A oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be used to heat the formation. The heat sources may be positioned within the formation in a selected pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for production of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and/or other products from various oil shale formations. Certain embodiments relate to in situ conversion of hydrocarbons to produce hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and/or novel product streams from underground oil shale formations.
2. Description of Related Art
Hydrocarbons obtained from subterranean (e.g., sedimentary) formations are often used as energy resources, as feedstocks, and as consumer products. Concerns over depletion of available hydrocarbon resources and over declining overall quality of produced hydrocarbons have led to development of processes for more efficient recovery, processing and/or use of available hydrocarbon resources. In situ processes may be used to remove hydrocarbon materials from subterranean formations. Chemical and/or physical properties of hydrocarbon material within a subterranean formation may need to be changed to allow hydrocarbon material to be more easily removed from the subterranean formation. The chemical and physical changes may include in situ reactions that produce removable fluids, composition changes, solubility changes, density changes, phase changes, and/or viscosity changes of the hydrocarbon material within the formation. A fluid may be, but is not limited to, a gas, a liquid, an emulsion, a slurry, and/or a stream of solid particles that has flow characteristics similar to liquid flow.
Examples of in situ processes utilizing downhole heaters are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,634,961 to Ljungstrom, U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,195 to Ljungstrom, U.S. Pat. No. 2,780,450 to Ljungstrom, U.S. Pat. No. 2,789,805 to Ljungstrom, U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,535 to Ljungstrom, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,118 to Van Meurs et al., each of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Application of heat to oil shale formations is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,535 to Ljungstrom and U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,118 to Van Meurs et al. Heat may be applied to the oil shale formation to pyrolyze kerogen within the oil shale formation. The heat may also fracture the formation to increase permeability of the formation. The increased permeability may allow formation fluid to travel to a production well where the fluid is removed from the oil shale formation. In some processes disclosed by Ljungstrom, for example, an oxygen containing gaseous medium is introduced to a permeable stratum, preferably while still hot from a preheating step, to initiate combustion.
A heat source may be used to heat a subterranean formation. Electric heaters may be used to heat the subterranean formation by radiation and/or conduction. An electric heater may resistively heat an element. U.S. Pat. No. 2,548,360 to Germain, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes an electric heating element placed within a viscous oil within a wellbore. The heater element heats and thins the oil to allow the oil to be pumped from the wellbore. U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,960 to Eastlund et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes electrically heating tubing of a petroleum well by passing a relatively low voltage current through the tubing to prevent formation of solids. U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,818 to Van Egmond, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes an electric heating element that is cemented into a well borehole without a casing surrounding the heating element.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,554 to Vinegar et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes an electric heating element that is positioned within a casing. The heating element generates radiant energy that heats the casing. A granular solid fill material may be placed between the casing and the formation. The casing may conductively heat the fill material, which in turn conductively heats the formation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,715 to Van Meurs et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes an electric heating element. The heating element has an electrically conductive core, a surrounding layer of insulating material, and a surrounding metallic sheath. The conductive core may have a relatively low resistance at high temperatures. The insulating material may have electrical resistance, compressive strength, and heat conductivity properties that are relatively high at high temperatures. The insulating layer may inhibit arcing from the core to the metallic sheath. The metallic sheath may have tensile strength and creep resistance properties that are relatively high at high temperatures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,287 to Van Egmond, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes an electrical heating element having a copper-nickel alloy core.
Combustion of a fuel may be used to heat a formation. Combusting a fuel to heat a formation may be more economical than using electricity to heat a formation. Several different types of heaters may use fuel combustion as a heat source that heats a formation. The combustion may take place in the formation, in a well, and/or near the surface. Combustion in the formation may be a fireflood. An oxidizer may be pumped into the formation. The oxidizer may be ignited to advance a fire front towards a production well. Oxidizer pumped into the formation may flow through the formation along fracture lines in the formation. Ignition of the oxidizer may not result in the fire front flowing uniformly through the formation.
A flameless combustor may be used to combust a fuel within a well. U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,742 to Mikus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,952 to Vinegar et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,858 to Wellington et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,269 to Wellington et al., which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describe flameless combustors. Flameless combustion may be accomplished by preheating a fuel and combustion air to a temperature above an auto-ignition temperature of the mixture. The fuel and combustion air may be mixed in a heating zone to combust. In the heating zone of the flameless combustor, a catalytic surface may be provided to lower the auto-ignition temperature of the fuel and air mixture.
Heat may be supplied to a formation from a surface heater. The surface heater may produce combustion gases that are circulated through wellbores to heat the formation. Alternately, a surface burner may be used to heat a heat transfer fluid that is passed through a wellbore to heat the formation. Examples of fired heaters, or surface burners that may be used to heat a subterranean formation, are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,057 to Vinegar et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,499 to Mikus et al., which are both incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Synthesis gas may be produced in reactors or in situ within a subterranean formation. Synthesis gas may be produced within a reactor by partially oxidizing methane with oxygen. In situ production of synthesis gas may be economically desirable to avoid the expense of building, operating, and maintaining a surface synthesis gas production facility. U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,230 to Terry, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes a system for in situ gasification of coal. A subterranean coal seam is burned from a first well towards a production well. Methane, hydrocarbons, H2, CO, and other fluids may be removed from the formation through the production well. The H2 and CO may be separated from the remaining fluid. The H2 and CO may be sent to fuel cells to generate electricity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,293 to Garrett, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, discloses a process for producing synthesis gas. A portion of a rubble pile is burned to heat the rubble pile to a temperature that generates liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons by pyrolysis. After pyrolysis, the rubble is further heated, and steam or steam and air are introduced to the rubble pile to generate synthesis gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,453 to Steinfeld et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes an ex situ coal gasifier that supplies fuel gas to a fuel cell. The fuel cell produces electricity. A catalytic burner is used to burn exhaust gas from the fuel cell with an oxidant gas to generate heat in the gasifier.
Carbon dioxide may be produced from combustion of fuel and from many chemical processes. Carbon dioxide may be used for various purposes, such as, but not limited to, a feed stream for a dry ice production facility, supercritical fluid in a low temperature supercritical fluid process, a flooding agent for coal bed demethanation, and a flooding agent for enhanced oil recovery. Although some carbon dioxide is productively used, many tons of carbon dioxide are vented to the atmosphere.
Retorting processes for oil shale may be generally divided into two major types: aboveground (surface) and underground (in situ). Aboveground retorting of oil shale typically involves mining and construction of metal vessels capable of withstanding high temperatures. The quality of oil produced from such retorting may typically be poor, thereby requiring costly upgrading. Aboveground retorting may also adversely affect environmental and water resources due to mining, transporting, processing, and/or disposing of the retorted material. Many U.S. patents have been issued relating to aboveground retorting of oil shale. Currently available aboveground retorting processes include, for example, direct, indirect, and/or combination heating methods.
In situ retorting typically involves retorting oil shale without removing the oil shale from the ground by mining. "Modified" in situ processes typically require some mining to develop underground retort chambers. An example of a "modified" in situ process includes a method developed by Occidental Petroleum that involves mining approximately 20% of the oil shale in a formation, explosively rubblizing the remainder of the oil shale to fill up the mined out area, and combusting the oil shale by gravity stable combustion in which combustion is initiated from the top of the retort. Other examples of "modified" in situ processes include the "Rubble In Situ Extraction" ("RISE") method developed by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory ("LLL") and radio-frequency methods developed by IIT Research Institute ("IITRI") and LLL, which involve tunneling and mining drifts to install an array of radio-frequency antennas in an oil shale formation.
Obtaining permeability within an oil shale formation (e.g., between injection and production wells) tends to be difficult because oil shale is often substantially impermeable. Many methods have attempted to link injection and production wells, including: hydraulic fracturing such as methods investigated by Dow Chemical and Laramie Energy Research Center; electrical fracturing (e.g., by methods investigated by Laramie Energy Research Center); acid leaching of limestone cavities (e.g., by methods investigated by Dow Chemical); steam injection into permeable nahcolite zones to dissolve the nahcolite (e.g., by methods investigated by Shell Oil and Equity Oil); fracturing with chemical explosives (e.g., by methods investigated by Talley Energy Systems); fracturing with nuclear explosives (e.g., by methods investigated by Project Bronco); and combinations of these methods. Many of such methods, however, have relatively high operating costs and lack sufficient injection capacity.
An example of an in situ retorting process is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,241,611 to Dougan, assigned to Equity Oil Company, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. For example, Dougan discloses a method involving the use of natural gas for conveying kerogen-decomposing heat to the formation. The heated natural gas may be used as a solvent for thermally decomposed kerogen. The heated natural gas exercises a solvent-stripping action with respect to the oil shale by penetrating pores that exist in the shale. The natural gas carrier fluid, accompanied by decomposition product vapors and gases, passes upwardly through extraction wells into product recovery lines, and into and through condensers interposed in such lines, where the decomposition vapors condense, leaving the natural gas carrier fluid to flow through a heater and into an injection well drilled into the deposit of oil shale.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,626 Vinegar et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,854 to Vinegar et al., which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describe a process wherein an oil containing subterranean formation is heated. The following patents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,987 to Ma et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,322 to Willms; U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,137 to Edlund; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,102 to Minet et al.
As outlined above, there has been a significant amount of effort to develop methods and systems to economically produce hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and/or other products from oil shale formations. At present, however, there are still many oil shale formations from which hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and/or other products cannot be economically produced. Thus, there is still a need for improved methods and systems for production of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and/or other products from various oil shale formations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources


An electromagnetic radiation susceptor material comprises at least one species of particle dispersed in a dielectric binder material. Any dispersed species of particle comprises a ferromagnetic amorphous alloy having the composition F.sub.100-y-x M.sub.y TM.sub.x, where M is one or more magnetic elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, and Ni; M is one or more metalloids selected from the group consisting of B, C, Al, Si, P and Ge; TM is one or more transition metal selected from the group consisting of columns IIIB (including the rare earths) to VIIB of the periodic table, and especially Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Zr, Nb, and Ta; 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.20; and 10.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.30. The transition metal controls the Curie temperature of the alloy to provide temperature self-regulation. Many types dielectric binder are suitable. The susceptor material may be applied to substrate, such as an electrically conductive material.

Electromagnetic radiation susceptor materials typically comprise one or more kinds of particles dispersed through a dielectric binder material. Incident radiation (typically in the GHz region of the spectrum) is converted into heat that is re-radiated by the susceptor to the surrounding environment. In this respect, susceptor materials differ from shielding materials, which reflect incident radiation with essentially no heating, and from absorbing materials, which attempt to completely frustrate the incident radiation by destructive interference.

Electromagnetic radiation susceptor material employing ferromagnetic amorphous alloy particles

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A system and method using a multi-element digital beamformer for detection and mitigation of spoofer and repeater threats to GPS that would not be addressed by baseline signal-to-noise (SNR) maximization algorithms is disclosed. GPS correlators and processing are applied to multiple beam outputs to detect and locate spoofer and repeater threats. In the beamformer processing, detected threats can be spatially nulled, even in the presence of traditional high power jamming, by modifying the normal sample covariance matrix to introduce synthetic nulls. A digital complex weighting system multiples each input channel by a complex (gain/phase) weight and adds the weighted channels together to form beams that the GPS receiver can use to reacquire the satellites in use without knowledge of platform attitude or the antenna manifold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to techniques for reducing the effects of spoofers and repeaters in radio-frequency receivers and more specifically to methods and apparatus for enhancing the reception of global positioning system (GPS) signals in the presence of spoofers and repeaters signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, multi-element antenna systems have proven themselves to be extremely effective at protecting GPS receivers from high power jamming. High dynamic range systems with digital back-end processing, such as those developed at Rockwell Collins, Inc., are capable of spatially nulling jamming signals by as much as 60 dB while simultaneously maintaining good antenna gain to desired signal sources.
Recently, however, there has been renewed interest in C/A code spoofers and repeaters (meaconers). A spoofer is a broadcast signal intended to look like a GPS satellite signal. The signal can fool the receiver into tracking it, but it will be unusable for navigation. This can result in either faulty navigation performance or the inability to achieve a navigation fix at all. The repeater case is slightly different in that the receiver itself may not ever be aware that anything is wrong. A repeater simply rebroadcasts the RF environment it receives, so the GPS receiver may derive a perfectly valid navigation solution. The problem is that the solution it derives is for the location of the repeater not the receiver itself. In some cases it may be obvious that something is wrong. If a coupled inertial system indicates a large velocity, for example, while the GPS solution indicates that the platform is stationary, a repeater threat may be suspected. Traditional spatial nulling systems are not always effective against spoofer and repeater threats because the signal levels may be too low to have any impact on the GPS signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Spatial nulling systems are designed to optimize the SNR at their output without any special consideration to specific threat characteristics. The GPS signal itself will typically have an SNR of −30 dB, so a repeater or spoofer can be 20 dB or more above the GPS signal level without having any appreciable impact on the actual SNR of the GPS.
The present invention relates generally to techniques for mitigating spoofer and repeater threats to the GPS systems, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for detection and digital spatial nulling of spoofer and repeater threats to the GPS that would not be addressed by the baseline SNR maximization algorithms.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,000, issued to present applicant C. E. McDowell, entitled, "Method and Apparatus For Reducing Jamming By Beam Forming Using Navigational Data", discloses a method of signal error reduction in position systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), terrestrial or aircraft based pseudolytes, and the like, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for mitigating multipath signal distortion using a multi-element antenna array. The multi-element antenna array is used to discriminate between the directed signal and its multipath components based on spatial angle of arrival. A reference signal, provided by the positioning system receiver, is used to compute element weightings that are utilized to null out the multipath components before they reach the receiver.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,968, issued to present applicant C. E. McDowell, entitled, "Method and Apparatus For Reducing Jamming By Beam Forming Using Navigational Data," discloses a method of reducing jamming in a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiving system that includes the steps of: a) selecting an initial weight value corresponding to each antenna element; b) selecting a weight adjustment scheme for adjusting the weights; c) measuring a power output from the antenna array; d) obtaining navigational data representing the orientation of the array; e) calculating for a gain of the antenna array corresponding each of the GPS satellites, using the navigational data to provide an indication of the orientation of the array relative to each GPS satellite; f) estimating a power level of a received signal corresponding to each GPS satellite; g) solving for the signal to noise ratio for each GPS satellite, using the estimated power level corresponding to each GPS satellite; h) iteratively and continuously adjusting the weights to obtain a greatest value of the signal to noise ratio; and i) continuously repeating steps (c) through (h).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,885, issued to Stockmaster, et al., entitled, "Miniaturized Digital GPS Anti-jam for Space and Size Constrained Applications," discloses a system for providing anti-jam protection that includes a two element antenna; a radio frequency downconverter providing an in phase and quadrature component of received signals by the two element antenna; and at least two analog to digital converters. The analog to digital converters are coupled to the radio frequency downconverter, wherein a first channel complex data and a second channel complex data formed from an output of each of the at least two analog to digital converters form a covariance matrix. A weight calculation is obtained from the covariance matrix providing optimal anti-jam suppression. The calculated weight for optimal anti-jam suppression is applied through hardware components.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,831, issued to present applicant C. E. McDowell, entitled, "FFT Implementation of Digital Antenna Array Processing In GNSS Receivers," discloses global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, including digital spatial nulling arrays, and a method of providing antenna pattern outputs using the same. The digital spatial nulling array receives multiple antenna element inputs. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied to the multiple antenna element inputs to obtain frequency domain representations of the multiple antenna element inputs. The antenna pattern outputs are provided by the spatial nulling array as a function of the frequency domain representations of the multiple antenna element inputs.

GPS spoofer and repeater mitigation system using digital spatial nulling


The present invention relates to a TRPA1 activation inhibitor, more precisely a TRPA1 activity inhibitor containing isopentenyl pyrophosphate and a method for inhibiting pain containing the step of administering isopentenyl pyrophosphate to a subject. Isopentenyl pyrophosphate of the present invention can regulate pain caused by TRPA1, so that it can be effectively used for the development of a pain inhibitor which is effective but has less side effects.

The present invention relates to a TRPA1 activity inhibitor, more precisely isopentenyl pyrophosphate, a compound for suppressing TRPA1 mediated pain by inhibiting TRPA1 activity and a novel use of the same.
TRPA1 (transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1) was first found in 2003 owing to the studies in the fields of human physiology and pharmacology. TRPA1 is activated as it recognizes diverse stimuli such as low temperature stimulus, inflammatory stimulus, and mechanical stimulus, etc. And by the activation of TRPA1, the human body feels pain. TRPA1 belongs to thermoTRP family (temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential ion channels) that is the pain receptor family recognizing temperature and painful stimuli. Researches expect that human pain recognition mechanism can be explained by disclosing functions of TRPA1, the pain receptor, and additionally the pursuing goal of pain relief can be achieved by the development of a TRPA1 regulator.
There is no report on an endogenous pain inhibitor, yet. Studies have been actively going on different types of pain, but mechanisms of pain regulators in vivo have not been disclosed yet. Prostaglandin generated by inflammation and its metabolites and aldehydes are known as pain inducing materials.
To understand basic techniques used for the development of a pain inhibitor based on the TRPA1 specific inhibitor, it is important to understand the characteristics of TRPA1. TRPA1 is an ion channel and its activation makes cations migrate into sensory neurons, changing of cell membrane currents. The changes of cell membrane currents result in the generation of active potential, which is at last transferred to the brain to recognize pain. One of the techniques to measure TRPA1 activation is patch-clamp electrophysiological technique measuring the changes of membrane currents after amplifying thereof. And another technique to measure TRPA1 activation is to measure intracellular calcium level based on the fact that TRPA1 is involved in the migration of cations such as calcium ions. The first technique is superior in sensitivity to the second one, but the second technique is superior in high speed to the first one, so that they are complementary to each other. Such techniques to measure TRPA1 activation can be executed by the support of animal neuron culture technique, cell line culture technique, TRPA1 DNA control and transfection techniques. Various TRPA1 specific inhibitor candidates and a standard activator are administered to TRPA1 over-expressing cells and then inhibiting effect of TRPA1 activation therein is measured to select a proper TRPA1 inhibitor and determine its capacity.
The present inventors constructed a cell line expressing TRPA1 and treated the cell line with isopentenyl pyrophosphate and cinnamaldehyde known as a TRPA1 activator. Then, responses therein were compared. At last the present inventors completed this invention by confirming that isopentenyl pyrophosphate inhibited TRPA1 activity and thus it could be effectively used as an inhibitor of TRPA1 mediated pain.

Compound for inhibiting TRPA1 function and use thereof

Korea University Industry and Academic Collaboration Foundation


A method for depositing a conductor in the via opening electronic structure removes the via bottom liner so that the conductor deposited in the via opening directly contacts the underlying conductive layer. The method includes depositing amorphous silicon over the dielectric layer and the liner layer on the via opening sidewalls and bottom. The amorphous silicon extends substantially over the entire via opening while leaving below a void within the via opening. The amorphous silicon over the via opening and on the via opening bottom and the liner layer on the via opening bottom are anisotropically etched to leave a layer of amorphous silicon over the dielectric layer and the via opening side walls. The amorphous silicon is then removed to form a via opening having a substantially open-bottom liner. The conductor is then deposited in the via opening and contacts the underlying conductive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices generally and in particular to a method for manufacturing a low resistance via without a bottom liner.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor devices employ interconnect wiring structures having multiple levels of metal lines (wires) and dielectric layers (insulator). The lines may take the form of etched films on the dielectric surface, or embedded metal wires fabricated in trenches in the dielectric. A via is a vertical connection, usually circular or rectangular in cross-section, which electrically connects wires on different levels, above and below the via. During processing, an adhesion diffusion barrier liner layer is used to line the via openings to separate the conductive metal forming the via from the surrounding dielectric matrix in the same layer level. The adhesion diffusion barrier or liner layer is an important element for the successful operation of the semiconductor structure. It is frequently formed of a material, or materials that are impermeable to the materials that form the via electrical conductor, such as aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu). Its function is to provide adhesion and prevent the diffusion of the conductor material into the dielectric matrix material which would lead to electrical and structural problems. A suitable liner may be formed of titanium nitride (TiN).
When scaling down semiconductor device geometry, problems arise because of decreasing contact/via size for different metal layer connection. When the device geometry shrinks to be less than 10 nm, via resistance will be more important for performance of the device. Via resistance arises from two sources: 1) the main body of metal line (Cu), and 2) the liner layer at the bottom of the via. Due to much higher electrical resistivity of liner materials as compared to the copper lines, the liner layer at via bottom is a major contributor to the total via resistance.
It would be useful to thin down the liner or remove the liner completely at via bottom to reduce the via resistance. The prior art has not provided an effective way of achieving that, while still protecting the via sidewall and top liner.

Method for manufacturing in a semiconductor device a low resistance via without a bottom liner


In order to analyze, by a finite element method, the wiring property of a wire harness having a base end constrained and a distal end having a connector constrained to a connector base, a screen of a display unit displays a virtual three-dimensional shape image of the wire harness including the connector, using CAD data formed for designing the three-dimensional wiring shape and a condition setting screen for setting one part of analysis conditions, which is not included in the CAD data, of the property, the shape, a constraining position, and a constraining direction of the wire harness by input operation. The position on the moving destination of the connector, designated on the virtual three-dimensional shape image, is recognized as a coordinate value of the constraining position. The wiring shape of the wire harness and the reactive force upon grasping the connector by the FEM are analyzed under the analysis condition included in the CAD data, the analysis condition set on the condition setting screen, and the analysis condition necessary for estimating the constraining position prescribed by the coordinate value. The analysis of the virtual three-dimensional shape image of the analyzed wiring shape including the connector and of the reactive force is displayed on the screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to estimating method and apparatus and an estimating program of a wire harness, and a recording medium thereof, in which the wiring property, such as the wiring shape, of a wire harness whose base ends are constrained and which have connectors constrained by connector bases at distal ends thereof, is estimated by FEM (Finite Element Method) and the analysis result is estimated on the screen of a display unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-373533 discloses a virtual method of a wire harness comprising: a data input step of three-dimensional design data of the wire harness wired on a vehicle; an image display step of displaying an image of a reference wiring data as a background image on the three-dimensional virtual space; a three-dimensional design data display step of overlaying and displaying the three-dimensional design data on the background image; and a three-dimensional data deforming step of changing the shape of wire harness as the three-dimensional data in accordance with the input from data input means and displaying the changed shape. With the virtual method of the wire harness disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-373533, the virtual wiring is executed without testing the wire harness so as to prevent the dimensional shortage in accordance with the three-dimensional design data on the three-dimensional space and to further prevent the generation of a forced attaching angle by the data input means. Thus, the wiring state is determined without the repetition of tests.
In the design of industrial products, a structure analysis using the FEM (Finite Element Method) is well known. In the FEM, a shape model having divided finite elements of a structure is formed and the entire shape is analyzed in accordance with the properties of elements. For example, the reactive force or deformation of a weather strip exhibiting the elasticity of an automobile part is analyzed by the FEM. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-139570 discloses a design supporting method of a wire harness, by which the shape, physicality, and constraining conditions of the wire harness are set, and thus the wiring shape of the wire harness is analyzed by the FEM on the assumption that a wire harness is regarded as an elastic member with a plurality of beam elements having circular cross-sections being connected one by one.
With the design supporting method of the wire harness disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-139570, the deformation of the wire harness between the constraining positions is checked on the screen. However, the design of wire harness must be further viewed about conditions of the interference with peripheral parts due to the deformation in the connector detaching state at the distal end of the wire harness, the operating load due to the reactive force to the wire harness in the parallel advancing direction or rotating direction upon attaching the connector, the fluctuation of deformation due to the tolerance of the wire-harness length, and the amount of change in wire harness due to the vibration. In particular, it is advantageous in estimation that the moving range of the distal end of the wire harness, to which the connector is attached, is variously and easily set for estimation and the corresponding deformation of the wiring shape by the three-dimensional model including the connector is displayed.

Estimating method and apparatus and estimating program of wire harness and recording medium thereof


In general, techniques are described for labeling an implantable medical device (IMD). In one example, an IMD can include a housing including electronic circuitry. The IMD can include a header coupled to the housing and includes a core. The core can define a bore and include a first metal label positioned adjacent to the at least one bore. The IMD includes a lead assembly including at least one lead having a distal end and a proximal end, the at least one lead including a second metal label, the distal end including at least one electrode and the proximal end received within the bore.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) can perform a variety of diagnostic or therapeutic functions. In an example, an IMD can include one or more cardiac function management features, such as to monitor the heart or to provide electrical stimulation to a heart or to the nervous system. The cardiac function management features can be used to diagnose or treat a subject, for example, in cases of electrical or mechanical abnormalities of the heart. Examples of IMDs can include pacers, automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, implantable monitors, neuromodulation devices (e.g., deep brain stimulators, or other neural stimulators), cochlear implants, or drug pumps, among other examples.
Such IMDs can include a housing carrying electronic circuitry configured to wirelessly transfer information between implanted IMDs, or between an IMD and an assembly external to the body. Such information can include, for example, programming instructions or configuration information to configure the IMD to monitor, diagnose, or treat a physiologic condition. Such information can also include data sensed, detected, or processed by the IMD and transmitted to another device or assembly (e.g., physiologic information, a disease status, etc.). Electrodes can be connected to the housing via a connective part referred to as a header. The header and the leads have largely been standardized. The header can include a relatively deep female socket (e.g., a bore) having a number of contact surfaces whereas the lead can be provided with a male part comprising one or several corresponding peripheral, generally circular contact surfaces. Each lead has a designated bore, and inserting a lead into an incorrect bore of the header can cause malfunctions of the IMD after implantation.
The leads are electrically connected to the electronic circuitry of the housing via one or more contact wires extending from the housing. The number of contact wires can vary and as the number of contact wire increases, the risk of wire crossing can also increase. Incorrect connection of leads into the bores and wire crossing can cause various errors such as the stimulation or sensing of the wrong chambers of the heart, incomplete or intermittent connectivity between leads and the IMD, or ineffective defibrillation therapy. Correcting the errors can result in extended procedure durations. In some cases, correcting the errors can require subsequent surgical revisions, thereby increasing the patient's risk of morbidity and mortality.


This invention provides a method and a apparatus capable of manufacturing single crystals with an oxygen density of less than 12.times.10.sup.17 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less than 10.times.10.sup.17 atoms/cm.sup.3, and wherein the oxygen density of the single crystal produced is uniformly distributed along its longitudinal axis. The electrical power inputted into the main heater 6 surrounding the quartz crucible 4 and the top heater 9 shaped like a reverse frustrated cone and disposed above the quartz crucible 4, is controlled to keep the temperature of the melt 5 in a preset range during the process of pulling up the single crystal silicon 10. When combining the main heater 6 and the top heater 9, the heat emitted from the main heater 6 can be kept small, and the heat load on the quartz crucible 4 and the amount of oxygen released from the quartz crucible 4 and dissloved into melt 5 can be reduced. Therefore, a single crystal of low oxygen density and with uniformly distributed oxygen density along its longitudinal axis can be obtained. Furthermore, the single-crystal silicon 10 can be assigned a proper thermal history. In the above process, if a magnetic field is applied to the melt, then single crystals of much lower oxygen density can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing single crystals by the Czochralski Method (CZ method), particularly to a method and a apparatus for manufacturing single crystals which can reduce the oxygen density along longitudinal axes of produced single crystals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Single crystals are conventionally produced by the CZ method. In the CZ method, polycrystalline silicon lumps are fed into a quartz crucible of a single crystal manufacturing apparatus, then the quartz crucible is heated by heaters disposed therearound to melt the polycrystalline silicon lumps, thereafter a seed crystal installed on a seed chuck is dipped into the melt. After that, the seed chuck and the quartz crucible are respectively driven to rotate in opposite or identical directions, and at the same time the seed chuck is pulled up to grow a single-crystal silicon ingot of predetermined diameter and length.
Due to the fact that the inner surface of the crucible is in contact with the melt, oxygen contained in the inner surface of the crucible dissolves into the melt. Most of the oxygen evaporates through the surface of the melt and is expelled out of the single crystal manufacturing apparatus, however, the remaining oxygen enters the single crystal being pulled up. The density of oxygen in single crystals is high at the beginning of the pulling up operation and declines following an increase of the solidification ratio. The oxygen entering the single crystal plays the role of cleaning up contamination by a very small amount of heavy metal during the manufacturing process of semiconductor devices, in other words, if exhibits an intrinsic-gettering effect. However, when oxygen remains in the active layers of wafer surfaces, it becomes nuclei of oxidation-induced stacking faults and thus negatively affects the electric characteristics of semiconductor devices.
To equalize oxygen density along the longitudinal axis of a single-crystal ingot, various proposals are recommended. For example, a method for manufacturing single crystals is disclosed in the Japanese publication gazette TOKU KAIHEI 2-192486, in which the output of heaters disposed around the body and the bottom of a quartz crucible is controlled. Also, a method for manufacturing single crystals is disclosed in TOKU KAIHEI 2-217388, in which a quartz crucible is provided with heat shield members used for covering all of the quartz crucible except for the single-crystal silicon pulling up zone, during the operation of pulling up single-crystal silicon by the CZ method, and the output of heaters disposed around the body and the bottom of the quartz crucible are controlled. Furthermore, in TOKU KAIHEI 2-229786, a horizontal magnetic field is applied to the melt in a quartz crucible and the output of heaters disposed around the body and the bottom of the quartz crucible is controlled.
Also, in TOKU KAI HEI 5-294782, the oxygen density of single-crystal silicon is reduced by controlling the melt temperature via a main heater and a multiple staged sub-heater disposed above the melt and shaped in concentric circles.
However, in recent years, as the volume of quartz crucibles rises following the enlargement of the sizes of single crystal silicon ingots, both an electric amount of power required by heaters and surface of quartz crucibles in contact with melt are increased, and then the amount of oxygen coming from quartz crucibles and dissolved in melt has also increased. Hence, it is difficult to obtain low oxygen single crystals with oxygen density of less than 12.times.10.sup.17 atoms/cm.sup.3 or extreme low oxygen single crystals with oxygen density of less than 10.times.10.sup.17 atoms/cm.sup.3 by using above conventional methods. In addition, it takes a long time to grow large single-crystal silicon, therefore there exists a danger of worsening quality of quartz crucibles by heat load and polycrystallizing single crystals during the pulling up operation. In view of the above situation, it is difficult to impose minimum heat load on quartz crucibles during pulling up operation as conventionally. Furthermore, in TOKU KAI HEI 6-183876, the inventors of this invention disclosed a method and an apparatus suitable for recharging material when single-crystal silicon has been pulled up, or for applying a supplementary charge of material when a preset amount of material has been melted and additional material is required to increase the amount of melt.

Apparatus for manufacturing single crystal


A fluid discharge nozzle includes a nozzle tip defining a spout for jetting fluid at a jet angle. Wall surfaces surround the spout and extend downstream with respect to a jetting direction. The wall surfaces contact free surfaces of the fluid jetting out of the spout. Fluid jets produce negative pressure regions inwardly of a forward end surface of the nozzle tip.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fluid discharge nozzles, and more particularly to a fluid discharge nozzle having a nozzle tip defining a spout for jetting out, at a jet angle, fluid such as liquid, gas or a mixture of liquid and gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fluid discharge nozzle of the type that jets out a mixture of liquid and gas is used, for example, to spray a mixture of pressurized water and pressurized air toward rolled steel plate to cool the steel, or to spray a mixture of water and chemical to plants in vegetable gardens or orchards. A nozzle of the type that jets out only gas is used, for example, to jet out air toward a steel surface to remove therefrom water, oil, stains and the like, or to dry the steel surface, or to cool the steel in a heat treatment. A nozzle of the type that jets out only liquid is used, for example, to jet out pressurized water toward a surface of rolled steel plate to remove scales therefrom.
Such a fluid discharge nozzle is required to jet out fluid with a maximum degree of dispersion while maintaining a jet pattern at a predetermined jet angle toward a transversely elongated or circular region selected according to a use mode. That is, the fluid is required to jet out with little density variations in a given position within a jetting region.
Where, for example, a mixture of pressurized water and pressurized air is sprayed in a thin flat jet pattern toward rolled steel plate to cool the steel plate, the mixture is required to jet out with water particles dispersed as much as possible. The steel plate tends to be quenched locally to affect its quality if the density of water particles is high in a middle position in a direction of spray thickness in the jetting region, and low in peripheral positions thereof.
FIGS. 26 through 28 show a conventional fluid discharge nozzle designed to meet the above requirement.
This fluid discharge nozzle has a slit-like spout 01 formed in a nozzle body 02 for spraying a mixture E of water and air in a flat sector pattern. The spout 01 is surrounded by an outlet edge 03 continuous to spray guide surfaces 04 diverging radially outward in a downstream direction of the jet. The mixture E jetting out of the spout 01 is guided by the spray guide surfaces 04. Water particles are dispersed toward the spray guide surfaces 04, i.e. outward in a direction of spray thickness perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spout 01, with expansion of the air from a compressed state and by a dispersing action of negative pressure regions 05 occurring on the spray guide surfaces 04 as a result of air discharge from the spout 01. The mixture E jets out in a well dispersed state while maintaining the flat sector jet pattern. (See Japanese Patent Publication Kokai S62-114673, for example.)
The conventional construction utilizes the dispersing action of negative pressure regions 05 resulting from the fluid discharge through the spout 01 as noted above. However, ambient air flows 06 generated by the discharge of fluid E from the spout 01 tend to move along the spray guide surfaces 04 toward the spout 01 since the negative pressure regions 05 occur on the spray guide surfaces 04 continuous from the outlet edge 03 of the spout 01 and diverging radially outward in the downstream direction of the jet. Thus, strong negative pressure regions 05 are problematic. Then, where, for example, a mixture of pressurized water and pressurized air is sprayed in a thin flat jet pattern, water particles cannot be dispersed sufficiently in the direction of spray thickness. That is, the fluid E cannot be sprayed in an effectively dispersed state by positively using the dispersing action of the negative pressure regions 05 while maintaining the desired jet pattern.
Moreover, since the negative pressure regions 05 are formed downstream of the outlet edge 03 of the spout 01, the fluid E jetting out of the spout 01 tends to move past the negative pressure regions 05 without being sufficiently drawn thereto. In this sense also, the fluid E cannot be sprayed in an effectively dispersed state by positively using the dispersing action of the negative pressure regions 05.


A control circuit receives an external control signal in synchronism with an internal clock and generates an address signal and internal control signals. A data multiplexer has a plurality of input parallel lines and a plurality of output parallel lines and is switched to one of a first output state and a second output state in accordance with the internal control signal. In the first state, the data multiplexer outputs parallel data, which is input to the plurality of input parallel lines and read out from the memory core unit, to the plurality of output parallel lines corresponding to the plurality of input parallel lines. In the second state, the data multiplexer selects 1-bit data of the parallel data input to the plurality of input parallel lines and outputs the 1-bit data to the plurality of output parallel lines. A conversion circuit converts the parallel data into serial data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and, for example, to a data input/output circuit included in a semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The data input/output speed of semiconductor memory devices is steadily increasing recently along with the progress of microfabrication of elements. Tests coping with the high-speed data input/output operation must be executed for such semiconductor memory devices.
However, a tester capable of conducting tests coping with the high-speed data input/output operation is expensive. For this reason, the cost of the test of semiconductor memory devices increases. More specifically, to execute a data input/output test for a semiconductor memory device capable of an input/output operation in synchronism with a high-frequency clock, a tester is necessary, which can transmit data at a speed corresponding to the high-frequency clock in a data write. In a data read, the tester must be able to compare output data with an expected value in a short time corresponding to the high-frequency and determine whether correct data is output. However, a tester capable of such a high-speed operation is expensive, and the cost of the test of semiconductor memory devices increases.
A semiconductor memory device has been proposed as a prior art related to the present invention. This device allows pulse generation of an internal sync signal ICLK in accordance with not only transition of an external clock CLK from Low level to High level but also level transition of another input. Hence, even a memory tester that obtains only a low-frequency external clock can conduct a test at a higher frequency beyond the performance of the memory tester (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-66894).

Data input/output circuit included in semiconductor memory device


A scooter steering control on small-wheeled scooter having a steerable front wheel on a handlebar, the control comprising two split sleeves fitted around the handlebar and the mounting tube on the scooter body, and a control pin slidable on the upper sleeve into and out of a recess on the lower sleeve. The recess has angularly spaced sidewalls forming stops for limiting turning of the front wheel. A spring-loaded latch holds the pin releasably in engaged and disengaged positions, and a second spring urges the pin toward the disengaged position.

This invention relates to a safety device for small-wheeled vehicles, and relates more particularly to a safety steering control for the steerable wheel of a vehicle such as a scooter.
The current popularity of small-wheeled scooters such as the popular xe2x80x9cRAZORxe2x80x9d brand of scooters has been accompanied by a substantial increase in the number of injuries resulting from accidents of various types. One type, in particular, is the so-called xe2x80x9cjack-knifingxe2x80x9d of the scooter when it is operating at high speed and, for various reasons, the front wheel is turned more sharply than the scooter can accommodate.
When the forward momentum of the scooter is very high, it may continue forwardly instead of turning with the wheel, and crimp the front wheel in a non-rotating, turned position, typically causing the scooter and its user to crash. At a lower level of excessive speed, this sometimes causes the occupant simply to lose steering control, sometimes with similar disastrous results.
The present invention resides in a steering control for the steerable wheels of scooters and other small-wheeled vehicles, which is adapted for easy installation on conventional scooters and, installed, is selectively engageable to provide safety control by limiting the angular steering motion of the front wheel to a restricted range that is much less likely to result in jack-knifing or other steering accidents. The control can be engaged in a quick and easy manner, and can be disengaged with equal ease so as to avoid interference with the full range of steering during low-speed operation.
For these purposes, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two relatively movable control elements for mounting on the support for the steerable wheel, typically the handlebar, and on the body of the scooter, and a selectively engageable and disengageable, motion-limiting coupling between the control elements that is operable, when engaged, to restrict relative turning of the elements, and thus of the handlebar, relative to the body, and limit such turning to the selected range. The control elements may be attachments that are installed as xe2x80x9cafter-marketxe2x80x9d add-ons, or may be built into the scooter by the manufacturer as xe2x80x9cOEMxe2x80x9d equipment.
More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the drawings for purposes of illustrating the invention, comprises upper and lower attachments that are mounted, respectively, on the handlebar and on the body. These attachments are on the turnable handlebar post above the mounting tube on the front of the body, supporting the handlebar rotatably on the body, and on the mounting sleeve itself. These attachments are preferably tubular sleeves, each of which is longitudinally split or divided on one side for ease of mounting on the post and the mounting sleeve, and each preferably having a snap-locking, channel-shaped xe2x80x9ckeeperxe2x80x9d that fits over outwardly extending ribs along the splits to hold the attachments securely in place. Both of the attachments and keepers may be relatively hard plastic such as polypropylene.
The motion-limiting coupling between the two attachments is formed by angularly spaced abutments on one of the attachments, herein opposite ends of a limiting recess in the lower one and a control member in the form of a pin mounted on the other attachment, preferably the upper one, to move longitudinally of the handlebar post into and out of the limiting recess. Conveniently, the attachment having the recess is positioned behind the handlebar mounting sleeve with the two abutments spaced equally to each side, and the control pin is positioned immediately behind the handlebar post and is centered in the recess in the straight-ahead steering position of the front wheel.
A selectively operable latch is provided to hold the control pin selectively in a raised, disengaged position and in a lowered, engaged position in which the lower end of the pin is in the recess. An optional second, wider recess may be provided above the first recess to provide a second, less limited steering range, the control pin being movable between two different engaged positions as well as a disengaged position. Another alternative embodiment forms the motion-limiting recess as a flexible rubber O-ring that is trapped in place in the lower attachment, thereby softening the limiting action of the steering control.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings.


An electromagnetic relay constructed as a hinged-armature relay in which an armature (5) is attached to a flat-shaped spring (6) which spring is constructed as one piece to serve both as a switch-contact spring and as a return spring and which is mechanically and electrically coupled to a load-current terminal (11), with the load-current terminal having a spring affixing area (11a) and a terminal area (11b), wherein the spring affixing area and the terminal area of the load-current terminal are bendable relative to one another. A response voltage of such a relay can be adjusted in a particularly uncomplicated and quick manner using a wedge-shaped adjusting tool (12) to bend the affixing area relative to the terminal area.

This invention relates to an electromagnetic relay as well as to a process for adjusting a response voltage of the electromagnetic relay. Such a relay is disclosed in German Patent Document DE 42 43 852 wherein a process for adjusting a response voltage for a relay as is also disclosed in German Patent Document DE 42 43 854 is set forth.
In this relay, a switching contact spring has a spring coupling element which is shoved, by means an adjusting stamp, onto a portion of a terminal tongue until a relay armature is attracted, with a predetermined attraction voltage being applied. If this is successful, the coupling element is affixed to this portion of the terminal tongue by laser welding.
In this manner, a mounting step and an adjusting step are carried out at the same fabrication station, whereby, in a beneficial manner, one costly apparatus can be avoided; however, the apparatus for this combined mounting and adjusting step is in itself similarly expensive.
Under certain circumstances, however, it can also be convenient for the mounting and adjusting steps to be carried out one after the other; such as when large numbers of such relays must be fabricated and, accordingly, the fabrication cycle time must be quite small.
In this case, the mounting and adjusting will indeed require two apparatus instead of one, whereby, however, each of these apparatus can be of a less complicated structure than a known combined apparatus. The piece, or cycle, times are, however, significantly smaller, because the relatively time-intensive combined mounting and adjusting step is eliminated and is replaced by two extremely fast single steps carried out in series.
A process is previously disclosed in German Patent publication DE 32 35 714 A1 in which a response voltage of an already mounted relay can be adjusted. Here, it is suggested to deform relay components which can be deformed in a selective manner by means of local warming; that is, mainly, to deform a contact spring by means of a laser beam.
This process is quite expensive because not only is an expensive laser installation necessary but also a precisely functioning optical beaming device to control the laser beam; and, in order to control this aiming device an algorithmic correlation between an illuminated point, an illumination time period and a desired deformation for adjusting the component, must be exactly known.
Further, this laser adjustment produces a material deformity exactly at points on the contact spring that will be significantly loaded later during operation of the relay. Thus, this process can lead to a reduction in the lifetime and/or the reliability of a relay adjusted in this manner.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a relay which does not have the above mentioned disadvantages, that is uncomplicated and cost effective to mount and whose response voltage can also be adjusted in an uncomplicated and cost effective manner when already mounted.

Electromagnetic relay and method of adjustment of a response voltage thereof


Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.

Electronic switches are used to provide input to computer devices. Electronic switches generate signals in response to physical force. For example, a user may actuate an electronic switch by pressing a key. Pressing the key causes a force to be applied on an electronic membrane, which in turn causes the electronic membrane to generate an electronic signal. A computer keyboard is one common example of a switch array.
Many switch arrays, such as keyboards, include dome spring elements to provide a biasing force against individual keys. Dome spring elements provide tactile feedback to a user by providing a defined amount of resistance to key actuation. Moreover, dome spring elements may provide a "snapping" feel upon actuation, wherein the amount of resistance to key actuation drastically decreases after pressing the key past a threshold distance.
Dome spring elements can become contaminated, however, particularly if liquid collects under or within the dome spring elements. When this happens, the resistance of the spring can change, and the "snapping" feel can be lost. Moreover, individual spring elements can become stuck in an actuated position. These phenomena are often referred to as "sticky key" phenomena.


A burial structure (10) providing space for multiple human remains in the form of a body or cremens that has the additional feature of allowing interlocking of the individual units (12). This building feature allows the heretofore unknown ability to form the mausoleum into innovative designs and shapes, from an obelisk shape, like the pyramids of Egypt, to religious symbolisms or aesthetic shapes, thus not solely relying on landscaping for giving beauty and reverence to the mausoleum and its surroundings. Each unit (12) comprises an area (52) for the remains, and alternately an area (50) for any memorabilia to be placed with the remains. Formed of a high-strength synthetic material, the unit (12) is sealed with a cover (34) that has grooves (64) formed therein. The bottom of the unit (12) has corresponding tongues (62), which effect an interlocking relationship. The sides are designed to complement and complete this arrangement. Outer blocks (14), not containing remains, are disposed around the sides and atop the structure.

The present invention pertains to the burial of human beings after death. More particularly, the present invention concerns structures to contain the remains of multiple human beings therein. Even more particularly, the present invention pertains to burial structures for multiple numbers of human remains that render the remains contained therein unattainable and non-retrievable while effecting a proper, aesthetic and reverent memorial.
The funeral and after-death industry has long attended to the last needs of people. The traditional solution to the question of how to, in a dignified manner, dispose of the remains of the deceased has been either to bury the body in the earth or, if at sea, at the bottom of a large body of water. While these options will still be desired by many people, ecological concerns, considered in conjunction with the ever-growing world population and the increasing pressure to make available more arable land for crop production, will dictate in coming decades that other options be explored and more widely selected.
Excluding sea burial as a viable and ecological alternative, this leaves land burial. Even when sufficient tracks of land were available for the traditional burial of human remains in the ground, there has been the problems in the past of maintaining such properties in a fitting manner. Funding problems and simply the march of time have rendered often the corporations or people entrusted to oversee graveyards unable to fulfill their obligations, forcing state and local authorities to closely monitor such matters.
History has shown that such traditional methods of burial, even when expertly made to last millennia, will be subject to vandalism. A most famous case is the Egyptian pyramids, wherein the bodies were looted over time even though great strides were taken to conceal the burial chamber. This is due to the fact that workers needed to get out, and thus passages needed to be left.
Many cultures have considered cremation as a preferred means of laying to rest those of the community who have passed on. Even in western culture this option has risen in popularity. However, this option has encountered problems when carried forward in many areas, especially the United States.
One problem encountered has been the scattering of ashes. Many people have desired to spread the cremens of a loved one in a favorite park, lake or other area. However, many state, local and religious laws forbid such actions. Further, these acts cause a pollution which, likely, is unintended by the deceased.
Even if the loved one does not scatter the remains, an awkward situation develops. The cremens are contained in an urm, which is then kept around one""s home. Social situations of an unpleasant variety can occur when visitors see an urn in a home. Alternately, keepers of the remains may decide to move the remains to a less visible place, causing urns to be kept in closets, basements or other more secluded locations. None of these scenarios gives a dignified and reverent resting place for the deceased.
Another problem has been how the cemetery industry has addressed cremen remains. Many parks and cemeteries simply allot a smaller parcel of ground for the internment Thus, while this allows the person to be interned in less area, the cost reduction is not paralleled by the commensurate reduced area of ground utilized. Alternately, the cemeteries have mausoleums in which cremens are placed, often with memorabilia and pictures of the deceased. While a fit and dignified option, this is more expensive. Further, the remains are easily accessible, giving no real security that vandals or others will not be able to desecrate the remains.
A concern to the wider population and its municipalities is the land dedicated to the burial of human remains. As populations have increased, and the attention and care given to cemeteries and memorial parks has risen, traditional methods of burial will cause pat pressures on local land usages. Even where one area has enough land to allow in-ground burial, the financial pressures for alternate land uses often will make such locations economically burdensome. As already mentioned, history has demonstrated that cemeteries have, regrettably, fallen into disrepair and even been so overgrown that the cemeteries become lost. In such circumstances, the reverence and beauty of the final resting place is greatly diminished, and the lack of permanent care shown. While it is known that local and state laws strive to now avoid this occurrence, it is well known that simply passing a law does not ensure its adherence.
A final concern is the design of the mausoleums. Following the traditional design, such structures are usually boxes. At times, the structures are hidden, such as underneath drives or in chapels. Marble and other cold building materials are used, which does not invite one to make frequent visits to the site and, if visited, does not uplift one who does visit. Such traditional designs of mausoleums may not offer the appropriately high level of reverence for the deceased loved one, particularly noting the higher elevation of expectations of the people today.
One attempt to address this final concern is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,994 issued to Chen. Chen teaches a honeycomb structure for internment of human remains. Multiple levels are built below ground, with crypts provided for interment of bodies. Aisleways are provided to visit individual crypts, where a marker is provided. Above ground, a structure is built, even in multiple stories, where cremens are contained. No particular structure is given for the building, and all remains are retrievable.
A similar facility in concept is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,627 issued to Booth. Booth teaches a buried structure for multiple, stacked crypts, which can be visited by a friend or relative. One level may come above ground, but the entire structure is covered with earth, optimally in the form of a frusto-pyramid. All crypts can be visited. Again, these remains are retrievable.
Early mausoleum designs were concerned with building economical structures. Such mausoleums were often formed with common walls between crypts, or comprised a common area wherein multiple urns were placed. In all cases, these mausoleums allowed access ways to visit the remains.
Additionally, such structures should be termed to be retrievable storage places for the human remains. In defining this term, what is meant by retrievable is that the remains are simply stored behind a cover, such as in a crypt, or simply are buried in the ground. Any body or cremens buried in the ground is retrievable simply by digging up the remains. Likewise, crypts are accessible by unscrewing and removing the cover plate. These are characterized by a low degree of difficulty in retrieving remains
Some patents have attempted to address vandalism. One such patent is U.S. Pat. No. 1,964,234 issued Vogel. Vogel teaches the use of a fusible material with the cover plate to increase the time necessary to remove the cover plate, as well as increasing its difficulty. Vogel asserts that vandals will need to take too long to open such a vault, such that they or the damage they have done will be discovered. This presumes, however, a watchful guard or a crypt that is visited often. As people move away from burial centers, such sites may be visited by loved ones infrequently, even only with the interval of years, and then only at holidays or birthdays. Thus, months or more could pass between visits, and a hidden crypt is ripe fodder for vandals.
History notes that in two famous cases, among others possible, the body of a famous person was buried in the ground underneath several feet of cement This was first done with the grave of Abraham Lincoln, whose grave had been the target of vandals. Later, the outlaw John Dillinger was interred likewise due to expected grave robbers. To prevent desecration of the body of gangster Al Capone, the family finally buried the man in an anonymous grave. Such situations as these should not need be resorted to for a proper burial.
Despite the efforts of Vogel and others, graves as commonly known now are, to the definition of the term in this application, retrievable. Even bodies like Lincoln and Dillinger are retrievable, though the effort would require heavy equipment and several days of effort. What is seen as non-retrievable is any situation of interment that would require not only heavy equipment, but additionally identification means, such as a map to find particular remains. Further, such remains would require not merely days or weeks, but rather require years to retrieve at prohibitive cost. Further, the time necessary to retrieve the remains only can be counted once privacy contracts have either been waived or necessary court orders obtained to direct the retrieval, not to mention the redress of the rights of the other remains being disturbed therein.
Thus, what is needed is a burial option that allows more interments of cremens in a given space. Further, what is needed is a burial structure that prevents desecration of the cremens by rendering the remains unattainable. Additionally, what is needed is for structure to place the modern technology at the usage of visitors within a structure design that enhances the memory of the departed and draws one to visit them, while doing so in a special manner. It is to these needs that the present invention is directed.
The present invention is a burial structure for the interment of multiple human remains, the structure comprising:
a plurality of individual burial units, each burial unit being disposed either upon the flooring or atop another burial unit, each burial unit comprising:
an outer container having a chamber formed therein;
an inner container which fits into the chamber of the outer container, the inner container holding the human remains to be stored in the individual burial unit;
a cover; and
a plurality of outer blocks surrounding and capping the individual burial units;
wherein the individual burial units directly contribute to the formation of the aesthetical portion of the burial structure.
The burial structure may further comprise an entryway and a main hallway, and a flooring upon which the containers and outer blocks are deployed atop.
The burial structure may further comprise means for sealing the cover to the outer container, and further comprise means for interlocking the containers stacked atop each other, and means for securing the cover to the outer container.
A second or alternate embodiment for a burial structure for the non-retrievable interment of human remains and any associated memorabilia therewith while forming a lasting memorial structure thereby to those therein interred may comprise:
a floor;
a plurality of containers to hold the human remains, each container comprising a bottom and a plurality of side walls cooperating to define a chamber, and further comprising a cover which fits atop the side walls parallel to the bottom of the container and acting to seal the chamber formed therein the container, wherein each container is either mounted upon the floor or upon another container:
a plurality of outer blocks, the blocks being deployed upon floor circumferentially about the deployment of the containers or being deployed upon each other, the blocks having means for interlocking with each other, the blocks providing the outer shell and protection for the burial structure.
Means for securing each cover to the side walls of its respective container is envisioned as part of the present invention. The floor has formed therein a plurality of slots. The slots formed in the floor are also deployed in a cross-hatch pattern ideally.
It is found in the burial structure that the bottom of each container may have formed thereon a plurality of ridges, and the cover of each container has formed therein a plurality of slots, wherein the ridges and slots are so formed as to be capable of mating and thereby interlocking the containers.
Additionally the bottom of each container has formed thereon a plurality of ridges, and the cover of each container has formed therein a plurality of slots, wherein the ridges of the containers and the slots of the floor and the covers are so formed as to be capable of mating and thereby interlocking the containers and the floor.
In the burial structure, the outer blocks have means for mating with the slots formed in the floor.
The burial structure in all embodiments may further comprise a capstone outer block, the capstone outer block being interlocking with the surrounding outer blocks onto which it is mounted, the capstone outer block and all other outer blocks cooperating to secure the burial container therewithin, the capstone block being sealable atop the containers and outer blocks upon which it is deployed.
The alternate embodiment of the burial structure of the present invention has the containers and outer blocks so disposed as to form a hallway and an entrance to the hallway substantially at ground level, the hallway being formed by outer blocks within the structure, such that the containers are not redily accessible from the hallway. The burial structure further comprises means for securing the cover to the outer container of each individual burial unit. The burial structure further comprises means for sealing the cover to the outer container of each individual burial unit.
A final particular embodiment of the burial structure for the non-retrievable interment of human remains and any associated memorabilia therewith, while forming a lasting memorial structure to those thus interred, comprises:
a floor having a plurality of slots formed therein, the floor being deployed below the grade of the land by a minimum of thirty feet;
a plurality of burial containers, the burial containers comprising at least one compartment formed of a high impact polymer, each burial container having a cover, a bottom and a plurality of sides cooperating to define an interior chamber, the chamber being where the human remains or memorabilia will be interred, the cover being mountable upon the plurality of sides to close the chamber, wherein the cover of each container has formed therein a plurality of slots in a manner similar to the floor, and wherein further the bottom of each container has a plurality of ridges formed thereto, the ridges being capable of interlocking insertion into the slots of either the floor or the top of another container, and wherein further the containers are stacked upon the floor and each other in an interlocking manner to provide greater building stability and to allow a hallway to be formed therein, the interlocking of containers serving as building blocks for the memorial structure;
means to secure the cover to the outer container of each individual burial unit;
a plurality of outer blocks of cement deployed upon the floor and circumferentially around all containers, outer blocks being deployed further in a stacking manner atop other outer blocks so as to enclose all containers therein while allowing for a hallway entrance to be formed, the outer blocks serving to seal the containers from both the ground and the outside atmosphere, the blocks being water and gas impermeable, the blocks having means for interlocking so as to comprise a barrier to access to the containers therein;
means for sealing the cover to the outer container of each individual burial unit; and
a capstone block which is sealed to the top of the burial structure to seal off the structure. The present invention will be more clearly understood by the following detailed description, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

Burial structure for the non-retrievable interment of human remains and significant memorabilia


In one aspect, a film-based lightguide includes a film comprising a light emitting region defined by a plurality of light extracting features, a plurality of coupling lightguide strips extending from the lightguide region of the film, wherein the light mixing region of the film is positioned along the film between the plurality of coupling lightguide strips and the light emitting region, the light mixing region comprises a plurality of interior light directing edges positioned between the lateral edges of the body of the film, wherein the interior light directing edges totally internally reflect light propagating in the light mixing region and redistribute light flux propagating within the lightguide region. In one aspect, pairs of the plurality of interior light directing edges define a plurality of channels that totally internally reflect light propagating therein and are tapered outward toward the light emitting region.

Conventionally, in order to reduce the thickness of displays and backlights, edge-lit configurations using rigid lightguides have been used to receive light from the edge of and direct light out of a larger area face. These types of light emitting devices are typically housed in relatively thick, rigid frames that do not allow for component or device flexibility and require long lead times for design changes. The volume of these devices remains large and often includes thick or large frames or bezels around the device. The thick lightguides (typically 2 millimeters (mm) and larger) limit the design configurations, production methods, and illumination modes. The ability to further reduce the thickness and overall volume of these area light emitting devices has been limited by the ability to couple sufficient light flux into a thinner lightguide.

Film-based lightguide with interior light directing edges in a light mixing region


A nasal medication administering device for providing a quick and easy way of safely administering medication to a user. The nasal medication administering device includes at least one flexible and squeezable medication-containing container; and also includes at least one flexible tubular member having an open first end and an open second end and a bore extending therethrough with the first end being extended through a wall of and into the medication-containing container and with the second end being adapted to be extended into a nasal passage of a user; and further includes at least one cap member being removably attached about the second end of the at least one flexible tubular member for closing the opening through the second end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disposable medication administering device and more particularly pertains to a new nasal medication administering device for providing a quick and easy way of safely administering medication to a user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a disposable medication administering device is known in the prior art. More specifically, a disposable medication administering device heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,272; U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,800; U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,929; U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,848; U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,409; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,799.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new nasal medication administering device. The inventive device includes at least one flexible and squeezable medication-containing container; and also includes at least one flexible tubular member having an open first end and an open second end and a bore extending therethrough with the first end being extended through a wall of and into the medication-containing container and with the second end being adapted to be extended into a nasal passage of a user; and further includes at least one cap member being removably attached about the second end of the at least one flexible tubular member for closing the opening through the second end.
In these respects, the nasal medication administering device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a quick and easy way of safely administering medication to a user.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of disposable medication administering device now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new nasal medication administering device construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a quick and easy way of safely administering medication to a user.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new nasal medication administering device which has many of the advantages of the disposable medication administering device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new nasal medication administering device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art disposable medication administering device, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises at least one flexible and squeezable medication-containing container; and also includes at least one flexible tubular member having an open first end and an open second end and a bore extending therethrough with the first end being extended through a wall of and into the medication-containing container and with the second end being adapted to be extended into a nasal passage of a user; and further includes at least one cap member being removably attached about the second end of the at least one flexible tubular member for closing the opening through the second end.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new nasal medication administering device which has many of the advantages of the disposable medication administering device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new nasal medication administering device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art disposable medication administering device, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new nasal medication administering device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new nasal medication administering device which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal medication administering device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such nasal medication administering device economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal medication administering device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal medication administering device for providing a quick and easy way of safely administering medication to a user.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal medication administering device which includes at least one flexible and squeezable medication-containing container; and also includes at least one flexible tubular member having an open first end and an open second end and a bore extending therethrough with the first end being extended through a wall of and into the medication-containing container and with the second end being adapted to be extended into a nasal passage of a user; and further includes at least one cap member being removably attached about the second end of the at least one flexible tubular member for closing the opening through the second end.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal medication administering device that prevents germs and bacteria from being transmitted from person to another since each medication administering device contains one dosage for the user.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal medication administering device that safe and easy to administer the medication to the user.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.


A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system for providing a beam of extreme ultra-violet radiation, a masking device for controlling the illumination of a patterning device by the beam of radiation, a support for supporting the patterning device, the patterning device configured to impart a pattern to the beam of radiation, a substrate table for holding a substrate, and a projection system for projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of the substrate. The masking device includes a masking blade including a masking edge configured to delimit a boundary of an illumination region on the patterning device. The masking blade is configured to reflect extreme ultra-violet radiation incident on the masking blade such that at least a portion of the reflected radiation is not captured by the projection system.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a target portion of a substrate. Lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that circumstance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern corresponding to an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. comprising part of a die, one die, or several dies) of a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). The pattern is typically transferred onto the target portion via imaging onto a layer of radiation sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned.
A conventional lithographic apparatus comprises an illumination system, a support to hold a patterning device and a projection system. The illumination system is arranged between a radiation source (for example, an extreme ultra-violet radiation plasma source) and the patterning device support. The illumination system is configured to receive radiation from the source, produce a beam of radiation and project the beam of radiation onto the patterning device. The beam of radiation is patterned by the patterning device. The projection system is arranged between the patterning device support and the substrate. The projection system is configured to project the patterned beam of radiation onto the target portion of the substrate.
Stray radiation in a lithographic apparatus may reduce the accuracy with which a pattern is projected onto a substrate.

Lithographic apparatus and method for reducing stray radiation


A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, including a first region, a second region, and a third region between the first region and the second region; a first fin structure including first nanowires disposed over the first region; a second fin structure including second nanowires disposed over the second region; and a first doped layer, disposed over the third region and in contact with each first nanowire and each second nanowire. The first and second nanowires are respectively arranged along a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate and both contain first doping ions. The first doped layer contains second doping ions with a type opposite to the type of the first doping ions. The semiconductor structure includes a source doped layer over the first region; a drain doped layer over the second region; and a first gate structure, disposed across the first fin structure and surrounding each first nanowire.

With the continuous development of the semiconductor technology, the size of integrated circuits (ICs) becomes smaller and smaller, and existing fin field-effect transistor (Fin FET) reaches a limit for further increasing the operating current. Specifically, because only a region close to the top and sidewall surfaces of the fin structure serves as the channel region in existing Fin FET, the volume portion of the fin structure used as the channel region is small, limiting the increase of the operating current in the Fin FET. Therefore, Fin FET with a gate-all-around (GAA) structure has been provided to increase the volume of the fin structure used as the channel region. As such, the operating current of the Fin FET with the GAA structure is further improved.
In advanced semiconductor technology, Fin FETs with the GAA structure are more and more widely used to replace the conventional Fin FETs, and various derivative devices, such as lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) devices, based on Fin FETs with the GAA structure have been developed.
However, when Fin FETs with the GAA structure are used in LDMOS devices, the performance of the LDMOS devices may still need to be improved. The disclosed semiconductor structures and fabrication methods are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems in the art.

Semiconductor structure and formation method thereof

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION