In one aspect, a semiconductor device is provided which includes a data block including M parallel and sequentially arranged data lines numbered {0, 1, 2, . . . n, n+1, . . . , m−1, m}, where M, n and m are positive integers, and where n<m, and M=m+1, and a first decoder region and a second decoder region respectively located on opposite sides of the data block. A first data line group among the M data lines extend to the first decoder region from the data block, and a second data line group among the M data lines extend to the second decoder region from the data block. The first data line group includes even numbered data lines among the data lines {0, 1, 2, . . . n}, and odd numbered data lines among the data lines {n+1, . . . m−1, m}, and the second data line group includes odd numbered data lines among the data lines {0, 1, 2, . . . n}, and even numbered data lines among the data lines {n+1, . . . m−1, m}.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a data line layout for signal transmission in a semiconductor memory device and to a method of forming the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor memory device generally includes a memory cell array region for storing data and a peripheral circuit region for accessing that memory cells and conducting various process operations. The memory cell array region generally includes a plurality of data blocks having intersecting word lines and bit lines. A decoder region is operatively interposed between the memory cell array region and the peripheral circuit region to transmit address and data signals there between. The decoder region is generally divided into a row decoder region for interfacing the word lines of the memory cell array region with the peripheral circuit region, and a column decoder region for interfacing the bit lines of the memory cell array region with the peripheral circuit region.
FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the layout of a conventional semiconductor memory device.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional semiconductor memory device of this example includes a data block DB located at intersections of a plurality of word lines WL<0:31> and a plurality of bit lines BL<0:n>. Also according to this example, the even numbered word lines WL extent to a first row decoder Row DEC1, and the odd numbered word lines WL extend to a second row decoder Row DEC2, where the first and second row decoders Row DEC1 and Row DEC2 are located on opposite sides of the data block DB. Likewise, the even numbered bit lines BL extent to a first column decoder Column DEC1, and the odd numbered bit lines BL extend to a second column decoder Column DEC2, where the first and second column decoders Column DEC1 and Column DEC2 are located on opposite sides of the data block DB.
In an alternative layout (not shown), a single row decoder is provided on one side of the data block DB and coupled to all the word lines WL, and a single column decoder is provided on one side of the data block DB and couple to all the bit lines. However, by providing two row decoders and two column decoders on opposite sides of the data block DB as in FIG. 1, the pitch between the bit lines and the pitch between the word lines can be more easily narrowed.
FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the word line layout of a data block of a conventional semiconductor memory device. In this example, each data block of the memory device includes thirty-two word lines WL<0:31>.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, odd-number word lines among word lines WL00-WL31 extend to a right decoder region, and even-number word lines among word lines WL00-31 extend to a left decoder region. Each word line includes a pad extension portion 12 which extend in a given direction for connecting to a peripheral device through wiring. Since the even-number word lines and the odd-number word lines are alternately connected to the left side decoder region and the right side decoder region, a relatively large interval between the pad extension portions 12 can be obtained. However, when a line width of the word line is reduced to less than the limitation value that is defined through the photo-etching process, the interval between the adjacent pad extension portions 12 is reduced, which can make it difficult maintain sufficient spacing to allow for formation of contact patterns on the pad extension portions 12.

Data line layout in semiconductor memory device and method of forming the same


The present invention provides methods of using metal nanoparticles 0.5 to 400 nm in diameter to enhance the dose and effectiveness of x-rays or of other kinds of radiation in therapeutic regimes of ablating a target tissue such as tumor. The metal nanoparticles can be administered intravenously, intra-arterially, or locally to achieve specific loading in and around the target tissue. The metal nanoparticles can also be linked to chemical and/or biochemical moieties which bind specifically to the target tissue. The enhanced radiation methods can also be applied to ablate unwanted tissues or cells ex vivo.

Radiation of various forms, for example x-rays, laser light, and microwaves, as well as particle beams of, for example, neutrons, electrons, and protons, have been used to treat tumors. Unfortunately, such radiations are not generally very specific for the tumor. Tumoricidal doses of radiation often results in serious damage to normal tissue, thus limiting irradiation to lower doses that are not curative.
Radiosensitizer compounds are drugs that act in combination with radiation to produce improved response, usually by making DNA more susceptible to radiation, or extending the life of free radicals produced by the radiation. Another type of radiation enhancer includes elements or compounds that interact directly with the radiation to cause more tissue damage by increasing the absorption or scattering of the radiation, causing more local energy deposition by production of secondary electrons, alpha particles, Auger electrons, ionizations, fluorescent photons, and free radicals, for example. For cancer therapy, the purpose is to selectively enhance dose to the tumor, so these drugs, elements or compounds must be preferentially accumulated in tumor tissue or the tumor tissue must respond in a preferential way, to spare normal tissue.
Some radiosensitizers are themselves anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs that appear to work synergistically with x-irradiation. For example, the drug etanidazole was found to enhance radiation-induced cell death in one cell type, but not in another. (Inanami O, Sugihara K, Okui T, Hayashi M, Tsujitani M, Kuwabara M., "Hypoxia and etanidazole alter radiation-induced apoptosis in HL60 cells but not in MOLT-4 cells," Int J Radiat Biol 78:267-74, 2002). Carboplatin, cisplatin, and oxaliplatin were found to enhance radiotherapy in a leukemia mouse model (Dionet C A, Rapp M, Tchirkov A, "Comparisons of carboplatin and cisplatin as potentiators of 5-fluorouracil and radiotherapy in the mouse L1210 leukaemia model," Anticancer Res 22:721-725, 2002; Cividalli A, Ceciarelli F, Livdi E, Altavista P, Cruciani G, Marchetti P, Danesi D T, "Radiosensitization by oxaliplatin in a mouse adenocarcinoma: influence of treatment schedule," Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 52:1092-1098, 2002).
Pre-irradiation exposure to some nucleic acid base derivatives, e.g., halogenated purines or pyrimidines, has been found to potentiate radiation treatment. Although the mechanisms are not completely understood, some data suggest that these bases may be incorporated into DNA or RNA leading to functional disruption, or that they may inhibit enzymes, such as thymidylate synthetase, thus disrupting DNA synthesis. Since gamma rays are believed to disable cell division by causing double-strand DNA breaks, DNA repair pathways are therefore important modulators of lethality. Inhibition of double strand break rejoining has been observed in human adenocarcinoma cells following protracted pre-irradiation treatment with 5-fluorodeoxyuridine. This effect appeared to be primarily related to the inhibition of thymidylate synthetase and the resulting perturbation of nucleotide pools in those cells (Bruso, C E, Shewach, D S, Lawrence, T S, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 19:1411-1417, 1990). 5-Fluorouracil is often used in combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of malignant tumors, particularly with rectal cancer (Buchholz, D J, Lepek, K J, Rich, T A, and Murray, D, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 32:1053-1058; 1995). 5-iododeoxyuridine and 5-bromodeoxyuridine are being used in clinical trials, but have shown only limited efficacy. 5-chloro-2′-deoxycytidine co-administered with three biomodulators of its metabolism, N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA), tetrahydrouridine, and 5-fluoro-2′deoxyctidine, combined with fractionated x-ray treatments, produced improved results in test animal tumor models showing a threefold dose enhancement and a substantial number of cures (Greer, S, Schwade, J, and Marion, H S, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 32:1059-1069; 1995). These chemical methods of radiation enhancement are not widely used in standard clinical radiotherapy treatments because of the unpredictability and variability of response in different tumor types, the toxicity of the agents, and some disappointing clinical trials.
Photophrin and similar compounds have been found useful in treating some particular types of tumors. These compounds absorb visible light and result in formation of toxic free radicals. Direct cytotoxicity via intracellular damage can result from a type I mechanism where highly reactive free radicals are generated that can damage intracellular membranes and mitochondria, or a type II mechanism where excitation to reactive singlet oxygen species leads to oxidation of membranous cell structures. Ischemic necrosis can also result by vascular occlusion occurring secondary to vasoconstriction, platelet activation/aggregation, and intravascular thrombosis, which may be partly mediated by local release of thromboxane A2. A disadvantage of this phyotodynamic therapy (PDT) is that it requires visible (laser) light to penetrate the tumor and is thus limited to superficial tissue, or those tissues that are optically accessible, generally superficial malignancies. Uniformity of dose delivery is also a problem due to the high absorbance of the light by tissue. These restrictions limit the use of PDT to only a few tumor types and situations.
Another form of radiation enhancement studied is the use of boron-10-containing compounds that have a high cross section for absorption of neutrons. Upon neutron capture, boron fissions into a lithium ion and alpha particle which have ranges of 5-9 microns and can locally damage DNA and kill cells. This is called Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). For example, see: Miura M, Morris G M, Micca P L, Lombardo D T, Youngs K M, Kalef-Ezra J A, Hoch D A, Slatkin D N, Ma R, Coderre J A, "Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of a Murine Mammary Carcinoma using a Lipophilic Carboranyltetraphenylporphyrin," Radiat Res. 155:603-610, 2001. This method requires a costly source of slow neutrons such as a low-power nuclear reactor or a high-current of energetic protons impinging on a cooled lithium target. Moreover, the boron-containing compounds available so far to treat human tumors do not have extraordinary affinities for tumors. These factors have hindered widespread development and use of BNCT. Target nuclides other than 10B such as 157Gd have also been proposed for neutron capture therapy.
The second type of radiation enhancement, called photoactivation, involves the use of an element that has a higher absorption coefficient for x-rays than soft tissue, which results in increased local energy deposition. For example, iodine was used in a number of studies to load the nucleic acid with the iodine-containing nucleic acid base iododeoxyuridine (IudR). After incorporation into cellular DNA in vitro, irradiation resulted in a radiotherapeutic advantage of a factor of about 3 (Nath, R, Bongiomi, P, and Rockwell, S, "Iododeoxyuridine radiosensitization by low- and high-energy photons for brachytherapy dose rates," Rad. Res. 124:249-258, 1990). However, to achieve this, the cells were altered so that 22-45% of the thymine in their DNA had been substituted with IUdR. Unfortunately, this level of substitution is not practical in vivo, and it would be difficult to selectively make such changes only in tumor cells.
The dose enhancement of x-rays adjacent to high atomic number (high-Z) elements has been known for over 50 years. At least 20 years ago it was speculated that this effect, then noted in vitro, might be employed to enhance radiotherapy of cancer (Matsudaira, H., Ueno, A. M., and Furuno, I., "Iodine contrast medium sensitizes cultured mammalian cells to x-rays but not to γ rays," Rad. Res. 84: 144-148, 1980). Radiation oncologists have also noted tissue necrosis around metal implants following therapeutic irradiation with x-rays (Castillo, M H, Button, T M, Doerr, R, Homs, M I, Pruett, C W, Pearce, J I, "Effects of radiotherapy on mandibular reconstruction plates," Am. J. Surg. 156, 261 (1988)). Das and coworkers made careful measurements of the dose enhancement factor at low-Z/high-Z interfaces irradiated by x-rays (Das, I J, Chopra, K L, "Backscatter dose perturbation in kilovoltage photon beams at high atomic number interfaces," Med. Phys. 22: 767-773, 1995). Experimental x-ray dose enhancement adjacent to bulk metallic gold was reported by Regulla and coworkers (Regulla, D F, Hieber, L B, and Seidenbusch, M, "Physical and biological interface dose effects in tissue due to x-ray-induced release of secondary radiation from metallic gold surfaces," Rad. Res. 150, 92 (1998)). A solid state detector was placed next to a thin (150 μm) gold foil and a dose enhancement factor of more than 100 with a range of 10 μm was found in the range of 40 to 120 kV tube potential. Cells were then placed in close proximity (2 μm) to the gold surface. In a clonogenic assay, 80 keV x-rays caused 80% cell killing at 0.2 Gy, which was a factor of 50 over the control without gold.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,054 to Regulla and Eckhard discloses a method for treating a site in a human body to inhibit abnormal proliferation of tissue at the site by introducing a metal surface at the site and then directing ionizing irradiation to the metal surface to obtain locally enhanced radiation therapy. The metal surface can be solid, e.g., a metallic stent, which is placed in the blood vessels adjacent to the tissue to ablate. Unfortunately, it would be impractical to place bulk metal surfaces throughout all tumor vessels and tissues. The dose enhancement from the metal was observed within only about 100 microns of the stent. Therefore, a few stents in a tumor would not be enough to treat the whole tumor. The '054 patent also discloses that the metal surface can be composed of spaced apart particles which range in size from 5 μm to 100 μm in diameter and are incorporated with metal or metal ions. However, there is no showing of delivery of sufficient metal to the tumor by means of these particles for effective treatment. In addition, the form of radiation taught by Regulla is restricted to less than 400 keV, which could not treat tumors at depth. Although skin cancers might be treated using this photon energy range, such tumors are more readily removed surgically.
Herold et al. reported the use of 1.5-3.0 micrometer diameter gold particles (1% by weight) in a stirred suspension with living cells during irradiation with 100-240 kVp x-rays and found a dose enhancement factor from a clonogenic assay to be 1.54 (Herold, D M, Das, I J, Stobbe, C C, Iyer, R V, and Chapman, J D, "Gold microspheres: a selective technique for producing biologically effective dose enhancement," Int. J. Rad. Biol. 76: 1357-1364, 2000). They also injected these particles (1.5-3 micron in diameter, 1% gold suspension) directly into a growing tumor at 3 sites followed by irradiation (8 Gy, 200 kVp). No tumor remission or shrinkage in the animals was reported, but extracted cells from the tumor were found to have a 0.15 plating efficiency rather than the control value of 0.25. Histological examination showed gold particles predominantly in the interstitial fluid, and "no gold particles were found in zones of tightly packed tumor cells, suggesting that it would be difficult to achieve uniform delivery of particles . . . throughout a tumour volume by direct injection." Since the dose is only increased in about a 100 micron region around the gold, this method would leave many tumor cells without enhanced treatment. These investigators found the particles did not diffuse into the tumor but remained at the three sites of injection.
Prior to the present invention, there has been no report of effective treatment of tumors using radiation in combination with heavy metals. Nor has there been any attempt of using a nanoscale approach to selectively ablate the unwanted cells or tissue.

Methods of enhancing radiation effects with metal nanoparticles


An SCR-active zeolite catalyst and a method for producing same. To produce the catalyst, an Fe ion-exchanged zeolite is initially subjected to a first temperature treatment within a range of 300 to 600° C. in a reducing hydrocarbon atmosphere such that the oxidation state of the Fe ions decreases and/or the dispersity of the Fe ions on the zeolite increases, whereupon the reduced zeolite is subjected to a second temperature treatment within a range of 300 to 600° C. in an oxidizing atmosphere such that hydrocarbon residues or carbon residues are oxidatively removed, the zeolite being calcined to obtain a catalyst material during the two temperature treatments. Iron contained in the zeolite is stabilized in an oxidation state of less than +3 and/or the dispersity of the Fe ions on the zeolite is permanently increased such that a high SCR activity is achieved within a temperature range of less than 300° C.

For removal of nitrogen oxides in an oxygen-containing exhaust gas, such as that of an internal combustion engine operated with excess air, especially from a diesel engine, catalysts based on titanium dioxide are known, over which the nitrogen oxides are reduced in the presence of oxygen by means of an added reducing agent, such as ammonia in particular, to give molecular nitrogen and water. In this regard, reference is made by way of example to DE 24 58 888 A1. In this process for selective catalytic reduction, SCR process for short, the reducing agent or a precursor substance which is converted to the reducing agent in the exhaust gas is added to the exhaust gas prior to entry into the catalytic converter. For example, a known precursor substance for the reducing agent ammonia is urea, which is supplied to the exhaust gas especially in the form of an aqueous urea solution. Also known as alternative reducing agents are hydrocarbons which, especially in the case of incomplete combustion in the internal combustion engine, may already be present as combustion products in the exhaust gas.
The SCR-active catalysts known from DE 24 58 888 A1 comprise a ceramic catalyst composition comprising titanium dioxide as the main constituent, with additions of oxides of tungsten and/or vanadium. The catalyst bodies used here may be coated catalysts or unsupported catalysts. In the coated catalysts, the catalyst composition has been applied to a support material, such as more particularly to a cordierite (a magnesium aluminosilicate of the composition Mg2Al4Si5O18 with rhombic dipyramidal structure) which is itself catalytically inactive. An unsupported catalyst, in contrast, is manufactured entirely from the catalytically active catalyst composition. For this purpose, the starting materials are generally processed to give a kneadable slurry, which is extruded to give a honeycomb permeated by channels. Subsequently, the extruded honeycomb is calcined with solidification by a thermal treatment to give the finished unsupported catalyst.
Further known constituents of SCR-active catalysts are also zeolites. Zeolites, i.e. framework aluminosilicates, in some cases form a structure permeated by channels of a diameter in the order of magnitude of gas molecules and, due to their high specific surface area, are especially suitable for a selective catalytic reduction.
For instance, DE 198 54 5502 A1 discloses an SCR-active catalyst for degradation of nitrogen oxides in the presence of a reducing agent having an active composition comprising titanium dioxide and a zeolite, said zeolite being a hydrogen ion-exchanged, acidic zeolite.
GB 2 193 655 A also discloses a catalyst for degradation of nitrogen oxides by the SCR process. The catalyst composition of the catalyst specified therein comprises a titanium dioxide with low specific surface area and a copper-containing zeolite obtained by ion exchange. Preferred zeolites specified are mordenite, ZSM-5 and ferrierite.
Also known from EP 0 393 917 A2 is a catalyst for degradation of nitrogen oxides, the catalyst composition of which comprises a zeolite which, after ion exchange, contains copper and/or iron. Preferred zeolites specified are USY (Ultra Stabilized Y), beta and ZSM-20.
In addition, EP 0 219 854 A2 discloses a catalyst which comprises titanium dioxide in the anatase polymorph and an acid-stabilized zeolite in the hydrogen form or in the ammonium form.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,913 A discloses a catalyst for degradation of nitrogen oxides by the SCR process, the catalyst composition of which comprises a zeolite. The zeolite here is impregnated with cerium oxide or iron oxide. The catalyst specified is said to have a high stability with respect to sulfur-containing components. A preferred zeolite specified is a zeolite of the ZSM-5 type.
Zeolite catalysts can be produced either in the form of coated catalysts or in the form of unsupported catalysts. The configuration of a zeolite catalyst as a bulk material catalyst, particularly in the form of pellets, is also known per se.
The literature mentions an Fe ion-exchanged zeolite in particular with regard to its good SCR activity. For example, the publication "Ultra-Active Fe/ZSM-5 Catalyst For Selective Catalytic Reduction Of Nitric Oxide With Ammonia", Gongshin Qi, Ralph T. Yang, Apple. Cat. B: Environmental 60 (2005) 13-22 studies the SCR activity of an Fe ion-exchanged ZSM-5 zeolite for NO, and conversion rates of NO close to 90% are achieved at temperatures above 350° C. in the presence of ammonia. The ion exchange of the zeolite of the ZSM-5 type studied is undertaken by impregnation by means of FeCl3. The calcination of the catalyst composition takes place under oxidizing atmosphere in air. By means of X-ray diffraction and electron spin resonance measurements, the oxidation state of the iron ion incorporated into the zeolite structure is determined to be +2 and/or +3. It is suspected that iron with the +2 oxidation state in particular is responsible for a high catalytic activity. During the SCR reaction studied, iron of the +2 oxidation state is gradually oxidized.
In the prior publication "Structure/Reactivity Correlation In Fe/ZSM5 For DENOx Applications. In-situ XAFS Characterization And Catalysis", A. A. Battiston, J. H. Bitter, D. C. Koningsberger, Elsevier, an Fe ion-exchanged zeolite of the ZSM-5 type is also studied with regard to its SCR activity. In this case, particularly the coordination site of the iron ion incorporated into the zeolite structure is analyzed by means of X-ray spectroscopy methods. The ZSM-5 zeolite studied is ion-exchanged by means of FeCl3 sublimation. The SCR activity of the calcined catalyst composition is analyzed using butane and isobutane as reducing agents. The catalyst composition is studied by X-ray spectroscopy in each case after treatment with oxygen, carbon monoxide and isobutane. During the SCR reaction, the oxidation state of the iron ion incorporated is said to be reduced.

Method for the production of an SCR-active zeolite catalyst, and SCR-active zeolite catalyst

Johnson Matthey Catalysts (Germany) GMBH


In an example embodiment, a time of arrival circuit coupled to a wireless transceiver configured to determine a time of arrival of a wireless signal. The time of arrival circuit is operative to perform a coarse-scale frequency domain correlation of the actual samples with a predetermined ideal sample. The time of arrival circuit determines a maximum coarse correlation coefficient. The time delay circuit is operative to determine a plurality of fine correlation coefficients by interpolating around the peak coarse correlation coefficient. The time of arrival circuit determines a maximum correlation coefficient from the plurality of fine correlation coefficients and a time delay associated with the maximum correlation coefficient, the time of arrival is based on the time delay associated with the maximum correlation coefficient.

Use of wireless networks, such as wireless local area networks (WLANs) is becoming widespread. Locating wireless units, such as radios, in a wireless communication system, such as a WLAN enables new and enhanced features, such as location-based services and location-aware management. For example, location based services can be used for assigning the correct closest printer to a wireless unit of a WLAN.
One technique employed for locating wireless units is time difference of arrival (TDOA). TDOA determines the location of a wireless unit based on the time of arrival (TOA) of a signal sent by the wireless clients. For example, the TOAs at N+1 receivers can be employed to locate a wireless unit in N dimensional space. Thus, higher resolution of TOA measurements from the receivers can result in higher accuracy in determining the location of the wireless unit. However, there are factors which can impact the resolution of a TOA measurement at a receiver. For example, the sampling rate of the receiver can affect the accuracy of a TOA measurement. This is because the speed of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. light) is about 1 foot per nanosecond (ft/ns). For example, the resolution of receivers with a sampling rate of 40, 80 and 120 MHz are ±12.5, ±6.25 and ±4.2 ns respectively (in time) or ±12.5, ±6.25 and ±4.2 feet respectively. Multipath is another factor that can impact TOA measurement. In a multipath environment, a receiver may receive a line-of-site (LOS) signal and at least one non-line-of site (NLOS) signals, thus the receiver has to select the correct line of site signal.

Determining the time of arrival of a wireless signal


In described examples of a ramp circuit, a first terminal of a capacitor is coupled to a ramp terminal and a second capacitor terminal is coupled to a return terminal. A charge source has an input terminal coupled to a supply terminal and a charge output terminal. A resistor has a first terminal coupled to the return terminal. A first switch is coupled between the ramp terminal and a second terminal of the resistor. A second switch is coupled between the charge output terminal and the ramp terminal.

Electronic systems often include power converters to convert a source voltage provided by a battery, for example, to a lower value that is needed for operation of integrated circuits within the system. There are many types of switching converters and output voltage regulation strategies. Typically, the output voltage is regulated based on directed feedback, which results in a control signal referred to as ripple injection. The amplitude of ripple injection varies with VIN and VOUT. A converter device that is optimized for low Vout (1.2V and lower), typically will have inferior performance at higher Vout (1.8V-5.5V), or vice versa.
A buck converter is a DC-to-DC power converter which steps down voltage from its input (supply) to its output (load). A boost converter is a DC-to-DC power converter that steps up voltage (while stepping down current) from its input (supply) to its output (load). Each type is a class of switched-mode power supply (SMPS) typically containing a semiconductor switching device and at least one energy storage element, such as a capacitor, inductor, or the two in combination. To reduce voltage ripple, filter capacitors are normally added to such a converter's output (load-side filter) and/or input (supply-side filter).
Switching converters provide much greater power efficiency as DC-to-DC converters than linear regulators, which are simpler circuits that reduces a voltage by dissipating power as heat. Buck converters can be highly efficient (often higher than 90%).
A feedback control loop monitors the output voltage and controls the switching rate and/or duty cycle to maintain the output voltage at a target value. Typically, a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique is used to control the cycle time of the switches and thereby regulate the output voltage.


A magnetic torque transducer for a structure such as a disc through which torque is transmitted between a central shaft to which the disc is mounted and an outer periphery such as a gear wheel. The intervening region through which torque is transmitted is magnetized to provide a transducer element having two magnetized, annular regions which cooperate to emanate a magnetic field that is torque-dependent. The two magnetized regions may be longitudinally-magnetized through the disc or circumferentially magnetized with opposite polarities. A sensor assembly of non-contacting sensors is used to detect the emanated field and connected in circuitry to provide a torque-dependent signal. In an alternative a single magnetized annular region is employed. The annular region or regions need not be a complete annulus. The same disc-like structure can also be used as force sensor for measuring bending moments or other forces which result in stress occurring in the disc.

One approach to non-contactless sensing of torque in a shaft rotating about its axis is a torque sensor based on magnetoelasticity. A magnetoelastic transducer element is secured to or integral with the shaft, the torque in which is to be measured, and a torque-dependent magnetic field emanated by the transducer element is detected by a sensing device external to the shaft, but not in contact with the shaft, and responsive to the emanated magnetic field. Examples of sensing devices are a Hall effect device, a saturating coil sensor, or various of other magnetic field sensitive devices known in the art. It will be understood that in practice a sensing device may be an assembly of devices. For example, a plurality of sensing devices may be disposed about the axis of the shaft and interconnected to be additive with respect to the torque-dependent field but to cancel in respect of external fields such as the Earth's magnetic field.
Magnetoelastic transducer elements form a ring or annulus which is circumferentially magnetised. The field forms a closed loop normally contained within the element.
One form of transducer element is a separate ring of magnetoelastic material attached to the shaft such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,351,555, 5,465,627 and 5,520,059, all to Garshelis and assigned to Magnetoelastic Devices, Inc. In the ring transducer elements, the ring supports a circumferential magnetic field which is confined within the ring, that is no field is detectable externally in the absence of torque. When torque in the shaft is transmitted to the magnetoelastic ring, an external magnetic field is emanated and is detected by a sensor arrangement.
A different approach to providing a circumferentially magnetised magnetoelastic sensor is disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/GB99/00736 (published on 4th Nov., 1999 under the number WO99/56099) in which the transducer element is an integral portion of the shaft whose torque is to be measured. This avoids problems in securing a separate ring properly to the shaft. An integral transducer element approach is also disclosed in published International Patent Applications WO99/21150 and WO99/21151.
Magnetoelasticity is a phenomenon which, as yet, is apparently still not fully understood and explained. It is, therefore, generally desirable to find other forms of magnetisation that might be employed in transducer elements, particularly suitable for torque sensing.
In an alternative to circumferential magnetisation one or more magnetic transducer elements are provided integrally in a shaft of magnetisable material but using longitudinal magnetisation, that is a magnetisation that lies in an axial direction in contrast to circumferential magnetisation. The longitudinal magnetisation is applied to an annular region of a shaft or more than one such region.
Longitudinal magnetisation is the subject of our copending International application PCT/GB00/03119 filed concurrently herewith and published under the number WO01/13081.
Both circumferential magnetisation and longitudinal magnetisation have been primarily applied to shafts or similar parts where torque is transmitted through the magnetised region in the direction of the shaft axis, e.g. a load transmitting shaft having torque applied at one end and a load at the other end.
There is a need to measure torque in parts in which the load transmission is essentially radial. An example is a disc-like structure mounted on a driven shaft and having drive means at its outer periphery, such as gear teeth. The drive may be in the opposite direction.
One proposal for torque measurement in an automobile transmission is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,460 (Sugiyama et al). An energiser coil/detection coil assembly is non-contactingly placed adjacent a disc in which torque stress occurs. The energising coil is A. C. energised to establish an alternating magnetic flux in a flux path through the disc that is torque sensitive. The detection coil senses torque-dependent changes in the circulating magnetic flux.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Magnetised transducer element for torque or force sensor


An electrical ganged-outlet apparatus includes a unitary outlet body including a plurality of electrical outlets and a back surface. Each of the electrical outlets has at least a first and a second receptacle contact element, and a line terminal. The line terminal is electrically connected to the first receptacle contact element and extends from the back surface. The outlet body has at least one neutral bus bar disposed against the back surface, and the neutral bus bar is electrically connected to the second receptacle contact element.

1. Field of Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to electrical power outlet devices, and more particularly to back-mounted ganged electrical outlet devices for use in power distribution units.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Conventional switched rack-mounted power distribution units (PDUs) employ many individual interconnected outlets (also called receptacles) to form a gang of outlets. When constructing the PDU, individual outlets are necessary in order to accommodate the spacing required for internal electronics between each outlet, such as printed circuit boards (PCB), relays, and other components, as well as for light pipes (for indicating the on/off state of each switched outlet). This configuration requires tying the respective connection leads from multiple individual outlets together for attachment to the incoming power connections. If so equipped, safety ground terminals must also be wired together. This involves the connection and routing of multiple wires and PCBs in very tight spaces, as well as the use of many individual outlets, which increases the complexity, size, and cost of the PDU. Therefore, a smaller, low-profile design is desirable for accommodating PDUs within the limited space of crowded equipment racks.
Furthermore, conventional PDUs are difficult to assemble because many components, including the outlets, PCBs, wiring, enclosure, etc., must all be assembled together at the same time.


There is provided a reflection type/transflection type thin film transistor liquid crystal display, including an insulating substrate, a thin film transistor formed on the insulating substrate, a transparent electrode made of indium-tin-oxide formed on the thin film transistor and electrically contacted with a source region and a drain region of the thin film transistor, and a curved conducting structure with an inclination of 3 to 20 degrees formed on the transparent electrode.

With the increasing progress in the manufacturing technique of flat panel display, liquid crystal display (LCD) has been extensively employed as a main stream display device. The LCD uses electric field to control the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, and determine whether the polarized light can pass through the liquid crystal layer to make a dark display or a white display. As a result, how to get a brighter display for LCD has become a significant target for the research on the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device.
For a reflection type or a transflection type thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFTLCD), its brightness is determined by the incident light emitted from a light source and the reflecting light thereof. If it is desirable to obtain a brighter display, the intensity of light scattering in a direction perpendicular to the display screen has to be increased. For this purpose the reflective characteristic of the reflector thereof has to be intensified. As shown in FIG. 1(a), a resin coating 114 comprised of a plurality of transparent resin beads 113 having a penetrative characteristic is formed on a first transparent electrode layer 111, in order that when light passes through the first transparent electrode layer 111 and the color filter 112 and enters the resin coating 114, a deflection is made to the light departing from the resin coating 114 due to the collisions against the transparent resin beads 113. Further the light is scattered by way of the electric field applied between the second electrode layer 116 on the TFT array substrate 115 and the first transparent electrode layer 111, and the scattered light is then reflected by the reflector 117. The conventional reflection type/transflection type TFTLCD of FIG. 1(a) is advantageous in terms of the increase in the light scattering angle, and thus the direction of reflection is easy to be controlled. However, the reflection type/transflection type TFTLCD of FIG. 1(a) is disadvantageous by that the direction of light scattering is quite difficult to be controlled precisely by adjusting the locations of the transparent resin beads 113.
To solve the foregoing drawbacks experienced by the prior art, a novel manufacturing process for the reflection type/transflection type TFTLCD that forms the resin coating directly on the second electrode layer on the TFT array substrate has been addressed. As shown in FIG. 1(b), when light passes through the color filter 122, light scattering effect will come about due to the electric field applied between the second electrode layer 126 and the first electrode layer 121. The scattered light will then be reflected by the resin coating 124. Because the resin coating 124 is a curved structure, its uneven surface can be used to regulate the magnitude of the angle of reflection, and thereby the direction of reflection can be effectively controlled.
Though the prior art uses a resin coating to increase the intensity of light scattering in a direction perpendicular to the display screen, the manufacturing cost of the reflection type/transflection type TFTLCD is quite expensive and the manufacturing process is quite complex (with one more photomask required). Indeed, how to reduce the manufacturing cost and simplify the manufacturing process of the conventional reflection type/transflection type TFTLCD is a major object of advancing the development of the manufacturing technique of the existing display device. The present invention can satisfy these needs.

Thin film transistor liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same


A real-time reverse transcription-PCR, or NABSA, method targeting the rbcL gene developed for the detection and quantitation of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis.

Karenia brevis is an unarmored, non-peridinin-containing dinoflagellate that grows to ca. 20 to 40 μm in diameter. The organism is positively phototactic, is negatively geotactic, swims at a speed of ca. 1 m h−1 and is thought to be an obligate photoautotroph. K. brevis is the causative agent of the recurring red tide blooms (21 of 22 years from 1975 to 1997) observed in the Gulf of Mexico and off the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States, which have been reported since the Spanish conquests. Lipophilic brevetoxins produced by K. brevis can result in massive fish kills and have been implicated in the mortality of 700 bottlenose dolphin off the east coast of the United States in 1987 and the mysterious deaths of 149 Florida manatees in 1995 and 1996. In cases of human exposure, brevetoxin can cause respiratory distress by inhalation and food poisoning by consumption of tainted shellfish.
Current methods for the detection of K. brevis depend on microscopy or pigment analysis, methods which are time-consuming and require a considerable amount of expertise and skill. Isolation of dinoflagellates and cultivation from environmental samples to confirm identity may take months. Consequently, rapid molecular methods to detect K. brevis in the environment are needed.

Detection of red tide organisms by nucleic acid amplification


A liquid crystal display flight indicator unit having the capability to display a horizontal situation indicator (HSI) or an attitude direction indicator (ADI) on the viewing area of the same unit. Signals from existing aircraft electronics are processed to determine whether the incoming signal is an HSI or ADI graphical image to be displayed on the viewing area. A unique component layout is described to enable HSI and ADI to be contained within a unit having a chassis size not larger than previously known HSI and ADI units.

The present invention relates generally to electronic display guidance indicators, and more particularly, to an electronic liquid crystal display indicator capable of displaying more than one type of guidance indicator in the same unit.
An example of such displays are electronic flight indicators which are required on most aircraft, to inform the pilot and, if applicable, the co-pilot of the aircraft, of various information to assist in flying the aircraft. Military aircraft, commercial aircraft and even personally owned airplanes include electronic flight indicators in the instrument panels of the aircraft. Two common electronic flight indicators are: a horizontal situation indicator ("HSI"); and, an attitude direction indicator ("ADI"). For many years HSI and ADI have consisted of electro-mechanical devices which use several internal gears powered by an electric motor(s) to drive the displays seen on the screen.
Most military and commercial aircraft of today have a standard aircraft instrument panel dimension for each flight indicator. This is sometimes referred to as an ARINC cutout. In certain aircraft the ARINC cutout for an ADI or HSI has already been predetermined by industry standards.
Known flight indicators have maintained one function for each indicator unit. For example, an HSI unit has been known to be a unique display indicator in comparison to an ADI unit. Due to the complexity involved in generating a particular display on the viewing screen of such a unit, known display indicators have been limited to just one type of display Therefore, HSI units have been separate from ADI units which also have been separate from radar units, etc. For a variety of reasons it would be advantageous to have a multifunctional display indicator. First, purchasing and inventory management would be simpler since there would be less part numbers to have in stock. Second, replacement of a unit would be faster and more reliable especially in a stressful situation such as during war. Instead of potential mixups with part numbers, one unit would serve two or more functions. Third, instead of technicians having to learn to repair several different display indicators they can learn the workings of just one.
The present invention comprises an electronic liquid crystal display indicator having self-contained multiple functions. The indicator of the present invention is capable of use as an HSI unit and as an ADI unit. It may also be adapted to offer radar or other functions. By use of a unique adapter cable which is connected to the display indicator and is connected to existing aircraft wiring, an HSI display may be viewed on the unit. By use of a second unique adapter cable which also connects to existing aircraft wiring an ADI display may be visible on the unit. The unit recognizes the incoming signals from the existing aircraft wiring (from various sensors on the aircraft known to those of ordinary skill in the art) connected to the unique adapter cable to determine whether an HSI display or an ADI display is to be generated.
To help maintain the size of the unit to reside in a standard ARINC cutout, the different indicator displays (HSI or ADI, for example) of the present invention preferably use some of the same incoming signals. By sharing signals less space is needed for the additional hardware that would be required if the signals for each indicator display were all unique. The present invention may also utilize surface mount electronic components on circuit boards to conserve space. Very large scale integration ("VLSI") may also be used incorporating programmable logic devices within the unit. Furthermore, a unique interior layout of all components inside the unit enables multifunctional capability within space limitations set by the aircraft industry. The present invention also comprises a graphics processor which drives the display viewed by the operator.
Internal software within the unit of the present invention first determines whether the incoming signals from the existing aircraft wiring are HSI signals or ADI signals. The software then facilitates the reading of all signals coming into the unit from the harness or cable. The software assembles the signals into packets of information and sends these packets to the graphics processor. The packets of information tell the graphics processor to display either an ADI or an HSI. The graphics processor then facilitates the "drawing" of the display on the viewing area of the LCD glass providing a graphical representation of the signals.
Obvious modifications to the present invention are expected to fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention The above stated and other advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of the drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s).

Self-contained multifunctional LCD flight indicator


An image forming apparatus having a developer controlling apparatus for a developing roller is provided to uniformly control an amount of developer deposited on the developing roller and a developer controlling method thereof. The apparatus includes a sensing part having a first sensor which senses a conductivity of a liquid developer and a second sensor which senses a density of the liquid developer. A control part controls a voltage applied to the developing roller and/or a deposit roller according to the conductivity and the density sensed by the sensing part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic printer that uses a liquid developer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a developer controlling apparatus for a developing roller that uniformly controls an amount of developer deposited on a developing roller, an image forming device having the same, and a developer controlling method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an image forming device, such as an electrophotographic printer, forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, such as a photoconductive belt or an organic photoconductive drum (OPC). The latent image is developed with a developer having a predetermined color. The developed image is transferred onto an image receiving medium, such as a sheet of record paper (P), thereby obtaining a desired image.
Such an electrophotographic image forming device is classified into a wet type or a dry type, depending on the developer employed therein. A wet type electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses a liquid developer formed by mixing powdered toner with a liquid carrier having volatile components.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional wet type electrophotographic color printer 1 using a liquid developer.
As shown in FIG. 1, the wet type electrophotographic color printer 1 includes an image forming unit 5.
The image forming unit 5 includes four image forming units, for example K, C, M and Y image forming units, to form an image having four colors, that is, black (K), cyan(C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y).
Each of K, C, M and Y image forming units is provided with a photoconductor 9 such as an OPC drum. An electrification roller 12 is disposed adjacent to the photoconductor 9 for electrifying the surface of the photoconductor 9 with a predetermined electric potential. A laser scanning unit 11 emits a light beam onto the electrified surface of the photoconductor 9 to form an electrostatic latent image having a low electric potential thereon.
Below the photoconductor 9, a developing device 13 is disposed. The developing device 13 develops the electrostatic latent image with liquid developer 48 having a predetermined color, that is, K, C, M or Y. The liquid developer 48 also has a density ranging from about 3% through 20% solid. Consequently, a developer image 49 (see FIG. 2) is formed having a density in the range of about 20% through 25% solid.
As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 13 includes a storage part 6, a developing roller 7, a deposit roller 14, a metering roller 15, and a cleaning roller 16.
The storage part 6 reserves a liquid developer 48. The developing roller 7 is located below the photoconductor 9. The deposit roller 14 is located below the developing roller 7. The deposit roller 14 and the developing roller 7 apply predetermined electrical forces to the liquid developer 48 to form a difference in electric potential ΔV, that is, a deposit vector V, therebetween. Due to the difference in electric potential ΔV, the liquid developer 48 is deposited on the developing roller 7, thereby forming a layer of developer thereon. The layer of developer has a high density in the range of 12% through 20% solid and a uniform amount of developer M/A. The metering roller 15 is located on an upper portion of the developing roller 7 and substantially over the deposit roller 14. The metering roller 15 applies a predetermined pressure to the layer of developer formed on the developing roller 7. At the same time, the metering roller 15 applies a predetermined electric force to the regulated layer of developer to ensure that it remains on the developing roller 7 and does not attach to the metering roller 15.
When the layer of developer formed on the developing roller 7 moves to a nip between the developing roller 7 and the photoconductor 9, and comes to contact with the photoconductor 9, a predetermined difference in electric potential is formed between the developing roller 7 and the electrostatic latent image having the low electric potential formed on the photoconductor 9. The layer of developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image of the photoconductor 9, by the predetermined difference in electric potential, so that the electrostatic latent image of the photoconductor 9 is developed into a developer image.
The cleaning roller 16 is located on the opposite side of the lower portion of the developing roller 7 from the deposit roller 14. The cleaning roller 16 cleans developer remaining on the developing roller 7 after the electrostatic latent image of the photoconductor 9 is developed.
To uniformly control an amount of developer M/A deposited on the developing roller 7 by the deposit roller 14, the conventional printer 1 further includes an amount-of-developer controlling unit 70. The amount-of-developer controlling unit 70 controls deposit vector V by determining an applied voltage for the developing roller 7 and/or the deposit roller 14 on the basis of conductivity of the liquid developer 48.
The amount-of-developer controlling unit 70 includes a sensor part 71, a memory part 77, and a control part 74.
The sensor part 71 has a conductivity sensor to sense conductivity of the liquid developer 48. The conductivity sensor is disposed in the storage part 6 of each of the developing devices 13 of the K, C, M and Y image forming units 5, and submerged under the liquid developer 48.
The memory part 77 stores a plurality of values of deposit vector V predetermined by experiments. The plurality of values of deposit vector V are determined as values which can obtain a target amount of developer M/A according to varying conductivities.
The control part 74 selects a corresponding value of deposit vector V among the plurality of predetermined values of deposit vector V stored in the memory part 77 according to the conductivity sensed by the sensor part 71. The control part 74 controls a voltage applied to the developing roller 7 and/or the deposit roller 14 according to the selected value of deposit vector V.
However, as shown in FIG. 5, the conductivity of the liquid developer 48 generally has a characteristic that varies according to density (% solid), and also an electric charge Q/M (coulomb per mass) for the same density.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an amount of developer M/A deposited on the developing roller 7 has a characteristic that varies according to the conductivity of the liquid developer 48, and also the electric charge Q/M of the liquid developer 48 for the same conductivity.
Accordingly, if the value of deposit vector V is determined only by the conductivity, the amount of developer M/A which is actually deposited on the developing roller 7 may be different from the target amount of developer M/A as the density and/or the electric charge Q/M of the liquid developer 48 varies. Therefore, in this case, the layer of developer may not form on the developing roller 7 uniformly. As a result, the quality of final image, such as image density, image uniformity, dot reappearance ability, line reappearance ability, and a color gamete, can deteriorate.
As another method of controlling the deposit vector V during developing, an amount-of-developer controlling apparatus (not shown) has been proposed to control the values of deposit vector V on the basis of density.
However, like the amount-of-developer controlling unit 70 for controlling the values of deposit vector V on the basis of the conductivity of the liquid developer 48, since the amount-of-developer controlling apparatus determines the values of deposit vector V only with the density of the liquid developer 48, it also presents a problem in that the amount of developer M/A actually deposited on the developing roller 7 may be different from the target amount of developer M/A as the density and/or the electric charge Q/M of the liquid developer 48 varies. Thus, a layer of developer may not form uniformly on the developing roller 7.
Accordingly, to correctly and precisely deposit the amount of developer M/A on the developing roller 7 during the developing, and thereby uniformly form the layer of developer on the developing roller 7, it requires that the deposit vector V base determinations on the consideration of all factors including conductivity, density and an electrical charges, which can affect the amount of developer M/A, rather than one factor such a conductivity or a density.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved image forming device including a developer controlling apparatus that controls voltage applied to a developing roller and/or a deposit roller based on a variety of factors.

Controlling apparatus for developing roller, image forming device having the same, and developer controlling method thereof


A power circuit section generates a first logic power supply voltage and an analog power supply voltage to supply to a first power supply line and a second power supply line, respectively. A regulator steps the first logic power supply voltage down to generate a second logic power supply voltage and supplies the second logic power supply voltage to a third power supply line. A logic circuit controls A source line driving section and A gate line driving section in response to a decrease of a voltage of the first power supply line so that the charge stored in the display panel is discharged. A charge transporting path is configured to transport the charge from the second power supply line to a third power supply line in response to the decrease of the voltage of the first power supply line.

Mobile terminals, such as a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet terminal and others, are generally provided with a power storage device such as a battery, and each device mounted on a mobile terminal receives a power from the power storage device to operate.
One of points to be considered when designing a mobile terminal is that a situation can occur in which the power supply from the power storage device is suddenly cut off. The most typical example of situation in which the power supply from the power storage device is cut off is the case where the power storage device is removed from the mobile terminal by the user. Many mobile terminals are designed in such a way the user can exchange the battery, and in a case of such a design, the user may remove the battery from the mobile terminal. In addition, even if the mobile terminal is designed in such a way the battery cannot be easily removed by the user, the battery may be removed by an examiner while a process of product inspection.
When a power supply from a power storage device is suddenly cut off, a system operation cannot be continued and an abnormal shutdown occurs. It is desirable to design a mobile terminal in such a way no abnormal operation is caused even if an abnormal shutdown occurs due to a sudden cutoff of power supplied from a power storage device.
A mobile terminal is generally provided with a panel displaying device such as a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) device or others; therefore, it is desired, in a case where an abnormal shutdown occurs, that no abnormal operation is caused to the panel displaying device either. Against such background, the Inventor is studying about suppressing abnormal operations in a panel displaying device when an abnormal shutdown occurs.
One of abnormal operations studied by the Inventor is a residue of charge in a display panel of a panel displaying device. In general, in a case where a system is normally shut down, the system operation is stopped after a discharge of charge in the display panel is performed. On the other hand, in a case where an abnormal shutdown occurs due to a cutoff of the power supply from the power storage device, a situation may occur in which the system operation stops with a residue of charge in the display panel of the panel displaying device. If a charge is left in the display panel of the panel displaying device, a burn-in may occur in the display panel and an abnormal display may appear on the display panel.
Against such background, it is desired to be provided a technology to suppress abnormal display on a display panel in a case where an abnormal shutdown occurs due to a cutoff of a power supply.

Mobile terminal and display panel driver


An integral pocket of fin having a forward blade is disclosed. In one embodiment, the foot pocket includes a vamp, an outside counter, and a plurality of stretchable connection members interconnected the vamp and the outside counter. The connection members are adapted to stretch when the human foot is inserted in the foot pocket so as to fit different individuals with various foot sizes.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to fins for diving and more particularly to such a fin having a stretchable foot pocket so as to fit different individuals with various foot sizes.
2. Related Art
A conventional fin comprises a foot pocket for covering the human foot, and a blade extended forward from the foot pocket. A diver may put his or her feet in the foot pockets. In use, the diver may exert a force to vibrate the blades for propelling forward.
Conventionally, the foot pocket of a fin can be classified as either a pocket type (see FIG. 1) or a well type without an outside counter (see FIG. 2). For well type foot pocket, a strap A is provided around the heel and a snapping type fastener B is provided at a rear portion of the foot pocket for fastening the foot in the foot pocket by securing to the strap A.
One advantage of a fin having a pocket type foot pocket is that a person can easily find a fit fin to put his or her foot in the foot pocket. However, its disadvantage is that a number of fins with different sizes are required to be commercially available such that different individuals with various foot sizes may have a chance to select a pair of fit fins. It is often that a person wearing fins may feel discomfort if the foot pockets are too tight or too loose, resulting in an increased difficulty of moving.
One advantage of a fin having a well type foot pocket is that it is adapted to fit different individuals with various foot sizes. However, its disadvantage is that the fastening of the foot by the strap and fastener may become loose after a short period of time. Thus, the wearer may feel discomfort. Further, it may hook a foreign object, resulting in an increased difficulty of moving.
Typically, commercially available fins are formed of plastic material and have limited flexibility and resilience. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of a fin having a stretchable foot pocket are constantly being sought.


The present invention is concerned with a composition comprising an extract of the leaves of the Castanea sativa plant. It is furthermore directed to the use of the extract for the manufacture of a cosmetic composition and with the use of this extract for the cosmetic treatment of the human body.

Castanea sativa means the plant that in detail is called Castanea sativa Mill. (synonyms: Castanea vesca Gaertn., Castanea vulgaris Lam.). "Mill." denotes the nomenclature system used.
Castanea sativa (in the following text sometimes abbreviated as Castanea) belongs to the family Fagaceae. Common names for Castanea sativa are sweet chestnut and Spanish chestnut.
The use of chestnut leaves against complaints affecting the respiratory tract, such as bronchitis, cough, and disorders affecting the legs and the circulation is known. Like other tannin-containing drugs, chestnut leaves can be used as an astringent (Bundesanzeiger no 76, dated Apr. 23, 1987).
Antibacterial and allelopathic activity of extracts of Castanea sativa leaves is known (BASILE A., SORBO S., GIORDANO S., RICCIARDI L.; FERRARA S., MONTESANO R., CASTALDO COBIANCHI R., VUOTTO M. L., FERRARA L., "Antibacterial and allelopathic activity of extract from Castanea sativa Mill. Leaves", FITOTERAPIA, volume 71, pages 110 to 116, published in 2000). In this publication the following is disclosed: Following the extraction of Castanea sativa leaves with an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid (pH 3.0), the ethyl acetate soluble fraction was tested for its antibacterial and allelopathic activity. The extract was shown to have pronounced antibacterial effects against seven of the eight strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria used (MIC in the range of 64-256 microg/ml and MBC in the range of 256-512 microg/ml) (MBC=Minimum Bactericidal Concentration, MIC=minimal inhibiting concentration). The active fraction was analysed by TLC (thin layer chromatography) and HPLC showing the presence of rutin, hesperidin, quercetin, apigenin, morin, naringin, galangin and kaempferol. Standards of the identified flavonoids were tested against the same bacterial strains. The highest activity was shown by quercetin, rutin and apigenin. The allelopathic effect was tested against Raphanus sativus seed germination. The extract, quercetin, rutin and apigenin caused a decrease in the percentage of seed germination and root and epicotyl growth.
The following documents of the state of the art describe the constituents that are contained in the leaves of Castanea sativa.
According to Wichtl et al. (Wichtl M, Bisset in Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals: a hand book for practice on a scientific basis, NG CRC PRESS, 1994, page 566) the leaves of Castanea sativa contain ca. 9% tannins whose nature is not precisely known (both gallic and ellagic acids have been detected), flavonoids especially quercetin derivatives, triterpens e.g. ursolic acid and ca. 0.2% vitamin C.
According to Wagner et al. 1996 (Wagner H., Bladt S. in Plant drug analysis, A thin Layer Chromatography atlas (2nd edition), Springer Verlag, 1996, page 384), the main constituents of Castanea sativa leaves are rutin, isoquercitrin, astragalin (e.g. kaempferol-3-O-glucoside), quercetin galacturonide, O p-coumaroyl quinic acid, saponins and fructose.
Kaempferol 2G-coumaroylrutinoside has been isolated from Castanea sativa (according to "Chapman, CD rom phytochemical dictionary").
According to Basile et. al. (BASILE A., SORBO S., GIORDANO S., RICCIARDI L., FERRARA S., MONTESANO R., CASTALDO COBIANCHI R., VUOTTO M. L., FERRARA L., Antibacterial and allelopathic activity of extract from Castanea sativa Mill. leaves, FITOTERAPIA, volume 71, pages 110 to 116, published in 2000) after hydrolysis the main constituents of Castanea sativa leaves are rutin, hesperidin, quercetin, apigenin, morin, naringin, galangin and kaempferol.
According to "Duke chemical data base" (a phytochemical and ethnobotanical data base), the main constituents of Castanea sativa leaves are betulin (1000 ppm), caffeic acid, ellagic acid, fat (81 000 ppm), gallic acid, hamamelose, kaempferol, pectin, protein (80 000 ppm), quercetin and tannin (90 000 ppm).
According to Romussi et. al. (ROMUSSI G., MOSTIN M., Nebenflavonoide der Blätter von Castanea sativa Mill. 3. Mitteilung: Über Inhaltsstoffe von Cupuliferae CIARALLO G. PHARMAZIE, volume 36, page 718, 1981), the main constituents of the leaves of Castanea sative are narcissin (synonym: Isorhamnetin 3-beta-rutinoside) and helichrysoside (synonym Quercetin, 3-O-beta-D-(6″O-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside).
According to Marsili et al. (Phytochemisty, vol. 11, pages 2633 to 2634, 1972: "Some constituents of the leaves of Castanea sativa") the following constituents have been identified in the leaves of Castanea sativa: waxes 0.1%, ursolic acid 0.2%, lupeol 0.4%, betulin 0.1%, aliphatic hydrocarbons 0.04%, fatty acids 1.58%.
According to Jones el et al. (Phytochemisty, vol. 23, pages 2666 to 2667, 1984: "A note on the ascorbic acid content of some trees and woody shrubs") the ascorbic acid content in the leaves of Castanea sativa is 191.3+−24.1 mg per 100 g leaves.
The problem underlying the present invention is the need for substances that can be used in cosmetic applications.

Cosmetic compositions containing an extract of leaves of the


The present disclosure provides an aqueous composition comprising a quaternary amine compound neutralized with a polycarboxylic acid. The aqueous composition is particularly useful for inerting clay in cement compositions as well as compatibilzing pigments in pigment dispersions.

Significant research has focused on developing compounds and methods to inert clay in cement compositions and stabilize pigment dispersions. For example, in cement compositions, which include a binder (e.g. plaster, calcium sulfates, lime, cement), it is known to add superplasticizers to reduce the water content of the binder slurry. Because adsorbing impurities, such as clays, are also present in the cement composition, the superplasticizers can become adsorbed at the surface of the clays and/or inserted between the sheets making up the clays thereby requiring an over dosage of superplasticizer which in turn can lead to a loss in compressive strength, cracking and durability of the cement composition. Therefore, it is necessary add an agent to inert the clays.
Several publications have addressed this issue including: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,352,952 and 6,670,415 which discuss the addition of sacrificial compounds, such as polyethylene glycol, or inorganic or organic cations, such as quaternary amines, to inert the clays; US Pat. Publ. No. 2007/0287794 which discloses the use of cationic compounds, such as quaternary amines to the inert the clays; and JP Pat. No. 2006-45010 which utilizes compounds containing quaternary ammonium groups, such as poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride, to inert the clays. However, these compounds usually contain chlorides that can cause corrosion problems in the finished cement or concrete structure.
With regards to pigment dispersions, pigment particles disperse, rather than dissolve, and therefore require dispersants to compatibilize the pigments with their encountering media. The major function/requirements for such dispersants include preventing agglomerating/sedimentation/segregation of the pigment particles during operation, and maintaining the flowability of the media at the required pigment loadings. To address this, compounds containing fragments of the pigment have been utilized, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,377,974, 7,686,883 and 9,244,326. In addition, compounds that can be chemically or physically adsorbed onto the surface of the pigment particles have been used including, for example: triethylene glycol naphthenate which is described in EP Pat. No. 0612821B1; AB block polymers and copolymers which are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,187,854 and 7,674,843; and polyallylamines and derivatives thereof which are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,257.
In spite of these state of the art compounds, there is a need to develop new, versatile compounds that are easy to prepare and may be used to mitigate clay effects in cement compositions and stabilize dispersions containing pigment particles.

Halogen-free quaternary amines and uses thereof


A heavy duty shoe has a steel plate mounted therein for protecting transverse arch of a user from being hurt by exterior sharpened objects and an arcuate steel cap mounted in a front portion of the shoe for protecting toes of the user from being hurt. A recess is defined in the front portion of the shoe, such that when the steel cap is mounted within the shoe, the ends of which are able to be flush with a shoe pad disposed within the shoe to provide a pleasant wearing environment to the user.

It is common for workers to wear heavy duty boots in a work site. A conventional heavy duty boot has a structure as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the heavy duty boot is constructed to have a vamp 60 provided with a first fold 601, a steel cap 61 with a second fold 611 enclosed within the vamp 60 and mounted in a front portion of the boot, a lining 62 provided with a third fold 621 securely attached to the steel cap 61, a board 63 securely mounted within the shoe and between the steel cap 61 and the lining 62 and a sole 64 securely connected with the vamp 60. With the structure mentioned above, it is to be noted that due to the first fold 601 of the vamp 60, the second fold 611 of the steel cap 61, the board 63 and the third fold 621 of the lining 62 being superposed on top of each other, the shape of the heavy duty boot will not be very pleasant and the weight of the boot will also be very heavy.
Furthermore, when having a customer or client coming to the work site, the customer or client will have to change the "elegant shoes" to the heavy duty shoes for the consideration of safety, which will increase inconvenience to the user and will increase economic burden to the user as well in that the user will have to spend extra money to buy another pair of shoes for this kind of occasion.
However, to improve the inconvenience caused by conventional heavy duty boots, the present invention introduces a heavy duty shoe to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.


An effluent abatement system for abating hydride species in a hydride-containing effluent, arranged for carrying out the steps of: (1) contacting the hydride-containing effluent with a dry scrubber material comprising a metal oxide that is reactive with the hydride species to remove the hydride species from the effluent, until the capacity of the dry scrubber material for hydride species is at least partially exhausted; and (2) contacting the at least partially exhausted capacity dry scrubber material with an oxidant to at least partially regain the capacity of the dry scrubber material for the hydride species. The system of the invention has particular utility in the treatment of effluent from III-V compound semiconductor manufacturing operations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the treatment of effluents produced by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the fastest growing semiconductor markets is the compound semiconductor market. The products in this market include devices formed from III-V compositions, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), high temperature semiconductors and high frequency semiconductors for telecommunications devices.
The III-V compound semiconductors include as the xe2x80x9cIIIxe2x80x9d constituent one or more of the metals or semimetals in Group III of the Periodic Table, such as Al, Ga, or In. The xe2x80x9cVxe2x80x9d constituent of such compound semiconductors is constituted by one or more of the non-metals in Group V of the Periodic Table, such as P or As.
The most widely used manufacturing method for forming III-V compound semiconductors is metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Typical sources for Group V elements include, but are not limited to, arsine (AsH3), phosphine (PH3), tertiary-butyl arsine (TBA), and tertiary-butyl phosphine (TBP), all gaseous materials.
In a typical MOCVD recipe for forming a III-V compound semiconductor, the arsine and phosphine, and/or TBA and TBP, pass into the reactor along with large flows of hydrogen. An estimated 70-95% of arsine and 30-50% of phosphine is destroyed in the MOCVD processing tool, with the As and P depositing on the semiconductor wafer. The remainder of the unreacted arsine and phosphine passes through the tool and then through the pumping system at the exit of the tool, where it is mixed with ballast nitrogen from the pump. Table 1 below shows the components and constituent flows of the gases entering a typical MOCVD tool.
The corresponding components and constituent flows of the gases discharged from the tool and post-pump system are set out in Table 2 below.
The foregoing Table 1 and Table 2 gas components, flow rates and concentration are illustrative, with actual composition of the post-pump effluent in a specific process system being highly dependent on the operating conditions, including the recipe conditions and the efficiency of the tool. In general, however, the concentrations of arsine and phosphine exiting the tool are significantly higher than the threshold limit values (TLVs) of these gases. The TLV for arsine is 50 ppb while the TLV for phosphine is 300 ppb. It therefore becomes necessary to abate the arsine and phosphine exiting the tool.
Effluents that contain arsine and phosphine, typically referred to as hydrides, from MOCVD processes have been successfully abated with dry scrubbers. These dry scrubbers conventionally comprise a mixture of metal oxides. The oxides, usually in the form of a powder, are combined with a small amount of binder material to yield a formable material that can then be extruded, pelletized, or otherwise formed into a small shape to enhance the total surface area and the mass transfer coefficient of the material. These shaped materials are then placed, in bulk, into a container where they are used for the abatement of hydrides.
The chemistry involved in the abatement of the effluent by metal oxides (MOs), where the hydride is arsine (As), is as follows:
3MO+2AsH3xe2x86x92M3As+As+3H2O+heat
Phosphine (PH3) undergoes a similar reaction with metal oxides:
3MO+2PH3xe2x86x92M3P+P+3H2O+heat
Various metal oxides have been found to react in such a manner. These metal oxides include, but are not limited to, oxides of transition metals such as copper oxide, zinc oxide, silver oxide, cobalt oxide, iron oxide, nickel oxide, manganese oxide, and molybdenum oxide.
Metal oxide dry scrubbers have been proven to work well in the abatement of hydrides in the effluent of MOCVD tools, but there are accompanying deficiencies of such effluent treatment.
Firstly, the effluent from MOCVD tools typically contains a large amount of hydrogen. The metal oxides in the dry scrubbing material can be reduced to metals by reaction with hydrogen, thus depleting the capacity of the dry scrubber for the hydrides. Such reduction reaction generally occurs at temperatures greater than room temperature, although the exact temperature necessary for such reaction to proceed depends on the metal oxide species in question.
Secondly, the reactions discussed hereinabove, wherein the metal oxide-containing dry scrubber reacts with hydrides, are exothermic in character. The heat generated by the hydride/metal oxide reaction is problematic as it can cause the reduction reaction between the metal oxides and hydrogen to become accelerated, thus depleting capacity.
Thirdly, in the use of the MOCVD process, it generally is strongly desired to increase the flow rates of hydrides to the processing tool, in order to effect high throughput operations. Such increase in hydrides, however, yields an increase in hydride concentration in the effluent of the tool, thus ultimately and undesirably increasing the heat formed during abatement.
Fourthly, an analysis of the reaction products of the above-described metal oxide/hydride reactions reveal that arsenic and phosphorus are formed. Phosphorus is particularly problematic as it can react upon exposure to air. If the reacted dry scrubbing media is not properly treated, a potentially hazardous situation may result.
In general, the problems associated with using dry scrubbing for the abatement of hydrides in the effluent of MOCVD processing can be generalized into the following categories: a) heat management problems, b) loss of treatment capacity of the scrubber material, necessitating remedial treatment to restore capacity lost due to metal oxide reduction, and c) the accumulation of hazardous materials in the dry scrubber bed, and the resultant necessity of treatment to remove hazardous materials from the dry scrubber bed.
It would therefore be a significant advance in the art to provide an abatement process that overcomes the aforementioned problems associated with the treatment of MOCVD process effluents and other gaseous effluents posing corresponding effluent treatment issues.
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the treatment of effluents produced by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).
The present invention relates in one aspect to an effluent abatement process for abating hydride species in a hydride-containing effluent, said process comprising (1) contacting the hydride-containing effluent with a dry scrubber material comprising a metal oxide that is reactive with the hydride species to substantially remove the hydride species from the effluent, until the capacity of the dry scrubber material for hydride species is at least partially exhausted, and (2) contacting the at least partially exhausted capacity dry scrubber material with an oxidant to at least partially regain the capacity of the dry scrubber material for the hydride species. Preferably the oxidant contacts the at least partially exhausted capacity dry scrubber material in the absence of contact with the hydride-containing effluent.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an effluent abatement system for abating hydride species in a hydride-containing effluent. Such process system comprises: a bed of dry scrubber material that is reactive with the hydride species in the hydride-containing effluent to remove the hydride species from the effluent; a source of the hydride-containing effluent joined in gas supply relationship to the bed of dry scrubber material; a source of an oxidant effective to regenerate the dry scrubber material subsequent to diminution of hydride removal capacity thereof, joined in oxidant supply relationship to the bed of dry scrubber material; and flow circuitry arranged to flow the hydride-containing effluent and the oxidant in contact with the bed of dry scrubber material. Preferably, the flow circuitry is arranged to repetitively and alternatingly flow the hydride-containing effluent and the oxidant in contact with the bed of dry scrubber material. Alternatively, the flow of oxidant and hydride-containing effluent may contact the dry scrubber material simultaneously.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

In-situ air oxidation treatment of MOCVD process effluent


A two-stage injection molding machine having a pressure sensor device is proposed. The two-stage injection molding machine includes an injection part having an injection cylinder, a driving unit, and an injection rod installed in the injection cylinder; a metering part for feeding plastic material to the injection cylinder of the injection part; and a loadcell installed between the injection rod and the driving unit, wherein pressures in the injection cylinder during the feed metering, injection, and packing processes are detected via the loadcell and the pressure sensor rod. As a result, an accurate pressure feedback control is implemented to achieve high precision injection molding quality. And with the two-stage injection molding machine having such a simple structural design, occurrence of signal distortion and delayed response is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a two stage injection molding machine having a pressure sensor device capable of detecting pressures during injection, packing and metering processes so as to implement a feedback control for a two stage injection molding machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
As demand for precision and quality of the injection molding is constantly increased, it becomes more important to control the injection speed, precision, and injection pressure for a two-stage injection molding machine used to fabricate small-scale products. However, the typical injection molding machine adopts a servomotor that merely implements a feedback control in terms of speed and position, without function for detecting pressure values during the injection, packing, and metering processes or function for implementing pressure feedback control, posing a huge limitation for the high precision injection.
Currently, the most common improvement from the conventional injection molding machine involves a loadcell for instantly detecting the force subjected to the screw rod of the injection molding machine. By comparative calculation, the difference between the actual force and preset force is compensated to achieve injection control, packing control, and back pressure metering control. FIG. 5 illustrates a injection rod construction for screw rotating and advancing device for injection molding machine as disclosed in an U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,712 to Laing et al., where the loadcell 40 installed in an injection movable platen 42 sense the axial force change and input the change to a control system, so that the control system correct the output force of the injection servomotor according to the axial force error, so as to correctly control molten pressure for achieving injection pressure control for the closed circuit.
However, for such conventional improvement involving an overly complicated mechanism design, the force is not correctly and thoroughly transmitted through the loadcell 40. Therefore, the injection pressure, packing pressure and metering back pressure sensed by the loadcell 40 are not the actual pressures experienced by the plastic injection screw rod 41. Meanwhile, when the injection and metering processes are performed, the friction force generated between the injection movable platen 42 and the injection guide rod 43 also vary depending on speed of the movement for injection movable platen 42, degree of lubrication, and environmental factors, while these uncertainties also have influence on the injection force. So, the friction force has to be compensated in order to achieve the high precision injection. Yet, according to the injection rod in the above mentioned patent disclosure, the injection force and friction force sensed by the loadcell 40 are all distorted, leading to a lack of feedback signal required for compensating the injection force. Consequently, it is difficult to achieve control of the injection pressure, packing pressure, and metering back pressure required for high speed precision injection molding.
Thus, the problem to be solved herein is to provide a pressure sensor device adapted to the two-stage injection molding machine, for thoroughly sensing the force and pressure data required during the injection, packing, and metering processes with a simple mechanism of the pressure sensor device such that a closed circuit feedback control is implemented, and the conventional problems such as signal distortion and delayed response are resolved as a result.

Two stage injection molding machine having pressure sensor device

Industrial Technology Research Institute


An accessory for use with a microphone has an electronic screen by means of which communications such as advertisements, messages, logos, the name of a TV station and the like may be displayed. The accessory may be attachable to the microphone itself, or to a boom, a stand or a stalk for the microphone. In one form the accessory may comprise a foam cover for the microphone. The communications may be transmitted to the accessory in a wireless or wired manner. The communication may be changed manually, remotely or in a predetermined automatic manner.

THIS INVENTION relates to an accessory for use with a microphone, to a microphone together with the accessory and to a method of using a microphone. More particularly it relates to an accessory for use with microphones that are used for audio pickup by television stations or networks and other broadcasters.
Television stations place identifiers on the microphones that their reporters use to gather audio from a subject, usually from a person that is being interviewed. These identifiers are usually made from plastic and are four-sided or triangular in shape. The station's name or logo is displayed on the identifier so that when the interview is broadcast, the audience can see that the station that is broadcasting the interview was present at the interview.
In addition, stations compete for viewers and need to keep their station brand and their channel number or broadcast frequency in the memory of viewers.
These known identifiers can only display a fixed message.