The superjunction semiconductor device includes a drain drift section, which includes a first alternating conductivity type layer formed of first n-type regions and first p-type regions arranged alternately. The device also includes a peripheral section around the drain drift section, which includes a second alternating conductivity type layer formed of second n-type regions and second p-type regions arranged alternately. The peripheral section further includes a third alternating conductivity type layer in its surface portion. The third alternating conductivity type layer is formed of third n-type regions and third p-type regions arranged alternately. At least the peripheral section is configured to improve the avalanche withstanding capability over the entire device.

Generally, semiconductor devices can be classified into a lateral semiconductor device, where its electrodes are formed on one major surface of the device, and a vertical semiconductor device, where its electrodes are distributed onto both of its major surfaces facing opposite to each other. In the vertical semiconductor device, the direction of the drift current flow in its ON-state coincides with the direction of the expansion of the depletion layer caused by a reverse bias voltage in its OFF-state. In the typical planar-type n-channel vertical MOSFET, its high resistive portion formed of an n−-type drift layer works as a region in which the drift current is made to flow substantially vertically in the ON-state of the MOSFET. Since the drift resistance is reduced by shortening the current path in the n−-type drift layer, the on-resistance of the planar-type n-channel vertical MOSFET is reduced.
The high resistive portion is depleted in the OFF-state to raise the breakdown voltage of the MOSFET. As the n−-type drift layer is thinner, the width of the depletion layer expanding from the pn-junction between a p-type base region and an n−-type drift layer becomes narrower. Accordingly, the electric field strength reaches the critical electric field strength of silicon sooner, lowering the breakdown voltage. In contrast, the n−-type drift layer needs to be thick in the semiconductor device exhibiting a high breakdown voltage to increase the on-resistance thereof, resulting in large loses. Thus, there exists a tradeoff relation between the on-resistance and the breakdown voltage.
It is well known that the tradeoff relation between the on-resistance and the breakdown voltage exists also in the IGBTs, bipolar transistors, diodes, and similar semiconductor devices. The tradeoff relation between the on-resistance and the breakdown voltage exists also in the lateral semiconductor devices, where the direction of the drift current flow in its ON-state does not coincide with the direction of the expansion of the depletion layer caused by a reverse bias voltage in its OFF-state.
Superjunction semiconductor devices, which include an alternating conductivity type drift layer formed of heavily doped n-type drift regions and heavily doped p-type partition regions arranged alternately, are known to be effective for reducing the tradeoff relation. See for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,216,275 and 5,438,215, and Japanese patent publication JP PHei. 9(1997)-266311A. Even when the alternating conductivity type drift layer is doped heavily, the semiconductor device having the structure described above obtains a high breakdown voltage, as the depletion layers expand laterally from the pn-junctions extending vertically, to the direction of the alternate arrangement of the constituent regions, depleting the entire drift layer.
For realizing a semiconductor device exhibiting a high breakdown voltage, it is necessary to provide the semiconductor device with a peripheral structure. If the semiconductor device is not provided with any peripheral structure, it will be difficult to realize a high breakdown voltage, since the breakdown voltage is low in the peripheral portions of the semiconductor device. For obviating the problems described above, it has been proposed to arrange an alternating conductivity type layer in the surface portion of the peripheral section around the alternating conductivity type layer in the active section of the device. The alternating conductivity type layer in the peripheral section is formed of n-type regions and p-type regions arranged alternately at a pitch that is narrower than the pitch of the n-type regions and p-type regions arranged alternately in the alternating conductivity type layer in the active section. See for instance Japanese patent publications JP P2003-224273A and JP P2004-22716A. The proposed structure relaxes the surface electric field near the active section of device to maintain a high breakdown voltage.
For improving the avalanche withstanding capability of the drift layer in the superjunction semiconductor device, a structure that improves the negative resistance formed during the avalanche breakdown has been proposed. See for instance Japanese patent publication JP P2004-72068A. Moreover, a structure that includes an n−-type drift layer between a layer with a low electrical resistance and an alternating conductivity type layer is known. The n−-type drift layer is doped more lightly than the n-type drift regions in the alternating conductivity type layer. See for instance Japanese patent publication JP P2003-273355A.
FIGS. 23-25 illustrate a conventional vertical MOSFET. FIG. 23 shows a quarter of the drain drift section (the active section of the device). Here, the vertical MOSFET includes an n+-type drain layer (contact layer) 11 having low electrical resistance on the lower surface side of the semiconductor chip. A drain electrode 18 is in electrical contact with the n+-type drain layer 11. A vertical drain drift section 22, which includes a first alternating conductivity type layer 22a, 22b, is on the n+-type drain layer 11. Heavily doped p-type base regions (p-type wells) 13a working as an active section of the device are formed selectively in the surface portion of the vertical drain drift section 22. A heavily doped n+-type source region 14 is formed selectively in the surface portion of the p-type base region 13a. A gate electrode layer 16 made of polysilicon is above the semiconductor chip with a gate insulator film 15 interposed between the gate electrode layer 16 and the semiconductor chip. A source electrode 17 in electrical contact commonly with the p-type base regions 13a and the n+-type source regions 14 via contact holes bored through an interlayer insulator film 19a is formed above the chip. The n+-type source region 14 is formed shallowly in the p-type base region 13a shaped as a well such that a double-diffusion-type MOS section is formed. A p+-type contact region 26 is in the p-type base region 13a. Although not illustrated, a metal film gate wiring is in electrical contact with gate electrode layer 16.
The vertical drain drift section 22 coincides almost with the portion of the semiconductor chip beneath a plurality of p-type base regions 13a working as the active section. The vertical drain drift section 22 includes the first alternating conductivity type layer formed first n-type regions 22a and first p-type regions 22b arranged alternately at a pitch P1 repeating along the major surfaces of the semiconductor chip such that the first n-type regions 22a and the first p-type regions 22b extend parallel to each other along the thickness direction of the semiconductor chip. The upper ends of some first n-type regions 22a reach sandwiched regions 12e, which is above the region between the p-type base regions 13a and the lower ends of the first n-type regions 22a contacting the n+-type drain layer 11. The first n-type regions 22a reaching the sandwiched regions 12e work as current path regions in the ON-state of the MOSFET. The other first n-type regions 22a do not quite work as current path regions. The first p-type regions 22b contact the well bottoms of the p-type base regions 13a at the upper ends thereof and with the n+-type drain layer 11 at the lower ends thereof.
A peripheral section 30 around the drain drift section 22 includes a second alternating conductivity type layer 30a, 30b continuous with the first alternating conductivity type layer in drain drift section 22. The second alternating conductivity type layer is formed of second n-type regions 30a and second p-type regions 30b arranged alternately at a pitch P1 repeating along the major surfaces of the semiconductor chip such that the second n-type regions 30a and the second p-type regions 30b extend parallel to each other along the thickness direction of the semiconductor chip. The pitches of the first and second alternating conductivity type layers are substantially the same. The impurity concentrations of the first and second alternating conductivity type layers also are substantially the same.
A third alternating conductivity type layer is formed in the surface portion of the peripheral section 30. The third alternating conductivity type layer is formed of third n-type regions 34a and third p-type regions 34b arranged alternately at a pitch P2 repeating along the upper surface of the semiconductor chip such that the third n-type regions 34a and the third p-type regions 34b also extend parallel to each other along the thickness direction of the semiconductor chip. The impurity concentrations in the third alternating conductivity type layer are lower than the impurity concentrations in the second alternating conductivity type. The pitch P2 is narrower than the pitch P1.
An oxide film (insulator film) 33 is on the third alternating conductivity type layer. The oxide film 33 becomes thicker stepwisely from the drain drift section 22 to the peripheral section 30 and covers the third alternating conductivity type layer. A field plate electrode FP extends from the source electrode 17 onto the oxide film 33. An n-type channel stopper region 50 in contact with the n+-type drain layer 11 is formed around the peripheral section 30. A stopper electrode 51 is on the n-type channel stopper region 50. The stopper electrode 51 is in electrical contact with the n-type channel stopper region 50.
Although the previously mentioned Japanese patent publication JP 2003-224273A discloses the techniques for obtaining a low on-resistance and a high breakdown voltage, it does not describe anything on the avalanche withstanding capability (breakdown current). The previously mentioned Japanese patent publication JP 2004-72068A does not disclose any structure for improving the negative resistance formed during the avalanche breakdown even if the peripheral section of the device is disclosed. Even when the avalanche withstanding capability in the active section of the device is improved, it will be difficult to secure and guarantee the avalanche withstanding capability of the entire device, if the avalanche withstanding capability in the peripheral section of the device is not improved.
The present inventors have conducted simulations on the current vs. voltage characteristics of the peripheral and active sections in the avalanche breakdown of a vertical MOSFET of the 600 V class having the structure shown in FIGS. 23-25. The sizes and the impurity concentrations of the constituent portions of the alternating conductivity type layers used for the simulations are as follows. The thickness (in the depth direction) of the drain drift section 22 is 44.0 μm. The first n-type region 22a and the first p-type region 22b each are 8.0 μm in width so that the pitch P1 becomes 16.0 μm. The impurity concentration in the first n-type region 22a and the first p-type region 22b is 2.4×1015 cm−3. The thickness (in the depth direction) of the second alternating conductivity type layer in the peripheral section 30 is 31.0 μm. The second n-type region 30a and the second p-type region 30b each are 8.0 μm in width so that the pitch P1 at the second alternating conductivity type layer remains at 16.0 μm. The impurity concentration in the second n-type region 30a and the second p-type region 30b is 2.4×1015 cm−3. The thickness (in the depth direction) of the third alternating conductivity type layer in the peripheral section 30 is 13.0 μm. The third n-type region 34a and the third p-type region 34b each are 4.0 μm in width so that the pitch becomes 8.0 μm. The impurity concentration in the third n-type region 34a and the third p-type region 34b is 4.8×1014 cm−3.
FIGS. 26-28 are graphs describing the simulation results in the portion along the line segment XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 23. Considering the impurity concentration variations, the impurity concentration Nn in the n-type regions is set to be lower by 10% than the impurity concentration Np in the p-type regions in FIG. 26, the impurity concentration Nn in the n-type regions is set to be equal to the impurity concentration Np in the p-type regions in FIG. 27, and the impurity concentration Nn in the n-type regions is set to be higher by 10% than the impurity concentration Np in the p-type regions in FIG. 28. FIGS. 26-28 indicate that there exists a negative resistance region in the current vs. voltage characteristics of the peripheral section of the device for all the impurity concentration relations simulated.
Since a positive feedback is formed in the direction to which the current is made to flow in the negative resistance region, current localization is formed, further causing breakdown of the device. Therefore, the current that can be made to flow in the active section before the active section is broken down (the avalanche withstanding capability) is limited by the avalanche voltage (the voltage between the drain and the source), at which negative resistance is formed in the peripheral section. Considering the impurity amount variations, the avalanche withstanding capability of the device having the conventional structure is around 50 A/cm2. See FIG. 28. Therefore, for improving the avalanche withstanding capability within a predetermined impurity amount variation range, it is necessary to improve the avalanche voltage, at which negative resistance is formed in the peripheral section of the device, so that the avalanche voltage in the peripheral section can be equal to or higher than the avalanche voltage in the active section. Alternatively, it is necessary to relax the negative resistance characteristics so that positive resistance characteristics can be obtained.
There remains a need for a semiconductor device without the problems associated with the conventional superjunction semiconductor device. The present invention addresses this need.

Semiconductor device with improved breakdown voltage and high current capacity

Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd.


A balloon catheter for irradiation with or without dilatation of an arterial stenosis has an inflatable balloon and a generally cylindrical, thin-walled, elastic radioactive source both located coaxially at a distal section of the balloon catheter. The elastic radioactive source is moved radially outward as a result of injection of an inflation fluid into the inflatable balloon thus placing the radioactive source in close proximity to the wall of a vessel of the human body into which the balloon catheter has been inserted.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5, 411,466, R. L. Hess discloses a balloon angioplasty catheter having "an angioplasty balloon with dose means in the form of radioactive elements attached thereto." In U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,384, N. E. Fearnot discloses a balloon filled with a radioactive fluid that "is injected into the balloon for irradiating the treatment site."
One problem with the Hess invention is that separate radioactive elements on the outside of an angioplasty balloon can become detached, particularly when the balloon expands, which can result in distal emboli that can block a downstream artery. Also patches on the balloon's exterior surface could leach out radioactive matter into the blood stream which is undesirable. Still further, patches on the balloon's exterior surface do not provide uniform irradiation of the tissue of the arterial wall which again is undesirable.
Placing a radioactive liquid into a balloon is highly undesirable because the balloon angioplasty catheter can leak or break and release the radioactive fluid into the blood stream. Furthermore, a radioactive fluid leak can occur where the fluid is injected at the proximal end of the balloon catheter.

Catheter having an expandable radioactive source


A video processing system includes but structure, signal flow, and components to process and combine audio and video signals with improved power, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. The system includes one or more input modules to convert input video signals to a predetermined format. A router routes converted video signals to selected ones of upstream processing cards, which perform video processing such as digital video effects, frame synchronization, non-linear editing, cascading, filtering, and the like. Signals from the upstream processing cards are directed to a switcher, which selectively mixes the upstream-processed signals. A switcher preview module may be provided to intermediately view signals provided by the switcher. The switcher is also attached to a series of downstream video processing cards, which may insert logos, add overlaying, and other suitable post-mixing functions. An output encoder converts signals from the downstream video processing cards into a desired output format, presenting these signals to I/O modules. The I/O modules may also provide input used by the downstream video processing cards. A coordinator manages interaction among the various foregoing modules. Another aspect of the invention involves a motherboard for the video processing system, including a main control bus, secondary control bus, video bus, composited signal video lines, and a number of slots for interconnecting video processing hardware components to the busses and lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to video processing systems. More particularly, the invention concerns a low-cost system for processing and combining video signals, including a bus structure, signal flow, and components having improved power, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
2. Description of the Related Art
To produce a composite video image, a video producer may combine two, three, four, or more video images together to produce a single composite scene. A wide variety of effects may be created; for example the producer may require a certain section of an image to be reduced and displayed in a selected region within the composite scene and/or to move across the background. Furthermore, before or after combining the images, the producer may wish to process one or more of the images to provide effects such as morphing, etc.
Conventional video processing systems include a number of specialized separate components, each performing a specific function. A conventional switcher is used to combine video signals from various video sources such as a VCR, a digital disk, or a disk drive, and other video sources, and is used to combine video segments as well as audio. Another component may be connected to provide morphing capability, and still another component may provide other effects. All these independently-designed separate components (which may or may not work well together) are connected together to form a complete system. The conventional switcher is also used to combine video segments with audio. Unfortunately, each component can have high cost and it can be difficult or impossible to coordinate all the components to function in even a minimally cooperative manner, much less in an optimal manner.
Known video production systems are also limited most do not perform processing in "real-time". Real-time processing systems are either not available or only attainable at a high cost (and with limited capability). Therefore such real-time systems are available only to high-end producers such as movie studios. In component-based systems, it may be difficult or impossible to operate all these components simultaneously in real-time.
More particularly, real-time processing is difficult to achieve due to the tremendous amount of processing that goes into creating even a single digital image. Video signals define a frame and each element (e.g. a pixel) within the frame. To define an image moving across a screen, each frame is usually updated at least sixty times per second in order to avoid flicker and other undesirable effects. Due to the number of calculations and processing required to generate such an image, conventional video processing systems necessitate a rendering process before the composite video can be available for viewing, unless the video production system includes an expensive high performance computer with a large and expensive memory. A rendering process can delay viewing the video composite for several seconds or even minutes, thereby effectively preventing real-time editing and all the advantages that go with it.


The present invention generally related to a maple sap lifter configuration and to a sap collection system making use of the sap lifter. The system includes a vacuum pump, a number of pipes, and the sap lifter. The sap lifter includes a body; an inlet for conveying sap towards the sap lifter; a first outlet for conveying the sap away from the sap lifter; and a pump operatively coupled to the pipes and adapted to pump the sap away from the body once a maximum level of sap is reached, and wherein the maximum level of sap is set to leave an air space in the body and in the pipes for maintaining the level of constant vacuum. The sap lifter and the pipes alternatively define a closed-circuit with no fluid communication with ambient air for maintaining the level of constant vacuum.

The maple syrup industry which has produced maple syrup in an artisanal way for a hundred years until the 1960s has undergone transformation towards industrialization in order to initiate an increase in production performance and lower production costs which became prohibitive.
The classical way of harvesting sap was using buckets hanging from the trees. Thereafter, each bucket was to be emptied one by one into a large container, which was pulled by a horse or tractor into the sugar bush. Subsequently, the sap from the large container was sent to the sugar shack in order to be boiled using an evaporator to obtain a 66% brix sugar maple syrup. The main problem with the classical way of collecting maple sap was that maple growers were unable to expand their business due to the huge workload required to harvest sap from trees. As a result, profitability of maple syrup productions was almost impossible to reach.
In the 70s, an alternative method of collecting maple sap was developed. This alternative way involved collecting the sap from the maple trees using a tubing system, much the same way as in the dairy industry. This collection method was made possible thanks to a network of tubing and lines permanently installed on the entire sugar bush area, where the sap of each of the maple trees is conveyed to a pumping station, which is then routed to the main sugar shack to be transformed into maple syrup. Since they did not require a human presence as extensive as the classical bucket method, map sap collection systems allowed maple producers to significantly expand their businesses and make them much more profitable.
Using these systems, maple sap harvesting is possible thanks to the network of tubing, which can be under vacuum or not. In most instances, the sap is collected from the maple tree into a tube, and descends by gravity to the pumping or harvesting station, thanks to the tubing being installed according to a downward slope in the area. However, and referring to FIG. 1, the topography of the land does not always provide for a suitable downward slope towards the pumping or harvesting station. For instance, the topography of the land may involve valleys in which tubing or mainlines are installed partially in an upwardly extending direction, thus preventing the maple sap to flow toward the collecting or harvesting station by relying on gravity, as best shown in FIG. 1.
Different systems have thus been envisaged to allow the harvesting of the sap in places where topography does not allow gravity or a downward slope towards the pumping or harvesting station. All of these systems involve tubing conveying maple sap from higher points to a tank located in the lower portion of the land (e.g. at the bottom of a valley), and then use vacuum to draw the maple sap up from this tank located at the lower portion of the land to another fairly high level, to then allow the sap to flow by gravity from this high level to the pumping or harvesting station.
Although the existing systems may prove useful, they suffer a number of drawbacks. The first problem of the current systems is that vacuum leaks tend to occur in the tubing network each time in order to create the desired suction, this in order to allow the water to be sucked to a more topographic level. By the same token, each time, these said systems create a loss of performance due to this loss of vacuum caused, sudden in the network of tubing. This is problematic since the higher and more constant the vacuum, the higher the yield or harvest of sap are.
The second problem with the current systems is that they all tend to be very vulnerable to freezing due to the venturi effect. Indeed, when a vacuum leak is created in the system in order to suck up the maple sap, the vacuum leak creates this venture effect which in turn translates into an accumulation of ice affecting the functioning of these systems, even in a places where the temperature is above freezing point.
Therefore, it would thus be desirable to be provided with a sap collection system that alleviate at least some of the above-identified drawbacks.

Sap collection system and sap lifter therefor


The disclosure is directed to techniques for automatic focus control. The automatic focus control techniques prioritize focus of a camera based on skin tone using a skin color detection approach which is intrinsically image sensor-dependent. Sensor-dependent skin color detection to support automatic skin tone prioritized focus control in a camera can enhance the focus of people in the scene. The techniques may be especially useful in digital video camera design, digital still photo camera design, and sensor applications involving people tracking. Sensor-dependent skin color detection is performed once a specific sensor is characterized by taking several raw images of a standard color test target in controlled illumination conditions. Sensor-dependent skin color detection can provide high detection precision and reliability. With sensor-dependent skin color detection, the focus of a camera can be automatically adjusted to prioritize regions of an image containing skin tones.

The presence of skin color is useful as a cue for detecting people in real-world photographic images. Skin color detection plays an important role in applications such as people tracking, blocking mature-content web images, and facilitating human-computer interaction. Skin color detection may also serve as an enabling technology for face detection, localization, recognition, and/or tracking; video surveillance; and image database management. These and other applications are becoming more significant with the adoption of portable communications devices, such as cellular telephones, that are equipped with digital video or still photo cameras. For example, the ability to localize faces may be applied to a more efficient use of bandwidth by coding a face region of an image with better quality and using a higher degree of compression on the image background.
The reflectance of a skin surface is usually determined by its thin surface layer, or "epidermis," and an underlying thicker layer, or "dermis." Light absorption by the dermis is mainly due to ingredients in the blood such as hemoglobin, bilirubin, and beta-carotene, which are basically the same for all skin types. However, skin color is mainly determined by the epidermis transmittance, which depends on the dopa-melanin concentration and hence varies among human races.
Skin color appearance can be represented by using this reflectance model and incorporating camera and light source parameters. The main challenge is to make skin detection robust to the large variations in appearance that can occur. Skin appearance changes in color and shape, and it is often affected by occluding objects such as clothing, hair, and eyeglasses. Moreover, changes in intensity, color, and location of light sources can affect skin appearance, and other objects within the scene may complicate the detection process by casting shadows or reflecting additional light. Many other common objects are easily confused with skin, such as copper, sand, and certain types of wood and clothing. An image may also include noise appearing as speckles of skin-like color.
One conventional approach to skin detection begins with a database of hundreds or thousands of images with skin area (such as face and/or hands). This database serves as a training surface set from which statistics distinguishing skin regions from non-skin regions may be derived. The color space is segmented according to these statistics, and classifications are made based on the segmentation. One disadvantage is that the database images typically originate from different cameras and are taken under different illuminations.

Skin color prioritized automatic focus control via sensor-dependent skin color detection


Fluorescent conjugates suitable for use in flow cytometry and other biological applications. The fluorescent conjugates comprise an antibody having a polymeric dye bound thereto. The polymeric dye is preferably enhanced by a hydrophobic and conformationally restrictive moiety either bound thereto or in close association therewith. The hydrophobic and conformationally restrictive moiety is preferably derived from a cyclodextrin. The polymeric dye comprises a polymeric entity having signal-generating groups, such as aminostyryl pyridinium dye residues attached thereto. The fluorescent conjugates exhibit exceptional stability characteristics and avoid many of the problems of energy transfer, bio-conjugability, and solubility.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to fluorescent dyes that are useful in various assays and, more particularly, to fluorescent polymeric dyes, wherein fluorescence is enhanced by at least partially hosting fluorophoric moieties with moieties providing a hydrophobic and conformationally restrictive microenvironment.
2. Discussion of the Art
A variety of assay techniques are employed in quantitative and qualitative analysis of chemical and biochemical mixtures. One assay technique, referred to as "fluorescence", is useful in many biochemical studies. This assay technique utilizes a fluorescent chemical to label certain molecules to distinguish those molecules from unlabeled, but similar, molecules. A chemical is considered to be fluorescent if it absorbs light at a given wavelength (the "excitation" wavelength) and emits light at a longer wavelength (the "emission" wavelength). The fluorescent chemicals used in this type of assay are often referred to as fluorescent dyes.
There are numerous optical techniques for detecting fluorescent dyes employed in fluorescence assays. One such technique is flow cytometry. Flow cytometry is employed in fluorescence assays to identify particular molecules or cells and to separate or distinguish those molecules or cells from a mixture. In a typical flow cytometry procedure, a fluorescent dye is linked to an antibody. The antibody is specific to an antigen of a particular molecule or a cell-surface molecule of a particular cell desired to be detected. The linking of the antibody and fluorescent dye is referred to as "conjugation", and the linked antibody-fluorescent dye complex is referred to as a "conjugate".
After an appropriate antibody and an appropriate dye are linked to form a conjugate, the conjugate is added to a mixture suspected of containing the antigen or cell-surface molecule sought to be detected. When the conjugate is added to the mixture and appropriate conditions are maintained, the antibody of the conjugate binds with the antigen or cell-surface molecule. The entire mixture in which the antigen or cell-surface molecule is contained and to which the conjugate was added is then subjected to a laser beam of the excitation wavelength for the particular fluorescent dye. The laser beam of this wavelength causes the molecules or cells that contain the bound antibody-fluorescent dye conjugate to fluoresce. A flow cytometer may detect and measure the amount of laser light scattered by the bound molecule or cell, and by that measurement, the quantity, quality, and other determinations relating to the detected antigen or cell-surface molecule may be made.
It has typically been necessary to take steps to increase the intensity of the fluorescent dyes for better detection. Several means have been employed to increase the intensity. However, there are significant limitations that reduce the effectiveness of those means.
One means for increasing the intensity of fluorescent dyes at a given wavelength has been the mechanism of fluorescence energy transfer, whereby a transfer of energy from an excited state is made from a donor molecule to an acceptor molecule. The transfer is usually accomplished by positioning one fluorophore close to another fluorophore. As used herein, the expression "fluorophore" means a carrier of fluorescence.
The first of the closely-positioned fluorophores may be excited by light of a given wavelength. Then, instead of emitting light of a longer wavelength, the excited fluorophore transfers energy to the second fluorophore. That transferred energy excites the second fluorophore, which then emits light of an even longer wavelength than would have been emitted by the first fluorophore. An example of such an energy transfer arrangement involves phycobiliprotein-cyanine dye conjugates. Subjecting these conjugates to an about 488 nm laser light excites the phycobiliprotein. The phycobiliprotein will then, without itself irradiating, transfer energy to the cyanine fluorophore at the excitation wavelength of the cyanine, which is coincident with the emission wavelength of the phycobiliprotein, about 580 nm. Consequently, the cyanine fluorophore is thereby excited and subsequently emits light of its emission wavelength of about 680 nm. This type of energy transfer system in often referred to as a "tandem energy transfer system."
Energy transfer is not a very simple means for increasing fluorescence for a number of reasons. Two fundamental requirements in energy transfer are an appropriate relative spatial distance relationship of the donor and acceptor molecules and an appropriate relative angular relationship of the absorption and emission dipoles of the two molecules. Obtaining and maintaining these fundamental relationships is extremely difficult, if not impossible, in many circumstances. Additionally, there are many other requirements, including overlap of the emission spectrum of the donor with the absorption spectrum of the acceptor, stability of the fluorophores, change in fluorescent characteristics upon conjugation, quantum efficiency of the transfer, non-specific binding of the fluorophores to other compounds, and others. Eliminating the need for meeting these requirements would be an improvement in the art.
Another means for increasing fluorescent intensity of fluorescent dyes is to attach a multiplicity of fluorophores to a polymer and attach the polymer to an antibody. In this arrangement, each of the fluorophores attached to the polymer may be excited by a laser light and emit light at its emission wavelength. However, the use of polymers for this purpose has generally not been effective. The primary problem encountered with polymers is that when a multiplicity of fluorophores are randomly placed on a single polymer, signal quenching among the fluorophores results. Further, even if the polymer/antibody conjugate emits a greater cumulative quantity of light due to the multiplicity of fluorophores, the emission wavelength is only that applicable to the particular fluorophores. Fluorophores of the prior art have had a limited range of wavelength variation between excitation wavelength and emission wavelength. It would be desirable to provide both a polymer to which may be attached a multiplicity of fluorophores without quenching and a fluorescent dye that emits light of a wavelength much greater than the excitation wavelength. Such a polymeric arrangement and wavelength range would enable more accurate detection.
Yet another means for increasing the intensity of fluorescent dyes involves the use of cyclodextrins. Cyclodextrins are well known water soluble cyclic oligosaccharides having a hydrophobic central cavity and a hydrophilic peripheral region. Generally, the shape of a cyclodextrin molecule is substantially cylindrical, with one end of the cylinder having a larger opening than the other. The smaller opening is known as the primary rim, and the larger opening is known as the secondary rim. A cavity into which small molecules can enter through the larger secondary rim is present between the two openings of the cyclodextrin molecule and, in aqueous systems, this cavity of a cyclodextrin molecule provides a hydrophobic microenvironment for the complexing of hydrophobic molecules of low molecular weight. The cyclodextrin molecule acts as a host for the hydrophobic molecule of low molecular weight, i.e., the guest.
Efforts to generate polymeric cyclodextrins have been made in an attempt to increase the fluorescence associated with fluorophores. Theoretically, the complexing properties of a single cyclodextrin molecule can be magnified by having several cyclodextrin molecules in close proximity to each other, for the reason that having several cyclodextrin molecules in close proximity to each other increases the probability that a guest molecule will enter the cavity of a cyclodextrin molecule. According to the theory, if a polymeric cyclodextrin molecule were created, it would be capable of hosting a plurality of guest molecules. Further, if the guest molecules were signal-generating groups, there would be several fluorophores in close proximity to each other, and the fluorescence associated with the polymer would be greater than that of a single fluorophore. Hence, according to the theory, if a conjugate were made with a polymeric cyclodextrin containing a plurality of fluorophores, fluorescence of the polymer would be greater than that of a conjugate comprising a single fluorophore.
Several polymeric cyclodextrins have been manufactured to validate the above-described theory. However, those polymers suffer from problems that severely limit their effectiveness. The polymeric cyclodextrins are synthesized by using cyclodextrin monomers that have been modified to contain several reactive groups on the cyclodextrin monomer's primary and secondary rims, thereby allowing these monomers to react via their primary and secondary rims, and react multiple times via their multiple reactive groups. When a cyclodextrin molecule is bound by its secondary rim, the larger opening to the hydrophobic cavity is hindered. As a result, it is difficult for a guest molecule to enter the cavity of the cyclodextrin molecule, and the cyclodextrin's utility as a host is compromised. Further, polymers derived from cyclodextrin monomers having multiple reactive groups results in a high degree of cross-linking. When cross-linking occurs, not only are the cyclodextrin molecules bound by the secondary rims, causing the problems mentioned previously, but a matrix of cyclodextrins forms. Consequently, the number of cyclodextrin monomers polymerized is limited and many of the cyclodextrin monomers polymerized become buried within the matrix. Although many cyclodextrin molecules are in close proximity, very few of them have accessible secondary openings and very few guest/host complexes are able to form.
Another means for increasing intensity of fluorescent dyes is judicious selection of a suitable dye, among the many fluorescent dyes from which to choose. It has been common practice to employ naturally-occurring substances as fluorescent dyes for fluorescence testing. The more common naturally-occurring dyes include the phycobiliproteins, such as phycoerythrin, and others. As previously mentioned in connection with the discussion of energy transfer, phycobiliproteins are still being used in some tandem energy transfer systems. However, phycobiliproteins present certain problems in their use. A particular problem with phycobiliproteins is their instability. Exposure to light and other environmental effects can cause photo-bleaching, thereby adversely affecting fluorescence assays.
In recent years, a number of synthetic fluorescent dyes have been manufactured and employed for fluorescence assays. A well-known class of fluorescent dyes are the cyanine dyes. These dyes are polymethine dyes containing the --N.paren open-st.C.dbd.C--C.dbd.).sub.n N--moiety.
Cyanine fluorescent dyes also present problems when employed in fluorescence biological testing procedures, such as flow cytometry. For example, many of these dyes are expensive to use and difficult to manufacture. Further, many of the cyanine dyes do not have a sufficiently large interval, i.e., Stokes' shift, between their excitation wavelength and their emission wavelength to be effective for fluorescence detection methods without utilizing energy transfer involving another fluorophore. Those dyes that do have a sufficiently large interval between excitation wavelength and emission wavelength are often sensitive to the environment.
Another class of fluorescent dyes that has been considered for use in biological testing procedures includes the aminostyryl pyridinium dyes. Because of environmental sensitivity, these dyes have been considered unsuitable for fluorescence labeling applications, such as flow cytometry. The environmental sensitivity of aminostyryl pyridinium dyes is well studied and described by Anthony C. Stevens et al., "Synthesis of Protein-Reactive (Aminostyryl)pyridinium Dyes", Bioconjugate Chem. 1993, 4, 19-24.
It would be desirable to develop a fluorescent dye whereby the need for energy transfer is eliminated and problems associated with environmental sensitivity are overcome.

Polymeric fluorophores enhanced by moieties providing a hydrophobic and conformationally restrictive microenvironment


A light emitting diode for generating preferably green light with improved luminous efficiency. A number of epitaxial layers suitable for the light emission is arranged on a doped semiconductor substrate wafer of GaP. The surface of the epitaxial layers is completely frosted. The light emission from the interior is considerably improved by the frosting. A contact layer structure is placed on the frosted surface for contacting the light emitting diode. The contact layer consists of several partial layers and covers at least a part the frosted surface. There is also a contact layer at the rear of the light emitting diode.

The invention relates to a light emitting diode with a frosted surface. Green luminous light emitting diodes are made from (1 1 1)-oriented gallium phosphide. Since gallium phosphide is an indirect semiconductor, the efficiency is lower than in mixed crystal systems where, with a suitable composition, direct band-to-band transitions are also possible. The external quantum efficiency, which is determined by the material property of internal quantum efficiency and by the losses which occur when the radiation emerges from within the diode, is no more than 0.3% for GaP diodes.
One reason for the poor efficiency of the diodes is the proportion of radiation that cannot escape from the body of the diode because of the total reflection on the surface of the semiconductor. This is due to the high optical refractive index of the semiconductor material. This is approximately 3.4 for gallium phosphide. This results in a critical angle of total reflection of 17.7.degree. on emergence of the radiation to air. By direct means, only that proportion of the radiation is emitted that falls on the boundary layer at a smaller angle to the surface normal. The remainder is reflected back into the diode body. A large part of the radiation reflected back is lost due to absorption in the semiconductor body and at the metal contacts. The efficiency can therefore be increased considerably if the emission of the radiation is improved.
In principle, there are many means of improving radiation emission from the interior. In the patent publication DE 42 31 007 A1, a method is described for increasing the critical angle of total reflection by applying a .lambda./4-thick antireflective coating.
From EP 404 565, a radiation-emitting diode made from the III-V compound-semiconductor material GaAIAs is known where the entire surface of the semiconductor chip is roughened in order to improve the external quantum efficiency. The roughening or frosting takes place after the diodes have been singled out. By frosting, the total reflection of the radiation generated at the boundary layer between the diode chip and the surrounding material is largely avoided, the light path in the semiconductor material is shortened and thus the probability of reabsorption is reduced. At the same time, the effective surface of the diode is increased in size thereby allowing more radiation to escape from the inside of the diode. A disadvantage of such a frosted surface, however, is that the diode chip is very difficult to bond at the time of assembly because of the etched contact layer structures. Etch-resistant materials must be used for the contact layer structures. Furthermore, etching of the surface in the region of the radiation-emitting junction results in a reduction of the life of the diodes.

Light emitting diode with improved luminous efficiency having a contact structure disposed on a frosted outer surface


A holding and raking apparatus designed to facilitate a one person operation for bagging leaves into a held open bag. The holding apparatus stores flat when not in use in order to minimize storage space. Rigid frame sides and conformable top and bottom frame rails allows the frame to be bowed temporarily into essentially a hollow semi-cylindrical shape which is held in that bowed condition by a retaining or securing strap. The lawn clipping and leaf system is further complemented by specially designed scissors-type rake. These raketongs are attached at a pivot point by a clamp or similar fastening apparatus. The raketongs pick leaves up and place them in a vertically positioned bag held in the frame by a natural spring tension at the open top of the frame. In a horizontal position on the ground the taut end of the open bag acts as a dust pan rail for easy collection of leaves and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to a method and apparatus for raking and bagging leaves. In a more limited sense, the field of the invention relates to a conformable frame which positions and holds a leaf bag open and accessible in either a vertical or horizontal position, thereby significantly improving the bag handling and the ensuing leaf to bag transfer.
Furthermore, the field of the invention includes, as an option, a scissors-like, dual rake head which acts as a leaf clamping device to facilitate pick up and deposit in a bag held by the conformable frame.
This invention significantly improves and simplifies the age old leaf handling problem and creates a hands free bag holding operation. Efficiency of operation is significantly improved with a device and system approach which positions the bag in an open configuration thereby freeing the user to handle the leaves and rake without holding the bag.

Conformable bag holder with flat frame storage


In a BHJ solar cell, a photoelectric conversion layer contains a condensed carbocyclic ring polymer (photoelectric conversion material). The condensed carbocyclic ring polymer is obtained by polymerizing monomers represented by the following general formulae (1) and (2) to prepare a polyphenylene and then reacting the polyphenylene. R1 to R6 in the general formula (1) independently represent a hydrogen atom or a solubilizing group, and the monomer represented by the general formula (1) exhibits a higher solubility in an organic solvent with the solubilizing group than without the solubilizing group. Ar in the general formula (2) represents an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic group, and R7 and R8 in the general formula (2) independently represent a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic group, a methyl group, or a silyl group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectric conversion material containing a polymer having a condensed carbocyclic ring structural unit, a method for producing the photoelectric conversion material, and an organic photovoltaic cell using the photoelectric conversion material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic photovoltaic cells using organic materials, which can be easily produced by a low-cost process such as a roll-to-roll process, have attracted much attention. Such organic photovoltaic cells include bulk heterojunction-type organic photovoltaic cells (hereinafter referred to also as BHJ solar cells).
The BHJ solar cell has a photoelectric conversion layer for converting a light into electricity, and the photoelectric conversion layer contains a mixture of a donor domain and an acceptor domain. The donor domain contains a photoelectric conversion material that acts as an electron donor, and the acceptor domain contains a photoelectric conversion material that acts as an electron acceptor. Specifically, the photoelectric conversion layer is interposed between positive and negative electrodes. When sunlight is introduced through the positive electrode into the photoelectric conversion layer, an exciton is generated in the layer.
The exciton reaches an interface between the donor and acceptor domains, and then is divided into an electron and a hole. The electron is transferred through the acceptor domain to the negative electrode, while the hole is transferred through the donor domain to the positive electrode. The hole and the electron are utilized to generate an electrical energy for energizing an external circuit electrically connected to the negative and positive electrodes.
Typical examples of the photoelectric conversion materials (i.e. the donor and the acceptor) used in the photoelectric conversion layer having the above function include those described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-273939. Specifically, a donor of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT, see FIG. 11) and an acceptor of phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM, see FIG. 12) are described as the photoelectric conversion materials in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-273939.
P3HT and PCBM have energy levels of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) shown in FIG. 13. When the light is introduced into the photoelectric conversion layer as described above, an electron is transited from the HOMO to the LUMO in the P3HT functioning as a donor. Thus, the energy level difference between the HOMO and the LUMO of P3HT corresponds to the bandgap (Eg).
Then, the electron transited to the LUMO of P3HT is transferred to the LUMO of the PCBM functioning as an acceptor, whereby the electron and the hole are generated. Thus, the energy level difference between the LUMO of P3HT and the LUMO of PCBM results in the energy loss, and the energy level difference between the HOMO of P3HT and the LUMO of PCBM corresponds to the open circuit voltage (Voc).
By increasing the photoelectric power conversion efficiency of the solar cell, the area required for achieving a desired power generation capacity can be reduced. Therefore, advantageously, the weight and the installation area of the solar cell can be reduced, so that the layout of the solar cell can be designed more freely. For the reasons, there is a demand for increasing the photoelectric power conversion efficiency of the solar cell.
The photoelectric power conversion efficiency of the organic photovoltaic cell such as the BHJ solar cell can be increased by (a) improving the absorption of a light to accelerate the exciton generation, (b) improving the absorption of a long-wavelength (near-infrared) light to increase the sunlight utilization efficiency, (c) increasing the open circuit voltage Voc, etc. As is clear from FIG. 13, in order to achieve the above (a) to (c), for example, a material having (A) a high absorbance coefficient, (B) a small energy level difference between the HOMO and LUMO (a narrow bandgap), and (C) a LUMO energy level close to that of the acceptor may be selected as the donor.
Condensed carbocyclic ring compounds (i.e. π-electron conjugated compounds) described in Japanese Patent No. 4005571 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2010-056492, 2007-019086, and 2010-508677 (PCT) may have the above properties of (A) to (C). Such condensed carbocyclic ring compounds are sometimes referred to as graphenes (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-019086).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Photoelectric conversion material, method for producing the same, and organic photovoltaic cell containing the same


A retention device for a tubular casing material for receiving a viscous or granular filling material in a packaging machine, in particular a clipping machine that has a filling tube for filling the tubular casing material with the filling material, where the retention device includes: a first brake ring, which can be mounted coaxially on the filling tube, the inner diameter of first brake ring being larger than the outer diameter of the filling tube and on the inner circumference of which a first brake is provided, along which the casing material can be guided in the filling direction of the filling material against a friction force acting upon the casing material. A second brake ring is also provided which can be stationarily disposed on the filling tube and which has a counter-brake on its outer circumference, where the casing material can be guided between the first brake of the first brake ring and the counter-brake of the second brake ring and where the first brake ring is reversibly displaceable in the filling direction for setting a predetermined friction force for the casing material at the first brake of the first brake ring and at the counter-brake of the second brake ring.

The present invention relates to a retention device for a tubular casing material for receiving a viscous or granular filling material in a packaging machine, in particular a clipping machine.
The invention relates, in particular, to a retention device for a tubular casing material for receiving a viscous or granular filling material in a packaging machine, in particular in a clipping machine, and preferably, in a sausage clipping machine that has a filling tube for filling the tubular casing material with the filling material, such as sausage meat. The retention device, or casing brake, includes a first brake ring, which can be mounted coaxially on the filling tube, the inner diameter of said brake ring being larger than the outer diameter of the filling tube and on the inner circumference of which brake ring a first brake means is provided, along which the casing material or sausage casing can be guided in the filling direction of the filling material against a friction force acting upon the casing material.
The present invention also relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, in particular sausage products, from a viscous or granular filling material such as sausage meat, which can be filled into a tubular casing material, such as a sausage casing, the clipping machine comprising a filling tube for filling the tubular casing material with the filling material in the filling direction, a supply of casing material disposed on the filling tube and a retention device for applying a predetermined friction force that acts counter to the filling direction on the casing material, which can be drawn off in the filling direction.
It is known, in practice, that when producing sausage products, for example, the sausage meat is fed by a filling machine to a clipping machine via a filling tube of the closing and severing unit. In the clipping machine, the filling material is filled into a tubular casing material that is closed at one end by a first clip, and the tubular casing material is closed by placing a second clip. The resultant sausage product is then severed from the remaining supply of casing material, and the finished sausage product is carried out of the clipping machine.
When a filling material, which, besides sausage meat, can also be putty or sealing compound, for example, is fed through a filling tube coupled to a filling machine into a tubular casing closed at one end, a sausage-shaped product is formed at the filling tube exit. The casing, which was previously pulled from the supply of casing material onto the filling tube either manually or automatically, or which was simultaneously formed from a flat web of film folded and sealed around the filling tube to form a tube, is drawn off the filling tube by the filling pressure.
In known clipping machines, a brake ring or casing brake is disposed around the filling tube near the filling tube exit. This casing brake, which typically includes an annular rubber lip, is biased elastically against the filling tube, thus pressing the casing against the filling tube. This pressure generates a friction force that ensures that the casing material or sausage skin is drawn in a controlled manner during the filling process from the supply disposed on the filling tube and that, depending on the bias of the brake ring, a sausage with the desired fullness is produced.
Such a retention device or casing brake is known from German patent application 10 2005 044 879 (US 2007/0072528). The device has a support bracket that can be moved parallel to the filling tube axis. Into this support bracket, a brake ring can be inserted that fully encircles the filling tube and exerts a pressure on the casing material guided between the brake ring and the filling tube in order to generate a friction force. By means of a crank transmission, the brake ring can be moved via the support bracket in accordance with the filling operation together with the casing material for a certain length in the pull-off direction, or in the opposite direction to the pull-off direction. By displacing the brake ring in the direction opposite to the filling direction, a volume into which the filling material can escape is created, by means of which the production rate of the clipping machine when continuously filling the casing material can be further increased.
These known retention devices or casing brakes have certain disadvantages, however. For example, the friction force, which is initially set by selecting the brake ring, is constant during the following production process at least, and cannot be changed during the ongoing process, or only with substantial interruptions of the production process. When the casing material is changed, it is necessary, to achieve an identical friction force and hence an identical braking effect, either to replace the currently used brake ring with a brake ring having a different inner diameter or a different braking behavior, or to change, i.e., increase or decrease, the amount by which the brake ring is compressed. In either case, as already mentioned, the production process must be interrupted. Fine adjustment of the braking force is not possible, or only in a very time-consuming manner. It may likewise be necessary to change the brake ring when the filling pressure changes, or when the brake ring squeeze value changes.

Sausage casing brake with adjustable braking force


The invention concerns an irradiation device for testing objects coated with light-sensitive paint, comprising a EUV radiation source, an optical system for filtering the radiation of the EUV radiation source a chamber for receiving the object, as well as systems for intersecting the trajectory of the rays on the object. The invention also concerns a method for operating such a device. The invention aims at obtaining as quickly as possible an illumination at least partly simultaneous of several irradiation fields, with different doses, by using an inexpensive laboratory radiation source without resorting to complex optical systems. Therefor, the invention provides a device comprising a simplified and compact optical system, with closable diaphragm apertures located in front of the object to be irradiated and at least one control sensor placed on the trajectory of the rays and enabling the radiation dose to be measured.

The term lithography denotes, in semiconductor technology, a method for transferring circuit patterns of microelectronic components and integrated circuits onto a silicon semiconductor slice, the wafer. For this purpose, firstly a mask is produced which contains the pattern in the form of differences in transparency for the beams which are used to transfer said pattern onto the wafer. The wafer surface is coated with a radiation-sensitive photoresist and exposed through the mask. Semiconductor structures are transferred onto the photoresist, by means of a so-called lithography scanner. During the subsequent development, depending on whether a positive or negative resist is involved, the exposed or unexposed photoresist is dissolved away and the wafer surface is uncovered at these locations.
On account of the decreasing feature size of semiconductors, the fabrication of modern semiconductor elements, such as, for example, memory chips and CPUs, requires a resolution which makes it necessary to use extremely short-wave radiation of approximately 13 nm with a quantum energy of approximately 92 eV (EUV radiation). The irradiation wavelengths of 248 nm (UV radiation), 193 nm (DUV radiation) or 157 nm (VUV radiation) used heretofore no longer suffice to produce the shrinking structures. As the feature size and wavelength decrease, however, there is an increase in the requirements made of the resists used, the so-called resist material, as far as both the sensitivity and the line roughness are concerned.
The changed requirements made of resists require the test systems thereof to be adapted, said test systems being used to determine the resist properties with varying irradiation before series production of the wafers.
EUV radiation is absorbed by matter to an extremely high degree. It is necessary, therefore, for the EUV radiation to be guided under ultra-high vacuum conditions. The source of the EUV radiation is a thermally emitting plasma. In contrast to the lasers used heretofore, plasma emits in a very broad band, so that DUV, VUV and UV radiation are also obtained besides the desired EUV radiation. It is necessary, therefore, to keep this radiation away from the resists by means of spectral filters.
So-called EUV beam tubes on synchrotron storage rings which emit monochromatized EUV radiation constitute a highly stable EUV radiation source for researching EUV lithography technology. Such EUV radiation sources emit very short radiation pulses (<1 ns) with repetition frequencies of a few MHz, so that these EUV sources are often referred to as quasi-cw sources. On EUV beam tubes on synchrotron storage rings, for the purpose of testing resists applied on slabs, individual fields have been irradiated sequentially with different radiation doses in order to determine the influence of the radiation dose on the resist. Moreover, on synchrotron storage rings, a plurality of resist-coated fields have also already been exposed simultaneously, a rapidly rotating diaphragm wheel arranged upstream of the resist layer in the beam path performing the function of a neutral wedge filter. The diaphragm apertures arranged radially on the wheel have different sizes, so that the individual fields are exposed to the radiation for different lengths of time during each revolution. Reproducible radiation conditions on the individual fields of the object are only possible with the diaphragm wheel because the EUV radiation source exhibits virtually steady-state behavior on account of the high repetition frequency and radiates very stably.
Finally, irradiation experiments on resists have already been carried out using low-power laboratory radiation sources for EUV radiation, in each case only an individual field on the object having been irradiated. EUV laboratory radiation sources generate a dense and hot (>200 000° C.) plasma and emit the EUV radiation exclusively in very short pulses (typically 100 ns) with very low repetition rates (typically 10-1000 Hz).

Irradiation device for testing objects coated with light-sensitive paint


An angle detecting device with self-calibration function, in which sensor heads are provided with an equiangular interval on a scale disc fixed to a rotating shaft, one sensor head is selected as reference, a sum of measurement differences between the reference and another sensor head is divided by the number of sensor heads, to determine an average, whereby a self-calibration value is obtained, in which a sensor head of the reference is changed to another in order, and the respective self-calibration value is obtained, which value is deviated by an angle of arrangement with respect to a particular sensor head, and a phase is aligned to a self-calibration value of the particular one as the reference, to determine an average for calculations of this phase conversion, which average is subtracted from the respective calculation subjected to the phase conversion, to obtain only asynchronous angular errors.

In general, methods for measuring an axis run-out of a rotation axis are mainly methods using a contact method with an electric micrometer and a non-contact method with a capacitance sensor and a laser as shown in Patent Literature 1 below.
The contact method cannot be utilized with a high-speed rotation axis, and when the capacitance sensor in the non-contact method is used, it takes a lot of time to set up the measurement because the gap between a rotation axis to be measured and the sensor is narrow.
Further, since the laser-type is expensive, there is a problem in that the cost is high when two axes, i.e., X and Y, are provided.
Meanwhile, the general principle of an angle detecting device, such as a rotary encoder, is as follows. The angle detecting device is a device having scale marks written at a circumference of a circular scale disc, and a sensor head for counting a scale, to count the number of scale marks, thereby outputting angle information. Various kinds of devices are used as the angle detecting device. Since the angle detecting device has scale marks written artificially, the scale lines are not written equiangularly, thus the angle information obtained from the positions of the scale lines involves an error. In FIG. 1, a radial line L1 is an ideal scale line position (equiangular interval line), and a short radial broken line L2 is an actual scale line position. A graph in the right of FIG. 1 is obtained by plotting a difference from the ideal position.
The points in the drawing in the right in FIG. 1 are calibration values of scale lines of the angle detecting device. FIG. 1 shows 36 scale lines as depicted, but actually, the angle detecting device has several thousand to several hundred thousand scale lines. A method for calibrating these lines includes several methods for self-calibrating the lines, by comparing the scales of the two angle detecting device with each other. In this method, even if the two angle detecting devices are not calibrated, they can be calibrated at a time, and thus it is not necessary to prepare a more accurate angle detecting device at a higher level. It should be noted that the meaning of the self-calibration is that, even when two angle detecting devices of which angular errors are unknown are compared, the calibration values which are angular errors of both of the devices can be found at the same time.
In the national standard device of angle (angle measuring device), an angle detecting device residing inside of the angle measuring device and an angle detecting device to be calibrated that is provided thereabove, are calibrated using self-calibration method according to the equal-division-averaging method.
The equal-division-averaging method will be simplified and briefly explained with reference to FIG. 2. A difference (SA1) of a scale signal is measured between one of first sensor heads 12, 12 . . . arranged on a scale disc of a first angle detecting device 11 at a lower side and a second sensor head 14 arranged on a scale disc of a second angle detecting device 13 at an upper side. Then, a difference (SA2) is measured in the same manner between another adjacent sensor head 12 at the lower side and the second sensor head 14 at the upper side. Likewise, differences (SA1, SA2, SA3, SA4, SA5) are measured between other first sensor heads 12 and the second sensor head 14, and an average value SAV of those differences is determined, so that a calibration curve of the second angle detecting device 13 at the upper side can be obtained.
When an angular error that is output from the first angle detecting device 11 at the lower side is denoted as ai, and an angular error that is output from the second angle detecting device 13 at the upper side is denoted as bi, the difference is SAj=bi−ai+(j−1)N/M and, and the average value SAV is as follows.
                                                                        SAV                i                            =                                                                            1                  M                                                                                ∑                                          j                      =                      1                                        M                                                                          SAj                    i                                                                                =                                                                            b                  i                                -                                                      1                    M                                                                          (                                                                  a                        i                                            +                                              a                                                  i                          +                                                      N                            /                            M                                                                                +                      …                      +                                              a                                                  i                          +                                                                                (                                                              j                                -                                1                                                            )                                                                                N                              /                              M                                                                                +                      …                      +                                                                                a                                  i                  +                                                            (                                              M                        -                        1                                            )                                                                                N                      /                      M                                                                                )                                                          (        1        )            Herein, i=1, 2, 3 . . . , N is the number of the scale line, N denotes the total number of scale marks provided on the scale disc. M denotes the number of first sensor heads.
When five first sensor heads 12 are provided, the first sensor heads 12 are arranged with an angular interval of one-fifth of 360 degrees around a circle. When M angle detecting devices are provided, the first sensor heads 12 are arranged with an equal angular interval of one M-th in the same manner. This is called the equal-division-averaging method.
The angular error includes not only the angular error between the ideal position and the actual position of the scale line as shown in FIG. 1 but also, e.g., the angular error caused by the influence of axis eccentricity of the angle detecting device itself and the influence of change of the angle detecting device with the aging variation.
In particular, the angular error includes: synchronous angular errors that are synchronized with the rotation angle, such as an angular error caused by the scale and the axis eccentricity; and asynchronous angular errors that are not synchronized with the rotation angle, such as an angular error due to a bearing of a rotating shaft, and an angular error caused by axis run-out or the like dependent on measurement environments, e.g. the temperature and change with the aging variation.
The applicant (assignee) proposed an angle detecting device with a self-calibration function, in which, as shown in Patent Literature 2 below, when a self-calibration method by the equal-division-averaging method is utilized to make calibration, the angle detecting device can constantly make accurate calibration, by making it possible to obtain calibration values of a scale including, e.g. the influence of axis eccentricity of the angle detecting device itself and change of the angle detecting device with the aging variation, using an arithmetic device built-in the main body of the angle detecting device or an arithmetic device electrically connected thereto, in order to solve the error caused by the axis eccentricity occurred in the time period of connection of a rotating shaft with the angle detecting device in the calibration device, and in which the size of the angle detecting device can be reduced.

Axis run-out measuring method and angle detecting device with self-calibration function having axis run-out measuring function

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A self-timing optic lathe, comprising a turntable for rotating an object disc, an offset code track carried by the turntable and embodying an encoded control signal, a read laser for optically reading the encoded control signal from the code track, a write laser for optically recording an information signal on the object disc, an optical carriage for moving the write laser and the read laser in a radial direction across the turntable relative to the code track, and a timing and control circuit connected to the write laser and the read laser for reading the control signal and in response controlling rotation of the turntable and operation of the write laser to record the information signal independently of the speed of rotation of the turntable.

In recent years, considerable effort has been expended in developing improved methods and apparatus for optically recording on and reading from a suitable optical media such as video discs and compact discs (CDs).
For example, Philips Technical Review, Volume 33, pages 187-193 and 197, and Philips Technical Review, volume 40, number 6, 1982, pages 151-164 provide examples of known optical recording technology.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,528 (Silverman) discloses a system for directly transferring a preselected pattern of opaque and transparent areas in a first metal web to an underlying second web via optical means.
However, in order to initially record data onto the master web disc, complex apparatus and circuitry must be employed to ensure complete synchronism between the input data stream, speed of rotation of the disc, radial translation of the disc relative to the laser, and to control of the write laser etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,326 (Dakin et al) discloses a tracking control system for adjusting the angular velocity of an optical disc and the radial velocity of an optical transducer to be inversely proportional to the radius of the particular information track being recorded, whereby the track is moved at a constant linear velocity relative to the transducer for recording information of uniform density over the surface of the disc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,914 (Winslow) teaches beam placement control in an optical disc recording system by means of a lead screw and translation drive.
The above discussed optical disc recording systems share a number of common requirements relating to encoding of data, data synchronization, disc formatting and data access and retrieval. Each of the above discussed systems provides for these requirements in different ways.
For example, the compact disc audio system (CD) described in the Philips Technical Review, Volume 40, encodes sound samples as a digital channel bit stream organized as "frames" which incorporate synchronization patterns. Such frames are recorded as a series of pits and lands, and the transition points between pits and lands are commonly known as "pit-edges". Patterns of pit-edges are formatted as a spiral track of pitch 1.6 .mu.m, which track is designed to be scanned at a constant track velocity of 1.25 m/s. The Digital signal is read by timing the track speed via a crystal so that the intervals between pit-edges may be measured. The compact disc audio system is a non-return-to-zero system in which each pit-edge (whether the start of a pit or a land) counts as one and each channel-bit-long length of track (Tc) is counted as zero. By way of contrast, the Philips LaserVision.TM. system discussed in Philips Technical Review volume 33, pages 187-193, also employs spiral tracks comprised of pits and lands, but in this case the data is stored in analogue form. Similarly, the disc recording systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,326 (Dakin et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,914 (Winslow) which encompasses concentric tracks and a control system whereby each track is designed to be recorded and scanned at a constant linear velocity.
As discussed above, one fundamental disadvantage of such prior art systems in the formation of recordings is the requirement for precise synchronization of various subsystems, including, but not limited to, the following: the source data stream; the operation of a laser or other energetic beam; the turntable rotation speed; and the radial translation drive by which the laser and the object disc are moved radially relative to one another. De-synchronization of any subsystem relative to the other subsystems can result in erroneous data recording.
While such prior art has been widely employed in recording master discs such as those used in the mass production of compact disc recordings, it is complex and expensive. These disadvantages have made the creation of unique or custom recordings of data extremely difficult.
Numerous attempts have been made at simplifying the complex synchronization problems of prior art systems. Although some such attempts have resulted in technically and economically satisfactory systems for the creation of masters employed in the mass production of optical discs, such systems have been neither simple enough nor economical enough to warrant their application to the problem of unique production of compact disc recordings.
One alternative prior art approach reduces the complexity of the recording system by employing a prerecorded guide track on the object disc. According to this prior art approach, a two stage recording procedure is followed. First, the timing and format information is recorded on the object disc during the manufacturing process or, alternatively, when the object disc is formatted upon first installation in the system. Next, an information signal is recorded on the disc. Synchronization, track formatting, location and, some applications data addresses can be determined with comparatively simple, inexpensive and relatively reliable servosystems. Despite the theoretical promise of this prior art technique, difficulties have arisen in keeping the information signal recording process from interfering with or damaging the prerecorded guide track.
Additional prior art techniques have been developed for avoiding the inadvertent recording of an information signal over the guide track. One such technique provides for two mutually adjacent tracks, one reserved for information storage and one reserved for the prerecorded guide track. This approach has not been totally satisfactory because, despite the track separation, tracking error signals applied to scan the guide track may be affected by difracted light from the beam employed in recording and/or reproducing the information signal on an adjacent track.
In response to this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,339 (Nagai et al) discloses an information recording disc prerecorded with a considerably more precise guide track, including address and pseudo-address data which it is claimed overcomes such difficulties.
A further alternative approach is described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,226 (Hazel et al). According to Hazel et al, a three beam optical memory system is provided for use with a specially chosen preformatting of the optical disc. This system employs a read-before-write beam which scans the track ahead of a write laser to, among other things, avoid over-writing of previously recorded data. A disadvantage of this system is that the cost of preformatting the object disc increases the unit cost of the data stored.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that there is a need for a system which can simplify the reliable production of optical recordings and do so at an economical cost.


Multimodal cermet compositions comprising a multimodal grit distribution of the ceramic phase and method of making are provided by the present invention. The multimodal cermet compositions include a) a ceramic phase and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the ceramic phase is a metal boride with a multimodal distribution of particles, wherein at least one metal is selected from the group consisting of Group IV, Group V, Group VI elements of the Long Form of The Periodic Table of Elements and mixtures thereof, and wherein the metal binder phase comprises at least one first element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Mn and mixtures thereof, and at least second element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Al, Si and Y, and Ti. The method of making multimodal boride cermets includes the steps of mixing multimodal ceramic phase particles and metal phase particles, milling the ceramic and metal phase particles, uniaxially and optionally isostatically pressing the particles, liquid phase sintering of the compressed mixture at elevated temperatures, and finally cooling the multimodal cermet composition. Advantages disclosed by the multimodal cermets are high packing density of the ceramic phase, high fracture toughness and improved erosion resistance at high temperatures up to 1000° C. The disclosed multimodal cermets are suitable in high temperature erosion/corrosion applications in various chemical and petroleum environments.

Erosion resistant materials find use in many applications wherein surfaces are subject to eroding forces. For example, refinery process vessel walls and internals exposed to aggressive fluids containing hard, solid particles such as catalyst particles in various chemical and petroleum environments are subject to both erosion and corrosion. The protection of these vessels and internals against erosion and corrosion induced material degradation especially at high temperatures is a technological challenge. Refractory liners are used currently for components requiring protection against the most severe erosion and corrosion such as the inside walls of internal cyclones used to separate solid particles from fluid streams, for instance, the internal cyclones in fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCU) for separating catalyst particles from the process fluid. The state-of-the-art in erosion resistant materials is chemically bonded castable alumina refractories. These castable alumina refractories are applied to the surfaces in need of protection and upon heat curing hardens and adheres to the surface via metal-anchors or metal-reinforcements. It also readily bonds to other refractory surfaces. The typical chemical composition of one commercially available refractory is 80.0% Al2O3, 7.2% SiO2, 1.0% Fe2O3, 4.8% MgO/CaO, 4.5% P2O5 in wt %. The life span of the state-of-the-art refractory liners is significantly limited by excessive mechanical attrition of the liner from the high velocity solid particle impingement, mechanical cracking and spallation.
Ceramic-metal composites are called cermets. Cermets of adequate chemical stability suitably designed for high hardness and fracture toughness can provide an order of magnitude higher erosion resistance over refractory materials known in the art. Cermets generally comprise a ceramic phase and a binder phase and are commonly produced using powder metallurgy techniques where metal and ceramic powders are mixed, pressed and sintered at high temperatures to form dense compacts.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/829,816 filed on Apr. 22, 2004 to Bangaru et al. discloses cermet compositions with improved erosion and corrosion resistance under high temperature conditions, and a method of making thereof. The improved cermet composition is represented by the formula (PQ)(RS) comprising: a ceramic phase (PQ) and binder phase (RS) wherein, P is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group IV, Group V, Group VI elements, Q is boride, R is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Mn and mixtures thereof, and S comprises at least one element selected from Cr, Al, Si and Y. The ceramic phase disclosed is in the form of a monomodal grit distribution. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/829,816 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
A need exists for cermet materials with high density, high fracture toughness and improved erosion and corrosion resistance properties for high temperature applications. The new and improved bimodal and multimodal cermet compositions of the instant invention satisfy this need. Furthermore, the present invention includes an improved method for protecting metal surfaces with bimodal or multimodal cermet compositions against erosion and corrosion under high temperature conditions.

Bimodal and multimodal dense boride cermets with superior erosion performance

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


A trim panel having a main body, a plurality of attachment structures and a dummy electric connector. The main body has a trim surface and an attachment surface opposite the trim surface. The plurality of attachment structures are formed on the attachment surface and are configured to contact and engage a separate panel securing the main body to the separate panel and covering an aperture formed in the separate panel. The dummy electric connector is formed on the attachment surface. The dummy electric connector is configured to receive and retain an electric connector in the absence of any electrical contacts within or on the dummy electric connector. The dummy electrical connector enables retention of a wiring harness having a connector that is not currently used, the unused connector to be connected to and retained by the dummy connector.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to trim panel having a dummy connector. More specifically, the present invention relates to a trim panel with a dummy connector that attaches to an unused electrical connector.
Background Information
As automotive manufacturing processes become more streamlined, it is more cost effective to manufacture a single wiring harness for a model vehicle that includes duplicate connectors that are used for the same purpose but at different locations within a vehicle. For example, a rear brake lamp is required at a centered area of a rear end of a vehicle. In some versions of a specific model vehicle, the rear brake lamp is installed to a rear shelf within a passenger compartment adjacent to a rear window. In other versions of the same model vehicle where a rear spoiler is installed to a trunk lid of the vehicle, the brake lamp can be included within the structure of the rear spoiler. In such a circumstance, two electric connectors are provided in a single vehicle wiring harness for that model vehicle. One of the connectors is used when the brake lamp is installed to the rear shelf, and the other connector is used when the brake lamp is installed within the rear spoiler.


A simple three piece machined steel Collet-Spindle Adaptor for angle grinders includes a hat-shaped base having interior threading for coupling with a threaded spindle on an angle grinder. A sleeve extends therefrom and has an interior surface which engages with a collet. The preferred adaptor converts an angle grinder to accept die grinding tools and other similar tools, thereby providing flexibility of tooling, flexibility of application and work area, ergonomics in operator comfort by providing two hand operation, safety in lower operating tool speed, and reduced cost as an additional die grinder and expensive air compressor are not required. Simple machined design allows rapid change over and small size allows easy toolbox storage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to cutting or material removal by use of a rotating axially moving tool, and more particularly to tool supports used therewith. More particularly, this invention relates to angle and die grinders, and in a most specific manifestation to an adaptor which allows the use of ⅛ inch and ¼ inch arbor shaft die grinder tooling with electric angle grinders.
2. Description of the Related Art
Angle and die grinders are used primarily in the removal of material by grinding, polishing, and sanding surface imperfections, welds, oxidation, etc. This process is achieved by utilizing flat sanding pads, flat type 27 grinding wheels varying in size from 4 inches to 9 inches in diameter, and wire brush wheels. Angle grinders are portable, hand held, electric tools with 110 volt AC power requirements. They range in size from 4 inch wheel capacity to 9 inch wheel capacity with rated speeds of approximately 10,000 revolutions per minute (RPM).
Die grinders typically use smaller cutting tools or grinding points with ⅛ inch or ¼ inch arbor shafts for material removal. Die grinders are commonly used for smaller areas, inside diameters or areas that cannot be accessed with larger angle grinder tooling. In addition, die grinders are usually smaller, with ⅛ inch and ¼ inch tooling capacity determined by the size of the collet or the collet reducer used. Die grinders are usually pneumatic tools, and require an air compressor capable of providing supply air at a pressure of 90 pounds per square inch (PSI), or they are large, expensive 110 volt AC powered tools. Operating speeds are approximately 20,000 revolutions per minute (RPM).
As may be apparent, angle grinders and die grinders use distinctly different tooling to remove material. While grinder manufacturers are continuing to improve flexibility of application, ergonomics and safety, reduce costs, and improve performance of angle and die grinders, insofar as the present inventor is aware, no adaptor exists to provide the user with the advantages and benefits listed in a single tool.
While in the art of angle and die grinding, no adaptors exist which perform suitable conversion of an angle grinder to utilize die grinding tools, adaptors which convert one tool into another are known in other arts. Exemplary of such adaptors, the contents of each which are incorporated herein by reference, include U.S. Pat. No. 1,952,109 by Woodward, entitled "Collet chuck"; U.S. Pat. No. 2,272,185 by Chittenden, entitled "Collet chuck"; U.S. Pat. No. 2,359,594 by Turenchalk et al, entitled "Collet and rod grinder"; U.S. Pat. No. 2,478,195 by Hull, entitled "Collet adapter;" U.S. Pat. No. 2,514,241 by Howland, entitled "Chuck collet adapter;" U.S. Pat. No. 3,026,116 by Marini SR, entitled "Quick-change tool adapter;" U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,796 by Decker, entitled "Workpiece gripping bushing;" U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,367 by Baturka, entitled "Collet chuck for threaded shank tools;" U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,167 by Brugger et al, entitled "Toolholder adapter;" U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,895 by Signorelli, entitled "Surface grinder attachment;" U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,116 by Erani, entitled "Grinding attachment;" U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,049 by Cook, entitled "Cam actuated collet tool holder;" U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,177 by Burnett, entitled "Rapid change tool cutter and driving system;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,245 by Hansen, entitled "Assembly for clamping rotary cutting tool to shaft;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,268 by Wolff, entitled "Accessory device for angle grinder;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,873 by Rudolf et al, entitled "Portable grinder with quick-acting chucking device;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,258 by Matsumoto et al, entitled "Tool holder;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,804 by Parulski, entitled "Grinder attachment for precision grinding machines;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,741 by Lopez, entitled "Universal collect adapter tool;" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,915,722 by Komine, entitled "Clamping nut and tool holder with the clamping nut, and spanner." Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition copyright 1983, is additionally incorporated herein by reference in entirety for the definitions of words and terms used herein which are not otherwise explicitly defined.
In spite of the many collet adaptors of the prior art, there still remains a need for an adaptor well-suited to converting an angle grinder to use die grinding tools.

Angle grinder and angle grinder spindle-collet adaptor


A method and system for performing a cash transaction with a self-service financial transaction terminal makes use of computer hardware and software that allows a financial institution cardholder to authorize a recipient to withdraw a specified amount of cash at an ATM of the particular financial institution. The cardholder can set up the transaction, for example, from any telephone using an interactive voice response (IVR) system, or by utilizing the application at a financial institution ATM, or by using an Internet website application. The originator can set up the recipient's ATM transaction to be either cardless or card-initiated.

It is not currently possible for the holder of an ATM transaction card to authorize another person, such as a non-cardholder who does not have a banking relationship with the cardholder's bank, to get cash from the cardholder's checking account, such as the cardholder's demand deposit checking account or other account of the cardholder, at an ATM. Even though the other person may have banking relationships with one or more banks other than the cardholder's bank, the cardholder cannot authorize a transfer of cash from his or her checking account through an ATM transaction to the other person who does not have access to the cardholder's checking account. There is a present need for a way to enable a transaction cardholder to authorize another person to withdraw a specified amount of cash from the cardholder's bank account at an ATM of the cardholder's bank, for example, to make a cash payment to the other person.

Method and system for performing a cash transaction with a self-service financial transaction terminal


An electronic component mounting circuit board for mounting an electronic component, comprises a circuit board, and connection pads provided on the circuit board, the connection pads being formed with a plurality of holes for inserting terminals of the electronic component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic component mounting circuit board and an electronic component replacing method, and particularly to an electronic component mounting circuit board and an electronic component replacing method which facilitate the operations of removing mounted electronic components and mounting new electronic components.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic component mounting circuit board for mounting various electronic components on a circuit board on which a circuit is formed is used in various electric products such as office automation (OA) machines.
In such an electronic component mounting circuit board, electronic components, which must be replaced after a certain period of time, such as a battery serving as a backup power supply for a DRAM or an SRAM are mounted if necessary.
To facilitate the replacement of these electronic components, a method has been used in which a connector is provided on the circuit board, and an electronic component such as a battery is connected with the connector without being directly mounted on the circuit board.
Recently, recycling of home electric appliances and the like has been attracting attention, and attempts have been made by makers and mass merchandisers of home electric appliances to collect electric products such as OA machines from users, conduct maintenance and necessary repairs to the collected products, and return them to the market.
To perform the recycling of electric products, it is necessary to replace electronic components such as capacitors and batteries which have degraded as the products are being used.
Such electronic components are often mounted on a circuit board with soldering. Therefore, to replace these electric components, it is necessary to remove solder applied to contacts between the electronic components and the circuit board, which requires a large amount of labor and time.
In the conventional method in which sockets or connectors are provided for mounting the electronic components on the circuit board, cost for the sockets or the connectors, and at the same time, holders for holding a battery and the like connected with the connector is required, which causes additional cost for such components.
Further, in the conventional method, it is necessary to secure an area for mounting the holder, which is larger than that of the battery to be held, in addition to the required cost of the holder.

Electronic component mounting circuit board and electronic component replacing method