The present invention relates to structural studies of dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) proteins, modified dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) proteins and DPPI co-complexes. Included in the present invention is a crystal of a dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) and corresponding structural information obtained by X-ray crystallography from rat and human DPPI. In addition, this invention relates to methods for using structure co-ordinates of DDPI, mutants hereof and co-complexes, to design compounds that bind to the active site or accessory binding sites of DPPI and to design improved inhibitors of DPPI or homologues of the enzyme.

Dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI, EC 184.108.40.206), previously known as dipeptidyl aminopeptidase I (DAPI), dipeptidyl transferase, cathepsin C and cathepsin J is a lysosomal cysteine exo-peptidase belonging to the papain family. DPPI is widely distributed in mammalian and bird tissues and the main sources of purification of the enzyme are liver and spleen. The cDNAs encoding rat, human, murine, bovine, dog and two Schistosome DPPIs have been cloned and sequenced and show that the enzyme is highly conserved. The human and rat DPPI cDNAs encode precursors (preproDPPI) comprising signal peptides of 24 residues, proregions of 205 (rat DPPI) or 206 (human DPPI) residues and catalytic domains of 233 residues which contain the catalytic residues and are 30-40% identical to the mature amino acid sequences of papain and a number of other cathepsins including cathepsins L, S, K, B and H.
The translated preproDPPI is processed into the mature form by at least four cleavages of the polypeptide chain. The signal peptide is removed during translocation or secretion of the proenzyme (proDPPI) and a large N-terminal proregion fragment, which is retained in the mature enzyme, is separated from the catalytic domain by excision of a minor C-terminal part of the proregion, called the activation peptide. A heavy chain of about 164 residues and a light chain of about 69 residues are generated by cleavage of the catalytic domain.
Unlike the other members of the papain family, mature DPPI consists of four subunits, each composed of the N-terminal proregion fragment, the heavy chain and the light chain. Both the proregion fragment and the heavy chain are glycosylated.
DPPI catalyses excision of dipeptides from the N-terminus of protein and peptide substrates, except if (i) the amino group of the N-terminus is blocked, (ii) the site of cleavage is on either side of a proline residue, (iii) the N-terminal residue is lysine or arginine, or (iv) the structure of the peptide or protein prevents further digestion from the N-terminus.
DPPI is expressed in many tissues and has generally been associated with protein degradation in the lysosomes. More recently, DPPI has also been assigned an important role in the activation of many granule-associated serine proteinases, including cathepsin G and elastase from neutrophils, granzyme A, B and K from cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL, NK and LAK cells) and chymase and tryptase from mast cells. These immune/inflammatory cell proteinases are translated as inactive zymogens and the final step in the conversion to their active forms is a DPPI-catalysed removal of an activation dipeptide from the N-terminus of the zymogens. DPPI -/- knock-out mice have been shown to exclusively accumulate the inactive, dipeptide extended proforms of the pro-apoptopic proteases granzyme A and B.
Many of the granule-associated proteases, which are activated by DPPI, serve important biological functions and inhibition of DPPI may thus be a general means of controlling the activities of these proteases.
Neutrophils cause considerable damage in a number of pathological conditions. When activated, neutrophils secrete destructive granular enzymes, including elastase and cathepsin G, and undergo oxidative bursts to release reactive oxygen intermediates. Numerous studies have been conducted on each of these activating agents in isolation. Pulmonary emphysema, cystic fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis are just some examples of pathological conditions associated with the potent enzymes elastase and cathepsin G. Specifically, the imbalance in plasma levels of these two enzymes and their naturally occurring inhibitors, alpha 1-protease inhibitor and antichymotrypsin, may lead to severe and permanent tissue damage. These facts together with the shown relation between the induction of neutrophil activation and the activation and release of elastase and cathepsin G point to DPPI as an alternative target enzyme for therapeutic intervention against rheumatoid arthritis and related autoimmune diseases.
Cytotoxic lymphocytes play an important role in host-cell responses against viral and intracellular bacterial pathogens. They are also involved in anti-tumour responses, allograft rejection, and in a number of various autoimmune diseases. Though CTL, NK, and LAK cells kill via multiple mechanisms, evidence over the past few years have shown that two major pathways are responsible for the induction of target cell apoptosis. These are the Fax-FasL pathway and the granule exocytosis pathway.
Activated cytotoxic lymphocytes contain lytic granules, which are the hallmark of specialised killer cells. Among the proteins found in lytic granules are perforin and the highly related serine proteases of the granzyme family, including granzyme A, B and K. The importance of perforin and granzymes for cell-mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis has been firmly established in several loss-of-function models.
Granzyme A and B knockout mice have shown that granzyme B is critical for the rapid induction of apoptosis in susceptible target cells, while granzyme A plays an important role in the late pathway of cytotoxicity. The above mentioned fact that DPPI -/- knock-out mice have been shown to exclusively accumulate the inactive proforms of granzyme A and B points to DPPI as an alternative target enzyme for therapeutic intervention and also provides a rationale for developing inhibitors against DPPI that could modulate immune responses against tumours, grafts, and various autoimmune diseases.
Mast cells are found in many tissues, but are present in greater numbers along the epithelial linings of the body, such as the skin, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. Mast cells are also located in the perivascular tissue surrounding small blood vessels. This cell type can release a range of potent inflammatory mediators including cytokines, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, histamine and proteoglycans. Among the most abundant products of mast cell activation, though, are the serine proteases of the chymotrypsin family, tryptase and chymase. The use of in vivo models has provided confirmatory evidence that tryptases and chymases are important mediators of a number of mast cell mediated allergic, immunological and inflammatory diseases, including asthma, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis. For years, pharmaceutical companies have targeted the inhibition of tryptase and chymase as a drug intervention strategy.
However, the active sites and catalytic activities of tryptases and chymases closely resemble a number of other proteases of the same family and it has proven very difficult to design inhibitors that are at the same time sufficiently selective, potent, non-toxic and bioavailable. Furthermore, the large quantities of tryptases and chymases that are synthesised and released by mast cells make it difficult to ensure a continuous and satisfactory supply of inhibitors at the sites of release. The strong evidence associating tryptases and chymases with a number of mast cell mediated allergic, immunological and inflammatory diseases, and the fact that DPPI is needed for the activation of tryptase and chymase, outline DPPI as an alternative target enzyme for therapeutic intervention against the above mentioned mast cell diseases.
Low molecular weight substrates that mimic peptidyl inhibitors of DPPI, such as Gly-Phe- and Gly-Arg- diazomethyl ketones, chloromethyl ketones and fluoromethyl ketones have previously been reported. However, due to their peptidic nature and reactive groups, such inhibitors are typically characterised by undesirable pharmacological properties, such as poor oral absorption, poor stability, rapid metabolism and high toxicity.
Knowledge of the crystal structure co-ordinates and atomic details of DPPI, or its mutants or homologues or co-complexes, would facilitate or enable the design, computational evaluation, synthesis and use of DPPI inhibitors with improved properties as compared to the known peptidic DPPI inhibitors.
In addition to the interest in the unique structural and functional properties of DPPI, attention has also been turned to the technological applications of the enzyme.
By virtue of its restricted specificity, DPPI has been shown to be suitable for excision of certain extension peptides from the N-termini of recombinant proteins having a DPPI stop-point integrated in or placed in front of their N-terminal sequences. These properties of DPPI have been utilised to develop a specific and efficient method using recombinant DPPI variants for complete removal of a group of purification tags from the N-termini of target proteins. The addition of purification tags to the target protein is a simple and well-established approach for generating a novel affinity, making one-step purifications of recombinant proteins possible by using affinity chromatography. The combined processes of using purification tags for purification of recombinant proteins and DPPI for cleavage of the purification tag generating the desired N-terminal in the target protein (the DPPI/tag strategy), hold promises for use in large-scale productions of pharmaceutical proteins and peptide products. Its strength obviously is the simple overall design, the use of robust and inexpensive matrices, and the use of efficient enzymes.
In order to fully exploit the potential of this DPPI/tag strategy, it is thus desirable to alter the chemical, physical and enzymatic properties of DPPI to be able to use the enzyme in different condition, thereby making the DPPI/tag strategy more efficient, flexible and/or even more economically feasible.
Furthermore, besides its aminopeptidase activity, DPPI also displays a transferase activity, i.e. DPPI catalyses the transfer of dipeptide moieties from amides and esters of dipeptides to the N-terminal of unprotected peptides and proteins. This transferase activity of DPPI consequentely bears a potential usage in methods for enzymatic synthesis and/or semisynthesis of peptides and proteins, but because of problems with the reverse (aminopeptidase) activity and substrate restrictions, transpeptidation by DPPI has been rarely used or exploited for peptide and protein synthesis.
The crystal structure of a number of cysteine peptidases of the papain family, including papain, chymopapain, actinidin, cathepsin B, and cathepsin have been known for many years, but despite DPPI being highly homologous to the other members of the papain family, and despite DPPI being available as purified and characterised preparation since 1960 (Metrione, R. M. et al, Biochemistry 5,1597-1604, 1966; McDonnald J. K. et al, J. Biol. Chem. 244, 2693-2709, 1969), it has until now been impossible to obtain crystals of DPPI for solving the crystal structure of the enzyme.
Alternative interests have thus been focussed on trying to solve some of the structural features of DPPI through homology modelling, based on the known crystal structures of other cysteine peptidases of the papain family. However, although there are many resemblances to these other cysteine peptidases, it has not been possible to model the structure of DPPI because of very distinct differences. These differences include the oligomeric structure of DPPI, the detainment of the residual propart in the active enzyme and a unique chain cleavage pattern in active DPPI, features not present in and/or seen in the known crystal structures of the other cysteine peptidases of the papain family.

Dipeptidyl peptidase I crystal structure and its uses


Apparatus and method for performing a post-write read in a memory device are disclosed. A memory device may include 3-dimensional memory, with the wordlines in a memory block each having multiple strings. Periodically, the memory device may analyze the wordlines for defects by performing a post-write read on a respective wordline and analyzing the read data to determine whether the respective wordline is defective. Rather than reading all of the strings for the respective wordline, less than all of the strings (such as only one of the strings) for the respective wordline are read. In this way, determining whether the respective wordline in 3-dimensional memory may be performed more quickly.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A memory device includes a memory device controller and non-volatile memory (such as in the form of one or more memory integrated circuit chips) in communication with the memory device controller. The non-volatile memory may be composed of memory cells that can be programmed to store a single bit or a single level, being termed a single-level cell (SLC), whereas other memory cells in the non-volatile memory may be programmed to store multiple bits or multiple levels, being termed multi-level cells (MLC).
In one operation, data stored in an SLC block may be folded into an MLC block. In this regard, data may be folded into a target MLC block of the solid state memory, such as when data is moved from one or more source SLC blocks to the target MLC block. In the folding process, errors may occur whereby the data stored in the target MLC block contains differences in the values as compared to the values stored in the source SLC blocks. To identify errors, an enhanced post-write read (EPWR) may be performed whereby the values stored in the target MLC block may be read and compared with the values stored in the source SLC blocks to identify the errors.


A caddy is provided for supporting a hopper, such as a hopper associated with a texture gun. In one embodiment, the caddy includes a base having a top defined by a plate. A first support extends upwardly from a first side of the base and a second support extends upwardly from an opposing second side of the base. A frame is mounted to the first and second supports above the base and is adapted to engage a hopper and support it above the base. In one embodiment, the frame has four sides, three of which are closed, the frame defining a generally open interior area in which a hopper may be located. The fourth side is defined by a pair of stops which extend from opposing sides of the frame, but which have a gap there between. In one embodiment, the base has a semi-circular end having a generally circular opening in the plate which a container may be located. A support or mount is located below a top surface of the plate in which the opening is provided, the mount for supporting a container located placed into the opening. Wheels are connected to the base and extend downwardly from the bottom for rollably supporting the caddy.

The present invention relates to texture guns, and more specifically a caddy for those guns which include a hopper for containing texture material.
It is common to apply any of a variety of coatings or textures to ceilings, walls and other surfaces. In the construction of a home, texture is applied over drywall to form a textured wall surface. A variety of textures may be applied to the ceiling, including those for aesthetic and acoustical purposes.
A variety of devices are available for applying these textures. One such device is a texture gun. The texture gun includes a handle which is gripped by a user. The texture gun includes an inlet through which texture is fed, and an outlet through which texture is sprayed. Means are provided for propelling the incoming texture through the outlet. This means may comprise compressed air provided to the gun through an air hose. A trigger is provided which the operator uses to selectively control the dispensing of the texture.
The texture gun is capable of dispensing large quantities of texture in short periods of time. As such, it is desirable to provide a substantial volume of texture to the gun for application. In one embodiment, a hopper is mounted to the top of the gun. The hopper is generally funnel-shaped, having a large top opening, a holding area, and an outlet. The outlet leads directly to the inlet of the texture gun.
A hopper such as that described may hold several gallons of texture. A significant problem is that it is difficult to fill the texture gun hopper. As is appreciated, it is not generally possible to set the texture gun and hopper on the floor and fill the hopper. The hopper gun is small and narrow, and does not provide a stable support for the hopper. Thus, the hopper gun tends to tip over or otherwise move when one attempts to fill the hopper. Further, the hopper is generally not level when resting on the gun, so that the hopper can not be completely filled.
As a result of these problems, filling the texture hopper is generally a two-man job. One person holds the gun and attached hopper in a fixed and level position. Another person then fills the hopper.
Of course, in some instances, an extra person is not available to aid in this task. In any event, the use of an extra person""s time and effort in filling the hopper is not efficient.
Other problems exist with these texture guns with attached hoppers. For example, if the hopper is not empty but the operator needs to cease dispensing texture and engage in another activity, the operator must set the gun and attached hopper down. To avoid having the texture spill from the hopper, the operator must attempt to prop up the texture gun and hopper. The gun often tips or falls over, dumping the texture from the hopper.
Transport of the gun and attached hopper can also be difficult. An operator may need to move from room to room while applying texture. The operator may also need to move associated tools and containers of texture. In some arrangements, the hopper may include a handle for gripping by the operator. However, the handle is generally located at one side of the hopper, so that when gripped the hopper and gun rotate to a non-vertical position. If the hopper is full, texture may spill from the hopper.
A method and device for supporting and moving a texture gun including a texture hopper is desired.
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for supporting and transporting a hopper, such as a hopper associated with a texture gun.
In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hopper caddy. The hopper caddy includes a base. The base has a top and bottom. The top comprises plate or deck. In one embodiment, a supporting rib extends around a periphery of the plate at the bottom of the base for supporting the plate. The base has generally opposing first and second ends and generally opposing first and second sides. In one embodiment, one of the ends is generally semi-circular in shape.
Means are provided for supporting a hopper above the base. In one embodiment, this means comprises a first support, a second support and an elevated frame supported by the supports. The first support extends upwardly from the first side of the base. The second support extends upwardly from the second side of the base.
The first and second supports both include first and second legs. Each leg has an end connected to the base and another end located above the base. A strut or horizontally extending member extends between the legs of each of the first and second supports. In one embodiment, the first and second supports are configured as inverted xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d-shaped members.
The frame has a first side connected to the strut of the first support and a second side connected to the strut of the second support. A member spans the first and second sides of the frame. In one embodiment, the member connects a first end of the first side and a first end of the second side. A stop extends from a second end of the first side and another stop extends from a second end of the second side of the frame. In one embodiment, the two stops extend inwardly towards one another along a line which is generally parallel to the member at the first ends of the sides. So configured, the frame is generally xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d shaped, having a periphery substantially surrounding a generally open area which a hopper may be located.
In one embodiment, means are provided for rollably supporting the caddy. In one embodiment, four wheels are connected to the base and extend downwardly from the bottom of the base.
In one embodiment, the caddy includes a container support adapted to support a container. In one embodiment, the container support includes an opening in the plate or deck of the base through which a container may be placed, and a support or mount located below the top of the plate for supporting a container located in the opening.
In one embodiment, a lip extends downwardly from the periphery of the opening at the top of the plate or deck. The mount comprises a xe2x80x9c+xe2x80x9d shaped member located at the bottom of the lip.
In accordance with the invention, a hopper, such as a hopper associated with the texture gun, may be supported in a stable and secure position above the base of the caddy. As supported, material may be placed on the frame and loaded into the hopper. The hopper may also be transported by moving the caddy.
A container, such as a bucket of texture, may also be supported by the caddy. The container may be used to hold texture which is poured into the hopper.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.


An aqueous cleaning composition and methods for use in the agricultural, food and beverage industry which comprises at least 3% of hydrogen peroxide and a plurality of non-ionic surfactants, wherein said cleaning composition is substantially free of any alkalinity source.

Agriculturally based industries including the food and beverage industry use equipment that must be cleaned frequently. Soils left behind from the production process generally consist of mineral deposits, organic complexes, proteins, starches, soils and associated stains. These soils and stains are generally cleaned with a highly alkaline cleaner composed of an alkalinity source, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or sodium metasilicate, detergents, wetting agents, and possibly sodium hypochlorite. These alkaline cleaners are generally not effective at cleaning mineral deposits. Acidic cleaners are used to remove such mineral deposits and are generally composed of a blend of phosphoric acid and nitric acid, along with surfactants and detergents. These acidic cleaners are not very effective at cleaning organic complexes, proteins, starches, soils and associated stains. Thus, neither acidic nor alkaline cleaners are capable of effectively cleaning vessels which contain organic complexes, proteins, starches, soils and associated stains, as well as, mineral deposits.
Furthermore, such alkaline cleaners result in cation buildup which often results in harm to the environment such as osmotic pressure driving water out of root systems, leaf burning, plant stress, reduced water infiltration leading to increased runoff and erosion and reduced hydraulic conductivity. Thus, water management becomes difficult and expensive. Remediation is costly and continuous. In the end excess cation content can negatively affect the taste, yield and quality of a crop. This is especially damaging to industries, such as wineries, where such a result will be devastating to the business.
Thus, a cleaning composition that is effective at removing organic complexes, proteins, starches, soils and associated stains, as well as, mineral deposits is greatly needed in the agricultural, food and beverage industry.

Cleaning composition for the food and beverage industry


A particle separation apparatus is disclosed. The particle separation apparatus may be for sample air stream preparation and delivery in particle detection systems. The particle separation apparatus may include a first vortex separator coupled to a second vortex separator for selecting particles in the air stream that are within a desirable size range for particle detection. The second vortex separator may further increase the concentration of particles within the desirable size range per unit volume. The particle separation apparatus may deliver the size-selected air stream to a detector, such as a laser-induced fluorescence detection system.

Contamination control, including particulate monitoring, plays a role in the manufacturing processes of several industries. These industries require clean rooms or clean zones with active air filtration and require the supply of clean raw materials such as process gases, de-ionized water, chemicals, and substrates. In the pharmaceutical industry, the Food and Drug Administration requires particulate monitoring because of the correlation between detected particles in an aseptic environment and viable particles that contaminate the product produced.
Recent attention has been given to the monitoring and detection of biological agents. If aerosolized agents (biological particles) are introduced into an environment and are within the respirable range of particle sizes, then the biological particles may deposit in human lungs resulting in illness or death.
Biological contamination can occur not only in open air, but also in confined spaces, such as postal handling equipment, aircraft, hospitals, water supplies, and air ducts. Minimizing the introduction of biological particles in an environment requires the fast detection of pathogens. Laser-induced fluorescence ("LIF") of fluorescent biological substances (biofluorophores) provides a real-time technique for identifying the potential presence of airborne pathogens such as aerosolized bacterial spores and viruses. Biofluorophores significant to LIF include, but are not limited to, tryptophan, NADH, and riboflavin or other flavinoids.
Assemblies that have been used in sample preparation for detection of particles include pre-filter scalpers and concentrators. A scalper may be a device used to separate out particles in the sample air stream, for example, based on particle size. A concentrator may be used to increase particle concentration by increasing the number of particles by volume in the sample air stream.
One category of scalpers that has been used to separate out large particles from particle-laden air streams is vortex separators, also known as cyclone separators. A classical vortex separator device has a settling chamber in the form of a cylinder. The particle-laden air sample enters the cylinder tangentially and spirals downward in the chamber in a vortex due to the pressure distribution in the chamber and chamber geometry. As the particle-laden air stream travels around the vortex, the larger particles are pushed toward the chamber walls due to centrifugal forces. Below the cylindrical portion of the chamber is a conical section, which causes the vortex diameter to decrease until the majority of the spinning air stream spins up the center of the chamber in an inner vortex to the vortex finder. The smaller particles, having less mass, get caught in the suction of the inner vortex that exits the vortex finder. Larger particles that are centrifuged to the wall of the chamber are not part of the sample that exits the vortex finder.

Vortex separator in particle detection systems


There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component including a ceramic body including dielectric layers, internal electrodes formed in the ceramic body and including pores, and first and second external electrodes formed on both end portions of the ceramic body, wherein in a cross section of the ceramic body in length and thickness directions, when a thickness of the internal electrode is to and a thickness of the pore is tp, 0.41≦tp/te≦0.86 is satisfied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilayer ceramic electronic component and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a high capacitance multilayer ceramic electronic component, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, electronic components using a ceramic material, such as capacitors, inductors, piezoelectric elements, varistors, thermistors, and the like, include a ceramic body formed of a ceramic material, internal electrode layers formed in the ceramic body, and external electrodes formed on surfaces of the ceramic body so as to be connected to the internal electrode layers.
Among the ceramic electronic components, a multilayer ceramic capacitor is configured to include a plurality of multilayer dielectric layers, internal electrode layers disposed to face each other, having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and external electrodes electrically connected to the internal electrode layers.
The multilayer ceramic capacitors have been widely used as components of computers, mobile communications devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, and the like, due to advantages such as a small size, high capacitance, ease of mounting, and the like.
Recently, in accordance with improvement in performance of electric or electronic devices and thinness and lightness of the electric or electronic devices, demand for small sized, high performance, and inexpensive electronic components have increased. Particularly, in accordance with an increase in a speed of a central processing unit (CPU), miniaturization and lightness, digitalization, and multi-functionalization of devices, research into and development of multilayer ceramic capacitors having features such as a small size, a thin thickness, a high capacitance, and a low impedance in a high frequency region, and the like, have been actively conducted.
Particularly, in accordance with thinness of an internal electrode, there is a problem in connectivity of the internal electrode, which causes reliability of the multilayer ceramic electronic component to be deteriorated.
In addition, in accordance with the thinness of the internal electrode, there is a problem in the connectivity of the internal electrode, such that it may be difficult to implement high capacitance multilayer ceramic electronic components.

Multilayer ceramic electronic component and method of manufacturing the same


A mechanism for converting rotational motion to linear motion having a roller thread mechanism interposed between a shaft having multiple male threads and a nut having multiple female threads. The female threads of the nut are opposite in direction to the male threads of the shaft. The rollers have different effective thread diameters which are provided by the shape of the threads on the shaft, rollers and nut. The mechanism is configured so that the axial travel distance of the shaft, per relative rotation of the nut and the shaft, can be shortened. The mechanism is also capable of a fast movement, which is realized by suppressing the rotation of the rollers. When the mechanism is used as an actuator of a brake device, an antilock control, a traction control, and the like, it can be easily implemented by controlling the rotation of the rotor.

The invention relates to a rotation/linear motion converting mechanism which converts a rotation force to a linear motion, and more particularly to a roller-thread mechanism and to a rotation/linear motion converting mechanism in which the efficiency is high and the distance of linear motion per rotation can be reduced.
Conventionally, a roller-thread mechanism is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (Kokai) No. Sho. 59-147151.
As shown in FIG. 1, the roller-thread mechanism is configured by a shaft 20, a nut 21, and rollers 22 and has a mechanism in which the rollers 22 held by a retainer 23 are interposed between the shaft 20 and the nut 22, and, when the shaft 20 is rotated, the nut 21 is linearly moved in the axial direction.
However, such a roller-thread mechanism has problems such as the following.
A) The mechanism is configured so that the nut and the shaft have the same number of threads (sometimes, called stripes) and are identical in direction and the lead of the threads is not smaller than the thread pitch. Therefore, the travel distance of the shaft per rotation of the nut cannot be made shorter than three thread pitches. Specifically, in the case of a roller-thread mechanism, when the rollers and the shaft have the same diameter, the nut has a diameter which is not smaller than the sum of double of the diameter of eath roller and the diameter of the shaft. Furthermore, the number of threads of the nut is an integer. In a usual roller-thread mechanism, therefore, the number of threads of a nut must be three or more. As a result, the travel distance of the shaft per rotation of the nut cannot be made shorter than three thread pitches. PA1 B) In order to shorten the axial travel distance of the roller with respect to the nut, the number of threads of the nut must be greater than that of each roller. However, this configuration increases the lead of the nut. As a result, a rotation power source of a high torque or a reduction gear of a high ratio is required for obtaining a desired axial force. Therefore, such a configuration is disadvantageous to miniaturization of an apparatus. PA1 C) In a roller-thread mechanism in which the nut is not multi-threaded type (that is, the number of threads (stripes) is single), generally, the roller conducts relative axial movement with respect to the nut, and hence a mechanism for retracting the axial position of the rollers for each revolution is required, thereby complicating the configuration.

Rotation/linear motion converting mechanism

Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd.


A safety syringe with retratable standard needle, including a syringe barrel, a plunger and an injection needle. A commonly used standard needle holder is replaceably connected with a second needle holder, whereby a user can conveniently replace the injection needle with another type of injection needle as necessary. A first needle pulling member is formed on the needle holder or the plunger, having at least one rotatable click. A second needle pulling member is formed on the plunger or the needle holder, having a detent. When the piston of the plunger is pushed to the bottom, the detent is easily and firmly engaged and hooked with the click. Thereafter, the injection needle and the needle holder can be together pulled into the barrel so as to ensure that the injection needle will not impale medical personnel or other persons.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a safety syringe in which the needle is retractable after injection.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of disposable syringes are widely used nowadays. After discarded, large amount of such syringes result in problem of pollution of environment. The used syringes often impale medical personnel and infect the personnel with viruses or bacteria carried by the patients. Especially, in case the medical personnel are infected with AIDS virus, the personnel may die innocently.
In order to solve these problems, various types of retractable syringes have been developed. For example, a spring is installed between the syringe barrel and the piston for pulling the needle back into the barrel after injection. However, due to the property of the liquid medicine, the material of the spring is strictly limited. Therefore, the structure of such syringe is complicated and the manufacturing cost is very high. Various types of safety syringes free from the springs have been also developed. In such syringe, a latch member is disposed at the bottom of the barrel, whereby when the plunger is pushed to the bottom of the barrel, the latch member latches the plunger with the needle. Therefore, when the plunger is pulled back, the needle is retracted into the barrel along with the plunger so as to avoid impalement of the medical personnel or other persons.
As of the present time, all the existing safety syringes must be used with specifically designed and manufactured injection needles which cannot be replaced. Therefore, the suppliers must manufacture various kinds of safety syringes and injection needles.

Safety syringe with retractable standard needle


A vehicle alternator for generating electric power is driven by an engine mounted on a vehicle driven through a driving belt. The alternator has a pulley part joined to and directly receiving a driving force from the engine through the driving belt, a field magnet part located in separation from the pulley part, a rotation speed changing part placed between the pulley part and the field magnet part. The rotation speed changing part converts the number of revolutions between the pulley part and the field magnet part. The rotation speed changing part decreases a speed changing ratio “S” according to increasing of the number of revolutions of the engine, where the speed changing ratio “S” is obtained by dividing the number of revolutions of the field magnet part by the number of revolutions of the pulley part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle alternator or an electric power generator to be mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car and a truck.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a vehicle alternator is driven by an engine such as an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle through a driving belt that joins the vehicle alternator and the engine. Such a vehicle alternator is driven by the rotary force provided from the engine through the driving belt in order to generate an electric power.
A speed increasing ratio of the vehicle alternator is determined based on a ratio between a groove diameter of a crankshaft pulley and a groove diameter of a pulley of the vehicle alternator.
The vehicle alternator is usually driven at the speed increasing ratio of approximately two or three times the number of revolutions of the vehicle engine. In general, the number of revolutions of the vehicle engine is within a range of approximately 700 rpm (revolutions per minute) to 7,000 rpm (as the maximum value). Because the speed increasing ratio of the vehicle alternator is approximately two or three times of that of the vehicle engine, the number of revolutions of the vehicle alternator takes a wide range of approximately 14,000 rpm to 21,000 rpm (as the maximum value).
However, the distribution of the number of revolutions of a common vehicle engine has approximately 700 rpm in idling condition which is 40% of the whole and also has approximately 1,300 rpm in a low speed revolution which is 50% of the whole during actual running of the vehicle such as 10-15 mode that is a typical running condition in view of the calculation of fuel consumption. That is, because the low speed of revolutions of the vehicle engine from the number of revolutions in idling condition to 1,300 rpm takes approximately 90% of the whole, the actual vehicle running takes the number of revolutions of not more than 1,300 rpm.
Accordingly, this means that it is necessary to keep a large amount of electric power in a vehicle alternator when the vehicle alternator is using a low speed of revolution.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a typical output characteristic of a widely used vehicle alternator. FIG. 6 indicates that the vehicle alternator has a low electrical power generation capacity during a low speed of revolution. In order to increase the magnitude of electric power generation during the low speed of revolution, in other words, in order to enhance the electric power generation capability during the low speed of revolution, it is necessary to either increase the speed increasing ratio by using a simple speed-increasing mechanism obtained by fixing the internal gear, or increase a volume of the vehicle alternator. Japanese patent laid open publication JP H6-105513 has disclosed such a conventional technique to increase the speed increasing ratio of a vehicle alternator. (see pages 2 to 3, and FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 in JP H6-105513)
However, although a high capability of electric power generation of the vehicle alternator is achieved on increasing the speed increasing ratio thereof as the former case, this manner decreases the lifetime of wear parts such as brushes and bearings which form the vehicle alternator, and further serves to break rotating components such as cooling fans because the vehicle alternator rotates at a high speed. In addition, because iron loss to heat the components of the vehicle alternator is generally in proportion to the square of a power generation frequency (as the number of revolutions), the heating value of the vehicle alternator at a higher rotating speed is greater than that at a lower rotating speed even if in generation of the same amount of electric power.
Thus, the vehicle alternator at a higher rotating speed causes various troubles such as thermal stress and wear stress, and those troubles decrease the reliability of the vehicle alternator. If a vehicle alternator consists of various components of high reliability and durability in order to avoid those troubles and drawbacks, the manufacturing cost of the vehicle alternator is increased because the cost of each assembling components with high reliability and durability is generally high.
On the other hand, the latter case to increase the volume of the vehicle alternator brings to decrease or deteriorate the mounting flexibility of a vehicle and to introduce the difficulty of designing the engine to be assembled to the vehicle, and to break a stay on which various components are mounted because the total weight of the vehicle alternator is increased. This decreases the reliability of the vehicle. In order to eliminate the deterioration of the vehicle reliability, each part and component are reinforced, the manufacturing cost is also increased, similar to the case of increasing the durability and thermal resistance of each component. As a result, this trial brings to increase the manufacturing cost of the vehicle alternator.


A technique of processing an input signal having an input signal phase is disclosed. The technique includes determining a number of transitions of the input signal within a period having a start and an end. The technique includes determining a relative beginning phase of the input signal at the start of the period, which includes generating a first reference signal having a first reference signal frequency and a first reference signal phase synchronized with the start of the period, and detecting a first time interval required for the input signal phase to have a first specified relationship to the first reference signal phase. The technique includes similarly determining a relative ending phase of the input signal at the end of the period. The technique includes determining an input signal temporal characteristic from the number of transitions and the relative beginning phase and the relative ending phase.

Frequency to digital converters and time to digital converters are useful in a number of signal processing applications. For example, frequency to digital converters are commonly used in frequency locked loops and can be used in phase locked loops. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a typical frequency locked loop. The output of a digital frequency synthesizer 100 and the output of a frequency to digital converter 108 are differenced and passed to a digital filter 102. The output of the digital filter goes to a digital to analog converter (DAC) 104. The output of the DAC is passed to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 106, which outputs an analog output signal. The feedback loop is completed when the analog output of the VCO is passed to the frequency to digital converter.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the functional behavior of a typical frequency to digital converter. The frequency to digital converter determines cycles per period and can be employed in a number of systems. Sometimes the number of cycles that occur in a period is fractional. The ability to determine the fractional number determines the resolution of the frequency to digital converter. Improving the resolution of the frequency to digital converter improves the performance of various systems that incorporate the frequency to digital converter, such as the frequency locked loop shown above. Attempts to improve the resolution include using a chain of inverters to generate additional oscillations for each cycle and counting the additional oscillations to determine the fractional number. However, this approach may be affected by process variation in semiconductor fabrication, and resolution may be limited by propagation time in the inverter chain. It would be useful if other techniques could be developed to more accurately perform frequency to digital conversion.


The present invention allows for the exploitation and transformation of eolic energy into mechanical or electric energy by means of coupling it to a fixed generator. The tower is a vertical structure that houses a vertical axis rotor and makes better use of the wind's thrust by producing a funnel and a tunnel effect over the rotor. This arrangement makes possible to obtain energy independently from the wind's direction and to use a greater range of wind intensities, avoiding stops due to great winds by incorporating a duly synchronized gate system that allows stopping, maintaining and regulating the wind-driven rotor.

There are numerous existing inventions in the prior art that refer to the use of wind power. There are examples from ancient times, from using sails as propulsion means in water navigation, to the famous windmills of La Mancha used to mill flour, and more recently the wind turbines that have been erected in the mountain crests that are derived from the engines used to pump subterranean water and are oriented by means of wind vanes.
There are numerous constraints attached to the modern wind turbines; the main may be wind force and wind direction, which result in design complexity coupled with loss of effectiveness. Most of the models developed to date have a horizontal axis that is oriented according to the direction of the wind.
There are examples of wind mills designed during Ancient Times, such as the Persian Mill, which had a vertical axis, the Savonius Mill developed later, and more recently the Darrieus Rotor, although the latter has not been widely developed due to its fragility.


A swash-plate-end bearing for the motor shaft in a high pressure cleaning appliance which includes a motor and a reciprocating pump driven thereby, wherein the pistons of said pump rest resiliently on a swash plate driven by the motor whose shaft is rotatably mounted at each end whilst being connected at one end in non-rotatable manner to the swash plate, and which also includes at the swash plate end, a roller bearing having two concentric bearing rings, whereby the outer bearing ring is held in an end plate of the motor whilst the inner bearing ring surrounds the motor shaft, in such a manner as to simplify the operation of assembling the motor shaft and the bearing and to make it as independent as possible from unavoidable manufacturing tolerances, it is proposed that the inner bearing ring should surround the motor shaft in floating manner.

The invention relates to a high pressure cleaning appliance including a motor and a reciprocating pump driven thereby, whereby the return springs for the pistons of said pump rest on a swash plate driven by the motor whose shaft is rotatably mounted at each end whilst being connected at one end in non-rotatable manner to the swash plate, and including at the swash plate end, a roller bearing having two concentric bearing rings, whereby the outer bearing ring is held in an end plate of the motor whilst the inner bearing ring surrounds the motor shaft.
In known high pressure cleaning appliances having this type of construction, the motor shaft is guided in a roller bearing at the swash plate end whereby the roller bearing is connected in non-rotatable manner to both the motor shaft and the end plate of the motor (WO 96/17694). These non-rotatable connections can be obtained by shrinking the inner bearing ring of the roller bearing onto the motor shaft and by clamping the outer bearing ring in the end plate of the motor. Consequently, the slightest variations in the diameter of the motor shaft or the bearing rings of the roller bearing, which variations are attributable to manufacturing tolerances, have a disadvantageous effect when it comes to assembling the arrangement. Alternatively, a non-rotatable connection of the roller bearing to the motor shaft can be obtained by providing the motor shaft with a shoulder so that the roller bearing can be clamped between this shoulder and the swash plate through the formation of a friction-fit. However, the process of forming this shoulder on the motor shaft increases the cost of manufacture.
Consequently, the object of the invention is to design the bearing arrangement for the motor shaft at the swash plate end in such a manner as to simplify the operation of assembling the motor shaft and the bearing and to make it as independent as possible from unavoidable manufacturing tolerances
This object is achieved in a high pressure cleaning appliance of the type described hereinabove in that the inner bearing ring surrounds the motor shaft in floating manner (e.g., via a sliding fit or a non-interference fit). As a result of this arrangement, it is no longer necessary to shrink the inner bearing ring of the bearing at the swash plate end onto the motor shaft.
It is particularly advantageous if the outer bearing ring rests loosely (e.g., via a sliding fit or a noninterference fit) in a seating in said end plate, whereby said seating locates the outer bearing ring in the radial and axial directions. The seating in the end plate thus forms a stop for the rolling contact bearing in the axial and radial directions so that the motor shaft can be localised in at least the radial direction.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the seating to be open towards the swash plate. This simplifies assembly since the rolling contact bearing can be inserted into the seating from the piston end.
It is particularly advantageous if the motor shaft and the swash plate are pressed into the motor resiliently by the piston. It is typical for the housings of the motor and the pump to be rigidly connected together. The pistons of the pump are surrounded by springs which are supported on the pump housing and press the pistons against the swash plate. The axis of the pistons and the longitudinal axis of the motor shaft generally extend in parallel. The piston return springs thereby press the swash plate and the motor shaft affixed thereto towards the motor housing.
It is propitious if the depth to which the motor shaft can be inserted is limited by a stop. The motor shaft is supported on the motor housing via the stop. The counter-force to the force exerted by the piston return springs is applied to the motor shaft by the stop so that the motor shaft can be localised in the axial direction.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the stop to be formed by the bearing for the motor shaft whereby, for its part, said bearing is supported on the end plate of the motor. In this way, the force of the piston return springs is effective via the rolling contact bearing on the end plate of the motor. The rolling contact bearing is thus pressed against the motor housing by the force of the piston return springs.
It is particularly advantageous if the end face of the swash plate rests on the bearing at the swash plate end. A connection is thereby produced between the bearing at the swash plate end and the motor shaft since the swash plate is connected to the motor shaft in non-rotatable manner. The inner bearing ring only surrounds the motor shaft in floating manner.
Basically, provision may be made for the end face of the swash plate to rest on the inner bearing ring of the bearing at the swash plate end. Since the swash plate does not touch the two bearing rings simultaneously, it is thereby ensured that the bearing rings can rotate relative to one another.
It is particularly propitious if the seating is in the form of an open-ended shell incorporating an inwardly projecting step, and if the inner bearing ring does not rest on the step. As previously described, the spring forces of the piston return springs are effective on the swash plate which, in turn, is connected to the motor shaft in a non-rotatable manner. The swash plate however, is supported on the inner bearing ring of the rolling contact bearing. The outer bearing ring rests loosely in the open-ended shell incorporating an inwardly projecting step. This results in a frictional connection which conveys the effective force of the piston return springs to the step in the end plate via the swash plate, the inner bearing shell, the ball- or roller-bearings and the outer bearing shell. The selection of piston return springs having appropriately large spring constants results in the swash plate and hence the motor shaft being pressed into the motor block via the rolling contact bearing in such a manner that a friction-fit is formed between the swash plate and the inner bearing shell, and also between the outer bearing shell and the end plate. A non-rotatable connection of the motor shaft and the inner bearing shell on the one hand and of the outer bearing shell and the end plate on the other as is known from the state of the art is thereby superfluous.
In a preferred embodiment, provision is made for the rolling contact bearing to be in the form of a ball bearing.

Bearing arrangement for a swash plate pump


A method of manufacturing a dual work function semiconductor device is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes providing a substrate having first and second areas for forming first and second transistor types. The method additionally includes forming a dielectric layer on the substrate, which extends to cover at least parts of the first and second areas. The method additionally includes forming a first metal layer/stack on the dielectric layer in the first area, where the first metal layer/stack comprises a first work function-shifting element. The method additionally includes forming a second metal layer/stack on the first metal layer in the first area and on the dielectric layer in the second area, where the second metal layer/stack comprises a second work function-shifting element. The method additionally includes annealing to diffuse the first work function-shifting element and the second work function-shifting element into the dielectric layer, and subsequently removing the first metal layer/stack and the second metal layer/stack. The method further includes forming a third metal layer/stack in the first and second predetermined areas.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed technology relates generally to methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and more specifically to methods of manufacturing a dual work function semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Technology
CMOS technology utilizes NMOS transistors and PMOS transistors having different gate metals with different effective work functions. Generally, a CMOS process integration scheme employing high-k/metal gate technology can be "gate-first" or "gate-last," depending on whether the gate electrode of a transistor is formed before or after the formation of transistor junctions. Different integration schemes face different fabrication challenges. In gate-first CMOS integration schemes employing the high K/metal gate technology, different effective work functions for NMOS and PMOS transistors are sometimes obtained using different capping layers or different metal stacks for the NMOS and PMOS transistors. In some technologies, the capping layers can comprise rare earth elements. In other technologies, the capping layers can comprise other elements such as Mg for the NMOS transistor and Al or Al2O3 for the PMOS transistor.
Patterning the cap layers of the transistors in gate-first CMOS integration schemes employing the high-k/metal gate technology introduces certain process integration challenges. For example, when different metal stacks are used for NMOS and PMOS transistors, the gate etch has to be performed simultaneously on different stack heights, or even on two totally different stacks. The difference in stack materials and/or stack heights can cause various problems. One such problem can arise during etching of the gates. For instance, the difference in stack materials and/or the stack heights can result in a first type of gate structure/material (e.g., NMOS or PMOS) to be completely etched prior to a second type of gate structure/material (e.g., PMOS or NMOS). As a consequence, upon completion of etching of the second type of gate structure/material, certain Si and STI regions originally covered by the first type of gate structure may be over-etched, resulting in recesses in the Si and STI regions. Another such problem that can also arise during etching due to the difference in gate stack/materials and/or the gate stack heights is the formation of a "foot" or a notch on one or both types of gate stacks. Therefore, there is a need for CMOS processes for integrating NMOS and PMOS transistors on the same substrate while minimizing the effects of these integration challenges.

Method for manufacturing a dual work function semiconductor device


A media service presentation method, communication system and related device are provided, in which the media service presentation method comprises: obtaining the media presentation information; presenting media services to a user according to the service presentation information. By obtaining the media service presentation information, the media services are presented to the user according to the service presentation information. In this way, the scene SVG-based description is not necessarily needed, which in turn simplifies the terminal's computing process, improving the terminal's performance, and improving user experience.

A method of multimedia mobile service presentation in the prior art is usually implemented in a rich media environment (RME). Moreover, the lightweight application scene representation (LASeR) technology is widely used in practical RMEs. The previous technical solutions are briefly described as follows.
LASeR employs a scene description language in binary format to encode a 2D scene and describe an updated scene. This binary language and its SVG-T-based design for scene description are applicable for some portable devices, such as mobile phone. Furthermore, the LASeR usually works with the simple aggregation format (SAF).
As a capsulation format, the SAF packs LASeR scene data and audio-video content for transmission over a data stream protocol. The SAF can meet all the requirements of RME services for media description scenes and interfaces with existing transfer protocols.
A media service presentation method of the prior art comprises:
Step 1: Scene descriptions and media streams are delivered to a terminal through SAF capsulation.
The scene description employs a scalable vector graphics (SVG) language to write the format of scene description, uses some extended commands of LASeR, performs the binary encoding process, and then implements SAF encapsulation and sends it to a terminal.
Step 2: Scene description data and media data are resolved after the terminal has received SAF packets, and then the binary scene description in an extensible markup language (XML) format is presented.
However, the prior art describes scenes in the SVG language, which is mainly adopted for processing pictures. As a result, the terminal incurs heavy resolution to obtain scene description data and media data, thus degrading the terminal's performance and user experience.

Media service presentation method and communication system and related device


Before figure data are expanded into a bitmap, a checksum is calculated in unit of bitmap data corresponding to a cell stripe of scanning over which continuous exposure is possible. When the checksum is calculated after expanding the data into the bitmap, the interim calculation result of refocus values is used. In exposure, exposing k number of sub rectangular areas by repeating a sub scanning k number of times, jumping a deflection by a main deflector toward an center of remaining sub rectangular areas whose number is (p-k) inside a main rectangular areas and exposing remained (p-k) number of the sub rectangular areas by repeating the sub scanning (p-k) times after the jumping is settled. In an amplifier & low pass filter for supplying a drive voltage to a sub deflector, the cutoff frequency is lowed during flyback in a sawtooth waveform without changing an amplification factor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and a system for exposing a pattern on an object, such as a semiconductor wafer or a mask coated with resist, by a charged particle beam passing through a blanking aperture array to make multibeam.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the current trend for miniaturization of the elements used in semiconductor integrated circuits, application of charged particle beam exposure systems in mass production is eagerly awaited. Generally, electrons are used for charged particles. In such a system, it is possible to perform fine processing at 0.05 .mu.m or smaller with a positioning precision of 0.02 .mu.m or smaller. A charged particle beam is caused to scan and, as a result, the exposure time is longer compared to that in light exposure. To reduce this problem, there is a method that uses a blanking aperture array (BAA) to make a charged particle beam a multibeam (U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,843 corresponding to First Publication No. 53-117387 of Japanese Patent Application). With this method, exposure of minute patterns at high speed, for example 100 mm/sec, of a mobile stage upon which the wafer is mounted is expected. The mobile stage is continuously moved while the multibeam is deflected by a main deflector and a sub deflector. However, since exposure is performed by the charged particle beam scanning, the exposure takes longer than in photo exposure. Because of this, it is necessary to improve the throughput of the charged particle beam exposure system.
(1) Reduction in Throughput of Exposure Depending Upon the Scanning Method
Scanning of the charged particle beam on a semiconductor wafer is performed by the mobile stage upon which the wafer is mounted, the main deflector and the sub deflector that are positioned above the mobile stage. Normally, the main deflector is the electromagnetic type and the sub deflector is the electrostatic type.
The ranges over which scanning is possible at the required accuracy with these means are, from largest to smallest: the mobile stage, the main deflector, the sub deflector. However, the order of their scanning speeds is, from fastest to slowest: the sub deflector, the main deflector, the mobile stage. By taking advantage of these characteristics of the scanning means, the scanning of the charged particle beam onto the wafer is performed as shown in FIGS. 13(A) and 13(B).
In FIG. 13(A), areas 111 to 115 on the semiconductor wafer 10 are scanned continuously by the mobile stage, as indicated with the alternate long and short line L1. Also, the areas between the centers of the subfields are scanned in steps by the main deflector in the order of the subfields: 12, 13, 14, 15D, .cndot. .cndot. .cndot. . However, if no exposure data are present in the subfields between the subfields 13 and 16, for instance, the main deflector jumps from the subfield 13 to the subfield 16. Each subfield is scanned by the sub deflector in the state in which the main deflection is constant.
In FIG. 13(B), the range over which the multibeam, which has passed through a BAA 30, to be explained later, can be deflected by the sub deflector is A1, indicated by the alternate long and short line, with the scanning point of the main deflector at Q1. The subfield 12 is scanned by the sub deflector along the alternate long and two short dashes line L3 and the dotted line L4 in the order of cell strips 121 to 125. The alternate long and two short dashes line L3 is a scanning line during exposure and the dotted line L4 is at blanking (flyback). During sub scanning, since the semiconductor wafer 10 is continuously moving on the mobile stage, the scanning point of the main deflector is at Q2 at the end of the scanning of the subfield 12.
In this state, the scanning point of the main deflector is changed in one step to Q3, shifting the range of the sub deflection to A2, indicated with the alternate long and two short dashes line, and the subfield 13 is scanned by the sub deflector in the order of cell stripes 131 to 135 in the same manner.
The scanning described above is performed repeatedly.
When exposure data are present in the cell stripe 131 but no exposure data are present in the cell stripes 132 to 135, for instance, too, the main scanning point must be changed from Q2 to Q3 in a large step and because of this, settling time at the time of the step change is lengthened, causing a reduction in the throughput of exposure.
In addition, if cell stripes are shortened to perform sub scanning so as to ensure that the scan never exceeds the sub scanning range A1, the total number of cell stripes must be increased, increasing the number of times flyback must be implemented during sub scanning and lowering the throughput of exposure.
(2) Lowering Throughput of Exposure During Sub Scanning
FIG. 14(A) shows a drive circuit for an electrostatic sub deflector 20 for deflecting a multibeam EB2.
The quantity of sub deflection QRX2 is converted to an analog current QRX3 at a D/A converter 21 and changes as shown in FIG. 14(B). The current QRX3 is converted to a voltage QRX4 by a current/voltage converter 22. Although the response frequency of the D/A converter 21 is approximately 10 to 20 MHz, the frequency of the data supplied to the BAA is set to, for instance, 400 MHz for high speed exposure and, therefore, it is necessary to cause the sub deflector 20 to continuously scan the multibeam EB2 by smoothing the waveform of the voltage QRX4. To achieve this, the voltage QRX4 is amplified and the high frequency component is cut at an amplification & low pass filter circuit 28 and becomes a smooth voltage QRX5, as shown in FIG. 14(B). Points R1, R2 and R3 in the graph of the voltage QRX5 correspond to points R1, R2 and R3 respectively in FIG. 13(B).
During the time t3, the current QRX3 changes in small steps from the maximum value to the minimum value, and the voltage QRX5 changes linearly from the minimum value to the maximum value. However, when the current QRX3 has changed in a large step from the minimum value to the maximum value, the voltage QRX5, with its high frequency component cut at the amplification & low pass filter circuit 23, steps down gently and the time period elapsing during this process, i.e., the time t2, is approximately equal to t3. The time t1 or t3 and the time t2 are both approximately 4 .mu.s. Since t2 is wasted time, in order to improve the throughput of exposure, it is necessary to minimize t2/t1.
(3) Lowering Throughput of Exposure Caused by Error Detection and Correction
FIG. 15 shows a BAA 30 and a multi-beam controlling circuit.
In the BAA 30, a lattice of apertures 33 is formed inside an area 32 of a thin substrate 31. For each aperture 33, a pair of electrodes, one a common electrode 34 and the other a blanking electrode 35, are formed on the substrate 31 with the common electrode 34 connected to the ground line.
A charged particle beam is projected to the area 32 on the substrate 31. A charged particle beam that has passed through an aperture 33 then passes through a round aperture on the aperture stop under the BAA 30 so long as the potential of the blanking electrode 35 is set to 0 V. However, if a non-zero potential Vs is applied to the blanking electrode 35, the charged particle beam is deflected and is blocked at the aperture stop under the BAA 30. Consequently, by providing a 0/Vs potential pattern to the blanking electrodes 35 in correspondence to the bitmap data of a exposure pattern, a desired fine pattern can be exposed on the semiconductor wafer 10.
For instance, each aperture 33 is a square with its sides at 25 .mu.m and the area exposed on the semiconductor wafer 10 by this aperture 33 is an approximately square shape with sides at 0.08 .mu.m. The direction X is referred to as the lengthwise direction of the rows of the apertures 33 and two actual rows of the apertures 33 are considered as one logical row. For the sake of simplification, FIG. 15 shows the apertures 33 in three logical rows over twenty columns, but in reality, the apertures 33 may be formed, for instance, in eight logical rows over 128 columns.
When there are m logical rows over n columns of apertures 33, the aperture 33 and the blanking electrode 35 in the i-th row at the j-th column are indicated as the aperture 33(i,j) and the blanking electrode 35(i,j) respectively. The pitch p of the apertures 33 in the direction Y must be, for instance, three times the length a of one side of the aperture 33, in order to secure enough area for the electrodes and wiring.
A BAA drive circuit (multibeam control circuit) 40 is provided with dot buffer memories 411 to 41n in which bitmap data of patterns provided through read/write circuit 42 are written. A dot buffer memory 41j (j is anyone of 1 to n) outputs dot data for j-th column of the blanking electrode 35. Each of the dot buffer memories 411 to 41n have the same storage capacity.
A n-bit parallel data that corresponds to the 1st to nth column of the blanking electrodes 35 is output by a clock, address and control signals from a control circuit 43 which is operated in synchronization with a clock .phi.0. Each of the dot buffer memories 411 to 41n is divided into, for instance, two areas so that while dot data are written in one area through a direct memory access, dot data are read out from the other area. Each time the read and write for one frame is completed, the read area and the write area are switched.
A dot data from the dot buffer memory 41j having parallel/serial conversion circuit at an output stage is provided to the data input of the least significant bit of a shift register 44j. The shift register 44j is shifted by one bit toward the higher digit by one clock pulse from the control circuit 43, a frequency of the clock being, for instance, 400 MHz.
As shown in FIG. 16, the electrode 35(i, j) is connected via a transistor switch to a voltage source line of the potential Vs or a grand line. A k-th bit output from the least significant bit (0-th bit) of the shift registers 44j is connected to a control input of the transistor switch. Where k is expressed as
k=2 (p/a) (i-1) when j is an odd number and PA1 k=2 (p/a) (2i-1) when j is an even number.
The potential of the blanking electrode 35(i, j) is at 0/Vs when the k-th bit of the shift registers 44j is `1`/`0`, and the charged particle beam which has passed through the aperture 33(i, j) is radiated on the semiconductor wafer 10 only when this potential is at 0 V. The scanning speed of the charged particle beam is adjusted at a constant level so that, when the cycle of the clock .phi. is T, supposing that the charged particle beam passes the aperture 33(1, j) at a time point t=0 irradiates a point P on the semiconductor wafer 10, the charged particle beams that pass through the aperture 33(2, j), the aperture 33(3, j), .cndot. .cndot. .cndot. , the aperture 33(m, j) at time points t=2(p/a)T, t=4(p/a)T, .cndot. .cndot. .cndot. , T=2(m-1) (p/a)T respectively, irradiate the same point P on the semiconductor wafer 10.
Thus, on the semiconductor wafer 10, the same spot is exposed m times with the same dot data. In addition, the spaces between dots that are exposed at the time point t after the beam passes through the aperture 33(i, j), j=1, 3, 5, .cndot. .cndot. .cndot. , n-1 are exposed at time point t+(p/a)T after the beam passes through the apertures 33(i, j), j=2, 4, 6, .cndot. .cndot. .cndot. , n.
For instance, when the area exposed on the semiconductor wafer 10 by one aperture in BAA is a square with sides at 0.08 .mu.m and the area to be exposed on a semiconductor chip is a square with sides at 20 mm, at least (20,000/0.08).sup.2 =62.5 Gbit is needed for exposure data. For instance, four times as many as that, namely 250 Gbit, is needed for exposure data if length adjustment of patterns or correction of proximity effect with high accuracy is performed.
Since huge quantities of data are read out, written and transferred at high speed via the BAA drive circuit 40 in FIG. 15 and a data generating circuit provided at a stage preceding the BAA drive circuit, it is necessary to improve reliability by detecting an error when bits are inverted due to noise. Usually, parity check is employed to detect data errors in the transfer path. However, since one parity bit is required for each byte of 8 bits, 64 parity check circuits will be required for 512-bit parallel data, increasing the scale of the circuits. In addition, although error detection and correction can be performed by an ECS (Error Correction System), the circuit scale will be larger than that of the party check circuits and, moreover, high speed processing at the 400 MHz level becomes difficult. Thus, the speed at which data are transferred to the BAA 30 must be lowered for error detection, causing a reduction in throughput of exposure.

Method of and system for exposing pattern on object by charged particle beam


The present disclosure provides a signal receiving circuit and a driving method thereof, a display panel, and a display apparatus. The signal receiving circuit includes a reset circuit having an input terminal connected to a reference signal line for providing a reference voltage signal, a control terminal connected to a reset signal line providing a reset signal, and an output terminal connected to a collection node, the reset circuit being configured to control a voltage of a signal at the collection node under control of the reset signal; and an output circuit having an input terminal connected to the collection node, configured to accumulatively amplify the signal at the collection node and output the amplified signal.

Due to the uniqueness of the fingerprint pattern, the developed fingerprint recognition technology is widely used for personal identity authentication. According to the different methods of fingerprint collection and fingerprint input, the current fingerprint recognition technologies may include: optical imaging, thermo-sensitive sensor imaging, ultrasonic imaging, and the like. The ultrasonic fingerprint imaging has become a research hotspot due to its strong signal penetration without the need for a demanding protective layer.

Signal receiving circuit and driving method thereof, display panel and display apparatus


A variable power optical system is provided and includes: in order from the object side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power and including a negative lens group and a positive lens group; a stop; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power and including a sub-lens group on the most object side, the sub-lens group including a first lens having a positive refractive power having at least one aspherical surface, a second lens having a positive refractive power, and a third lens having a positive refractive power. The second lens group is moved to the object side along an optical axis thereof to perform a variable power operation from a wide angle end to a telephoto end of the variable power optical system, and the first lens group is moved to make a correction of an image plane position in accordance with the variable power operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable power optical system and an imaging device used for a video camera, an electronic still camera and so forth. More particularly, the present invention relates to a variable power optical system and an imaging device equipped with the variable power optical system capable of being preferably used as a surveillance camera.
2. Description of Related Art
There is an increasing demand for surveillance cameras used when empty facilities are operated. Recently, surveillance cameras, the magnifying power of which can be varied, are demanded. A variable power optical system used for the above surveillance cameras needs to be a bright optical system, the aperture ratio of which is high so that a photographic object can be specified even under the photographing condition of low illuminance. Further, the optical system applied to the surveillance cameras needs to be compact and provided with excellent optical performance.
An example of the variable power optical system is disclosed in JP-A-2006-119574, in which the aperture ratio is high, but the size is small and the optical performance is excellent, and which is capable of being mounted on a surveillance camera. The optical system described in JP-A-2006-119574 includes: a first group which is negative; a stop; and a second group which is positive, in order from the object side. The second group includes four lenses including two biconvex lenses, a negative meniscus lens and a biconvex lens in order from the object side.
In this connection, recently, there is a rising demand for an image of high quality even in the use of surveillance cameras. Especially, a demand for a variable power optical system is increasing which is applicable to cameras having imaging elements, the number of pixels of which is not less than one million. However, in order to satisfy the above demand by the conventional optical system, it is necessary to reduce an aperture ratio. In this case, it is difficult to use this optical system under an imaging condition of the use of surveillance cameras in which illuminance is low.

Variable power optical system and imaging device


A pressure control reservoir for a vehicle brake system is disposed in a hydraulic line extending from a master cylinder to a wheel cylinder through a pump. The pressure control reservoir includes a check valve which consists of a valve seat and a valve. The check valve is closed when an excessive pressure of brake fluid produced by the master cylinder. The valve is stationary. The valve seat is moved in response to an elevated level of the pressure of brake fluid into engagement with the valve, so that the check valve is closed. With these arrangements, the check valve is closed before a piston starts to move to change the volume of a reservoir chamber, thus permitting the volume of the brake fluid required to close the check valve to be decreased, which minimizes the uncomfortable feeling given to a driver of the vehicle when actuating the brakes.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates generally to a structure of a pressure control reservoir with a check valve through which a brake fluid flows to a wheel cylinder (W/C) in a brake fluid pressure control mode, for example, in an antilock brake system (ABS).
2. Background Art
Japanese Patent No. 2670340 teaches a brake system for automotive vehicles which is equipped with a pressure control reservoir (also called a switch reservoir). The pressure control reservoir works to store brake fluid, as drained from wheel cylinders, in an ABS (Antilock Brake System) control mode, to control increasing of pressure in the wheel cylinders to avoid skidding of the wheels. The pressure control reservoir is also coupled to a master cylinder (M/C) and works to deliver the brake fluid, as supplied form the master cylinder, to a pump while controlling a difference in pressure between the master cylinder and an inlet of the pump in a traction control mode. The pressure control reservoir is equipped with a check valve of a normally open type which is closed when the pressure in the master cylinder is being increased and opened in the traction control mode. The check valve serves to avoid the exertion of an excessive pressure, as produced by a driver's braking operation in the master cylinder, on the pressure control reservoir and also ensures the stability in supplying the brake fluid to the pump in the traction control mode.
When the driver of the vehicle performs the braking operation to generate a braking force, a piston in the pressure control reservoir needs to be moved to close the check valve before the brakes are actually applied to the wheels. This consumes a volume of the brake fluid required to move the piston in the pressure control reservoir, thus resulting in a lag in start of actual work of the brakes. Specifically, a time lag occurs between the driver's actuation of the brake and the start of actually braking the wheels, which may cause the driver to think that braking the wheel requires more effort on the brake.

Pressure control reservoir with check valve


A self-dispersible coloring agent represented by formula (II) below is prepared by incorporating a hydrophilic group into a coloring agent through a reaction of a hydrophilic group-containing halide represented by formula (I) below and the coloring agent in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst:X-L-R1  (I)(the coloring agent)-L-R1  (II)

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a self-dispersible coloring agent and an ink composition comprising the coloring agent, more particularly, to a process of preparing a self-dispersible coloring agent by incorporating a hydrophilic group into the coloring agent through a reaction of a hydrophilic group-containing halide and the coloring agent in the presence of a Lewis acid as a catalyst.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, coloring agents embody their inherent colors by selectively absorbing or reflecting visible light, and are classified as dyestuffs and pigments.
Dyestuffs are dissolved in solvents, and are used in any materials to be dyed, such as fibers, leathers, furs, papers, thus providing considerable fastness to daylight, washing, friction, and the like. Pigments are insoluble in solvents, are coloring agents in the form of particulates, and are not absorbed into the material to be dyed, but are adhered to the surface of the material to be dyed by physical means (e.g., adhesion, and the like), thus providing their inherent colors.
In preparing a pigment-type ink, dispersing a pigment comprising a coloring agent in a solvent is generally carried out. Herein, the size of pigment particles, the distribution of the particle size and the dispersion stability are important factors influencing an efficient dispersion of the pigment. Even if the pigment particles dispersed through the dispersing step described above are stored for a long term or are exposed to the change of environmental factors, such as a change of temperature, aggregation or precipitation of the pigment particles should not occur.
Most pigment-type black inks use a carbon black as a coloring agent. A method for dispersing a carbon black in a solvent for ink using a dispersing agent includes a dispersing method using a styrene-maleic acid anhydride copolymer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,887, or a dispersing method using a hydrophobic polymer dispersing agent containing a hydrophilic group such as a carboxylic acid, a sulfonic acid or a sulfate disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,794. A random copolymer that contains a hydrophilic group by incorporating a carboxylic acid is used as a dispersing agent in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,229,786; 5,172,133; 5,160,370; 5,184,148; or 5,106,417. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,085,698 and 5,221,334 use an AB-type block copolymer or a BAB-type block copolymer (herein, A is a hydrophilic monomer and B is a hydrophobic monomer) in which a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer are used, as a dispersing agent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,522 uses a graft polymer and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,959,661 and 5,125,968 use a known emulsifying agent.
When using a dispersing agent in order to disperse a carbon black, the dispersing agent is readily available since a general dispersing agent may be used. However, when using a water-soluble dispersing agent to disperse a carbon black pigment in a water-soluble medium, the water-soluble dispersing agent may be adsorbed physically to a surface of the carbon black, and thus, the dispersing effect of the pigment may be obtained only with an excessive amount of the dispersing agent. Thus, since an excessive amount of the water-soluble dispersing agent must be used compared to the amount of the pigment to be dispersed, the overall dispersion efficiency is decreased. Since the dispersing agent does not bind to the pigment efficiently and stably, the dispersion stability becomes ineffective. Thus, when preparing ink using the dispersing agent, long-term storage stability is decreased such that a particle dispersed in the ink is prone to aggregation or precipitation. When a block copolymer and a graft copolymer are used as a dispersing agent, a high cost is required in preparing the dispersing agent. When using a general emulsifying agent, excessive foam occurs during the dispersion process.
To solve the problem incurred when using the dispersing agent and the emulsifying agent, improving dispersion of a carbon black by surface modification of the carbon black was implemented. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,630,868 and 5,672,198 disclose the method of modifying a carbon black pigment to form a self-dispersible pigment by incorporating a hydrophilic group into the surface of the carbon black through the reaction of the carbon black pigment with a diazonium salt.
However, according to the method, an aromatic amine is required to be in the distal end of a compound that contains a hydrophilic group and reacts with a pigment to transport the hydrophilic group to the pigment. However, such hydrophilic group-containing aromatic amine compounds are difficult to obtain commercially, and the aromatic compound should be reacted with a carbon black after converting the compound to a diazonium salt. Thus, a plurality of reaction processes, not a single reaction process, are required, and the complexity of the process and the cost of the process are increased.
Thus, there is a need for a self-dispersible coloring agent which is easily dispersed in an aqueous liquid medium without using other dispersing agents, which has superior storage stability and dispersion stability, and in which the characteristics of a coloring agent, such as an ability to embody a color, durability, light resistance, and the like are improved, and an ink composition comprising the same.

Process for preparing self-dispersible coloring agent using lewis acids and ink composition comprising the coloring agent

Abstract: wherein L represents a single bond or —C(═O)—; R1 is selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl group containing a hydrophilic group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C20 aryl group containing a hydrophilic group a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C20 heteroaryl group containing a hydrophilic group and a substituted or unsubstituted C7-C20 arylalkyl group containing a hydrophilic group; and X is one of: —F, —Br, —I and —Cl. may be obtained conveniently through a one-step process. The ink composition containing the self-dispersible coloring agent provides effective long-term storage stability and dispersion stability using a one-step process.


The invention encompasses processes for the synthesis of cilexetil trityl candesartan from the reaction of trityl candesartan with cilexetil halide in the presence of a base and a low boiling organic solvent. Optionally, the reaction may be conducted in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst.

Candesartan is a potent, long-acting, selective AT1 subtype angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Candesartan meets the requirement of high potency but it is poorly absorbed by the body when administered orally. To overcome the poor absorption, the prodrug candesartan cilexetil was developed. During absorption in the gastrointestinal tract candesartan cilexetil is rapidly and completely hydrolyzed to candesartan. The chemical name for candesartan is: 2-ethoxy-1-[[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-1H-benzimidazole-7-carboxylic acid. The chemical name for candesartan cilexetil is (±)-1-[[(cyclohexyloxy)carbonyl]oxy]ethyl-2-ethoxy-1-[[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) 1,1′biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-1H-benzimidazole-7-carboxylate. Candesartan cilexetil is a white to off-white powder and is sparingly soluble in water and in methanol. Although candesartan cilexetil contains an asymmetric center in the ester portion of the molecule, candesartan cilexetil is sold as the racemic mixture.

Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). Angiotensin II is the principal pressor agent of the renin-angiotensin system, with effects that include vasoconstriction, stimulation of synthesis and release of aldosterone, cardiac stimulation, and renal reabsorption of sodium. Angiotensin II helps maintain constant blood pressure despite fluctuations in a person's state of hydration, sodium intake and other physiological variables. Angiotensin II also performs regulatory tasks such as inhibiting excretion of sodium by the kidneys, inhibiting norephedrin reuptake, and stimulating aldosterone biosynthesis. Candesartan blocks the vasoconstrictor and aldosterone secreting effects of angiotensin II by selectively blocking the binding of angiotensin II to the AT1 receptor in many tissues, such as vascular smooth muscle and the adrenal gland. By inhibiting angiotensin II binding to AT1 receptors, candesartan disrupts the vasoconstriction mediated by AT1 receptors. Blocking vasoconstriction by angiotensin II has been found to be beneficial to patients with hypertension. The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved candesartan for the treatment of hypertension alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,444 discloses working Example 7, 1-[[(cyclohexyloxy)carbonyl]oxy]ethyl-2-ethoxy-1-[[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) 1,1′biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-1H-benzimidazole-7-carboxylate was formed by reacting 2-ethoxy-1-[[2′-(N-triphenylmethyltetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]benzimidazole-7-carboxylic acid in DMF with cyclohexyl-1-iodoethyl carbonate to form cilexetil trityl candesartan and deprotecting with a methanolic hydrochloric acid to form candesartan cilexetil.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,733, discloses the deprotection of cilexetil trityl candesartan using mineral acids under substantially anhydrous conditions.


High temperature treatment of graphite nanofibers to increase their catalytic activity. The heat treated graphite nanofiber catalysts are suitable for catalyzing chemical reactions such as oxidation, hydrogenation, oxidative-dehydrogenation, and dehydrogenation.

Much work has been done over the years in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Such catalysts have experienced enormous commercial success in many chemical processes, particularly petroleum and petrochemical process applications. Conventional heterogeneous catalysts are typically comprised of one or more catalytically active metals, particularly Group VIII and Group VI metals on an inorganic support. The inorganic support is typically a metal oxide such as alumina, silica, alumina-silica, titania, magnesia, as well as molecular sieves. Various forms of carbon have also been suggested as being suitable as catalyst support materials. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,538,929 and 6,277,780 teach the use of a phosphorus treated activated carbon as catalyst supports. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,525 teaches solid particles comprised of carbon and metal oxides as being suitable catalyst supports. While most of the art teaches the use of conventional carbon, such as activated carbon as catalyst supports, two patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,635 and 6,159,892 disclose the use of nano-size cylindrical carbon "fibrils" as catalyst supports. Various catalytically active metals, preferably noble and non-noble Group VIII metals, such as Fe and Pt, are deposited onto the fibril support material. Metal oxides, such as Fe2O3 can also act as a catalyst when deposited onto the carbon fibrils.
While it has been known for many years that both macro and nano-size carbon particles are suitable support materials for certain types of catalysts, it has not been known that certain types of graphitic nanofibers have unique and unexpected catalytic properties themselves, without the addition of a catalytically active metal. In co-pending application, U.S. Ser. No. 10/712,247, it is disclosed that graphitic nanofibers comprised of a plurality of graphite sheets aligned in directions parallel, perpendicular, or at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber are suitable for catalyzing a variety of chemical reactions. It has unexpectedly been found by the inventors hereof that if the graphite nanofibers in which the graphite sheets are oriented perpendicular, or at an angle, to the longitudinal axis are initially treated at high temperatures then their subsequent catalytic performance is unexpectedly enhanced over that of the corresponding untreated materials.

Method for producing graphite nanocatalysts having improved catalytic properties


An electronic assembly includes an enclosure including a top cover and a bottom cover, and a thermal module arranged between the top cover and the bottom cover of the enclosure. The thermal module includes a centrifugal blower and a fin assembly arranged in an air outlet of the centrifugal blower. The centrifugal blower includes a top lid defining a first air inlet therein, a bottom plate defining a second air inlet therein, a sidewall disposed between the top lid and the bottom plate, with the air outlet defined in the sidewall, and a rotor disposed in an inner space formed between the top lid, the bottom plate and the sidewall. The bottom plate is separated by a distance from the bottom cover of the enclosure. The bottom plate defines an indent therein so as to widen the distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a centrifugal blower, and more particularly to a thermal module using the centrifugal blower and an electronic assembly incorporating the thermal module.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known that heat is produced by electronic components such as integrated circuit chips during normal operation. If this heat is not quickly removed, these electronic components may overheat. Therefore, thermal modules are often used to cool these electronic components.
As an example, a thermal module in accordance with related art generally includes a fin assembly having a plurality of fins, a centrifugal blower for creating an airflow through the fin assembly, and a heat pipe having an evaporating section which is kept in thermal contact with a heat generating electronic component such as a central processing unit (CPU) of a laptop computer, and a condensing section to which the fin assembly is attached. The heat pipe transfers heat from the heat generating electronic component which is thermally connected with the evaporating section thereof, to the fin assembly which is thermally attached to the condensing section of the heat pipe. The heat is then dissipated into ambient atmosphere via the airflow flowing through the fin assembly.
Increasing the amount of the airflow provided by the centrifugal blower is an effective way to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the thermal module. Conventional ways of satisfying such requirement are to change the configurations of blades of the blower, the configuration of the casing of the blower, and the parameters of the motor of the blower. However, the design and the manufacture of these components complicate the design and the manufacture of the centrifugal blower and further increase the cost thereof. Therefore, a centrifugal blower capable of cheaply providing a large amount of airflow is needed.

Thermal module with centrifugal blower and electronic assembly incorporating the same

Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.