an inverter driven compressor with controllable speed of rotation, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, outdoor heat exchanger, a defrosting condition detector for detecting a frosting state of the outdoor heat exchanger in a heating operation, a defrosting operation controller for carrying out a defrosting operation based on a detection signal from the defrosting condition detector and having a minimum operable frequency controller for controlling a minimum operable frequency for the compressor on restarting after completion of the defrosting operation and/or a starting speed controller for controlling a starting speed for the compressor based on a detection signal from the defrosting condition detector on restarting after completion of the defrosting operation in order to provide proper lubrication after a defrost operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control which improves the reliability of a compressor in a refrigerating cycle apparatus with a heating operation mode and defrosting operation mode.
2. Discussion of Background
In FIGS. 11 and 12 are shown a refrigerant circuit diagram of a conventional refrigerating cycle apparatus shown in e.g. JP-A-58115235 and a timing chart of the speed of rotation and the defrosting signal for the compressor in the refrigerating cycle apparatus. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1 designates a compressor driven by a compressor motor, reference numeral 2 designates a four-way valve as a directional control valve for reversing the flow of a refrigerant, reference numeral 3 designates an indoor heat exchanger, reference numeral 4 designates a pressure reducing device such as a capillary tube, and reference numeral 5 designates an outdoor heat exchanger. The four-way valve, the indoor heat exchanger, the pressure reducing device and the outdoor heat exchanger are connected to the compressor 1 as a closed circuit to constitute the refrigerating cycle apparatus. Reference numeral 6 designates an indoor fan provided to confront the indoor heat exchanger 3, and reference numeral 7 designates an outdoor fan provided to confront the outdoor heat exchanger.
When the compressor motor drives the compressor 1 at a cooling mode in the refrigerating cycle apparatus, the refrigerant which has been compressed by the compressor 1 is cooled to be condensed by air supply from the outdoor fan 7 at the outdoor heat exchanger 5, is depressurized by the pressure reducing device 4 and evaporates at the indoor heat exchanger 3 to perform a cooling function. The indoor fan 6 supplies cooled air to cool the inside of a room. On the other hand, at a heating mode, the four-way valve 2 is switched to an on position as shown in FIG. 11 to reverse the flow of refrigerant, flowing the refrigerant in the order of the compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, the indoor heat exchanger, the pressure reducing device 4 and the outdoor heat exchanger 5. The indoor fan 7 supplies heated air to carry out the heating operation.
It has been widely known that the compressor is controlled by adjusting the frequency or the voltage of the power source for the compressor motor with an inverter controller though not shown. In this case, a desired speed of rotation is found based on a room temperature, a set value of the room temperature, an outdoor air temperature and so on, an automatic control is carried out to accommodate variations in load. If frost is formed on the outdoor heat exchanger during the heating mode, a defrosting operation is carried out.
Now, the defrosting operation of the outdoor heat exchanger during the heating mode will be explained in reference to the timing chart of FIG. 12. The defrosting signal in FIG. 12 contains a signal which is outputted based on a signal from a defrosting timer which is built in a microcomputer and operates at a certain period of time, and a temperature data signal from a defrosting thermostat and the like for detecting the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger. For example, provided that the defrosting timer operates so as to carry out the heating operation for 50 minutes and the defrosting operation for 10 minutes in a period of 60 minutes, and that the defrosting thermostat outputs a signal indicative of defrosting completion at a temperature not less than 10.degree. C. and a signal indicative of frosting at a temperature not higher than -2.5.degree. C., the defrosting signal is outputted so as to commence defrosting at an AND condition of the defrosting timer and the defrosting thermostat and to complete defrosting at an OR condition of the defrosting timer and the defrosting thermostat.
In other words, when the defrosting thermostat detects a temperature higher than 10.degree. C. or 10 minutes for the defrosting operation has passed, the defrosting operation is completed and the apparatus returns to the heating operation. For example, when the defrosting timer reaches an A point, the microcomputer and the inverter controller are activated to increase the speed of rotation the compressor motor to the maximum value, keeping the heating operation. At a B point after lapse of a T1 period of time since the A point, a defrosting signal indicative of switching the four-way valve to an off position (cooling position) is outputted to switch the four-way valve, commencing the defrosting operation. During the defrosting operation, the compressor motor is rotated at the maximum value.
When the signal indicative of defrosting completion is outputted at a C point for completion of the defrosting operation, the microcomputer is activated to output a signal indicative of switching the four-way valve from the cooling position to the heating position, switching the four-way valve. However, the compressor motor is driven at the maximum speed of rotation for a T2 period of time after that, and returns to a normal set speed of revolution, continuing the heating operation.
As clearly seen from the explanation above, the prior art has increased the speed of rotation of the compressor to a value greater than the set speed of rotation calculated based on a room temperature and a set room temperature during the defrosting operation and certain periods of time before and after the defrosting operation.
Since the conventional refrigerating cycle apparatus has been constructed as stated earlier, an increase in the speed of rotation of the compressor from a normal set speed of rotation during the defrosting operation and after the defrosting operation causes a lubricating oil in the compressor to be taken out of the compressor housing at a large amount after defrosting. If the room temperature is near to a set temperature, the compressor is rotated at a low speed operation. If the compressor carries out such a low speed operation in a low outdoor air temperature state requiring the defrosting operation, the lubricating oil which has been taken out of the compressor housing becomes difficult to be recovered into the compressor due to a decrease in the current speed of the refrigerant, creating a problem in that the amount of the lubricating oil in the compressor housing reduces to degrade the reliability of the compressor.
Although it has been recently known that an HFC refrigerant (R410A, R407C, R32 etc.) and a lubricating oil of alkylbenzene are used in the refrigerating cycle apparatus, the lubricating oil which has been taken out becomes more difficult to be recovered into the compressor than the prior art apparatus since the mutual compatibility between the refrigerant and the lubricating oil in this case is lower than a combination of a conventional HCFC refrigerant (R22) and a lubricating oil of mineral oil or alkylbenzene.


An electromagnetic relay includes a movable element, a movable yoke, a fixed yoke, a movable section, and a stopper. The movable element includes a movable contact point. The movable yoke is connected to the movable element to move together with the movable element. The movable section includes a movable core made of an inorganic magnetic material and a shaft made of an inorganic material. The fixed yoke is made of an inorganic magnetic material and disposed between the movable core and the movable yoke. The stopper protrudes from either one of the fixed yoke or the movable section toward the other to contact with the other when the movable section moves toward the fixed yoke. The stopper is integrally formed with the either one of the fixed yoke or the movable section.

In an electromagnetic relay, a movable core is attracted toward a fixed core against a return spring by an electromagnetic force generated by a coil being energized. In contrast, when the energization to the coil is stopped, the movable core is biased away from the fixed core by the return spring.


An information processing method is performed by a computer for evaluating flammability of a mixed refrigerant material containing a plurality of components. The method includes: calculating, for each of the plurality of components, a second value obtained by multiplying a mixture ratio thereof in the mixed refrigerant material by a first value obtained based on numbers of hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, and double bonds included in a molecular structure thereof; calculating a total sum of the second value calculated for each of the plurality of components; and classifying the mixed refrigerant material into a predetermined flammability class based on the total sum.

In recent years, a mixed refrigerant material obtained by mixing pure refrigerant materials has been developed as a refrigerant used in an air conditioner or a refrigerator. For a pure refrigerant material, it is difficult to simultaneously achieve both a cooling function derived from physical properties such as boiling point and thermal conductivity and environmental performance such as lowering global warming potential, but both of these may be simultaneously achieved with a mixed refrigerant material. Therefore, by using the mixed refrigerant material, energy efficiency of an air conditioner, a refrigerator, or the like may be improved while suppressing an environmental load.
Improvement in performance and high flame retardancy are required for a refrigerant material for safety of the product. The physical properties of a mixed refrigerant material having flame retardancy are varied depending on mixture components and mixture ratio of the mixed refrigerant material. There are 60 or more kinds of existing pure refrigerant materials, and the number of combinations of mixture components and mixture ratio of mixed refrigerant materials is enormous. Therefore, due to time limitation, it is not practical to obtain information on physical properties and flame retardancy by experimenting all the combinations of mixture components and mixture ratio.
Therefore, a method of predicting flammability of a mixed refrigerant material whose physical properties are unknown, from a combination of mixture components and mixture ratio thereof, and also investigating other physical properties of a mixed refrigerant material expected to be flame retardant is considered to be a method for shortening the time for development of the refrigerant material.
As the method of predicting the flammability of the mixed refrigerant material, a method of quantifying the tendency of flammability from a combination of mixture components and mixture ratio of a mixed refrigerant material whose flammability is already known and predicting the flammability based on a combination of mixture components and mixture ratio of a mixed refrigerant material whose flammability is unknown and the tendency of flammability may be considered.
The international standard ISO817 of refrigerant is known as an indicator of the tendency of flammability, and the flammability class of pure refrigerant material obtained in combustion experiment is roughly divided into the following three.                Class 1: inflammable (flame propagation does not occur)        Class 2: flame retardant (combustion limit ≥3.5 vol % & combustion heat <19 MJ/kg)        Class 3: highly flammable (combustion limit <3.5 vol % or combustion heat ≥19 MJ/kg)
For a mixed refrigerant material containing a pure refrigerant material classified into a flammability class described above as a component, a method of using a value obtained by multiplying the flammability class of each component by a mixture ratio as an evaluation index is considered. Vol % means the volume ratio with respect to air, and MJ/kg means mega-joule/kilo-gram.
It is known that the flammability of a mixture is related to the ratio of carbon-fluorine bonds to carbon-hydrogen bonds (see, for example, Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2013-519776).
When a flammability evaluation index is obtained by multiplying the flammability class of a pure refrigerant material by a mixture ratio and or the flammability evaluation index is obtained in consideration of one parameter related to the molecular structure of the pure refrigerant material, the value of the flammability evaluation index becomes non-linear, and thus it is impossible to distinguish the flammability. This is because the flammability evaluation index as described above does not reflect exceptional change in the physical properties caused by mixing of pure refrigerant materials.
When the value of the flammability evaluation index is non-linear, for example, the flammability class 1 and the flammability class 2 are not distinguished from each other. The flammability is not predicted from the combination of mixture components and mixture ratio of the mixed refrigerant material, and an additional experiment for verifying flammability is required.
Accordingly, it is an object of a first aspect of the embodiments to provide an information processing apparatus capable of improving the prediction accuracy of flammability.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program


A hard multilayer coating including: (a) a backing layer which is to be disposed on a body and which includes a TiAlN layer and a TiAlN+CrN mixture layer that are alternately superposed on each other; and (b) a CrN layer which is disposed on the backing layer and which provides an outer surface of the hard multilayer coating. The hard multilayer coating may further includes (c) an intermediate layer which is interposed between the backing layer and the CrN layer. Also disclosed is a hard multilayer coated tool including a tool substrate as the body which is coated with the hard multilayer coating.

There is proposed a hard multilayer coated tool that is constituted by (i) a tool substrate made of high-speed tool steel or cemented carbide and (ii) a hard multilayer coating disposed on a surface of the tool substrate. The hard multiplayer coating includes a TiAlN layer and a mixture layer of TiAlN+CrN that are alternately superposed on each other. As an example of the hard multilayer coated tool, Patent Document 1 discloses a rotary cutting tool including a TiAlN layer and a mixture layer that are alternately superposed on each other, wherein the TiAlN layer has a high hardness while the mixture layer includes CrN whose hardness is relatively low. In the disclosed rotary cutting tool, an excellent wear resistance is obtained owing to presence of the TiAlN layer having the high hardness, while an increased tenacity is obtained owing to presence of the mixture layer including CrN whose hardness is relatively low, so that chipping and peeling of the coating is restrained whereby durability of the tool is substantially increased.    Patent Document 1: JP-2002-275618A

Hard multilayer coating, and hard multilayer coated tool including the hard multilayer coating


To improve the image quality of X-ray images recorded by way of flat detectors, a method for non-linear image processing is provided. An X-ray raw image which is read from a pixel matrix is converted to an X-ray image, wherein the pixel matrix contains pixel elements of a bit depth which is considerably less than the number of pixel elements. A final value is determined for each raw value and can be calculated by use of a non-linear image processing algorithm. Table values are called up and used at least in some cases for the determination of the final values. The table values are associated in a table with corresponding bit values, the maximum number of which is defined by the bit depth.

So-called digital flat detectors for recording digital X-ray images of an object are known in X-ray imaging, in which X-ray radiation is converted by a scintillator layer or a direct converter layer to an electrical charge and is then electronically read by way of so-called active pixel matrices, for example composed of amorphous silicon (a-Si), subjected to analogue-digital conversion, and further-processed as a so-called X-ray raw image for image production.
Because of the specific characteristics of the flat detector, it is necessary in order to achieve an X-ray image that is as good as possible to subject the image information that has been read to post-processing. Offset corrections and gain corrections are typically carried out, as well as defect corrections and line noise corrections as well.
Offset correction compensates for temporary changes in the dark current behavior of the pixel elements, of which the active pixel matrix is composed. For this post-processing, a blank offset correction image is recorded without any X-ray radiation present, and this is subtracted in a known manner from a subsequent X-ray raw image, with the aid of an image processing method. The gain correction is used to compensate for sensitivity fluctuations from one pixel element to another. In this case, a known multiplication method is carried out on the X-ray image, which has already been subjected to offset correction, with the aid of a gain correction image.
Overall, the combined offset and gain correction, the so-called flat-field correction, can in general be described as follows: T=G·[S−O] and Tn=Gn·[Sn=On], respectively, where S represents the X-ray raw image, Sn represents the raw value related to the respective pixel element n, O the offset correction image and On the offset value, G the gain correction image and Gn the gain value, T the corrected X-ray image and Tn the corrected final value. Nowadays, offset and gain corrections are normally linear corrections.
However, flat detectors image a very wide dynamic range, over which the flat detector is in general no longer linear; in addition, non-linearities vary locally, that is to say from one pixel element to another or from one pixel row to another. Particularly in the case of X-ray doses which are very much higher or very much lower than the dose in which, for example, the gain image was produced, the local non-linearities can lead to artifacts being visible in the linearly corrected X-ray image. Non-linear corrections are admittedly known, but they are virtually unusable because of the large amounts of data, particularly in the case of fluoroscopy applications, in which up to 30 X-ray images are produced per second.

Method for non-linear image processing, and a flat detector having a correction unit


A method of micro-incision ophthalmic surgery, comprising, in the order mentioned, the steps of:                (1) injecting a first viscoelastic substance through an incision site which is lateral to corneal into an anterior chamber which is in an opposite part of the incision site with discharging aqueous humor;        (2) injecting a second viscoelastic substance having higher surface tension than that of the first viscoelastic substance through the incision site into the remaining anterior chamber unfilled with the first viscoelastic substance; and        (3) injecting a third viscoelastic substance having lower surface tension than that of the second viscoelastic substance through the incision site into an area of the anterior chamber which is filled with the first viscoelastic substance until the incision site is sealed with the already injected the second viscoelastic substance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of ophthalmic surgery and a kit therefor.
2. Brief Description of the Background Art
Various viscoelastic substances are used for supporting operations of micro-incision ophthalmic surgery in order to treat cataract and the like (patent literature1). In a known method of surgery, two different kinds of viscoelastic substances are used (patent literature 1 and non-patent literature 1).
The method in which two kinds of viscoelastic substances are used is called the soft shell technique. The method comprises placing in the position to contact with corneal endothelium a dispersion type viscoelastic substance, which shows high protective effects for corneal endothelium, and subsequently placing in the position capable of making the dispersion type viscoelastic substance tight on corneal endothelium a polymer coagulation type viscoelastic substance, which is effective in keeping cavity in an anterior chamber, as well as keeping cavity in the anterior chamber. As a result, a superior operation performance and protective effects for corneal endothelium can be achieved.
The soft shell technique is good since it has a superior operability and good protective effects for corneal endothelium, but it requires skills and gives different results depending on the skilled ophthalmologists. Furthermore, in cases where the soft shell technique is applied to glaucoma surgery, there are problems that intraocular pressure after surgery increases and the viscoelastic substance is difficult to be eliminated completely. If the viscoelastic substance cannot be eliminated completely, it may give a hotbed of postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis. Accordingly, the soft shell technique is not suitable for glaucoma surgery and the above-mentioned merits of the soft shell technique are not achieved on glaucoma surgery.
Therefore it is desired a method of ophthalmic surgery by which all ophthalmologists involved in an ophthalmic surgery can assure the uniformly quality and stable operative procedures and which can be used for glaucoma surgery and the like without anxiety.    Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,056    Non-Patent Document: Japanese Journal of Ophthalmic Surgery, Japanese Ophthalmological Society, 2005, July, vol. 18, No. 3, p. 417-420, published on Jul. 30, 2005

Method of ophthalmic surgery and kit therefor


A CD player system with vibration-immune uninterrupted playback capability is provided, which can keep the playback of the audio or video from an optical disc to be uninterrupted even if in the event of external vibrations causing an interrupt to the data reading operation on the optical disc due to defocusing and mistracking of the laser pickup head of the CD player system. The CD player system has a laser pickup head for reading data from an optical disc; servo circuit for controlling said laser pickup head; data processor for decoding the data from said laser pickup head; memory circuit for temporary storage of the output data from said data processor; microcontroller for controlling operations of said servo circuit and said data processor; audio reproduction components for reproducing the output data from said data processing means. Further, the data processor includes a RAM & time controller coupled to said memory unit and said microcontroller. In the event of the occurrence of a defocusing or mistracking condition to said laser pickup head, said servo circuit informs said microcontroller of such a condition, causing said mirocontroller to fetch information about which data frame is being currently written into said memory unit and then command said memory unit to discard the data frame and also command said servo circuit to resume the data reading operation by positioning the laser pickup head at the data frame that precedes the discarded data frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compact disc (CD) player systems, and more particularly, to a CD player system with vibration-immune uninterrupted playback capability that can prevent interrupt in the audio or video playback in the event of the occurrence of any external vibrations that cause an interrupt in the data reading operation on the optical disc due to defocusing and mistracking of the laser pickup head of the CD player system.
2. Description of Related Art
A CD (compact disc) is an optical disc used to store digital information, such as audio, video, or computer programs and data, characterized in the large storage capacity compared to conventional magnetic storage means. The data stored on a CD can be read out by a laser pickup means. When used to store computer programs and data, it is usually referred to as a CD-ROM (compact-disc read-only-memory). A CD-ROM drive is an input device for personal computers which can handle various kinds of CDs, including video CDs, audio CDs, and CD-ROMs, while a CD player is a electronic device that is capable of reproducing audios from an audio CD.
In the use of a CD-ROM, it is only required that the computer programs or data on the CD-ROM be read out and loaded into the memory of the computer quickly. A short interrupt to the data reading operation on the disc is usually unperceivable by the user. However, in the use of a CD player for playback of audio data, such as musical pieces, a short interrupt to the data reading operation on the disc may cause an interrupt to the audio playback, which is usually intolerable to music lovers.
Interrupts to the data reading operation on the optical disc are usually caused by external vibrations, in that external vibrations can cause jumps--and thereby defocusing and mistracking--to the laser pickup head used for data reading operation on the optical disc. In the case of reading a CD-ROM, such interrupts will only cause a slightly prolonged access time and nothing to the integrity of the programs or data being read out.
In the case of reading an audio or video CD, however, such interrupts will cause intermittent breaks in the continuity of the audio or video playback, which is very unpleasing to the watching eyes and listening ears. This drawback is particularly apparent for CD player systems which are installed on automobiles, in that a running automobile can cause large vibrations to the CD player systems.
One solution to the foregoing problem is to provide a memory buffer to the CD player system. All the playable audio data will be first forwarded to and stored in this memory buffer before they are forwarded to the audio reproduction means. During the time of the occurrence of an interrupt to the data reading operation on the optical disc caused by a defocusing or mistracking of the laser pickup head due to external vibrations, the current contents in the memory buffer can be still used for playback for a short time until the laser pickup head resumes the data reading operation. The following will give a pictorial description of the foregoing conventional CD player systems and their drawbacks in more details.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a typical conventional CD player system used for playback of an optical disc 10. This CD player system includes a spindle motor 20, a laser pickup head 30, a radio frequency (RF) amplifier 40, a servo circuit 50, a data processor 60, a microcontroller 70, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 80, an amplifier 90, and a loudspeaker 100. The spindle motor 20 is used to spin the optical disc 10 at a fixed speed during playback operation to allow the data stored on the optical disc 10 to be read out by the laser pickup head 30.
The data signal from the laser pickup head 30 is first amplified by the RF amplifier 40. The output of the RF amplifier 40 is split into two parts: a first part of the amplified signal is transferred to the servo circuit 50 and a second part of the same is transferred to the data processor 60. The signal transferred to the servo circuit 50 is used for feedback controls of both the speed of the spindle motor 20 and the focusing and tracking of the laser pickup head 30. These feedback controls are conventional techniques well known in the art and not within the spirit of the invention, so details thereof will not be further described herein.
The amplified signal transferred to the data processor 60 then undergoes various data processing stages, such as eight-to-fourteen modulation (EFM) decoding, subcode acquisition, error correction and detection (ECD), and so on, to thereby obtain the playable audio data. Since the playable audio data are in digital form, they are further converted by the D/A converter 80 into analog form. The output of the D/A converter 80 is then amplified by the amplifier 90 for audible reproduction by the loudspeaker 100. Moreover, the microcontroller 70 can accept external commands from the user for various controls of the playback.
In the CD player system of FIG. 1, the laser pickup head 30 is a mechanical component which can be easily subjected to external vibrations that would cause defocusing and mistracking to the laser pickup head 30. Should this happen, the data reading operation on the optical disc is interrupted, thus causing an interrupt to the audio playback. This drawback is particularly apparent for CD player systems installed on automobiles which would cause large vibrations when running.
FIG. 2 shows a solution to the foregoing problem, in which an additional RAM unit 110 is coupled to the data processor 60 in the CD player system of FIG. 1. In the CD player system of FIG. 2, all the output data from the data processor 60 will be first forwarded to the RAM unit 110 and temporarily stored therein before they are forwarded to the audio reproduction means (the D/A converter 80, the amplifier 90, and the loudspeaker 100). In the event that the data reading operation on the optical disc 10 by the laser pickup head 30 is interrupted due to external vibrations, the current contents in the RAM unit 110 can be supplied to the audio reproduction means for uninterrupted playback until the laser pickup head 30 resumes data reading operation. By using this solution, however, it is required that the RAM unit 110 be always filled with enough playable audio data from the data processor 60 that can be fetched for playback during the period the data reading operation on the optical disc 10 is interrupted. The microcontroller 70 will command the spindle motor 20 to speed up the spinning of the optical disc 10 when vibrations occur, and speed down the same when the RAM unit 110 is about to overflow.
Therefore, with the CD player system of FIG. 2, the audio playback would not be interrupted when the CD player system is subjected to external vibrations that cause defocusing and mistracking to the laser pickup head 30 and thereby an interrupt in the data reading operation on the optical disc 10. The microcontroller 70 helps to keep the RAM unit 110 filled with an appropriate "backup" amount of playable audio data by controlling the speed of the spindle motor 20.
In the foregoing CD player system of FIG. 2, it is required that, after an interrupt has occurred, the resumed data reading operation start from the interrupted point (i.e., the next byte of audio data following the last byte that has been successfully read out just before the interrupt occurs).
Related patents of CD player systems include the U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,284 "COMPACT DISC PLAYER HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE MEMORY STORAGE DEVICE" to D. G. King, which uses an intermediate memory storage device to keep the audio playback uninterrupted in the event of the CD player system being subjected to external vibrations. Moreover, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,417 "TRACKING JUMP COMPENSATOR FOR OPTICAL DISC REPRODUCING APPARATUS" suggests the use of a compensator to keep the audio playback uninterrupted in the event of the CD player system being subjected to external vibrations. These two patents, however, fail to keep the resumed data reading operation to start precisely from the interrupted point.
To solve the foregoing problem, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,194 "DISK REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REPRODUCING AN AUDIO SIGNAL AND SUBCODE AT N TIMES NORMAL SPEED FROM A DISK" to I. Kimura discloses an apparatus and method which can achieve the so-called one-to-one correspondence of data on the optical disc to keep the resumed data reading operation after an interrupt has occurred to start precisely from the interrupted point. To achieve uninterrupted playback, the disclosed apparatus stores the audio data and associated subcode in a temporary memory unit and then keeps monitoring the subcode from the EFM encoder.
FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram used to depict a standard data format for storing audio data on an optical disc. As shown, the audio of data of a single musical piece, for example, is divided into a plurality of segments, each of which is preceded with a synchronization code SYNC, as designated by the reference numeral 200, and a subcode, as designated by the reference numeral 210, following the SYNC code 200. Typically, the subcode 210 consists of eight channels, which are usually referred to by the letters P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W, respectively. A total of 98 subcodes constitute one data frame.
FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram used to depict the structure of each subcode. As shown, the subcode includes eight channels P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W, each of which begins with two specific pieces of code data S0 and S1. FIG. 3C shows the contents of channel Q, which include such data fields as (Min: Sec: Frame) and (A.sub.-- MIN, A.sub.-- SEC, A.sub.-- FRAME) which can help the CD player system to resume the data reading operation on the optical disc, after an interrupt has occurred due to vibrations, to start precisely from the interrupted point. For details of this, please refer to the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,194.
One drawback to the foregoing patent, however, is that, it requires the temporary memory unit to have a large capacity to store the subcode data in addition to audio data. Moreover, it requires quite a complex hardware circuit to implement. These two drawbacks cause the implementation cost of the patent to be very high.
Conventional solutions to the problem of interrupt in the data reading operation on the optical disc due to external vibrations are thus still unsatisfactory. There exists, therefore, a need for a new CD player system which allows the resumed data reading operation on the optical disc, after an interrupt has occurred due to external vibrations, to start precisely from the interrupted point without losing any bytes of audio data between the newly located byte and the last byte that has been successfully read out just before the interrupt occurs.

Compact disc player system with vibration-immune interrupted playback capability


A method of manufacturing polymer-coated particles is useful for chemical mechanical polishing magnetic, optical, semiconductor or silicon substrates. First it provides a dispersion of particle cores in a non-aqueous solvent. Then introducing a polymeric precursor into the dispersion to react the polymeric precursor forms a polymer. The polymer coats at least a portion of the surface of the particle cores with the polymer and forms the polymer-coated particles having a solid outer polymeric shell. Substituting the non-aqueous solvent with water forms an aqueous mixture containing the polymer-coated particles. And it forms an aqueous chemical mechanical polishing formulation with the polymer-coated particles without drying the polymer-coated particles.

This disclosure relates to the polishing of magnetic, optical, semiconductor and silicon wafers and more particularly, to polishing compositions and methods for polishing and planarizing silicon wafers.
The semiconductor industry uses interconnect metals in forming integrated circuits on semiconductor wafers. These interconnect metals are preferably non-ferrous metals. Suitable examples of such non-ferrous interconnects are aluminum, copper, gold, nickel, and platinum group metals, silver, tungsten and alloys comprising at least one of the foregoing metals. These interconnect metals have a low electrical resistivity. Copper metal interconnects provide excellent conductivity at a low cost. Because copper diffuses into many dielectric materials, such as silicon dioxide or doped versions of silicon dioxide, integrated circuit fabricators typically apply a diffusion barrier layer to prevent the copper diffusion into the dielectric layer. For example, barrier layers for protecting dielectrics include, tantalum, tantalum nitride, silicon nitride, tantalum-silicon nitrides, titanium, titanium nitrides, titanium-silicon nitrides, titanium-titanium nitrides, titanium-tungsten, tungsten, tungsten nitrides and tungsten-silicon nitrides.
In the manufacturing of semiconductor wafers, polishing compositions are used to polish semiconductor substrates after the deposition of the metal interconnect layers. Typically, the polishing process uses a "first-step" slurry specifically designed to rapidly remove the excessive interconnect metal. The polishing process then includes a "second-step" slurry to remove the barrier layer. The second-step slurry selectively removes the barrier layer without adversely impacting the physical structure or electrical properties of the interconnect structure. In addition to this, the second step slurry should also display low erosion for dielectrics.
While the "two-step" slurry generally performs satisfactorily in present conditions, it is desirable to have polishing compositions that can be used for planarizing the metal interconnect without substantial dishing of the interconnect metal and scratching of the wafer surface.
Preparation and evaluation of chemically modified abrasives for chemical mechanical polishing by Partch et al. in an abstract presented at Materials Research Society (MRS) meeting in 2001, discloses coating individual particle cores with a layer of organic or inorganic material. However, Partch et al., disclosed manufacturing the polishing composition with abrasive particles having a large particle size distribution that resulted in scratching and other forms of surface damage.
U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0060502 to Singh discloses a plurality of particles that may be coated by weakly or strongly adsorbing surfactants or polymer additives to a core particle. The polymers thus adsorbed onto the abrasive particles can desorb from the particles during the polishing process to alter polishing characteristics and possibly result in damage to the polished surface.
There thus remains an unsatisfied demand for a method of manufacturing polymer-coated particles suitable for chemical mechanical polishing of magnetic, optical, semiconductor or silicon substrates.

Method of manufacturing of polymer-coated particles for chemical mechanical polishing

Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.