A light-weight portable temperature control system which includes form fitting disposable therapy pads for selected body parts having serpentine fluid channels therethrough, a programmable microprocessor for controlling the temperature type and length of cycle, quick disconnects for the therapy pad, a thermoelectric cooler with a liquid heat exchanger and a pump for circulating the fluid through the system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to temperature control systems and more particularly to a light weight portable temperature control unit integrating a variety of face and body pads that will conform to the various contours of the face and body to aid in the therapeutic treatment of sports injuries and other forms of trauma, to relieve post operative pain, and to control swelling, bruising and engorgement.
2. Description of Prior Art
After injury and/or surgery, it has been found that controlling the swelling that normally occurs aids in expediting healing. In particular, in the field of cosmetic surgery, the necessity of maintaining a constant temperature, in the range of 34.degree.-40.degree. Fahrenheit, is extremely important to reduce internal bleeding, bruising and swelling.
Localized temperature control of various areas and parts of the human body, after injury and surgery, requires the use of cumbersome heating pads, ice packs, frozen gels, etc. Refrigeration systems which are large and bulky and which possess additional heating elements to raise or control the temperature, have been used to maintain the body, or a portion thereof, have been used to maintain the body, or a portion thereof, at a temperature substantially below the body's normal temperature of 98.6.degree. F.
The use of ice packs, when taken directly from a freezer and not permitted to warm above 32.degree. F., have been found to induce frostbite. Additionally, upon placement on a patient, the ice pack begins to melt and warm up rather quickly, thereby providing a constantly changing temperature at the areas of contact.
Thus, the various cooling techniques presently in use fail to satisfactorily maintain a constant temperature on the desired body areas.
In addition to the requirement of maintaining a constant temperature on the selected areas, there is also a need for a body pad that will comfortably and securely fit the contours of the area being treated as well as a need for providing portability of the heating or cooling unit.
There have been a number of efforts made to meet the described heating and cooling needs.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,074,410 (Foster) discloses an apparatus for temperature control in which a person's skin is heated and cooled by a fluid heat exchange medium. The cooling means comprises a compressor, a heat exchanger, and a by-pass valve for directing the fluid medium either through or past the heat exchanger. A pump runs continuously and the valve shunts the liquid medium around the refrigerating device when cooling of the liquid medium is not required. The apparatus also has a first thermistor adapted to sense the body temperature and a second thermistor to measure the temperature of the pad. The exchange fluid circulates through a pad contacting the patient's body. An electrical bridge means allows for the activation of the cooling and heating means when the patient's temperature is higher or lower than normal. This device has the drawback of being heavy, having high power demands, and allowing only for limited adjustment and programming.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,555 (Fletcher) discloses a liquid cooling apparatus possessing an automatic control system. The temperature of the wall of the auditory meatus and four averaged, unweighted skin temperatures are used as input signals to an electro-pneumatic transducer to control a diverter valve in the liquid cooling loop of the liquid cooling garment. The cooling system comprises a circulation pump, a heat exchanger, and a diverter valve connected in a fluid loop. A by-pass line is provided in the loop connecting the inlet side of the heat exchanger with the diverter valve. The diverter valve may be connected to an electro-pneumatic transducer for operation of the diverter valve according to control signals from a controller. The diverter valve is positioned so that the proper proportion of heated and cooled fluid from the discharge side of the heat exchanger is combined for recirculation through a cooling garment. This device does not allow for long term programming of time and temperature, does not have a heating system, and does not allow for a broad range of temperature settings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,944 (Arkans) discloses a therapeutic device comprising a sleeve for covering a portion of a patient's body and having a space to receive liquid, a device for circulating a liquid through the space of the sleeve, and a device for cooling and heating the circulated liquid. The sleeve may have an inflatable external chamber to apply pressure in the sleeve against the patient's body. The device may have an inflation mechanism comprising an air compressor and a pressure regulator in order to inflate the chamber through a conduit.
During operation of the device, the pump circulates the cooling and heating liquid through the conduit, the sleeve space, and a container wherein the liquid is cooled or heated. The cooling and heating system device comprises a plurality of thermoelectric cooling modules, a metallic container having a chamber to retain a liquid such as water or antifreeze, and a variable direct current power supply. The device may have a pair of thermostats which measure the temperature of the liquid in the circulating system.
When direct current is passed through the thermoelectric device, one side or face of the thermoelectric device is cooled while the other side is heated. A reversal of the direction of the current results in a reversal of the sides of the thermoelectric device which are heated and cooled. The direct current of Arkans, however, only allows for the change in voltage to control the temperature of the thermoelectric cooling modules.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,468 (Bailey) discloses a fluid circulating system designed for use with a thermal blanket or pad wherein heating and cooling transfer elements are positioned directly in the fluid within the reservoir tank, eliminating the need for condenser structures and the like. More specifically, a temperature transfer means including one or more thermal modules is connected to the tank and electrically interconnected to transfer plates directly exposed to the fluid within the interior of the reservoir tank. A standby switching mode is included to prevent circulation of the fluid through the thermal blanket by a pump structure until the fluid reaches a preselected temperature. A temperature sensor is also in direct exposure to the fluid in the tank and serves to direct the fluid back to a temperature control means. The temperature control means is in turn electrically connected by current regulating and activating means to the thermal modules whereby a continuous path of information flows between the temperature of the fluid being sensed to the temperature control means and back to the thermal modules for activation thereof in order to accomplish the desired temperature.
The temperature control means further includes an adjustable temperature selector to selectively indicate the desired temperature over a wide range such as 40.degree. to 105.degree. F. A meter provides a visual indication of the actual temperature within the tank. The proper current direction through the thermal modules through an automatic hot-cold logic circuit is activated to heat or cool the fluid. Because the transfer plates are in direct exposure to the fluid on the interior of the tank, the cooling device of Bailey is heavy. Additionally, the fluid in the tank takes an appreciable amount of time to either heat or cool.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,829 (Quisenberry) discloses a circulating system for automatically cooling or heating a temperature control fluid. The system includes a device for powering the cooling system with pulse width modulated electrical signals, a device coupled to the sensing device for calculating from the sensed temperatures an indication of the temperature of the fluid flowing within the blanket, and a device associated with the powering system for modifying the temperature of the fluid by controlling the pulse width modulation of the power supplied to the thermoelectric cooling device.
The invention includes a fully automatic microprocessor control system for controlling the temperature of a circulated fluid and monitoring the temperature variations over time. The invention also provides for an electronic controller for a temperature control fluid circulation system which is fully programmable and has a display system which allows periodic reprogramming of the system and monitoring of the operating conditions.
The output of the thermoelectric cooling device is controlled by a pulse width modulator for precisely controlling the temperature of the cooling block. The pulse width modulation is coupled to a shift register for controlling the pulse width modulation of the modulator through a bayonet type male connector. Lights indicate the need to add fluid to the system, when the system is ready to begin fluid circulation operation, and when the system is operating properly. The device contains a unitary heat exchange block and thermoelectric cooling devices.
The device also contains a further input provided by a voltage divider to precisely calibrate the inputs to the microprocessor at the factory so that the temperatures sensed at the inputs are very precisely calibrated in the microprocessor.
The temperature of the blanket is determined by a calculation of the mean temperature between the temperature of the fluid at the exit conduit and the temperature of the entrance fluid returning from the patient blanket at the fluid connection. Alternatively, the system may calculate an approximate blanket temperature by adding an experimentally determined set-off value to the temperature of the fluid in a return conduit measured at the sensor near the return conduit's entry into the reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,146 (Golden) discloses a relatively thin bendable thermal pack unit adapted to be molded to conform closely to the contours of a portion of the human body and to retain the molded shape once it has been positioned to circulate a thermal fluid to heat or cool adjacent skin areas to aid in healing and the like. The thermal pack unit of the invention includes a plastic web or sheet having at least one channeled space formed in a surface thereof to form a path for the circulation of the thermal fluid therethrough. The bendable pack unit is formed from two pieces. The first piece is a bendable plastic sheet or web made from a durable plastic material such as polyvinyl which can be easily and readily bent or formed to fit the contour of a predetermined portion of the human body. The bendable plastic sheet has a channeled interior surface having one or more channel spaces or paths formed therein. The channel spaces may be separated by raised pedestal portions or separators to form a network of interconnected channels or paths for circulating the thermal fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,761 (Golden) discloses a thermal bandage for heating and cooling which readily conforms to the contours of a body portion to maintain the adjacent skin at a predetermined uniform temperature to aid in heating and the like. The bandage includes a thermal pack mounted to the conformable member with means to either heat or cool the conforming member.
The heat conductive material includes a heat conductive fluid contained within a thin pliable outer material. The outer material is fixed about its perimeter to the thermal pack so that the fluid is in direct contact with it. The thin pliable outer material may also act as a sterile dressing to cover the adjacent skin portion to prevent infection. The conforming material is made of a heat conductive thermoplastic material.
In one embodiment, the pack includes a base, upstanding perimeter walls and a fluid flow changer defined by the base, walls, and conducting surface. The chamber has at least one separator which defines a circuitous flow path through the thermal pack. The conductive surface, which may separate the thermal pack and conforming member, can be constructed of a plurality of separate conducting plates mounted to a thermal pack at the free ends of perimeter walls and separators.
Velcro-type fasteners can be used to attach the pads.
A peltier device may be used which permits both heating and cooling by the use of dissimilar materials and electric current.


Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for controlling privileges of consumers of personal data. An example method includes: formulating user requirements to personal data control quality; determining weighting factors for corresponding functions of application programming interfaces (APIs) for personal data control of a centralized personal data control system based on the formulated user requirements to personal data control quality; determining correspondence between the functions of APIs for personal data control of the centralized personal data control system and functions of APIs for personal data control of the consumer of personal data; calculating a personal data control rating of the consumer of personal data based on the determined correspondence and the determined weighting factors; and determining the privileges of the consumer of personal data based on the personal data control rating of the consumer of personal data.

At present, web services (such as search engines, web mail, data storage services, social networks and others) and applications are collecting a mass of personal information about the user (behavior on the Web and on the computer, data sets, actions on the Internet, location, contacts with other users, etc.). This is occurring in a both open and clandestine manner, and very often without awareness by the user of the data collection. Neither is the user aware of how the collected data is used afterwards, or whether he can control this process.
Systems of centralized control of personal user information are being created to help the user exercise control over the use of personal data. These systems allow one to control the personal data of the user, to determine and monitor the volume of personal information collected and saved (such as a set of personal documents, date of birth, location, passwords for authorization on other services, history of actions on the Internet, characteristic behavior patterns, gender, family status, etc.), to determine the level of access by services to this information (from total anonymity to a fully open profile), and to carry out an authorization of services when accessing the personal user data.
As examples of such systems include MS Account, Apple ID, Google Account, Mozilla Persona, etc. However, all these technologies are tied to the infrastructure of a specific company and they exercise control over the personal user data by using unified application programming interfaces (APIs) for the interaction of the participants within an ecosystem. That is, all the services and applications within an ecosystem have a unified set of functions for control of the personal user data. These application programming interfaces include a set of API functions that are provided by the developer company.
But in the modern world users interact with the applications and services of various companies having their own application programming interfaces. Therefore, the personal data control functionality may differ from one service to another when integrating the centralized control system of personal user information with services from different ecosystems.
Thus, there exists a need to assess the functional capabilities of outside services in regard to control of personal user data.

System and method for controling privileges of consumers of personal data


Disclosed are methods for affecting movement of an insect with respect to a specified location. One generates an electromagnetic field adjacent the location and exposes the insect to the field. Preferably the insect is a crawling insect such as a German cockroach, earwig, firebrat, or a silverfish. To attract insects, the strength of the field is not so high as to be repulsive to the insect, yet sufficiently strong as to be attractive. Such field generators are preferably incorporated into insect traps and insect bait stations.

The present invention relates to the use of electromagnetic fields to affect the movement of insects such as German cockroaches and firebrats. More particularly, it relates to the use of electromagnetism to facilitate attracting/repelling, trapping and/or killing of such insects.
Traditionally there have been attempts to control insect infestation through sanitation procedures (e.g. the prompt removal of potential harborages and food sources such as garbage). However, even with the utmost vigilance this often is not completely effective. For example, even a completely sanitized apartment can become somewhat infested with insects if there are surrounding apartments in the same building, and those apartments and/or a common sanitary system, remain infested.
Particularly problematic insects to completely control are crawling insects such as cockroaches. These insects are adept at infiltrating into residences through sanitary systems and cracks.
Hence, insecticides and other insect control chemicals and/or biological agents have been used to try to further control such insects. See generally U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,660 (deterrent substances), U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,482 (reproductive inhibitors), U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,387 (toxins), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,316 (fungal agents). The disclosure of these patents, and of the following other publications referred to herein, are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,802,057, 4,870,779, 5,424,551, 5,572,825, 5,560,146, 5,896,696, 5,930,946 and 6,574,913.
There have also been attempts to rely on chemical or biological attractants to lure the insects to a trap or killing station. See generally U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,572,825 and 5,560,146. For example, pheromones have been used to attract cockroaches to a trap.
While chemical/biological approaches have considerable effectiveness in many cases, they do have some drawbacks. For example, insecticides often are not effective unless the insect directly contacts the insecticide. Further, the effectiveness of chemical or biological lures typically rapidly drops with distance from a baiting station or the like. Thus, multiple baiting stations may be required for adequate coverage of even relatively small residences or patio areas. Also, if the luring system requires an odorous volatile to be dispensed from a trap, consumers who find such odorants undesirable may not prefer that approach.
An alternative, very different, approach to insect control is to provide a large scale release of sterile insects. While this approach has been of some success on cargo ships and in certain agricultural and industrial settings, it is not desirable for application in residential settings. Homeowners are not typically willing to expose their families to a substantially increased infestation, notwithstanding the promise of future control of the insects.
There have also been attempts to attract certain insects, particularly flying insects, using visible lights of certain wavelengths. However, these light-based attractants typically are also visible to consumers, and/or have an undesirable sound associated with their generation or use, which has undesirable aesthetic effects.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,913 there was a discussion of using sonic signals in combination with chemicals to improve attraction of certain insects. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,551 regarding exposing varied animals to particular selected frequencies. Apart from audible sounds possibly annoying some consumers, certain sounds can spook other types of insects (and thus repel them).
There have also been teachings that use of pulsed electromagnetic fields act to repel certain insects and other pests. See generally U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,057 (rodents), U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,779 (rodents and insects), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,946 (cockroaches). See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,696. This would teach away from applying electromagnetic fields as an attractant, and in any event indicate that pulsing is important in causing repelling.
Hence, there is a need for improved, low cost, insect trapping and killing devices which are suited to use in a residential environment.

Use of electromagnetic fields to affect insect movement


The present disclosure relates to a system and kit for preparing a reconstitutable cytotoxic pharmaceutical formulation within a closed system to prevent unintended contact with or release of the cytotoxic pharmaceutical formulation. A safety connector and a vial adapter are provided, which include check valves that prevent the unintended release of the cytotoxic pharmaceutical formulation. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the system and kit.

Glaucoma is a disease resulting in loss of visual field and ultimately blindness. Its most common symptom is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which can be treated by lowering or controlling IOP through prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of these. For glaucoma surgery, trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C (MMC) treatment is the gold standard when a significant sustained reduction in IOP is needed. At the same time, finding the optimal technique and tools for application of MMC has remained a challenge. Mitomycin-C is an alkylating, anti-tumor antimetabolite used in ophthalmic surgery for its ability to inhibit fibroblast proliferation and suppress vascular ingrowth. Due to its cytotoxic nature, the packaging, dosage, route of delivery, application time and area of tissue exposure must all be controlled carefully to minimize the risk of complications following MMC administration. Possible serious complications include severe inflammation, endothelial cell damage, endothelial cell loss, and hypotony. A significant need remains for reliable, less-irritating, yet sterile delivery apparatus and methods for ophthalmological applications of MMC and other similarly cytotoxic pharmaceutical agents.


A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises forming a spacer structure having a rectangular ring horizontal cross-sectional shape over a transistor, a portion of the spacer structure horizontally overlapping a drain region of the transistor. A masking structure is formed over the spacer structure and the transistor, the masking structure exhibiting an opening therein horizontally overlapping the drain region of the transistor and the portion of the spacer structure. A portion of an isolation structure overlying the drain region of the transistor is removed using the masking structure and the portion of the spacer structure as etching masks to form a trench vertically extending through the isolation structure to the drain region of the transistor. A drain contact structure is formed within the trench in the isolation structure. Microelectronic devices, memory devices, and electronic systems are also described.

Microelectronic device designers often desire to increase the level of integration or density of features within a microelectronic device by reducing the dimensions of the individual features and by reducing the separation distance between neighboring features. In addition, microelectronic device designers often desire to design architectures that are not only compact, but offer performance advantages, as well as simplified designs.
A relatively common microelectronic device is a memory device. A memory device may include a memory array having a number of memory cells arranged in a grid pattern. One type of memory cell is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In the simplest design configuration, a DRAM cell includes one access device, such as a transistor, and one storage device, such as a capacitor. Modern applications for memory devices can utilize vast numbers of DRAM unit cells, arranged in an array of rows and columns. The DRAM cells are electrically accessible through digit lines and word lines arranged along the rows and columns of the array.
Reducing the dimensions and spacing of microelectronic device (e.g., memory device, such as DRAM device) features places ever increasing demands on the methods used to form the microelectronic device features. For example, one of the limiting factors in the continued shrinking of microelectronic devices is the resistance of contact structures associated therewith. As used herein, a "contact structure" of a microelectronic device refers to a structure facilitating an electrically conductive pathway between at least two other features (e.g., structures, regions) of the microelectronic device. As the dimensions of microelectronic device features decrease, the dimensions of the contact structures associated therewith also decrease, resulting in increased contact resistance. Increased contact resistance decreases the drive current of the microelectronic device, which can adversely affect device performance.
A need, therefore, exists for new, simple, and cost-efficient methods of forming microelectronic devices (e.g., memory devices) that alleviate the aforementioned problems, as well as for new microelectronic devices and electronic systems.

Methods of forming microelectronic devices


A remote meter reading arrangement in which utility consumption data accumulated in an electronic metering unit located within an underground enclosure is transmitted via radio frequency signals to a handheld data collection unit or to a mobile data collection unit carried in a vehicle. An assembly for installation in the underground enclosure includes an antenna enclosure, a transponder enclosure and means for enclosing and protecting an antenna within the antenna enclosure and a transponder within the transponder enclosure. Two embodiments are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the remote reading of utility meters which are located outside of a building in an underground enclosure.
2. Description of the Background Art
In moderate climate zones, utility meters are located in subsurface enclosures in areas adjacent to residences or other dwellings. Such enclosures are referred to as "pits." An example of such enclosure is illustrated in Haase et al., U.S. Pat. No. 1,781,280.
In Edwards et al., EPO Publication No. 0 252 184, meter data is transmitted from a utility meter in an underground pit to an electronic collection unit carried by a meter reading person. Scuilli, U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,836, shows an electronic metering unit which uses the inductive coupling method of the metering unit of Edwards et al.
More specifically, the electronic metering unit in Edwards et al. is electrically connected through a cable to a first inductive coil, which is positioned in an assembly that attaches to the pit lid. A second coil is located in the tip of a wand carried by a meter reading person. The meter reading person positions the tip of the wand in an opening in the pit lid assembly. This permits the coupling of signals by which the meter data is transmitted from the electronic meter to the collection unit.
There are a number of limitations in the prior art. First, the inductive coupling system does not provide a completely remote system as the meter reading person must approach relatively close to the pit lid to obtain a reading. Second, underground equipment must be made weather-resistant to varying temperature and moisture conditions. This is particularly true of electronic equipment to be used in underground enclosures.
The assembly for the inductive coupling system discussed above was not sealed against the elements. There was one opening for communication with the pit to allow a connection of a connecting cable and a second opening at the top to allow coupling to the second inductive coil.
Radio frequency meter reading systems have been known, but such prior radio frequency systems have been limited in use to buildings and above ground installations because the components were not sufficiently weather-resistant for use in underground pit enclosures.
Another limitation is that pit enclosures, being typically made of metal, present possible interference with radio transmission and reception.
The present invention is intended to overcome the limitations of the prior art.

Utility meter transponder/antenna assembly for underground installations


A method for fabricating the embedded thin film resistors of a printed circuit board is provided. The embedded thin film resistors are formed using a resistor layer built in the printed circuit board. Compared with conventional discrete resistors, embedded thin film resistors contribute to a smaller printed circuit board as the space for installing conventional resistors is saved, and better signal transmission speed and quality as the capacitive reactance effect caused by two connectors of the conventional resistors is avoided. The method for fabricating the embedded thin film resistors provided by the invention can be conducted using the process and equipment for conventional printed circuit boards and thereby saving the investment on new types of equipment. The method can be applied in the mass production of printed circuit boards and thereby reduce the manufacturing cost significantly.

In general, besides using conventional discrete passive elements, a printed circuit board can also use a thick film or a thin film process to develop the resistors required. In the thick film process, the resistors of the printed circuit board are made of carbon paste printed on the printed circuit board. Then the resistances of the resistors are fine-tuned by the laser trimming. In the thin film process, on the other hand, a nickel-plated copper foil and the epoxy resin of the printed circuit board is pressed together during the fabricating process of the printed circuit board. The nickel-plated side of the copper foil faces toward the printed circuit board and the non-plated side of the copper foil faces outward. Then, in a subsequent photolithography process, an acid etching solution is first used to etch both the copper and nickel layers, and then an alkaline etching solution is used to etch away the copper layer. A number of nickel blocks with the required dimensions are thereby formed. Laser is then used to trim each of the nickel blocks to achieve the precise resistance required.
In addition, currently, there is an electroless deposition technology that can replace the foregoing thin film method for building the resistor blocks to form thin film resistors.
In conventional thick film resistor fabricating methods, using high curing temperature carbon paste for the resistors is rather simple, mature, and less costly. However, because the laminate of the printed circuit board is susceptible to high temperature, low curing temperature carbon paste is usually used. The macromolecular polymer contained in the low curing temperature carbon paste will remain in the formed resistors even after the curing and solidification processes of the resistors. The hydrophilic property of the macromolecular polymer is the major factor causing the resistances of the resistors to vary along with the environmental change. Therefore, resistors having constant and precise resistances are difficult to achieve. On the other hand, the conventional thin film methods use the same temperatures and solutions as the conventional printed circuit board fabrication methods. The fabricated embedded resistors also have better stability and accuracy than those made by thick film methods. However, because the nickel-plated copper foil is difficult to manufacture, there are only limited supply sources and therefore the price is high. Although there are methods using the electroless deposition technology, the fabricated thin film resistors have inadequate adherence due to certain process factors. The application of these methods for mass production is thereby limited. Accordingly, the present invention is aimed at overcoming problems and disadvantages of conventional methods for fabricating thin film resistors of printed circuit boards.

Method for fabricating embedded thin film resistors of printed circuit board


A broadband radiating device, that includes: a first planar conductive pattern that includes: a symmetrical trapezoid portion in which multiple slots are formed, and a rectangular portion; wherein a long side of the rectangular portion contacts a long side of the symmetrical trapezoid portion; a planar ground pattern; and a planar non-conductive element that separates between the first planar conductive pattern and the planar ground pattern; wherein a narrow end of the symmetrical trapezoid pattern is connected to a feeding area; and wherein the planar ground pattern is adapted to function as a ground of an electrical circuit.

Modern devices can wirelessly communicate with each other. Broadband communication facilitates have a high throughput exchange of information but pose various problems to radio frequency component designers that are forced to find satisfactory tradeoffs between radio frequency component performance and size.
Various small broadband antennas have a frequency pattern that dramatically tend to shrink at higher frequencies and also tend to be oriented towards the ground. These unwanted phenomena limit the capability of broadband wireless transmission.
There is a growing need to provide efficient broadband radiation devices.


Non-naturally occurring microorganisms are provided that produce C40 carotenoid compound(s), utilizing exogenously added enzyme activities. Methods of producing C40 carotenoid compounds in microbial cultures, and feed and nutritional supplement compositions that include the C40 carotenoid compounds produced in the microbial cultures, are also provided.

Carotenoids are a class of ubiquitous and structurally diverse natural pigments ranging in color from light yellow to orange to red. Carotenoids are responsible for the coloring of carrots, tomatoes, red peppers, and the petals of daffodils and marigolds, as well as lobsters, salmon, and other marine life.
Carotenoids are produced by all photosynthetic organisms, as well as by some bacteria and fungi. Carotenoids have roles in photosynthesis, nutrition, and protection against photooxidative damage. Animals cannot produce carotenoids themselves, but must obtain these nutritionally important compounds through their diet. Carotenoids include 40-carbon (C40) terpenoids ultimately derived from the isoprene biosynthetic pathway, specifically from isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), a five-carbon building block. This biosynthetic pathway can be divided into two portions: the upper isoprene pathway, which leads to the formation of IPP, and the lower carotenoid biosynthetic pathway, responsible for converting IPP into long chain (e.g., C30 and C40) carotenogenic compounds.
Carotenoid compounds, such as β-carotene, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein, are used industrially as ingredients for food and feed stocks, both serving a nutritional role, and often increasing desirability of the product to consumers. Carotenoids, such as astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, are often added to aquaculture feeds for the purpose of providing color to the flesh of aquacultured organisms; their wild counterparts have colored flesh resulting from consumption of carotenoids that occur naturally in crustacea or algae, or in other fish that have consumed algae. For example, astaxanthin is widely used in salmon aquaculture to produce the orange to red coloration of the flesh found in wild salmon. The deposition of carotenoids in animals is dependent on the dosing, chemical species, purity of the compound, and the individual organism's biology (see, e.g., Matthews, et al. (2006) Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 206-14; Per Foss, et al. (1984) Aquaculture 41(3):213-26). Some carotenoids are also precursors of vitamin A. Moreover, some carotenoids have antioxidant properties, and may have health benefits, for example, against cardio-vascular problems, different types of cancer and some diseases of the immunological system (see, e.g., Jyonouchi, et al. (1991) Nutr. Cancer 16:93; Giovannucci, et al. (1995) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 87:1767; Miki (1991) Pure Appl. Chem 63:141; Chew, et al. (1999) Anticancer Res. 19:1849; Wang, et al. (2000) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44:2452; Higuera-Ciapara, et al. (2006) Crit. Rev. in Food Science & Nutr. 46(2):185-96). Several carotenoids (e.g., β-carotene, lycopene, and lutein) are currently sold as nutritional supplements.
A number of carotenoids have been produced in microbial organisms. For example, PCT Application No. WO 02/18617 describes a method of production of carotenoid compounds using microorganisms that metabolize single carbon substrates. Genes encoding elements of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway have been cloned and expressed in fungi, yeast, and microbes. For example, lycopene has been produced from genetically engineered Escherichia coli and Candida utilis (see, e.g., Farmer, et al. (2001) Biotechnol. Prog. 17: 57-61; Wang, et al., (2000) Biotechnol. Prog. 16: 922-926; Misawa & Shimada (1998) J Biotechnol. 59: 169-181; Shimada, et al. (1998) Appl. Environm. Microbiol. 64: 2676-2680). Zeaxanthin has been produced from recombinant E. coli and C. utilis (see, e.g., Albrecht, et al. (1999) Biotechnol. Lett. 21:791-795; Miura, et al. (1998) Appl. Environm. Microbiol. 64: 1226-1229). Astaxanthin has been produced from E. coli and Pfaffia rhodozyma (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,599). The nutrient β-carotene has been produced from E. coli, C. utilis, and P. rhodozyma (see, e.g., Albrecht, et al. (1999) Biotechnol. Lett. 21:791-795; Miura, et al. (1998) Appl. Environm. Microbiol. 64:1226-1229; U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,190).
Genes encoding geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase, lycopene cyclase, and phytoene dehydrogenase from Erwinia herbicola have been expressed in E. coli (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,816, 5,656,472, 5,530,189, and 5,530,188). Genes encoding such carotenoid products as geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, phytoene, lycopene, β-carotene, and zeaxanthin-diglucoside, from Erwinia uredovora, have been expressed in E. coli, Zymomonas mobilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,939). Carotenoid biosynthetic genes including crtE, crtB, crtI, crtY, and crtZ taken from Flavobacterium, have been recombinantly expressed (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,113).
Although the above methods can produce useful amounts of carotenoids, a need exists for improved processes. A particular long-appreciated need is for a process that produces useful yields of carotenoids from an inexpensive feedstock and also produces one or more nutrients (e.g., lipids or protein). The resulting carotenoid- and nutrient-rich microbial or plant biomass could then be processed into feed for aquaculture or agriculture, or used as a nutrient source for humans.
There are several microorganisms that utilize single-carbon substrates as their sole energy sources. Examples of single-carbon substrates include methane, methanol, formate, thiols, and methylated amines. These organisms are referred to as methylotrophs and also herein as "C1 metabolizers." Few methylotrophs have been successfully utilized to produce nutrients on an industrial scale. Despite the fact that single-carbon substrates are cost-effective energy sources, the lack of information about methylotroph genetics and the resulting difficulty in their manipulation has limited their use primarily to the synthesis of native products.
There is also a need for and an economic benefit to be able to utilize process streams and waste effluents that result from ethanol production as alternative carbon substrates. Ethanol is commonly produced by fermenting sugars extracted from plant biomass into 'beer' from which the ethanol is removed and concentrated by distillation. The major residual material from this distillation process is called whole stillage. During production of ethanol from dry milled corn, this whole stillage is further separated by centrifugation into dry solids (wet cake or wet distiller grains (WDG)) and a liquid component called thin stillage. Thin stillage is further evaporated to form stillage syrup or condensed distiller solubles (CDS). These products are often combined to form wet distiller grains with solids (WDGS) and further dried to form dried distillers grains with solids (DDGS) to improve shelf life. WDG, CDS, WDGS, and/or DDGS are mixed into animal feed. Beer, thin stillage, and stillage syrup contains many potential carbon substrates including alcohols (glycerol, ethanol, butanediol), carbohydrates (glucose, glucan, xylose, xylan, arabinose, arabinan, galactose, galactan, maltose, cellulose, starch), organic acids (lactic acids, acetic acid), protein, peptides, amino acids and fat (see, e.g., Kim, et al. (2008) Bioresource Technology 99:5165-5176).
A need also exists for low-cost, complete nutrition for use in aquaculture. Aquaculture is the propagation, cultivation and marketing of aquatic animals and plants in a controlled environment. The aquaculture industry is currently the fastest growing animal protein production sector in the world. World aquaculture produces approximately 60 million tons of seafood at an annual value of more than $110 billion (USD). Presently, fish farming produces about half of all fish consumed globally and this percentage is growing as a result of declining yields from wild-caught fish in both marine and freshwater environments and the need to provide more protein to a swelling human population. Species groups produced in aquaculture include: carps and other cyprinids; oysters; clams, cockles and ark shells; scallops; shrimps and prawns; salmons, trouts and smelts; mussels; and tilapias and other cichlids.
While certain species (e.g., tilapia) can be fed an exclusively vegetarian diet, others require a carnivorous diet. Feed for carnivorous fish typically comprises fishmeal and fish oil derived from wild caught species of small pelagic fish (predominantly anchovy, jack mackerel, blue whiting, capelin, sand eel and menhaden). The fishmeal is processed into a pelleted or flaked feed, depending on the size of the fish to which it will be fed (e.g., fry, juveniles, adults). Other components of the aquaculture feed composition may include carotenoid pigments, vegetable protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Many organizations recognize the limitations to fishmeal availability and aquaculture sustainability. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture have collaborated in an Alternative Feeds Initiative to " . . . identify alternative dietary ingredients that will reduce the amount of fishmeal contained in aquaculture feeds while maintaining the important human health benefits of farmed seafood." (NOAA Technical memorandum NMFS F/SPO-124, 2011).
U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2007/0226814 discloses fish food containing at least one biomass obtained from fermenting microorganisms wherein the biomass contains at least 20% DHA relative to the total fatty acid content. Microorganisms from the genus Stramenopiles are mentioned as sources of DHA. U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2009/0202672 discloses that stearidonic acid ("SDA"; 18:4 omega-3) can be added to aquaculture feed. This fatty acid can be obtained from a transgenic plant. Unfortunately, SDA is not converted efficiently to DHA in fish. U.S. Pat. No. 7,932,077 discloses that recombinantly engineered Yarrowia lipolytica may be a useful addition to most animal feeds, including aquaculture feeds, because it provides necessary omega-3 and/or omega-6 PUFAs, and offers unique protein:lipid:carbohydrate composition, as well as unique complex carbohydrate profile (comprising an approximate 1:4:4.6 ratio of mannan:beta-glucans:chitin).
If the growing aquaculture industry is to sustain and even increase its contribution to world fish supplies, there is a need for alternative aquaculture feed compositions that: (i) reduce wild fish inputs by replacing fish meal with non-fish derived sources; and (ii) use pigments that are not chemically synthesized, or otherwise derived from petroleum-based feedstocks, to provide pigmentation.

Heterologous carotenoid production in microorganisms


The information management and database system of the present invention comprises a flexible, self-referential table that stores data. The table of the present invention may store any type of data, both structured and unstructured, and provides an interface to other application programs. The table of the present invention comprises a plurality of rows and columns. Each row has an object identification number (OID) and each column also has an OID. A row corresponds to a record and a column corresponds to a field such that the intersection of a row and a column comprises a cell that may contain data for a particular record related to a particular field, a cell may also point to another record. To enhance searching and to provide for synchronization between columns, columns are entered as rows in the table and the record corresponding to a column contains various information about the column. The table includes an index structure for extended queries.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for storing, retrieving, and distributing various kinds of data, and more particularly, to an improved database architecture and method for using the same.
2. Art Background
Over the past 30 years, computers have become increasingly important in storing and managing information. During this time, many database products have been developed to allow users to store and manipulate information and to search for desired information. The continuing growth of the information industry creates a demand for more powerful databases.
The database products have evolved over time. Initially, databases comprised a simple "flat file" with an associated index. Application programs, as opposed to the database program itself, managed the relationships between these files and a user typically performed queries entirely at the application program level. The introduction of relational database systems shifted many tasks from applications programs to database programs. The currently existing database management systems comprise two main types, those that follow the relational model and those that follow the object oriented model.
The relational model sets out a number of rules and guidelines for organizing data items, such as data normalization. A relational database management system (RDBMS) is a system that adheres to these rules. RDBMS databases require that each data item be uniquely classified as a particular instance of a `relation`. Each set of relations is stored in a distinct `table`. Each row in the table represents a particular data item, and each column represents an attribute that is shared over all data items in that table.
The pure relational model places number of restrictions on data items. For example, each data item cannot have attributes other than those columns described for the table. Further, an item cannot point directly to another item. Instead, `primary keys` (unique identifiers) must be used to reference other items. Typically, these restrictions cause RDBMS databases to include a large number of tables that require a relatively large amount of time to search. Further, the number of tables occupies a large amount of computer memory.
The object oriented database model, derived from the object-oriented programming model, is an alternative to the relation model. Like the relational model, each data item must be classified uniquely as belonging to a single class, which defines its attributes. Key features of the object-oriented model are: 1) each item has a unique system-generated object identification number that can be used for exact retrieval; 2) different types of data items can be stored together; and 3) predefined functions or behavior can be created and stored with a data item.
Apart from the limitations previously described, both the relational and object oriented models share important limitations with regard to data structures and searching. Both models require data to be input according to a defined field structure and thus do not completely support full text data entry. Although some databases allow records to include a text field, such text fields are not easily searched. The structural requirements of current databases require a programmer to predefine a structure and subsequent date entry must conform to that structure. This is inefficient where it is difficult to determine the structure of the data that will be entered into a database.
Conversely, word and image processors that allow unstructured data entry do not provide efficient data retrieval mechanisms and a separate text retrieval or data management tool is required to retrieve data. Thus, the current information management systems do not provide the capability of integrating full text or graphics data entry with the searching mechanisms of a database.
The separation of database from other programs such as word processors has created a large amount of text and other files that cannot be integrated with current databases. Various database, spreadsheet, image, word processing, electronic mail and other types of files may not currently be accessed in a single database that contains all of this information. Various programs provide integration between spreadsheet, word processing and database programs but, as previously described, current databases do not support effective searching in unstructured files.
The present invention overcomes the limitations of both the relational database model and object oriented database model by providing a database with increased flexibility, faster search times and smaller memory requirements and that supports text attributes. Further, the database of the present invention does not require a programmer to preconfigure a structure to which a user must adapt data entry. Many algorithms and techniques are required by applications that deal with these kinds of information. The present invention provides for the integration, into a single database engine, of support for these techniques, and shifts the programming from the application to the database, as will be described below. The present invention also provides for the integration, into a single database, of preexisting source files developed under various types of application programs such as other databases, spreadsheets and word processing programs. In addition, the present invention allows users to control all of the data that are relevant to them without sacrificing the security needs of a centralized data repository.

Method and apparatus for improved information storage and retrieval system


A method for granting a qualification includes receiving a qualification sharing request sent by a granting account for granting a granted account a prioritized application qualification for a target service, detecting whether the granting account has previously used the target service, and, if the granting account has previously used the target service, granting the granted account the prioritized application qualification.

A server can provide various services to a user, such as purchasing goods, sending medals, or the like. The user may apply for and use the services via an account registered in the server. However, since some services are provided with a limited availability, the server can only provide such services to some accounts.
In the related art, the server starts receiving applications for a service at an appointed time. However, the number of the users who wish to apply for the service may be large, and the server may receive a great number of application requests from different accounts within a short time period, which can cause network congestion and even server crash.

Method and device for granting and acquiring qualification


A big game field dressing device for expediting the gutting and cleaning of big game. The big game field dressing device includes an elongate base member; support members in communication with the elongate base member; an extension assembly including extension members in communication with the support members; and brace members in communication with the elongate base member.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to field dressing devices and more particularly pertains to a new big game field dressing device for expediting the gutting and cleaning of big game.
Description of the Prior Art
The use of field dressing devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, field dressing devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
The prior art includes a device for holding the carcass of an animal in a selected position for removing skin from the carcass of the animal having a horizontal bench like platform supported by multiple legs. The animal which is to be skinned is placed on the horizontal platform with each of the four legs of the animal having attachment means to one each of four arms which are angularly attached to the horizontal bench. The animal's legs are attached to the arms by adjustable chains or the like and the carcass is held securely in position while it is skinned. Another prior art includes a big game field-dressing kit that permits field-dressing a game animal on the ground and transporting the animal includes several pointed stakes that can be driven into the ground near the animal's head and rear legs. Each of the stakes has a flexible tie such as a rope or cable, and each flexible tie has a loop at the end distal from the stake. One or more of the stakes has notches that can receive the flexible tie after it is passed around the animal's neck, so that the stake acts as a handle for dragging the animal along the ground. Also, another prior art includes a game stabilizing device including a base with arms extending laterally from the base. Extending from the arms are elastic cords with connectors. The prior art may further include legs straps that are placed around the legs of the game. The base of the prior art is placed under the back of the game and the connectors are attached to the leg straps. Therefore, the game is stabilized and preventing swaying and the legs of the game are spread out so that a hunter may easily field dress the animal. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new big game field dressing device.


A method of manufacturing an electron emission element, including forming common wire electrodes (signal lines) (4a, 4b) on a substrate (1) and forming electron emission units including fibrous material assemblies (6a, 6b) on the common wire electrodes (4a, 4b), respectively, for preventing abnormal discharge caused by an antistatic film (7) with no deterioration in characteristics of the electron emission element. The electrode forming is followed by forming resist patterns (40a, 40b) covering at least part of the common wire electrodes (4a, 4b) before the antistatic film is formed. Thereafter the resist patterns (40a, 40b) on the common wire electrodes (4a, 4b) are removed together with the antistatic film (7) before the electron emission unit is formed, so that the electron emission units made of the fibrous material assemblies (6a, 6b) are formed on the common wire electrodes (4a, 4b) from which the resist patterns (40a, 40b) have been removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrode disposed on a substrate, an electron emission element having a fibrous electron emission member disposed on the electrode, an electron source having a plurality of the electron emission elements, an image display device including the electron source, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been suggested a panel image display device with electron emission elements such as, for example, field emission elements (FE elements), metal-insulator-metal elements (MIM elements), or surface conduction electron emission elements (SCE elements).
This image display device includes, for example, an electron source having a plurality of matrix-driven electron emission elements formed on an electrically insulative substrate and an opposing image forming member for displaying an image by irradiation with electron beams. Thus, it generates a light-emitting image by applying a high voltage to the image display member to accelerate electrons emitted from the electron emission elements so as to cause the electrons to be incident on the image forming member such as a fluorescent substance.
If the high voltage is applied to the image display member, an electric potential is generated on the insulated surface region around the electron emission elements which counter an anode due to X-ray and charged ion irradiation. The higher the impedance of the substrate is, the longer the time constant of the electric potential is, and therefore a charged condition remains as it is. Furthermore, an emission of electrons from the electron emission elements in this condition causes the electrons to collide with the charged substrate surface. At that time, if the acceleration of the electrons causes charged particles such as electrons or ions to be implanted into the substrate surface, secondary electrons are generated, and particularly under a high electric field, abnormal discharge will occur. Therefore, it significantly deteriorates the electron emission characteristic of the electron emission elements, and in the worst case the electron emission elements may be destroyed, as is experimentally verified.
Conventionally, for preventing the above abnormal discharge in the image display device with the SCE elements, there is a known method of forming a high-resistant conductive film as an antistatic film by vacuum deposition or sputter deposition or of forming an antistatic film by spraying a solution containing an antistatic material (refer to, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-358874).
If the formation of the antistatic film is applied particularly to an electron emission element that has an electron emission unit made of a fibrous material assembly among the electron emission elements, however, there is a problem that the fibrous material is stained at the formation of the antistatic film and thus the electron emission characteristic deteriorates, thereby increasing color drift, uneven luminance, or a feeling of noise caused by fluctuations. Furthermore, particularly in the formation of the antistatic film by spraying the solution containing the antistatic material, a capillary phenomenon easily causes the solution to be caught into the fibrous material formation region. It then leads to a problem that the electron emission element is susceptible to a deterioration in the electron emission characteristic (VI characteristic) caused by bending or a collapse of the fibrous material due to an adhesion of the solution, an occurrence of an uneven formation of the antistatic film caused by the solution around the fibrous material formation region caught into the region, and excessive dirt of the fibrous material.

Electron emission element, electron source, image display device, and method of manufacturing the same


Fabrication of crystalline or molecular nanostructures with dimensions less than or equal to 1000.ANG. on a substrate surface is achieved by the indirect and/or direct action of a highly-localized field-emission current, which causes atoms of molecular gases introduced into a vacuum chamber to deposit or etch at surface atomic sites that are fixed by the emission-tip location. The tip is shaped to maintain control of the emitting region and is typically about 10.ANG. above the structure. The tip position is stepped in a programmed sequence, with each step taken on detecting the current increase induced by an atomic deposition below the tip. Gas sequences or mixtures can also be programmed, and microstructures of typically 10.sup.2 -10.sup.8 atoms are thereby formed with exact control of the positions and types of atomic constituents.. The multi-tipped tool consists of a large array of field-emitting nanostructure probe tip extensions on the end of a metal probe. The nanostructures are spaced in a prescribed, repeating pattern with typical spacings on the order of 400.ANG.. The probe voltage, current and position, as well as CVD or etching gas pressures, are sequentially adjusted to fabricate nanostructures on a nearby substrate, which is typically 10-30.ANG. below the termination points of the probe tip extensions.

Producing ever-smaller semiconductor devices and computer-memory elements for VLSI is one of the most competitive and economically important technologies in the world. Additional, important applications of microscopic structures include catalysis, optical devices and computing, and superconductors.
The smallest structures currently used in VLSI have typical dimensions of approximately 1 .mu.m and edge definitions of approximately 0.05 .mu.m or 500 .ANG.. In this regard, see Chang et al., "Nanostructure Technology", IBM J. Res. Develop. 32, 462 (1988); and Hohn et al., "Advanced Electron-beam Lithography for 0.5 .mu.m to 0.25 .mu.m Device Fabrication," IBM J. Res. Develop. 32, 514 (1988). Fine pattern-lines are often a part of these devices, and these may have widths of 100-500 .ANG.. These structures and lines are normally made by "lithography", first exposing portions of substrate-covering resists, either through masks or by direct bombardment with photon, ion or electron beams. The unexposed (or opposite) portion of the resist is then chemically removed and the resulting exposed portions of the substrate are etched or overcoated.
These latter steps typically involve vapor or liquid deposition and etching, sometimes plasma assisted. This lithographic process is repeated with different masks and etch, doping or coating steps to produce the final device. Doping of various layers is typically achieved by highly energetic ion bombardment, driving dopant species into the material, or by diffusion inward from the exposed surface at elevated temperatures. Although high-energy electron and ion beams can be focused more finely than 100 .ANG., the size of the resulting pattern is limited so far to greater 100 .ANG. by the scattering of these particles at the film surface, which spreads the pattern. Etching also tends to spread patterns.
The scanning-tunneling-microscope (STM described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,993 produces a highly-localized beam of low-energy electrons, so that it is feasible to use this instrument for nanolithography (See Binnig et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 49, 57 (1982) and 50, 120 (1983)). In two reported attempts at this, lines of apparently 100 .ANG. width were achieved by exposing a resist and a glassy alloy to the electron current from an STM (See McCord et al., "Lithography with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope", J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 4, 86 (1986); and Ringer et al., "Nanometer Lithography with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope", Appl. Phys. Lett. 46, 832 (1985)).
Another approach to writing fine lines or depositing metallic lines on a substrate with an STM can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,257. Here it was proposed that metal-atom containing gas molecules, introduced into a vacuum system, would be dissociated by the electron beam from a typically-5 V biased STM tip. The electrons would collisionally dissociate some of the gas molecules as they passed between tip and substrate, and for a tip-substrate spacing of approximately 20 .ANG. the dissociation products would strike and build up in a very local region of the substrate, producing a metal line of very narrow width as the tip is scanned parallel to the surface. As described in Silver et al., "Direct Writing of Submicron Metallic Features with a Scanning Tunneling Microscope", Appl. Phys. Lett. 51, 247 (1987), there were some complications and this was not successfully achieved by the patentees. Furthermore, this device does not permit single-atom depositional control of the atomic substituents, but rather is directed to a random deposition mechanism.
However, in 1987 a short, approximately 250 .ANG. wide line of Cd was deposited from Cd (CH.sub.3).sub.2 gas onto a photolithography material using an STM current, by a different research group who used quite different conditions and suggest that the deposition was probably due to microscopic plasma between the probe and substrate (See Silver et al.). The authors further report the possibility of also achieving etch patterns below an STM tip, using halogen molecules in place of the metal organic molecules often used for deposition. According to Lin et al., "High Resolution Photoelectrochemical Etching of n-GaAs with the Scanning Electrochemical and Tunneling Microscope", J. Electrochem. Soc. 134, 1038 (1987), STM-tip controlled etching of GaAs has been achieved by immersing in an electrolyte liquid and at the same time illuminating the gap to induce photochemical reactions. Here the tip-substrate spacing was approximately 1 .mu.m and 0.3-2 .mu.m wide etch patterns were obtained, using unspecified conditions.
Mechanical "scratching" of fine lines with a tungsten STM probe tip has also been reported in Abraham et al., "Surface Modification with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope", IBM J. Res. Develop. 30, 492 (19); and McCord et al., "Scanning Tunneling Microscope as a Micromechanical Tool", Appl. Phys. Lett. 50, 569 (1987). Transfer of single Ge atoms, apparently from a scratch-coated tungsten probe tip to a Ge crystal, has also been reported in Becker et al., "Atomic-scale Surface Modifications Using a Tunneling Microscope", Nature 325, 419 (1987).
Writing narrow metal lines by probe-to-substrate metal-atom transfer, induced by field desorption at the highest-field probe tip end, has been patented by Binnig et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,089. Here the metal atoms (e.g. Au atoms) diffuse about the heated tungsten tip and are continuously supplied at the upper end. This patent, however, is not based on the use of chemical vapor deposition (hereinafter CVD) molecules to bring the depositing atoms to the nanostructure, but ratlier is directed toward laying down metal lines.
The above investigations and patents were directed towards adding fine lines of homogeneous unstructured material to produce a mask for the lithographic method of VLSI semiconductor production. The overwhelming majority of the prior art is also based on the construction of lithographic masks using photon electron or ion beams, since the total time required to produce the entire VLSI pattern would be prohibitive without multiple use of the mask. These are several problems associated with the use of these beams to produce very fine-lined masks. These include, for example (1) a high-energy electron or ion beam traversing a large gap (necessary for focusing) which ionizes and dissociates the gas along the entire path, producing deposition everywhere, and a discharge if pressures exceed .about.0.01 Torr; (2) energetic electrons from high-energy electron beams which scatter and spread from the initial point of contact, producing gas dissociation, deposition and sometimes film damage over an extended region; (3) energetic ions causing severe substrate damage about the point of impact, as well as inducing sputtering; ion beams are well-suited to producing masks or sputtering-away substrates, but not to deposition; (4) the laser spot size being diffraction limited, so that it can not be used for .ltoreq.100 nm scale writing; (5) the fact that none of the beam methods can directly detect, at the nm level, the consequences of their action on the substrate surface, and thus there is no self-adjustment ability.
Some of the problems plaguing the attempts at STM-based lithography can be attributed to the nanometer probe tip which is utilized. The standard STM probe tip has a radius of curvature of .gtoreq.1000 Angstroms (.ANG.), and when this is placed close enough to the substrate to yield a single field-emission point (generally 1-30 .ANG.) the probe tip to substrate spacing changes very little over a circle of a few hundred .ANG. diameter. It is thus extremely difficult for CVD molecules to diffuse through this narrow gap to the center, where deposition is intended. Furthermore, the molecules traverse this gap with repeated surface absorptions and desorptions, and the field-emission current is often drawn to the adsorbed CVD molecule because it lowers the field-emission tunneling barrier. Thus, the CVD molecule is almost certain to be collisionally dissociated and attach to substrate or probe long before reaching the normal emitting point at the center. The result is enormous STM current noise accompanied by tip-shape and substrate deterioration as CVD atoms deposit randomly all over this extended probe and substrate region. If the probe-substrate spacing is increased beyond the normal range, the gas-flow problem is somewhat alleviated but the emitting point is even less well defined and the CVD molecules still attract the emission current and deposit over a large region (>100 .ANG.).
Nanostructure fabrication of large arrays (typically 10.sup.6 -10.sup.12) of devices would require a parallel-process fabrication method and tool to be acceptable in terms of manufacturing time. In present-day semiconductor technology fabrication is achieved by lithography, and devices with dimensions as small as approximately 5000 .ANG. are achieved in a manufacturing context. Here a substrate resist is exposed through a mask which contains an array of repeating shapes; thus the entire substrate is "written" in one exposure. Of course, the mask itself has to be created and several different mask and exposure steps are necessary for each device, but masks can be used many times. Masks are formed with the necessary fine lines using optical. electron, x-ray, .gamma.-ray or ion beams, with current smallest-size limits of approximately 200 .ANG.. Etching or deposition occurs on the exposed portions of the substrate and further limits practical smallest sizes.
Thus, no current method is capable of forming single or multiple-pattern nanostructures with non-random control of atomic constituents other than those of the starting crystal, nor has any achieved <200 .ANG. dimensions. (The current status of small-device technology is further reviewed in the two previously described articles by Chang et al., and Hohn et al.) These methods do not appear capable of achieving <100 .ANG. nanostructures with the single-atom dimensional and chemical control necessary to be useful. Thus, even with future advances in current lithographic methods there may be no competing methodology to that which will be described herein as part of the present invention.

Microtip-controlled nanostructure fabrication and multi-tipped field emission tool for parallel-process nanostructure fabrication

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce


A drawing device for a press is provided with a drawing slide, with a sheet holder having a sheet held therein, and with a pressure cheek which is arranged under the sheet holder and is connected with a piston rod which can be displaced in parallel to the drawing direction. The piston rod is operatively connected with a preacceleration piston of a preacceleration cylinder. The drawing cylinders are applied to the pressure cheek by way of drawing rods, in which case the drawing cylinders have drawing pistons with first and second piston spaces. The first piston space directed to the drawing rod is pressure controlled during the drawing operation for the sheet forming. In the event of a press stoppage during a sheet forming, a control valve device can be activated so that, for maintaining the pressure existing in the first piston space at the start of the press stoppage during the time of the press stoppage, pressure medium can be charged into the first piston space by way of a pressure medium generator.

This application claims the priority of German application 97 11 207.2, filed Mar. 18, 1997, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a drawing device for a press, and more particularly, to a drawing device having a drawing slide, having a sheet holder with a sheet held in it, having a pressure cheek which is arranged under the sheet holder and which is connected with a piston rod which can be displaced in parallel to the drawing direction and which is operatively connected with a preacceleration piston of a preacceleration cylinder, and drawing cylinders which are applied to the pressure cheek by way of drawing rods, the drawing cylinders having drawing pistons with first and second piston spaces, the first piston space directed to the drawing rod being pressure controlled during the drawing operation for the sheet forming.
DE-OS 36 40 788 describes a drawing device with a preacceleration cylinder and preacceleration piston for preaccelerating, the pressure cheek before the start of the drawing operation in the drawing direction to the speed of the drawing slide. The subsequent sheet forming takes place by a targeted pressure control in the drawing cylinders. For this purpose, in a first piston space of a drawing cylinder directed to the pressure cheek of the drawing device, a correspondingly controlled counterpressure is in each case applied which acts oppositely to the drawing direction.
The known drawing device has a disadvantage in that, when the press is switched off during a drawing operation, the drawing pistons of the drawing cylinders will also stop. Although pressure medium is still situated in the piston spaces of the drawing cylinders, because no more displacement takes place during the machine stoppage, no pressure control also can take place. Simultaneously, however, a slow pressure reduction necessarily takes place in the piston spaces, for example, because of leakages. The resulting pressure change in the system becomes larger, the longer the machine stoppage lasts. This means that the sheet metal parts situated in the press, when the press is restarted, have to be removed from the press as scrap because of the uncontrolled forming as the results of changed pressures.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to improve a drawing device such that, also during a stoppage of the press, particularly in the case of an emergency stop, after the restart, the same conditions will exist as at the beginning of the press stoppage so that no scrap has to be removed but, on the contrary, the interrupted sheet forming can immediately take place under the same conditions.
According to the present invention, this object has been achieved by providing that in the case of a press stoppage during a sheet forming, a control valve device can be activated by means of which, for maintaining the pressure existing in the first piston space at the start of the press stoppage, during the time of the press stoppage, pressure medium can be charged into the first piston space by means of a pressure medium generator.
The control according to the present invention by way of the control valve device, which as a type of emergency control, provides during a press stoppage that pressure losses in the respectively first piston space of the drawing cylinders are compensated by a correspondingly controlled addition of pressure medium, ensures that, at the restart of the press, the same pressure exists as at the time of the press stoppage. This means that the interrupted sheet forming can be continued under the same conditions and at the same point so that no scrap parts are created.
The control according to the invention is achieved by relatively simple supplementary parts. This applies particularly if a pressure medium generator, such as the pump, which exists anyhow in the operation of the drawing device, is used as the pressure medium generating device and activates the preacceleration piston of the preacceleration cylinder.
In a simple manner, the control valve device can be constructed as an electrovalve device which is activated in an arbitrary manner by a control command when a press stoppage occurs.
It may advantageously be provided in this case that a path-dependent valve device is arranged between the pressure generator and the control valve device. As the result of this measure, the activation of the control valve device can be carried out in a targeted manner only in the case of a press stoppage when its activation is required and therefore also causes no damage. Thereby, the activation will be carried out only when drawing rods of the drawing pistons are situated in the position in which a sheet forming takes place because of a pressure caused by the drawing slide. If no counterpressure exists as the result of the drawing slide, which is the case, for example, in the upper position of the drawing device, the control valve device is not activated.
In a constructionally simple manner, the path-dependent valve device can be applied to the piston rod of the preacceleration piston by a sensing element, because of the piston rod taking up its respective position; in particular, the piston rod takes over the restoring position of the pressure cheek upwards after a sheet forming has taken place. In other words, the position of the piston rod can be used in a simple manner for controlling the control valve device.
As the sensing element, a roller tappet can, for example, be provided which rolls along a correspondingly shaped curved path on the circumference of the piston rod. For detecting the pressure in the respectively first piston space of the drawing cylinders and its control, a pressure sensor and a proportional valve can be used.

Drawing device for a press with control device for maintaining pressure during press stoppage


A homogenous charge compression ignition engine is operated by compressing a charge mixture of air, exhaust and fuel in a combustion chamber to an autoignition condition of the fuel. The engine may facilitate a transition from a first combination of speed and load to a second combination of speed and load by changing the charge mixture and compression ratio. This may be accomplished in a consecutive engine cycle by adjusting both a fuel injector control signal and a variable valve control signal away from a nominal variable valve control signal. Thereafter in one or more subsequent engine cycles, more sluggish adjustments are made to at least one of a geometric compression ratio control signal and an exhaust gas recirculation control signal to allow the variable valve control signal to be readjusted back toward its nominal variable valve control signal setting. By readjusting the variable valve control signal back toward its nominal setting, the engine will be ready for another transition to a new combination of engine speed and load.

A relatively new combustion strategy known as homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) shows great promise in reducing undesirable emissions from internal combustion engines that utilize a compression ignition strategy. HCCI refers generally to the idea of mixing fuel with air in the engine cylinder before autoignition conditions arise. The mixture is compressed to autoignition, with a general desirability that the combustion event take place in the vicinity of top dead center. Although HCCI has proven the ability to drastically reduce undesirable emissions, especially NOx, the combustion strategy has brought new problems that must be overcome in order to render such an engine commercially viable. For instance, for an HCCI engine to be a viable alternative to a counterpart conventional diesel engine, it must have the ability to operate effectively over a relatively wide load range. One problem encountered with HCCI engines is the extreme sensitivity and difficulty in controlling ignition timing. In addition, HCCI engines can have difficulty in operating in higher load ranges where more fuel is supplied to the individual cylinders. This perceived limitation may be due to extreme pressure spikes that occur when the charge burns. The pressures can rise so fast and get so high as to exceed the vibrational and structural containment capability of an engine housing. Thus, operating an HCCI engine, especially at higher speeds and loads, can be extremely problematic, but must be overcome to enable such an engine to be a viable alternative to a counterpart conventional diesel engine.
Apart from problems associated with high load operation, multi-cylinder HCCI engines have even more problems that need to be overcome. For instance, engine geometry, including the intake geometry, fuel injector performance variations, and other known and unknown influences affect the specific burn behavior of charges in different ones of a plurality of engine cylinders. For instance, intake manifold geometry may result in one cylinder receiving less or more air than other cylinders, and a fuel injector performance variation in another cylinder may cause less or more fuel to be injected based upon the same control signal. These differences result in different air/fuel ratios in different cylinders. HCCI combustion is very sensitive to air/fuel ratio and other factors including charge mass, compression ratio, as well as the initial temperature and pressure of the charge when compression begins. Thus, these variations can contribute to substantial differences in both heat release and combustion phase timing among a plurality of different engine cylinders. While some variation may be acceptable at lower load conditions, at higher speeds and loads, combustion phasing and heat release variations among the plurality of cylinders can give rise to unacceptable noise levels. In addition, assuming equal air/fuel ratios, the cylinder with the most advanced combustion timing will develop a maximum pressure and pressure rise rate at a lower load, and therefore will limit peak load of the entire engine. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, when the charge burns too early in the combustion stroke, excessive cylinder pressures and pressure rise rates can occur that limit the load carrying capability of that cylinder, and hence the entire engine.
In addition to the above problems associated with ignition timing, controlling peak pressures and pressure rise rates, and balancing combustion among a plurality of engine cylinders, there are even more problems when there is recognition that the engine must not only have the capability of operating in a steady state condition, but also must have the capability of transitioning among different combinations of speed and load. This problem is further compounded by recognition that different control strategies are so cross-coupled in their influence on engine behavior that no known control strategy is available for an HCCI engine that allows the engine to retain stable operation across a wide range of engine speeds and loads. In addition, some potential control techniques, such as varying exhaust gas recirculation rates and/or varying geometric compression ratio in the engine, may be too sluggish to react on an engine cycle to cycle basis. As used in this text, the term "geometric compression ratio" means the ratio of the cylinder volume when the engine piston is at bottom dead center to the volume of the cylinder when the piston is at top dead center. If the engine is too sluggish in transitioning from one combination of speed and load to another combination of speed and load, that behavior could also render it not viable as an alternative to a convention diesel engine.
Other potential control actuators may include fuel injection timing and quantity control, as well as variable intake and/or exhaust valve timing control. While these types of control actuators may have the ability to adjust from one engine cycle to the next engine cycle, a variable valve actuator alone may not provide a sufficient bandwidth of control to enable the engine to operate across a wide range of speeds and loads. For instance, a variable valve actuator, such as a variable intake valve actuator may not have a bandwidth that permits the engine to operate beyond a narrow range of speeds and loads without some other additional strategy. In addition, adjustments to variable intake valve actuators not only changes the compression ratio, but also the charge mass and the initial cylinder charge pressure and temperature. These factors interact to determine when auto-ignition conditions arise, if at all, in the engine cylinder.
In addition, further problems can occur by recognizing that control actuators may not actually be doing what the engine controller expects. For instance, if exhaust gas recirculation is controlled, even slight differences between the expected exhaust gas recirculation rate and the expected or desired rate can result in substantial variations in engine behavior. Thus, some of the control actuators themselves may need their own separate feedback control in order to be realistically utilized in the highly combustion-sensitive environment of a homogeneous charged compression ignition engine. Thus, the limited bandwidths of available control actuators, their interactions in altering combustion behavior, and uncertainties in the control actuators doing what the engine controller expects renders the problems associated with dynamic control of an HCCI engine nearly insurmountable.
One strategy for dealing with the problems of HCCI is described in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,838. This reference describes a mixed mode strategy where HCCI is employed over a lower load range portion of the engine, and conventional diesel engine strategies are employed at high speeds and loads. By conventional, this disclosure means that fuel is injected directly into an engine cylinder after autoignition conditions have arisen, with the injection taking place in the vicinity of top dead center. While a mixed mode strategy can produce superior emissions compared to that of a conventional diesel engine, it requires increased complexity, especially in manufacturing and controlling the fuel system, but mixed mode still results in more undesirable emissions than that possible with an entirely HCCI operation strategy.
The present disclosure is directed toward one or more of the problems set forth above.

Dynamic control of a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine


A labeled key tag, key tag system and method for using the system is provided. The key tag system may be used to identify the keys that may be attached thereto. The system provides a key tag having a labeling system for downloading, printing and affixing a label to a key tag. The system allows the key tag to identifying keys on a key ring with respect to each other.

Today, most people carry many keys with them. For example, many people care their house keys, car keys, office keys and a variety of other different keys. Further, many organizations carry a lot of keys that have to be kept separate. For example, a realtor or agent may have several keys to different homes. A car rental agency may have keys to several different cars. An individual may also carry many outdated keys that have no function anymore. The individual may carry keys to the homes of close relatives or old residences. Many times, these individuals do not even know what the key will open. Individuals do not want to waste time and money trying to determine the function of a particular key might be, therefore, rapid identification of various keys is advantageous.
Most people keep their keys on a key ring for safekeeping and for identification. Most people keep a variety of different keys on their key ring at any given time. For example, many individuals keep a car key, a house key, and office key and several other keys on their key ring at a time. Many times, people build up a mass of keys because they start retaining keys that serve different purposes. A person may, for example, retain a key for a loved one's house and/or car. Further, a person may also possess on their key rings, keys for lockers, bicycles and boats.
It has been known in the art to keep keys on key rings that have key tags to identify the keys on the ring. Prior art key tags are typically made of a solid metal outer ring which holds in place a circular paper or cardboard inner area. The paper or cardboard inner area is kept blank and filled in by the user. The user may write on the paper or cardboard inner area to identify the use and properties of the key. The problem with these prior art key rings is that they are made of paper and/or cardboard. When the tag gets wet, the paper and/or cardboard begins to degrade in nature. Further, the writing on the tag may be smeared and dirtied, such that reading the identification of the key tag becomes difficult if not impossible. Many times, over time, the paper or cardboard completely degrades or is torn away from the metal outer area completely, leaving a tag with only a metal outer area. This completely defeats the purpose of the key tag, mainly, to identify the keys on the ring.
The prior art key tags are not made to be used more than one time. Consequently, when the key tag is marked for use, it is a one time use application. As a result, once the purpose or identity of a key is superseded, the user will then have to replace the key tags often.
The prior art key tags are limited in its use because they cause a user to physically mark the key tag to identify the keys. However, many individuals have writing that is very difficult to demarcate, making identification of the keys difficult for other users.
What is needed is key tag that is flexible yet durable, and allows for identification of the keys being stored on the key ring. Further, a key tag is needed that allows for labels to be pre-formatted or custom formatted from a webpage to be downloaded and/or printed to a user's location. The labels may be downloaded, printed and applied to the key tag for use on a variety of items.


A sealing device including an annular reinforcing insert couplable with a wheel hub in use and an annular sealing element carried by the reinforcing insert and including at least one sealing lip cooperating with a spacer carried by a wheel support pin in use; the reinforcing insert delimits an annular chamber arranged directly adjacent to the annular sealing element in axial direction, and the device further includes a shield mounted in floating manner with radial and axial play in the annular chamber, including a first radial end, which extends to the lip and couples in forced manner with the spacer in use, and a second radial end, opposite to the first, which cooperates with the reinforcing insert and with the annular sealing element to create a labyrinth seal in the annular chamber interposed in use between the annular lip and an environment (E) external to the wheel hub.

The problem of effectively protecting the rolling bearing which supports the wheel in motor bikes hubs, in particular on motor bikes intended for off-road use (cross, trial etc.) from external pollutants (water, mud, dust) arises, in particular in the presence of frequent washing of the motor bike with high-pressure water jets (pressure washers) and frequent disassembly of the wheel hub for maintenance and/or re-lubrication (grease application).
Until now, such problem has been solved by means of sealing devices comprising a stiff reinforcing insert, which is restrained to the wheel hub and which carries one or more additional lips, either crawling or not, known as dust seals, in addition to one or more dynamic elastic crawling sealing lips sliding on a wheel hub support pin or on a spacer carried by the pin, the pin in use being stationary and supported by the wheel shock absorbers. JP6001770A illustrates a particularly effective embodiment of such a solution.
However, the solution known from JP6001770A has relatively large axial dimensions, i.e. in the direction of the wheel support pin axis, which are incompatible with most applications. On the contrary, solutions based on additional sealing lips, possibly provided with particular geometries, while having smaller axial dimensions than the sealing device of JP6001770A are either not sufficiently effective or are relatively unreliable, in particular due to performance which decay over time.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a sealing device, in particular for wheel hubs of motor bikes, which can be inserted between two axial symmetry members relatively rotatable with respect to each other, which is free from the drawbacks described above, and which, in particular, has small dimensions, in particular in axial direction, high efficiency and reliability remaining constant over time, and high ease of assembly and disassembly, together with high simplicity and a relatively low production cost.

Sealing device, in particular for wheel hubs of motor bikes


A temperature compensated low voltage reference circuit can be realized with a reduced operating voltage overhead. This is accomplished in several ways including minimizing drain voltage variation at the drains of two inter-connected transistors and implementing a current conveyer in order to adjust the temperature coefficient of an output current or voltage. Various combinations of voltage minimization and temperature coefficient adjustments may be used to design a reference circuit to a circuit designer's preference. A temperature compensated current source may also be created. The temperature compensated current source may be used to provide a wide range of output voltages. All of the reference circuits may be constructed with various types of transistors including DTMOS transistors.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits, and more specifically, to a low voltage reference circuit that is capable of outputting a plurality of voltages with minimal operating voltage overhead.
2. Description of Related Art
Voltage reference circuits are a critical component of many analog, digital and mixed-signal integrated circuits. Circuits such as oscillators, Phase Locked Loops (PLLs), and Dynamic Random Access Memories (DRAM) depend on stable, temperature independent voltage references. Most voltage references in use today require an operating voltage of at least 1.3 V. This is especially true for three terminal series regulated voltage references (a more desirable voltage reference due to reduced power dissipation). The output ranges of these devices vary from 1.3 V (for a bipolar process) to 1.6 V or more (for a CMOS process). As operating voltages of integrated circuits decrease with decreasing critical dimensions, the need has arisen for lower operating voltages of voltage reference circuits. At the same time, however, these reference circuits need to maintain their temperature independence. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a temperature compensated voltage reference circuit that minimizes overhead, functions at operating voltages at or below 1.3V and provides a stable reference voltage output.

Temperature compensated low voltage reference circuit